Chapter 1 Transmigration into a Dogblood Novel
Su Tang died because capitalism and spicy food were a dangerous combination.
More specifically: overtime,mala xiangguo, and a ceiling fan held together entirely by faith.
At 1:13 AM, she lay diagonally across her
tiny rental apartment bed with one sock missing, laptop balanced on her stomach while rereading a review thread for a notoriously terrible webnovel.
The novel was called The Tycoon's Vicious Ex-wife.
An absolute disaster.
The female supporting character, Su Tang, was somehow both evil and exhausting. She abused the male lead's son, harassed the male lead's first love, leaked family secrets to reporters, stole company files, and screamed at people every three chapters like she earned royalties per decibel.
Current plot point: Original Su Tang had just thrown a vase because the five-year-old child refused to call her "Mommy."
The comments were vicious.
"She deserves prison."
"That kid needs therapy."
"Why does nobody in this novel believe in naps?"
Su Tang typed lazily with oily fingers stained red from chili oil.
"Honestly the child is five. Give him chips and personal space. Problem solved."
Then the ceiling fan detached from reality.
Her last thought before darkness swallowed everything was sincere and deeply regretful.
Should've ordered extra tofu.
A mechanical voice echoed through the void.
[System Notification: Transmigration Complete.]
[Identity: Su Tang. Age: 26. Role: Contract Stepmom Villainess.]
[Marriage Status: Married to Lu Ting for 6 months. Relationship Quality: Hostile coworkers with legal documentation.]
[Primary Objective: Maintain a stable home environment for Lu Momo for one year.]
[Completion Reward: 100 million yuan.]
[Core Rule: No media exposure. No scandals. No public incidents. Family matters remain inside the family.]
[Death Flag: Chapter 88. Cause: Trying Too Hard.]
[Cheat Skill Unlocked: Salted Fish Aura.]
[Passive Effect: Reduces tension, lowers blood pressure, and discourages unnecessary emotional confrontation within a 10-meter radius.]
[Side Effect: Emotionally constipated CEOs may experience confusion.]
Su Tang's first conscious thought was immediate.
One hundred million?
Her second thought arrived right afterward.
Do I still have to work?
She opened her eyes slowly.
A silver fountain pen hovered directly in front of her face like a disappointed teacher demanding homework.
Su Tang blinked once.
Then looked upward.
Long fingers.
Expensive cufflinks.
Black dress shirt with sleeves rolled neatly to the forearms.
And then—
The face.
Oh.
The novel had not exaggerated.
Lu Ting really did look unfairly expensive.
Sharp brows. Cold eyes. Features so precise they almost looked artificial. The kind of man who probably made stock markets nervous simply by existing.
Not handsome in a warm way.
Handsome in a "your loan application has been rejected" way.
He stood beside a massive desk, posture straight and expression unreadable.
"Sign it."
His voice was low and calm.
The calm of someone wealthy enough to ruin lives quietly.
Su Tang slowly sat upright on the leather sofa.
Across from her rested a contract thick enough to qualify as blunt force trauma.
The title read:
TEMPORARY FAMILY PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT
"…Wow," she murmured. "Even the marriage sounds employed."
Lu Ting either ignored the comment or mentally archived it for future psychological evaluation.
"You requested compensation," he said evenly. "I revised the terms."
Su Tang opened the contract.
Clause 1: Party B will maintain a peaceful and emotionally stable environment for minor child Lu Momo.
Clause 2: No shouting, emotional coercion, forced affection, or unauthorized disciplinary behavior.
Clause 3: Party B will not involve media, social acquaintances, or extended family in household affairs.
Clause 7: Upon successful completion of one year, Party B will receive compensation totaling 100 million yuan.
Su Tang's sleepy eyes sharpened instantly.
"One hundred million?"
"Yes."
"To do what exactly?"
"Behave appropriately."
She stared at him for several seconds.
"…That's it?"
Lu Ting's gaze cooled another degree.
"You say that as though it's easy."
In the original novel, this was the moment Original Su Tang exploded emotionally about dignity, love, and respect.
Then she threw wine.
Then Lu Ting threatened divorce.
Then everyone suffered.
Current Su Tang had transcended such earthly desires.
She immediately picked up the pen.
"No problem," she said honestly. "I'm extremely talented at not causing scenes."
Her signature landed across the paper in smooth strokes.
Su Tang.
After one second of thought, she added a tiny doodle of a salted fish beside her name.
Dead eyes.
Tiny fins.
Peaceful.
Lu Ting looked down at the fish.
Silence stretched briefly.
"…What is that?"
"My professional spirit."
"You're not negotiating?"
"Negotiation is stressful," Su Tang replied sincerely. "You're offering me one hundred million yuan to stay quiet and mind my business. That's basically retirement."
She handed the contract back.
"So," she asked, "where do I nap?"
For the first time since entering the room, Lu Ting looked slightly caught off guard.
Not visibly.
Just one second slower to respond.
"The guest bedroom."
"Nice."
She leaned backward into the sofa cushions immediately.
"Can I start tomorrow?"
"You already started."
"…Cruel."
Soft footsteps interrupted the conversation.
Su Tang turned toward the doorway.
A child stood there.
Small. Thin. Neatly dressed.
White shirt tucked into dark shorts with suspenders. Black hair combed carefully. Expression blank in the way children's expressions should never be.
In his arms rested a tablet nearly half his size.
Lu Momo.
Five years old.
Future genius.
Future emotionally repressed iceberg.
Current tiny shareholder.
His dark eyes landed on Su Tang first.
Then shifted toward the signed contract.
Then the doodled fish.
His tablet screen lit up.
STEPPARENT EVALUATION SYSTEM
Candidate: Su Tang
Volume Risk: Unknown
Manipulation Probability: High
Emotional Stability: Pending
Su Tang stared at the screen.
"…Did he make an Excel spreadsheet about parenting?"
"He coded it himself," Lu Ting said flatly.
"Of course he did."
Another pair of footsteps approached.
Qin Wan entered carrying warmth, perfume, and emotional complications.
Beautiful white dress. Elegant smile. Gentle eyes.
The original novel's perfect first love.
"Ting-ge," she said softly, "Momo didn't sleep well again last night. Maybe I should stay with him toda—"
"No."
The single word interrupted her.
Quiet.
Clear.
Everyone froze.
Because the voice belonged to Momo.
The child ignored everyone else completely and walked directly toward the sofa.
Toward Su Tang.
Then pointed at the cushion beneath her.
"You're in my spot."
Su Tang blinked down at him.
"…This couch?"
"Yes."
"What time slot?"
"1 PM to 3 PM."
"…Daily?"
"Yes."
She stared at him for a long moment.
Then slowly sat straighter.
Recognition flashed across her face.
"Oh," she murmured softly. "You're not cold. You're scheduled."
Momo narrowed his eyes cautiously.
Su Tang shifted sideways and patted the empty space beside her.
"Respect," she said seriously. "A professional napper."
The room became quiet again.
"You can share," she offered. "I don't kick in my sleep unless provoked."
Momo studied her carefully.
Children noticed intent faster than adults did.
Adults always wanted something from him.
Reactions.
Eye contact.
Progress.
Smiles.
This woman looked at him like he was simply another tired person occupying the couch.
Nothing frightening.
Nothing demanding.
After several silent seconds, Momo climbed onto the sofa.
He settled carefully at the opposite end, maintaining distance.
Then pulled a blanket over himself and turned away.
The blanket swallowed him almost entirely.
Only his dark hair and the top edge of his tablet remained visible.
Su Tang approved immediately.
Healthy boundaries.
Excellent instincts.
She lay back down too.
Qin Wan looked visibly horrified.
"Momo, sweetheart, you shouldn't sleep here. You—"
"Shh," Su Tang mumbled sleepily, eyes already closing. "Nap etiquette. Violators will be judged."
Then, within thirty seconds, she actually fell asleep.
No performance.
No manipulation.
No awkward attempts to force closeness.
Just unconsciousness.
In sleep, Su Tang looked unfairly peaceful.
Long lashes rested against her cheeks. Her black hair spilled loosely across the leather cushions. Her lips parted slightly as she breathed evenly, softening every mischievous edge in her expression.
The entire room unconsciously quieted around her.
Beside her, Momo's shoulders slowly loosened beneath the blanket.
His breathing steadied.
Then, for the first time in weeks, the child fell asleep naturally.
Lu Ting stood motionless.
Qin Wan looked uncertainly between them.
"Ting-ge…"
Lu Ting lifted one hand slightly.
Not rude.
Just final.
Qin Wan pressed her lips together gently before leaving quietly.
The door clicked shut.
The enormous living room became still.
Sunlight stretched across the carpet in soft golden lines.
On the couch, Su Tang slept deeply with one arm hanging off the edge like someone who paid taxes reluctantly.
Beside her, Momo remained asleep.
One tiny foot rested carefully against the edge of her blanket.
Not touching her.
Just the blanket.
Testing.
Lu Ting watched silently for a long time.
Then turned and walked upstairs.
His office was silent.
Three monitors glowed softly against the dark wood desk.
Lu Ting sat down slowly.
After several moments, he opened the private household security feed.
No cloud storage.
No audio.
Just internal cameras originally installed because Original Su Tang had a habit of manufacturing conflict.
The screen showed the living room.
Still sleeping.
Both of them.
Su Tang had somehow rolled sideways and stolen half the decorative cushions.
Momo remained near the edge of the sofa, but not tense anymore.
His sleeping face looked younger.
Softer.
Lu Ting's fingers paused above the keyboard.
Something felt strange.
The house was quiet.
Not the heavy silence after arguments.
Not the suffocating silence of avoidance.
Just peaceful.
Like everyone inside the house had stopped bracing themselves.
At 3:01 PM, movement finally stirred on-screen.
Momo woke first.
He sat silently for a moment watching Su Tang sleep.
A strand of black hair had fallen across her face.
After several seconds, Momo picked up a nearby pillow.
Then carefully pushed it toward her side.
Su Tang immediately hugged it in her sleep like a koala discovering emotional support furniture.
"Mmm…"
Momo stared briefly.
Then looked away quickly and climbed off the couch.
A few minutes later, Lu Ting watched him open the tablet again in the hallway camera.
STEPPARENT EVALUATION SYSTEM
The child slowly deleted the word:
PENDING
Then typed carefully:
Noise Level: Low
Demand Level: Low
Conclusion: Acceptable
He saved the file.
Lu Ting looked at the screen for a long time.
Then slowly leaned back in his chair.
At 6:58 PM, Lu Ting entered the dining room.
The table was already set.
Simple dishes filled the center neatly.
Tomato egg stir-fry.
Garlic butter shrimp.
Steamed fish with ginger.
Lotus root soup simmering softly in a clay pot.
Not extravagant.
But warm.
The kind of food that smelled like someone actually intended for people to eat together.
Su Tang stood in the kitchen doorway wearing oversized pajamas she definitely had not purchased herself.
Her hair was tied messily with a pencil.
A few loose strands curled around her cheeks from steam.
"Oh," she said lazily when she noticed him. "Perfect timing. Soup's done."
Lu Ting's gaze shifted toward the table briefly.
Then toward her.
"You cooked?"
"Obviously." She looked offended. "I'm lazy, not incompetent."
Momo entered quietly behind him.
His eyes stopped on the dishes.
Then slowly lifted toward Su Tang.
She handed him a bowl naturally.
"Careful. Soup's hot."
Momo accepted it silently and sat down.
After a second, Lu Ting sat too.
The enormous dining table suddenly looked less cold with actual food on it.
Steam curled softly upward beneath warm lighting.
Su Tang ate comfortably, one leg tucked beneath herself in the chair.
Not elegant.
Not polished.
Completely at ease.
"This shrimp is overcooked by maybe twelve seconds," she muttered while eating. "Tragic. I've failed as a citizen."
Momo immediately took another shrimp.
Protective behavior detected.
Su Tang narrowed her eyes at him.
"Food thief."
Momo typed calmly onto his tablet.
Evidence preservation.
"Hm." She nodded seriously. "Valid."
Lu Ting ate quietly.
The food was good.
Very good.
Balanced flavors. Proper heat. Clean technique.
Not restaurant cooking.
Home cooking.
The kind built from habit instead of performance.
Across from him, Momo finished his soup completely.
Then paused.
Looked at the bowl.
Then silently pushed it slightly toward Su Tang.
Request.
Su Tang stared dramatically.
"…You want more?"
Momo gave one small nod.
She immediately looked smug.
"See? Talent."
Then she stood, took his bowl, and refilled it without another word.
The atmosphere remained quiet.
But not empty.
Not strained.
Just calm.
Like everyone at the table had unconsciously relaxed without realizing it.
Halfway through dinner, Su Tang suddenly spoke again.
"By the way," she said while eating fish carefully, "if anyone asks, tonight's menu theme is emotionally stable carbohydrates."
Momo typed immediately.
Protein levels acceptable.
"Thank you," Su Tang said solemnly. "I value professional recognition."
Lu Ting lowered his eyes toward his bowl again.
But the tension around his shoulders had already loosened slightly.
Very slightly.
Enough to notice if someone was watching carefully.
And Su Tang always noticed more than she pretended to.
