The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 186 Are You Not Capable?

Chapter 186: Chapter 186 Are You Not Capable?

The man rested his head on her shoulder, and as he spoke, warm breath lightly sprayed onto her earlobe, tickling her.

Shen Mingzhu wasn’t quite used to this level of intimacy, so she stiffened and gave a faint response.

Pei Yang looked at her, "Aren’t you going to ask what I’m planning to do?"

Shen Mingzhu replied, "If you want to tell me, just tell me."

"But do you want to know?"

Although Shen Mingzhu’s gaze did not waver, she could still feel the man beside her staring at her intensely, his gaze piercing and assertive, making it impossible for her to ignore.

Unable to control herself, she turned to look at him, an action that brought their faces suddenly very close, their breaths intertwining.

And Pei Yang did not miss this excellent opportunity; he immediately leaned in to capture her lips.

The atmosphere grew gradually more ambiguous and heated, and just when Shen Mingzhu thought that tonight they would naturally progress to consummating their marriage, Pei Yang applied the brakes just in time.

Shen Mingzhu could no longer bear it and didn’t want to hold back anymore, "Are you unable to perform?"

Pei Yang smiled teasingly, "Whether I can or can’t, you’ll find out later."

Shen Mingzhu lifted her foot and kicked him to the other side of the bed, "I’ve lost interest already, move over and don’t disturb my sleep."

Pei Yang: "..."

What a cold-hearted little woman, flipping her attitude so quickly. What did she see him as? A tool to relieve boredom?

——There’s still no consummation boundary line——

The following day, Shen Mingzhu woke up and felt a bit dazed by the empty space beside her in bed, as if last night’s shared bed was just her imagination.

But the man’s bag and coat on the clothes rack, the chairman’s cup on the desk, and the lingering scent of the man on the bed linens all made it clear to her that the master of the house had truly returned.

By the time she got up and finished washing up, a hot breakfast had already been placed on the table.

Deep-fried dough sticks, soy milk, cold vegetable dishes, and a steamed egg custard.

Today’s egg custard didn’t have any green onions and was seasoned with pork lard, which Pei Zihang found very satisfying.

During breakfast, Shen Mingzhu asked with concern about Pei Yang’s job transfer.

"I spoke with the HR manager yesterday. There are three suitable positions for me: operations, technology, and maritime affairs, but currently, there are no vacancies in these three areas. He will discuss it with the senior leaders and notify me when there’s an arrangement. For now, I’m on vacation."

Shen Mingzhu nodded to indicate she understood.

Pei Zihang seemed very surprised as he stared at Pei Yang with unblinking black eyes, "Dad, are you not going to sea anymore?"

Pei Yang patted his little head, "That’s right, from now on I’ll be working from home. Eat up, we need to get you to school."

"Okay."

Perhaps it was the good mood, but today Pei Zihang ate with particular gusto, his cheeks puffing out round and full like a little hamster’s – so different from his usual serious demeanor, extremely adorable.

This clearly showed that deep down, Pei Zihang was very happy about the idea of Pei Yang working from home.

After breakfast, Pei Yang cleaned up the dishes, while Shen Mingzhu got dressed, combed her hair, and changed her shoes.

When she and her son were ready to leave, Pei Yang had finished washing up as well.

She led Pei Zihang in front, while Pei Yang followed behind, carrying his son’s backpack.

For the first time, the couple teamed up to take their son to school.

Arriving at the food factory’s entrance, Shen Mingzhu went to work inside, while Pei Yang continued to escort Pei Zihang to the school gates before tending to his own affairs.

This routine continued for several days.

Apart from the mornings and evenings, Pei Yang was nowhere to be seen during the day, and it was unclear what he was busy with.

During the weekends, when Pei Zihang would usually stay with Shen Mingzhu at the food factory, he was now running about outside with Pei Yang as soon as the holiday began.

In fact, during this time Pei Yang had been quietly checking out hotels to arrange the banquet.

Planning a wedding for his own wife had been on his mind since he left in April.

During the six months away, whenever he had time, he thought about the wedding, where to hold it, what kind to have, whom to invite, how many tables to arrange, how much to budget, and so on.

Having narrowly escaped death and returned, he didn’t want to do anything else but to arrange the wedding first.

"Son, among the hotels we saw today, which one do you think your mom would like for the banquet?"

Pei Ziheng thought seriously for a moment. "Baoyuan Hotel, I guess. It’s quaint and will definitely look beautiful when decorated."

"Good, I’ll listen to you. If your mom doesn’t like it, I’ll say you picked it."

Pei Ziheng: "..."

Pei Wenping, who was also accompanying them, couldn’t help but laugh and scold Pei Yang, "Look at you, all grown up, yet still liking to pick on the young ones like when you were a kid. What kind of example are you setting?"

Hearing this, Pei Ziheng curiously looked up at Pei Wenping. "Dad used to love to bully others when he was little?"

Pei Wenping smiled, "Indeed, your dad was the naughtiest as a kid. If he went three days without a beating, he’d be up on the roof causing mischief. You better not learn from him."

Pei Yang protested, "Sis, at least save some face for me."

Pei Wenping was about to dish out a couple more barbs when her gaze suddenly shifted across the street.

Pei Yang and Pei Ziheng also followed her gaze.

Across the street was a department store, where Yan Yi stood at the entrance, talking with a middle-aged man in a white shirt.

Pei Wenping quickly withdrew her gaze, her thoughts turning several times, but in the end, she decided not to tell her brother about Yan Yi to avoid affecting the couple’s relationship.

Surprisingly, it was Pei Ziheng who took the initiative to cross the street and greet Yan Yi.

"Uncle Yan, what a coincidence."

Seeing Pei Ziheng, Yan Yi, taken by surprise, instinctively looked up.

Perhaps it was Pei Yang’s conspicuous height, or the intensity of his gaze, but Yan Yi met his eyes as soon as he raised his head across the not-so-wide street.

Two pairs of eyes locked from afar.

"Uncle Yan."

At the call of Pei Ziheng, Yan Yi was the first to look away, bowing his head slightly and bending over, his demeanor gentle.

"Are you out and about with your dad today?"

Pei Ziheng shook his head. "We’re not out for fun. We’re booking a hotel."

Yan Yi nodded, his ingrained politeness prevented him from probing further, yet Pei Ziheng volunteered more information, "My mom and dad are having their wedding on the 20th at Baoyuan Hotel, just up the street. Uncle Yan, if you’re free, you’re welcome to come and celebrate their wedding."

There was a faint tightening in Yan Yi’s brow.

Moments later, he agreed with a simple ’okay’.

Having achieved his purpose, Pei Ziheng happily ran back across the street.

Yan Yi’s gaze followed Pei Ziheng as he left, then once more landed on Pei Yang across the street, but this time, the usual gentleness on his face was gone, replaced by coldness.

Housekeeper Dong Hua felt somewhat alarmed.

Though the young master was always gentle and polite, his nature was extremely aloof and indifferent.

But he could see that just now, the young master was unusually warm toward the child, as if he were facing a beloved elder of his own family.

Yet, after the child invited the young master to the wedding, his mood changed abruptly.

Dong Hua couldn’t define the nature of the transformation, it seemed to be more than just anger or irritation.

Yan Yi stared at Pei Yang across the street, his emotions rarely on the verge of spiraling out of control.

He had thought that it was hard enough for her, a woman raising a child alone; little did he realize that she had become a wife and had a child without even having a wedding.

For the first time in his life, Yan Yi tasted the bitterness of jealousy.

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