The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 213 - 212: Since she’s here, I ought to go see her.

Chapter 213: Chapter 212: Since she’s here, I ought to go see her.

The banquet was winding down when Yan Yi, soaked in the wine’s haze, returned to his room and collapsed onto the sofa to rest.

The nanny came in to check on him, but Yan Yi silently motioned for her to leave.

Not long after, Yan Su received the news and came to the room, her face clouded with concern as she saw her brother reeking of alcohol, lying on the sofa.

"Xiaoyi? How are you?"

"I’m fine," Yan Yi replied without opening his eyes.

Seeing his worn-out expression, Yan Su didn’t press further and quietly instructed the nanny to cook some sobering soup.

A few minutes later, the nanny brought the steaming soup.

Yan Su waved the nanny away and waited until the sobering soup cooled down a bit before calling Yan Yi awake.

As he sipped the soup with his eyes cast downward, Yan Su couldn’t help but voice the question that had been burning inside her, "Xiaoyi, what are you really thinking?"

Yan Yi looked up, his eyes blurry from the alcohol, "Thinking about what?"

Yan Su hesitated, then, as if afraid of being overheard, got up to close the door before returning to the sofa, "Ms. Shen, why did you invite her here? She has a family, and you too..."

"Shen Mingzhu came?"

Yan Su was caught off guard by his question, "You, you didn’t know?"

Yan Yi put down his soup, stood up, and started fastening his coat. The drunkenness in his eyes gradually gave way to a smile and clarity.

"I didn’t invite her, but since she’s come, I ought to go and see her."

Yan Su: "..."

This is crazy!

...

Yan Yi, holding his wine glass, walked directly toward Shen Mingzhu’s table.

Everywhere he passed, guests were incessantly raising their glasses in an attempt to engage with him, but he politely declined each one, making a beeline for the person that dominated his vision, unwavering.

...

Shen Mingzhu was about to leave with her father and son when she saw Yan Yi, wine glass in hand, walking towards them.

Pei Yang casually grabbed a wine glass, turned to face Yan Yi, and deliberately shielded the petite Shen Mingzhu behind his tall frame.

"Mr. Yan, congratulations."

Yan Yi clinked glasses with him, his voice mild, "Thank you."

Pei Yang’s smile was particularly happy (smug), "No need to thank me, you and Miss Zhong are a match made in heaven, destined to grow old together and never part."

Yan Yi looked at him, his smile carrying a hint of mockery, "Aside from your acumen in matters of marriage, your eyesight doesn’t seem to be very good in other respects."

Pei Yang pretended not to catch the irony, "That’s true, the greatest wisdom and fortune of my life is marrying my wife."

The noise made it hard for Shen Mingzhu to hear clearly what the two men were saying; she thought they were getting along well and approached with her own glass in hand.

"Yan Yi, congratulations."

"Thank you."

Yan Yi smiled as he touched his glass to hers, the dense night adeptly hiding the fleeting affections that passed through his eyes, "I’ve been too busy tonight to attend to you properly, my apologies."

"It’s okay, we had a good time."

Pausing, Shen Mingzhu mentioned the dried tofu and spicy sticks, "...Thank you for choosing our food factory’s spicy sticks and dried tofu."

Yan Yi smiled, "You’re welcome, I chose them because they deserve it."

Although they were talking like normal friends, that didn’t stop Pei Yang from feeling fiercely jealous.

He wished he could immediately take his wife away from there, but didn’t want to seem petty, interfering with her normal social interactions. Just as he was racking his brains for an excuse to leave, a helpful voice suddenly came from behind––

"Mom, I’m sleepy."

Hearing Pei Ziheng claim sleepiness, Shen Mingzhu abruptly stopped her small talk with Yan Yi and tenderly cajoled Pei Ziheng, "Then let’s go home now, and you can sleep."

Pei Ziheng obediently nodded, "Mm."

Pei Yang took the chance to make their exit, "Thanks for the hospitality, we’ll be leaving now."

Yan Yi nodded, "I’ll arrange for a driver to take you."

"No trouble needed."

Yan Yi looked at him, "It’s not a hassle, I just hope your family can suffer less. It’s chilly at night, and it’s a good walk from here to the car park."

Pei Yang was unable to refute.

"Thank you for the kind offer, but we can make it back on our own. It’s not far, and we ate so much tonight, a walk will help digest the meal."

Shen Mingzhu spoke up, and Yan Yi didn’t insist further.

His gaze lingered on Shen Mingzhu for a second before he turned his head to signal Dong Hua to see them off.

Watching the family of three walk away into the distance, it was a long while before Yan Yi lifted his hand and poured the wine from his glass down his throat.

...

As the banquet ended and the guests departed, the Yan Family’s servants and the hired staff meticulously cleaned up the venue.

These individuals were all well-trained, working efficiently and following strict protocols. Besides the faint sounds of cutlery clinking, the vast banquet hall was void of any other noise.

Yan Yi and the rest of the Yan Family accompanied the Zhong Family in their departure.

"Isn’t sister coming back with us?"

Upon hearing his daughter’s reminder, Father Zhong looked around and asked his wife, "Where’s Qingqing?"

Mother Zhong hurriedly explained, "Qingqing can’t hold her liquor, she’s probably still resting in the resting room."

Immediately, Mother Yan said, "I’ll go have a look."

"No, let me go. Dad, Mom, you see Uncle and Auntie out."

"That’s fine."

Mother Yan looked at her son with approval, "You go then. Take good care of Qingqing."

"Mhm."

Yan Yi turned around and headed towards the guest rooms, while the Yan Family continued to see the Zhong Family out, chatting and laughing all the way, clearly both sides were very satisfied with today’s engagement party.

...

"Knock knock."

"Come in."

Yan Yi pushed the door open and entered the resting room, placing a cup of honey water on the coffee table in front of Zhong Qing, "Drinking some water will make you feel better."

"Thank you."

Zhong Qing sat up straight, picked up the cup of water and was about to drink when something occurred to her, she looked up, "You saw Mingzhu, right?"

Yan Yi sat down on the single sofa diagonally opposite her, "Yes, she’s already headed back with her family."

"That’s good."

Zhong Qing smiled faintly, lowering her head to drink water.

Once she set down her cup, Yan Yi spoke up, "Do you need to stay over? I can arrange a room for you. Your family has already left."

"No need, I’m going home as well."

Yan Yi stood up, "I’ll walk you out."

"Okay."

...

Zhong Qing got home around midnight.

It seemed that everyone in the Zhong Family had gone to bed, leaving the spacious and lavish house exceptionally quiet, except for Mother Zhong who sat alone on the living room sofa, resting with one hand supporting her forehead.

Hearing her return, Mother Zhong slowly sat up straight and looked at her with a warm smile, "You’re back?"

Zhong Qing stood silent.

Mother Zhong got up and walked over to her, reaching out to tidy her slightly disheveled hair with a very gentle tone, "You must be tired after a busy day. I’ve had someone prepare a bath for you. Take a good soak, and after your bath, go to the study, your father is waiting for you."

Zhong Qing brushed off Mother Zhong’s hand with distaste and went upstairs to her own room.

After closing the door, she leaned against it, her svelte figure wrapped in a cheongsam, slowly sliding down to sit on the floor, burying her head in her knees, her shoulders trembling slightly.

It was unclear how long had passed when someone knocked on the door behind her, "Miss, Master is asking for you in his room."

"Miss?"

"Miss, are you asleep?"

As there was no response from her for a long time, the maid outside continued to knock.

It wasn’t until Zhong Qing raised her hand and slammed the door panel with a "bang" that the knocking finally ceased.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.