The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 246 - 245: Home Stolen by Romantic Rival

Chapter 246: Chapter 245: Home Stolen by Romantic Rival

In her sleep, Shen Mingzhu always felt someone watching over her. When she opened her eyes, she met a pair of gentle, moist eyes.

"You’re awake?"

Turning her head toward the sound, she saw that Zhong Qing was also there.

"Qingqing, when did you guys arrive?"

Seeing her wanting to get up, Yan Yi subconsciously moved forward, his hand just lifted then abruptly stopped.

Zhong Qing bent down to help Shen Mingzhu sit up and then placed a pillow behind her for support.

Shen Mingzhu smelled a faint floral fragrance and only then noticed a large bunch of fresh red roses on the bedside table. They were placed in a transparent glass vase, looking vibrant and almost dripping with color.

This season, roses were a rarity.

"We haven’t been here long. We didn’t wake you because you were sleeping. Did you sleep well?"

Zhong Qing gazed at her, her amber eyes, like colored glass beads, carried a tender smile, "You look much better, you must have had a good rest these past few days."

Shen Mingzhu smiled and nodded. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Yan Yi standing, so she beckoned Zhong Qing to sit on the bed and gave the stool to Yan Yi.

"You’re alone in the hospital, isn’t anyone taking care of you?"

Once seated, Yan Yi asked with concern.

"I’m not seriously hurt. Pei Yang and his sister will come to take care of me after work."

Yan Yi paused, then said, "I’m very sorry, I botched things up. Fortunately, you’re okay."

After he finished, seeing the puzzled look on Shen Mingzhu’s face, Yan Yi realized something and suddenly felt a lot better.

It seemed that even for this potential rival, Pei Yang wasn’t so confident.

Otherwise, why wouldn’t he dare to tell her that Hengxing was backed by him?

With that thought, Yan Yi told Shen Mingzhu about Hengxing being a part of the Ning Family’s business.

"...I’m really sorry, I only wanted to do my part. I didn’t expect Ning Yuan to mess things up."

Shen Mingzhu suddenly understood, "I was wondering why such a large company as Hengxing would seek out our small factory for cooperation. Regardless, I have to thank you. But in the future, you don’t need to help me in this way. You might be able to help temporarily, but not for a lifetime. It could make me blindly confident and misjudge the market."

I can help you for a lifetime.

But those were thoughts and intentions Yan Yi wouldn’t voice.

He smiled and said, "If possible, I’d still like to have an opportunity to make amends."

"No need for now, Pei Yang is handling the sugar retail with my elder brother and sister-in-law, and the response is quite good."

Yan Yi nodded, "That’s good."

With a warm smile, Zhong Qing spoke, "Mingzhu, we’re good friends. If you need any help, you must let us know."

"Yeah, I will."

The two stayed in the sickroom, keeping Shen Mingzhu company for over an hour before taking their leave.

As they were leaving, they ran into Pei Ziheng, who was rushing back to the hospital.

"Auntie Zhong, Uncle Yan."

Pei Ziheng’s politeness and sensibility charmed Zhong Qing, "Ziheng, take good care of your mother. I’ll come to see you when I’m free."

"Sure."

Pei Ziheng ran back into the sickroom and saw the roses on the bedside table, his lips curving slightly.

"Mom."

Shen Mingzhu had planned on reading to pass the time. Seeing her son return, she put down her book and took his little hand to check, "Did you wash your hands after playing the game?"

"Yeah, I did."

"Which games have you been playing?"

"Super Mario."

Shen Mingzhu feigned surprise, "What a coincidence, I also like to play Super Mario."

Pei Ziheng’s snow-white little face showed curiosity, "Mom, do you like playing games?"

"Yes, the number of games I’ve played is beyond your imagination. My favorite is King of Glory, although it doesn’t exist yet, but in the future..."

Shen Mingzhu was about to say after thirty years, when King of Glory would be online, and then she’d happily rank up with her son.

But upon further thought, she’d be in her fifties thirty years later. Maybe by then, it would not be her son, but her grandson, who would need to carry her in the rankings, right?

The thought of three generations playing "Honor of Kings" together filled Shen Mingzhu with immediate anticipation and joy.

Lost in her fantasies and unable to extricate herself, Pei Ziheng was still waiting for what would come next.

"Mom, what should we do after that?"

Shen Mingzhu snapped back to reality and, smilingly, pinched his tender cheeks, "After that, when we have time, we will play games together."

Pei Ziheng’s dark eyes sparkled, "Mm!"

Playing games with mom, just the thought made him happy.

...

Stepping out of the hospital’s inpatient department, Yan Yi said to Zhong Qing beside him, "You go ahead, I have a friend to see."

Zhong Qing smiled with understanding, "Then take your time meeting them."

After watching Zhong Qing walk away, Yan Yi raised his foot and headed towards the hospital office building.

Vice President’s office.

Looking at Yan Yi seriously flipping through medical records, Lu Xuelun was extremely curious, "Who is she to you?"

"A friend."

Lu Xuelun’s smile was teasing, "Having known you for more than ten years, I’ve never heard you mention such a female friend."

He emphasized the word "female" heavily.

Many people wanted to be friends with Yan Yi, probably enough to circle Fengcheng, but there were few whom Yan Yi would call friends, and female friends were even rarer.

Yan Yi ignored Lu Xuelun’s ribbing; after reading through the medical records and confirming that Shen Mingzhu’s health had no other issues, he felt somewhat relieved.

...

"Wife, how was your day today?"

In the evening, Pei Yang bustled into the hospital, but was slightly startled by the roses on the bedside table.

"Where did these flowers come from?"

"Zhong Qing and Yan Yi visited me this afternoon."

In Fengcheng’s winter, it was rare to see such beautiful flowers. Pei Yang was just about to lean down to smell them when he heard Yan Yi’s name; his interest dissipated immediately.

"Why did they come?"

Shen Mingzhu looked at him with a "You’re asking that in such a strange way" expression, "Of course, they came to see me."

Pei Yang’s gaze fell on the fruit basket and nutritional products on the floor; from the packaging alone, he knew they were not cheap.

"Did they bring these too?"

"Mm."

The joy he had reaped during the day was swept away clean by his romantic rival’s ’stealthy intrusion’.

Seeing him looking unhappy, Shen Mingzhu asked out of concern, "Did the sugar not sell well today?"

Pei Yang shook his head and handed her the ledger.

Flipping through it, Shen Mingzhu’s face lit up with delight, "That’s pretty good, more than three hundred pounds sold."

"Mm."

Shen Mingzhu looked up at him, "What’s wrong? You seem down."

Pei Yang lay on her, his face pressed against her belly through the comforter, "It’s nothing, just a bit tired."

Shen Mingzhu placed her hand on his fluffy head, fingers idly stroking along the hair on the crown of his head, "Then go back early tonight and get some rest."

Pei Yang shook his head, his voice muffled, "I’ve just arrived; I want to stay with you a bit longer."

While he spoke, his face rubbed intentionally and unintentionally against the comforter, displaying a childlike demeanor.

Shen Mingzhu patted him, "Then come up and lie down for a while. I need to go to the restroom and take a short walk."

Pei Yang intended to say he would accompany her, but upon opening his eyes and thinking of something, he agreed with his mouth.

After finishing in the restroom, Shen Mingzhu also took the opportunity to go to the hot water room to wash up and brush her teeth.

When she returned to the ward after getting ready, the roses that had been blooming seductively just ten minutes before were now reduced to bare stems and leaves.

Pei Yang looked innocent, "Wife, right after you went out, the petals fell off all by themselves."