The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 263 - 262: The Beauty Trap

Chapter 263: Chapter 262: The Beauty Trap

"President Shen."

Seeing Shen Hongmei entering the office with a mournful face, Shen Mingzhu felt a surge of bad premonition.

"What’s the matter?"

Before Shen Hongmei could answer, Pei Yang walked in, smiling in a way that wasn’t quite like a smile, "She’s been making things up and trying to deceive the leadership. I’ve punished her to write a thousand-word self-criticism and deducted this month’s bonus. What do you think about my handling, President Shen?"

Shen Mingzhu: "..."

With sympathy and guilt, she gave Shen Hongmei a calm and don’t-be-uptight look, "You go out first, I’ll talk to Vice President Pei."

After Shen Hongmei left, Shen Mingzhu braced herself, walked up to Pei Yang, and pushed him towards the sofa to sit, but the stubborn man wouldn’t budge an inch.

Shen Mingzhu stopped, slightly tilting her face up at him, "Are you angry?"

Pei Yang chuckled coldly, "Pretty self-aware, knowing what you did upsets people."

Shen Mingzhu, trying to be conciliatory, was hugging his waist and rubbing her bulging belly against him, "Don’t be angry, I can explain."

Pei Yang moved her aside to stand properly, "I don’t have time to listen now."

As he said this, he took his keys to open the drawer and grabbed the official seal.

Shen Mingzhu watched as he stuffed the official and private seals into his briefcase, curious, "What are you up to?"

Pei Yang, lifting his briefcase, approached her and spoke from a height, "I’m going to sign the lease for the space first."

Shen Mingzhu hadn’t even had time to be happy when she heard the man say with a sarcastic tone, "Otherwise, it would be unfair to your courage and determination to risk our child, right?"

Shen Mingzhu instinctively touched her belly: "...I didn’t take any risks with it; I made sure my health was fine before going out."

"We’ll talk about this when we get home."

Watching the man’s tall and striding figure leaving, Shen Mingzhu always felt that what he meant to say was "we’ll settle this at home."

It’s okay. She’s a pregnant woman now; he wouldn’t dare do anything to her.

If all else fails, her son will back her up.

Shen Mingzhu silently comforted herself.

...

Yan Yi washed his hands and personally wrapped a piece of crispy-skinned and succulent roast duck in a lotus leaf pancake before handing it to Yan Su’s plate.

"This place makes very authentic roast duck, and the sauce tastes great too, comparable to Capital’s Quanjude."

Yan Su picked up the wrapped lotus leaf pancake, dipped it in sauce before her, and took a bite.

The crispy duck skin and tender meat, together with cucumber strips, scallion shreds, and sweet bean sauce, was refreshing and tasty, with a hint of spiciness that made it very appetizing.

Yan Su was quite satisfied with the meal, but her look at Yan Yi was full of mockery.

"It seems I have to thank Shen Mingzhu; otherwise, I wouldn’t have had this roast duck feast."

Yan Yi explained calmly, "This restaurant just opened recently, and I’ve actually been planning to invite you here for a taste, regardless of others."

He paused, then added, "However, I indeed owe you thanks."

Yan Su scoffed, "Forget it, I didn’t do it because you helped her. I just saw her as pitiful, walking around heavily pregnant every day. I don’t understand what her husband does, having no ability, and yet allowing a woman to have children."

In Yan Yi’s memory, he had never heard Yan Su speak with such a biting tone, and it amused him.

Yan Su scolded him, "What are you laughing at?"

"Sister, I actually think it’s good for her to be this way."

"I wouldn’t want her to be confined to the trivial domestic sphere because of childbirth and children. I hope she can always live comfortably, doing whatever she wants."

As a woman, Yan Su found it hard not to agree with her younger brother’s words.

Isn’t the ultimate pursuit of people freedom? Whether it’s of the body or the mind, or in action.

Perhaps, that was one reason why she appreciated Shen Mingzhu.

Right, she helped Shen Mingzhu not out of pity or sympathy but out of admiration.

She might look like a delicate flower, but inside, there was a resilience as tough as weeds.

...

Looking at the lease contract still smelling of fresh ink, Shen Mingzhu felt both thrilled and uneasy.

"There won’t be any problems this time, will there?"

Pei Yang looked at her amusedly, "What problems can there be? The seal is stamped, how can they deny it?"

Indeed.

However, she definitely needs to store this contract and the rental receipts properly.

She even considered whether to take them to the Chen Family’s house, where they have a large safe, and there’s always someone home year-round, so there’s no worry about thieves.

Knowing her concerns and worries, Pei Yang laughed at her, saying she was like someone who, once bitten by a snake, fears the rope for ten years.

In the end, under Pei Yang’s reassurance, Shen Mingzhu decided to keep the contract and receipts in the finance room’s safe.

Work matters should be handled officially; in case she kept important documents at home and they were stolen or there was an accident, she wouldn’t be able to explain it to others.

Moreover, the food factory had strengthened its security measures and had night guards, so the possibility of theft was extremely slim.

...

Once Pei Yang was back, the dining table at home became lavish again.

Dinner consisted of two meat dishes and one vegetable dish, and a carp with tofu soup.

After dinner, Shen Mingzhu nervously waited for Pei Yang to start asking questions accusingly, but Pei Yang cleaned up the kitchen utensils as usual, unhurried, and then went downstairs with her for a walk, talking about her and her family’s situation without ever mentioning her sneaking out to work.

Shen Mingzhu clearly understood that his not asking was not because he had forgotten or didn’t mind, but because he was holding back his anger.

After their walk, she took the initiative to pull Pei Yang into the room to apologize, "Don’t be angry, getting angry makes you age."

Pei Yang looked down at her from his height, "Before I left, what did I tell you, and how did you promise me? Repeat it, let’s hear it."

Shen Mingzhu lowered her chin to his chest, coquettishly acting cute like a little girl: "I was wrong, I promise there won’t be a next time."

Usually, had she taken the initiative to throw herself into his arms, Pei Yang would have already embraced her lovingly.

But today, there was no response.

Shen Mingzhu, unwilling to give up, tiptoed to kiss his chin, her delicate white fingers drawing circles on his chest muscles.

In the late spring and early summer, Pei Yang was only wearing a shirt; through the thin cotton fabric, she could clearly feel the masculine muscle strength and burning body temperature.

Seeing his eyes darken and turn dangerous, Shen Mingzhu’s movements became even bolder.

"What are you trying to do?"

Pei Yang grabbed her hand that was hooking his belt.

Shen Mingzhu blinked, her cheeks flushed pink, "The doctor said it’s okay if we’re careful..."

"Don’t start with that; reflect on your mistakes seriously."

Pei Yang took her hand away, looking like an ice sculpture impervious to romance.

Fine fine fine, he doesn’t like it gentle, huh.

Shen Mingzhu shook off the man’s hand, annoyed, "I’m not a convict, what’s wrong with me going out? Why can’t I go out? The child is in my womb, I’ll be responsible for her. If you can, bear and give birth to the child yourself!"

Having said that, she walked to the bed, rolled up her pillow and blanket, planning to sleep in her son’s room tonight.

Pei Yang stopped her, "What are you doing?"

Staring at the man’s handsome and deep face, Shen Mingzhu suddenly realized, why was she rolling up her bedding? Pregnancy really did make her brain foolish.

She threw her pillow and blanket back onto the bed, walked to the other side, and rolled up Pei Yang’s bedding and pillow.

"You leave."

Pei Yang threw the stuff aside, wrapping his arms around her, "Can you please be reasonable? When did I ever not let you go out? Didn’t we agree on our responsibilities beforehand? You manage the factory, I handle external affairs. As a husband, isn’t it my responsibility to ensure your and the child’s safety?"

Shen Mingzhu huffed, touching her belly, "I’m always very careful when I go out, even avoiding people when I walk."

Pei Yang looked at her pale little face, his gaze softening, "Mingzhu, each stage in life has its own responsibilities. Right now, you should focus on taking care of yourself during pregnancy. There will be plenty of time to make money and engage in business later, but if something happens to you and the baby, it’s irreplaceable. I just don’t want you to have regrets later on."

Shen Mingzhu thought it over calmly and realized he made a lot of sense.

If something really happened to the child during the time she was out, she guessed she would regret it and blame herself for the rest of her life and never forgive herself.

"I understand. I won’t handle external affairs before the baby is born."

Pei Yang let go of her, turned around to lock the bedroom door, and started unbuttoning his shirt.

"What are you doing?"

"You."

Pei Yang pulled off his belt and threw it to the ground, "Come on, continue what you didn’t finish earlier."

Shen Mingzhu bashfully covered her face.

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