The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 324 - 323: Zhuang Xueqi Picks a Quarrel, Wisely Resolved

Chapter 324: Chapter 323: Zhuang Xueqi Picks a Quarrel, Wisely Resolved

In the shocked and perplexed gaze of Ou Liya, Zhuang Xueqi’s voice was mocking, "Are you looking down on me?"

Ou Liya shook her head in confusion, "I didn’t, Miss Zhuang, did Shen Mingzhu say something to you?"

Ou Liya simply couldn’t understand why Zhuang Xueqi wouldn’t be going after Shen Mingzhu, punishing her severely?

Why hit her?

"In your eyes, am I, Zhuang Xueqi, even inferior to Shen Mingzhu, a married woman from the countryside? Do you think I need to guard against her stealing my man?"

"No, I just..."

"Just wanted to use me to deal with Shen Mingzhu, thinking I’m stupid?"

Slap.

Zhuang Xueqi backhanded her with another slap, sending Ou Liya stumbling backwards several steps, crashing into the vase.

The loud shatter of the vase drew everyone in the living room over.

Under the gaze of the young ladies, some curious, others watching as if it were a show, Zhuang Xueqi approached Ou Liya step by step, her expression disdainful.

At that moment, Ou Liya was filled with regret and fear.

On her first day at the Zhuang Family as a private tutor, the butler had warned her of Zhuang Xueqi’s haughty temper and advised her not to provoke her lightly.

She was even more afraid of losing this hard-earned job.

That essay had ruined her reputation, and no school was willing to take her in. Coming to the Zhuang Family as a private tutor was also thanks to Xie Yawen’s connections.

"Miss Zhuang, I apologize, it was rude of me. Please forgive my offense, I guarantee it won’t happen again."

Zhuang Xueqi, looking down from a high position, gazed at Ou Liya kneeling on the ground, and said coldly, "You indeed have been rude. You’ve been in the Zhuang Family for only half a month, and have already shattered my father’s favorite enamel vase."

Ou Liya’s face turned pale as she looked back, staring at the broken pieces on the ground and breaking into a cold sweat.

Wei Shanshan exclaimed, "That enamel vase, if I remember correctly, was brought back by Uncle Zhuang from Hong City for one million, right?"

One million!?

Although Ou Liya had guessed the vase was no ordinary object, the price tag of one million still took her breath away as if her throat was being squeezed.

"Don’t worry, this one is not genuine."

Indeed, the Zhuang Family, despite their wealth, wouldn’t place such a valuable antique right at the entrance of a bathroom.

Ou Liya let out a long sigh of relief.

"However..."

Seeing the malicious smile tugging at Zhuang Xueqi’s lips, Ou Liya’s heart tightened once again.

"Even though it’s a copy, it was still bought with money. Miss Ou, you broke something that belongs to the host, and the principle of compensating the price shouldn’t be something I need to teach you, right?"

"I will do my best to compensate," Ou Liya replied laboriously.

"Three thousand yuan."

Ou Liya’s vision darkened.

She couldn’t even produce thirty.

She hadn’t worked for nearly half a year, and her previous savings had long been spent; she was on the verge of destitution.

At this moment, Ou Liya’s regret had reached its peak.

She should never have provoked Zhuang Xueqi.

"Miss Zhuang, I don’t have that much money right now, can I owe it first? I will definitely pay it back later," Ou Liya pleaded.

Zhuang Xueqi’s lips curled, "No money, huh? Then compensate with your body. It just so happens my little brother is in need of a nanny."

Zhuang Xueqi called over Zhuang Xu, pointing to Ou Liya on the ground, "From now on, she’s yours. Whatever you want her to do, just command her directly, no need to be polite~"

The last four words were heavily laden with contempt.

Although Zhuang Xu was only ten years old, being with Zhuang Xueqi day and night, his maliciousness and arrogance were not in the least bit reduced.

He stared at Ou Liya with sinister intent, his eyes gleaming with excitement, as if looking at prey.

He had plenty of ways to mess with people and was prepared to use them all on Ou Liya.

...

Even after getting back at Ou Liya, Zhuang Xueqi did not feel satisfied.

Although she was aware that nothing inappropriate would happen between Ning Yuan and Shen Mingzhu, she was annoyed that Ning Yuan, normally so indifferent to her, had eagerly gone to help Shen Mingzhu. That irked her.

If she was unhappy, she made sure nobody else would have a good day either.

When Shen Mingzhu received a call and rushed to the store, she found the entire place cleared out by Zhuang Xueqi, not a single customer in sight.

Around the shop, by the windows and walls, were four glass-topped round tables, each paired with two wooden chairs for customers to rest or enjoy some pastries.

Zhuang Xueqi and a few unfamiliar young women were seated around the tables, giggling and enjoying their sweets.

Shen Mingzhu steadied herself and, with a smile, approached Zhuang Xueqi, "Miss Zhuang, welcome to our humble store. It’s not very comfortable for you and your friends here. How about we go somewhere nicer to have tea?"

Zhuang Xueqi tossed a half-eaten pastry onto the table and, with a face heavily caked in makeup, said with ridicule, "Shen Mingzhu, you opened a new store without even telling me. What’s the matter, you think you’re too good for Zhuang Xueqi?"

Shen Mingzhu sighed, "Miss Zhuang, it’s not that I’m looking down on you, I’m looking down on myself."

"What am I to invite someone like you to support my opening? I don’t deserve it."

A ton of self-mockery successfully extinguished half of Zhuang Xueqi’s jealousy.

"Cut the sweet talk. Don’t think I don’t know Ning Yuan and his uncle came on the opening day."

"I didn’t invite them; I only invited Miss Zhong. They came of their own accord, to give me face. I can’t overreach."

Zhuang Xueqi was about to say something but was interrupted by Shen Mingzhu, "Miss Zhuang, hasn’t anyone told you?"

"Told me what?"

"Your makeup doesn’t suit you. With your looks and features, you’re like the epitome of the natural beauty style."

Although Zhuang Xueqi didn’t understand what the "epitome of the natural beauty style" meant, she didn’t show her confusion, not wanting to seem unsophisticated.

"And what about it?"

"It’s a waste of your natural assets. To put it in perspective, your makeup is like a Wuling exterior matched with a Rolls-Royce engine. Do you get what I mean?"

This analogy had all of Zhuang Xueqi’s friends laughing.

"I’ve seen people buttering up, but she’s the first I’ve seen who does it so well."

Shen Mingzhu looked at her seriously, "Want to bet?"

"Whether I’m sincere or just flattering you, let’s let the facts speak for themselves."

"If it turns out that I was being sincere, then I ask you all to come and support my business more often. If I’m being sycophantic, then you can let Miss Zhuang handle me however she pleases."

Shen Mingzhu’s boldness piqued Zhuang Xueqi’s interest.

Zhuang Xueqi and her friends happened to have a complete set of cosmetics on them, all from international brands.

Shen Mingzhu carefully selected what she needed and then removed Zhuang Xueqi’s makeup.

Damn, the makeup-free Zhuang Xueqi was a spitting image of Suzy Bae.

She couldn’t fathom why someone with such a good foundation would always wear such heavy makeup.

Using her experience from live-streaming makeup tutorials in her previous life, Shen Mingzhu applied a fresh-faced, first-love makeup look on Zhuang Xueqi.

By the time the makeup was done, all of Zhuang Xueqi’s friends were left agape in amazement.

Zhuang Xueqi, feeling inexplicably stared at, raised an eyebrow, "What’s the matter? Don’t you recognize me?"

"Damn, Xueqi, you have to see this!"

Wei Shanshan couldn’t wait to hold up a mirror in front of Zhuang Xueqi.

Seeing herself in the mirror, Zhuang Xueqi was equally stunned.