The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 325 - 324: Perfectly Resolving Difficult Situations

Chapter 325: Chapter 324: Perfectly Resolving Difficult Situations

Looking at the familiar yet pure and delicate face in the mirror, Zhuang Xueqi’s heart pounded wildly.

She had made herself so beautiful!

As she examined her reflection from all angles, she casually glanced at Shen Mingzhu and said, "Is this what you just called ’light makeup’?"

"Yes, Miss Zhuang."

Shen Mingzhu briefly explained to Zhuang Xueqi and the other young ladies the differences between a light makeup look and a heavily made-up look.

So it’s ’light makeup,’ not ’light salt.’

Zhuang Xueqi thought to herself, while Wei Shanshan and the others took out their compact mirrors, inspecting their faces and discussing among themselves whether they fit into the light or heavy makeup category.

After admiring her makeup, Zhuang Xueqi’s fox-like eyes sized up Shen Mingzhu with undisguised skepticism, "Who taught you all this?"

How could a woman from a rural area know more than her? There must be something fishy.

"My husband used to be a sailor, traveling to all corners of the world. He liked to learn about local customs everywhere he went and then share it with me when he came back. That’s how I heard about light and heavy makeup looks. As for the makeup skills, I experimented on my own. I’m just a housewife, and besides cooking, I love to doll up. If looks aren’t enough, makeup does the trick, right? But Miss Zhuang, you have such a good foundation, you look beautiful with just a few simple touches."

Shen Mingzhu’s flattery made Zhuang Xueqi very pleased, and any dissatisfaction she had with Mingzhu disappeared completely.

Afterward, Shen Mingzhu also did unique makeup looks for Wei Shanshan and the others.

Even though she wasn’t a beauty blogger in her previous life, she needed to appear on camera and was well-versed in popular makeup trends.

Creating a few simple everyday looks was a breeze for her.

By the time the last makeup look was completed, Shen Mingzhu’s arms were so sore she could barely lift them.

Luckily, the group of young ladies was very satisfied, and each took several boxes of pastries with them as they left.

When it was time to pay the bill, Zhuang Xueqi took care of it, and the total was just over two hundred.

——"You know Ou Liya, right? She’s now working as a family tutor and nanny at my place. The reason I came to see you today was also because she put the idea in my head."

After sending off Zhuang Xueqi and her entourage, Shen Mingzhu sat in the rest area, massaging her sore arms and thinking about what Xueqi had said before leaving.

It had been over half a year since she last saw Ou Liya, and she didn’t expect that the other woman still held a grudge over their past friction and was pulling strings behind her back.

...

After leaving Mingzhu Restaurant, Zhuang Xueqi bid farewell to her friends and turned towards the Ning Family’s house.

She and Ning Yuan had no feelings for each other and lived separately even after their engagement, but she would go to the Ning Family’s house for dinner every weekend.

Today was Saturday.

It was still early when she arrived at the Ning Family, so Zhuang Xueqi went straight to the room she usually stayed in to change into comfortable loungewear.

While picking out clothes, she remembered Shen Mingzhu’s suggestion and chose a white knitted dress.

A short lantern-sleeve top paired with a trumpet-shaped skirt, and her feet slipped into matching white fluffy slippers.

After changing, she entered the main house’s living room, only to find that Ning Yuan was also home, playing with his Golden Retriever and a ball.

Ning Yuan threw it, and the dog fetched, both enjoying themselves immensely.

Until the appearance of Zhuang Xueqi—

"What the fuck!?"

Ning Yuan stared at Zhuang Xueqi as if he’d seen a ghost, the ball slipping from his hand and rolling far away on the ground.

The Golden Retriever didn’t chase after it, frozen like its owner, staring at Zhuang Xueqi in a daze, its tail wagging wildly.

"What are you looking at? Don’t you recognize me?"

"Psh, who’d want to look at you? You’re like a female ghost, almost scared the life out of this young master here."

Ning Yuan’s sharp tongue was apparent, but as Zhuang Xueqi bent down to stroke the Golden Retriever, he couldn’t help but sneak another look at her.

Her long, straight, black hair fell softly behind her, and the high neck of her sweater made her face seem smaller than a palm, innocent and pure.

The key point was that Zhuang Xueqi wasn’t wearing makeup today.

No, that’s not right, it looked like she did, but also like she didn’t.

Anyway, for some reason, she appeared more pleasant than usual.

As Ning Yuan mulled this over, he suddenly locked eyes with Zhuang Xueqi, and hastily looked away.

Damn it, what was this about? Had he been celibate for too long that he was starting to find Zhuang Xueqi, this tigress, attractive?

But soon, Ning Yuan realized this was not his misconception.

Zhuang Xueqi did look better today, even his mom complimented her.

"Xueqi, you look very pretty today, and your makeup is not bad either, it suits you well."

Although this was the truth, Ning Yuan said out of habit, "What’s so pretty about her, Mom? Don’t just compliment her indiscriminately, her tail might shoot up to the sky later."

Zhuang Xueqi was not angered, and affectionately linked arms with Yan Jing, "Shen Mingzhu did my makeup today."

Ning Yuan purposely said, "No wonder, her taste is indeed better than yours."

Zhuang Xueqi gave a half-smile, "Aren’t you curious why I went to find Shen Mingzhu?"

Ning Yuan had an ominous feeling, "Did you go to give her a hard time?"

"Do you think I should have given her a hard time?"

"Are you sick? What has she ever done to you?"

"That’s the question for you, isn’t it? She just opened her new store a few days ago, and you personally went there, even introduced a buyer to her. I’m not a petty woman, but someone reported the situation right to my face, and if I didn’t do something about it, others might think I’m easy to bully, right, Aunt Jing?"

Yan Jing nodded calmly, "Whatever Xueqi wants to do, she should do without worrying about him."

With Yan Jing’s support, Zhuang Xueqi became even more arrogant, but Ning Yuan was very upset.

If Shen Mingzhu suffered at Zhuang Xueqi’s hands, his uncle would surely not let him off the hook.

"Zhuang Xueqi, can’t you control your princess temper? I only approached Shen Mingzhu to order some desserts that Grandpa can eat."

Zhuang Xueqi was startled, "You’re going to Hong City?"

"That’s none of your business."

Yan Jing gave her son a disapproving look and turned to Zhuang Xueqi with a pleasant face, "At the end of the month, it’s the old master’s birthday. Why don’t you come celebrate his birthday with us?"

Zhuang Xueqi happily agreed.

Ning Yuan cursed under his breath, calling her a tag-along.

...

During dinner, Zhuang Xueqi purposefully sat opposite Ning Yuan.

As a woman, she certainly didn’t miss the look of amazement on Ning Yuan’s face when he first saw her.

Every time Ning Yuan picked up food, he could see Zhuang Xueqi.

In all honesty, Zhuang Xueqi did look quite pretty today, but he couldn’t help feeling annoyed thinking about her going after Shen Mingzhu.

After dinner, he left the house and went to Yan Yi’s place.

"Old Yan, I really didn’t expect Zhuang Xueqi, that troublesome woman, to go find Shen Mingzhu trouble. This has nothing to do with me, you can’t put the blame on me."

"Hmm."

The indifference in Yan Yi’s response made Ning Yuan puzzled, "Why aren’t you worried at all? Aren’t you afraid that Shen Mingzhu will suffer?"

Yan Yi smiled faintly, "It’s hard to say for others, but her, I believe she can handle Xueqi’s difficulties."

At the Pei Family’s home.

While changing diapers for her daughter, Shen Mingzhu complained to Pei Yang about Ou Liya.

"Thank goodness she was fired by the school, allowing someone as vengeful as her to teach is dangerous, she could lead the students astray."

Pei Yang squatted next to her watching her change her daughter’s diaper, his face filled with concern, "Did Miss Zhuang bully you?"

Shen Mingzhu deliberately said, "If she did bully me, what would you do?"

"Put her in a sack and give her a good beating."

"Can’t you think of another way?"

"The Zhuang Family is rich and powerful, we can’t confront them head-on, but we can keep a record and find an opportunity to settle scores later."

Shen Mingzhu was noncommittal, "Although Zhuang Xueqi has a bad temper, she’s not a bad person. I can handle her."

The phone in the living room rang, and Pei Yang stood up to answer it.

A moment later, Pei Yang came back with a sour face, "Wife, it’s for you."

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