The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 375 - 374 I Did Not Lie

Chapter 375: Chapter 374 I Did Not Lie

By the time Shen Mingzhu awoke, it was almost 5 p.m.

She was lying on the rattan sofa with a thin quilt over her, from her angle she could just make out Pei Yang behind the desk.

It’s said that a man who is serious about his work is most attractive, and that held true for Pei Yang as well.

His hair, parted to one side in a six to four ratio, was meticulously combed back with hair wax, making his forehead appear smooth and broad. The slightly raised brow ridge gave his features a three-dimensional and profound look.

Perhaps feeling hot, he had unbuttoned two buttons at the throat, exuding a mix of sensuality and ruggedness that composed his mature charm.

This man was incredibly handsome.

"Sober now?"

"Yeah."

Only when she responded did she realize her throat was terribly dry.

Pei Yang put down his work and got up to pour her a glass of water.

After gulping down most of the glass, Shen Mingzhu’s throat felt more comfortable, but her head was still a muddled mess.

A warm hand touched her forehead, "Still have a headache?"

Shen Mingzhu shook her head, feeling limp and strengthless all over. She pushed the water glass back into his hand and lay down again on the sofa.

Pei Yang set the glass aside, sat down on the coffee table, and casually took her hand. Gently, he kneaded it.

"You slept all afternoon and still haven’t fully woken up."

"I’m awake, but I just don’t feel like moving."

Shen Mingzhu blinked with an innocent expression.

It was rare for Pei Yang to see her look so vulnerable and delicate, and he found it irresistibly endearing.

His voice softened involuntarily, "Then lie down for a bit longer, I’ll finish up and we can leave work."

"Okay."

"Hungry? Want me to get you something to eat?"

"I want a yogurt popsicle."

With her eyes moist and doe-like, the woman appeared as adorable as a small animal waiting to be fed.

Pei Yang glanced at his watch and said, "Wait here," before he took his car keys and left.

Ten minutes later, Shen Mingzhu got her wish and was enjoying a yogurt popsicle.

The workday was nearly over, and the man could have waited to buy one on the way home, but instead, he immediately rode out and brought one back.

This is probably why we look for a lover.

They are there when you need them, providing you company and care.

...

As summer vacation ended, it was suddenly the annual back-to-school season.

When Shen Mingzhu walked into the school gate holding Pei Ziheng’s hand, they immediately attracted the attention of students and parents.

Shen Mingzhu wore a white blouse with a black suspender A-line skirt, and Pei Ziheng was in a similar white shirt paired with black shorts and black leather sandals on his feet.

Their matching black and white outfits, coupled with their equally delicate and beautiful faces, made them stand out like a spotlight as they walked through the campus hand in hand.

On the first day of registration, long lines had formed at several registration points.

Shen Mingzhu chose a queue with fewer people and lined up.

It wasn’t yet 9 a.m., but the sun was already intense, scorching the skin with its heat.

Shen Mingzhu looked down at her son and said, "Find somewhere cool to wait, and I’ll come to you once I’ve finished registering."

Pei Ziheng shook his head, gripping her hand tightly, determined to stay in line with her.

Seeing this, Shen Mingzhu pulled an umbrella from her bag, opened it, and held it over both of their heads.

Perhaps due to the boredom of waiting, a parent behind her started chatting with Shen Mingzhu, "Knowing it would be this crowded, I should have brought an umbrella too."

Shen Mingzhu smiled back, "I’m used to it. I always carry an umbrella in my bag, no fear of rain or sunshine."

"No wonder your skin is so fair, you’re very thoughtful."

After chatting briefly, the parent behind her turned the conversation toward children, "This is your youngest, right? Where’s your older child?"

Shen Mingzhu stroked her son’s head and smiled, "This is my older child. The younger one is just over a year old."

The person was taken aback and then kindly reminded her, "Oh dear, you’re in the wrong place. The primary school registration is next door; this is the middle school registration point."

Nanming is a well-established prestigious school that encompasses primary, junior, and senior levels.

Shen Mingzhu smiled back, "No mistake here, I’m indeed here to enroll in junior high."

The person was confused, "So are you holding a spot for someone else?"

Surely someone so young couldn’t be attending junior high, could they? Wouldn’t that make them a prodigy?

Just as Shen Mingzhu was about to respond, Zhao Yun came out of nowhere, "Aunt Mingzhu, Ziheng, you’re here!"

Shen Mingzhu smiled at Zhao Yun, "Whom are you registering with?"

"Aunt Zhou, but she went next door to handle the transfer procedures for Liang Xiaowen first."

Liang Xiaowen was previously at a school quite far from home.

Though the primary section of Nanming might not rival that school, it wasn’t much different, the main advantage being its proximity to home.

Moreover, having the siblings attend the same school would allow them to look after each other.

Seeing the line behind her getting longer, Shen Mingzhu made a quick decision and had Pei Ziheng join Zhao Yun at the back of the queue.

...

By the time Shen Mingzhu finished the registration procedures, Zhou Hui had still not returned, and the queue was about to reach Zhao Yun; Shen Mingzhu had no choice but to go next door to get the registration materials from Zhou Hui.

When she found Zhou Hui, she was deep in conversation with another parent.

Shen Mingzhu stood beside them for a while, but Zhou Hui showed no signs of stopping, so she couldn’t help interrupting, "Sister Zhou, it’s almost Zhao Yun’s turn."

Hearing this, the parent took their child and left.

"Mrs. Liu, take care now."

After watching the other leave, Zhou Hui turned back with a look of regret on her face.

"The lady I was just talking to is the wife of Longchang Construction Company’s second boss; Dafa has been wanting to land a contract with Longchang recently, and it hasn’t been easy to find a chance to strike up a conversation like this, sigh."

Her tone carried a hint of blame toward Shen Mingzhu.

"I’m so sorry, why don’t you give me the registration documents and I’ll go register Xiaoyun for you while you continue your chat with Mrs. Liu?"

Shen Mingzhu meant it as a tease, but Zhou Hui took her seriously.

After thrusting the materials at her, Zhou Hui hurried off with Liang Xiaowen to catch up with Mrs. Liu.

Shen Mingzhu was speechless.

Fortunately, Zhao Yun was carefree, not minding in the slightest that her stepmother had walked away, still grinning ear to ear.

...

On the opening day of school, it was Shen Mingzhu who took Pei Ziheng to the school.

Although Pei Ziheng had said it wasn’t necessary, Shen Mingzhu was not at ease.

A new school, new teachers, and new classmates—she was very worried that her son wouldn’t be able to adapt.

Her son was only seven years old, while the others in his class were twelve or thirteen; she was particularly concerned that he might be bullied or teased by his classmates, causing negative psychological effects.

After all, in the book, Pei Ziheng’s character was an anti-social mega-villain, so she had to be extremely vigilant, preventing any possible factors that might trigger Pei Ziheng’s dark side.

...

Although it was junior high, there were still many parents dropping off their children at the school gates, including some who had chatted with Shen Mingzhu during registration.

Seeing Shen Mingzhu, the person came up enthusiastically to greet her.

"Young lady, dropping off your kid for school?"

"Yes, I am."

The person looked around, "Where’s your child? I don’t see them."

Pei Ziheng raised his hand, "I’m here."

The person looked down at Pei Ziheng with a smile, "I wasn’t talking about you, buddy. You’ve still got a ways to go before junior high, which grade are you in now?"

"Seventh grade."

"Kids shouldn’t lie, you know."

"I’m not lying, I really am in the seventh grade, and I’m not a little kid."

Hearing the exchange, another parent there to drop off their child cued Shen Mingzhu, "So you’re just going to let your kid lie like that without correcting him?"

Shen Mingzhu looked at the person, "My son isn’t lying."

"Sure, no wonder the kid’s acting that way, it’s all the adults’ fault for spoiling him."

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