The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 394 - 393: The Same Bed Does Not Produce Two Types of People

Chapter 394: Chapter 393: The Same Bed Does Not Produce Two Types of People

"Mike, come here!"

Seeing "Dad" waving at him, Mike happily wagged his big tail and ran over.

While stroking the golden retriever, Ning Yuan complained to Zhuang Xueqi with annoyance, "Can you not always take Mike outside? He gets all dirty. You like dogs so much, raise one yourself. Stop always eyeing mine."

Zhuang Xueqi crossed her arms and looked down condescendingly at the dog and the man, "Ning Yuan, we’re married now. Half of your things are mine, and that includes the dog."

"Dream on, Mike was raised by me. He’s mine alone, and you’re not allowed to touch him without my permission from now on."

Zhuang Xueqi’s lips curled, "Ning Yuan, are you sure you want to be so clear-cut with me?"

Ning Yuan sneered, "There’s just the two of us in the house. Cut the act. This marriage is just for show to please our parents. I don’t care what you do outside, but don’t think about managing me or my dog."

"Fine. Then don’t even think about touching anything I raise in the future."

"Rest assured, even if you beg me, I won’t spare it a second glance."

"Ning Yuan, you’d better remember what you said today."

Having said that, Zhuang Xueqi turned and walked back to her residence in her high heels.

Although the couple lived at the top of Mingyuan after getting married, they didn’t live with their in-laws but in a separate villa next door.

Ning Yuan stared at her slim and graceful figure for a while, then turned to the golden retriever and scolded, "From now on, you’re not allowed to go out with her, or I’ll send you to Africa to become a stray."

The golden retriever gave him a disdainful look, "Woof woof!"

One bed never breeds two different kinds of people, and that’s about you two.

One threatens to chop me up and eat dog meat if I don’t listen, the other threatens to send me to Africa to be a stray.

Damn.

Life as a dog is tough.

You two better split up soon.

...

Ning Wenqian was also home for dinner, which was rare, and Zhuang Xueqi voiced her plans.

"Dad, Mom, after we celebrate Grandpa’s birthday, I want to go on a vacation to New York, and maybe learn a few things. It will probably be about three months."

Before Mr. and Mrs. Ning Wenqian could speak, Ning Yuan was already excitedly ordering the butler, "Crack open the champagne, we need to celebrate properly tonight."

Yan Jing cast a disapproving glance at her son, then turned to Zhuang Xueqi with concern, reminding her of a few things, and said she would convert all the household expenses for the next six months into US dollars for Zhuang Xueqi to use abroad.

Ning Wenqian also generously stated that he would give his daughter-in-law an extra allowance for the holiday.

"Thank you, Dad."

Zhuang Xueqi was overjoyed, but Ning Yuan was not pleased.

"What about me?"

Ning Wenqian glanced at him, "You can go with Xueqi."

"I don’t want to go out with her. When she’s gone, I don’t know how happy I’ll be on my own."

"Then enjoy yourself at home. The house doesn’t lack food and shelter for you, and you can keep your mom company for me."

"..."

Am I really your flesh and blood? Was I picked up from a trash heap?

...

Returning to his place, Ning Yuan went straight upstairs to his room.

Even though they were married, he and Zhuang Xueqi lived separately.

"Ning Yuan."

Hearing Zhuang Xueqi calling him, Ning Yuan deliberately ignored her and continued to his room.

"Hey, you don’t want your share of the money?"

Ning Yuan stopped and turned around, eyeing her suspiciously.

Zhuang Xueqi beckoned with her finger, teasing him like a dog, "If you want the money, follow me."

Ning Yuan wanted to maintain his dignity, but the thought of not having any money to spend for the next six months crushed his spine.

...

Zhuang Xueqi, changed into pajamas, came out of the walk-in closet and saw Ning Yuan standing at her bedroom door, arching an eyebrow, "Come in and talk."

Ning Yuan stretched out his hand, "We agreed, half the household money for each of us. Give me my half."

Zhuang Xueqi dodged the question, "Afraid to come in? Scared of me?"

"Afraid of me? You must be joking."

"If not, then come on in."

"I’m not going in, what’re you gonna do, bite me?"

"Coward."

No man could stand being called a coward by a woman.

Though they lived under the same roof, separated by just a wall, this was still Ning Yuan’s first time stepping into Zhuang Xueqi’s room.

"Tsk tsk, what taste you have, black furniture paired with gold wallpaper, and a chandelier that looks like a blooming trumpet flower, it’s unbearably tacky..."

Zhuang Xueqi paid no attention to Ning Yuan’s criticism, and picked out a bottle of red wine from the rack, turning to hand it to him.

"I don’t drink such trashy red wine."

"It’s not for you to drink, it’s for you to open."

Before Ning Yuan could refuse, Zhuang Xueqi shook the check in her hand.

Ning Yuan gritted his teeth and took the wine.

Once the red wine was opened, Zhuang Xueqi placed a transparent wine glass on the bar, "Pour me some wine."

I’ll drink you under the table!

Ning Yuan deliberately poured a full glass.

Zhuang Xueqi wasn’t angry, took the glass and sniffed the wine, then smiled slightly at Ning Yuan who was watching her, "Once I finish this glass, the check is yours."

Ning Yuan got angry, "Zhuang Xueqi, are you playing with me?"

"You were so happy, popping champagne when you heard I was going abroad, why can’t I drink wine to celebrate?"

Ning Yuan clenched his teeth, his eyes falling on the check clutched by her snow-white fingertips, and reluctantly leaned back in his seat.

"Fine, you drink, I’ll keep you company to the end."

Zhuang Xueqi sipped her wine with elegance.

Ten minutes passed, and the wine in the glass was still brimming.

Ning Yuan’s patience had run out, "Can you drink faster?"

"I can’t, I can’t hold my liquor well, I’ll get drunk if I drink too fast."

Zhuang Xueqi gave him a sidelong glance, "Or you can drink it for me, and once you’re done, you can take the check and leave."

Ning Yuan obviously didn’t trust her, "Zhuang Xueqi, what trick are you playing now?"

"I can give you the check first."

Having said that, she indeed quickly handed over the check.

Ning Yuan took the check, inspected it, found no issues and pocketed it, then drained the glass of red wine on the bar and left.

1, 2, 3...

By the count of ten, a thud echoed behind him as something heavy hit the carpet.

Zhuang Xueqi hopped off the high stool and approached the man sprawled on the floor, squatting down, her snow-white hand patting his face.

"Taking this young lady’s money, exchanging it with something from your own body, that’s fair, isn’t it?"

...

After work, Shen Mingzhu picked up her bag and headed home.

With the recent snowfall and the cold weather, she decided not to ride her motorcycle to and from work, opting instead for the bus.

The factory was a distance away from the bus station, and as Shen Mingzhu walked while casually chatting with co-workers who were going the same way, a black car stopped at the side of the road.

As the rear window of the car lowered, the familiar face of Zhong Qing’s mother appeared.

"Mrs. Pei."

"Mrs. Zhong."

Zhong Qing’s mother looked at her with a smile in her eyes, "Get in, I’ll give you a lift."

"No need, I’m just going to take the bus up ahead, it’s quite convenient."

Mrs. Zhong just smiled, "I happened to be passing by on business and didn’t expect to run into you. Do you have some time now? Let’s have dinner, we can also chat about the favor you did for me last time."

Shen Mingzhu hesitated for a moment, then agreed.

Though Zhong Qing said her mother was very strict in upbringing, through several encounters, she hadn’t sensed any hostility from Mrs. Zhong toward her.