The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 488 - 487: Zhou Hui Brings Up Marriage Registration Again

Chapter 488: Chapter 487: Zhou Hui Brings Up Marriage Registration Again

Zhou Hui was not socially inept, nor did she lack the ability to put on a show of courtesy. She had tried to ingratiate herself with Zhao Yun before, but he never reciprocated and often left her feeling embarrassed.

Over time, she stopped setting herself up for disappointment.

From an outsider’s perspective, she might seem rather helpless, but as a stepmother unable to harmonize with her stepson, it was a reflection of her own shortcomings.

Or perhaps, she had never genuinely put her heart into handling this matter.

During the meal, Pei Yang and Zhao Dafa both drank quite a bit.

Shen Mingzhu first drove Zhao Dafa’s family home, then turned around to pick up Pei Yang and his two sons from the restaurant.

Zhou Hui entered the room with a warm glass of honey water and woke the drunken Zhao Dafa.

"Dafa, get up and drink some water before you sleep."

Zhao Dafa slowly sat up from the bed, smiled hazily at Zhou Hui with bleary eyes, thanked her, and took the water to drink slowly.

Zhou Hui knew that Zhao Dafa was most agreeable at times like this and took the opportunity to say, "Dafa, why don’t we get our marriage certificate? We’ve been together for so many years."

Zhao Dafa tilted his head to drink a couple of sips of honey water before speaking, "I’ll think about it."

Although he didn’t agree, he didn’t refuse, either. It seemed there was hope of becoming official this time.

Zhou Hui suppressed her excitement and tenderly helped Zhao Dafa back to bed before heading to her daughter’s room.

"Xiaowen, be good and don’t upset Uncle Zhao these next few days. Once your mom and Uncle Zhao get our certificate, whatever you want, mom will buy for you."

"Mhm, I got it."

Liang Xiaowen had a youthful look in her eyes, but her demeanor betrayed a worldliness beyond her years.

Awoken at three in the morning needing to pee, Zhao Dafa got up to visit the bathroom and heard shouting from his son’s room. He hesitated, remembering Zhou Hui’s proposal.

After using the toilet, he turned and pushed open the door to his son’s room.

Seeing his son engrossed in video games, Zhao Dafa did not disturb him. Instead, he closed the door behind him and lay down on the bed.

After finishing a game, Zhao Yun finally noticed Zhao Dafa snoring heavily on his bed.

He intended to wake Zhao Dafa but then noticed half a wallet sticking out of Zhao Dafa’s pocket, which caught his eye.

He tiptoed over to the bed and bent down, about to pull the wallet out, when Zhao Dafa woke up.

With a smirk, Zhao Dafa looked at him, "What are you trying to do?"

Zhao Yun blinked his dark eyes, "I was going to cover you with the blanket, you believe that?"

"I believe you’re full of crap!"

Zhao Dafa muttered a soft curse and sat up from the bed, "If you need money, ask me for it. Don’t start picking up thieving habits, or I’ll break your legs."

Zhao Yun immediately held out his hand, "Then give me some money."

"Didn’t I already give you some a few days ago?"

"I spent it all."

"You spent two hundred bucks in just a few days? Are you a gold-swallowing beast or something?"

"I bought a gift for a classmate."

"What kind of gift costs two hundred dollars?"

"A Walkman. For my last birthday, they gave me a game card; it’s only fair to return the favor with a Walkman, right? Isn’t it what you taught me? Men can’t be stingy outside; it makes them look bad."

Zhao Dafa was left gaping, "You haven’t even grown a full beard, what kind of man are you supposed to be?"

Although he scolded with his mouth, his hand reached for his wallet and pulled out a fifty.

"This is all you get for this month, so make it last. Once it’s gone, that’s it."

Zhao Yun pocketed the fifty and kept glancing at his father’s wallet, "Give me another fifty, will you? Two-fifty just sounds so bad."

Zhao Dafa thought it made sense, but there were only one-hundred bills left in the wallet, so he asked Zhao Yun to give back the fifty first.

"Zhao, you only have one son like me. Isn’t all the wealth you’re making mine anyway? Whether I spend it sooner or later, it’ll be spent eventually, what’s one hundred and fifty in the grand scheme of things?"

Damn, that sort of made sense.

Zhao Dafa pulled out another one-hundred bill.

"Get lost."

"Thanks, Boss Zhao!"

Zhao Yun happily pocketed the money and picked up the game controller, ready to continue playing, but Zhao Dafa called out to him.

"Take a break, I need to talk to you."

Zhao Yun’s eyes were fixed on the TV screen. "Go ahead, I’m listening."

Zhao Dafa rested his hands under his head. "What if I get a marriage certificate with your Aunt Hui and make her officially your mom, would you be willing?"

Zhao Yun froze in his movements, and his expression soured. "What if I say I’m not willing?"

Zhao Dafa let out a long sigh, "If you’re not willing, then I’ll have to make things clear with her sooner. I can’t just keep dragging her along."

"Come on, she would’ve left long ago if she wanted to. Every time it’s the same drama: she cries, she makes a scene, she threatens to hang herself, annoying like a piece of gum you can’t shake off!"

Zhao Dafa grabbed a pillow and threw it at his back. "You can dislike her, but you can’t talk about your elders like that, that’s disrespectful."

"I didn’t say anything wrong!"

Zhao Yun threw the controller to the ground and left the house in a huff.

Zhao Dafa rubbed his forehead in pain as he stared at the slammed door.

...

"Ziheng! Ziheng!"

Pei Ziheng had just put his little sister to sleep when he heard Zhao Yun shouting outside, and his delicate brows immediately furrowed.

He went to the balcony and motioned for Zhao Yun at the gate to be quiet, then calmly went downstairs.

As soon as Pei Ziheng stepped out the door, Zhao Yun grabbed his arm, "Come on, let’s go to the arcade and play some games."

"No."

"I’m in a bad mood; you have to keep me company."

"What happened to you again?"

Zhao Yun sullenly told Pei Ziheng about the conversation he had with Zhao Dafa. "...Anyway, I don’t agree with this marriage. If my dad really registers with her, I won’t go back home. I’ll move in with you."

Pei Ziheng scoffed, "You’re dreaming."

Zhao Yun’s eyes widened like brass bells. "Aren’t we still brothers?"

Pei Ziheng glanced behind him and said, "Let’s talk somewhere else."

"I’ll treat you to an ice bowl; Director Zhao gave me some pocket money again."

Pei Ziheng wasn’t interested in the street food outside; when it came to making snacks, his mother was second to none.

But he didn’t refuse and followed Zhao Yun towards the ice cream shop while talking to him.

"Your dad’s got poor taste, you can find a stepmother that suits you."

"I like someone like your mom."

"Get lost!"

Pei Ziheng kicked him.

Zhao Yun just dusted off his pants with a grin, not the least bit offended.

As a close friend, he thoroughly understood that Shen Mingzhu, the stepmother, was a sacred figure in Pei Ziheng’s eyes, untouchable.

If it were him, he would have fought anyone who tried to take away such a wonderful stepmother.

Thinking about it, Zhao Yun couldn’t help but sigh, "I’d love to find a nice stepmother, but where would I find one?"

"Far away in the horizon, yet close right before your eyes."

Zhao Yun thought hard for a moment and then realized, "Ah, I know, your aunt? If my dad married your aunt, wouldn’t that make us even closer relatives?"

Before he could finish, he received another kick from Pei Ziheng.

Zhao Yun was puzzled. "Why did you kick me again? Wasn’t it you who said it?"

Pei Ziheng glared at him impatiently. "I didn’t say it was my aunt."

"Then who were you talking about? It couldn’t be Auntie Hongmei, right?"

He always overheard the adults around him privately discussing Shen Hongmei’s reluctance to marry.

Pei Ziheng gave him a sidelong glance, "Why couldn’t it be?"

Zhao Yun was taken aback at first, then shocked. "Damn, are you kidding me?"

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