The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 543 - 542: Liang Kean Brings Humiliation Upon Himself

Chapter 543: Chapter 542: Liang Kean Brings Humiliation Upon Himself

It had been a while since the end of the workday, and the office had emptied, with the sky outside gradually darkening, yet Shen Hongmei showed no signs of leaving.

She looked at the pager in her hand, feeling both conflicted and troubled.

To be honest, Zhao Dafa wasn’t bad-looking, of average height, neither fat nor skinny, dressed impeccably every day—combining the air of a successful businessman with a lack of ostentation, and with a decent personality to boot.

She was somewhat moved by the interest such a man showed in her.

But as a woman from the countryside with a less than glamorous past, would a successful and accomplished man like Zhao Dafa really be willing to accept her past?

Besides, she lacked confidence in her ability to become a stepmother and was more concerned that people around her would think her a vain woman, enamored with Zhao Dafa’s wealth.

As she was caught up in her vexation, someone suddenly knocked on the office door—

"Manager Shen, you haven’t left yet?"

When she looked up and saw the factory’s security guard, Shen Hongmei casually replied, "I’m leaving now."

The guard beamed with a smile, "You should hurry; someone has been waiting for you outside the factory, and they’ve been there for quite a while."

Shen Hongmei’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively looked out the window, but she couldn’t see the factory gate from her office.

With a heart full of unease, she arrived outside the factory gate, looked left and right, and didn’t see Zhao Dafa’s Santana car; Shen Hongmei let out a sigh of relief, yet at the same time, she felt an inexplicable sense of emptiness inside her.

Just as she was about to head back to her dormitory, she heard from behind—

"Hongmei."

Turning towards the voice, Shen Hongmei finally saw Liang Kean standing next to the factory signpost, leaning on his bicycle.

"I’ve been waiting for you for a while," he said. "Are you that busy with work that you leave this late?"

Shen Hongmei replied vaguely and changed the subject to ask about Liang Kean’s purpose in coming.

Pushing his not-so-new bicycle over to her, Liang Kean suggested, "Let’s walk and talk."

Shen Hongmei didn’t want to become entangled with Liang Kean, but since he had come to her, she could only nod in agreement.

"Hongmei, I heard you’ve been single?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Hongmei turned to look at him, "Who said that?"

"I heard it from Chen Liang."

In reality, he had pestered Chen Liang to inquire about Shen Hongmei’s recent situation.

After going round in circles, once he realized Shen Hongmei was the best option he could find, Liang Kean ran to Chen Liang, hoping to have him play matchmaker once more.

Chen Liang, whose mind was certainly not impaired, and knowing full well the Liang family’s bad reputation, would not engage in matchmaking for them; that would be like abetting tyranny.

After being tactfully rejected by Chen Liang, Liang Kean didn’t give up; he indirectly found out Shen Hongmei was still single and decided to come himself.

He was quite confident in himself.

A graduate of Petroleum University, handsome, with a proper job—how could Shen Hongmei possibly resist a suitor with such good qualifications?

"Hongmei, actually, I..."

"I have someone already," Shen Hongmei interrupted.

After so much time working in recruitment, how could Shen Hongmei not see through Liang Kean’s intentions?

She had initially thought Liang Kean came for Liang Xiling’s work situation.

But she hadn’t expected it was him wanting to rekindle their past flame.

Did the Liang family think they could come and go as they pleased, just like summer rain?

Moreover, she still remembered how the Liang family had previously looked down on her for being older and from the countryside.

With this in mind, Shen Hongmei pulled out the pager from her bag, "Look, this is from my significant other," she said.

Liang Kean fixed his gaze on the pager in her hand, and for a long time, couldn’t find the words to speak.

His own workplace leader had a pager just like it, which was said to cost over two thousand.

He would have to work for two years without spending a dime to afford one.

Shen Hongmei had actually found such a wealthy significant other?

Liang Kean felt a mixture of emotions, "What does he do for work?"

"He owns a company."

Liang Kean felt a tightness in his chest, unable to resist asking, "Then he must be quite old, right?"

Otherwise, why would such a wealthy man take an interest in someone like Shen Hongmei?

Maybe he’s some decrepit old man in his forties or fifties.

"Age isn’t the issue, the most important thing is that he treats me well, respects me, cares for me, and doesn’t look down on me for being from the countryside. That’s enough, isn’t it?"

Hearing the sarcasm in Shen Hongmei’s voice, Liang Kean got annoyed as well.

"Does he also know you’ve had an abortion for another man?"

Shen Hongmei was stunned, then her face turned fiery red as if doused with chili water.

"You, how did you know about that?"

Looking at her shocked and ashamed expression, Liang Kean felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction, "You don’t think you could keep those sordid affairs a secret, do you? I had thought, given your young age, that you were just fooling around, but it turns out you’re just vain, selling yourself for money. No wonder your ex didn’t want you..."

"Slap!"

Liang Kean stared at her in shock, "You dare to hit me?"

Shen Hongmei sneered, "I’ve already slapped you, what’s there to be afraid of? So what if I love money, how is it any of your business? You love money too, so why don’t you stop working and just lie at home?"

"Who do you think you are, giving me orders and advice? Instead of meddling in my business, you should worry about your own problems. An adult like you, so poor you can’t even afford a wife, and you have the nerve to criticize me? Go to the hospital and have your brain checked out, you’re sick."

Liang Kean’s face turned from red to pale and then red again.

He had never been touched by even his parents throughout his life, yet he was slapped in the face by a woman in public.

It was a disgrace beyond measure.

After cursing him out, still not feeling vindicated, Shen Hongmei fiercely kicked Liang Kean’s bicycle before striding away.

Liang Kean was seething with anger but didn’t dare to chase her, truly taken aback by Shen Hongmei’s brazen fierceness.

She really is from the countryside, so crude and lacking in manners.

Even if he remained single all his life, he wouldn’t want a woman like that.

Liang Kean turned his bicycle around in a huff, preparing to ride home, only to find the chain stuck as he tried to pedal.

Looking down, he saw the chain guard was crushed by Shen Hongmei’s kick.

There wasn’t a repair shop nearby, so he had no choice but to push it.

So annoying!

...

Shen Hongmei was a woman with a fiery temper.

Setbacks didn’t bring her down; they only fueled her fighting spirit.

Since she couldn’t hide her past, she simply decided not to hide it anymore.

She randomly picked a payphone and paged Zhao Dafa.

Soon, the phone rang; it was Zhao Dafa returning her call.

As she was about to take action, Shen Hongmei started to falter a bit.

"Hello."

Seeing her hesitate to pick up, the stall owner grabbed the phone.

"Oh yes, she’s here, right beside me."

With that, the stall owner handed her the phone, "Here, for you."

Shen Hongmei reluctantly took the phone, "Hello?"

"Hongmei, you were looking for me? What is it?"

Zhao Dafa’s tone was as easygoing and amiable as usual over the phone.

Shen Hongmei felt her eyes inexplicably moisten, "Um, Brother Zhao, do you have time right now?"

"I do."

Shen Hongmei’s fingers twirled around the phone cord, "I’m at the bookstall diagonally across from your company."

"Alright, I’m heading over now."

After paying for the call, Shen Hongmei found a flowerbed and sat down to wait.

"Sorry about this, there’s an emergency at the company, and I’ve already settled the bill. You bosses enjoy your drinks; I have to get going."

After being compelled to drink several glasses by a table of people, Zhao Dafa finally managed to extricate himself and caught a taxi straight to the company.

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