The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 677 - 676: Giving You a Younger Brother

Chapter 677: Chapter 676: Giving You a Younger Brother

"Mrs. Ren, you’re here to pick up Jingshu, right? She’s still in the dance studio..."

"Teacher Wan!"

Ren Yingying couldn’t wait to interrupt Wan Ying, "Yesterday my sister came home and said she met Teacher Ai Qing, is it true?"

Although Mrs. Ren didn’t say anything, she was also filled with expectation, looking at Wan Ying and wanting to know more about her daughter’s encounter with Ai Qing.

That’s Ai Qing, one of the most outstanding young female dancers of our time.

"Yes, it’s true."

Wan Ying’s confirmation clearly left Ren Yingying deeply disappointed.

Jingshu actually encountered Ai Qing by sheer luck?

"What did Teacher Ai Qing say to Ren, to my sister?"

Even if Jingshu really did encounter Ai Qing by chance, she couldn’t have received praise from her. That’s a top dancer with standards and taste so high, how could she take a liking to Jingshu?

Wan Ying didn’t know Ren Yingying’s real thoughts and thought the mother and daughter were happy for Jingshu. She immediately recounted the events of the previous day in detail and didn’t forget to praise Jingshu highly after finishing.

Upon hearing the teacher say her daughter had made significant progress, Mrs. Ren immediately headed to the dance studio to see for herself.

Ren Yingying followed closely behind.

Seeing is believing—she wanted to see if Jingshu’s dancing was really as good as they said.

The group quickly arrived outside the dance studio and looked in through the glass window.

Jingshu, wearing a pristine white practice skirt, was like a budding flower, beautiful, frail, and reserved.

Each turn, each leap was as light and fluid as a willow branch.

As the music crescendoed, Jingshu’s steps became rapid and powerful, her fast-spinning figure nearly a blur, displaying a resolve and belief to break free and transform herself.

When the piece ended, Wan Ying couldn’t help but excitedly applaud.

"Mrs. Ren, your daughter danced this piece so well!"

Hearing the designer’s praise, Mrs. Ren’s smile couldn’t be wider.

Although there was flattery in the designer’s words, Mrs. Ren, having come from a song and dance troupe herself, knew whether her daughter danced well.

Indeed, there had been a huge improvement from the past, one that could make people feel an uplifting life force.

Everyone present was happy for Jingshu’s improvement, with the sole exception of Ren Yingying, whose face was clouded with gloom.

She went to great lengths to trick Mrs. Ren into coming, in order to expose Jingshu’s lies, only to instead witness Jingshu’s progress and growth.

How infuriating!

Especially after Jingshu tried on the performance outfit, Mrs. Ren unprecedentedly apologized to Jingshu for the fight that morning.

Mrs. Ren’s apology was not because she truly thought she was wrong, but rather it was a tactic to tame and control Jingshu.

It could be seen as PUA.

But Ren Yingying didn’t understand her mother’s methods; she only saw that her mother had apologized to Jingshu, which made her even angrier.

So angry she could have blown up on the spot.

...

"Jingshu, this isn’t going to be our last meal together, is it?"

The normally aloof goddess, who rarely paid him any attention, had suddenly invited him out to McDonald’s, and even offered to buy him a meal—Zhao Yun couldn’t help but overthink it.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Jingshu gave him a look of disdain, "Can’t you say something nicer?"

"You look really beautiful today."

Although Zhao Yun’s offhand compliment had an air of insincerity, Jingshu didn’t take it to heart. Instead, she was brimming with interest, tilting her head to examine the menu at the counter and asking Zhao Yun what he wanted to eat.

Zhao Yun rattled off a long list.

Only after finishing did he remember his scant funds, hurriedly telling Jingshu it was a joke, then only ordered a burger and cola.

Jingshu soon returned, carrying a tray piled high with food.

"Jingshu, can you really eat all this?"

"It’s for you. If I’m treating you to a meal, of course, I’ll make sure you eat your fill."

Zhao Yun was already hungry. He didn’t hesitate to take a big gulp of cola and picked up a chicken leg from the plethora of food. After peeling off the crisp skin, he offered the leg meat to Jingshu.

"Here."

Seeing Jingshu start to nibble at it, he felt a satisfying sense of accomplishment and happily tucked into a burger with gusto.

After finishing his burger, and with Jingshu’s leg meat almost gone, Zhao Yun followed the same process and peeled a chicken wing for her.

"No need."

"Is that all you’re eating?"

"I have a competition in a month; I need to maintain my weight."

Hearing her explanation, Zhao Yun subconsciously said, "Then why did you buy so much if you’re not eating?"

Ren Jingshu leaned on her hand, chuckling, "Well, you eat it. Have my share as well, just pretend you’re helping me eat it."

Zhao Yun was so enchanted by her smile, he would’ve done anything she asked; he wouldn’t have flinched even if she told him to eat shit.

After the meal, as it started to get dark, Zhao Yun offered to walk Ren Jingshu home, but she wanted to go for a walk instead.

In the past, he would have been thrilled, but now, with barely a penny to his name, what if Ren Jingshu fancied something and he couldn’t afford to buy it? How embarrassing would that be?

"There’s a park ahead. Let’s go for a stroll there. We can also watch the old men and ladies dance the ballroom dance."

"Sure."

Roused by the thought of dancing, Ren Jingshu showed some interest.

Upon entering the park, they indeed found people ballroom dancing.

To this era, ballroom dancing was still a novel thing, with men and women holding each other close, chest to chest, face to face. The crowd watching the spectacle outnumbered the dancers, surrounding the dance floor three layers deep.

Ren Jingshu found it too hot and noisy and soon lost interest in watching, so Zhao Yun led her elsewhere and they found a bench to sit on.

No sooner had they sat down than a couple on the opposite bench embraced and started kissing.

Their eyes met, and they quickly turned their heads away.

"Zhao Yun, do you want to?"

"Want what?"

"Do you want to... kiss?"

"With whom?"

No sooner had he spoken than he received a kick, followed by a punch.

"Ah, I get beaten instead of kissed; life is tough for a guy like me."

Seeing Zhao Yun’s aggrieved look, Pei Tang commented mercilessly, "Brother Hei Xiong, you’re not the least bit wronged for getting hit. Sister Jingshu is right in front of you and you’re thinking about kissing someone else?"

Zhao Yun felt wronged: "I was just asking reflexively."

"That’s what you get for speaking without thinking."

After saying that, she hopped down from the swing and approached, "Brother Hei Xiong, bow your head."

"What for?"

Though he asked, his body complied, crouching down.

Pei Tang touched his nose, saying crisply, "There’s a scratch here. Let me put a Band-Aid on it. It will be fine once it’s on."

She then fished out a pale yellow Band-Aid from her backpack and placed it across the middle of his nose.

After applying it, she pressed it gently with her delicate fingertips, ensuring the Band-Aid stuck on properly.

"All done."

Touching the Band-Aid on his nose and looking at the sweet, soft, and caring little sister before him, Zhao Yun felt so warm inside he was almost melting.

"Guoguo, how about you become my sister? I promise to spoil you even more than your brother does."

"No way!"

Pei Tang instantly refused and ran back to Pei Ziheng’s side, determined not to be swayed by sweet talk.

Pei Ziheng’s lips curled into a smile that wasn’t quite a smile: "Would you like it if I gave you a little brother?"

"Who?"

Pei Ziheng whistled.

Fugui, who had been picking up rotten grapes under the vine, immediately ran over, wagging his tail madly at Pei Ziheng.

What’s up?

"Fugui, go with your brother Zhao. From now on, you are his little brother."

Fugui glanced at Zhao Yun with his tongue out: disdain.

Zhao Yun: "..."

Lin Xiao, you!

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