The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 694 - 693: Each Harboring Their Own Schemes

Chapter 694: Chapter 693: Each Harboring Their Own Schemes

"Baolan, let’s have a word. It might be difficult to see each other again in the future."

Zhou Shuhuan’s demeanor was unusually amiable, just like when they first met during a blind date in Shenjiagou.

Shen Baolan also put away her hostility and followed Zhou Shuhuan to talk elsewhere.

"My parents have almost finished cleaning up the house, but moving out will take some more time. You can come to get the keys tomorrow."

"Fine, I’ll give you one more day."

She had initially planned to take back the house right then, to move in with Gao Hualiang.

"Thank you."

Zhou Shuhuan suddenly became polite, and Shen Baolan, in turn, lost her temper. "It was me who schemed against you in the beginning, but you also wronged me. We’re even now; from here on out, we don’t owe each other anything."

Zhou Shuhuan lit a cigarette and exhaled rings of smoke. "I was just speaking out of anger yesterday. I still remember the first time I saw you, you were wearing a blue floral dress, your hair was braided in herringbone plaits, and your eyes were so black and bright—a smart and capable woman through and through."

"At that moment, I thought to myself, for a man with a criminal record and entering his second marriage, being able to marry an able and beautiful virgin like you, was worth it."

"What’s the use of saying all this now? We’re already divorced."

Shen Baolan’s words held disdain, but her tone was considerably softer than before.

After a day as husband and wife comes an eternal bond of gratitude. Zhou Shuhuan was her first man, and somewhere in her heart, some old affection lingered.

Zhou Shuhuan smiled. "I don’t mean anything by it; I just wanted to clear the air. Even if we can’t be lovers, there’s no need to be enemies, especially when we have to think about our child, right?"

Hearing Zhou Shuhuan mention their son, Zhou Fu, the coldness on Shen Baolan’s face lessened a bit.

"If you ever miss Yuanbao, you can come back to see him anytime. No matter what, you’re still his dad."

"Yeah, I will."

Zhou Shuhuan stubbed out the cigarette in his hand and cast a glance at Gao Hualiang, who was watching them from not far away. His expression suddenly turned serious.

"Xiaogao isn’t as simple as you think. You’d better be careful; don’t get confused and tear up your certificate."

"You must understand, once he becomes your husband in the eyes of the law, he will have the right to manage your money. If anything were to happen to you, all of your money would end up in his hands."

...

"What did you talk about for so long? Could it be that you still have lingering feelings for him?"

Right after Zhou Shuhuan left, Gao Hualiang approached Shen Baolan with a tone full of jealousy.

Shen Baolan affectionately looped her arm through his. "How could that be? We’re already divorced, and the money is in my hands. I wouldn’t go back to him. If I were to do anything, it’d be with a fresh catch like you."

Gao Hualiang’s face broke into a grin. "Sis, let’s go get our marriage certificate now. After that, we’ll go take over the house. We can spend the next couple of days decorating our new home, and once it’s done, we’ll host the wedding banquet."

"We can’t take over the house today; Zhou Shuhuan just spoke to me about it. They need one more day to move out and asked me to come for the keys tomorrow."

Gao Hualiang didn’t seem to mind after hearing that, as the villa was already legally Shen Baolan’s property. Whether they took over the house a day earlier or later made no difference.

"Then let’s go get the certificate first and then find a place to eat and celebrate."

Shen Baolan looked at Gao Hualiang. There was no question of his handsome face or the sincerity of his tender care towards her.

Just ten minutes earlier, she couldn’t wait to get the certificate and make Gao Hualiang her man.

But Zhou Shuhuan’s warning had sobered her up somewhat.

"Xiaogao, there’s no rush for the certificate. When we get back, I’ll ask Witch Ma to pick a good day."

"Baolan, I don’t believe in that stuff. In this life, I’d take no one else but you..."

"I do," Shen Baolan interrupted him. "I didn’t choose a good day with Zhou Shuhuan, and ever since we got married, not a single day has gone smoothly. I don’t want us to end up the same way. Listen to me, Sis is doing this for us to last."

Having said that, Gao Hualiang had no other choice.

"Fine, I’ll listen to you; our family will be yours to lead in the future, anyway."

Shen Baolan’s heart bloomed with joy at Gao Hualiang’s compliance. "Really, you’ll listen to me? Then let’s go to a hotel right now."

She couldn’t wait to devour the man before her.

Gao Hualiang was also the type who wouldn’t act without seeing benefits, "Baolan, today’s not good."

"Why not? Is it that you can’t do it? Just give me a straight answer!"

"Don’t you know whether I can or not?"

Though they hadn’t gone all the way, when they embraced, Shen Baolan could still feel Gao Hualiang’s "majesty."

"Baolan, I don’t want to do this casually. I want to do it with seriousness, to give you an unforgettable wedding night that will be our most beautiful memory for a lifetime."

Shen Baolan was already frustrated by Zhou Shuhuan’s ’advice,’ and with Gao Hualiang making excuses and not satisfying her, she couldn’t help getting angry.

"If we don’t get our marriage certificate, does that mean you won’t share a bed with me?"

"Why wouldn’t we get our certificate?"

Gao Hualiang’s counter-question took Shen Baolan aback.

She had already accepted Gao Hualiang’s proposal and had agreed to get the certificate today; if it weren’t for Zhou Shuhuan’s words, she and Gao Hualiang might already have their marriage certificate in hand.

"We’ll definitely get it; we’ll just wait for a good day to come get it."

"Mhm."

The two smiled at each other, both harboring their own schemes.

After celebrating with a meal at a restaurant, Gao Hualiang made an excuse to check on his business and hurried off to the tube-shaped apartment to discuss strategies with Huang Chunyu.

"She couldn’t have found out anything, could she?"

Huang Chunyu couldn’t help worrying after learning that Shen Baolan had suddenly changed her mind.

If Shen Baolan had a change of heart and refused to get the certificate with Gao Hualiang, wouldn’t all their efforts be wasted?

"If she’s willing to comply, that’s fine; otherwise, I have plenty of ways to make her cough up the money."

Gao Hualiang was far from his usual refined self, a streak of ferocity crossing his face, which looked quite frightening.

Yet Huang Chunyu wasn’t scared; instead, she tenderly snuggled into his arms.

"Ah Liang, whatever you do, I’ll always be with you."

Gao Hualiang affectionately held her tight, his face showing a hint of tenderness, "I must get that money so you can have a good life."

"Mhm."

...

After parting with Gao Hualiang, Shen Baolan didn’t go home but instead went to see Madame Ma, asking her to create a fake horoscope.

The fake horoscope clashed with Gao Hualiang’s, using it as a reason to delay getting the certificate with him.

The more she thought about Zhou Shuhuan’s words, the more sense they made.

If she got the certificate with Gao Hualiang and he changed his heart one day and wanted a divorce, demanding half of her fortune, wouldn’t she be at a huge loss?

She had already decided to cajole Gao Hualiang, get the wedding feast done, and get the man into her bed.

If Gao Hualiang remained tender and caring, she would treat him well and give him money to spend.

If Gao Hualiang dared to change his heart, she would kick him out and find a new, more handsome and virile man.

As a millionaire, she could find any type of man she wanted.