The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 741 - 740: Heaven Never Seals Off All Exits

Chapter 741: Chapter 740: Heaven Never Seals Off All Exits

"Miss Ren, this is your pay for the recent period. We’re really sorry, but we don’t need you to come dance anymore."

"Okay, thank you."

Ren Jingshu calmly took the money from the manager’s hand, knowing without asking that it must have been her father’s doing.

After leaving the restaurant, she went to Mingzhu Restaurant, picked out some pastries, and took them back to school to share with Lin Ping and Xu Haining.

She paid using the voucher Zhao Yun had given her.

The items at Mingzhu Restaurant weren’t cheap; she wouldn’t have bought them with her own money.

Her money needed to be saved for university.

She had been dancing at Tang Palace Banquet to save for her college tuition.

She would have to find another job now; previously, a singer she knew mentioned she could help her get a job performing at wedding events through a wedding company. Although it wouldn’t pay as much as Tang Palace Banquet, every little bit helped.

On the bus back to school, Ren Jingshu held the box of pastries and silently calculated as she watched the streets fly by outside the bus window.

She arrived back at school just at 9:45, with 15 minutes before evening self-study ended.

Ren Jingshu hurried towards the dorm building, hoping to use the restroom to wash up before class ended.

As she entered the dorm building, she came face to face with Teacher Fan Jingmei and Dorm Supervisor Na, standing and talking.

"Teacher Fan, Sister Na."

"Jingshu."

After politely greeting the two, Ren Jingshu prepared to go upstairs but was stopped by Teacher Fan: "Your family has come to the school and processed your dorm withdrawal. Your bedding and luggage have already been taken. You should go home."

Seeing Ren Jingshu freeze in place, Teacher Fan Jingmei patted her shoulder: "Don’t be mad at your family; parents ultimately want what’s best for you. The college entrance exams are soon, set other things aside for now and focus on preparing."

Dorm Supervisor Na also tried to persuade her gently: "Go back home, home is so much better; why endure hardship here?"

Why should they interfere with her life!

She was already an adult; she had the right to choose her own lifestyle, and nobody had the right to control her!

The pain of her nails digging into her palm helped Ren Jingshu hold back her anger and not lose her temper on the spot.

"Teacher Fan, could you please give these to Lin Ping and Xu Haining?"

After entrusting the pastries, Ren Jingshu turned and left without looking back.

The night wind carried the sweet scent of gardenia, and as she walked briskly, Ren Jingshu’s hair and the hem of her dress fluttered in the wind.

The moment she stepped out of the school gates, hot tears started cascading down uncontrollably.

The world was vast, yet there was no place for her.

...

"Brother, look, isn’t that Sister Ren?"

Before Pei Ziheng could respond, Pei Tang rolled down the car window and waved enthusiastically at the approaching Ren Jingshu:

"Sister Ren!"

Ren Jingshu looked up and was somewhat surprised to recognize Pei Tang.

After Shen Mingzhu pulled the car over, Pei Tang leaned out the window to chat with Ren Jingshu:

"Sister Ren, it’s so late; why are you walking alone on the street?"

Ren Jingshu was usually reserved and not one to openly complain or express weariness.

But in this moment and setting, with nowhere to go, facing Pei Tang’s sweet, caring smile, her stout walls seemed to crumble a bit.

"I’m looking for a place to stay."

There were many hotels in Fengcheng, but they were expensive, and she didn’t have much cash on hand, forcing her to spend sparingly.

"It’s so late, and it’s dangerous for a girl to be alone. Why don’t you stay at my place tonight, and look for a place tomorrow?"

After finishing, Pei Tang remembered to ask Shen Mingzhu for her opinion, "Mom, can Miss Ren stay at our house for one night?"

Could Shen Mingzhu say no?

Not to mention the relationship between Ren Jingshu and Zhao Yun, even if they were strangers, she couldn’t bear to ignore a beautiful high school girl stranded in the streets.

However, if it hadn’t been for Zhao Yun’s connection, she wouldn’t have let her into her home but would have simply helped book a room.

"Thank you, Auntie."

After getting into the car, Ren Jingshu politely thanked Shen Mingzhu.

Shen Mingzhu responded with a smile, "Have you had dinner yet?"

"Yes, I have."

Pei Tang seemed particularly happy, half of his body leaning into the front row, chattering endlessly with Ren Jingshu.

While driving, Shen Mingzhu subtly observed the girl.

Her appearance, figure, and demeanor were undoubtedly top-notch, clearly from a well-off and cultured family. Though Zhao Yun might be a bit slow-witted, his taste wasn’t bad.

As soon as they entered the house, Pei Tang immediately exclaimed that he was hungry.

Pei Yang was on a business trip, and it was just the mother and sons at home. Pei Tang had been craving McDonald’s, so Shen Mingzhu took advantage of the day to treat the kids to McDonald’s and a movie.

McDonald’s might satisfy a craving but it wasn’t filling, leaving Shen Mingzhu a bit hungry herself.

She made a pot of clear soup wontons, which Ren Jingshu, adapting to the local customs, also ate some.

After eating, Shen Mingzhu instructed her daughter to get clean quilt covers and bedsheets from the cupboard and to make the bed in the guest room.

Although she had never done such tasks since childhood, Pei Tang cheerfully jumped off the table to help.

Ren Jingshu felt uneasy.

She couldn’t figure out if Shen Mingzhu disliked the idea of her staying over, hence delegating these tasks to seven-year-old Pei Tang.

Shen Mingzhu gave her the answer, "Helping others is a virtue, but Guoguo also needs to understand that helping others should be within one’s capabilities."

Relieved, Ren Jingshu very observantly volunteered to help.

Pei Ziheng sensibly cleaned up the dishes, while Shen Mingzhu went back to her room to find clean pajamas for Ren Jingshu to change into.

"Oh my, Miss Ren, it’s inside out, it should be this side..."

Listening to the faint laughter coming from the guest room, there was a moment when Shen Mingzhu suddenly thought about having another brother or sister for the siblings.

Why think of such things, thinking life was too comfortable?

The thought had just emerged when she firmly squashed it.

That night, for Shen Mingzhu and the siblings, was no different from countless other nights.

But for Ren Jingshu, it was a magical and memorable night.

A gentle and approachable mother, delicious wonton midnight snack, bedding and pajamas carrying the scent of detergent and sunshine, and even the dog was incredibly endearing.

Living in such a warm family atmosphere, she couldn’t imagine how happy Pei Tang must be.

The next day, Shen Mingzhu was awakened by the sound of running water in the bathroom.

She got up to find Ren Jingshu alone in the bathroom, scrubbing the pajamas she had worn the night before.

"Couldn’t sleep well, getting up so early?"

Faced with Shen Mingzhu’s teasing, Ren Jingshu was somewhat nervous, "Auntie Shen, did I wake you?"

"A little."

Perhaps not expecting Shen Mingzhu to be so direct, Ren Jingshu was awkward and at a loss.

Shen Mingzhu continued, "When I heard the water running, my heart skipped a beat, fearing this girl might be thinking of doing something foolish. But when I came out and saw you were just washing clothes, I actually felt relieved."

Ren Jingshu bowed her head in shame, "I’m sorry for troubling you, I’ll leave when it gets light."

Shen Mingzhu looked at the sky and smiled, "There’s still a while till dawn, want to chat?"