The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 770 - 769: Pei Wenping Goes on a Blind Date

Chapter 770: Chapter 769: Pei Wenping Goes on a Blind Date

Shen Mingzhu actually didn’t want to meddle in the affairs between Pei Wenping and Chen Yi.

But the two had been dragging their feet for so many years without any conclusion, and she, as a friend and partner, pitied how Pei Wenping’s prime years were being wasted, which prompted her to want to give them a push.

To be together or to part, there ought to be a result, after all, both of them were really not young anymore.

"I would like to, but I don’t have anyone suitable for you at the moment. However, there’s a matchmaking event for middle-aged singles next week. If you’re interested, I can help you register and get an entry ticket."

"Su Su will be there too, so you can keep each other company."

Pei Wenping had initially been tempted, but immediately got cold feet upon hearing this.

Although her interactions with Yan Su were sparse, she was aware of the pressure from Yan Su’s family to join matchmaking events in the past two years.

Those high-end matchmaking gatherings in elite circles, where every man was either a leader or a businessman, and the women were daughters of wealthy families or strong independent women—places not meant for an ordinary middle-aged woman like her.

"Forget it, there’s no point in humiliating myself."

Shen Mingzhu laughed, "Big sister, why not take a chance? It’s like turning a bicycle into a motorcycle. Besides, you’re not doing bad yourself—a senior accountant, a company shareholder, earning over fifty thousand a year, and most importantly, you’re on the rise in your career. Even if you don’t find Mr. Right, you could make some like-minded friends, which isn’t too bad, right?"

Persuaded by Shen Mingzhu’s words, Pei Wenping felt her interest piqued again.

"Love is not essential for life, yet it’s the best cosmetic for a woman."

Slapping her thigh, Pei Wenping exclaimed, "Alright, I’ll go!"

...

Upon learning that Pei Wenping was attending the matchmaking event, Chen Yi took a late-night flight from Shanghai City back to Fengcheng.

As soon as he got off the plane, without even booking a hotel, he called out Pei Yang and began lambasting him, "I treat you like a brother, and you take me for a fool? Whenever you have a problem, haven’t I always racked my brains for a solution?"

"You know very well how I feel about your sister. I don’t blame you for not helping me out, but you shouldn’t be stabbing me in the back either, should you?"

Pei Yang was not one to take this lying down, "Why the rush at me? If there’s anyone to blame, it’s yourself for not being competent enough to win a woman’s heart."

"You know better than I do how your sister is. Are you sure the new brother-in-law your sister finds for you will be as wholeheartedly devoted to you as I am?"

That was true.

Old clothes can be replaced by new, but nothing compares to old friends. Aside from the mistakes Chen Yi had made, there really was nothing else to fault him on.

Pei Yang took a sip of his drink and softened his tone, "What’s the rush? I never said I wouldn’t help you."

"Then help."

...

Bang bang bang!

Pei Wenping had just gone to bed when she heard someone knocking at the door but didn’t panic. She got dressed and walked to the door.

"Who is it?"

"Sis, it’s me."

Recognizing it was Pei Yang’s voice, Pei Wenping quickly opened the door.

As the door swung open, Pei Yang walked in, propping up Chen Yi. By the time Pei Wenping realized what was happening, Chen Yi had already been laid down on the couch by Pei Yang.

Smelling the strong scent of alcohol in the air, Pei Wenping reluctantly closed the door, annoyed.

"How much did he drink?"

"Not much, a bottle of red, half a bottle of foreign liquor."

Hearing this, Pei Wenping glared disdainfully at Chen Yi, who was passed out on the sofa, "Why did you bring him here?"

"I tried to take him to a hotel, but he refused, insisting on coming here. It’s late, and it’s not nice to disturb others’ rest, right?"

As he spoke, Pei Yang walked towards the door, "It’s late; I should head back. If I get back any later, I won’t be able to get in the gate. Sis, please do me a favor, give him some soup to drink. He didn’t even eat dinner and came straight to drink with me—I don’t know what upset him."

With that, he stepped out the door and thoughtfully closed it behind him.

"Meow~"

Tudou, who was disturbed by the noise, stretched lazily and leaped off the couch, approached Pei Wenping, and gently rubbed against her leg with its fluffy head.

Bending down, Pei Wenping picked up the cat, intending to return to her bedroom to rest.

She couldn’t care less about the well-being of that bastard man.

She hadn’t taken more than a few steps when a familiar voice called from behind, "Wenping, I’m feeling terrible."

She turned around and noticed the person on the sofa had at some point opened their eyes, gazing at her with a hazy look.

"Deserves you right, why didn’t you drink yourself to death."

Chen Yi struggled to sit up from the sofa, looking at her with a gaze full of sorrow and grievance, "You’re going on a blind date? Going to find another man? I won’t allow it."

Pei Wenping couldn’t help but laugh, "Who are you to me, and what control do you have over my affairs?"

Chen Yi got up from the sofa, staggering towards her.

"You don’t know who I am, fine, I’ll tell you!"

Before Pei Wenping could react, she was silenced by an alcohol-laden kiss.

"Chen mmm..."

She opened her mouth to scold, giving Chen Yi the chance to press his advantage.

Though Pei Wenping was fierce and sassy, the natural disparity in strength between men and women left her at a disadvantage.

Even as she resisted inwardly, her body’s instinctual reactions prevented her from putting up too much of a fight.

The cat, nearly crushed into a sandwich cookie between them, finally squeezed out from between their bodies and landed on the floor.

"Meow~ Meow~"

Dissatisfied, it looked up and meowed at the entangled pair a few times, but seeing it was ignored, it turned away in dismay back to the sofa to find a comfortable position and continued to nestle.

At the entrance of the family compound.

Pei Yang glanced at his watch and saw that it had been a good half-hour since he had brought Chen Yi up, guessing that Chen Yi wouldn’t be thrown out, he finally started the car to head home.

"Why are you back so late?"

Seeing Shen Mingzhu awaken from the noise, Pei Yang ingratiatingly bent down and kissed the corner of her lips, "Did I wake you?"

Shen Mingzhu squinted at him, "You’ve been drinking?"

"Yeah, I had a few drinks with Chen Yi."

Mentioning Chen Yi made Shen Mingzhu more awake, "He’s back? When did he come back?"

"He arrived this evening, he was drunk, so I took him to my sister’s place."

Facing Shen Mingzhu’s teasing gaze, Pei Yang said with feigned embarrassment, "I felt sorry for him, so I helped him out one last time."

"I bet he’s anxious."

Pei Yang took her hand, seizing the opportunity to credit himself, "Of course he’s anxious, he even scolded me. Honey, I took those scoldings for you, you should really make it up to me."

Catching the man’s hint, Shen Mingzhu cut straight to the point, "My period just started."

The smile on his face collapsed, "Why’s it come again?"

"If it didn’t, you would be in trouble."

"It would be better if it didn’t." Pei Yang’s hand gently caressed her soft lower abdomen, "If it didn’t, it would mean there’s a little baby in here."

"You’re not even asleep yet and you’re already dreaming?" Shen Mingzhu chided lightly.

Pei Yang propped himself on his arms and looked at her, "Really, you won’t consider giving Guoguo a little brother or sister? We’re still young, and you’ve rarely been this free, it’s the perfect time."

"Not interested."

With that, she turned over, leaving the man with her exquisite back.

Pei Yang, not giving up, patted her shoulder, "Honey, honey, think about it, huh?"

"Get lost."

"Ow."

He briskly got up, grabbed some clothes to change into, and went to take a shower in the bathroom.

...

Watching the man sleeping soundly on the bed next to her, Pei Wenping suppressed the impulse to strike and got out of bed to go to the washroom to freshen up.

As soon as she left, Chen Yi quietly opened a slit in his eyes on the bed.

He had actually been awake for a while.

More accurately, he hadn’t slept the whole night.

A mix of emotions—joy, nervousness, frustration—flickered through him like wild cats prowling and leaping, leaving his mind unsettled.