The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 661 - 660: Don’t Take Advantage and Play Innocent

Chapter 661: Chapter 660: Don’t Take Advantage and Play Innocent

Looking at Qiao Ya’s face, eager for some juicy gossip, Shen Mingzhu sighed, "Without going into detail, let me cut to the chase, do you want to run away with us or wait to be caught and thrown into the sea?"

Qiao Ya chuckled dryly, "Sister-in-law, you’re joking, right?"

"Okay then, good luck to you."

Having said that, Shen Mingzhu continued to pack her luggage, speeding up her actions, displaying an urgency to flee for her life.

After watching for two seconds, Qiao Ya also turned and ran back to the next room to start packing.

Although she was half-doubtful about Shen Mingzhu’s claim of causing trouble, it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially in this unfamiliar place where she had no one to turn to if something really happened.

Hurrying along, the four of them finally managed to board the boat one minute before it set sail.

Once settled in their seats and eyeing Shen Mingzhu sitting in the row in front, Qiao Ya was fuming inside.

They hadn’t benefited the slightest from the good times, yet now they were dragged into the mess!

Zhou Shuhuan stared at the rolling waves of the river, feeling a secret, indescribable pleasure.

Shen Mingzhu had always been gentle, beautiful, virtuous, and capable, making the troublemaking Shen Baolan seem utterly useless by comparison. For this reason, he had been troubled for many years over his own lack of discernment.

However, he hadn’t expected that Shen Mingzhu could also attract trouble, and trouble with Au City’s top tycoons at that.

For a superfamily like that, which had influence in both the underworld and the legitimate world, it would be easier to trouble ordinary people like them than it would be to squash an ant.

Compared to this, Shen Baolan didn’t seem so bad anymore. All the trouble she’d caused over the years didn’t amount to what Shen Mingzhu had caused this one time.

It seemed that Pei Yang wasn’t any better than him when it came to picking a partner.

...

The ferry arrived in Shenzhen City at dusk.

The setting sun spilled over the river, dyeing both the water and the sky a golden orange, as if it were a gorgeous, vivid oil painting.

In Shen Mingzhu’s original plan, she was supposed to be strolling along the beach in a sundress under the setting sun, taking some beautiful photos, and then savoring freshly caught seafood.

Mans’ plans are inferior to those made by heaven. Who would have thought she’d be pretty, kind-hearted, and always meddling in others’ affairs?

Gazing at the setting sun on the river, looking like a salted egg yolk, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile.

What a day it had been.

...

After disembarking, Shen Mingzhu and Pei Yang decided to stay in Shenzhen City for one night and catch a flight back to Fengcheng early the next morning.

This time, when Shen Mingzhu actively and warmly invited Zhou Shuhuan and Qiao Ya to stay in Shenzhen City for another night, she was declined by Qiao Ya.

"Brother Yang, Sister-in-law, there’s been a bit of trouble at the factory. We have to rush back to handle it, so we can’t stay with you. Next time you’re free, come over for a visit."

"Okay, take care on your way back."

After watching the taxi drive off into the distance, Shen Mingzhu turned to look at Pei Yang beside her, her tone playful, "After this incident, I’m guessing Qiao Ya won’t be eager to get close to me ever again."

Pei Yang laughed, "Isn’t that what you wanted?"

"Hmmph."

Amused by her proud and coy demeanor, Pei Yang took her hand and, with his other hand, pulled their suitcases.

"First, let’s find a hotel to stay in, then go for dinner, take a stroll in the mall afterward, and buy the kids some inline skates."

Shen Mingzhu let the man lead her forward, her eyes resting on his tall and straight back, feeling inexplicably secure and at peace.

From the moment she knew she had caused trouble, he had not blamed or reproached her, offering only comfort and companionship.

She quickened her steps and slipped her arm through his.

Pei Yang looked down at her, his gaze gentle, "Are you tired?"

Shen Mingzhu shook her head, allowing the evening breeze to lift the strands of hair on her cheeks, "How about eating raw oysters tonight? I know a place with excellent oysters."

"How do you know that? You’ve never been to Shenzhen City before."

"Mind your own business about a fairy’s affairs. Just tell me if you’re eating or not."

"Let’s eat!"

...

As dusk enveloped everything, Zhou Shuhuan and Qiao Ya’s taxi coasted steadily on the provincial road leading to Fucheng.

Leaning wearily on Zhou Shuhuan’s shoulder, Qiao Ya had a gloomy expression, "The mess your sister-in-law’s stirred up this time, it won’t drag us into it, right?"

"We weren’t present, so how could it possibly fall on our heads?"

He and Pei Yang were childhood friends, not blood brothers.

"That’s true!"

Relieved, Qiao Ya couldn’t help but feel smug, "Luckily I didn’t go out with her. She even had the nerve to stay overnight in Shenzhen City; does she think that she’s out of the woods once she’s there? If they want to find her, it’d take only minutes."

Zhou Shuhuan shared this concern, which is why he decided to rush back to Fucheng overnight.

...

"When did she leave?"

"According to the front desk, she checked out at one, then went straight to the port."

At eleven-thirty, she was still in the jewelry store "catching a thief". It would have taken at least half an hour to get back to the hotel from the jewelry store. Packing and checking out, indeed, she spared no time.

Imagining the scene of Shen Mingzhu fleeing with her luggage, La Shiran couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking with laughter.

She was naturally beautiful, with skin like snow and an elegance like jade. When she laughed, she was the spitting image of "a beauty that could overthrow cities and states with just one glance", stunning the maid and assistant into silence.

Not until a set of leisurely, deliberate footsteps approached.

"Fourth Master."

The maid and assistant quieted down, respectfully greeting Cui Rumao as he returned.

La Shiran turned her head, her deer-like eyes wet as she watched the man approaching her.

"Caught a few petty thieves, and you’re this happy?"

Cui Rumao handed off his coat to the maid and casually took a seat next to her.

"What I’m happy about isn’t that."

Cui Rumao’s gaze was indulgent as he watched her, clearly waiting for her to continue.

However, La Shiran wasn’t inclined to share her joy with him, "How do you plan to deal with the third branch of the family?"

Cui Rumao looked at her for two seconds before speaking, "The matter has been investigated thoroughly. It has nothing to do with third brother; it was the third sister-in-law who, due to her gambling debts, colluded with outsiders to attempt a heist."

"I didn’t ask for the reason, I’m asking what you plan to do about them. It’s not my fault she’s short on money. Why should it fall on my head, and why does she repeatedly target me? It’s because she sees me as a pushover! Because of this matter, I’ve become a laughingstock. I don’t care, if you let her off lightly and cover for her, I won’t stand for it!"

La Shiran rarely threw a tantrum like a spoiled young miss, her pretty little mouth babbling nonstop, amusing Cui Rumao to a muffled laugh.

After she finished talking, he spoke in a low voice, half-teasing, half-doting, "The hotels in the hands of third sister will be yours to manage from now on, how’s that?"

La Shiran snorted.

"Do you want them or not?"

"Yes!"

Only a fool would say no.

"Third sister-in-law is heading to L Country tonight. She won’t be back for a while."

For the Cui Family, exile overseas was a form of punishment, though, in La Shiran’s eyes, it was hardly different from a tickle.

She looked down at her nails, her silence a form of silent protest.

Cui Rumao reached up and pinched her chin, his voice deepening with sternness, "Enough. Don’t play cute when you’ve already got an advantage."

The woman’s eyes swirled with annoyance, "What advantage have I got?"

"This is a family affair; we should handle it quietly behind closed doors, not make it known to the entire city and become a spectacle for outsiders. If there’s a next time, I won’t be as lenient as I am today."

Although Cui Rumao didn’t name anyone, La Shiran could hear the anger he harbored towards Shen Mingzhu.

She stood up abruptly, under Cui Rumao’s puzzled and amused gaze, and proudly patted her belly—

"Mingzhu is my friend, and she did everything today under my instruction. If anything happens to her, my daughter and I wouldn’t be able to show our faces again!"