The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 431 - 430 Seeing Her Potential

"I’m helping her because I see her potential."

Yan Su subconsciously took over the conversation, "Mingzhu indeed has some talent in business, and she’s very hardworking."

"That’s not what I’m talking about."

Meeting Yan Su’s puzzled gaze, Yan Jing smiled meaningfully, "She is quite clever, knowing that we are interested in collaborating with the Cui Family to invest in the casino on Pearl Road, she deliberately dropped the postcard that La Shiran wrote to her in front of me."

Yan Su was astonished, "La Shiran? The little girlfriend of Cui Rumao?"

"Although Cui Rumao already has four ex-wives, he is not a frivolous man; on the contrary, he is very cautious and suspicious when it comes to women. La Shiran has been with him for over a year and still hasn’t fallen out of favor. As long as she doesn’t screw up, it’s not impossible for her to become the fifth Mrs. Cui."

Yan Su shook her head, "Sister, Mingzhu isn’t that calculated. I’ve known her for so long, she’s never asked me for anything, and even this trip to Hong City was my own suggestion. Whenever she encounters difficulties, she handles them herself, she’s a very independent and resilient woman."

"Moreover, brother-in-law merely has a preliminary interest in collaborating with the Cui Family, and even I didn’t know, let alone Mingzhu."

Yan Jing remained non-committal, "Whether intentional or not, she succeeded in showing me her potential. I’m helping her as an investment, I bet there will come a day when she will be of use to me."

Yan Su looked down, clearly not happy with this, "Sister, she is my friend."

"If it weren’t for this relationship, I wouldn’t even spare her a second glance."

"All right, I won’t interfere with your friendships, and likewise, you can’t force me to treat your friend as mine."

Yan Su’s face showed seriousness, "Sis, once you spend more time with her, you’ll know what kind of person she is."

Yan Jing couldn’t help but chuckle in resignation, "I really don’t know what kind of magic potion she’s given you. It’s a good thing you’re not a man, otherwise, wouldn’t she have hooked your soul away?"

It’s already been hooked away, it’s just not me, but our brother.

Yan Su looked out the car window, silently mocking to herself.

...

"Beat him, kick him! Why aren’t you kicking?!"

"Ah, lost again. You’re so hopeless, move over, let the young master have a go!"

When Pei Yang returned home, he saw several children sitting in front of the living room TV, with Pei Ziheng and one of the kids each holding a black controller, arguing heatedly.

"Daddy."

Pei Ziheng, with sharp eyes, spotted Pei Yang, shoved the controller into his friend’s hand, and quickly ran over.

Zhao Yun also tempered his anger and cheerfully called out "Uncle Pei."

The other kids followed Zhao Yun’s lead and called out too.

As Pei Yang was changing his shoes, he glanced at his son, "What are you doing, making such a racket?"

"Playing games."

After changing shoes, Pei Yang walked into the living room and saw the new device on the TV cabinet, teasing Zhao Yun with a smile, "Yo, CEO Xiaozhao, did your dad buy you a new game console again?"

Zhao Yun scratched his head and said, "The game console isn’t mine, it belongs to Ziheng."

Pei Yang turned to his son, "Your mom bought it for you?"

"It was bought by great-uncle."

Pei Yang was slightly taken aback, then dropped the matter, bent down to pick up his daughter from the sofa, and told the children to keep their voices down.

"Guoguo, did you miss Daddy?"

"Stinky."

Guoguo’s soft, pale cheeks wrinkled into a ball, her little paws disdainfully pushed his big face to the side, pushing with both paws, showing just how disgusted she was.

Pei Yang chuckled and rubbed his stubbly chin against her little hand, "Alright, go play with your brothers, I’ll come hug you after I’ve taken a shower."

...

Knock knock.

"Come in," Shen Mingzhu called without looking up.

The sound of footsteps approached, and someone stood in front of her desk, a familiar woody fragrance enveloping the air.

Shen Mingzhu lifted her head and was surprised to see the tall man standing in front of her desk.

"When did you get back?"

Pei Yang leaned over, cradled her face, and kissed her deeply across her desk, his voice low and amused, "Just got back, I came to see you as soon as I was clean."

Shen Mingzhu’s cheeks were slightly warm, her heart filled with a sweet sensation as if she had eaten sugar.

"Close the door."

Pei Yang glanced back at the door and chuckled, "What do you want to do after closing the door?"

Shen Mingzhu glared at him and feigned annoyance, "Just close it when I tell you to; why so much talk?"

"As the lady commands."

Once Pei Yang had closed the door and turned around, he was greeted by Shen Mingzhu, who had walked up behind him and was now kissing him on the lips, her arm hooked around his neck.

He was caught off guard for half a second, then bent down, his large hand supporting Shen Mingzhu’s bottom, lifting her up, and striding towards the office desk.

As their breaths mingled and teeth clashed, a month’s worth of longing fermented within their bodies.

"Alright, enough," she said.

After a significant effort from Shen Mingzhu, Pei Yang reluctantly let go of her lips, his deep eyes locking onto her like a hunter on prey, his breath slightly ragged.

"You started this fire, now you put it out."

Shen Mingzhu turned her face away with suppressed laughter, "What does that have to do with me? It’s not my fault you’re so easily provoked."

Pei Yang leaned down, his hot lips pressing against her tender, white ear, "So, you really don’t care if it dies?"

The vibrating timbre of his voice tickled Shen Mingzhu’s eardrum, making her involuntarily reach up to rub her ear.

"The cafeteria has watermelon today; shall I go get some for you?"

Pei Yang pinched her chin, "Do you think I rushed back here, traversing the night, just for two slices of your watermelon?"

"Then what would you like to eat?"

"What do you think?"

Feeling the man’s growing urge, Shen Mingzhu’s face flushed crimson as if she had applied rouge, her voice tinted with coy shyness.

"Stop fooling around, someone might come soon."

Pei Yang glanced at his watch, "We’re off work in half an hour; let’s go home for lunch."

Shen Mingzhu giggled, "Are you that eager?"

Pei Yang bit her rosy lips gently, "Very eager, I can’t wait another moment."

Shen Mingzhu’s face turned as red as blood, and she cleared her throat, "There’s a new hotel on Shine Road."

"And then?"

Shen Mingzhu kicked him, "You go ahead, get a room and rest awhile; I’ll come find you after my shift."

"Alright."

Watching the man bustle away eagerly, Shen Mingzhu rubbed her hot face and sat back in her office chair to continue working.

Three minutes later.

Shen Mingzhu gave up on her paperwork with a sigh, grabbed her bag, took the car keys, and left the office.

Just a few steps from the office, she ran into Pei Qiuxia, who came to deliver documents.

"President Shen, are you going out?"

"Yes, I’m going to see a client."

"Then I will accompany you."

"No need," Shen Mingzhu’s face warmed inexplicably, "Just leave the documents on my desk; I’ll be back after lunch."

"Oh."

...

Shen Mingzhu parked her car, and as she reached for the bag on the passenger seat, someone knocked on her car window.

"Su Su, what a coincidence."

"Are you here for lunch?"

Because she felt guilty, Shen Mingzhu didn’t dare to park in front of the hotel but instead stopped across the street at a restaurant.

She didn’t expect to run into Yan Su, nor could she admit that she was there to meet Pei Yang in a hotel room, so she went along and said she was meeting someone for lunch.

And that’s how Yan Su dragged her into the restaurant.