The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 835 - 834: Zhao Yun Returns to His Country
Chapter 835: Chapter 834: Zhao Yun Returns to His Country
freewebnσvel.cøm
"The term ’Short Pumpkin’ has double the offensive power when it comes to a little girl.
Pumpkins are already plump, and to be short too...
Pei Tang puffed up with anger, her arms akimbo and flames dancing in her beautiful almond-shaped eyes, wishing she could burn a hole right through Zhao Yun’s face.
"I am not short, okay? I am the tallest girl in our class, and I always stand in the last row during PE class!"
Zhao Yun was amused by her angry state, chuckling uncontrollably, "Alright, alright, I was wrong, don’t be mad. I’ve brought you a present."
At the mention of a present, Pei Tang deflated like a balloon with a hole in it, her little temper wooshing away, and a bright smile spreading across her face.
Zhao Yun didn’t just tease her, he truly had prepared presents not only for her but also for the Shen Mingzhu couple, Cui Lianying, and Elder Sister Yu.
The gift for Pei Tang was chocolate and a set of 108 colored paints, for Shen Mingzhu was luxury skincare products, for Pei Yang was American ginseng, and for Cui Lianying and Elder Sister Yu were pain relief ointments hardly available domestically.
After accepting the gifts, Shen Mingzhu invited Zhao Yun to stay for breakfast, to which he readily agreed.
While still laying out breakfast, Pei Yang pulled Zhao Yun to compare their heights.
Before he went abroad, Zhao Yun barely crossed one meter eighty.
Two years had passed, and now he was even two centimeters taller than Pei Yang, at almost one meter ninety.
Once Zhao Yun had his breakfast and went back home, Pei Yang couldn’t help quizzing Shen Mingzhu, "What’s that kid been eating overseas, hog feed? He’s grown so much."
This comment earned a roll of the eyes from Shen Mingzhu, "If you could grow that tall, why couldn’t Xiaoyun?"
As she unpacked the skincare set Zhao Yun had given her, Pei Yang remarked reflectively, "I didn’t feel it before, but seeing Xiaoyun today, suddenly it seems like we’ve grown old."
Gazing at the anti-wrinkle and fine line reducing cream she held, Shen Mingzhu fell silent.
Time spares no one – cherries ripen red, while banana leaves turn green.
...
Zhao Yun’s visit home coincided neatly with his twenty-first birthday.
Zhao Dafa prepared to throw his son a grand party, booking a banquet hall in Fengcheng’s best star-rated hotel, setting fifty tables, each with a price per table at eighteen hundred eighty.
In these two years, thanks to a multi-story residential project in the north of the city, Zhao Dafa had made a fortune, and subsequently developed several commercial and residential projects. By now, he was a well-known billionaire in Fengcheng, with Dafa Construction ranking among the top ten real estate companies in the city.
As the saying goes, a pauper goes unnoticed in the busy market, but a rich man has distant relatives even in the mountains.
Young Master Zhao’s birthday banquet might not have attracted the gathering of famous elites, but it was still a house filled with guests, bustling with extraordinary liveliness.
Not two days after the birthday banquet ended, Zhao Yun grew restless and wanted to head to the Capital.
His fifteen-day leave for family visits, including the days he spent back home and the birthday banquet, had already consumed half of it.
Although Zhao Yun said he was going to see his buddy Pei Ziheng, any observant person could guess his real intention; he wanted to see his girlfriend.
Although Zhao Dafa felt reluctant to let his son, who had just returned home for a few days, leave again, as a man and father, he understood his son’s youthful vigor.
The night before leaving, Zhao Dafa called his son to the study.
"Take this card with you; the PIN is your birthday."
"Thanks, Director Zhao."
Zhao Yun was never polite in front of his own dad.
Zhao Dafa looked up at his son, who was a full head taller than himself, and cautioned, "Be careful in the Capital."
Zhao Yun teased him offhandedly, "No worries, with my size, people will walk around me."
Zhao Dafa hesitated, then added, "I’m not talking about that. You and the young lady from the Ren family, you both are still young. Be careful and make sure there are no accidents."
Zhao Yun then realized what he meant, his face quickly flushing with discomfort, "Understood. I’m going to pack my luggage now."
Watching his son’s hasty retreat, Zhao Dafa couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.
Silly boy, still gets embarrassed.
...
After class, Ren Jingshu slung her bag over her shoulder and headed out of the school.
Just outside the school gates, a large bouquet of red roses appeared, blocking her path.
She hesitated for less than a second before decisively circumventing the roses and quickening her steps to leave.
Her proficient reaction revealed that this wasn’t the first time she had dealt with such a situation.
But this time, the "pursuer" was clearly more persistent, not only following her but also forcefully squeezing into the taxi she hailed.
"You..."
Upon meeting the familiar eyes beneath the mask, Ren Jingshu’s retort got stuck in her throat.
"Zhao Yun?"
"Hehe, it’s me."
Zhao Yun took off his baseball cap and mask and hugged her across the roses.
"Jingshu, I’ve missed you so much."
"When did you get here?"
"This morning, I came to find you as soon as I landed."
"Why didn’t you stay in Fengcheng for a few more days?"
"I wanted to see you, to spend a few more days with you. Have you missed me?"
As the two chatted, becoming more engrossed with each other, the taxi driver couldn’t help but turn his head to remind them, "Excuse me, where are you two headed?"
Embarrassed, Ren Jingshu broke free from Zhao Yun’s embrace and, with a flushed face, gave the address of the dance troupe.
Once the taxi started moving, she turned her attention back to Zhao Yun, "I’m going to rehearsal. We have a performance tomorrow."
Zhao Yun appeared delighted, "Perfect, I’ll come with you to rehearsal. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you dance."
Ren Jingshu nodded, "Let’s go out to dinner tonight."
"Okay."
Upon arriving at the dance troupe, Ren Jingshu pointed Zhao Yun in the direction of the rehearsal room, "Wait for me in there. I’ll come over after I change my clothes."
"Okay."
Inside the rehearsal room, seven or eight young girls dressed in practice wear were gathered together, either standing or sitting, resting and chatting with laughter.
The moment Zhao Yun walked in holding the roses, they all looked him over.
"Who are you? Don’t you know this area is off-limits to bystanders?"
A tall girl with almond-shaped eyes and rosy cheeks raised her voice to rebuke Zhao Yun.
"I’m here with Jingshu."
After explaining, Zhao Yun prepared to find a place to sit and wait for Ren Jingshu.
However, the girl persisted in wanting to drive him away, "Please leave. This is our rehearsal space, not a place for some people to talk about love!"
"That’s right. How can we rehearse with you, a big man, standing there like that?"
Her words obviously implied that Zhao Yun was taking advantage of the situation.
Because the practice wear each girl wore was snug, their body contours were accentuated.
...
After changing, Ren Jingshu came to the rehearsal room and saw Zhao Yun standing at the door with roses; she couldn’t help but be puzzled, "Go on in. What are you standing at the door for?"
"There are people inside."
Zhao Yun looked at her, a tall figure standing at six-foot-three, yet with an expression of aggrievement.
Ren Jingshu’s brows furrowed slightly.
"Your rehearsal room is upstairs."
Inside the rehearsal room.
Ren Jingshu eyed the few girls who had taken over her rehearsal room and even chased her boyfriend out. Her tone was far from pleasant.
Among the girls, the one leading, with almond eyes and rosy cheeks, was Dong Jiao. She was the same one who had scolded Zhao Yun earlier.
Like Ren Jingshu, she was a legitimate dance major, studying in the dance department at the Capital Conservatory of Music.
