Chapter 56

After Pei Zheng left, Lu Nong tossed a small pile of ginkgo nuts into the firewood and confidently enjoyed her snack alone.

“The first and last one of the day?” Pei Ji’an sat down beside Lu Nong on the ground. When Aunt Wu and Xiao Zhou saw this, they discreetly entered the house, leaving just Pei Ji’an and Lu Nong in the garden.

“Is that a problem?” Lu Nong shot back, her tone fierce.

Pei Ji’an shook his head and took the fire poker from her to tend to the fire. Lu Nong curled her legs up, resting her chin on her hands. She turned to look at Pei Ji’an and noticed his calm and steady demeanor. There was no hint of joy or excitement from taking down the Shen family, despite the fact that he had settled a long-standing score and had trampled on a former enemy.

Why was he always so composed?

“Wang Hongmian came to see me,” Lu Nong said cautiously.

Pei Ji’an paused briefly, responded with an “Mm,” and then resumed his task as if Wang Hongmian’s visit was less important than roasting the ginkgo nuts.

Lu Nong shot him a sideways glance. “She asked me to tell you to stop.”

“And then?” Since Lu Nong insisted on discussing this matter, Pei Ji’an reluctantly continued, speaking to her as if he were soothing a petulant child.

Lu Nong frowned. She was not a child. “She made a good point. I agreed to help her. Will you listen to me?”

“No.” Pei Ji’an replied nonchalantly as he turned the ginkgo nuts over to roast the other side.

Lu Nong choked on her words and decided to be truly unreasonable. “I don’t care. I already promised her. If you don’t listen to me, I will lose face.”

“Pillow talk…” Pei Ji’an glanced at Lu Nong, raising an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

Lu Nong: “…” This doesn’t sound right. It’s dangerous, dangerous, dangerous. Let’s end the topic quickly.

“Ahem,” Lu Nong changed the subject abruptly, “Are the ginkgo nuts ready? I want to eat some.”

Pei Ji’an chuckled lightly. “Little liar.”

He clearly did not believe that Lu Nong would agree to help Wang Hongmian. She pretended not to hear him. Who was the little liar? It certainly wasn’t her.

“Don’t mind her. She probably came to plead for Shen Yiming without his knowledge. Shen Yiming doesn’t owe anyone anything, so nothing serious will happen to him. He may only be affected by Shen Congnian, but that will mainly impact his career.” The so-called impact would make it hard for Shen Yiming to be promoted in this lifetime. Without any significant accomplishments, Shen Yiming’s future would be bleak, which would be a huge blow for a capable soldier.

“If he’s smart, he’ll request to be transferred from the capital to avoid the storm. Then he won’t have to deal with the Shen family anymore.”

As the ginkgo nuts split open, Pei Ji’an carefully picked the ripe ones from the fire. His words were as slow and steady as his hands.

Lu Nong’s mouth formed an “O.” It was as if he had overheard her conversation with Wang Hongmian. He had even guessed Wang Hongmian’s intentions perfectly and predicted the Shen family’s next move.

For the first time, Lu Nong felt the pressure Pei Ji’an put on others. He could see through them and predict their actions. He was a dangerous man, yet he was incredibly charming.

“Don’t you want to eat?” Pei Ji’an noticed Lu Nong staring at him blankly and started handing her the roasted ginkgo nuts one by one.

“… Aren’t they hot?”

Pei Ji’an squeezed open the ginkgo nuts with his bare hands right after taking them from the fire. Lu Nong hurriedly flipped his hand over to take a look. He had beautiful, long fingers, but the palms were covered with calluses.

Thinking about the sensation of those hands against her skin made Lu Nong feel uneasy. She quickly released him and took the ginkgo nuts to eat from a porcelain plate.

“Roast some more. There are still two sons to feed.”

She was happy eating alone, but the big enemy Pei Zheng was staring at her with a deathly gaze from the second-floor window. The little enemies Gu Xiaohuai and Xiaobai were lying on their brother’s shoulders and waving to her. They were so cute that Lu Nong actually felt a little guilty.

Pei Ji’an prided himself on not being a fool, but he was starting to struggle to understand his little wife. Just a second ago, she had looked at him in fear, and the next moment she confidently ordered him around. It was truly amusing.

He could only obediently accept his little wife’s orders and roast another plate of ginkgo nuts for their sons.

At mealtime, Lu Nong placed the plate of ginkgo nuts in front of her stepson. “Here, Pei Xiaozheng, don’t say I’m eating alone. I specially saved some for you and Xiao Huai.”

Pei Zheng turned up his nose. “Who cares?”

Gu Xiaohuai was quite clever in this regard. When he saw his mother offering a delicious treat, he sweetly said, “Thank you, Mama.”

“You’re welcome,” Lu Nong patted her obedient son on the head and glanced at Pei Zheng. “Don’t care? Good, then I haven’t eaten enough. Hurry up and bring it over so Xiao Huai and I can share.”

Pei Zheng exclaimed, “No way!”

“You can’t take back what you’ve given to others.” Pei Zheng quickly stuffed the ginkgo nuts into his and Xiao Huai’s pockets, planning to eat them as snacks.

Lu Nong reminded him, “Don’t let Xiao Huai eat too much. He might get a stomachache.”

“I know, I know.” Pei Zheng was usually more aware of this than Lu Nong.

Later that night, after Lu Nong finished her body care routine, she saw that it was still early. She grabbed a book and lay down on the bed to read. Pei Ji’an, who had originally been sitting on a rattan chair by the window waiting for Lu Nong, walked over and pulled her into his arms.

Lu Nong gasped in surprise. Her period had lasted several days, and Pei Ji’an had been well-behaved. Surely, he wouldn’t act up today?

“You mentioned before that we shouldn’t waste Xiao Huai’s talent,” Lu Nong quickly tried to find a topic to discuss. “Shouldn’t we see what he’s interested in and then guide and support him?”

“That’s a good idea,” Pei Ji’an said as he wrapped an arm around Lu Nong, adjusting her reading posture. He then picked up his unfinished book and continued reading.

Lu Nong sighed in relief, it turned out he was just holding her while reading.

The two of them focused on their books. Perhaps it was Pei Ji’an’s familiar scent that lulled Lu Nong into a drowsy state. She gradually dozed off, only to awaken later to find Pei Ji’an still holding her.

Noticing she was awake, Pei Ji’an set down his book, kissed her ear, and in a low voice whispered, “Are you awake? Go back to sleep.”

“Okay,” Lu Nong stretched and tried to sit up, but Pei Ji’an gently held her head, his lips covering hers. Soon, the room was filled with the sound of soft kisses. Lu Nong felt her cheeks flush and her heart race in a daze.

As her nightgown slipped open and hung halfway down her arm, it was clear that things were about to escalate. Lu Nong struggled to push against Pei Ji’an’s chest, saying, “Aren’t we… going to sleep?”

Pei Ji’an didn’t stop. Instead, he lifted her leg and chuckled, “Didn’t you want to whisper sweet nothings in my ear? Go ahead and try.”

Lu Nong: “…” Wasn’t this outrageous?

Before she could protest, Pei Ji’an had already made his move. Breathing unevenly, Lu Nong managed to say, “Just once… just once. A healthy sexual life is good for one’s health.”

“Pillow talk doesn’t work once.”

That was all Pei Ji’an said before he buried himself in the task at hand.

Lu Nong: “…”

That night was an intense experience for Lu Nong. She finally realized how wrong she had been to doubt Pei Ji’an’s capabilities. The Pei Ji’an who had consumed deer blood was irresistible, and the Pei Ji’an who hadn’t was equally overpowering. Did he even need the nourishing soup?

If she had the strength, Lu Nong would have yelled, Godmother has wronged me!

I was wrong, I truly was wrong. From the beginning, I shouldn’t have doubted Pei Ji’an’s abilities. If I hadn’t, he wouldn’t have felt the need to prove himself by doing it over and over again for an entire night.

In the final moments, with her senses still somewhat intact, Lu Nong pushed Pei Ji’an away, saying, “Wait, don’t do it inside. I don’t want to get pregnant.”

Pei Ji’an paused and pulled out before releasing himself.

The next morning, Lu Nong almost couldn’t get out of bed. She nearly stayed in, but her strong-willed nature wouldn’t allow her to skip school. Despite her body being sore and her legs trembling, she forced herself to get up and go to class.

Even she was impressed with her determination.

While waiting for the bus outside, Lu Nong noticed people staring at her in a daze. After that night, she exuded a new kind of irresistible allure. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of spring, and she looked lazy yet enticing, like a lotus flower drenched in rain, captivating everyone and leaving them inexplicably parched.

Pei Zheng stood in front of Lu Nong, blocking the gazes of onlookers.

Once they arrived at school, Pei Zheng had just parted ways with Lu Nong when a bold young man stopped her, eager to get acquainted.

“Hey, classmate! Let me introduce myself. My name is Yang Huai, and I’m a student in the Literature Department. May I know your name?”

Initially, Lu Nong intended to refuse him outright, but upon hearing his name “Yang Huai,” she inquired, “Your name is Yang Huai? Which character is the ‘Huai’?”

Yang Huai eagerly explained, “It’s the ‘huai’ in ‘I sing as the moon lingers, I dance as my shadow scatters’; ‘the bright moon shines on the tall building, and the flowing light lingers’; ‘helplessly the flowers fall, like swallows returning, the garden path is fragrant and lonely.’”

Lu Nong felt disappointed. It turned out to be the “huai” in lingering, which was not the same as Xiao Huai’s name. Just as she was about to decline Yang Huai’s request to get to know her better, she noticed Pei Zheng, who was watching from a distance. Seeing her chatting happily with a male student triggered alarm bells in his mind. Although his father was somewhat accepting, he was a dutiful son and determined to protect his father’s relationship from any possible threats posed by a stepmother trying to find a young lover.

So, he stealthily slipped back, standing behind Yang Huai and giving Lu Nong a warning glare: Hurry up and reject him!

Well, well, young man, you dares to threaten your stepmother. Time for your stepmother to show you the harshness of reality.

Lu Nong instantly changed her mind and smiled at Pei Zheng. Since Yang Huai stood in front of him, Yang Huai mistook Lu Nong’s smile directed at Pei Zheng as intended for him. He was so captivated that he lost focus until Lu Nong spoke again.

“Student Yang, if you want to get to know me, you’ll have to get past my brother first.”

Yang Huai looked furious. “How can a brother be so unreasonable? What’s his name? I’m going to have a word with him!”

“Great!”

“Huh?”

“Oh, I mean that’s wonderful. He’s right behind you.” Lu Nong pointed at Pei Zheng, who was standing behind Yang Huai.

Yang Hui: “…”

Pei Zheng: “…”

Yang Huai was the first to speak out: “Why don’t you let your sister socialize with men? That restricts her personal freedom! It’s a feudal, patriarchal mindset. She is your sister, not your possession. She has the right to make friends with male classmates, boyfriends, or even… fall in love freely!”

Pei Zheng’s face turned pale. He glanced at Lu Nong, who was enjoying the drama, then turned back to Yang Huai, taking a deep breath and gritting his teeth as he replied, “Because she’s already married, and there’s no such thing as free love!”

Yang Hui: “…”

Yang Huai turned to Lu Nong in shock. Lu Nong innocently nodded, “Yes, I forgot to mention earlier that I’m married.”

Yang Huai’s expression changed dramatically. After a moment of thought, he finally said to Lu Nong, “Classmate, was your marriage arranged by your parents? This is a new society. You can definitely resist an arranged marriage. As long as you stay strong and bravely divorce, breaking free from family constraints, you’ll lead a much happier life!”

Lu Nong: “…”

Pei Zheng: “…”

Lu Nong chuckled, “Haha, that’s not necessary. Actually, my marriage is quite happy, and I even have a son named Xiao Huai, who has the same name as you.”

Student Yang’s face became more and more ugly. No wonder Lu Nong asked him which “Huai” character he was from. He thought she was interested in him.

The girl he wanted to flirt with was not only married but also had a son who shared his name. Student Yang couldn’t hold on any longer and, barely maintaining his last shred of composure, said goodbye and left.

After Student Yang left, Lu Nong turned to Pei Zheng and smiled gently. Seeing that devilish smile brought back unspeakable painful memories for Pei Zheng. He shivered and immediately knelt down, exclaiming, “I was wrong!”

“What did you do wrong?” Lu Nong asked.

Pei Zheng was at a loss for words. How was he supposed to know what he had done wrong?

Lu Nong simply chuckled.

That day, male classmates began to confront Pei Zheng one after another, angrily questioning why he was stopping his sister from dating men. They accused him of being too strict with his sister, suggesting he had a feudal mindset.

Pei Zheng: “…” Wow, it turns out that when he wasn’t looking, so many people wanted to steal the old man’s girl.

At first, Pei Zheng patiently explained that Lu Nong was already married. But soon, he grew tired of it. Anger bubbled up inside him, and during the lunch break, he went home and brought Gu Huai to school.

Whenever a man approached, he would point to Gu Huai, who was happily playing by himself, and say, “Look, this is her son.”

“…”

The men fled one after another.

Pei Zheng finally felt a sense of relief. The sky seemed bluer, the water clearer, and everything began to look beautiful.

Gu Huai was warmly welcomed by his classmates in the law department, especially the girls. They almost wanted to steal the adorably charming Gu Huai. He was so well-behaved in class, sitting quietly in his brother’s lap, seriously listening to the professor as if he could understand.

Students privately rated the law department’s scenery that day: the cool, handsome Pei Zheng and his incredibly cute little brother.

Even the professors teaching Pei Zheng couldn’t help but smile, saying, “Our student Pei Zheng is truly the hardest-working genius in the court. Look, even his brother is so eager to learn. If only he could understand what I’m saying, we would have another little genius on our hands.”

The other students burst into laughter, treating it as a joke to lighten the mood. Only Pei Zheng snorted dismissively. Everyone else was drunk on laughter, but he remained clear-headed, thinking that his brother had a remarkable memory and was indeed a genius.

In the evening, Pei Zheng held Gu Huai as they waited at the intersection for Lu Nong. When she arrived, he could hardly contain his excitement as he boasted about how he had thwarted Lu Nong’s scheme. He explained that by bringing Gu Huai to school, all the troublesome male classmates had fled.

“How about that? Are you stunned? You lost!” Pei Zheng said fiercely, finally winning a round against his stepmother, feeling exhilarated.

Lu Nong wore a strange expression. She had initially directed those who were flirting with her to Pei Zheng to avoid the hassle, not wanting them to disturb her studies. As long as Pei Zheng could send them away and stop their harassment, her goal would be achieved.

However, Pei Zheng came up with a ridiculous idea by bringing Xiao Huai to school. From a different perspective, he had not only sent away her suitors but had also helped her by bringing along her son.

She hadn’t lost anything.

Lu Nong: “…” The question now was, should I tell my silly stepson about this?

°.✩┈┈∘*┈˃̶୨୧˂̶┈*∘┈┈✩.°

Author’s Note:

Lu Nong: It’s touching, truly touching.

Pei Zheng, who knew the truth, shed tears: In the end, he still lost.