Chapter 19

Zhao Yunsheng calmly withdrew her gaze, pretending not to notice.

Pei Hechuan gripped the steering wheel tightly, his entire aura shifting.

Earlier, he had sent Deng Lijun to deliver wine to curry favor—now she seemed to have changed her mind?

Seeing her laughing and chatting effortlessly with that young man, a sour bitterness filled Pei Hechuan’s heart.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Ji Jianmin was puzzled. Seeing his grandnephew act this way, he hesitated, then cautiously spoke up.

“Hechuan, aren’t you rushing home for the family reunion dinner? Why are you driving so slowly?”

Even the elderly woman with a cane was nearly passing them.

Pei Hechuan didn’t look away. He fixed his gaze on the group ahead and coldly replied with a smirk:

“Ran into an acquaintance. Just saying hello.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he rolled down the window and called out in a low voice:

“Zhao Yunsheng.”

The three words came out as if forced through clenched teeth.

Ji Jianmin’s eyes flickered. Could this really be the “Comrade Zhao”?

He eagerly craned his neck for a better view.

After staring for a moment, the woman ahead didn’t look back—but the young man beside her did.

Tut-tut-tut, it seemed this Zhao Yunsheng wasn’t interested in his grandnephew at all.

Ji Jianmin sneaked a glance at the enraged Pei Hechuan, holding his breath, feeling both puzzled and secretly pleased.

Puzzled that such an exceptional young man could be ignored. Pleased that even someone usually so decisive and intimidating could get a taste of rejection.

Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly met Pei Hechuan’s piercing glare and shivered.

“Hechuan, if it’s important, maybe you should just get out and talk?”

He genuinely worried that Pei Hechuan might lose control and run over the group.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a loud bang sounded—Pei Hechuan slammed the car to the roadside, leapt out, and charged toward the three ahead with overwhelming force.

Since withdrawing his gaze, Xu Zhengdong had been somewhat distracted. His eyes burned with anger and hatred, and his grip on the bicycle handlebars creaked as he restrained himself.

“Yunsheng-jie, do you know those two in the car?” he asked.

Zhao Yunsheng quickened her pace. “No, we should go…”

Before she could finish, a tall, imposing figure blocked their path.

No need to look up—she already knew it was Pei Hechuan.

“What? Pretending not to see me? Think a bottle of wine will send me away?”

With outsiders around, she didn’t want a confrontation.

And Yuanbao knew Pei Hechuan was his father, so she absolutely couldn’t argue in front of him.

She handed her bicycle to Xu Zhengdong.

“Zhengdong, take Yuanbao back first. I’ll come shortly.”

Xu Zhengdong’s pupils were unusually dark, but facing Pei Hechuan’s hostility, he showed no fear. He even glanced the man over a few times before noticing Zhao Yunsheng’s pleading eyes and nodded.

“Okay.”

They exchanged bicycles. As Xu Zhengdong began to leave, Yuanbao suddenly whimpered.

“Mommy, don’t go! I want to stay with you!”

He stretched out his small hands toward Zhao Yunsheng.

Knowing her son was worried, Zhao Yunsheng kissed his cheek to soothe him.

“It’s okay, Mommy will come soon. Be good, Yuanbao.”

Pouting, Yuanbao’s little nose turned red, tears glimmering in his eyes—who could resist feeling for him?

Xu Zhengdong gently patted his head. “Don’t cry, Yuanbao. We’ll wait for your mom up ahead.”

Nodding, Yuanbao kept his eyes glued to Zhao Yunsheng, afraid of being left behind.

They walked a fair distance before stopping their bicycles. Xu Zhengdong’s gaze lingered on the small car, then he asked Yuanbao:

“Yuanbao, does your mom know those two people?”

Yuanbao snorted. “That one is a big bad guy. He bullies Mommy.”

Xu Zhengdong gestured toward the other man. “And that one?”

Yuanbao stared for a long moment. “Don’t know him.”

He didn’t press further. Whether Yuanbao recognized him or not, the man in front of Zhao Yunsheng clearly did.

Why had they come out of the meat processing plant? Did Mom know?

Zhao Yunsheng, preoccupied, didn’t notice Xu Zhengdong’s suspicion.

She glanced at the small car behind Pei Hechuan and confidently asked:

“So what do you want? This morning at the police station, I thanked you for helping me. We’re just a widow and child—sending a bottle of Maotai, isn’t that enough to show my sincerity?”

Pei Hechuan’s face was dark as ink. Seeing Zhao Yunsheng trying to distance herself, he ignored whether the wine was a thank-you or a peace offering. He nodded and sneered:

“And what about that Comrade Wu at the daycare just now?”

Zhao Yunsheng already knew it was his doing. Hearing him admit it out loud wasn’t surprising—but it fueled her resentment. Their lives were so entangled.

After a pause without a response, Pei Hechuan spoke in a measured, firm tone:

“Zhao Yunsheng, what you owe me… you’ll never repay in this lifetime.”

“…”

If she hadn’t constantly denied being Zhao Yunsheng from five years ago, she might have jumped up and yelled.

What do I owe him? Forever?

He was injured back then, and she had cared for him day and night for two months. Sure, she benefited, but she also sacrificed a lot.

She couldn’t just erase her efforts because of a fake death.

Annoyed, she kept her composure and calmly asked:

“Done? I’m leaving now.”

Her indifference hit him like a punch on cotton.

Pei Hechuan’s deep gaze followed her as she turned, leaving him with one final remark:

“While I’m still on leave these days, take some time… and get the marriage certificate.”

Zhao Yunsheng’s face drained of color. She whipped around, thinking she misheard.

“Marriage certificate?”

It couldn’t be what she thought… could it?

Pei Hechuan remained calm, watching her stupefied expression, secretly pleased.

Finally, she wasn’t acting like the untouchable woman she usually was.

“What? Got a problem?”

Zhao Yunsheng’s chest heaved with fury. She wanted to escape immediately.

A problem? Big problem!

She had her space and resources—she could live freely with Yuanbao as a wealthy woman.

But Pei Hechuan barged in, insisting on entangling her, and more trouble was bound to follow.

She hated dealing with jealousy and women fighting over him, yet Pei Hechuan always attracted endless attention.

Without thinking, Zhao Yunsheng blurted:

“I don’t even know you. Why get a marriage certificate? Thanks for your favor, Comrade Pei, but I’m not remarrying, and I’m not looking for a stepfather for Yuanbao.”

Fearing being entangled, she added as she left:

“Oh, and thanks for handling Wu Qiao—she was purely after me because of you, so we’re done here.”

With those words, she pushed the bicycle forward at lightning speed, quickly catching up to Xu Zhengdong.

Pei Hechuan watched from afar but didn’t follow. Seeing their back-and-forth, he squinted, kicking a stone in frustration.

Done?

Impossible.

Their status as husband and wife would soon be known. Even without a marriage certificate, he could still fulfill his duties as a husband.