Chapter 16

Back in the apartment, Zhao Yunsheng still felt a bit dazed.

Yuanbao took off his scarf and pattered over, fetching Zhao Yunsheng’s shoes.

“Mom.”

Zhao Yunsheng snapped back to reality, looking down at the little guy crouched at her feet. She couldn’t resist pinching his soft, chubby cheeks.

“I’ll put them on myself.”

After changing her shoes, she quickly got up to prepare lunch. The fridge was stocked with fresh ingredients, and after raising a child for a few years, she had long mastered cooking. The dishes weren’t gourmet, but they weren’t inedible either.

Yuanbao changed into his fuzzy rabbit slippers, dragged over a small stool, and sat in the kitchen to keep her company, hugging his little warm pack.

“Mom, I don’t like that bad man.”

Zhao Yunsheng glanced at him. “Because he bullied you?”

He shook his head. “Because he bullied Mom.”

Zhao Yunsheng smiled, recalling Pei Hechuan’s words before leaving. She paused for a moment while cooking, hesitated, and then decided to explain.

“Well, it’s not exactly bullying… but it’s complicated, and Yuanbao is just a little kid. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Pouting, Yuanbao cupped his cheeks and retorted proudly.

“Mom, you can’t underestimate me! I’m small, but I’m not stupid. I know! I know that bad man is Yuanbao’s dad…”

Zhao Yunsheng froze, dropping the vegetables in her hands in shock.

For a moment, the kitchen was silent except for the boiling water on the stove.

She finally looked down at her son, her expression a mixture of surprise, sadness, fear, and most of all, guilt.

Her eyes reddened. She immediately set aside the food, crouched down, and fixed Yuanbao with her wide, expressive eyes.

“How did you know?”

Yuanbao smiled, his beautiful eyes crescent-shaped but full of pride.

“I heard him say it.”

Zhao Yunsheng took a deep breath and didn’t deny it—it was undeniable fact. She asked anxiously,

“Do you blame Mom? Is it Mom’s fault for raising you alone, leaving you without a dad?”

Yuanbao shook his head, grabbing her cold hand.

“No! Being with Mom is the best. I love Mom the most. I don’t like Dad. He’s a bad guy.”

He hugged Zhao Yunsheng, pressing his little face to her forehead. His small body was soft and pliant, and he whispered,

“Mom, don’t leave Yuanbao. I’m a good boy.”

Zhao Yunsheng’s heart ached. What she feared most was losing her beloved Yuanbao.

Tears blurred her vision, but she quickly wiped them away when he wasn’t looking. She cupped his face and kissed him several times, speaking brightly.

“My clever, adorable Yuanbao—how could I ever leave you? Anyone who tries to take you away, I’ll shoot them!”

Yuanbao’s eyes sparkled. Delighted, he covered his mouth to stifle a laugh.

“My Mom is beautiful and brave. I’ll always stick with Mom.”

Zhao Yunsheng’s heart melted completely. She held him close, enjoying the moment, and finally rewarded him with a small cake.

After lunch, Zhao Yunsheng retrieved two bottles of good wine from her storage and sent them to the Deng family across the street—one for Deng Qinglin, the other for Deng Lijun to deliver to Pei Hechuan.

The wine was sent off; she had repaid Pei Hechuan’s favor and hoped they would never meet again.

Not long after the mother-and-son pair left, Deng Lijun came in carrying a large bag of pastries.

Deng Xiaotong’s sharp eyes caught the luxurious bag, and she instinctively reached to grab it.

“What did you buy? It looks so fancy!”

She opened it to see pastries and was about to continue unpacking when Deng Lijun smacked her hand away.

Pouting, Deng Xiaotong realized it must be a gift for someone else.

“Can’t even look?”

Just then, Deng Lijun’s eyes twinkled, and he handed the bag over.

“Deliver this to Comrade Zhao later. I saw a long line at this pastry shop and figured the taste must be good. Thought Yuanbao might like it, so I bought him a box as well.”

Deng Xiaotong’s tone was teasingly pointed. “If you like Yunsheng, just say it. And Yuanbao? He’s had imported snacks his whole life—he doesn’t care about your gift.”

“???”

Deng Lijun’s head almost exploded. Imported snacks? That wasn’t right. Irritated, he smacked Deng Xiaotong on the back of the head.

“What nonsense are you talking? Comrade Zhao is way out of my league. And don’t twist it—deliver the gift and say it’s from me.”

When Comrade Zhao mentioned it in front of the regiment commander, the commander would praise him for being considerate.

Deng Xiaotong, confused, rubbed her head. She couldn’t figure it out and just nodded.

“Fine. It’s perfect—Yunsheng asked me to help anyway.”

She handed over the wine from the table.

“Pei Regiment Commander helped Yunsheng today. She’s grateful and prepared this good wine to give him. To avoid gossip about a man and woman alone, she asked you to deliver it.”

Deng Lijun paused, realizing the significance. His face turned green in frustration.

Looking at his own sister’s clueless expression, he could only laugh and cry at the same time.

“Deng Xiaotong, are you out of your mind? They know each other. Why should I help? I’m not delivering the wine. You go yourself.”

Deng Xiaotong snapped back, “I don’t know that commander. How could I deliver it? You’re so stingy—you won’t even do this little favor, and yet you dream of chasing Yunsheng.”

Deng Lijun flopped onto the sofa in frustration, wanting to blurt out everything he knew.

Pei Hechuan hadn’t confirmed anything, so even if Deng Lijun guessed some truth, he dared not speak aloud. Suddenly, a light bulb went off, and he grinned with satisfaction.

“Fine, I’ll deliver it.”

He grabbed the bottle and rushed out.

After searching almost the entire afternoon, he finally found Pei Hechuan—still at the Meat Union Factory, in the director’s office.

Waiting outside for a while, he learned that the factory director was actually Pei Hechuan’s second uncle.

Wow. The rumors in the army were true: Pei Hechuan had an extremely promising future and came from a powerful family. Heard his grandfather was a general.

But these were all private chats—no one dared ask directly.