Chapter 5

Standing by the back gate, if it wasn’t Pei Hechuan, then who else could it be?

He had one hand in his pocket, leaning against the jeep, the other hand holding a cigarette. His gaze was heavy, and the sharpness of his face carried a hint of amusement.

Zhao Yunsheng felt her heart sink. Realizing escape was impossible, she gave up resisting. She gently set Yuanbao down, straightened his clothes, and handed him the bag.

“Son, why don’t you go wait in the yard for Mommy, okay?”

Judging by Pei Hechuan’s stance, he probably wouldn’t let this go. He might even try to take the child later. Better to send Yuanbao away first—then she could handle things on her own.

“Mom, weren’t we going out to play?”

Yuanbao didn’t want to go back yet. Hugging the bag in his arms, he looked up at her, his wet eyes blinking, little mouth pouting adorably.

Pei Hechuan watched from a distance. His gaze grew darker, his presence imposing.

Yuanbao noticed and tilted his head, only to meet Pei Hechuan’s brooding expression. Scared, he quickly ducked behind his mother.

“How about we go tomorrow instead? Be good, Yuanbao.”

Zhao Yunsheng kissed the little one on the forehead gently.

Yuanbao pouted, lowered his head, and obediently went inside.

Pei Hechuan inhaled deeply, smoke rolling over his Adam’s apple. He exhaled a thin stream of blue-gray smoke and tugged at the corner of his lips, revealing a barely noticeable smile.

He raised an eyebrow at Zhao Yunsheng, asking knowingly, “Comrade Zhao, are you planning to leave?”

Zhao Yunsheng swallowed hard. How had he changed so much in just a few years?

When they were together, Pei Hechuan had been sunny, gentle, and polite. His smiles had been shy and cheerful.

Now? His gaze was fierce, his words threatening—he looked nothing like a good man.

“She’s leaving? That little brat Zhao Yunsheng is worried about going to jail, trying to run away with her child!”

Hearing her name, Pei Hechuan clenched his fists. Any lingering doubt vanished, replaced by the fury of someone who had been toyed with.

Liu Yuetao, oblivious, had overheard everything and realized the imposing man must be Deng Lijun’s superior. She covered her face and went to complain.

“Comrade! You’re Jun’er’s commander, right? I’m his aunt, got some family ties. Please, help me! This Zhao Yunsheng not only seduced my son, she also hit me, her elder! Don’t you think she deserves jail?”

Even though all of Liu Yuetao’s claims were fabricated, Zhao Yunsheng felt humiliated just listening. She hadn’t expected to meet Pei Hechuan again, much less in such a situation.

She was being slandered.

Pei Hechuan watched, resentment in his eyes.

“Full of lies, trampling on true feelings… she does deserve jail.”

He flicked the cigarette out and looked at her calmly.

Seeing her pale, displeased face, furrowed brows, and sharp gaze—so different from the gentle woman he had known—he wondered: had she changed over the years, or had she been playing him all along?

He didn’t want to know. All he wanted was the answer to one question:

Why?

Why did she leave him? Why wouldn’t she acknowledge him? Had she… been lying all this time?

Their eyes met, tension thick in the air.

Deng Lijun sensed something off. He had thought they were former lovers, but now it felt more like enemies.

“Commander, shall we… go inside and talk?”

Before Pei Hechuan could respond, Liu Yuetao erupted in anger.

“Talk? Don’t let that little brat run away again! Jun’er, why don’t you just grab her first? I don’t have anything to talk about with her. If you don’t help me, I’ll go find the factory leaders myself!”

Zhao Yunsheng, held captive, was fuming. She had been looking for someone to vent at, and now Liu Yuetao was lying openly. She could take it no longer.

A cold laugh escaped her, and she turned, threatening:

“Go ahead and report me! You think I’m afraid? You slandered me as a fox spirit, insulted my son, and I hit you—it’s nothing!”

Her chest heaved with anger, eyebrows furrowed like an enraged little rabbit, hands on her hips. Her presence alone intimidated Liu Yuetao.

Catching Liu Yuetao’s guilty expression, Zhao Yunsheng glanced at Pei Hechuan.

See that? I’m just a feisty little woman now, not the gentle, demure Zhao Yunsheng you knew. The smart thing would be to leave.

Even knowing she wasn’t dead… would it matter?

Pei Hechuan liked the woman who had been by his side, tender and caring—not the fierce, hot-tempered mother of Yuanbao standing before him.

He lowered his gaze, finally understanding Zhao Yunsheng’s stance. Yet, beneath his anger, there was pain.

His deep gaze pressed down, directed at Liu Yuetao. His thin lips parted, asking sharply:

“This auntie insulted Comrade Zhao? And her child?”

Liu Yuetao, unsure why he asked, grew nervous.

“I—I—I insulted her because she deserved it!”

Zhao Yunsheng fired back, “Then should I hit you, or should you be hitting me?”

“You—you…”

Liu Yuetao pointed at her, trembling, about to argue further, but someone suddenly rushed out from behind and grabbed her.

“Mom, what are you doing here? Dad and I are waiting for you to cook dinner.”

The newcomer was none other than her son, He Dali. Liu Yuetao’s tears fell instantly as she clutched him, wailing.

“Dali, you’re just in time! This Zhao Yunsheng brat hit me! Look at my face, it hurts so much!”

He Dali glanced. Indeed, half her face was swollen. Though he felt for his mother, he also knew how much trouble she had caused Zhao Yunsheng.

Normally, Zhao Yunsheng would ignore it, but today she had lashed out. Perhaps his mother had gone too far.

On his tanned face, he looked conflicted, pulling Liu Yuetao close.

“Mom, I’ve told you, there’s nothing between me and Yunsheng. Why do you always bully her and Yuanbao?”

Liu Yuetao expected her son to support her, but instead he subtly distanced himself.

“He Dali! Are you even my son? This little brat hit me, and you defend her? You’re so unfilial—I shouldn’t have even raised you!”

He Dali was used to being scolded; it went in one ear and out the other.

Seeing this, Liu Yuetao wailed in frustration.

“What kind of life is this! Raising my son with so much effort, only for outsiders to bully me! They say a son forgets his mother after marrying, but you haven’t even married, and you’re already helping her? He Dali, I tell you, unless I die, Zhao Yunsheng will never marry into this family!”

She stormed off with her shopping basket, tears in her eyes.

With the courtyard finally quiet, He Dali looked at Zhao Yunsheng, his face red, nearly tongue-tied.

“Yunsheng, I’m sorry. My mom’s like that… did she gossip about you again? I’ll talk to her properly when we get back…”

Seeing him fawn, even Deng Lijun, who had never been in a relationship, could tell he liked Zhao Yunsheng.

He secretly glanced at Pei Hechuan across the way and nearly jumped in shock.

My goodness… the commander’s face is black as a pot bottom.

Big Brother Dali, don’t say anything—otherwise, we’re all in trouble.