The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era

"Baolan, let’s have a word. It might be difficult to see each other again in the future."

Zhou Shuhuan’s demeanor was unusually amiable, just like when they first met during a blind date in Shenjiagou.

Shen Baolan also put away her hostility and followed Zhou Shuhuan to talk elsewhere.

"My parents have almost finished cleaning up the house, but moving out will take some more time. You can come to get the keys tomorrow."

"Fine, I’ll give you one more day."

She had initially planned to take back the house right then, to move in with Gao Hualiang.

"Thank you."

Zhou Shuhuan suddenly became polite, and Shen Baolan, in turn, lost her temper. "It was me who schemed against you in the beginning, but you also wronged me. We’re even now; from here on out, we don’t owe each other anything."

Zhou Shuhuan lit a cigarette and exhaled rings of smoke. "I was just speaking out of anger yesterday. I still remember the first time I saw you, you were wearing a blue floral dress, your hair was braided in herringbone plaits, and your eyes were so black and bright—a smart and capable woman through and through."

"At that moment, I thought to myself, for a man with a criminal record and entering his second marriage, being able to marry an able and beautiful virgin like you, was worth it."