The Road to a Divine Harem Starting with a Stepmom Companion

Chapter 35: This night is destined to be a sleepless night

“Hey! What are you doing in here?”

“Hehe, Stepmom, I’m just getting ready to shower too! Whether it’s one person or two, it’s still a shower. Plus, we save water—it’s a win-win situation!”

“And besides,” he added cheekily, “if we shower together, we can help scrub each other’s backs and make sure everything’s squeaky clean.”

“You should’ve at least knocked or warned me! You scared me,” Liu Xiaofei said, embarrassed, crossing her arms in front of her and lowering one hand in frustration.

Cao Shaoyang feigned innocence. “Stepmom, I did give a warning. I clearly said I was coming in to join you!”

“When did you ever say that?” she retorted, flustered. “I didn’t hear anything!”

“I said it just now!” Cao Shaoyang declared, raising his hands in mock surrender. “I told you I was coming in to shower with you, didn’t I?”

Liu Xiaofei stomped her foot in frustration, causing a subtle ripple in the water around her. “That doesn’t count! I didn’t agree!”

Cao Shaoyang grinned mischievously and stepped closer. “Oh, Stepmom, don’t sweat the small stuff! I’m already in, so let me repay all the care you’ve given me over the years. I’ll scrub your back for you and help you relax a bit!”

Reluctantly, Liu Xiaofei sighed and turned her back to him, continuing to rinse off. Still, she quipped, “This is your way of showing gratitude? Couldn’t you have a little more sincerity?”

“Don’t say that!” Cao Shaoyang protested. “I’m full of sincerity! Isn’t that why I’m here?”

He picked up the loofah and began scrubbing her back with careful attention, his face unusually serious. Over time, her initial discomfort faded, and she started to accept the situation, even leaning slightly to make it easier for him.

Ironically, their plan to conserve water failed spectacularly. Instead, they used far more water than usual—a lesson Cao Shaoyang filed away for “next time.”

After he finished helping her, Liu Xiaofei insisted on returning the favor. She scrubbed his back meticulously, ensuring no spot was missed. By the end of their shared shower, both were fresh, clean, and glowing.

Instead of returning to his own room, Cao Shaoyang casually threw on a pair of boxers and flopped onto the bed in her room. He even critiqued which cheongsam she should wear for the evening.

Eventually, Liu Xiaofei settled on a moon-white fitted cheongsam. The dress featured a high collar with fabric buttons that extended to her neck but revealed a subtle teardrop-shaped cutout at the chest. Delicate embroidered leaves adorned the fabric, and the high slit along the side extended all the way to her upper thigh.

She paired it with white stockings that weren’t the seamless type but individual pieces. These stockings had lacy bands at the top, adding a playful, seductive touch. While standing still, everything seemed modest. But as she walked or moved, the slit would reveal her long, stocking-clad legs, and the intricate lace detailing peeked out, adding undeniable allure.

To complete the look, she pinned up her hair in a classic style reminiscent of 1930s elegance. The overall effect was that of a timeless beauty stepping out of another era.

Meanwhile, Cao Shaoyang remained seated, legs sprawled, in just his boxers. His laid-back demeanor and casual attire sharply contrasted with Liu Xiaofei’s graceful, elegant appearance.

“This really doesn’t match at all,” he muttered, glancing at their starkly different vibes.

Just as he thought the evening had reached its peak, Liu Xiaofei pulled out a small box with a mysterious expression. From it, she revealed a black Zhongshan suit.

Cao Shaoyang blinked in confusion. “What’s this?”

“When I pull out a question mark, it’s not that I have a problem—it’s you who has a problem,” he added dramatically.

“When did you even buy this? I’ve never seen it before,” he asked skeptically.

Liu Xiaofei blushed slightly and replied in a casual tone, “Oh, it’s been a while. When I bought this cheongsam, I thought a Zhongshan suit would pair perfectly with it. So, I… accidentally bought one too.”

Cao Shaoyang raised an eyebrow. “Accidentally, huh? Is that really the whole story?”

If he remembered correctly, the outfit Liu Xiaofei was wearing must have been bought recently, even though he didn’t know the exact timing. Ever since he had expressed his admiration for her in cheongsams, she had begun ordering a variety of them online.

Once Liu Xiaofei had helped him put on the meticulously pressed Zhongshan suit, he was convinced she had bought it with a plan in mind. It fit him perfectly, almost like it had been tailored to his measurements, unlike the standard sizes typically found in online purchases.

But he didn’t point out her little scheme.

Instead, he played along and let her link her arm with his as they walked out of the bedroom together.

They lit the candles leftover from their last candlelit dinner, turned off the main lights in the living room, and opened the bag of dried fruits he had bought.

Snuggled together on the couch, in the faint glow of the flickering candlelight, they leaned close. Even with the dim light, it was only by being near each other that they could make out each other’s faces.

In whispered tones, they shared quiet words and the lingering scent of red wine between them.

That night was destined to be sleepless.