The Road to a Divine Harem Starting with a Stepmom Companion

Chapter 9: Shaoyang! Stepmom is Tired!

“Ah!”

“The strawberries I bought for you fell on the floor!”

As she spoke, Shaoyang’s stepmom bent down to pick up the strawberries she had dropped. But before she could, Cao Shaoyang stopped her.

“Stepmom, you should go wash your hands. I’ll clean this up,” he said gently, nudging her away from the doorway.

“Alright!” Liu Xiaofei didn’t argue over such a trivial matter. However, instead of heading straight to the bathroom, she walked toward her bedroom first.

Seeing this, Cao Shaoyang quickly called after her, “Stepmom! You don’t need to go back to your room. Just washing your hands is enough.”

Liu Xiaofei glanced at the candlelit dinner, its soft glow enhancing the atmosphere and the beautifully prepared meal. She turned to Cao Shaoyang, her voice warm, “Since Shaoyang went through so much trouble to prepare this candlelight dinner for me, I should dress appropriately for the occasion.”

She smiled, a mix of gratitude and tenderness, leaving Cao Shaoyang momentarily dazed.

When she reached her bedroom door and opened it, she paused briefly and gave Cao Shaoyang, still lost in thought, a meaningful look. Smiling softly, she said nothing and stepped into her room, closing the door behind her.

It wasn’t until the sound of the door shutting that Cao Shaoyang snapped out of his *reverie. He rubbed his forehead, muttering to himself, “Great, she figured it out.”

[*a state of being pleasantly lost in one’s thoughts; a daydream.]

Time ticked by slowly as Cao Shaoyang waited in anticipation. How long has she been in there? What will she look like when she comes out? He couldn’t help but feel both nervous and excited.

Suddenly, there was a soft click. It wasn’t his stepmom yet, but a beam of light spilling from the slightly open bedroom door. Moments later, she emerged.

Her long hair was elegantly pinned up, and she wore a stunning evening gown. The soft makeup accentuated her delicate features. Her diamond earrings sparkled, complementing the understated allure of her red lip gloss. Around her neck was a matching diamond necklace, which subtly enhanced her already alluring bosom.

The fitted gown hugged her curves, emphasizing her graceful figure, while the high slit revealed a pair of long, shapely legs with each step. Her crystal heels shimmered, and her polished nails glowed with a delicate pink hue.

At that moment, Cao Shaoyang truly believed in the existence of light.

Liu Xiaofei gently nudged his shoulder, her tone teasing, “Am I really that stunning?”

“You’re the most beautiful person in my heart, Stepmom,” Cao Shaoyang replied earnestly.

“Such a smooth talker,” she said, her voice sweet yet playful.

Cao Shaoyang pulled out her chair and gestured for her to sit. He poured the red wine into their glasses. In the warm glow of the candlelight, they smiled and laughed, sharing glass after glass.

With her cheeks flushed a rosy hue, Liu Xiaofei gazed at Cao Shaoyang with a dreamy expression.

Out of nowhere, she murmured softly, “Shaoyang.”

“Yes?” he responded, leaning slightly forward.

“I’m tired,” she said with a faint smile.

The living room fell silent, with only a solitary candle flickering in the dim light.

In the bedroom, on a bed adorned with fresh flowers, Cao Shaoyang carefully helped Liu Xiaofei put on the pendant necklace he had prepared for her.

The candlelight flickered and swayed, occasionally making faint crackling sounds. A spring breeze crept through a slightly open window, causing the flames to tremble as if they might extinguish. Yet, after each gust, the candle stubbornly continued to burn, its resilience unwavering in the quiet of the night.

As dawn broke and a faint glow spread across the sky, the candle finally burned out, as if completing its mission. With its last flicker, it surrendered peacefully to the new day.

—–

Sometimes, one can’t help but admire a woman’s endurance and her ability to recover quickly.

At some point during the night, Cao Shaoyang was awakened by his stepmom’s urgent voice. He opened his drowsy eyes to see her, dressed in a silk nightgown, gently pushing him, trying to wake him up faster.

Noticing that he was awake, Liu Xiaofei spoke hurriedly, “Shaoyang, get up quickly! If you don’t, you’ll really be late for morning study!”

Cao Shaoyang buried his face into his pillow, taking a deep breath. The faint fragrance left behind by his stepmom was intoxicating, filling him with a sense of contentment. Thankfully, he had the foresight last night to replace their pillows with new ones, preserving this lingering scent.

Although he wanted to stay in bed a little longer, the discomfort from his position forced him to climb out of the covers obediently.

After getting up, he glanced back at the messy bed that bore the signs of his stepmom’s restless night. It was fortunate that she wasn’t around—otherwise, her face would have turned bright red with embarrassment.

Without venturing far, he headed to her bathroom and took a quick, refreshing shower using her bath products.

When he reached the dining table, he noticed the burned-out candle stubs, reminding him that he had forgotten to extinguish them last night. Thankfully, there hadn’t been a tablecloth on the table, or it could have been dangerous.

In the open kitchen, Liu Xiaofei was bustling around, preparing breakfast with lively efficiency. Cao Shaoyang approached her from behind and gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist.