Chapter 16: Night Run at Dawn.

[Mom, Lu Zhao’s not feeling well, so I’m taking him back. Won’t be home tonight. (^o^)/]

Yan Ruyue had lost count of how many times she’d reread that message.

Lu Zhao’s concern had put her in such a good mood that she didn’t clash with Ling Chenxi for the rest of the gala.

Of course, she also ignored her.

What surprised her was that Ling Chenxi didn’t announce Ling Cang as her heir to intern at the company.

This contradicted her intel. While unverified information could be off, something this big was usually accurate.

Unless Ling Chenxi changed her mind at the last minute.

But why?

Yan Ruyue absently rubbed the bandage on her hand.

Women in this world weren’t delicate—this minor injury just needed cleaning, disinfecting, and bandaging.

She wore a glove to cover it, as did Ling Chenxi.

Unable to fathom her rival’s motives, Yan Ruyue gave up.

She wanted to ask her daughter about Lu Zhao but felt it wasn’t her place or style.

The thought of what her daughter and Lu Zhao might be doing now made her chest tighten.

She knew it was wrong, that she shouldn’t feel this way, but she couldn’t help it.

Glancing at the message again, she switched to her photo album.

In the year since parting with Lu Zhao, it was the app she opened most.

She quickly found the video in her hidden folder.

She’d forced Lu Zhao to record it when he was dazed, even burning it onto a disc for keeps.

If Yan Qingxin saw this Lu Zhao, she’d be floored—it was a side of her beloved boyfriend she’d never seen.

Lying in bed, her bandaged hand held the phone while the other lifted her robe, fingertips brushing her soft thigh.

“Mmm… yes, Little Lu Zhao, right there…”

Despite watching it countless times, memorizing every detail, Yan Ruyue was as entranced as ever.

Especially Lu Zhao’s hazy, rebellious look—it never failed to thrill her.

In the hospital, Lu Zhao’s eyes snapped open at the voice.

“Sister Ling… no, Auntie Ling? Why are you here?”

Did Qingxin tell her? No way—she didn’t even tell Yan Ruyue, so why her?

Catching his slip, Ling Chenxi smiled delightedly. “Little brother, want to call me Sister? It’s just us now.”

She’d changed from her gala outfit, which was impractical.

Her long hair was tied back in a ponytail, gentle yet fresh.

She wore a fitted sports outfit: a thin Squirtle-printed T-shirt under a pink cropped jacket.

Either the jacket was too small or her assets too large—the zipper stopped below her chest, Squirtle’s eyes stretched wide.

Her full hips and soft thighs were outlined by pink yoga pants, looking so plush they’d dent under a pinch.

White sneakers revealed what looked like nude stockings at her ankles.

Is she wearing stockings under those pants…?

A classic night-run look, but the danger wasn’t her—Lu Zhao felt he* was in peril.

Why exercise in my hospital room?

Ling Chenxi knelt one leg on the bed, leaning close until their noses nearly touched, their breaths mingling.

“Auntie Ling, what are you doing here? How’d you know I was here?”

Lu Zhao, recognizing his limits, abandoned brute force for strategy.

But outsmarting her was tough—especially with those Squirtle eyes auto-locking his gaze.

Shift away, pulled back. Shift again, yanked back.

Noticing his wandering eyes, Ling Chenxi’s lips curved.

She knew Lu Zhao wasn’t like other men here. Most would blush and look away, but not him.

He wanted to look, tried not to, but couldn’t resist.

In her experience, only women reacted like that.

So what else makes you different, little brother? Let Sister strip you bare!

“Oops~” Her arm “slipped,” and she collapsed onto his chest.

No time to mourn the squashed Squirtle—the soft sensation hit again, this time with less barrier.

Is she… not wearing anything underneath?

“Ahem.” Lu Zhao steadied her shoulders. “Auntie Ling, you okay?”

Fine, you want to play? I’ll play—Qingxin will be back soon… right?

Three kilometers away, at a night market:

“Boss, three squid skewers, five rib ends, ten kidneys, and twenty beef skewers to start. Eating here.”

“Got it! Wow, sister, you eat a lot!”

“Hehe, my boyfriend’s in the hospital, can’t bring strong smells there, so I’ll eat here and grab something else to go.”

“Haha, lucky guy! You’re pretty and can eat—nice combo.”

The vendor said that, but she envied Yan Qingxin. Good men were hard to find these days.

Sitting on a stool, munching and swinging her head, Yan Qingxin pondered what to bring Lu Zhao.

She had no idea his mouth was currently occupied.

“No, Auntie Ling… stop.”

Lu Zhao pushed her shoulders, but she wouldn’t budge.

“Call me Sister. Don’t talk—just kiss me.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll call—mmph?”

No chance to speak—she kissed him, prying his mouth open, her tongue wreaking havoc.

Call her Sister, she kisses. Don’t call, she kisses. Is it her or am I some succubus magnet?

No way. Qingxin’s already enough—another generation’s too much.

Though tempted, he couldn’t betray her further.

Seeing a glint of mischief in his eyes, Ling Chenxi felt a sudden pang.

Wait, why am I nervous? What can he do?

She realized too late.

“No, don’t… mm~”

A stifled moan escaped as she pulled back her tongue, her face flushing, eyes rolling slightly.

The yoga pants were thin yet tough, with great stretch.

She clung to him, wanting him to stop, yet craving the primal thrill.

Intentions are grand, but reality’s harsh—you only know your strength in battle.

Clearly, Ling Chenxi was on the weaker side—stronger than Yan Qingxin, but not by much.

Feeling her tremble, Lu Zhao knew it was time.

His thumb, index, and middle fingers pinched hard.

A surge of pleasure from her soul shot up her spine to her brain.

Her thoughts scattered, mind blank.

She arched back, eyes unfocused, mouth open but silent, body taut like a wound spring.

Lu Zhao, bearing the force, wasn’t faring much better—her arms squeezed his waist, nearly cutting off his breath.

His arm was trapped between the Squirtle twins.

Just as he thought his arm might break, she collapsed onto him.

“Hah… hah…”

Both gasped, clinging to each other.

Ling Chenxi felt she’d nearly died; Lu Zhao felt the same.

Two near-death survivors locked eyes, then quickly looked away.

She was embarrassed by her intense reaction, feeling exposed.

He was uneasy because she was Ling Cang’s mom, Yan Qingxin’s elder—this wasn’t right.

“Alright, Auntie Ling, why are you so fixated on me? It’s not just because I’m Qingxin’s boyfriend, Yan Ruyue’s future son-in-law, is it?”