Chapter 17: Power-Up Items.

Lu Zhao didn’t get the answer he wanted. Ling Chenxi left, looking somewhat like she was fleeing in embarrassment.

After his question, her response was a mix of shame and fury, her face flushed with humiliation.

Understandable. As the dominant one, being outmaneuvered by him, the “weaker” party, and in such an overwhelming way, was mortifying.

If it were Yan Ruyue, Lu Zhao shuddered to think what “torture” he’d face tonight.

In a hospital? She’d probably tie him to an operating table and have her way.

The thought sent a chill through him, spurring him to quickly tidy the bed, drenched as if washed, before Yan Qingxin returned.

Otherwise, he’d have no way to explain.

“Right, I need to ask her who she told I was here. How did that woman know? Was it Ling Cang?”

His suspicion was spot-on. Ling Cang had been coaxed by her mother into revealing his whereabouts.

After waking, Ling Cang learned Lu Zhao had arranged for her to be taken to a room.

Ling Chenxi, seizing the chance to get closer to him, urged Ling Cang to contact Yan Qingxin, suggesting a formal thank-you.

Obedient as ever, Ling Cang, though thinking it unnecessary among friends, asked anyway.

Friends chat—what’s the first question? “What’re you up to?”

A few exchanges later, she learned Lu Zhao was in the hospital.

Ling Cang wanted to visit, but Yan Qingxin, too embarrassed to admit nearly suffocating him, said it was minor and they’d meet another time.

That night, mother and daughter returned home. Ling Cang, shaken from seeing blood, rested early.

But Ling Chenxi tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Closing her eyes, she saw the hotel room scene.

Her unconscious daughter on the bed behind, while she sat on Lu Zhao’s lap, taking what she wanted.

The thrill, the excitement, still pulsed through her body hours later.

Driven to the edge, she decided to act.

At worst, she’d say she was visiting to thank Lu Zhao for helping Ling Cang—though a midnight hospital visit was flimsy.

She went with anticipation, returned with humiliation.

Ling Chenxi, legs still weak, entered the bathroom.

She shed her jacket and T-shirt, tossing them into the washer. The Squirtle wobbled as she removed it—Lu Zhao was right, nothing underneath.

Touching her soaked yoga pants, her cheeks flushed.

Humiliation… utter humiliation!

To think I… so easily…

“Sigh…” She tossed the pants and equally drenched stockings into the washer.

Nothing above, nothing below.

She sank into the bathtub, warm water enveloping her.

But the water couldn’t wash away her inner frustration.

How could this happen? It shouldn’t have.

Ling Chenxi never imagined she’d be so weak. Given Lu Zhao’s… size, she doubted she’d last five minutes.

Unacceptable. Her? Weak in that area?

In a way, she was more obsessive than Yan Ruyue.

The more exceptional someone is, the more they obsess over imperfections, frantically seeking to fix them.

Accepting flaws is a skill, too—but not an easy one.

“No way. I don’t believe it. There’s got to be a way.”

She grabbed the tablet by the tub, searching: How to improve women’s stamina in bed?

Skimming info she’d usually scoff at, she found training tools. “What’s this? Compact, quiet…”

“Hmm…”

Frowning, she realized her ignorance. But now, she had to know—this was about pride.

The bath dragged on, the water cooling before she emerged.

After careful selection, she ordered a 99% five-star product.

Then swiftly erased her browsing history.

“Phew…” Exhaling, her sharp gaze fixed on the bathroom’s warm light. “Lu Zhao, just you wait!”

*

After eating her fill, Yan Qingxin bought some light-flavored food and drove back to the hospital.

“Baby, I’m back! Got tons of yummy—huh? Why’re you looking at me like that?”

Her beaming smile faltered as she caught Lu Zhao’s odd expression.

A kind of… pity?

Pity for what? She didn’t get it, setting the food by the bed.

“You changed the sheets?”

“Qingxin.” His tone was calm.

“Huh?”

“Who’d you tell we were in the hospital?”

“No one…” She paused, then recalled. “Oh, Ling Cang said she wanted to thank you, so I mentioned we’re here.”

Just… mentioned.

Lu Zhao’s mouth twitched. He wasn’t as naive as she was.

Ling Chenxi showing up meant Ling Cang spilled, and a small gesture like that didn’t warrant a special thank-you message.

Only one explanation: Ling Chenxi orchestrated it.

“Tch…” Displeasure flickered in his eyes.

This woman, using her own daughter?

“Baby, what’s wrong? Did I upset you?”

Seeing his mood, Yan Qingxin sat beside him, cautious.

Her clear, innocent eyes showed she had no clue what happened. Lu Zhao smiled helplessly, ruffling her hair.

“No way you’d upset me. My Qingxin’s the sweetest—just a bit dense.”

She didn’t push his hand away, feigning anger. “Who’s dense? I tested my IQ—125!”

Her smug look was adorable.

“Pfft…” Lu Zhao couldn’t hold back a laugh. “125? I bet it’s double that.”

She blinked, muttering, “Double… that’s 250! You jerk, I’ll deal with you tonight!”

“Heh, bring it.”

His taunt earned a playful tackle.

In a hospital, she wouldn’t “execute” him on the spot like some women.

The next morning, they checked out.

“Baby, where do you wanna go today?”

It was still summer break, with days left before school.

“How about we go to Bincheng? I’ll show you the orphanage I grew up in.”

These past days had been thrilling but exhausting—mentally and physically.

If this kept up, his heart wouldn’t survive.

If he couldn’t fight, he’d flee.

Yan Qingxin’s eyes lit up. This was like him saying, “Come meet my family.”

How could she not be thrilled?

“Great! Let’s go now. I’ll text my mom.”

“Uh… yeah, go ahead.”