Chapter 3: Stuffy Bathroom.

Earlier, on the other side.

“Who’s that?”

Yan Qingxin, oblivious and focused on her meal, casually asked when she noticed her mother chatting with someone.

Yan Ruyue’s lips curled into an intriguing smile.

“No one… just a naughty little man.”

As her daughter, Yan Qingxin couldn’t let that slide.

Swallowing her food, she widened her eyes with curiosity. “No one? Mom, are you planning to find me a stepdad or something?”

She knew her mother too well—describing her as stoic barely scratched the surface.

Normally, Yan Ruyue was cold and distant with everyone, even her daughters, rarely showing a smile.

So, seeing her mother in such a pleasant mood today made Yan Qingxin genuinely happy.

Yan Ruyue set down her phone, giving her daughter a half-smile. “What? Craving some fatherly love?”

Yan Qingxin pouted. “No, it’s just… we’ve been fine all these years. If you’re really looking for someone, at least let me and my sister meet him first. We’d have to live together, after all.”

On this point, Yan Qingxin truly didn’t mind. She and her sister had grown up without ever experiencing fatherly love—strictly speaking, they didn’t even have a father.

The world’s imbalances always find a way to resolve themselves.

For instance, in this female-dominated world with far fewer men, continuing the species couldn’t rely solely on traditional means.

In modern times, as population issues grew more severe, scientific advancements leaned heavily into this area.

Yan Ruyue was a leader in this field, her company specializing in self-reproduction technologies.

To set an example, she had taken the lead, giving birth to two daughters.

“Hm, you make a good point. I’ll let you meet him when the time comes.”

“Great!” Yan Qingxin’s smile was heartfelt.

She was genuinely happy for her mother. She had once thought she’d follow in her mother’s footsteps, uninterested in romantic entanglements—until she met Lu Zhao.

She wasn’t sure why. Love at first sight, maybe?

From the moment she saw this gentle, sunny man, she was smitten. With the help of her cunning roommates, she successfully won him over.

Yan Ruyue wiped her mouth, took out a mirror, and reapplied her lipstick.

“Eat slowly. I’m heading out—got a meeting this afternoon.”

“Okay, bye, Mom.”

Yan Qingxin didn’t notice the faint, unsettling smile on her mother’s face as she left—a smile she’d never seen before.

—

The sound of high heels clicking against the tiles faded into the distance. Only when Lu Zhao heard the lock of a distant cubicle door did he let out a small sigh of relief.

He was genuinely terrified that Yan Ruyue, that crazy woman, might try something thrilling again.

Lu Zhao had always despised the design of these bathrooms.

Some so-called expert had decided that, to save public resources and given the low number of men, separate bathrooms weren’t necessary.

They just expanded the existing ones and made the stalls more private.

To that, Lu Zhao could only say the expert must be exceptionally “safe”—unwanted by both men and women.

More than once, he’d nearly been cornered in a bathroom and taken advantage of. If not for his mental resilience, he’d… well, it wouldn’t pass review.

Ding-dong—

A message from Yan Qingxin.

Her contact name was simple: just her name.

[Qingxin: Baby, why are you taking so long? If you don’t come out soon, I’ll finish all the food!]

This little foodie…

Lu Zhao shook his head with a chuckle.

[Lu Zhao: Stomach’s acting up. Almost done.]

[Qingxin: I’ll grab some medicine for you on the way back.]

[Lu Zhao: Thanks. By the way, is your mom still there?]

[Qingxin: She left. Had some company stuff this afternoon.]

[Lu Zhao: Got it. Did she say anything about her impression of me?]

[Qingxin: Think it’s pretty good. First time I’ve seen her smile so much!]

Hah, smiles? You haven’t seen half of it.

Lu Zhao closed his phone, ready to head out. If that woman was gone, there was no need to hide.

“Sigh… should I break up with Qingxin? I really like her… really…”

The moment he opened the cubicle door, Lu Zhao froze.

His gaze slowly traveled upward—familiar high heels, familiar black stockings, familiar business attire, and that hauntingly beautiful face that could wake him from nightmares.

“Why break up with Qingxin? Because of Auntie?”

Yan Ruyue’s lips twisted into a chilling smile, an unnatural flush spreading across her pale face.

“Or maybe you don’t want to call me Auntie. Maybe you want to call me… Mama?”

I knew this woman was a freak!

Lu Zhao tried to shut the door, but Yan Ruyue had already wedged her foot in the gap.

In terms of strength, Lu Zhao had never won against her—a fact proven through countless encounters.

Bang! The cubicle door slammed shut.

Lu Zhao’s hands were pinned above his head against the wall, her powerful, stocking-clad legs forcing his apart.

“What are you doing? Qingxin is your daughter! How can you face her like this?”

The cramped space, combined with the sweltering summer heat, filled Lu Zhao’s senses with Yan Ruyue’s overpowering perfume mixed with a hint of sweat, making his head spin.

Yan Ruyue didn’t answer. She leaned down, her crimson lips parting to graze his earlobe.

“Mmm…”

“Oh? You think now’s the time to bring up Qingxin? Besides, you’re the one who provoked me first.”

“You… you…!” Lu Zhao couldn’t deny it.

This wasn’t their first encounter. Yan Ruyue knew every inch of him, had explored every part.

Unable to move, Lu Zhao felt a burning heat, his heart pounding like it might burst.

His shirt was lifted, a slender hand sliding downward from his navel.

Yan Ruyue released his earlobe, locking eyes with him.

That look—the defiant gaze of someone who’d fallen but refused to admit defeat.

She’d met many men, but they were all the same, groveling and fawning, utterly boring.

Lu Zhao was different. The first time she saw him, she saw something unique in his eyes—admiration, curiosity, and maybe even a flicker of a desire to conquer, something he might not even realize himself.

Was that possible? A man with such thoughts?

Let’s see who ends up under whose heel!

Some might say she was overreacting, imagining things.

But in her dull life, this splash of color thrilled her. Her long-suppressed nature unleashed itself fully on Lu Zhao.

By the time she regretted it and tried to make amends, she was hooked.

Addicted to the act, to his resistance, to everything about this young man.

She withdrew her hand, holding it before his eyes, then parted her red lips and licked it lightly.

Her sultry murmur echoed. “You’re just like before. Not a thing has changed.”

Dazed, Lu Zhao glared at her, but her words made him question himself.

Unchanged? No! He’d changed—changed by this infuriating woman!

Ding-dong—

The sudden notification startled them both. Before Lu Zhao could speak, her crimson lips silenced him.

Annoyed at the interruption, Yan Ruyue grabbed his phone, didn’t even check the sender, and powered it off, placing it on a nearby shelf.

After a long kiss, she released Lu Zhao, who was struggling to catch his breath.

She removed her glasses and unbuttoned the top of her blouse.

From her pocket, she pulled out a piece of black lace, slowly bringing it toward his mouth.

“Little Lu Zhao, remember our favorite game?”