The Road to a Divine Harem Starting with a Stepmom Companion

Chapter 15: The Dehydrated Aunt

An Yu Wei was so uncooperative on the last flight of stairs that Cao Shaoyang had no choice but to practically carry her upright, his arm around her waist, as he hauled her up.

He let out a long, warm breath. “Phew! Auntie, we’re home!”

For some reason—perhaps the awkward position—he felt her body shudder.

“Auntie, wake up. We’re home now. Open the door so you can sleep inside.”

An Yu Wei blinked her bleary eyes open, murmuring, “Home? The code is…”

She recited the numbers, and with a soft click, the door unlocked. Cao Shaoyang pushed it open and helped her inside.

The apartment wasn’t large, maybe just over 90 square meters, but its simple layout gave off a clean and airy vibe.

The door to her bedroom was slightly ajar, making it easy to spot. Supporting the now nearly-limp An Yu Wei, who was practically draped over him, he guided her to the edge of the bed.

Before he could do anything else, An Yu Wei cracked her sleepy eyes open. Seeing the bed right in front of her, she let a barely-there smile tug at her lips.

“Sleep time!” she exclaimed, throwing herself onto the bed without a care for who—or what—was in her way. She took Cao Shaoyang with her in one motion.

Cao Shaoyang: Ack! I can’t breathe! What do I do?!

He tried to open his mouth to call out, but no sound came out.

“Ah!” An Yu Wei gasped, realizing she’d flattened him beneath her. She scrambled up, only to see the poor boy sprawled out awkwardly, stunned from the impact.

Giggling, she teased, “Oh dear, little brother, what were you trying to do under Auntie?”

“Did it hurt? Look at you, lying there with your mouth open and eyes wide—it must’ve been painful!”

“Don’t cry, okay? Auntie will make it all better. How about I feed you?”

By now, if Cao Shaoyang hadn’t realized he was being teased, he’d truly be a fool.

“Alright, you mischievous auntie! You’re messing with me? Let’s see how I deal with you!”

…

But he had overestimated her—or maybe underestimated. It wasn’t his own abilities he misjudged, it was An Yu Wei’s.

She put on a show of being a seasoned expert, confidently slamming the metaphorical accelerator and jumping into high gear. Yet it turned out her so-called experience was nothing but a facade.

In truth, she panicked the moment anything risky happened. Her confidence crumbled into flustered squeals and tightly shut eyes, proving her nerves were nowhere near as tough as her act.

And now?

He glanced at her unconscious form sprawled on the bed. Whether it was severe dehydration or the alcohol hitting her too hard, she’d passed out cold. For a moment, he panicked, almost convinced he’d accidentally done something terrible—until he noticed her steady breathing.

Still, there was a silver lining.

Everyone knows that with certain… proportions, aesthetic appeal often takes a hit. But somehow, he’d struck gold. Auntie was a treasure, with her elegant features enhanced by flawless makeup.

If she hadn’t been so deeply asleep, Cao Shaoyang might have stayed a bit longer. Gently, he traced her delicate facial features, then picked up the scattered clothes on the floor and tidied them up.

Before leaving, he placed a glass of cool boiled water on her nightstand and left a note under the cup:

“Here’s some water. Don’t cook dinner tonight; I’ve ordered food for you. It should arrive around 6:30. Rest up, you silly auntie who tries too hard but can’t handle it. Let’s chat on WeChat later.

P.S. Auntie, you wet the bed! Haha, just kidding.”

Cao Shaoyang didn’t leave immediately. He sat on the sofa in the living room, using his phone to order meals from several restaurants, scheduling their delivery times. Meanwhile, he found a fresh set of bedding and replaced the damp sheets on Auntie’s bed.

With the chilly April weather, sleeping on a wet bed could easily lead to a cold, especially since there was no floor heating, and the air conditioner didn’t seem to work well.

After tidying up the place, he finally left.

He didn’t leave any cash or gifts—nothing material. Besides the wealth of insights Auntie had shared, he left nothing behind.

Sometimes, leaving nothing could also reflect a close bond. There was no rush, relationships and life improvements could be handled gradually over time.

Since it was still early after leaving, Cao Shaoyang decided not to head home right away.

He hailed another cab and headed to a nearby bathhouse.

With a sigh, he muttered to himself, “Not having my own car is really inconvenient.”

Although he could drive in his previous life and had a driver’s license, this life was different. He didn’t even have time to think about learning to drive or taking the test until after the college entrance exam. Even if he had a license now, he didn’t plan to buy a car locally.

Sitting on over a hundred million in cash, he hadn’t even considered buying a house, let alone a car.

Based on the trends from his previous timeline, the real estate market in 2018 had already peaked. Investing in property wasn’t worth it, and buying a house for himself would be a guaranteed loss.

He figured he’d wait until after the exams and move to a major city like Shanghai. There, properties costing tens of millions were the norm. Spoiling a few younger girls—or charming aunties—with gifts like apartments would be a win-win investment.

“Good resources should be spent wisely,” he thought with determination. The cash he had now was his starting capital for making a splash in Shanghai after the exams.