Chapter 8 - Does Stepmom Like It?

Chapter 8: Does Stepmom Like It?

“It’s nothing major, stepmom,” Cao Shaoyang said playfully over WeChat. “I just suddenly had a craving for strawberries. If I wait until after evening self-study, I probably won’t find any fresh ones. So, I had to reach out to my dear stepmom for help.”

“You little foodie! Wait a bit, I’ll head down to the fresh fruit shop in the neighborhood to check if they still have strawberries. You just focus on your studies at school, okay?”

“Got it, stepmom.”

As he replied, an inexplicable warmth welled up in Cao Shaoyang’s chest, even making his nose tingle. In his past life as an orphan, he had never experienced this kind of indulgent care—where a simple request would prompt someone to rush around for him.

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For this kindness, he resolved to repay his stepmom well.

It wasn’t long before he saw her stepping out of the building, holding a small white handbag.

Though the temperature in April was still a bit chilly, she wore white sneakers and tight-fitting jeans that perfectly outlined her beautiful hip line. A beige turtleneck sweater hugged her figure, layered with a matching beige trench coat. She walked briskly past the parked RV, not even sparing it a glance.

Watching her hurried steps, Cao Shaoyang chuckled. Her outfit was a bit unconventional—it was obvious she had thrown on whatever was convenient. Though her effort was for his sake, he didn’t have time to dwell on sentimentality now.

With time pressing, he had to use this window of opportunity, while she was out buying strawberries, to finish setting up the house.

After confirming she was far enough away, Cao Shaoyang waved to the catering and decoration staff, who had been waiting in the RV. Together, they hurried into the elevator, carrying decorations and supplies.

Thankfully, their apartment was on the third floor, so the staff didn’t have to spend too long in transit, saving precious time.

Once the setup was complete, Cao Shaoyang handed each staff member a 100-yuan red envelope as thanks. They left in high spirits.

By now, time was running short. His stepmom could return any moment. Grabbing the small bag of fresh rose petals prepared by the florist, he opened her bedroom door.

The sight before him was… unexpected.

In the soft lighting, a delicate silk garment, so translucent it was almost ethereal, hung over the balcony rail.

The sheer fabric left nothing to the imagination. For a moment, Cao Shaoyang felt like a believer in light, thoroughly convinced of its purity.

Then his gaze landed on something else—his missing boxer shorts from last night.

His stepmom’s bedroom was spotless and impeccably organized. She had always been a clean freak, keeping their 300-square-meter apartment in pristine condition despite handling all the cleaning herself.

Taking out the rose petals, Cao Shaoyang arranged them into a heart shape on her neatly made bed. He scattered the remaining petals artfully across the rest of the mattress and throughout the room.

Why use her bedroom and not his? That was a no-brainer—it was about creating an atmosphere, a sense of romance and charm.

Stepping out, he left her room lights on and returned to his own. After changing into a clean, sharp outfit, he checked himself in the mirror.

“Not bad,” he said, satisfied.

A handsome, energetic young man stared back at him.

He turned off the lights in his bedroom and the living room, then sat at the dining table he had carefully prepared, waiting for his stepmom to return.

Beside him lay an extra-long box of matches, typically used for lighting cigars.

The room was utterly silent, so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping would have been clear.

Until…

The sound of the door opening broke the stillness. Who else could it be but the one person he’d been waiting for—his beloved stepmom?

The match flared to life in Cao Shaoyang’s hand, and he lit the candle at the center of the dining table. The flickering flame brought a warm glow to the otherwise dark room, casting soft shadows.

He turned toward the doorway, where his stepmom stood frozen. Both hands covered her mouth, her expression one of pure astonishment.

At her feet lay two boxes of strawberries, their contents spilling onto the floor.

After a brief glance, Cao Shaoyang shifted his gaze away from the scattered fruit and back to her. He broke into a wide smile, spreading his arms as he walked toward her.

“Stepmom! Welcome home!”

By the time he had wrapped her in his embrace, she still hadn’t recovered from her surprise. Her eyes stayed locked on him, filled with emotion as he approached step by step.

Cao Shaoyang leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, whispering tenderly, “Stepmom!”

She didn’t say much but instinctively stood on her tiptoes.

Her face turned bright red, as if she were gasping for air. Nestled in the arms of Cao Shaoyang—who was over a dozen years younger than her—she trembled slightly.

“Shaoyang, did you prepare all of this?”

Although she already knew the answer, Liu Xiaofei couldn’t help but ask. She wanted to hear it directly from him.

“Yes,” he replied simply.

“Do you like it, stepmom?”

Liu Xiaofei shyly lowered her head, her voice soft but clear.

“I like it… very much.”