The Road to a Divine Harem Starting with a Stepmom Companion

Chapter 16: A Surprise at the Bathhouse

Cao Shaoyang could foresee that he might never return to his old home. That city-center apartment, untouched for years, could stay as a nostalgic keepsake. Any real estate investments needed to happen in a big city.

He also had a plan to convince his stepmother to move to Shanghai with him. However, he had to be cautious during this period. At the very least, he couldn’t let her find out he was getting involved with new women before they grew closer emotionally. A sudden heartbreak might lead her to leave after his college entrance exams.

That meant any traces of unfamiliar scents on him had to be eliminated.

No shortcuts here: he opted for the full-service package at 1,288 yuan. Swapping into a freshly unwrapped bathrobe, he handed over his clothes to an attendant for washing and drying. His only responsibility was to enjoy the experience.

Despite his busy study schedule, he always took at least one bath a day and didn’t feel particularly dirty. But lying on the table as the attendant scrubbed away, he closed his eyes, enduring what felt like torture. If he couldn’t see it, it didn’t exist—right?

After being thoroughly exfoliated, polished with salt and milk treatments, and steamed in a sauna, he emerged feeling refreshed and energized. His skin felt so smooth that even the fleeting memory of Auntie An Yu Wei’s softest parts couldn’t compare.

The premium package wasn’t just about the basics, it came with extras.

He headed upstairs to the second floor—VIP treatment. Instead of a communal area, he was guided to a private room complete with a wardrobe, TV, bathroom, and, bizarrely, a computer.

“Who comes to a bathhouse just to use a computer?” he wondered aloud.

As he reclined on the bed, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

“Come in!”

A woman walked in, not particularly beautiful, with a somewhat flat figure. But her demeanor exuded competence. She was a no-nonsense type, a true onee-san.

[The phrase “She was a no-nonsense type, a true onee-san” conveys that she had a mature, responsible, and perhaps slightly authoritative demeanor, similar to how an older sister (onee-san in Japanese) might behave.]

“Good evening, sir. Is this your first time at our bathhouse? Your package includes a massage. Do you have a preferred therapist? If not, I can call them in so you can choose.”

Cao Shaoyang glanced at his phone. After unlocking it, he checked his WeChat—no messages from his stepmother or An Yu Wei. Satisfied, he set the phone down and gestured toward the door.

“This is my first time, so I’m not familiar with anyone here. Go ahead, bring them in.”

“Understood, sir!”

The onee-san stepped to the door, motioning for the therapists outside to come in.

[pinyin: (お姉さん) onee-san means “elder sister“]

Cao Shaoyang sat cross-legged on the bed, evaluating the lineup with an air of imperial indifference, like an emperor choosing his consorts. However, he felt a tinge of disappointment. Some were pretty but not stunning, others had good figures but unremarkable faces. It was always either one or the other—none hit his sweet spot.

As his expectations dropped, he decided to settle on someone with a decent figure. Then, the last person entered the room.

This one was different.

She stood out from the younger therapists, clearly older—at least 40, likely older than his stepmother. A genuine auntie.

But what captivated him wasn’t just her age. Despite being in her forties, her full, well-shaped bust strained against her tailored uniform. It wasn’t overly large but was remarkably firm, with a deep cleavage that contrasted sharply with the looser forms of the others.

She was impeccably toned.

Her black pencil skirt highlighted her curvy, perky figure, paired with long legs wrapped in black stockings.

Although her face bore the marks of time, it was easy to tell she must have been a beauty in her youth. Even now, she carried a mature elegance—a charm honed by the years. She was, without a doubt, the epitome of a classic mature woman.

This hit Cao Shaoyang’s deeply ingrained need for maternal love, a longing that had persisted across both his lives.

After his stepmother and Auntie An Yu Wei, his DNA stirred once more.

Still, he couldn’t let himself appear overly eager. Feigning surprise, he turned to the leading onee-san and asked, “Do you really have therapists this… mature at your bathhouse?”

“Is this one of those ‘strictly professional’ places with a clean reputation?”

The onee-san raised her eyebrows at the young man who had jumped straight to the 1,288-yuan package—a clear sign of a promising customer. She immediately began complaining about how the bathhouse had older therapists on staff. Worse, she pointed out, even a place like theirs, which was a mix of standard and slightly risqué services, had limits. But money often loosened restrictions. If a VIP customer wanted something more intimate, arrangements weren’t out of the question.

[risque means slightly indecent and liable to shock, especially by being sexually suggestive.]

She grumbled about how Yu Na, the mature therapist, had likely secured her job through connections. In critical moments, she felt Yu Na’s presence held the bathhouse back.

As the onee-san hesitated to clarify, Cao Shaoyang smoothly continued without missing a beat. “Well, having someone strictly professional suits me just fine. I’m still young, and this kind of respectable establishment is exactly what I need.”

Her explanation died on her lips as she forced a polite smile. “Of course, sir. We pride ourselves on our professionalism.”

“The last therapist to come in—that auntie—must be the best at her craft to still work here at her age, right?” Cao Shaoyang added with a sly grin.

“I’ll choose her. All these younger beauties are too attractive. At my age, with my youthful vigor, I might not be able to control myself around them.”

Author’s Note:

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