My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 386

Do adults all make love in this kind of space? I don't quite understand the psychology of adults.

Nan came back from the bathroom and sat down on the double bed with a "thump" and said:

"Not bad, not bad, it's like a love hotel... huh?"

Nan's gaze lingered on the pillow.

Following her gaze, I noticed that thing for the first time, which startled me.

That thing that looks like a wooden mustard seed doll is—

"Oh, it's a neck and shoulder massager."

Nan picked it up without hesitation and looked at me with a sly smile.

"Why would I have something like this? Is it for massage?"

"...Are you asking a question you already know the answer to?"

"What? I don't understand!"

Nan turned on the switch with his finger, and the thing that looked like a wooden puppet began to vibrate.

My gaze was almost drawn to Nan's lower body, so I quickly turned my face away.

What kind of place is this...?

Every corner is designed to make you want to do that kind of thing.

For example, right now, I caught a glimpse of two thin, square packages casually placed on the coffee table out of the corner of my eye. It was too dark when I was operating the lighting control panel... I didn't see them because they were always within easy reach of me from the bed.

I'm going crazy.

I deliberately moved away from Nan, who was sitting on the bed in a W-shape, and pulled up a chair and plopped down.

"Tired?"

"I walked all day, of course."

"I'm all sweaty too, I'll go take a shower first."

I stared at Nan's face in shock. "Hehehe," Nan chuckled mischievously.

Behind her was the glass-walled bathroom with absolutely no privacy.

"Since we'll all be exposed anyway, why don't we just shower together?"

"Stop talking nonsense."

I rested my chin on my hand and looked at the tightly drawn blackout curtains.

"I'll turn my face away, you go wash up."

"It's fine if you want to look, it's not like it's the first time anyway."

"Who wants to see this? It's not like it's the first time, it's nothing special!"

"Actually, I'm quite capable!"

Nan said, "Then I'll go wash up," and got out of bed.

Then she went into the washroom and disappeared behind the door leading to the bathroom.

That guy, doesn't he have any shame at all...?

Yes, I've seen that guy's naked body countless times. But being stared at so openly must still be a bit uncomfortable, right?

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Nan emerging from the depths of the bathroom, which was completely exposed to the naked eye.

A flesh-colored area.

I quickly turned my back to the bathroom. It seemed that the guy had no intention of first wrapping himself in a towel and assessing the situation.

"Let me see... how do I use the hot water... Ah, is this how it is—it's so cold!"

I heard the sound of a showerhead spraying water into the bathtub from behind.

Maintaining this posture means you can't see anything. That's true, but as soon as I turn around slightly... just slightly, I can see everything—it's that simple. Hair cascading down her neck, a subtly assertive chest, a slender waist, a rounded, petite bottom, and shapely legs honed through exercise—

Enough, enough! Stop imagining! The problem is I'm so familiar with all of this; I've seen it all before, so imagining it is full of detail. I'm just here for the night; I won't do anything today. Not today, not today, not today…──

As I muttered these words repeatedly like a monk chanting sutras, the sound of the shower water stopped.

"You can turn it around now~"

I breathed a sigh of relief.

It felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders.

As I relaxed my tense emotions, I turned around to the back...

I saw Nan Xiaoyue with her naked body pressed against the glass.

Wow!

(Illustration 009)

"I fooled you ♥"

Nan smiled as beautifully as a carnivorous plant that lures its prey with its sweet fragrance.

"This is a rare opportunity, just take a look. Otherwise, I'll lose all my confidence."

Her body, more mature and alluring than I had imagined, was pressed against the glass wall as if she wanted me to see it all. This was the first time I had seen Minami naked since Arima Onsen. Her body was pure and flawless, brimming with healthy beauty, possessing a captivating charm without being erotic. Yet, it still stirred my instincts, igniting a volcanic eruption of heat deep within me.

"Still so confident, even though you're just a little kid..."

I reluctantly looked away as I spoke, and Nan chuckled like a wicked woman.

"That's so unconvincing~ They all looked at every corner of my body with greedy eyes."

Damn it! One wrong step and you're doomed forever.

The thing happened so suddenly that my mind couldn't keep up, and I accidentally stared at it for a few seconds...

Out of my sight, Nan walked out of the bathroom with a thud. Then, a short while later, Nan, wearing a loose bathrobe, emerged from behind the door. Her hair, usually tied in a ponytail, was still loose over her shoulders.

"Are you going to take a shower?"

"Who would dare to take a shower in that kind of bathroom..."

"I won't peek! You smell a bit sweaty."

Since she said that, I felt bad not taking a shower.

Reluctantly, I went into the bathroom where Nan had just come out, took off my clothes, and peeked into the shower. Through the glass wall, I could see Nan sitting on the bed with his back to me, drying his hair.

it is good……

I made up my mind to step into the bathroom and take a shower in the wet bathtub.

I'm completely restless...

Although we weren't showering together, the fact that we were in a situation where we might be seen in the shower... and the shock of seeing someone naked hadn't subsided yet, made me aware of every inch of my body, making me so restless that I couldn't sit still.

I lifted my wet hair and opened my eyes, feeling much refreshed. The primal urge that had surged from deep within me was washed away by the hot water—

Looking to the side, I saw Nan Zheng staring intently at me.

"you……!"

I quickly turned my backside south, at least to cover my front. She was sitting cross-legged in a very undignified manner, wearing a bathrobe, and was commenting on my nakedness like a critic.

"You've grown up..."

Why are you commenting?!

"Dead muscles can actually look pretty good! Thumbs up!"

"Why give a positive review?!"

This female pervert... we really can't let our guard down at all.

But at the same time, I feel much more at ease.

Here, no one will see us. It's like being completely isolated from the world; this space belongs only to me and this guy.

Only in this small room can I live a relaxed and comfortable life...

Later, we ate the dinner we had bought at the convenience store, and then we lay down on the bed together, watching videos on our phones to kill time.

At first we were lying face down, shoulder to shoulder, but then we changed positions and ended up lying on our backs with Nan's head resting on my shoulder.

"I heard from a friend that—..."

"...What did you say?"

"If your breasts are big enough, you can use them as a phone stand."

"That's actually quite convenient..."

"Right?..."

After walking all day, I'm finally feeling exhausted. Sleepiness is creeping into my brain like a spider web, and I don't even have the energy to move a finger. My phone is awkwardly placed against my chest, and without me realizing it, it starts automatically playing live videos, with unfamiliar VTubers playing unfamiliar games on screen.

There's a kind of carefree laziness about it.

I don't know how long it's been since I've felt this kind of relaxing exhaustion. Even the sleepiness feels like a long-lost sensation.

...Oh, I get it.

In other words, I've never been sleeping well.

I just passed out. I just lost consciousness, using that to sever my connection with the world. It was never sleep, never rest. I was simply... yes, simply unable to face the world anymore.

Here I have nothing to fear. Here I can live freely. I don't need to envy others, I don't need to be disappointed in myself, I don't need to resent the past, and I don't need to despair about the future.

I can live by following my instincts.

"...I'm telling you, Little One."

Suddenly……

Nan leaned close to my ear and called me by my fondest nickname, placing her fair hand on my shoulder.

"Did you... notice?"

"...What did you find?"

I just finished asking...

Nan stretched out her neck and gently kissed my lips.

It was a nostalgic, soft, and slightly itchy sensation.

However, I didn't develop hives, nor did I feel nauseous.

"You...have recovered."

Nan murmured softly.

"You no longer need to hide from other people's affections, nor are you afraid to face your own feelings. Little one, you've long since regained your freedom."

"...That would be best."

She told me the truth, but I couldn't accept it.

"If that's the case, then what happened between Makoto and me? I was in so much pain back then, my vision was so distorted it felt like the whole world was upside down... like the inside of my body was being turned inside out..."

"You just haven't realized it yet; you just think it's not healed yet."

"How could that be...it's up to you to decide—"

As if to stop me from continuing, Nan's lips touched mine again.

"I will confirm it for you again and again until you believe it."

Nan leaned closer and looked into my eyes.

Then she hugged me tightly and said:

"I like you."

She whispered in my ear as if speaking directly to my brain.

"I like you so much, I like you the most... I'm sorry, I was so mean to you before... I've really reflected on it... Although there was a period when I was really mean to you because I was embarrassed, I've always liked you, and that has never changed..."

Whenever she confesses her love to me...