At Loggerheads

This kind of extraordinary play wasn't impossible. It was a little extreme, but...

Hitori swallowed, her whole body heating up as excitement surged through her.

The two of them crept downstairs on tiptoe.

"Relax, it won't be too extreme. Just help me with your mouth."

Luo Zhen had Hitori kneel before him, right beside Michiyo's room.

Hitori quickly undid his pants, then widened her eyes.

"You seem very excited."

Hitori's voice trembled as she began the corresponding task with clumsy movements.

Luo Zhen gently stroked her head. Though the sensation was somewhat strange, he still enjoyed it.

"I am a little excited. Hitori, you need to speed up."

Soft noises echoed through the dim hallway.

Then, footsteps gradually became more distinct. Luo Zhen narrowed his eyes.

"Little Zhen, you wanted it, didn't you? Waiting here for me in the middle of the night."

Michiyo pushed open her door and gave Luo Zhen a seductive smile.

"No, I was just passing by."

Luo Zhen pretended nothing was wrong and continued chatting with Michiyo.

But where she couldn't see, he held Hitori's head down tightly.

Her eyes had begun to roll back, while Luo Zhen smoothly savored his pleasure.

"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's trip~ Hahh~"

There was something strange about Luo Zhen's voice, and Michiyo noticed it too.

She wanted to ask something, but Luo Zhen wrapped an arm around her neck and kissed her directly.

Michiyo kissed his big head, while Hitori kissed his little one.

Separated by a single door, two completely different stories unfolded.

"Hah, honestly. Hurry up and come in, we have serious business to handle."

Michiyo licked her lips as she spoke, seemingly savoring their earlier exchange.

"You're driving tomorrow, so you should rest early. A kiss is enough."

"Once we get to the hot spring inn, we can have plenty of fun."

Luo Zhen smiled as he spoke. At the same time, he lightly patted Hitori's cheek, telling her to leave quickly and hide in the corner.

"Fine. I'll have some water and go to sleep."

Michiyo yawned. Though she was looking forward to it, since Luo Zhen had said so, there was no need to force the issue.

By the time she stepped out of her room, Hitori had already vanished, and Luo Zhen had put his pants back on.

Yet a certain strong scent still lingered.

"There's a familiar strange smell."

Michiyo muttered to herself, feeling that the situation was developing rather strangely.

"A strange smell? Is it coming from here?"

Luo Zhen reached out and rubbed her stomach, then slowly slid his hand downward.

"Ah, Little Zhen, you little vixen. If you keep messing around like this, I can't guarantee I'll be able to restrain myself."

Michiyo laughed softly and reached back to rub Luo Zhen as well.

Luo Zhen did not return to Hitori's room. Instead, he immediately went home.

Hitori then sent him a video call request.

On the screen, she covered one eye with one hand while making a V sign with her fingers.

White milk oatmeal porridge slowly flowed from her open mouth.

Needle Against Needle

Yukino Shita Yono had said she would drive over in the morning.

So the Goto Family waited at the entrance. They did not have much luggage and were traveling light.

Luo Zhen and Hitori held hands, looking like an exceptionally sweet couple.

Futari hummed a song as she grabbed Luo Zhen's pant leg, clinging to him without letting go.

Luo Zhen gently rubbed her head and occasionally gave Michiyo a meaningful smile.

It was merely an expression, yet it made Michiyo's heart race as she began anticipating the wonderful things to come.

The car arrived quickly. It looked quite spacious and could seat plenty of people.

After the door opened, there was already another piece of luggage inside.

"I suddenly remembered that it's been a long time since I went to a hot spring too. Get in. Let's go together."

Yukino Shita Yono wore a smile, but this development was clearly beyond Michiyo's expectations.

Going on a trip with her boss to soak in hot springs—wasn't that a little strange?

It felt rather stressful.

"Just relax. We're friends, after all."

Haruno even got out of the car and personally helped carry the luggage.

Everyone exchanged looks. It was difficult to refuse such hospitality, and there was nothing particularly wrong with the arrangement anyway.

Michiyo nodded and had everyone get in and take their seats.

She sat in the front passenger seat. Hitori and Futari sat in the middle, while Luo Zhen sat in the back.

Hitori wanted to say something, but she was extremely nervous. This was her mother's boss, and she did not want to embarrass herself and make her mother lose face too.

Luo Zhen patted her shoulder, telling her to relax.

The car slowly drove off, then unexpectedly stopped at an apartment building.

"My younger sister is coming too."

Haruno's younger sister was naturally Yukino. Luo Zhen immediately became interested.

He wondered what Yukino Shita Hira... Yukino, in this world of female supremacy, would be like.

Michiyo looked toward the back. The only empty seat was beside Luo Zhen.

Of course, someone could sit between Hitori and Futari too, but since they did not know each other, it was better not to squeeze together.

Luo Zhen intended to change seats and sit in front, but the girl had already arrived. She opened the car door and got in.

Without saying a word, she sat directly beside Luo Zhen.

If he said he wanted to sit in front now, it would feel rather awkward.

Yukino looked even colder than she had in the original anime. She placed her luggage between them, crossed her legs, folded her arms, closed her eyes, and ignored everything else.

"Haha, my little sister is a little shy around strangers."

Haruno casually brushed it off, then lightly pressed the accelerator as the car slowly moved forward.

Michiyo still felt somewhat restrained. She thought it was improper to have her boss drive personally.

But Haruno did not mind at all. She even seemed to enjoy it, constantly saying things that could bring them closer together.

She was practically about to drag Michiyo into becoming best friends.

This was because Michiyo's work abilities were too outstanding, so as her superior, Haruno needed to maintain a good relationship with her.

It was also a way of managing subordinates—building good relationships with their family members as well.

That would make everyone closer.

Besides, if nothing unexpected had happened, Haruno had probably already looked into them.

Hitori, Luo Zhen, and Yukino were actually students at the same school.

Your daughter and my little sister are classmates. Our relationship can become even better.

Luo Zhen casually glanced at Yukino. He felt as though she radiated an aura that kept idlers away, like a rain shield.

She had not said a word since getting into the car and looked like nothing more than an ice sculpture.

"What do you want to say?"

Yukino suddenly opened her eyes and glanced at Luo Zhen from the corner of them.

"I mean, we're actually from the same school."

Luo Zhen smiled. It was a signal that he wanted to get along with her.

"I know. You're the top student who has always been above me."

Yukino's voice was icy. She slightly adjusted her crossed legs, and her ankle gently swayed.

As a transmigrator, and in an environment where studying came easily, it was perfectly normal for him to become first place with only a little effort.

"I was just lucky."

The moment the words left Luo Zhen's mouth, he realized he had said the wrong thing.

Sure enough, Yukino's gaze turned sharp.

"On the surface, it sounds modest, but it's actually incredibly hypocritical."

"You know very well that you're better than me. That excuse you blurted out to brush me off was awful."

Yukino's words directly killed the conversation.

That was the composure of a strong person, of a victor. A seemingly casual remark—explaining everything with a simple "luck"—made Yukino frown.

Because she had received that same answer from someone else before.

That person was her older sister.

"I was just lucky~"

Haruno always answered her questions that way, and over time, it had begun to make her feel... irritated.

The atmosphere instantly turned cold. Even Hitori trembled in fear.

She had been listening closely, and Yukino's remarks made her immediately realize that this classmate was extremely difficult to get along with.

"Ms. Yukino is very cute."

Luo Zhen chuckled and actually responded like that.

"If you hate something, you hate it. If you like something, you like it. I really like how straightforward you are. It's pretty cool."

Luo Zhen spoke unconcernedly, maintaining the smile on his face.

"Tch."

For a moment, the figure before her seemed to overlap somewhat with that annoying Haruno.

They really did share some similarities, but if one had to be precise, they were still very different.

Yukino returned to her previous aloof appearance. She did not want to say anything more and directly erected a barrier against conversation.

Luo Zhen did not force the issue either. It seemed he would need an opportunity.

Although Haruno was in front and driving, she had heard their conversation clearly.

Through the rearview mirror, she gave Luo Zhen a deep look.

"By the way, Ms. Goto, did you know?"

"Recently, there's been a saying that children created through genetic technology always feel somewhat distant from their mothers."

"Among wealthy families, children often betray their mothers, take over the family business, and then cause everything to collapse."