0029 It smells like Dabao SOD Honey.

Zhao Shumin said nothing, feeling a sense of embarrassment. Was this posture, with her straddling Li Zhiyan’s back, not incredibly unseemly? Her fair, delicate hands continued to massage his back. She found herself unable to agree to this.

"Never mind then, Aunt Zhao," Li Zhiyan said dismissively. "Let’s just handle this however it needs to be handled."

"No..." Zhao Shumin panicked. Her greatest wish was for her son to get married, and now that it was on the verge of success, it would be a terrible loss if things went awry over this. Besides, it was just a massage for Li Zhiyan; he was just a kid. She was so much older than him, so it shouldn't matter. "Fine, I promise. Once I finish the massage, you have to delete the video."

"Don't worry, Aunt. I think you know my word is good." Li Zhiyan had no intention of keeping the video anyway. Getting Zhao Shumin to massage him was one thing, but if he were to resort to blackmail, that would be a crime. After getting burned last time, Li Zhiyan had learned his lesson: in this society, those who don't follow the rules end up in prison. He had to be a law-abiding citizen.

"Mm." Zhao Shumin trusted him, so she climbed up and sat on his back. Li Zhiyan instantly felt a large patch of warmth spread across his back. The sensation reminded him of that night with Shen Hongmei—a memory that filled him with nostalgia. She had used the exact same tactic back then. After all, she was a mature woman who understood everything.

"Aunt, use a bit more pressure."

Zhao Shumin applied more force. The pressure on his waist and the strength of her hands felt incredibly soothing to Li Zhiyan. It was far more comfortable than the time he had gone to a professional massage parlor with his roommates. Back then, he had truly believed that was all they did there.

"Is the pressure okay?"

"Just right. Aunt, you smell so good. Are you wearing perfume?" Li Zhiyan felt that after her massage, the whole bed was filled with a fragrant scent. He thought her perfume smelled wonderful.

"It's the scent of Dabao SOD Honey," Zhao Shumin replied, feeling deeply humiliated inside. *Damn beast, damn Li Zhiyan.* He had no respect for his elders, treating her like a common masseuse. But who told him to hold the power of reconciliation in his hands? If he didn't agree to settle, Liu Yan would be in big trouble.

***

At the Century Palace, He Yanrong was chatting with her colleague, Sister Liu. Sister Liu was also in management, though at a slightly lower level than He Yanrong.

"That young man, Li Zhiyan, is exceptionally talented. Mia tested his German, and it was outstanding," Sister Liu said with concern. "Yanrong, you haven't fallen for this kid, have you? He’s only twenty. Even though you look so... alluring, don't do anything stupid. In our line of work, how many masseuses have been swindled out of years of hard-earned money because they caught feelings for a client? Take Little Sun, for example—she left with a client for half a year, and now she’s back, grinding away again. You need to stay sober. And with how possessive you are, I don't think any man could handle you."

He Yanrong’s face flushed slightly. "What nonsense are you spouting? I’m not like you, getting swindled out of everything because you believed a client’s sweet talk. You’re what the young people call a 'love-brain.' Li Zhiyan is just a kid, younger than my own son. What are you thinking? Besides, we aren't in the same profession; I’ve never worked as a masseuse..."

Sister Liu felt a bit relieved. Having been hurt herself, she feared He Yanrong would follow in her footsteps. Now that she was older, if an old man took a liking to her, she still had to go to work. "Just be careful, and don't think about things you shouldn't. You call me a 'love-brain,' but you’re the one who’s possessive to the point of being abnormal! But seriously, Yanrong, have you considered becoming a masseuse? You look so seductive; I bet you could charge three thousand per session. Then your son could buy a house in the city center."

"Go to hell..." As she spoke, He Yanrong felt a pang of sadness. Her possessiveness was indeed absurdly strong. Perhaps she would be single for the rest of her life, but that was fine. Liu Jinxin was grown up now, waiting to marry Xu Qianqian and have children, so she had no regrets.

***

Enjoying the massage from the shrew, Li Zhiyan was completely at ease. "A little lower."

"A little lower."

With Zhao Shumin sitting on his back, Li Zhiyan felt like he was in heaven.

"Are you done yet? It's been twenty minutes..." Zhao Shumin pleaded pitifully. But Li Zhiyan no longer believed in this shrew’s act of fragility! The image of the fierce woman tearing at his clothes was the real Zhao Shumin. He glanced at the time; it wasn't long before he had to go see Aunt Shen.

"Alright, Aunt Zhao, that’s enough," Li Zhiyan said contentedly. "Just give me one more rub up and down."

The feeling of humiliation welled up in Zhao Shumin’s heart. She was over forty, yet here she was, massaging this little brat and at his beck and call. What kind of karma was this? It was all because of her son’s girlfriend that she was being so degraded. But she had already been at it for so long, and she couldn't give up halfway—the video wasn't deleted yet, and the sunk cost was too high. She had to complete the reconciliation.

Zhao Shumin shifted her weight, pushing and massaging up and down his back. Li Zhiyan looked at the shadow on the wall. The silhouette of the hump constantly shifted, and he felt a bit dazed.

"Aunt Zhao, you can go a bit faster. I’m heading out soon."

"Mm..."

Meanwhile, in the living room, Liu Yan paced back and forth, feeling deeply uneasy. She and Shang Shunsheng had plotted to frame Li Zhiyan to get him detained, but she never expected Li Zhiyan to turn the tables and gain leverage over them. If this matter wasn't reconciled, she would be truly doomed.

Anxious, Liu Yan walked over and gently pressed her ear against the door to Li Zhiyan's room.

"Creak..."

"Creak..."

Liu Yan listened intently to the sounds inside.

"Xiao Yan, can we stop? Aunt is tired."

"Aunt, just hold on a little longer. It’ll be done soon."

"Aunt is really tired..."