Mizuno Shino is a divorced woman.
Back then she was young and impulsive, married a guy who wasn't exactly a good match.
After a few years, the cracks became canyons. She couldn't take it anymore and filed for divorce.
Only then did she meet her current husband—Mr. Mizuno.
He was also divorced.
He wasn't as handsome, tall, or built as her ex.
But he was honest, had a stable job, and made good money.
Shino was already thirty. She was long past the age of chasing looks.
So she married Mr. Mizuno.
Life after marriage was genuinely happy. Mr. Mizuno was kind, gentle, and treated her well.
The only headache was his son from his previous marriage—Mizuno Ren.
Shino didn't dislike Ren.
She had tried countless times to get close to him, but he always rejected her with cold indifference.
Every time Ren's little face tightened into that icy expression, it felt like he was accusing her: "You stole my dad."
She wanted to give him proper maternal love, but had no idea where to start.
Lately, Ren had been avoiding her even more.
Yet strangely,
whenever she was cleaning the house, she could feel his gaze coming from somewhere.
Ren was always secretly watching her.
Mizuno Ren did not like Shino, even though she now shared the same surname "Mizuno."
He knew she was good to him, but he just couldn't bring himself to like her.
Ever since his parents divorced, Ren had become more and more withdrawn.
He only wanted to live in his own world, reading boring manga and novels, speaking less and less, friends dwindling to zero.
Until one day.
A classmate with a permanent 3-cm crew cut quietly slipped him a magazine.
Three big words on the cover: (Bishukushi – Beautiful Mature Women)
And whispered, "Good stuff. Read it at home."
Ren listened. Locked his door. Opened it carefully.
A golden light seemed to flash before his eyes.
From that day on, a new world opened.
He still didn't understand why the aunties in the magazine weren't wearing clothes,
why they were covered in whipped cream,
or why they were making peace signs while sticking out their tongues.
But… they were beautiful!
Really beautiful!
Ren read until his mouth went dry, face red, neck thick.
He devoured it like a starving ghost—forgot to eat, forgot to sleep, read by candlelight through the wall!
The magazine was a sponge soaked with water, and he was determined to squeeze it completely dry.
Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze.
Until he finally lay on his bed, empty and staring at the ceiling, contemplating the mysteries of the universe.
Just when he thought he had ascended to sagehood,
Crew-cut handed him a new one.
Ren: !!!
He continued devouring, continued forgetting food and sleep, continued reading in secret—
After three or five rounds, crew-cut ran out of stock.
Ren panicked. Crew-cut told him to calm down—being anxious wouldn't help.
So Ren went home dejected.
And noticed Shino cleaning.
He had never called her "Mom," barely even "Auntie."
He had always hated this woman.
But that day, he realized this "auntie" was actually stunningly beautiful, with an incredible figure.
Compared to the girls at school? No contest—his classmates were all flat.
Even the female teachers? Almost none could compare!
That day, for the first time, Ren gulped while looking at Shino.
From then on, he spied on her almost every day:
washing dishes, cooking, crouching to wipe the floor, standing on tiptoes to hang laundry—
everything went straight into his eyes.
The only downside?
Compared to the aunties in the magazine, Shino always wore clothes.
Why does she always wear clothes!?
When will she finally take them off!?
Ren didn't know, but he waited patiently for that glorious moment when Shino would be naked and he would get to see it.
Then today, she dragged him out of the house.
Ren didn't want to go—when they went out, Shino definitely wouldn't strip.
Boring.
But if he stayed home alone, there'd be no food.
So he followed listlessly.
Sure enough, they ended up at some boring Chinese restaurant.
Shino kept saying pointless things; Ren just nodded or ignored her.
They ran into a pretty big sister—maybe even prettier than Shino.
But Ren had zero interest.
Big sisters were still just sisters.
He only liked aunties and mature women.
Just as they were leaving, disaster struck.
"Ren-kun—!!"
A pot of boiling water came flying toward him.
He only heard Shino's scream.
He wanted to run, but his legs turned to lead, shaking like crazy, unable to move.
Then someone kicked him hard—ass hit the floor.
It hurt.
But he was unharmed.
There is no quiet life—someone just bears the suffering for you.
The big brother who saved him took the entire pot of boiling water with his own body!!
Even at elementary school age, Ren knew what happens when boiling water hits flesh.
You die from the pain!!!
Yet that big brother acted like nothing happened, calmly wringing water from his clothes.
After saying thanks, big brother spun his wooden sword in a flashy circle and put it away.
Ren had seen him fight the yellow-haired thug earlier—just one move, too fast to follow, and his brain was full of noise, so he didn't pay much attention.
But up close, just that single sword flourish—
Ren's heart screamed: So cool!!!
Big brother was handsome. And cool.
He had the aura of an ancient swordsman from novels.
Watching big brother's retreating back, Ren felt admiration surge inside him.
He couldn't hold it in.
Before big brother left the restaurant, Ren shouted:
"How do I become as strong as you!?"
Big brother lazily answered:
"Eat your vegetables."
"Exercise every day."
"Sleep early, wake early."
"Stay physically healthy and mentally sound…"
Ren repeated it under his breath.
Oh no.
The first few he could do.
But "mentally sound"…
He glanced at Shino.
Reading definitely wasn't mentally sound—that's why he hid it.
Then the image flashed again—big brother shielding him from boiling water.
So cool it hurt.
Are aunties still fragrant? Is Shino still fragrant?
Tch. Whatever.
Ren remembered the wooden sword spinning like a flower.
Then made up his mind.
Only losers care about women!
Real men train with swords!!
…
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