You are all bad women! Don't come over!

She touched her empty neck, yet her expression wasn't as casual as before.

He felt uncomfortable. That pendant had followed her for ten years and was only removed when she went into the water.

Now it was suddenly gone, and he always felt empty.

"Master, you gave that thing to him..." Fuzi appeared.

"It's just a pendant. If I gave it away, I gave it away," Catherine said as she stroked a book and spread it open again.

Fuzi fell silent. She understood, of course, the significance of the Cross to Catherine, but she also understood Catherine's determination.

"Only by putting a collar on a dog can you tell everyone that it has an owner," Catherine continued with a faint smile, "just like many girls who put their hair ties on their boyfriend's arm."

Her Cross was not just a gift. Boys might not understand, but any girl who knew its origin would definitely recognize it as another girl's deliberate mark.

Like a warning letter—Are you sure you have the courage to challenge me?

"You really know a lot," Fuzi suddenly realized, smiling with her eyes lowered.

Catherine twirled her hair near her ear and did not respond.

She had read the great mentor Not-exactly-White-White Lee's works; although people said he lacked luck with the opposite sex his entire life, and his research on women's wit was just a tirade of an impotent old virgin, Catherine still believed he was a great prophet!

...

"Hello, Shen Mochen."

On the road after Shen Mochen had left, Zhao Yuji suddenly appeared, still so refined and courteous, truly deserving of his spot as the second most handsome man of the week.

"Is there something you need?" Shen Mochen responded indifferently, with a hint of cynical sarcasm at the corner of his mouth.

Zhao Yuji was momentarily stunned. Shen Mochen indeed felt completely different than before.

Before, he had always disliked Shen Mochen's long bangs, always feeling like he was hiding something. But now, he almost missed the past Shen Mochen, who was easier to communicate with.

Obedient and pleasing, he quite liked that.

"I've heard about your sister's ordeal. I'm very saddened by this news, please accept my condolences..."

"If you really are saddened, shouldn't there be some gesture?" Shen Mochen raised his eyebrows and stretched out his hand with a smile, "You should be here to congratulate me on my joining Buque and awakening my superpower, right? Where's your gift?"

Zhao Yuji was left speechless, choked by Shen Mochen's mocking, disdainful eyes, which showed a soul-deep loathing.

"I'm really sorry. The incident was sudden, and I didn't have time to prepare any gift. I will personally make it up in a couple of days," Zhao Yuji maintained his composure even under these circumstances.

Just a Superpower User, not enough to be taken so seriously... or perhaps to be feared by the Zhao Family.

Zhao Yuji originally just wanted to show some care, make a good impression, perhaps for future usefulness... but he hadn't expected Shen Mochen to snub him so blatantly.

The common rabble remains common, with the shortsightedness of a sewer maggot. Awakening a superpower makes them think their tails are in the skies, not really thinking they've turned from a crow to a phoenix, ignoring everyone else?

"Hey, I have a question," Shen Mochen casually slung an arm around Zhao Yuji in a way that seemed intimate to onlookers, "Why are you targeting me?"

Zhao Yuji blinked, a puzzled look on his face. "What do you mean by that, Shen?"

"Look at you, it's time to stop pretending," Shen Mochen said with a smile, poking Zhao Yuji's shoulder, "The matter where Gao Le falsely accused me must have been related to you. Don't worry, I'm not planning to settle accounts with you yet, considering you are the eldest young master of the Zhao Family. I'm just curious about why, since we have no grievances."

Zhao Yuji remained silent for a moment, then smiled, "... There's no special reason, I just find it amusing to tease you. School life is so boring, we have to find some fun somehow. Unlike you, who comes from a humble background in the north, I've never lacked anything since childhood—wealth, power, familial affection, food, care, respect… All these things you desire but can't have are so abundant for me that they become tiresome, and watching the drama unfold occasionally is quite enjoyable."

His tone remained so warm, as if a spring breeze.

"You really have a despicable personality," Shen Mochen said, not minding and smiling as well.

"Please don't be angry, it's just a little hobby of mine," Zhao Yuji's face showed a hint of apology.

Shen Mochen shook his head, "You are truly pitiable, born into a good family but so frail. Is your heart really that empty?"

Zhao Yuji was slightly stunned, "How can you tell, Shen Mochen?"

Shen Mochen couldn't be bothered to explain and just shrugged, "You know, I just received my assignment. Congratulate me, from now on I will be living with four girls, day and night."

Zhao Yuji didn't take it badly, "Then I should congratulate those four girls instead. To live with a handsome guy like you, Shen Mochen."

"Smooth talker!" Shen Mochen clapped him on the shoulder, smiled lightly like a bright moon, "Starting today, I'm a member of Team 0819. Please ask your fiancée to take good care of me."

Zhao Yuji's expression suddenly changed.

Shen Mochen enjoyed watching the transformation, very much liking the expression on the other's face. He then patted his shoulder and left with a big laugh.

He originally had no plans to steal someone's partner, but as Zhao Yuji said, teasing him was quite fun, wasn't it? Especially since he was very bored at the moment.

Back in the classroom, Shen Mochen packed up his backpack and bid farewell to his classmates one by one. Just then, Catherine returned to the classroom. Shen Mochen smiled at her, and she nodded slightly.

Beyond that, the two had no further interactions. Some wondered why Shen Mochen had suddenly become so distant from Catherine, but no one spoke up.

Buque called, the car had already arrived at the campus gate.

"Classmates, I'll take care, and I hope you all cherish and farewell,"

Shen Mochen went up to the podium, smiling and waving his hand, drawing his school life to a close amid the reluctant blessings of the students.

He turned and left the classroom, and Catherine turned her head toward the now empty desk beside her.

At that moment, a "ding" sound occurred as the last test results were sent to every student's tablet through the school system.

Catherine, thinking of the figure that had just disappeared at the classroom door, was the first to open the rankings.

First place, Shen Mochen

Second place, Catherine

Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire

Catherine stared at the results, suddenly got up, and quickly walked to the door.

In such a short time, Shen Mochen had already crossed the long corridor and reached the door of the teaching building, where the sunlight was bright.

As if sensing something, Shen Mochen turned his head, looking at Catherine standing at the classroom door, opening his mouth.

Catherine recognized what he was saying.

"You lost again."

He seemed very happy, waving his hand joyously, then turned and gradually disappeared in the sunlight, the willow branches fluttering at the door.