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

Shen Mochen raised his eyebrows and calmly took out his phone, opening a recording from earlier.

Xia Qingrou was initially stunned, then quickly roared like a fierce tiger, trying to snatch the phone away. But Shen Mochen was prepared, dodged, and with one arm hugged Xia Qingrou's waist while he coolly pocketed the phone with his other hand.

"That's right, you should be thankful that Xiao Xingshuang took the blame for you, or else..." Shen Mochen grinned as he spoke.

"You, you're shameless!" Xia Qingrou glared, her eyes flaming with anger.

Shen Mochen's lips twitched. "Come on, big sis, can we talk this out reasonably? It was you who set the trap to harm me, I was just gathering evidence to prove my innocence. You attack me and then don't let me defend myself, who is the shameless one here?"

Xia Qingrou was left speechless, her face flushing red, her lips pouted, and then she began to cry again. Her crying was sorrowful, desolate, and melodious. Tears glistened on her icy, jade-like complexion like dew on a flower.

"Why are you crying now? Can't we talk this out? You look so pretty—don't you know it breaks my heart to see you cry?" Shen Mochen said teasingly.

"Then you leave our team." Xia Qingrou said while wiping her tears.

He really knows how to take an inch when given a mile... Shen Mochen was speechless.

"Alright, let's clear this up today," Shen Mochen said as he flopped down on the edge of the bed. "I know your intentions were always for the good of our team leader and the others. It's also partially my fault for being too good-looking; otherwise, you wouldn't be so worried."

Xia Qingrou snorted heavily, finding Shen Mochen's smug look annoying yet unable to refute it. If he hadn't been more beautiful than most girls, she probably wouldn't have been so determined to sneak into his bedroom wearing seductive lingerie.

"Actually, I feel the same way as you. Do you think I agreed to date you so quickly just because I didn't want to stir up trouble in the team? I thought that having a steady girlfriend would stop others from getting any ideas."

"Did you really think that?" Xia Qingrou widened her eyes.

"Really, why else would I date you? Our team is full of beauties, it's not like I lack attention from the opposite sex, but if I had other intentions, I would've dragged it out."

Xia Qingrou bit her lip, eyeing Shen Mochen skeptically, seemingly considering the validity of his words.

"So our interests align, you don't want me disturbing the harmony within our team, and neither do I. I actually do have someone I like."

"That noble lady Roman?"

"Sort of." Shen Mochen admitted weakly, deciding to just throw Catherine under the bus.

Xia Qingrou stared at him coldly and scoffed sarcastically, "So devoted, yet here you are, unable to resist being with me!"

What the hell kind of comparison is that? It's just a normal biological reaction! Can you hold back your period?!

"Cough, cough..." Shen Mochen muttered internally but coughed twice outwardly, deciding not to continue that line of conversation. "I just want to say I think we're on the same page, so I have a suggestion."

"What's the suggestion?"

"We continue pretending to be a couple, and I'll be more careful with my actions and words, not giving the wrong impression to other girls."

Xia Qingrou was silent. If that was the case, it was a compromise, albeit a frustrating one... But why did it have to be so irritating!

After all the indignities I've suffered through, even giving up my innocence, was there really no need for it?

"You, was that really your first time?" Xia Qingrou suddenly asked, biting her lip.

"Yes, it really was my first time," Shen Mochen said earnestly, then sighed, "Too bad, my eighteen years of pristine purity just blurred away."

"Enough already, a big man like you, always talking about purity!"

Xia Qingrou clucked her tongue, reluctantly accepting this point, considering they were both each other's firsts. Shen Mochen was a decent person and undeniably attractive; it did put her slightly at ease.

"But we've already broken up; we're just pretending to be in a relationship externally. Don't get too handsy with me from now on!" Xia Qingrou stated.

"But it's always been you getting handsy with me," Shen Mochen said, chuckling as he poured a glass of water for Xia Qingrou.

"Consider this a reminder..."

Xia Qingrou grumbled as she accepted the hot water. After so long of crying and screaming, her throat was hoarse.

After sipping some water to soothe her throat, Xia Qingrou couldn't help but hum, "That's how you men are; when I wore glasses before, I never saw you being so gentle with me."

Shen Mochen defended himself, "In all good conscience, who was it that accompanied you for archery practice at night, helping you prepare the ingredients? I've been gentle all along!"

"Pfft, you call that gentle? Not even half as much as Sister Cai!"

"That's really too demanding of you..."

"Delete the recording."

"Then you promise not to trick me anymore."

Xia Qingrou punched him lightly, urging, "Okay, I promise, now delete it!"

Shen Mochen took out his phone, and in front of Xia Qingrou, deleted the audio file, which finally put her at ease.

If anyone else really knew what she had been doing, she would be too embarrassed to live! Embarrassed to the extreme!

But what she didn't know was that Shen Mochen was not a completely honest man. Before this, he had already uploaded the original recording to the cloud, where it could be downloaded again at any time.

To be fair, the WiFi network in this sanatorium did have pretty fast upload speeds.

"Alright, you can go now, our little affair stays a secret, okay?" Xia Qingrou waved her hand weakly, completely drained for the night.

"Okay, you should rest early then," Shen Mochen said, noting that it was already the early morning hours.

"Hey... wait a second."

Xia Qingrou saw Shen Mochen walking to the door, and couldn't help but call out again.

"Is there anything else?" Shen Mochen asked.

Xia Qingrou pursed her lips, calmed herself down, and her stunningly beautiful face became even clearer. Even her slightly swollen eyes couldn't obscure the ethereal, celestial beauty that seemed to embody all that was wonderful in the world, a sight that made one linger and endlessly reminisce.

"You wouldn't happen to fall for me, would you?"

"...I'll try not to."

Shen Mochen smiled and left the room.

"You better not, it's impossible..." Xia Qingrou's voice faded away.

After leaving Xia Qingrou's sickroom, Shen Mochen decided to visit Xiao Xingshuang. At the very least, he needed to figure out why she had helped him.

Upon reaching Xiao Xingshuang's sickroom door, Shen Mochen knocked.

"Come in."

A detached voice responded.

Shen Mochen smiled as he walked in, "Comrade Xiao Xingshuang, haven't slept yet?"

Xiao Xingshuang was lying on the bed and nodded, "Made up?"

"Ah yes, thanks to you," Shen Mochen nodded.

"Now do me a favor," Xiao Xingshuang said straightforwardly.

"Helping you cover the lie is why you sought my help?"

"Yes."

Shen Mochen breathed a sigh of relief internally; it seemed it wasn't for some complex reason after all, straightforward was also good.

"Then please tell me, as long as I can help, I will do my utmost."