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

```

"I'm back," Cai Yuncui announced from the kitchen, tying her hair into a simple ponytail as usual, with her bangs naturally framing her cheeks.

She offered a sidelong smile to the newcomer, her dimples blossoming like flowers.

It had been a little over ten days since they'd seen each other, which already felt like too long. Shen Mochen's heart skipped a beat and he greeted her with a smile, "Cai Sister, do you need any help?"

Cai Yuncui waved a dismissive hand and took off her apron, "No need, no need, dinner is already made!"

Xia Qingrou threw her arms wide and lunged into Cai Yuncui's embrace. "It's been so long since I've had your cooking, I've missed you so much!"

"Is it me you missed, or the food I make?" Cai Yuncui asked, her face brimming with a warm smile as she affectionately stroked Xia Qingrou's head.

"I missed both, both, hehe, hehehe... your hug is still so soft and fragrant, hehehe..." Xia Qingrou rubbed her face against Cai Yuncui's chest, emitting a series of giddy chuckles.

"Come on now, stop that, Shen's watching," Cai Yuncui said, her face flushing as she patted Xia Qingrou's back.

Only then did Xia Qingrou reluctantly release Cai Yuncui, hurrying to the dining table eager to eat.

"Shen, are you hungry?"

Cai Yuncui turned to Shen Mochen, her eyes reflecting a hint of complexity, but predominantly shining with a bright smile.

Xia Qingrou wailed nearby the dining table, kicking about, "I'm starving, I'm starving, Yuncui Sister, let's start eating!"

"Then help yourself to the food..." Shen Mochen grumbled as he made his way to the kitchen.

"Let me do it," Cai Yuncui quickly followed him in.

Shen Mochen didn't refuse, but he didn't leave either, helping himself to the rice alongside her.

"Now Qing, in the team, you're so diligent... but as soon as you see Cai Sister you turn into a good-for-nothing," he teased.

"Hehehe..." Cai Yuncui covered her mouth with a laugh, "I heard about it, now Qing is the big sister of the team, cooking for her teammates every day!"

"Exactly, my cooking is super delicious, isn't it?" Xia Qingrou turned to Shen Mochen for confirmation.

With a helpless look, Shen Mochen replied, "How should I answer that? Lying to Cai Sister goes against my conscience, but if I tell the truth, you'll start a fuss with me again."

"Say it one more time, is my cooking not delicious?" Xia Qingrou, apparently fuming, squared up for a quarrel with Shen Mochen.

Shen Mochen jabbed at her with the hot bowl he had just filled with rice, causing Xia Qingrou to quickly retract her 'claws' and turn to Cai Yuncui to pout, "Yuncui Sister, your brother is bullying me!"

"Shen, cut it out," Cai Yuncui took the bowl from Shen Mochen's hands and placed it on the dining table, her smile not fading, "Come, let's eat."

"Mmm, okay!" Xia Qingrou nodded obediently.

Shen Mochen glanced at Xia Qingrou, "You really love to act spoiled, I don't even see you like this with your second sister."

Xia Qingrou glared, "How can that lousy woman compare with Yuncui Sister?"

Cai Yuncui inquired with a smile, "Speaking of which, where is your second sister? Didn't she say she was coming to Yu Huai for an internship? Why not invite her for dinner?"

"She's already left, the liar!" Xia Qingrou spoke through a mouthful of food, her cheeks puffed out, whether from anger or being stuffed with food was unclear.

"She left so soon?" Cai Yuncui expressed surprise.

"Yeah, she probably came just to see Qing, it's been a while and she must have missed her. The internship was just an excuse," Shen Mochen chuckled.

"Yo, thinking she left in less than three days? She must have really missed me!" Xia Qingrou snorted.

"Gently now, eat slowly, no one's fighting you for it," Cai Yuncui soothed, caressing Xia Qingrou's back.

```

Xia Qingrou mumbled with a mouthful of food, "I want to, but it's just so delicious!"

Shen Mochen said with a smile playing on his lips, "So now you know what kind of stuff we usually eat, huh?"

"Then don't eat it…" Xia Qingrou kicked Shen Mochen and then gulped down the food in her mouth, "You should be grateful that I even cook for you!"

"That's just being unreasonable. When someone points out a fault of yours, you should be very open and willing to accept it!" remarked Shen Mochen.

Xia Qingrou uttered a grumble, "You, freeloading every day, always complaining about me… If you're so capable, cook one yourself!"

Shen Mochen tilted his head back, pride written all over his face, "My cooking is delicious!"

"Braggart!"

The two bickered and teased, while Cai Yuncui didn't seem bothered, just watching with an amused smile.

After a while, she quietly sighed, "You two have such a great relationship, just like a couple on TV, full of love and bickering."

"Who's in a bickering love affair with him?" Xia Qingrou's face flushed red.

"Exactly, we have a great relationship. She clings to me all day long; I can't even shake her off if I try!" Shen Mochen nodded emphatically in agreement.

"Who clings to you all day? Stop spreading lies!" Xia Qingrou was fuming, and if it weren't for the need to pretend to be a couple in front of Cai Yuncui, she would have denied their relationship long ago!

Shen Mochen is so annoying! He calls Yuncui 'Sister Cai' but calls me 'Xia Sister'! Why doesn't he call me 'Sister Xia'? It's not endearing at all!

After finishing their meal amidst squabbles, Xia Qingrou and Cai Yuncui washed the dishes together, and then Cai Yuncui suggested that Xia Qingrou go take a shower first, while she started cutting the fruit platter.

"Sister Cai, let me help you," said Shen Mochen as he walked into the kitchen, gently inhaling the familiar scent of coconut milk.

"No need, no need, just take a seat on the couch for a bit, I'll be done soon," Cai Yuncui replied without looking up, her voice cheerful.

Shen Mochen watched Cai Yuncui's profile, her soft and delicate features accented by the large black-framed glasses that glistened beautifully under the overhead light.

It made him want to steal a kiss.

Even though she had declined his help, Shen Mochen didn't leave, just stood beside Cai Yuncui, keeping her company.

"You and Qingrou seem really close. Seeing you two get along so well makes me feel relieved."

Cai Yuncui continued cutting the fruit without looking at him.

"Just average, I wouldn't say very close," Shen Mochen replied, although they had kissed after just knowing each other for two or three days and played poker within a week.

But now they'd broken up.

Cai Yuncui went on to say, "Treat her well, she's a good girl, and so pretty too. She also performs well academically and might even consider applying to National University after retiring from the military, she's really suitable for you."

Her voice was soft, her eyes not straying towards Shen Mochen as she simply curved her lips into a smile.

You're really overestimating her... Shen Mochen thought to himself. Her biggest wish in life was to delay adulthood past her twenties and then dodge the national exams.

A sudden irritation arose in Shen Mochen's heart; he seemed to sense that those were not her heartfelt words, or at least not entirely.

Perhaps they were sincere, but definitely not what she wanted to say. Then why say them?

"Sister Cai is also very beautiful, gentle and virtuous. By that logic, it seems you would be quite suitable for me too," Shen Mochen said deliberately, a touch of annoyance in his heart.

Snap, Cai Yuncui cut her hand.