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

"What did you say?" Shen Mochen didn't catch on.

"Next month's birthday banquet, you don't have to come, he just wants to mock you." Catherine squatted down and placed his phone on his head.

Shen Mochen moved the phone away, "And the month after the next...?"

Catherine sat on the bed and said calmly, "If you don't want to come, that's fine, consider it my apology to you, that wish is void now."

Her mood wasn't high, and could even be described as low. Shen Mochen couldn't exactly make it out, unsure what she was thinking. He was a bit curious but felt he didn't have the right.

Since you're not planning to give everything for me, what's the point of asking so much?

Catherine's words echoed in his mind again.

She needed someone who could love her, someone with the courage to love her. He neither loved her nor had the right to love her, so there was really no need to guess at her thoughts.

Even Su Mo, that genius, sometimes couldn't comprehend the minds of girls, let alone him, a mere mortal.

Shen Mochen tied up his hair, silently playing with his phone.

"Fuzi said he has already left, let's go downstairs."

In a short while, Catherine holding the phone said.

"Oh oh..."

Shen Mochen instinctively wanted to let his hair down, but his hand reached his head, and in the end, he didn't untie it.

The two went downstairs, the living room was already clean, but the box of condoms had disappeared somewhere.

"Are you going back?" Catherine sat curled up on the couch, turning on the TV.

"Yeah, it's getting late." Shen Mochen glanced at the time, it was almost eight.

"That's true, there's someone waiting for you to come back for dinner." Catherine smiled, "You can go, I'll have Fuzi escort you."

"No need, I'll take a taxi back."

Shen Mochen said as it was so late, and Fuzi probably hadn't eaten yet, so there was no need to trouble him to make a special trip.

"Alright, then I'll have Fuzi see you out."

Catherine spoke, and Fuzi silently walked over.

"I'll be off then..."

Shen Mochen nodded and with a guileless smile, he touched his head.

"I'm sorry."

Just as he got to the door, he suddenly heard Catherine's soft voice.

Shen Mochen turned to look back, only to see her smiling and looking up at him, "I suppose I was a bit willful."

"It's okay..."

Shen Mochen said, as if he could take a couple of bites out of you.

...

"You should have stayed for dinner before leaving, the master had me prepare dinner for three." Fuzi escorted Shen Mochen to the entrance of the community.

"Oh really, I didn't know, I'll definitely have to try your cooking when I have the time!" Shen Mochen revealed a row of teeth, his smile genuine.

"When I was checking your background, I thought you were a much more interesting person, it's a pity you're not."

"I'm really sorry to have raised your expectations beyond my capabilities."

"The master probably thought so at first, too, hence his interest in you."

"... sorry again, I am such a boring person!"

Fuzi cracked a smile, "Judging from your past experiences, you're not someone who is timid or easily frightened. Is it because of Yin Caiyu now? Since Yin Huailian died, you've become even more cautious, worried that something unexpected might happen to Yin Caiyu?"

Shen Mochen frowned and remained silent.

Fuzi followed up with an inexplicable sneer, whispering, "I'm very curious about what you would become if Yin Caiyu died one day."

A chill flashed through Shen Mochen's eyes, "What are you planning to do?"

"Don't be nervous, I won't lay a hand on her. Besides, I can't beat her now," Fuzi shrugged her shoulders, "Just asking out of curiosity."

Shen Mochen's muscles gradually relaxed, "Thank you for bringing me here. I should go back now."

"Goodbye," Fuzi said.

Shen Mochen strode away, Fuzi watching his shadow elongate and fade under the streetlights behind him.

...

"Ah!"

Shen Mochen stood at the doorstep of Cai Yuncui's house, sighing involuntarily.

The incident from last night had been awkward enough, and then something even more uncomfortable had happened in the afternoon.

Shen Mochen felt like a scoundrel. He had just touched Cai Yuncui today and then Catherine too, which made him feel too ashamed to face her.

"How am I going to explain this…" Shen Mochen racked his brains for an excuse.@@novelbin@@

In fact, on his way back, he had already rehearsed many scenarios in his head. However, when he actually reached her doorstep, the nervousness inevitably intensified as he neared home.

Okay, stay calm, it's normal for a couple to do that kind of thing, right? What's the problem with buying condoms? It'd be scummy to get her pregnant without protection!

Shen Mochen comforted himself one last time, gathered his courage, and knocked on the door.

"Who is it... Oh, Xiaochen."

Cai Yuncui asked as she opened the door, her face showing a mix of surprise and joy, her expression very complicated at the sight of Shen Mochen.

"Sister Cai…" Shen Mochen said with a forced smile as he entered.

"Did you forget your keys today?" Cai Yuncui let Shen Mochen in, her tone as casual as always, but she avoided looking at him.

"Um..." Shen Mochen nodded weakly.

He kept all his keys together, so it wasn't possible that he didn't have them. The only reason he knocked was due to his guilt, lacking the assertiveness he once had.

"Have you eaten yet?" Cai Yuncui asked.

"Not yet," Shen Mochen replied.

Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire

"Then I'll reheat the food for you; it's gotten cold," Cai Yuncui said as she took out dish after dish of neatly prepared food from the fridge. "It's so late, I thought you weren't coming back."

"I said I would come back!" Shen Mochen said, trying to sound light-hearted.

Cai Yuncui bit her lip gently and turned on the stove.

"Let me help you," Shen Mochen offered.

"No need, just sit down, it will be ready soon," Cai Yuncui refused Shen Mochen's offer as usual.

Shen Mochen didn't dare sit; Cai Yuncui didn't want his help, so he just stood by.

"Why did you put your hair up?" Cai Yuncui glanced at him once, then lowered her head to continue heating the dishes.

It should have been a simple question, but Shen Mochen couldn't shake the feeling that Cai Yuncui's voice lacked its usual cheerfulness, and even sounded slightly annoyed.

This made him think of Yin Huailian, who showed a similar demeanor when she was upset. Busying herself with chores and not ignoring him entirely, but still giving off the vibe that she was irritated. When asked if she was angry, she would deny it.

Yin Huailian's displeasure was more pronounced, her pout could hang a soy sauce bottle. Cai Yuncui wouldn't do that; even if upset, her face wouldn't betray her feelings.

Shen Mochen touched his face, relying on his past experiences, he knew his looks had a significant impact on women... However, today at the supermarket, when Cai Yuncui didn't know his identity, she had already shown disdain towards him, so he figured he couldn't be as successful as usual.

"Sister Cai, I didn't mean to hide it from you…"