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

"Mochen, the day after tomorrow is your birthday. Do you have any birthday gift you want?"

At night, Yuncui bustled around the kitchen wearing an apron, the sound of sizzling coming from the pan, as the aroma of the food gently filled the room.

"No need for gifts, Sister Yuncui, your coming is the best gift." Shen Mochen smiled with his head down, sitting on the sofa and reading a reference book he borrowed from the library.

"How can that be okay? It's your eighteenth birthday, your coming-of-age celebration!" Yuncui laughed, waving her spatula.

Shen Mochen responded half-heartedly, "Really, no need for anything. If you really want to give something, just buy me a cake, and then I won't let Yin Caiyu buy it. By the way, it seems like Yin Caiyu will bring her teammates back with her, they're quite rowdy. They like to tease me, Sister Yuncui, you absolutely shouldn't mind..."

Yuncui's movements paused for a moment.

But Shen Mochen was engrossed in his book and didn't notice the forlorn, sad expression on her face.

"Uh-huh, I know," Yuncui replied softly, her head lowered as she continued to cook.

Her ponytail drooped listlessly, with bangs hanging down and brushing against her cheeks. She usually tied her hair into a full ponytail for convenience during classes, but after returning home, she let her bangs down.

The hair brushing across her face felt reassuring, as if affirming her own existence.

The thin strands of hair also seemed like a shield, covering just a small part of her face, yet it felt like they could block everything from him.

Yuncui didn't know how to tell Shen Mochen the truth; he was looking forward so much to Yin Caiyu's return yet was kept in the dark.

She had wanted to tell Shen Mochen the truth many times, but each time the words reached her lips, she swallowed them back; she just couldn't say it. Besides, even with a one in ten chance of dying, there was still a chance to live.

That's how she consoled herself.

After finishing cooking, Yuncui called Shen Mochen over to eat, "Mochen, you shouldn't be on duty tomorrow, right? Are you going to hang out with student Catherine?"

"Maybe... Sister Yuncui, sorry, I might not be able to hang out with you," said Shen Mochen.

Even if he didn't wander around the school celebration with Catherine tomorrow, Shen Mochen would find a place to review. After all, exams would follow the day after the celebration; last-minute studying wasn't ideal, but it was better than nothing.

"No worries, no worries!" Yuncui waved dismissively, "Just have fun with all you young people."
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Shen Mochen grinned, "Sister Yuncui, you're young too. If you wore a school uniform, it would suit you perfectly, and no one would ever be able to tell!"

Because his birthday was coming up, his mood had become increasingly light-hearted.

Just thinking about Yin Caiyu coming back soon, them being together, having meals, sleeping together, meeting every day, and never being apart made Shen Mochen unable to help but smile.

"Don't tease me; who looks as old as me in high school!"

Yuncui's face flushed slightly, not knowing if Shen Mochen was being serious or not, but compliments were always pleasant.

The two of them ended their dinner with laughter and conversation, and then Shen Mochen went back to his own home to stay up late and revise.

Damn it, Yin Caiyu, nearly back and not even a call. What, do you want to sneak up and surprise me with a sudden appearance?

Before bed, Shen Mochen checked his phone and humphed disdainfully. Childish!

The next morning, Shen Mochen got up leisurely, as he was free today after being on duty all of yesterday.

"What are you up to?" Shen Mochen texted Old Ye.

"Doing duty in class," came Old Ye's quick reply.

"No way, you were on it all day yesterday, aren't you resting today?"

"No need, I don't really have anything I want to do alone."

Shen Mochen blinked. Was that a hint? But never mind, I have a low EQ and can't understand.

"The class leader leads by example, forward in the trenches, truly our role model for learning! I'm not going to school today, I have a headache, I'm taking sick leave." Shen Mochen's fingers danced quickly across the screen.

No response for a long time.

"Is your illness severe, will you die?" About five minutes later, Old Ye finally sent her greeting.

Shen Mochen's mouth twitched slightly; your tone is tinged with a bit of personal animosity, isn't it!

"I won't die, I just want to study."

"Understood."

Shen Mochen looked at Catherine's reply and turned off his phone with a smug smile. Humph, don't blame me for sneaking off; if there's any blame, it's because you don't know how to make good use of your time!

After washing up, he ate at Yuncui's house, then rode her electric scooter to school and quietly slipped into the library to start studying alone.

Before he knew it, the sun was high in the sky, and noon had quickly arrived.

Shen Mochen stretched and looked at his phone; lunchtime had long since started. He packed up his books, got up to eat, and on his return, he suddenly heard voices speaking faintly.

"Master, do you really want to end it like this?"

"End what?"

"Your relationship with Shen Mochen."

"Is there anything bad about that?"

"Don't you want revenge?"

"Hmm, forget it, I've forgiven him, and I've made him do a lot. Besides... I admit defeat, I concede that I can't beat him."

"It's the first time I've seen you admit defeat."

"Yeah, feelings really can't be forced, especially when the other person has someone they love."

"That Yin Caiyu, huh..."

"He's not the prince who saves the princess, nor the one I'm looking for." Catherine spoke softly, "It's time to put an end to my whims."

Shen Mochen listened to their conversation in silence and quietly withdrew, waiting outside for quite a while.

Checking the time, Shen Mochen pushed the doors open with force, walked up to Catherine, and asked in surprise, "Hey, what are you doing here?"

Without looking up, Catherine replied indifferently, "So you're allowed to study in secret, but I'm not?"

"What do you mean 'study in secret'? I told you, I'm studying openly and aboveboard!"

Shen Mochen pulled out the chair opposite Catherine and sat down with a plop. Bright sunlight streamed into the library, making the blond girl shimmer in its light, and the faint mint fragrance she wore seemed to overflow with the sunlight.

"Hey, are you afraid of losing to me?" Shen Mochen asked with a teasing smile.

"I won't lose to you a second time." Catherine looked up, gave him a cool glance, and returned her gaze to the book.

Shen Mochen cleared his throat and suggested, "How about, this afternoon, we take a break and enjoy the school celebration? I've just come to First Middle School and haven't really experienced the school celebration."

Catherine looked at him with some surprise, tilting her head.

"You see, instead of competing here to death, draining ourselves in the effort, we might as well relax together," Shen Mochen continued.

"...Okay."

Catherine thought for a moment and nodded.