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

In the distance, the clouds bathed in a reddish-gold sunset, appearing like a long river through the gaps.

The roadside horns blared intermittently, and the evening breeze brought a hint of warm, moist air mixed with the subtle fragrance of the young girl in front of him.

Under the purplish sky, the willows swayed gently, and Liu Chaoyan’s long dress fluttered slightly as she smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, offering a donut to Shen Mochen.

It seemed like a replica of the dream, the girl’s face in the dream had never been so clear.

"I don’t want it!"

Shen Mochen blurted out his refusal, his panicked yet firm demeanor catching everyone off guard. He instinctively thought about running away, but his legs wobbled, and he ended up standing still.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t know Shen was so averse to donuts; it was my oversight…"

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Liu Chaoyan was the first to react. Even faced with such an abrupt situation, she responded naturally, taking back the donut with an apologetic expression.

"I’m going back now, goodbye."

Without another word, Shen Mochen turned around, grabbed Catherine’s hand, and strode away. The others watched his retreating figure, utterly baffled.

Reaching the bike shed, Shen Mochen silently let go of Catherine’s hand and quietly pulled out his electric bike.

"Your hand was shaking just now," Catherine said. "Can I ask why?"

Shen Mochen pushed the bike slowly forward, "Sorry, I don’t really want to answer."

The sunset stretched his shadow long, and he felt like he had just fled in panic.

Catherine quickly caught up to walk beside him, "It seems you recognized her."

"Yes, there were some unpleasant memories, but it was all childhood stuff, nothing too serious."

Catherine blinked but didn’t ask further. There was a plea in Shen Mochen’s tone, seeming to wish she wouldn’t continue.

The two walked silently back to the school parking lot. Liu Chaoyan and her group had already left. Catherine looked at her car and turned to Shen Mochen, "Your birthday is coming up soon. What would you like?"

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Shen Mochen was surprised but felt there was nothing he particularly wanted from Catherine.

Of course, it wasn’t that Shen Mochen truly wanted nothing; he quite fancied a villa, or even some cash… but obviously, those were things he couldn’t just ask Catherine for, even though she could afford it.

"Didn’t you say that dating me was a birthday gift?" Shen Mochen joked, feeling no need to complicate matters further.

Catherine tilted her head, silent.

Shen Mochen steadied the bike, smiling, "It feels like we’re playing house, but I’m actually quite happy. You take care of me at school, bring me desserts, and even introduced me to that great study spot in the library. Even our date last Saturday outside was pretty fun; it’s enough for me. Thank you, Kajiena."

After a moment of silence, Catherine’s lips curved into a smile, "Hmm, because it’s me?"

"Definitely, being happy because it’s you makes me feel like I’ve really hit the jackpot, being the Princess’s boyfriend," Shen Mochen nodded earnestly.

He really liked Catherine; although she held the most distinguished position in school as the Princess, being with her was usually very relaxed, even playful like with a normal friend—something he never imagined before.

"These days, I’ve been kind of happy, too, like life isn’t as boring as before," Catherine stretched lazily, the small cross on her robust chest reflecting the last glimmer of the sunset. "Close your eyes."

"Uh…"

Shen Mochen thought to himself, "With this kind of setup, you’re not going to kiss me, are you?"

Forget it, just endure it. After all, you can’t offend the Princess! He said to himself in his mind, and besides, she might not actually kiss him!

Shen Mochen licked his lips, his heartbeat slightly quickened.

Catherine looked at Shen Mochen’s slightly pouted mouth, a sly fox-like cunning flashing in her eyes. She brought her right hand’s index and middle fingers together, wiped them across her lips, and then gently pressed them against Shen Mochen’s mouth.

The cool touch on his lips startled Shen Mochen, and he abruptly opened his eyes, only to see Catherine’s teasing smile.

"What’s wrong, disappointed?" Catherine playfully withdrew her hand.

"Not at all. I guessed it was this!" Shen Mochen covered up his slight disappointment, stubbornly claiming.

"Just consider this your birthday present. I’m leaving."

Catherine bent down to get into the car, the luxury sedan slowly started, and Shen Mochen moved aside.

"That works, I guess..."

Shen Mochen touched his mouth, it was just a touch of her fingers, not even qualifying as an indirect kiss. He told himself inwardly.

Fuzi drove the car, merging into the traffic. Catherine leaned against the car window, a faint smile curling up on her lips.

She knew that what Shen Mochen had said just now was somewhat to please her, but she still felt inexplicably happy.

Actually, she had already considered it today. No matter the outcome, she would agree to break up with Shen Mochen... if that could be called a breakup.

In any case, it was time to say goodbye to Shen Mochen. He was just an ordinary person, and she felt quite sorry for involving him for so long.

They were destined to be people from two different worlds, and it wasn’t ethical to force someone into her life.

"Just consider this... a thank-you gift for putting up with my whims." Catherine touched her lips, murmuring to herself.

…

Shen Mochen rode his electric scooter back home, collapsed on the bed tiredly, got up briefly to cook a packet of instant noodles, and ate without expression.

He recalled Catherine’s face in his mind, but it was soon completely occupied by Liu Chaoyan. He couldn’t believe the world could be so small, that he could meet her again.

His heart was racing, and he didn’t know why. Was it because of the shame from when he was a child?

So humble and so low in her presence!

He replayed that scene in his mind countless times. If he could do it over, he definitely wouldn’t have taken that donut. He would have stood up straight and told her: No need, thanks.

But no matter how many times he imagined it differently in his mind, he couldn’t change reality.

Actually, Yin Caiyu never understood why Shen Mochen always had such a big shadow over donuts. It was just taking someone’s leftover donut. It wasn’t a big deal—it was clean and sanitary. They even used to rummage through trash bins; why no shadow from that!

Of course, she didn’t realize the boy’s emotions when faced with a fairy at first sight, with that delicate and sensitive heart.

"Sigh…"

It seems like Liu Chaoyan is staying another day tomorrow, so he might as well take the day off.

Shen Mochen missed his bangs immensely, like a turtle’s protective shell.