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

Shen Mochen was also taken aback but soon just smiled, "It's okay, after all, you were deceived too."

"No, I feel so guilty... I really feel so guilty..." The girl suddenly became teary-eyed, sobbing pitifully, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was wrong..."

"It really doesn't matter, please don't cry," Shen Mochen urged hastily.

"Even if you can forgive me, I can't forgive myself like this..." The girl wiped her tears, "Whenever you're free, let me take you out for a meal to apologize, you pick the place!"

Damn, you little minx, what are you doing?

The other girls, who had been oblivious until now, finally caught on. So this is your scheme under the guise of an apology? How do you manage to cry on cue like that? How come it's never obvious that you're such an old hand at this?

"Shen Mochen, I also want to say sorry, I was also blinded by Gao Le and the others at the start! Can you forgive me?"

Soon, a second girl pitifully took hold of Shen Mochen's hands.

"I'm really sorry too, I didn't say anything at the time, but I misunderstood you in my heart! Please forgive me, okay?"

Not to be outdone, a third girl moved in on Shen Mochen's arm and gently shook it.

"And me, I also want to say sorry!"

"I also wronged you, I'm sorry!"

"Don't fight with me, I'm the one who should apologize the most!"

"Let's go fishing in my family's garden this weekend, I'll apologize properly then!"

...

The boys watched, their pupils like survivors of an earthquake, as the girls rushed to apologize to Shen Mochen—one by one, in a scene they probably had never witnessed in their lifetime. After all, a common refrain among many girls was, "You're a guy, why are you holding a grudge against a girl?"

But it seemed like nobody wanted to remember that saying when it came to Shen Mochen, nor did any girl naturally assume that he ought to forgive them.

Shit, this damn world is really fucking unfair!

The boys exchanged glances, feeling an empathetic unrest.

...

"You're leaving?" Catherine asked.

"What?" Shen Mochen asked in response.

"Aren't you transferring schools?"

"How do you know?"

"I guessed."

Their voices gently echoed in the empty classroom, dim sunlight filtering in, reflecting a golden hue off the blackboard.

After the noise subsides, there always comes calm. Once Catherine returned to the class, the other girls longing for Shen Mochen could only temporarily put away their little schemes.

Shen Mochen and Catherine seemed to have silently agreed to wait in the classroom until everyone else had left.

But in reality, they had not arranged this beforehand; they simply relied on a strange tacit understanding.

Shen Mochen felt that Catherine would likely want to talk to him, and Catherine felt that Shen Mochen would wait to talk to her.

"Yeah, I can't exactly not make a move at this point!" Shen Mochen said with a laugh, "You know, my aim isn't just National University, but also that top-level scholarship."

"It's just Yupi National University, with your grades, it should be no problem."

"But people falter all the time, it still depends on the final performance, and all I can do before then is try my best. For people like us, this is practically the only chance."
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Catherine nodded and casually pulled up a small chair to sit down. The board game room was all set up, and in front of her was the most traditional game of chess, with crystal pieces.

"How about another game?" Catherine suggested.

"Fine, but I'm sure I can't beat you," Shen Mochen laughed as he sat across from her.

"Well, you better play your best because there will be a punishment if you lose."

"Hey! Wait for me to sit down before you say that, that's too sneaky!"

Catherine said indifferently, "It's not a big deal for a punishment. If you lose, I'll just sleep with some random guy."

Shen Mochen was stunned, "What did you just say?"

Catherine curled the corners of her mouth, "Why, do you want to sign up in advance?"

"This is... you're punishing yourself! And aren't you a believer of the Tianzheng Church? You wear a cross around your neck every day!"

"Are you talking about this?" Catherine smiled, taking out the cross from under her clothes, "I've said before, I don't really believe in it. The only reason I wear the cross is that it was a gift from my grandfather before he died."

Shen Mochen felt a hint of anger and forced a smile, "Even if you don't believe... you don't have to joke about this!"

Catherine tilted her head slightly, "Do you also believe that a girl's virginity is something sacred and precious?"

"Well... actually, it's not that precious. That's just the delusion of virgins. Why should virgins be losers, and virgins be pure... I just think you should cherish yourself."

"But you're not a virgin either."

"That was... that was with someone I like!" Shen Mochen answered with an air of certainty.

"With Yin Caiyu too?" Catherine asked.

"...That's not the point!" Shen Mochen's face showed embarrassment, the answer was definitely affirmative, but it was awkward to talk about it at this time, he coughed to change the subject, "The point is, you can't just do that sort of thing with anyone!"

Catherine thought for a moment, "According to the Tianzheng Church's scriptures, everything we have is given by God. Therefore, whether we are with someone in pain or pleasure, it's all given by God. So, it doesn't matter who it is, they are just God's medium."

"Don't try to justify it! You just said you don't believe in it, so stop beating around the bush! God also said you shouldn't commit adultery, and here you are, in front of your boyfriend, talking about sleeping with another man!"

"I can accept your application, though."

Shen Mochen's mouth twitched, he waved his hand weakly, "...stop it, stop it, your God says no premarital sex."

"I don't believe in that either."

Damn, going around in circles and ending up back at square one.

Shen Mochen massaged his forehead, vigorously scratching his temple, "Okay then, let's not talk about God, nor about chastity. Let's talk about your first time, wasn't it reserved by me? Have you forgotten? Last week in the library you said that if I win the next exam, you would grant any one wish of mine, including your first time!"

"I remember, but I thought that after you won, you were going to ask for a breakup."

"You... how could I, am I that kind of person?" Shen Mochen turned away.

"Why do you always tell these kinds of lies in front of me that can be seen through at a glance?" Catherine raised an eyebrow.

"Great, a human lie detector," Shen Mochen huffed angrily, "but who can be sure about the future? Maybe tomorrow I'll be completely bewitched by you! You can't give away the prize in advance!"

"That makes sense," Catherine said, "then we'll put this matter off for now."

Shen Mochen clapped his hands and breathed a sigh of relief, "That's more like it!"

Catherine looked down with a smile, playing with the "King" chess piece in her hand, and said calmly, "I have a question, were you angry just now?"

"...Huh?"

"To you, I'm just a nuisance. So, whatever I do should not matter to you. Then why were you so angry, have you fallen for me?"

"Because you like me a little, that's why you care about me. It doesn't matter about my identity, appearance, status..." Catherine put the chess piece down gently, lifted her head, and looked straight at Shen Mochen, "You just care about the Kajiena in front of you, is that it?"

Shen Mochen was taken aback and speechless.

"Sorry, I seem to have been a bit headstrong..." Catherine stood up from the chair, turned around, "Actually, I was just joking with you. Let's go, let's go back."