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

Han Muxue refused to take Shen Mochen back to her house, and Shen Mochen didn't insist either. Sensitive people always have all sorts of hard-to-guess thoughts.

Shen Mochen observed the surrounding environment. The narrow alley, the haphazard arrangement of electrical wires, and there was but one bright streetlight at the end of the alley. Faint voices could be heard from within the alley, and the scent of cooking lingered in the air.

He thought about Han Muxue's matters but for a moment became somewhat distracted and lost in thought, emotions surging to the surface. It had been a long time since he had encountered this scent of life.

Her going home like that, maybe it's for the best. Shen Mochen mused as he walked to the end of the alley and took a taxi back.

But is it really for the best? Shen Mochen suddenly remembered the sight of Han Muxue's departing figure.

Actually, she must be doing quite well at home, considering her parents seemed to listen to her quite a bit, and now she's a Buque Official, her status in the family naturally very high.

Yet Shen Mochen always felt somewhat uncomfortable... Perhaps it's because she didn't allow him into her house.

Returning to the home he hadn't seen in a while, Shen Mochen freshened up and then lay on the bed, idly scrolling through his phone. He occasionally chatted with Catherine, but due to time differences and her recent busyness, their conversations were sparse, mainly consisting of Catherine's various complaints about her relatives and Roman Nobles.

Her identity as a Superpower User did afford her some conveniences, especially after others had witnessed her forty-meter great sword. They all spoke to her more softly, since no one could guarantee that, if provoked too harshly and Catherine was pushed too far, what might happen—that great sword could slice through concrete as easily as tofu.

Their conversation was limited to that, Catherine never inquired about Shen Mochen's romantic endeavors in Buque, nor did she discuss his affairs within Buque, but Shen Mochen didn't believe that Fuzi hadn't mentioned anything after returning.

He always felt as if Catherine was brewing something, looking forward to her early return, but at the same time, he feared that forty-meter great sword.

"Online?"

At that moment, an old friend logged on—Liu Bo.

"Online," Shen Mochen replied.

Ever since he had disrupted the wedding, this guy hadn't been in touch with him. Now, probably seeing the stance of the Buque Official, he must have felt the incident had passed and dared to send a message.

"You've been alright recently?"

"If I had really been in trouble, would you dare to contact me?"

"Uh, cough... well, who doesn't know how heroic and invincible Brother Shen is!"

Saying that, Liu Bo also sent back a sycophantic emoji. Shen Mochen just laughed.

He himself was aware that he had offended quite a power by disrupting the wedding, so he didn't blame Liu Bo for lacking loyalty. After all, during their time at First Middle School, the two of them had been very close.

"I'm not that formidable. Just speak your mind. You aren't just checking in on me, are you?"

"How are things with the Princess now?"

"Alright, I guess. She said she'd be coming back after a while."

"Her family agreed to this?"

"I don't know; I suspect she doesn't particularly care whether they agree or not."

"The Princess is really cool. But, Brother Shen, there are some things you might not understand. At their level, a lot isn't just about what one person wants..."

"I understand, you don't need to worry about us."

"Right... oh, and there's another thing. It seems like Yumo has... yeah, she's blocked me, and I think you too. Do you know why?"

"Who knows, maybe it was when they interviewed me, and heard that I've got a girlfriend now."

Shen Mochen half-truthfully bluffed, and Liu Bo was silent for a long time on the other end, probably knowing he had no place to object, and ultimately didn't say anything.

"Sorry about that, it's because of me that I've put you in a difficult position," Liu Bo said.

"Don't mention it, it's not a big deal."

"Actually, I know that she and I are impossible... I always felt like we had a connection, growing up in the same hometown, maybe that led to some extra fantasizing."

"There are plenty of people in Yu Huai City, I'm also from her hometown."

"Not just from Yu Huai City, but Su Yan District too! Her family's from Bamboo Shadow Village, which isn't far from our north side!"

Shen Mochen was stunned for a moment upon hearing this. Bamboo Shadow Village wasn't too far from the northern slums, indeed, but it was even closer to Han Muxue's home.

When the conversation turned to Fei Yumo, Liu Bo started chatting away again, evangelizing to Shen Mochen how difficult her life had been, how hard she worked from a young age in a not-so-well-off family, learning dance from her mother who was a dance teacher, and how much hardship she endured to achieve today's success, and so on.

Shen Mochen was not interested anymore and casually responded a few times before ending the conversation.

For the next two days, Shen Mochen wanted to ask Han Muxue out every day, but she kept refusing over the phone.

Finally, on the third day, Shen Mochen took the initiative to go to Han Muxue's house to pick her up. He hadn't told Han Muxue in advance; he had remembered her address from before.

Upon arriving at the familiar place, Shen Mochen walked up to Han Muxue's front door and knocked gently.

Han Muxue's mother answered the door, surprised to see a young man with his face covered by bangs, but upon seeing that he brushed his hair aside, she was delighted.

"Hey, why if it isn't Shen! Come on in," Han's mother greeted Shen Mochen warmly, "Are you here to see Muxue?"

Shen Mochen walked into Han Muxue's house, which had a small courtyard with grape trellises right by the entrance. There was a concrete bungalow behind the yard, with a kitchen and a small room made of white composite boards to the side.

"Is Muxue home?" Shen Mochen smiled as he handed over the health supplements he had bought on a whim.

"You didn't have to bring anything!" Han's mother chuckled as she accepted the gift and pointed towards the white composite board house, "Where else could she be if not at home? But she's sleeping right now, and I don't dare disturb her."

"Then I'll wait for a while," Shen Mochen smiled.

He had time to spare, and he didn't like to be woken up either.

"Come on in and take a seat then, I'll get you a glass of water!"

Han's mother ushered Shen Mochen into the concrete house, which was well-kept and seemed to be a two-bedroom living room. There was a master bedroom, and a second bedroom... but clearly, neither of these rooms was where Han Muxue slept.

"Is Xiaoyong not home?" Shen Mochen casually inquired about Han Muxue's younger brother.

"He's gone to a tutoring class," Han's mother said with a smile.

"Oh, I see," Shen Mochen nodded and pulled out a stack of test papers from his backpack, "I brought these for Xiaoyong as a gift. These papers were recommended by a teacher from First Middle School. The kids in her family that go to elementary school all use these."

"You're too thoughtful... Nowadays, these teachers, oh, they won't teach you anything in class. If you want to learn, you have to find them for extra lessons after school... Ah, it's all like this in Su Yan District!"

While Han's mother was accepting the test papers, she couldn't help but complain a couple of times. Suddenly noticing Shen Mochen's disinterest, she changed the subject.

"Eh, Shen, how far along have you and our Muxue gotten?" Han's mother asked slyly with a smile.