’Those words?’

Xu Su thought hard about everything she had said that night, and her expression quickly turned awkward.

Clearly, she remembered.

But even though she was in the wrong, she put on a brave face and stubbornly retorted, "You got angry just because I casually said a few unpleasant things? You haven’t known me for just one day. How could you not know my personality by now?"

"You even tapped my cheek, and then you didn’t come home for lunch for days, just giving me the cold shoulder..." The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt, barely holding back her feelings. "Then you’d come home at night and act all high and mighty, expecting me to be the one to appease you. How was I supposed to do that!"

Zhou Mochen felt he was being horribly wronged, but seeing her indignant expression, he could only apologize sincerely. "I never meant to give you the cold shoulder, Susu. Please don’t overthink things."

"Your words really did hurt me for the first couple of days, and I was also busy handing over my projects, so I didn’t call you during lunch. When I got back at night, you were the one with the cold expression. I wanted to shamelessly cozy up to you, but you didn’t give me the slightest chance. You were staring at your game all day, you didn’t have any time to bother with me..."

Recalling how she was so absorbed in her game that she’d run to the computer right after dinner, Zhou Mochen’s voice was tinged with jealousy. "Is it the game that’s so attractive, or is it your friends in the game? Xu Su, you’re not secretly having an online relationship, are you?"

He had probably been bothered by this for a while, and the more he spoke, the more suspicious he grew. After all, her enthusiasm for the game was just too intense.

Xu Su jumped, shocked that he was so perceptive. She glared at him. "What nonsense are you spouting? So now you’ve learned to change the subject, huh? You’re the one who gave me the silent treatment, abandoned me at home, and now you’re trying to turn it around and blame me?"

’Bullshit online relationship!’

’I may have an ex-husband in the game, but that has nothing to do with an online relationship!’

The two went back and forth for a long time, nearly forgetting about the people waiting outside. It wasn’t until Shen Chen knocked on the door of their private room that Xu Su snapped back to reality.

She quickly slid off Zhou Mochen’s lap and sat properly beside him, pinching him in frustration. "Hurry and let them in! We’ve been in here for so long, people will get the wrong idea..."

Zhou Mochen gazed at the indignant, blushing girl beside him. The look of pure fury, where she’d been threatening to put on a live performance, was gone. Resisting the urge to pull her into a tight hug, he lowered his head to kiss her.

Xu Su turned her head, dodging the kiss, and casually pushed his face away. "I’m still angry, Zhou Mochen. You don’t actually think this is over, do you?"

’After all, holding a grudge is my specialty!’

Zhou Mochen gave a wry smile. "Then punish me, Susu. Think of a good way to do it. Stay by my side and punish me for the rest of our lives."

’That’s fine, too. I’m always making her angry anyway. It’s okay if she hates me. Hate is an emotion, too. At least it means she’s thinking about me.’

Completely oblivious to his thoughts, Xu Su gave him a push. "Tuck your shirt in!"

’What would people think if they saw him so disheveled!’

Zhou Mochen nodded, getting up to straighten his clothes. He glanced at Xu Su, and only after confirming she had neatened her own clothes did he let the others in.

Shen Chen was the first to push open the door. He took in their neat clothes and calm expressions with a deadpan face, then a slow, knowing smile spread across his lips. "All done?"

"..." Xu Su’s lips trembled. Her face flushed red as she remembered her recent threat to give them a "live broadcast," and she was left utterly speechless.

"Stop teasing her. We didn’t do anything." Zhou Mochen shot Shen Chen a look, then turned to Jiang Peng and the others behind him. "What did you all see just now?"

Jiang Peng and the others shook their heads frantically. "We didn’t see a thing!"

The group grumbled to themselves. ’Are you kidding? It was too dark, and he grabbed her so fast. It was over in less than two seconds. What could we have seen!’

Zhou Mochen gave a slight nod, his expression softening considerably. He turned to Xu Su. "Want to go home?"

"Yeah..." Xu Su nodded awkwardly, avoiding Shen Chen’s teasing, half-smiling gaze. She stiffly pointed to her purse on the other side.

Zhou Mochen reached over and brought her purse to her. He took out her phone, saw the thirteen missed calls from him, and paused. "If you didn’t ignore my calls on purpose, why didn’t you say so?"

"What’s there to say?" Xu Su had always been blunt. "Even if I had seen them," she said frankly, "I wouldn’t have answered."

’I was furious. How could I just drop everything and answer eagerly the moment he called!’

’That would be so humiliating!’

Zhou Mochen shot her a smiling, sidelong glance, suddenly realizing this girl possessed the stubborn Attribute.

One moment the two were flushed and fuming, and the next they were making eyes at each other. Shen Chen couldn’t bear to watch.

He let out an exasperated laugh. "Even a late-in-life romance isn’t this dramatic. I’ve been here twice, and I’ve seen you two fight twice. You were just making a huge scene, and now you’re already good?"

"Of course we’re not!" Xu Su lifted her chin and sniffed haughtily. "We haven’t made up at all!"

Zhou Mochen took Xu Su’s hand and looked up at Shen Chen, his tone casual. "How would someone who’s never been in a real relationship understand the dynamic between a couple?"

No matter how you looked at it, he was just showing off.

Shen Chen’s eyes narrowed, and he gritted his teeth, clearly furious.

Xu Su glanced at him and offered some well-intentioned advice. "Shen Chen, you’re still young. You should cut back on the drinking and womanizing. Be careful you don’t get premature... decay. If you ever meet a girl you actually like, she might not even give you a second look. How tragic would that be?"

’She had actually been about to say premature... ’

Getting hit by their one-two punch, Shen Chen felt a headache coming on. After hearing Xu Su’s comment, he couldn’t contain his frustration. He snatched up his glass, drained it in one gulp, and slammed it back down on the table, which only slightly quelled his anger.

As if in a fit of pique, he sneered, "If I don’t live it up while I’m young, when should I? When I’m old and can’t get it up anymore? Then I’d be willing, but the flesh would be weak."

Jiang Peng and the few others who had an inkling of Shen Chen’s feelings exchanged glances, a wave of pity for him washing over them...

’Of all the people to have as a love rival, it had to be Young Master Zhou, a living demon king.’

’He wouldn’t stand a chance even if he tried to fight for her out in the open.’

"..." Xu Su was struck speechless by his bluntness. "Alright, alright. Whatever makes you happy."

’I was just making a casual comment,’ she thought. ’If Shen Chen wants to sleep around, let him. Even his ’multiplayer games’ have nothing to do with me.’

Suddenly, Zhou Mochen squeezed Xu Su’s hand and let out a soft laugh. "Let’s go. We shouldn’t disturb them. They can’t really let loose with you here."

He pulled Xu Su to her feet and said to Shen Chen’s group, "You guys have fun. Enjoy yourselves."

Xu Su recalled how a flock of girls had appeared in the room the moment she’d left earlier, and she knew Zhou Mochen was telling the truth.

She got to her feet without another moment’s hesitation, not wanting to get in the way of their "fun."

As she walked past Shen Chen, Xu Su even patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Remember to exercise some restraint."

She truly saw him as a brother, worrying endlessly about his physical well-being...