Locking away my heart and love! Going back to 2000 to be a top student again.

"..." Xu Su turned to leave, and just as she opened the door, Shen Chen followed her: "Don't be angry, I was just joking with you."

They ended up having dinner together anyway. According to Shen Chen, his car was parked at the 4S store, so he could only ride home in her car and insisted on staying next to her.

Xu Su believed his lies!

She was certain that there were at least three cars belonging to her, Young Master Shen, in the basement of this building.

During the meal, Shen Chen continued the previous topic, replying to Xu Su: "Don't worry, there won't be any 'freebies' involved. As long as they agree to promote someone, they will definitely do so. As for how much effort they will put in, that depends on their own deal."

Upon hearing the word 'transaction,' Xu Su was taken aback. Then she heard Shen Chen say, "Don't feel sorry for them again. They're not pitiful. These things are all about mutual consent. You can't stop people from being ambitious, unwilling to settle for mediocrity, and wanting to climb the ladder, can you?"

Success in the entertainment industry is not that easy. Even if you are born with the best background, you still have to put in more 'effort' than others.

That's the logic, and Xu Su understands it. She also admits that she doesn't have any so-called compassion, but since Shen Chen said so, she can only nod.

"Xu Su," Shen Chen suddenly called out to her, his expression perfectly calm, "You're not misunderstanding me again because of this, are you?"

Xu Su remained silent.

Shen Chen got anxious: "What do you mean by not saying anything? I really haven't been messing around with them anymore. If there were a national award for the most self-disciplined person this year, I'd probably be near the top."

Xu Su: "..."

"Really..." Shen Chen was about to say more.

Xu Su interrupted him, "Alright, alright, I know, eat quietly."

She lowered her head to avoid the gaze of the person opposite her, her knuckles white with tension as she gripped the chopsticks.

Shen Chen squinted at her; it was obvious she'd finally come to her senses and stopped treating him like some worthless brother…

So all his efforts these past few days haven't been in vain.

Secret love?

Shen Chen sneered, "Dark my ass."

He had long since given up on hiding his feelings, and no matter the outcome, he no longer intended to be brothers.

Halfway through the meal, Zhou Mochen received a phone call. After being busy for several days, he finally had some free time tonight and rushed back to have a long-awaited dinner with his girlfriend.

It turned out she was having dinner with Shen Chen. You can imagine how complicated Zhou Mochen's mood was at the time. His voice sounded off on the phone, but Xu Su didn't take it seriously.

After dinner, she drove her new car home with Shen Chen.

Shen Chen seemed to have developed a strong attachment to the passenger seat, remaining motionless even after the car stopped.

Xu Su urged, "Get out of the car. Your house is just a few steps away. You don't need me to give you a ride, do you?"

Shen Chen asked, "Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

"I made plans with Huang Feng and the others to visit the ancient town."

“Okay,” Shen Chen nodded slightly, opened the passenger door, got out of the car, and turned to smile at her: “Xu Su…”

"Huh?" Xu Su looked up: "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just wanted to call you." Shen Chen smiled and closed the car door.

Xu Su gripped the steering wheel, unsure of her own reaction, and stepped on the gas, driving the car into her garage.

When she got home, she saw Zhou Mochen standing at the second-floor window as soon as she entered.

From that angle, you can see the main entrance perfectly…

Xu Su frowned and thought for a moment. Had Shen Chen done anything out of line?

Faced with her relationship with Shen Chen suddenly becoming a mess, she was extremely irritable and didn't want to say a word. She simply curled up on the sofa and started playing a match-3 game on her phone.

It wasn't until someone stood beside him that Zhou Mochen finally decided to go downstairs.

"You went out with him all day?"

Xu Su hummed in agreement. Thinking of that aggressive kiss in the office, she unconsciously raised the back of her hand and wiped her lips.

Perhaps Shen Chen's behavior these past few days had been too obvious, making her vaguely aware of him...

So when Xu Su was kissed without her consent, her shock wasn't unimaginable.

On the contrary, she even had a sudden realization that "I knew it."

"What are you thinking about?"

Xu Su was taken aback, then shook her head and said, "It's nothing."

Zhou Mochen watched Xu Su calmly. Perhaps she herself didn't realize that her nervousness, irritability, and distress were impossible to hide.

What is she nervous about right now?

What's bothering me?

What's the difficulty?

Zhou Mochen sat down next to Xu Su, took her hand in his palm, and gently kneaded it, asking as if it were nothing more than casualness, "The car that just drove back, was it Shen Chen's?"

"Yes, he gave it to me."

Xu Su's fingers ached from being gripped so tightly. She turned her head and saw Zhou Mochen's expressionless face.

He looked at her quietly, his thumb still slowly stroking the back of her hand, his eyes gradually darkening: "Xu Su, what would you say if I asked you to have less contact with him in the future?"

When his gaze, which seemed to pierce through one's soul, swept over her, Xu Su instantly turned her face away guiltily.

"It's not that I'm petty, it's just that I've fucking had enough." Zhou Mochen grabbed Xu Su's chin and turned her face towards him. "You're my girlfriend, and he's my 'brother.' What's going on with you two being together all the time?"

"Don't tell me you're not interested in him and have no feelings for him," Zhou Mochen's face was so dark it could drip water. "Even if you have a clear conscience, what about him?"

He could deceive himself before, but today he was finally certain that Shen Chen had no good intentions towards her at all.

His girlfriend had already gone inside, but his best friend was still standing outside.

Their inseparable bond was so strong that no one would doubt they were a couple deeply in love and couldn't be apart for a moment.

If they are a couple, then what is he/she?

The anger rising in Zhou Mochen's heart almost overwhelmed his reason.

He glanced at Xu Su. Shen Chen liked her, so did she know or not?

Just thinking about it makes him realize that these two might have developed some unspeakable feelings right under his nose.

perhaps…

Xu Su winced as she shook off his hand, pursed her lips slightly, and said, "I promise you, I'll have less contact with him in the future."

She even considered returning the car to Shen Chen, but then felt that would be too much of a reaction, and it wouldn't be good to bring it up in public...

The best approach is for her to pretend she knows nothing, and simply to gradually distance herself from him, ideally avoiding seeing him at all throughout the year.

Otherwise, it would be too awkward...

Her quick agreement only fueled Zhou Mochen's suspicions.

If she continues to righteously explain, as she always has, that she and Shen Chen are just friends, and refuses his request to stop them from seeing each other…

He could then comfort himself by thinking that she was unaware of the situation.

And now...

He hated that he could still make calm judgments and think things through.

The excruciating pain brought tears to Zhou Mochen's eyes, and he hunched over, breathing heavily.

"What's wrong with you?" Xu Su finally noticed that something was wrong with him and reached out to take his arm, but Zhou Mochen raised his hand to avoid her.

He said, "Don't touch me."