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

Shen Mochen was bustling in the kitchen, with the range hood humming softly, the air filled with the aroma of food.

Yin Caiyu always leaned at the kitchen doorway, struggling with the bottle and the leftover yogurt residue, while watching Shen Mochen cook.

"Why are you always standing there? After sitting in the car all day, you should go and rest," Shen Mochen said as he plated the food from the pan and turned to look at her.

"I'm hungry!" Yin Caiyu walked into the kitchen with her bare feet, tossed the twisted empty bottle aside, and peeked into the bowl with a grin, "What delicious meal have you made tonight?"

"Daikon radish stewed with pork, can't you tell?" Shen Mochen rinsed out the pan, not looking up, "I'll make a soup too. I had no idea you were coming back tonight, so there's not much food at home. Just have something simple for tonight, I'll cook something more delicious tomorrow."

"That's okay, a little alcohol... I like this... it's hot, hot, hot!"

Yin Caiyu snuck her hand out to pinch a piece of pork and popped it into her mouth, forgetting the dish was just out of the pot and yelped from the burn. Yet, once it was in her mouth, she couldn't bear to spit it out and had no choice but to keep blowing, her face scrunched in pain.

"Serves you right for stealing food!" Shen Mochen clapped his hands and laughed, reveling in her misery.

"But I'm hungry!" Yin Caiyu stuck out her tongue and fanned it with her hand, making pitiable sounds, her eyes filled with reproach.

"Didn't you just drink a bottle of yogurt?" Shen Mochen retorted, his hand already holding two ice cubes taken from the fridge, "Open your mouth."

"Ahhh—"

Shen Mochen placed the ice cubes in Yin Caiyu's mouth, and she obediently held them, feeling a little relieved, quietly watching Shen Mochen wash the pan and make soup.

However, her good behavior didn't last long; soon enough, she found herself fixated on Shen Mochen's hair again. Chewing on the half-melted ice cube, she weaved around Shen Mochen, her words muffled, "Hey, your bangs are so long, can you even see anything when you work?"

Shen Mochen was boiling water and casually replied, "If I couldn't see, who do you think is cooking for you right now?"

Shock spread across Yin Caiyu's face as she stepped back and took a fighting stance, saying warily, "So you're not Mochen at all. Tell me, who are you really!"

"Beat it, stop causing trouble!" Shen Mochen said impatiently, waving her off.

"That's no fun... can't you play along once in a while!"

Yin Caiyu complained and pinched another piece of daikon from the bowl. With her newfound experience, she tossed the daikon back and forth between her paws until it cooled enough to eat.

"Could you please use chopsticks? You always grab food with your hand, it's like you're poor in wealth and life," Shen Mochen grumbled as he pulled out a pair of chopsticks from the holder and placed them on the vegetable bowl. They used to be casual like this when the family had little money, but now that they were well-off, why hadn't things changed?

"This is called thrifty, not forgetting one's roots! Not like some people, who once they get money, they rise above the laboring masses!"

"I've never heard of grabbing food with hands being called thrifty!"

"Can't be bothered talking to you!"

Yin Caiyu huffed, then pulled the elastic band from her wrist. Standing on her tiptoes, she swiftly gathered Shen Mochen's bangs and tied them into a topknot.

"See, your face is revealed now; it's much more refreshing this way!"

Yin Caiyu nodded seriously, very satisfied with her handiwork. She never imagined this topknot could look so hilarious; it almost made her laugh out loud, her face all contorted.

Shen Mochen glared at her, but his annoyance was more a helpless resignation to her pranks, "Your hands are greasy from grabbing the food, and now you're smearing it all over my head!"

Yin Caiyu, her mischief exposed, subconsciously licked her fingers, "Nonsense, I licked my hands clean!"

"That's after the fact, isn't it!"

"I licked them earlier too, you just didn't see it... ah, bleh bleh bleh, so bitter! You haven't washed your hair!"

Shen Mochen's lips twitched as he wanted to mock her with a kick when she's down, but he held back in the end. He took out two tomatoes, scored each twice, and poured boiling water over them, watching as the skin at the cuts slowly began to peel back.

Sadly, Yin Caiyu was not grateful for Shen Mochen's magnanimity. She washed her hands, and in return for his kindness, playfully flicked water in Shen Mochen's face, laughing with glee.

"Hey, seriously, don't let your bangs grow so long, you should get them cut."

"It's because you insisted on transferring me to First Middle School; I dare not stand out so much there, where it's crawling with the powerful and wealthy."

Yin Caiyu huffed, patting Shen Mochen on the back, drying her hands, and with glaring eyes said, "Are you blaming me? Ungrateful! Do you know how hard I worked to get you transferred into First Middle School? It's really like lighting an oil lamp in the daylight—wasted effort and no appreciation!"

Shen Mochen skillfully peeled the tomatoes and sliced them up, his knife making almost no sound on the cutting board: "No one asked you to get me transferred. Fengye Middle School was fine too, it's also an elite school."

"I'm doing it so you can have the best learning environment!"

In Yupi Country, there are eighteen states and a hundred and four cities. Gaotang State is one of the eighteen states, and Yu Huai City, where Shen Mochen lived, is the capital of Gaotang State.

Generally speaking, most private schools have a higher teaching standard than public schools, but the best middle school in Gaotang State happens to be State First Middle School in Yu Huai City.

It boasts the largest campus in the state, the strongest faculty, the most funding, the richest quality education, and the strictest entrance examinations.

To get into First Middle School, besides exam scores, students also have to show strong personal comprehensive qualities, like sailing, horseback riding, music, calligraphy, dance, painting, and other extracurricular specialties.

Take Liu Bo, for instance, his family had spent nearly a hundred thousand yuan for him to study calligraphy with the vice president of the state calligraphy association for a month, which finally scored him a recommendation letter for successful admission.

The difficulty speaks for itself!

Stirring the egg in his bowl quickly, Shen Mochen sighed lightly, "Actually, I've always felt there isn't much difference between the two schools..."

Yin Caiyu tugged at Shen Mochen's ear gently, "Enough talk, you better study hard in First Middle School. Our family's counting on you, the talented student, to get into a top university and earn lots of money to repay me! Got it?"

Shen Mochen tilted his head, nodding vigorously as he stir-fried the tomatoes: "Got it, got it! Once I make a lot of money, I'll buy you a big villa and hire eight maids for you, each one more beautiful than the last—is that good enough..."

Yin Caiyu fumed, "Why so many pretty maids, forming an idol group? Who are they going to serve, you or me? I want hunky male servants!"

Shen Mochen rejected her idea instantly: "No way, only maids, take it or leave it!"

"I protest, you must get me male servants!"

"No, protest denied, only maids!"

"It has to be male servants!"

"Maids!"

"Male servants!"

Shen Mochen was pouring water into the fried tomatoes while arguing with Yin Caiyu.

Although they are still living in a rented small room, it didn't prevent them from getting into a heated and stubborn debate over whether to hire male or female servants once they become wealthy, their faces blushing and necks growing thick.

Just as their debate was unresolved, the mobile phone on the stove edge lit up.

Shen Mochen glanced at it and instinctively switched off the screen.

Yin Caiyu side-eyed him, "Who is it?"

Her gaze sharpened.

————Divider Line————