Urban System: Beautiful lady, I really didn't steal your black stockings!

As soon as the two reached the emergency exit at the end of the corridor, Shen Yating stopped and let go of Cheng Zhe's hand.

She turned to look at him, her eyes filled with gratitude: "Cheng Zhe, thank you... Just now in front of my mother, you covered up my lie and saved me face."

If Cheng Zhe hadn't smoothed things over, her mother would have been much more worried, perhaps thinking she had succumbed to a man for money, even though that was pretty much the case.

As soon as he finished speaking, Cheng Zhe stepped forward and put his arm around her slender waist, pulling her closer to him with a slight pull.

The distance between them instantly closed, and he lowered his head to her cheek, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe: "Thank me?"

He chuckled softly, "From now on, you belong to me alone. Isn't it only natural for someone to protect their own person?"

The warm breath made Shen Yating's ears burn, and the touch on her waist made her feel uncomfortable all over.

She instinctively pushed against Cheng Zhe's chest, her cheeks flushed, and said with a mixture of embarrassment and pleading, "Cheng Zhe, this...this is too fast. We haven't been in contact much before. Could...could you give me some time to adjust?"

"No." Cheng Zhe refused without hesitation.

Before Shen Yating could say anything more, he lowered his head and kissed her.

Shen Yating froze for a moment, then gave up resisting, gently closed her eyes, and passively yielded.

As the kiss gradually ended, Cheng Zhe pressed his forehead against hers, his breathing slightly rapid.

Shen Yating's cheeks flushed, and she gently pushed him away a little, scolding him with a hint of coquettishness, "I never thought you were so honest back in school, only daring to secretly admire me! How did you become so naughty now!"

Cheng Zhe chuckled softly and reached out to pinch her flushed cheek: "People always change. Not everyone is like you, still so innocent after all these years."

As soon as he finished speaking, he changed the subject, his fingertips slowly sliding down her cheek, his tone carrying a hint of ambiguity: "But speaking of which, I'll go and settle your mother's follow-up treatment fees later."

He leaned closer to her, his warm breath brushing against her lips: "But what happens next will depend on your performance."

The way he used the word "performance" was so meaningful that Shen Yating's cheeks instantly burned, and a sense of shame welled up in her heart. She understood what Cheng Zhe meant.

She blushed and lowered her head, remaining silent for a few seconds before asking softly, "So... what kind of relationship do we have now? Does this... does this count as dating?"

"Dating?" Cheng Zhe chuckled softly, as if he had heard something amusing.

"Not really."

Shen Yating's heart sank.

He then added, "At most, we're just lovers, each getting what we need. You need me to help you with your money and cure your mother's illness; I need you to be with me. Isn't that a fair relationship?"

"Lovers...each gets what they want..." Shen Yating repeated these words in a low voice, her expression darkening, the light in her eyes dimming instantly, and an indescribable sense of loss welling up in her heart.

So this is what she really is. She had thought that his gentleness and frankness just now were somewhat sincere.

Seeing her downcast mood, Cheng Zhe suddenly stopped joking and pulled her closer, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice low and serious: "However, if you behave well, I don't mind being with you."

His tone carried a tenderness he himself was unaware of: "Shen Yating, I've liked you for three whole years."

This sudden confession startled Shen Yating, who abruptly looked up at Cheng Zhe, her eyes filled with disbelief.

She stared at him blankly before she began to examine the man in front of her closely.

Compared to the quiet, even somewhat timid boy he was in high school, he has changed so much—his brows now exude confidence and assertiveness, his demeanor has become more mature and composed, and he radiates a reassuring aura.

Moreover, regardless of their current relationship, he is genuinely helping her, paying for her mother's expensive medical treatment, and shouldering a burden she couldn't possibly bear.

Thinking of this, Shen Yating's disappointment gradually dissipated, and feelings, like tender sprouts breaking through the soil, quietly rose in her heart.

She didn't speak again, but remained silent. Then she slowly raised her hand and carefully and quietly took Cheng Zhe's hand, feeling the warmth of his palm.

Cheng Zhe immediately felt the soft touch and warmth coming from his palm. He looked down at their clasped hands and a smile appeared on his lips.

He could sense that Shen Yating had completely accepted their current way of getting along, and had also accepted him.

But this joy didn't last long; Cheng Zhe's heart suddenly became a little unsettled.

He took Shen Yating's hand and gripped it slightly, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Now there's another entanglement... Several different figures flashed through his mind subconsciously; each of the women he had taken under his wing had their own entanglements and conflicts.

How should I balance these relationships in the future? A series of questions popped up, making him inexplicably irritable.

There will inevitably be some favoritism, and he doesn't want to let any of them down.

But soon, he took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing these chaotic thoughts, and thought, "Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore."

We'll deal with the subsequent troubles later.

Suppressing the distracting thoughts in his mind, Cheng Zhe looked at Shen Yating beside him again, his eyes regaining their previous gentleness, even showing a hint of doting.

He gently squeezed her hand and said softly, "Let's go settle the bill first, so you won't keep thinking about it."

After paying the fees, Cheng Zhe naturally led her out of the hospital and straight to the car parked at the entrance.

He opened the passenger door and politely gestured for Shen Yating to get in, his tone still gentle: "Get in."

Shen Yating obediently sat in the passenger seat, and Cheng Zhe closed the door for her before walking around to the driver's side to get in.

The car drove smoothly away from the hospital. Shen Yating sat sideways in her seat, her hands nervously gripping the hem of her skirt. Her gaze fell on the rapidly receding street scene outside the window, but her mind was in complete turmoil.

He didn't say where he was going to take her.

Shen Yating couldn't help but let her mind wander, recalling Cheng Zhe's earlier comments about "performance" and the ambiguous tension between the two of them.

An incredibly shameful thought popped into her head uncontrollably: Could he be planning to take her to a hotel room?

The moment the thought crossed Shen Yating's mind, her heart raced and her breathing became rapid.

She instinctively squeezed her legs together, her whole body tensing up.

No, this is too fast! We've only just established this "lover" relationship, and we're already doing *that*?

In that case, what's the difference between her and those women who sell themselves for money?

She didn't want to do this, but when she thought about how Cheng Zhe had paid 200,000 yuan for her mother's medical expenses without hesitation, she swallowed back the refusal that was on the tip of her tongue.

She didn't dare to refuse.

Shen Yating bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with helplessness and confusion. She could only sit stiffly in her seat, letting Cheng Zhe drive towards an unknown destination.

She was so nervous that she kept her legs tightly pressed together. After a while, her inner thighs started to ache. She silently prayed that her destination wasn't what she expected.