A god-level beauty system? But I'm already a god-level beauty!

"......"

Mu Jingyan chuckled softly.

The laughter was faint, emanating from the nasal cavity, and lacked warmth.

She raised her head and looked directly at Shen Ye.

"According to your logic..."

"Will there be all sorts of different kinds of love in the future?"

"Liking is a kind of thing."

"Spoiling is a form of indulgence."

"Tenderness is another kind of love."

"And then what? Once the pampering is over, aren't there feelings of tenderness, affection, and care... each corresponding to a girl?"

She spoke slowly and deliberately, as if she were discussing a language problem with him.

"For example, Chu Ci Han."

"Doesn't she like you too?"

"Will you one day tell me again that your love for her is something different from my 'beloved'?"

A series of questions, each one lighter than the last, each one more piercing than the last.

Shen Ye: "..."

Uh.

He was about to deny it outright when he opened his mouth.

The word "no" was practically rolled onto the tip of my tongue.

But when the words were about to come out, he suddenly lost his confidence.

After what happened with Nuannuan, the scales in his heart have long been wavering. If he speaks confidently but then comes up with one or two more lies, that would be the real deception.

Look at his hesitant expression, as if he wants to say something but can't.

Mu Jingyan understood everything.

She was right.

That bastard, he's actually planning to have two wives!

"Let me go!"

She struggled.

She pushed outwards against his chest with both hands, twisting her waist, trying to squeeze out of the arms that were wrapped around him.

But with her limited strength, it was all for naught in front of Shen Ye.

Unable to push away or squeeze out, after struggling for a long time, she was only held tighter.

"Let go!"

"I won't let go."

"Shen Ye!"

"exist."

How dare this person answer so confidently?

Enraged, she felt dizzy and raised her foot to stomp down:

"sorry."

Shen Ye suddenly spoke, head bowed, looking very serious.

Mu Jingyan, who was struggling for a moment, stopped.

"I know this is wrong."

"It's all my fault for making you feel wronged, putting you in a difficult position, and forcing you to think about these things."

"but."

He paused, his voice lowering.

"The thought that Nuannuan and the others might leave my side for various reasons in the future, and that we'll have less and less contact..."

"I felt panicked."

"I'm so anxious I can't sleep."

"I can't bear to part with them, and I can't bear to part with you."

"I want everyone to stay by my side for a lifetime."

"I know this idea is greedy and bastardly."

"But I can't control it."

As he said this, he raised his eyes and met Mu Jingyan's gaze.

All I can do is not lie to you.

"I'll show you exactly what I'm thinking."

"I can't accept this. You can punish me however you want."

The person in my arms stopped moving.

She quieted down, leaned against his chest, and listened.

The sound of my heartbeat came through the thin shirt, one beat after another, not fast, but very deep.

After Shen Ye finished speaking, he did not say anything more.

The two of them hugged each other, one finishing speaking while the other processed what had happened.

Hearing these words, Mu Jingyan could clearly feel that the inner turmoil he felt was real.

In fact, Shen Ye wasn't the only one who was conflicted.

She was also struggling internally.

No girl would willingly share her partner with someone else.

She is no exception.

Even those "others" were people she had known since childhood.

But she was well aware of her current situation—it would be difficult for her to possess Shen Ye.

Lin Chunuan alone weighed on him a whole "responsibility" that he couldn't let go of.

That is his sister.

Tear off the mask of civility and walk away?

She can do it.

But I can't bear to part with it.

The man's heartbeat was right next to her ear, hot and honest, making no attempt to hide his fear.

Honesty is the only thing he can offer right now.

Fortunately, it did work.

"Shen Ye..."

"Um."

"Do you know?"

Mu Jingyan spoke slowly, her voice now calm and so still that it was impossible to tell she had just been crying.

In my heart, I actually have two chances to forgive you.

Shen Ye was taken aback.

"The first one was a parent-teacher conference in junior high school."

"After the parent-teacher meeting that day, you and my mom were talking in the art room."

"You helped me and Huanhuan get into a fight with my mom."

"That time, I eavesdropped and heard everything."

Shen Ye's pupils contracted slightly.

Parent-teacher conference in junior high school.

That was the first time he met Qin Xian.

It was also the first time that she had to confront her extremely controlling mother head-on for the sake of the Mu sisters.

But he never expected it.

There was another person standing in the corridor outside the door, who listened to the whole thing from the inside out.

No wonder.

No wonder when he returned to the classroom that day, Mu Jingyan came over and asked him what kind of maid outfit he wanted to see...

At that time, he was still confused as to why this guy had become so proactive.

It turns out it started so early, so very early...

"The second time."

Mu Jingyan continued.

"In the first semester of my senior year of high school, I got sick, and you took me to the hospital."

"You and my mother had another fight because of me and Huanhuan."

Shen Ye remembered this part much more clearly.

After all, only half a year has passed.

That is, after that incident.

Mu Jingyan and Mu Jinghuan moved into his place.

From then on, that house finally felt like a "home".

Shen Ye's breathing became rapid without him realizing it.

It turns out that those weren't two arguments.

Those were the two times she placed her heart in his hands.

He himself was completely unaware of this, and drifted along with this sentiment for so many years.

"Now."

Mu Jingyan raised her eyes to meet his gaze, and spoke the last sentence slowly and deliberately.

"You used up both of your chances."

"From now on, there will be no third time."

Shen Ye opened his mouth, but his throat felt dry.

he knows.

Mu Jingyan has agreed.

I agreed to Nuannuan's request.

They agreed to the absurd arrangement of having both "beloved" and "pampered" in the same place.

Logically, he should be happy that the weight that had been hanging over him for several days had finally been lifted.

But surprisingly, he felt little joy.

Only a heavy, bitter feeling remained in his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.

The sins you created.

In the end, it was this girl in front of me who paid the bill.

All the forbearance and heartache she had accumulated over the years were poured into his greed.

From now on, she will have to learn to share him with other girls, suppress all her grievances, swallow all her resentment, and pretend to be indifferent in front of Huanhuan and everyone else.

It's easy to imagine how much weight she was carrying when she made this decision.

Shen Ye's eyes welled up with tears.

He lowered his head and gently placed a kiss on Mu Jingyan's forehead, lingering there for a long time.

"sorry."