"I know you have strong needs in that area."

A flash of guilt crossed Chen Cheng's face. He raised his hand and caressed Guan Juer's cheek with utmost tenderness.

"I'm sorry, Guan Guan."

"It's my fault. The moment I realized something was wrong, I should have stopped. I shouldn't have just gone along with it."

Guan Juer had an ambiguous smile on her face. "Actually, Yingying must have liked you for a long time."

"In that case..." Guan Juer blinked. "It wasn't exactly 'going along with a mistake.'"

"Perhaps it was a series of fortunate accidents, just fate."

Instantly, Chen Cheng's expression turned somewhat cold.

He felt as if a lump were in his throat, like a thorn in his side.

He didn't know what was happening, but he felt that Guan Juer had completely changed.

She had changed enough to feel like a stranger to him.

He could very clearly feel that Guan Juer was truly intending to set him up with Qiu Yingying, rather than just testing him.

He had desperately hoped to break through this barrier and have Guan Juer accept that he was a scumbag, as well as the fact that he was already keeping multiple women.

But definitely not in this strange way that was outside of his control.

"Go on, go see Yingying. She's waiting downstairs," Guan Juer continued to urge him.

Chen Cheng sat up angrily. "Are you testing me with a trick question? Do you want to pick a fight?"

Guan Juer's expression remained calm as she shook her head. "I'm being serious. Although Yingying likes you, having a relationship like this without any clarity is too unfair to her."

Chen Cheng was stunned. "It's unfair to her, so you're going to give your boyfriend away?"

"Have you considered my feelings?"

"Are you sure you aren't acting crazy?"

"You're the one acting crazy!" Guan Juer huffed indignantly. "Don't think I don't know—when you were 'going along' with the mistake, you were secretly loving it."

Fuck!!!

The moment those words came out, Chen Cheng understood instantly. She was jealous and angry.

She was acting out.

And while she was jealous, she truly did want to set him up with Qiu Yingying.

Though he didn't know why Guan Juer would have the latter thought.

But at a time like this, if he actually agreed, then he would be a real idiot.

Chen Cheng glared at her 'angrily.' "If someone sent a big beautiful girl to your bed for free, wouldn't you love it?"

Guan Juer's eyes widened. So he admitted it, right?

Humph!

Guan Juer let out a snort and turned away, leaving him with the sight of her aggrieved back.

Yet, the corners of her mouth curled into a smile.

Chen Cheng's eyes darted around as an idea formed.

He lay back down on the bed and reached out to pull her into a tight embrace.

"Guan Guan, don't overthink it."

"What happened with Yingying was a mistake. Since it was a mistake, let's let it pass."

"I also gave Yingying compensation; I bought her a convertible sports car, and she accepted it."

"There's even less need for us to dwell on this matter."

"You only know how to coax me~" Guan Juer said coquettishly.

"I'm not coaxing you! Between Qiu Yingying and you, I'd choose you without blinking an eye."

"How about I prove it to you?"

"How... mmmph!"

Before Guan Juer could finish her sentence, her mouth was already blocked.

...

In the middle of the night, after Guan Juer had fallen into a 'deep' sleep.

Chen Cheng finally exhaled a sigh of relief.

Then, he gently slid out from under the covers and quietly got out of bed.

Picking up his clothes from the floor, he left the room barefoot.

Watching the door gently close, a trail of tears fell from the corner of Guan Juer's eyes.

"Mom, is this what you meant by 'either be ruthless, or endure'?"

After a few moments of silence, Guan Juer reached out to wipe her tears and got out of bed.

Putting on her bathrobe, she crept out of the room.

She was extremely cautious, afraid of making even the slightest sound.

Before she could even reach the first floor from the stairs, she heard a 'click' from the direction of the entryway.

Guan Juer froze, then slumped onto the stairs in relief.

A smile slowly spread across her face.

"Brother Cheng, you big dummy~ You didn't cherish the opportunity I gave you for free."

As she laughed, Guan Juer's face stiffened.

Not knowing where the strength came from, she stood up and dashed back upstairs.

Finding her phone, she sent a text message to Mother Guan.

【Mom, what you said really happened. But, I think I made a mistake.】

Not long after, Mother Guan's call came through.

Her precious daughter's calls, texts, and green bubble messages all had special notification sounds.

Not long after Guan Juer sent the message, Mother Guan was woken up by the ringtone.

She glanced at the snoring Father Guan, got up, left the bedroom, and entered Guan Juer's room at home.

Tucking herself into her daughter's bed, she asked in a low voice, "What exactly is going on?"

Guan Juer's eyes were wide as she pondered for a long while before explaining the whole situation to Mother Guan.

After hearing everything, Mother Guan sighed. "You! You're just too thin-skinned."

"Your father and I named you Guan Juer because we truly wanted you to become a graceful lady."

"But since you've gotten involved with someone like him, you either endure it—turn a blind eye and pretend you know nothing."

"And peacefully be a virtuous wife and mother by his side."

"Or you be ruthless."

"Why were you so foolish as to want that naive little roommate of yours to be your ally?"

"Is she even qualified?"

"Why didn't you just confront him about that big star and get a clear answer?"

"Don't want to have a falling out with Chen Cheng? Afraid he won't want you? That he'll go for Qiao Jingjing instead?"

Guan Juer's mouth twitched under Mother Guan's questioning.

When facing Qiao Jingjing, she indeed felt intimidated and somewhat avoidant.

That woman was too beautiful and had such a great figure; compared to her, Guan Juer felt inferior.

That was why she thought of recruiting Qiu Yingying, who had already slept with Chen Cheng, as an ally.

Seeing her silence, Mother Guan said coldly, "The two of you should break up!"

"Huh?" Guan Juer was stunned.

"..."

The mother and daughter talked for a long time.

Mother Guan wanted Guan Juer to break up, but Guan Juer naturally refused.

Guan Juer also spent a long time urging Mother Guan not to let Father Guan know about this.

Clearly, Mother Guan hadn't intended to let Father Guan know either.

On the other side, Chen Cheng went downstairs. Instead of driving himself, he got into the car of the Bodyguard on the night shift.

After thinking for a long while, he had the Bodyguard drive him back to Ode to Joy.

Clearly, Guan Juer's sudden change today made him very uncomfortable.

He would rather Guan Juer have a huge fight with him than try to pull someone like Qiu Yingying into the mix.

Sitting in the back seat, Chen Cheng opened the window. As the cold winter wind blew in, he recalled everything about Guan Juer from the original plot.

He had long since developed the habit of reviewing every event and transaction he experienced.

Clearly, Guan Juer's deviation today had forced Chen Cheng to completely sober up.