Suddenly being asked this question by Qin Ruojing, Chu Ge immediately broke into a cold sweat, his heart racing in an instant. He truly didn't expect Qin Ruojing to guess so accurately, hitting the nail on the head with just one sentence.

"It seems, it really is like this." Seeing Chu Ge remain silent, Qin Ruojing smiled. But this smile carried a hint of sarcasm, or perhaps it was just a muscle movement of the face, not really a smile at all.

The reason Qin Ruojing had this thought was not without basis.

In her view, if the origin of the money was not somewhat unspeakable, why would Chu Ge send her sister away? And given Chu Ge's nature, the only thing that would render him speechless would likely be his relationship with another woman.

Since the words had reached this point, and Chu Ge had originally planned to use this matter to talk to Qin Ruojing about Mu Lingshan, after hesitating for a few seconds, he finally nodded, "Indeed it is related to a woman, she..."

As soon as Chu Ge started speaking, Qin Ruojing interrupted him, raised a hand and pointed under the bed, "Continue down there."

"Honey..."

"Down, there, and, speak."

Chu Ge, knowing he was in the wrong, and seeing Qin Ruojing's determined attitude, finally got off the bed and stood aside.

He stood, Qin Ruojing lay, he was below the bed, Qin Ruojing was on the bed, he was the one in need of confession, Qin Ruojing was the one interrogating, this feeling... was really terrible.

But even as terrible as this feeling was, Chu Ge couldn't blame anyone else. After all, it was his own doing that led to this romantic debt.

After organizing his thoughts, Chu Ge recounted everything between him and Mu Lingshan in detail. Except for a few details, he basically withheld nothing.

Throughout, Qin Ruojing listened quietly, neither commenting nor showing any change in her expression. It wasn't until Chu Ge finished that she gave a light "oh."

Facing Qin Ruojing's reaction, Chu Ge didn't know what to say. He just stood by the bed, and the room became particularly silent, with only their normally barely perceptible breathing audible.

Time seemed to pass especially slowly. Rather than silence, the room felt suffocating.

Just as Chu Ge was feeling so oppressed he could barely breathe, feeling as if his chest would explode, Qin Ruojing's voice finally echoed in his ears.

"Chu Ge, come here."

Even though the voice was quite calm and even, Chu Ge couldn't help but shiver slightly, feeling rather guilty as he asked, "What is it?"

Qin Ruojing said nothing, merely looked at Chu Ge.

Chu Ge braced himself, shuffled forward two steps, ready to receive a slap.

Qin Ruojing sat up from the bed, "Lean down."

Chu Ge bent over, a bitter smile growing in his heart. It seemed he was bound to take this slap. Earlier he had fantasized about bringing the women around him to peacefully coexist together, but such a thought was simply unrealistic nonsense.

In the darkness, Qin Ruojing slowly moved closer to Chu Ge, suddenly opened her mouth, and bit his shoulder. The force of her bite was such that Chu Ge could even feel the deep grievance contained within it.

Moreover, he had no doubt that the grievance he could empathize with was probably far from a tenth of what Qin Ruojing felt in her heart.

For a long time, Qin Ruojing did not let go, it was very painful. Chu Ge could even feel two little canine teeth piercing into the skin, oozing some warm liquid. Coincidentally, Qin Ruojing's bite landed right on his recently healed knife wound.

Yet, Chu Ge just maintained his bent posture with a bitter smile, letting her bite down hard without a sound, his eyes full of deep apology.

What he owed Qin Ruojing, let alone being bitten, even if it were a slap, he deserved it. If it were him as a woman, he certainly couldn't accept such a thing either and would react much more intensely than Qin Ruojing was now.

After a long time, Qin Ruojing finally released her mouth, touched the deep tooth marks with her finger, even drawing blood, gently swiping across the spot.

"Does it hurt?" Qin Ruojing sighed, her gaze on Chu Ge's shoulder. Her voice finally carried a noticeable change, filled with undeniable heartache.

"It hurts," Chu Ge replied honestly.

"Then why didn't you scream?" Qin Ruojing returned her body to its original position and looked into Chu Ge's eyes.

Chu Ge scratched his head, "Screaming, doesn't stop it from hurting, does it? Besides..."

Qin Ruojing chuckled lightly, raising her eyes to look at Chu Ge, her bright eyes even more pronounced in the darkness, full of helplessness, "Besides what?"

"Besides... I deserve it. If it could slightly lessen your grievance, I'm willing for you to bite me a few more times."

Qin Ruojing's expression paused slightly, she raised her hand to pinch the bridge of her nose, said nothing, and silently turned her back to Chu Ge as she lay back down.

Looking at Qin Ruojing's back, Chu Ge suddenly felt a bit desolate. No matter how strong and composed Qin Ruojing appeared usually, at the end of the day, she was still a fragile woman.

Chu Ge slowly reached out his hand. He really wanted to hold Qin Ruojing in his arms right now, but just as his fingertips were about to touch her, he withdrew.

Sighing softly, Chu Ge lay down on the floor, deciding that whatever he had to say would be better left for tomorrow.

He rested his head on his hands behind him, lying on the cold floor, breathing in the scent of Qin Ruojing in the room. He stared blankly at the ceiling for a while before closing his eyes.

However, he couldn't fall asleep. His mind was filled with chaotic images. He wanted to toss and turn, but every time he adjusted his position slightly, the sound seemed so loud that it unsettled him beyond words.

He didn't know how long he lay there, but eventually, Chu Ge couldn't help but sit up. He turned his head to look at Qin Ruojing on the bed. She was still lying with her back to him, in the same position as before. Even through the thin blanket, her movements appeared stiff.

"Honey, are you asleep?"

Chu Ge asked knowingly, just to see if Qin Ruojing would respond. He waited for a few seconds without any reaction from her, then mumbled in unwillingness, "Seems like she's asleep."

Qin Ruojing still didn't respond. Chu Ge awkwardly lay back down, but as soon as his back hit the floor, he heard her voice.

"Hmm, asleep."

Although Qin Ruojing's voice was very soft, hard to hear if one didn't listen carefully, Chu Ge heard it clearly, and suddenly felt a surge of vitality, sitting up straight as if energized.

Chu Ge didn't know what prompted it, but he chuckled, "Asleep and still talking?"

"Alright then, I won't speak anymore." Qin Ruojing's voice grew a bit louder, and her tone noticeably colder.

Qin Ruojing finally having spoken, Chu Ge couldn't let the conversation end there and hurriedly said, "No, that's not what I meant."

Qin Ruojing was silent for a few seconds before saying, "Then what do you mean?"

"If you're having trouble sleeping, why not talk with me? Maybe, by talking, you'll fall asleep."

Qin Ruojing didn't make another sound, but Chu Ge took it as silent consent.

"Darling, actually... I really don't get it, about your sister. Do you... really think that way?"

"If I don't think that way, what else could I think?"

After a few seconds, Qin Ruojing continued, "Since I can tolerate Tong Yaqi, can I not tolerate my own sister? Moreover... you saw it just now, you heard it, who let her feelings for you run so deep."

Chu Ge was stunned. Hmm? Hearing Qin Ruojing's meaning, it seemed like she was okay with him and Tong Yaqi maintaining their previous relationship?

Even though, based on the literal meaning, Chu Ge thought Qin Ruojing must mean that, but as the saying goes, women's minds are unfathomable. He still cautiously probed, "You mean..."

"Alright, when did you start becoming so hesitant?"

As Qin Ruojing spoke, she sat up on the bed, leaned against the headboard, sighed, pinched her brow, and then turned her head to look at Chu Ge, "Whatever happens between you and Tong Yaqi in the future, let it be. I won't blame you."

Chu Ge carefully observed Qin Ruojing's expression. No matter how he looked, she didn't seem to be mocking him. He opened his mouth, but then didn't know what to say.

Qin Ruojing cast a faint glance at Chu Ge, then shifted her gaze elsewhere.

"Don't look at me like that; I'm speaking from my heart. Actually, compared to me, she was with you first. To this day, I still feel like I took you away from her."

"I don't have many real friends. Yaqi is one of them. Regarding our matter, she even helped me quite a bit. Whenever I think of this, I indeed feel quite guilty."

"Besides, you should know, I once promised her, whether or not you and I ended up together, I wouldn't interfere in your relationship with her. Since I made that promise, I will surely keep it."

Saying this, Qin Ruojing turned her gaze back to Chu Ge, "Now, do you understand?"

Chu Ge nodded. Qin Ruojing had explained it so clearly that there was really no room for doubt on this matter.

"It's been a while since you visited Yaqi, hasn't it? Find some time to spend with her. She's... looking a bit thinner lately."

At this, Qin Ruojing self-deprecatingly smiled. As his wife, here she was pushing her husband towards another woman, even willing to share him with her sister. This situation was downright laughable, yet due to various reasons, for her, it wasn't in the least a joke.

"I..."

Chu Ge had only uttered a word when Qin Ruojing raised her hand, cutting him off.

"If you want to say anything in apology, spare it. I've seen Yaqi a few times recently. She says nothing, yet loneliness is all etched in her eyes. Honestly, it pains me to see it. Just... when you do visit her, it's best if I'm not aware."

Chu Ge hesitated for a few seconds before finally nodding with a bitter smile.