Chapter 376: Chapter 375: Isn’t the Most Tragic Part That It’s Both?

Even though she was a big star now, in Xu Su’s eyes, nothing had changed. In fact, being in the entertainment industry wasn’t necessarily any cleaner than being a call girl.

Entertainers looked glamorous on the surface, but behind the scenes, they probably partied even harder than call girls...

While Xu Su didn’t look down on girls with a price tag the way Xie Si and the others did, she wasn’t overflowing with sympathy either. She had no intention of playing out some drama about saving a fallen woman.

No matter how wild their games got, as long as they weren’t forcing innocent women into prostitution, they weren’t complete scumbags. It was just a transaction of wealth for pleasure...

In her past life, Zhou Mochen had indeed taken advantage of her dire situation. But he had also paid real money to help her when she had nowhere else to turn. Honestly, Xu Su felt she had no right to blame him.

What Xu Su actually found hardest to get over from that time were her parents’ actions. To be as good as sold by her own parents when she was just a pre-teen—how could she possibly accept that?

Later, she simply couldn’t understand what Zhou Mochen had been thinking. If he truly liked her so much, why couldn’t he have given them a respectable beginning...

Without being reborn, Xu Su would have never guessed that Zhou Mochen might have also lived this life once before. So, what memories had he brought back with him that led him to make such a choice?

’Get his hands on the girl first, and worry about the rest later...’

Meanwhile, after Xu Su and Zhou Mochen left, the card game broke up. More people filed into the private room, where charming girls began dancing around a pole. In the dim light, their seductive bodies swayed to the music.

Jiang Baiyi and Shen Chen sat in a corner, with no women by their sides.

The two clinked their glasses. Jiang Baiyi hesitated before lowering his voice. "That Xu Su... you have your eye on her too?"

Shen Chen downed his drink in one gulp, his expression placid. He had no intention of hiding it. "Mhm," he affirmed.

Even though he’d suspected it, Jiang Baiyi still looked shocked. His eyes widened as he stared at Shen Chen. "Brother Zhou isn’t like us. He doesn’t seem like the type to... share."

"..." Shen Chen was silent for a moment before he finally understood what Jiang Baiyi was implying. He gave him an annoyed shove. "What the hell are you talking about!"

"How is it nonsense? Brother Zhou is clearly in the honeymoon phase with that girl. He’s not going to let her go anytime soon."

Jiang Baiyi had no idea what Shen Chen meant by "having his eye on her." He was just projecting from his own experiences. There had been times before when the brothers were all interested in the same woman.

Of course, they’d never let a woman get in the way of their friendship. It wasn’t like they hadn’t shared before, but Zhou Mochen never took part in any of that.

Jiang Baiyi thought for a moment, then said, "You should just wait. I’d say Brother Zhou will get tired of her in three to five months, a year or two at most. When he does, if you don’t mind, you can take her off his hands."

"..." Shen Chen was silent for a good long while. He felt like he was talking to a brick wall.

"What are you thinking?" Shen Chen’s silence was making Jiang Baiyi antsy. "Ah Chen, you’re not actually planning to fight Brother Zhou for a woman, are you?"

"I’ll admit, that Xu Su is gorgeous. I’ve never met anyone as beautiful in my entire life. Honestly, my heart skips a beat when I see her too, but it’s not worth brothers fighting over! She’s just a woman."

"Just wait a while. Wait until Brother Zhou gets bored of her, and then you can..."

"Enough!" Shen Chen cut him off, unable to listen anymore. "I’m not going to fight Brother Zhou. Can’t you tell? I’m fucking nursing a secret crush here." His face was cold as he warned, "Baiyi, if you still see me as your brother, then stop talking about her like she’s one of the women you toy with."

"..." Jiang Baiyi looked shocked all over again. He couldn’t help but blurt out, "Holy shit!"

"Don’t tell me you’re serious!"

Shen Chen said nothing, only let out a soft laugh...

Jiang Baiyi took a deep breath, looking as if he’d just encountered something completely beyond his comprehension. "Ah Chen, can you even tell the difference between falling in love and just being in lust? Seriously, after all these years of playing around, do you even have any genuine feelings left?"

’Once you’ve been with enough women, even the most beautiful ones are all the same with the lights off. Maybe their skin is a little smoother, maybe they’re a little better in bed, a little more fun. That’s it.’

’As for falling in love?’

’Doesn’t exist.’

Judging Shen Chen by his own standards, Jiang Baiyi didn’t believe he had actually fallen in love. At most, he was just confused for the time being.

But Shen Chen just smiled. He leaned back on the sofa, tilting his head to look at his good friend. "Baiyi, why don’t you start by telling me what it means to be in lust, and what it means to be in love."

"Do I really have to explain what being in lust is?" Jiang Baiyi shot him a look that said, *’Who are you kidding?’* "You, the great Young Master Shen, have never felt that impulse to just screw a woman the moment you see her?"

"I have," Shen Chen nodded nonchalantly. "And I’m very sure that’s not the impulse I feel for her."

’Do I want to sleep with her?’

’It would be a lie to say no. That summer, that kiss in the car... She was so unwilling, but he had been utterly captivated.’

’Ever since, he’d thought of that moment day and night. He wanted another taste, so badly that he’d toss and turn all night, unable to sleep. It was no different from being possessed.’

’But is it *just* about sleeping with her?’

’If it were really that simple, things would be easy. Even with Brother Zhou watching her like a hawk, if he really wanted to, he could always find a way to get what he wanted.’

’If sleeping with her just once would be enough to break this spell, to stop him from coveting his brother’s woman, he would do it.’

’But he knew it wouldn’t. He was so smitten that he couldn’t even bear the thought of going against her wishes or doing anything to make her unhappy.’

’Was he truly possessed?’

Shen Chen let out a low laugh and looked at his good friend, asking for his wisdom. "So what about falling in love? What is that? Tell me."

"Falling in love..." Jiang Baiyi was silent for a long time before sighing. "I wouldn’t know. I had a proper girlfriend back when I was a teenager, but I can’t say it ever tugged at my heartstrings. I mean, if you’re in love, there have to be symptoms, right? I’ve never experienced it."

Shen Chen said, "I think falling in love means it has to be her. No matter what, it’s no good if it’s not her."

He sounded like some great romantic. Jiang Baiyi didn’t get it, but he was floored. "So, you’re not allergic to perfume at all. You just don’t want anyone else?"

Shen Chen lowered his gaze, saying nothing.

"You’re kidding me. At your age, you’re really going to stay celibate for her?" Jiang Baiyi rubbed his temples, a headache forming. "Ah Chen, why don’t you just confess to Brother Zhou and see if he’s willing to give her to you? Then again, it’s been a long time since he’s taken a liking to a girl. He probably won’t be willing to give her up."

Shen Chen shook his head and chuckled at Jiang Baiyi’s naivety.

’If Brother Zhou found out what he was thinking, they’d probably have a complete falling out. And he thinks he’d just hand Xu Su over...’

’But how much longer could he hide his feelings?’ Shen Chen’s gaze fell on Lina, who was sitting not far away, and the smile slowly faded from his face.

That was the woman Xu Su had picked out for him.

He had been so angry he’d wanted to grab her right then and there, pin her in his arms, and kiss her. He had no idea how he’d managed to hold back.

’Asking him if it was love or lust...’

’Wasn’t the most tragic part that it was both?’

’Her body and her heart... If he couldn’t have both, he had to at least get one of them, right?’

’Otherwise, wouldn’t his life be too pathetic...?’