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

While Cheng Zhe turned to go to the balcony for some fresh air, Shen Yating and Chen Fengping huddled together, chattering away about the trivial matters of furnishing their new home, their joy evident in their eyes.

"Let's go buy a new sofa cover first. This color is nice, but I want to change to a lighter color so it will look brighter."

Chen Fengping touched the armrest of the sofa, her tone light and cheerful.

She used to live in a cramped single room in an old neighborhood. It was so cramped that she couldn't even turn around. Not to mention choosing a sofa cover, she had to think twice before buying a new piece of clothing. Now, being able to plan a spacious and bright three-bedroom apartment, she feels a sense of security that she has never experienced before.

Shen Yating nodded, a gentle smile on her face: "Okay, let's buy two new quilts, the fluffy kind, they'll be more comfortable to sleep in. Oh, and we need to replace the cookware in the kitchen too, so we can cook for ourselves from now on."

As she spoke, the gloom in her eyes completely dissipated, and the sorrow brought on by her mother's serious illness and debt crisis was nowhere to be found.

Chen Fengping also smiled at this moment, radiating happiness.

Zhao Yu not only cheated her out of her money, but also kept making up a beautiful future for her. During that time, she lived like a fool.

It was Cheng Zhe who reached out and helped her, giving her money and a place to stay, making her feel cared for again.

To her, Cheng Zhe was like a lifeline, and this gratitude was already etched in her heart. She was willing to do anything as long as she could be with him.

Shen Yating lowered her voice and said, "Actually, we all feel more at ease with A-Zhe."

A hint of emotion flashed in her eyes as she recalled how she looked when she first graduated.

Back then, she also wanted to be independent and self-reliant. She went to companies big and small with her resume, was rejected in interviews, worked overtime until late at night, and dared not tell her family when the rent increased. She could only cry secretly when she was wronged.

She finally decided to start her own business, but ended up losing everything and incurring huge debts. Then, a major change in her family life pushed her to the brink of collapse.

Until she met Cheng Zhe, he helped her solve all her problems, so she no longer had to worry about making a living or having to depend on others.

"I used to think that relying on a man was a waste of potential, and I wanted to make my own way in the world."

Shen Yating sighed softly, her tone no longer stubborn but more insightful.

"But once you step into society, you realize how difficult it is for a woman to fight alone."

"Having someone to rely on, even if it's just a romantic relationship, is a much more real happiness than so-called 'independence'."

She wasn't a pedantic person, nor was she fixated on a legitimate status, and she knew that Cheng Zhe had more than one woman in his life.

Cheng Zhe was generous and gentle to her, giving her the stable life she wanted, and that was enough.

"I don't mind serving him with you," Shen Yating said to Chen Fengping with sincere eyes.

"As long as he continues to treat us well, we can stay with him peacefully, have each other for company, and not have to fight or be jealous. Isn't that great?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Fengping nodded quickly, her eyes full of agreement: "That's what I think too."

She held Shen Yating's hand earnestly, "It was A-Zhe who pulled me out of the mire. Without him, I really don't know how long I could have held on. Let alone serving him together, I'd do anything for him."

Her voice was full of gratitude, without a trace of reluctance. For her, being able to stay by Cheng Zhe's side and escape the shadows of the past was the best possible outcome.

The two chatted back and forth, finding themselves getting along very well. They talked about everything from furniture and appliances to daily necessities, their eyes sparkling with anticipation for the future.

Sunlight streamed in through the balcony's floor-to-ceiling windows, falling on them.

Cheng Zhe stood on the balcony, listening to the whispers of the two people behind him. He didn't turn around, but felt a mix of emotions in his heart.

He wanted to escape the entanglement of Zhao Ya and Zhang Cuiting, but he fell into the dependence on Shen Yating and Chen Fengping. It seemed that no matter how he tried to escape, he could not escape this net woven from human feelings and desires.

It's still my lower body that's letting me down; I always get blinded by lust.

Since he had enjoyed these women, he naturally had to bear the consequences.

He took out his phone and glanced at Zhang Shiyi's WeChat messages again. There was still no reply, and his heart sank a little further. He wondered how things were going with Zhang Shiyi and how long his temporary peace of mind could last.

Just as he was about to press the dial button and call Zhang Shiyi without thinking, his phone screen suddenly lit up and a WeChat message popped up. It was from Zhang Shiyi.

He clicked on it almost immediately, his eyes quickly scanning the text on the screen, and he even unconsciously paused his breathing.

"I've talked to Zhao Ya, and she knows you've been feeling down lately."

"She said if you want some peace and quiet, stay outside for now and come home whenever you need to. But you also need to be discreet and not too conspicuous outside."

"She specifically emphasized that you are absolutely not allowed to abandon her and her daughter. You know that her mother is now yours too, and you are not allowed to look down on Zhang Cuiting because she is older, so as not to break her heart."

"To be honest, Zhao Ya truly loves you, almost to the point of obsession. The things she did before were because she was afraid you would leave. She herself said that she may have done a lot of wrong things, and she wants you not to take it to heart."

Cheng Zhe looked at the message again and again. His tense nerves suddenly relaxed, but he didn't feel the relief he expected. Instead, he felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on him, making him feel suffocated.

He leaned against the balcony railing, slowly closed his eyes, and Zhao Ya's image involuntarily appeared in his mind. She would always smile gently and call him "A Zhe," and would wait for him downstairs on time when he got off work. Even though she was sometimes a little obsessive, the love in her eyes was undeniable.

And then there's Zhang Cuiting, that dignified and elegant woman with a timid look in her eyes.

From her initial unease to her later silent compliance, she never asked for anything and carefully satisfied her desires.

He clearly remembered the evasiveness and unease in her eyes every time he looked at her, and the dependence she inadvertently revealed at night.

He was blinded by desire, first getting entangled with Zhao Ya, then wanting to taste Zhang Cuiting, gradually dragging the mother and daughter into his mess.

They might have had a stable life, but because of his selfishness and indulgence, they became anxious and insecure, and could only use extreme methods to keep him.

Zhao Ya's words, "I love him too much and don't want him to leave," were like a fine needle piercing his heart, instantly spreading a dense sense of guilt.

He enjoyed their gentleness and devotion, and was also attracted to the beauty of Shen Yating and Chen Fengping. His insatiable greed has led him to this predicament.

"Sigh..." Cheng Zhe sighed heavily. When he opened his eyes, his weariness was mixed with guilt and confusion.

He thought for a long time before slowly replying to Zhang Shiyi: "I understand, thank you. I also feel a little bad for making you keep going like this..."

But Zhang Shiyi retorted, "Get lost! I was planning to be your secret lover all along! What's there to apologize for!"