Mo Xiuchen leaned back in his chair and said lazily, "I've asked about it for you. She is her parents' biological daughter. If you want to see her, I'll arrange a meeting for you tomorrow."
Back then, when Gu Kai learned that the girl who had saved him had a mole on her chin, he was adamant that she was the sister he had lost—even though after all these years, there had been no sign of her.
After discussing Cheng Jia's situation for a while, Gu Kai changed the subject and said, "Yuting found out about your marriage. She confronted me, asking if you're actually free of that condition, and mentioned that you might cut your trip short and be back in a few days. Brace yourself."
Mo Xiuchen's handsome features shifted subtly, and his gaze turned sharp as he asked, "Did you speak the truth?"
"No," Gu Kai replied, "I said I didn't know."
Mo Xiuchen glared at him and said in a low, steady tone, "She's your cousin. Handle it yourself."
"If I could stop her from liking you, I would have already done so. I really don't understand what's so appealing about you. Clearly, you're utterly unlovable—yet Yuting remains hopelessly infatuated with you. Over the years, I've introduced her to plenty of other promising young talents, but she doesn't give any of them the time of day."
In the end, Gu Kai threw his hands up in defeat, admitting his powerlessness.
Back when news of Mo Xiuchen's so-called "inhumane" disappearance spread throughout G City, Shen Yuting had even wept bitterly. Over the years, although she never confessed her feelings to Mo Xiuchen, everyone around her knew how deeply she cared for him.
Gu Kai had urged Shen Yuting more than once to let go, but no matter how hard he tried, it was all in vain. Yuting is only two years younger than him and Mo Xiuchen, and now at 26, she stubbornly refuses any other man's pursuit—all for Mo Xiuchen.
Over these years, there hasn't been a single other woman by Mo Xiuchen's side—except, of course, for Shen Yuting.
Perhaps partly out of regard for Gu Kai, with whom Mo Xiuchen shares a brotherly bond, he shows a tenderness toward his cousin that he reserves for no other girl.
"Then just find her a good family so she can get married," Gu Kai suggested.
Mo Xiuchen's proposal left Gu Kai staring at the ceiling in silence. "You don't know Yuting's personality at all. I'm not going to meddle in this—handle it yourself."
Gu Kai picked up the cup before him and downed its contents in one go. "I'm free tomorrow at noon. Should I head to Cheng Jia's workplace or meet at your office?"
Mo Xiuchen replied nonchalantly, "Meet at my office."
He knew that unless Gu Kai saw Cheng Jia with his own eyes and confirmed she wasn't his long-lost sister, he wouldn't be able to let go.
"Don't! I don't want the injection!"
"Dad, Mom…"
"Brother…"
At 1:30 AM, Wen Ran jolted awake from a nightmare, sitting up suddenly. Her fair forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, and unlike her previous nightmares, this time she had dreamt of her parents.
The scene of the car accident replayed vividly in her dream: she and her brother had just stepped out of the car when it burst into flames, and she had watched, helplessly, as her parents were consumed by the fire.
"Having a bad dream?"
At that moment, the door swung open, and Mo Xiuchen's tall figure strode into the room. Wen Ran raised a trembling hand to wipe away her tears; her slender frame was enveloped in sorrow, shaking uncontrollably.
Mo Xiuchen had just returned and, as he reached the doorway, caught the sound of her crying. In the soft, dim glow of the wall lamp, her tear-streaked face appeared almost luminous, her eyes blurry as she gently bit her lip—a sight that evoked deep sympathy.