Wen Ran didn't catch what the bespectacled man was saying, because from the corner of her eye she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure entering through the door. Her expression changed in an instant.
At the same time, Mo Xiuchen, who had just entered, also noticed Wen Ran sitting at a table. Seeing her pull her hand back from the grasp of the unfamiliar man, his deep eyes flashed with a sharp intensity. He turned to Gu Kai beside him and, then strode purposefully toward her.
"Ranran!"
The bespectacled man, with empty palms and still eager to try to hold Wen Ran back, began to speak—but his words were abruptly interrupted by a low, resonant voice from behind.
That very "Ranran" slipped from Mo Xiuchen's tongue, carrying an inexplicable blend of tender warmth and ambiguous intimacy that sent shivers down her spine.
Wen Ran's heart skipped a beat.
The bespectacled man turned in shock and met Mo Xiuchen's cold, piercing glance. His face froze; he felt as though a biting gust of cold wind had blown past him as he looked at Wen Ran in astonishment.
Mo Xiuchen only glanced briefly at the bespectacled man. His deep gaze then settled on Wen Ran's face as he asked, devoid of any obvious emotion, "What's going on?"
Wen Ran, sensing the chill emanating from him, felt a twinge of guilt and quickly regained her composure. She replied coolly, "He's Bai Xiaoxiao's blind date. By the way, when did you get back?"
"Bai Xiaoxiao's blind date?"
Mo Xiuchen's tone rose slightly in questioning, his voice carrying a hint of doubt. He knew Bai Xiaoxiao well, and when he saw Wen Ran glance toward one side, he followed her line of sight. Sure enough, not far away at a table sat Bai Xiaoxiao.
"Miss Wen, who is he?" the bespectacled man finally managed to ask, regaining some of his composure from the cold aura Mo Xiuchen exuded.
"I am her husband," Wen Ran replied.
Just as Wen Ran was about to answer further, Mo Xiuchen suddenly reached out and pulled her into his embrace, his large hand grasping her slender waist. Wen Ran's heart stuttered as she felt his presence so close.
"Are you really married?"
The bespectacled man's eyes flashed with deep disappointment. He pursed his lips and, in anger, said, "You're playing with people—this is too much. Bai Xiaoxiao arranged for this meeting here, and she's going to pay half the cost."
With that, the bespectacled man rummaged in his wallet and tossed his share of the money onto the table. With a final cold snort, he stormed off in a huff.
Wen Ran stared in disbelief at the series of actions from the bespectacled man—what a nightmare he was!
Nearby, Mo Xiuchen released her and gracefully retrieved his wallet from his pocket. He paid the remaining half of the bill, then glanced at Gu Kai and Cheng Jia, who had just found seats, and said to Wen Ran, "Let's go."
"...Oh," Wen Ran murmured blankly. She blinked in confusion and remembered she hadn't come alone. She quickly nodded and followed him out.
Gu Kai and Cheng Jia sat in the center of the lobby. Gu Kai was flipping through a menu while Cheng Jia kept watching Mo Xiuchen's direction. When she saw him drape his arm around Wen Ran's waist, a flash of jealousy appeared in her eyes, but it soon vanished.
"Miss Cheng, what would you like to eat?"
Gu Kai set the menu down and tilted his head, asking Cheng Jia in a languid tone. Seeing that she was staring ahead, he followed her line of sight and noticed Mo Xiuchen and Wen Ran standing together. Squinting slightly, he handed the menu to her.
"I'm fine with anything," she replied politely, accepting the menu. Then, almost nonchalantly, she asked, "What does Young Master Mo like to eat?"
Gu Kai, leaning back in his chair with his long frame relaxed, said in a tone that brooked no argument, "You don't need to worry about him. Just order whatever you like."