Although Qin Mu had been assigned as Wen Ran's special assistant, he didn't show the usual deference of a subordinate toward a superior. Instead, he remained distant and aloof.
As the BMW cruised down the road, he glanced through the rearview mirror at Wen Ran, who was sitting in the passenger seat holding a food container. His gaze briefly flickered with curiosity before he concealed it and asked flatly, "Miss Wen, should I take you home, or do you have another destination in mind?"
If his guess was correct, the dish she was carrying was sweet and sour ribs—one of Mo Xiuchen's favorite home-cooked meals.
Wen Ran lowered her gaze, staring at the bag in her hands, hesitating whether to go to the cemetery.
When Qin Mu's question interrupted her thoughts, she instinctively looked up at him. All she saw was his profile, his expression as cold and distant as the night itself. After a brief silence, she replied, "Please take me home."
Noting the emotion in her voice, Qin Mu frowned slightly and turned to glance at her. "If there's somewhere you want to go, just say it. It's still early."
Wen Ran's eyes flickered, and after a moment of hesitation, she admitted, "I was thinking about going to the cemetery."
Qin Mu was taken aback. He couldn't understand why she would visit the cemetery so late at night. If she wanted to see her parents, couldn't she go during the day? Just as he was about to speak, Wen Ran's phone rang.
It was Mo Xiuchen calling, asking where she was.
Sitting beside her, Qin Mu couldn't hear what Mo Xiuchen was saying, but he did hear Wen Ran's response: "I'm on my way home… Mm, I happened to run into Assistant Qin, so he's giving me a ride back."
After ending the call, Wen Ran stared at the sweet and sour ribs in her hands, looking troubled. Suddenly, Qin Mu spoke up. "If you're going to the cemetery just to deliver those, we can stop by first. I'll take you home afterward."
"…Alright, sorry for the trouble."
Wen Ran was the type of person who always followed through once she set her mind on something. Since she had already decided to go to the cemetery, leaving the thought unresolved would weigh on her. Besides, if she didn't take the dish to the cemetery, she wouldn't know what else to do with it.
When they arrived, Wen Ran told Qin Mu he could wait in the car.
Through the window, he looked out at the dark, desolate cemetery. Without hesitation, he reached for the door handle and said, "It's too dark outside. I'll go with you. Don't worry, I won't eavesdrop on what you say to your parents."
Seeing that he had misunderstood, Wen Ran explained, "That's not what I meant. I just didn't want to trouble you."
"It's already a trouble. A little more doesn't make a difference."
With that, Qin Mu stepped out of the car.
Wen Ran frowned slightly. Seeing that he was already outside, she pressed her lips together and got out as well.
The cemetery at night was eerily silent, carrying a chilling aura. The temperature here was inexplicably lower than in the city, and the wind that brushed against her face was laced with coldness.
Dressed in only a thin layer, Wen Ran felt the chill intensify with each step she took up the marble stairs. By the time she reached halfway, she couldn't suppress a shiver.
Noticing this, Qin Mu—who had been walking behind her—immediately shrugged off his suit jacket and handed it to her. His tone was calm as he said, "Put this on."
Wen Ran was startled. She looked at the jacket in front of her, then at Qin Mu, who was now left with only his dress shirt. Shaking her head, she refused, "You should wear it yourself. I don't need it."
"I'd rather not have Li Qian nagging me, and I have no interest in managing the pharmaceutical factory indefinitely."
Qin Mu's voice was firm, his outstretched hand unwavering. It was clear that if she didn't take the jacket, he was prepared to stand there all night.
Earlier that morning, Mo Xiuchen had told him to help manage Wen Corporation's pharmaceutical factory for a few days. At first, Qin Mu had no idea what had gotten into him. But later, he overheard Mo Xiuchen calling Aunt Zhang, instructing her to prepare food and send it to Wen Corporation. Being a sharp observer, Qin Mu quickly pieced together the reason.