Kangning Hospital
When Wen Ran entered the hospital room, the male caregiver had just finished wiping down her brother and was giving him a massage.
The man lying on the hospital bed, if not for his overly pale complexion, looked just like he was peacefully asleep—serene and handsome.
Wen Ran asked the caregiver to step out so she could have a private conversation with her brother. The caregiver responded with a polite "Okay," adjusted Wen Jin's clothes, and then left the room.
Wen Ran pulled the chair closer to the bed, grasping Wen Jin's large hand resting on the edge, and gently massaged it while smiling. "Brother, I have good news for you. I've learned how to cook! Two nights ago, I even made sweet and sour ribs for Mom and Dad…"
She recounted everything she had told her parents that night. But receiving no response, not even a single word, made her nose sting with emotion. She sniffed and, in a slightly coquettish tone, said, "Brother, if you don't wake up soon, I'm really going to ignore you."
Yet, despite her playful threat, Wen Jin remained peacefully asleep. His eyes remained closed, and he made no sound, leaving her uncertain if he could even hear her.
Just then, two soft knocks came from the door. She hurriedly wiped her tears away and turned to look. At that moment, the hospital room door swung open from the outside, revealing Gu Kai standing elegantly at the entrance, dressed in a pristine white coat.
"Dr. Gu!"
Wen Ran's eyes flickered with emotion as she stood up from her chair, working to suppress the sadness in her heart.
Gu Kai's gaze landed on the traces of moisture in her eyes, and a faint glimmer passed through his deep pupils. A gentle smile appeared on his handsome face as he took a few steps toward her. "Did I interrupt your conversation with your brother?"
Wen Ran forced a smile and said, "No, actually, I was just about to look for you."
"Oh? What is it? Is it about your brother?"
Gu Kai raised a curious eyebrow.
Wen Ran glanced at her brother lying on the bed and said softly, "No, it's not about my brother. Let's talk in your office instead—it's something else."
A hint of surprise flashed through Gu Kai's dark eyes, but he quickly nodded. "Alright, I'll have the caregiver come back to watch over your brother."
"Mm."
Wen Ran carefully tucked Wen Jin's hand under the blanket, then followed Gu Kai out of the hospital room and toward his office.
"Would you like green tea or yogurt?"
Standing by the sofa, Gu Kai made a gesture for Wen Ran to take a seat and asked warmly.
"No need, I'm not thirsty."
Wen Ran politely declined. She wasn't in a position to drink anything cold for the next couple of days, and both drinks Gu Kai mentioned had been stored in the fridge.
Seeing that she didn't want anything, Gu Kai didn't insist. He walked over to his desk, picked up a thermos, and returned to the sofa. Unscrewing the lid, he took a sip of water before looking at her with a gentle gaze. "What did you want to ask me?"
Wen Ran pursed her lips, carefully choosing her words. This question had been weighing on her mind for days—she had wanted to ask him for a long time.
Leaning back lazily against the sofa, Gu Kai held the thermos in his hands and watched her closely, noting every subtle change in her expression. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly as he suddenly asked, "Is this about Xiu Chen?"
During their lunch together the other day, he had mentioned that he knew everything about Mo Xiu Chen. If Wen Ran wasn't asking about her brother, then it had to be about him.
Wen Ran blinked and met Gu Kai's probing gaze. Her voice was slightly stiff as she admitted, "Yes, it's about Mo Xiu Chen. I wanted to ask for your opinion."
Gu Kai chuckled and teased, "Ask away. I promise to tell you everything I know."
His playful tone eased the hesitation in Wen Ran's heart. She got straight to the point. "I want to know exactly what's wrong with Mo Xiu Chen's health."
The motion of Gu Kai's fingers rotating his thermos slightly paused, and a flicker of surprise flashed in his dark pupils. Clearly, he hadn't expected her to ask such a direct question about Mo Xiu Chen's condition.
He immediately understood what she meant.
His gaze met Wen Ran's clear, concerned eyes, so pure and transparent that he felt as if lying to her would make him a terrible person.
His hesitation didn't escape Wen Ran's notice, and her heart sank.
She had come to ask Gu Kai not just because he was a doctor but also because he was Mo Xiu Chen's close friend. She believed that he would know the real situation, both as a medical professional and as a friend.
At first, she had believed the rumors—that Mo Xiu Chen was truly incapable. But after spending time with him, she had begun to doubt them. She had witnessed changes in him with her own eyes… felt his touch…
That night, if it weren't for the sudden arrival of her period, she felt like everything would have happened naturally. It wasn't that she was eager for intimacy, but deep down, she truly wished for Mo Xiu Chen to be a healthy man.
Seeing the conflict in Gu Kai's expression, a pale hue spread across her face. Her hands, resting on her lap, quietly clenched into fists. She pursed her lips and whispered, "Dr. Gu, I know the entire city of G has been spreading rumors that Mo Xiu Chen is incapable. To be honest, even though we've been married for a while, we haven't been intimate."
She paused, noticing the brief change in Gu Kai's expression. A hint of sympathy flickered in her eyes as she continued, "Just this morning, I heard from Aunt Zhang that when Mo Xiu Chen was eight, he personally witnessed his mother jump to her death in front of him. Three years later, he was kidnapped, barely escaping with his life. When he returned…"
She took a deep breath, then added sincerely, "I am his wife now. I want him to be happy, and of course, I hope he is healthy. Please, be honest with me—can his 'condition' be treated?"
Gu Kai's expression softened.
Wen Ran hadn't spoken any particularly emotional words—she had simply stated the facts, shared her thoughts, and revealed her genuine feelings toward her marriage.
But as Mo Xiu Chen's friend, Gu Kai was genuinely happy for him. No matter the reason Xiu Chen had married her, Wen Ran had clearly invested her heart into their marriage.
"…His condition isn't entirely untreatable."
He answered vaguely. After all, Wen Ran had just confessed that they had never consummated their marriage. And without Mo Xiu Chen's permission, Gu Kai couldn't reveal his secret so easily.
Wen Ran's eyes lit up. She looked at him eagerly. "Dr. Gu, are you saying Mo Xiu Chen's condition can be treated? Has he been receiving treatment all these years?"
Gu Kai was caught off guard once again. Internally cursing Mo Xiu Chen, he hesitated before sighing. "Xiu Chen is extremely stubborn. I've treated him before, but I never knew if the treatments were effective. He has a strong aversion to women—whenever a woman gets too close, he feels disgusted and irritated, let alone…"
Wen Ran's eyes widened in shock. "Are you saying Mo Xiu Chen hates women? That he can't stand being near them?"