Wen Ran couldn't describe how she felt inside. Her tear-filled eyes were brimming with joy and excitement as she stared unblinkingly at the man lying in the hospital bed.
This was her brother—he had really woken up!
Although he couldn't be discharged immediately, and he would need rehabilitation for at least two to three months, he had opened his eyes. Just now, with a hoarse voice that she almost couldn't recognize, he had called out to her.
His somewhat vacant gaze lingered on her for a moment before slowly focusing. He took in her appearance, and the first words he spoke were:
"Ranran, I'm so glad you're okay!"
Tears streamed down Wen Ran's face at his words.
She looked at him through misty eyes, her voice trembling with joy as she called out over and over again, "Brother, brother…"
Gu Kai pulled Mo Xiuchen out of the hospital room. Before leaving, he reminded Wen Ran not to let Wen Jin get too exhausted—he had just woken up and needed proper rest. They would conduct another examination tomorrow and then arrange for his rehabilitation.
"You silly girl, stop crying," Wen Jin said softly, looking at Wen Ran, who was leaning over the hospital bed. Seeing her cry made his heart ache as if it were being clenched by an invisible hand.
Wen Ran wiped her tears but couldn't stop smiling. "Brother, I'm just so happy! I've been waiting every day for you to wake up, and finally, my wish has come true."
Having been unconscious for over half a month, Wen Jin's thoughts were sluggish compared to usual. He slowly curved his lips into a gentle smile, his expression full of tenderness and guilt. "Ranran, I'm sorry for making you worry."
Wen Ran shook her head anxiously. "Don't say that, Brother. If you hadn't protected me back then, you wouldn't be in this condition. I've been heartbroken these past few days. I kept wishing that I were the one lying here instead, and you were the one who was safe and sound."
"Don't say things like that."
Before she could say more, Wen Jin gently covered her lips with his large hand. Though his movements were slow, she was close enough that he managed to stop her words instantly.
Outside the hospital room, Mo Xiuchen watched through the glass window. His sharp brows furrowed deeply.
Ever since he began suspecting that Wen Ran was not the Wen family's biological daughter, seeing her show such concern and affection for Wen Jin made him inexplicably irritated.
Gu Kai also noticed the scene in the room. Unlike Mo Xiuchen's frustration, his dark eyes reflected a trace of envy. He nudged Mo Xiuchen lightly with his elbow and whispered, "I'm heading back to my office. Are you coming?"
Mo Xiuchen kept his gaze fixed on the hospital room, his voice indifferent. "You go ahead."
Gu Kai shrugged and walked away in large strides.
Outside the hospital room, Mo Xiuchen took out his phone and dialed Wen Ran's number.
Inside the room, Wen Jin was gently wiping Wen Ran's tears away. The warm atmosphere was abruptly interrupted by the ringing of her phone.
Wen Ran hesitated for a moment, then smiled weakly at Wen Jin. "Brother, I'll take this call real quick."
Wen Jin nodded, retracting his hand and placing it back on the bedsheet. However, his deep black eyes remained fixed on her. Although he had been unable to speak or move during his coma, he had heard everything she had said to him.
Including that unfamiliar male voice just now, saying that she had sacrificed her happiness for the sake of the company…
The thought of it made his heart ache all over again, and his already pale face turned even whiter.
Wen Ran pulled out her phone, and when she saw the caller ID, her expression changed slightly. Turning away from the bed, she finally pressed the answer button and lowered her voice. "Hello?"
"Come out."
Hearing his voice, Wen Ran instinctively glanced toward the door, frowning slightly. "Can it wait a little? Let's talk later."
"Five minutes."
The person outside spoke and, just like before, hung up without waiting for her response.
"Ranran, I'm feeling a bit tired. I think I'll sleep for a while," Wen Jin said, his voice soft and weary.
Wen Ran looked at him with slight suspicion, but remembering Gu Kai's earlier instructions, she quickly smiled and agreed, "Alright, Brother. Get some rest. I'll go home and make some soup for you. I'll bring it back later."
"You can cook?" Wen Jin asked, intrigued. He vaguely remembered hearing her mention learning to cook while he was unconscious.
Noticing his gaze shift to her hands, Wen Ran chuckled and held them out in front of him, pointing at the small red burns on the back of her hands. "Look, Brother, these are my battle scars from learning to cook. In the past few days, I've learned how to make a few dishes. But since you can't eat solid food yet, I'll just make you some soup. You have to try my cooking later!"
"Alright. Go ahead, then. I really need some sleep," Wen Jin said tiredly and closed his eyes.
Wen Ran tucked his blanket in, gazing at his handsome yet pale face for a few seconds before smiling in relief and turning to leave the room.
In the hallway, Mo Xiuchen's tall, imposing figure was enveloped in the dim light. His chiseled features looked even sharper due to his serious expression.
The moment Wen Ran stepped out of the hospital room, his deep eyes locked onto her delicate face. The image of another man wiping away her tears, looking at her with such tenderness, replayed in his mind, making his mood even worse.
"I misunderstood you earlier. I'm sorry," Wen Ran said as she walked up to him, tilting her face slightly to meet his gaze, openly admitting her mistake.
Somewhere deep inside, she also felt that her brother's sudden awakening had something to do with what Mo Xiuchen had said.
Perhaps, as he had said, Wen Jin woke up because he finally understood her situation—because he was worried and heartbroken.
Mo Xiuchen's gaze flickered slightly. His thin lips remained pressed in a tight, cold line, his expression still severe. He wasn't going to forgive her that easily.
Wen Ran bit her lip and added, "Mo Xiuchen, I was too impulsive earlier. You're the bigger person—just forget about it, okay? I'll make you sweet and sour ribs to make it up to you. How about that?"
She smiled playfully at the end, her tone as if she were coaxing a sulky child.
Mo Xiuchen frowned slightly in displeasure and asked in a low voice, "Your brother woke up. Are you still coming back to the Mo family dinner with me tonight?"
Wen Ran hesitated.
Her brother had just woken up, and she was overjoyed. If Mo Xiuchen hadn't reminded her, she would have completely forgotten about their dinner plans.
But she had also just promised her brother that she would make him soup…
Seeing her hesitation, Mo Xiuchen's expression turned cold. His voice dropped a few degrees as he reminded her, "Wen Ran, don't forget the promise you made to me."
"I haven't forgotten," Wen Ran replied, her face paling slightly. She looked into Mo Xiuchen's cold eyes, her own voice stiffening.