Wen Ran was lucky.
Although the cliff wasn't hundreds of meters high, the base was made of sharp rocks, and if she had fallen, it would have certainly cost her life.
Fortunately, she didn't fall to the bottom of the cliff. Instead, she was caught by a tree a few meters below, the branches bent by vines that had wrapped around them, just enough to catch her.
Her left cheek and arm were scratched by the branches. In the dim light of the moon, Wen Ran carefully surveyed the tree and vines that had caught her. She dared not move, afraid the tree wouldn't be strong enough to hold her.
Ignoring the burning pain on her face and the throbbing in her arm, she grasped the vine with one hand and hugged the tree with the other. After the fear of death had passed, an inexplicable sense of heat spread in her heart.
Her body felt like it had been set on fire, the heat slowly spreading through her limbs and into her bones. Her head throbbed painfully.
The voice of Liu Mazhi echoed in her ears, and her heart squeezed. Her nails dug deep into the bark of the tree.
The fire inside her continued to burn hotter and hotter, as if it would consume her entirely. She felt unbearably hot and thirsty, a terrifying longing overtaking her rationality. She released her grip on the vine and tried to tear off her clothes.
When her hand reached the collar of her dress, the sound of a car horn brought back some of her fading sanity. Holding onto her dress's neckline, she looked up toward the cliff top.
Then, she saw a light!
A sudden thought flashed through her mind: Mo Xiuchen had come!
For some reason, when she saw that light, she was certain it was him. He had come to F City to find her, and her phone had been left in the corridor outside the restaurant's restroom. Perhaps Xiao Xiao had found it when she came out.
Even if Xiao Xiao hadn't found it, they would know something had happened when she didn't return.
"Wen Ran, you have to hold on, even if it feels unbearable, you must hold on," she told herself, biting down on her lip to ease the burning heat and discomfort in her body.
Every second felt like an eternity. To keep from losing her sanity, she bit her lip until it bled, reminding herself over and over again that Mo Xiuchen would be here soon.
A few minutes later, Wen Ran faintly heard voices. The distance was too great for her to make out what they were saying, but after another two minutes, she thought she heard Mo Xiuchen's voice.
It wasn't clear, but the wind carried it to the cliff edge, reaching her ears. Her eyes brightened, and a wave of joy rushed over her, overpowering the heat and discomfort in her body.
The panic and despair in her heart were swept away by that familiar voice. Since she had married Mo Xiuchen, she had never been so overjoyed by his appearance.
The flashlight at the cliff top grew closer, and the voices became clearer. She was certain it wasn't just Mo Xiuchen, but also Luo Haofeng.
"Mo Xiuchen, I'm here!" she shouted, lifting her face toward the top of the cliff.
Perhaps due to her excitement, as she shouted, the tree beneath her swayed violently. A vine seemed to loosen from the tree trunk, and she gasped, tightening her grip on the tree as her body trembled.
"Haofeng, I think that's Wen Ran's voice," Mo Xiuchen said, his voice urgent.
Luo Haofeng smiled, glancing toward the cliff. With only a few meters left to go, Mo Xiuchen, unsure whether it was truly Wen Ran, heard Luo Haofeng's confirmation. His eyes lit up, and he began running toward the cliff edge.
"Mo Xiuchen, slow down and watch your step," Luo Haofeng warned, concerned he might miss a step and fall.
"Is it really you, Wen Ran? If it is, give me a sign so I know where you are," Mo Xiuchen called out, his voice clear in the night air.
The sound of his voice reached Wen Ran's ears, and the heat inside her, momentarily quelled, flared up once again. She clung to the tree, trembling as her body became weaker.
"I'm here!" she called weakly, her voice quivering.
Mo Xiuchen reached the cliff edge and, shining his flashlight down, quickly spotted Wen Ran hanging from the tree a few meters below. Below her, there were dozens of meters of steep rocks.
His heart stopped, his mind racing with images of what could happen if she fell, but relief followed quickly, knowing she was caught in the tree.
However, her condition was dire. She trembled uncontrollably, and after a brief moment of joy upon seeing him, her gaze became dazed.
"Wen Ran, don't be afraid. I'll get you out of here," Mo Xiuchen said softly, taking a deep breath to calm himself. His voice remained calm, though his heart was filled with concern.
Although Wen Ran was caught by the tree, it wasn't a strong one, and its roots were wedged in the crevice of the cliff. It could give way at any moment.
"Mm!" Wen Ran answered weakly, her lips trembling as she licked the blood from her bitten lip. The taste of metal and sweetness filled her mouth. Looking up at Mo Xiuchen, memories of their kiss flooded her mind, and her body burned with renewed desire.
She closed her eyes, trying not to let her thoughts wander.
"Mo Xiuchen, here's the rope. I'll tie it to my waist and go down to rescue Miss Wen." Ming Shu's men arrived, bringing a spare rope.
"Give it to me. I'll go," Mo Xiuchen said without hesitation, reaching for the rope.
One of Ming Shu's men looked startled and shook his head. "Mo Shao, you can't go. It's too dangerous. Let me go instead."
This man, one of Ming Shu's trusted assistants, knew the importance of Mo Xiuchen and couldn't bear to let him risk his life.
"I said, I'll go!" Mo Xiuchen snapped, his voice firm. The man, intimidated by the force of his command, relinquished the rope.
"Wen Ran, hold on for just a few more minutes. I'll get you out soon," Mo Xiuchen promised, handing the rope to Luo Haofeng. His gaze never left Wen Ran, who trembled as he felt his heart tighten.
"Miss Wen seems very unwell," Luo Haofeng observed, his brow furrowing as he prepared to tie the rope.
One of the men who had been hesitant to go explained, "That Liu Mazhi gave Miss Wen some kind of drug."
Mo Xiuchen's expression darkened. He had heard enough. Wen Ran had endured so much, and the fact that she had held on this long was nothing short of miraculous.
"Wen Ran, hold on tight. Don't let go of the tree," Mo Xiuchen urged, his voice thick with worry.
"Mm!" Wen Ran's soft response barely reached him. She felt her body grow weaker with each passing second.
"Think of your brother, and Xiao Xiao. They're worried about you!" Mo Xiuchen urged desperately, glancing back at the men on the cliff top. "Hurry up!"
Wen Ran's vision blurred as her breathing became more erratic. When she caught a whiff of Mo Xiuchen's scent, a small sliver of clarity pierced through the haze in her mind. Her eyes flashed with a sudden burst of light, dazzling in the darkness.
"Mo Xiuchen!" she cried out, her voice trembling. Her body ached with desire, and in that moment, she couldn't hold back. She reached out her hand toward him, her grip on the vine loosening.
In an instant, her balance faltered, and she began to fall…
"Wen Ran!" Mo Xiuchen's heart raced. In a split second, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him, wrapping his arms around her waist. As their bodies fell a meter, he held her tightly, whispering, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
"Mm..." Wen Ran sighed, her body melting into his embrace. Her flushed face pressed against his cool skin, and a soft moan escaped her lips.
"Wen Ran, don't move. We're going up now," Mo Xiuchen whispered, his arms tightening around her as they prepared to ascend together.