"What would I gain by lying to you? I told you we found Wen Ran, and that's the truth. But she was drugged by those bastards, and right now, Xiu Chen is... helping her detox. Believe it or not—if you don't, call him yourself."
With that, Luo Haofeng abruptly hung up.
"Unbelievable! How rude can one be!" Bai Xiaoxiao stared at the abruptly ended call, fuming. Ever since he stole her first kiss that morning, she had found Luo Haofeng increasingly insufferable.
Li Qian's face registered a flicker of shock. She asked, somewhat incredulously, "Xiaoxiao, did Luo Haofeng just say that Ranran was drugged and that Mo Xiuchen is acting as her antidote? That means… he's a normal man, right? He can give Ranran a real future?"
Rumors had long painted Mo Xiuchen as a man incapable of intimacy. But if Ranran was drugged and he could respond—well, that disproved everything.
Hearing this, Bai Xiaoxiao's annoyance momentarily faded. Replaying Luo Haofeng's words in her mind, she suddenly beamed with delight. Grabbing Li Qian's hand excitedly, she said, "Sister Li! That's exactly what he meant—Mo Xiuchen is a normal man! He can make Ranran happy. I knew those lingerie sets I bought her would come in handy. Ha! I'm a genius!"
Li Qian's lips twitched slightly. This girl—smiling like she had cured Mo Xiuchen herself. Still, if he was indeed healthy, that meant Ranran wouldn't be a widow in all but name.
He wasn't one to dally with women, and he treated Ranran well. He was the kind of man one could entrust a lifetime to. If Mr. and Mrs. Wen were watching from above, surely they'd be comforted too.
"Since Ranran is safe, I'm going to turn in. Xiaoxiao, you should rest early too—she won't be coming back tonight."
Li Qian offered a gentle reminder with a smile.
Still basking in her daydreams, Bai Xiaoxiao nodded quickly. "Sister Li, we've got so much to do tomorrow! Go get some sleep—I will too. And when Ranran gets back, I have to ask her if she and Mo Xiuchen really…"
"You bold little thing! A girl who's never even been in a relationship talking like that? If I didn't know you, I'd think you were quite the libertine," Li Qian teased, shooting her a playful glare.
"I was just joking! After tonight, I'll be the only pure one left in this world!" Bai Xiaoxiao replied dramatically.
As long as Ranran was unharmed—even if she had been drugged—it didn't matter. In fact, it might just bring her and Mo Xiuchen closer. Bai Xiaoxiao considered it a blessing in disguise.
Back when Ranran had sacrificed her future to marry Mo Xiuchen for the sake of her family's company, she'd always feared her friend would spend her life alone. But now, those fears had finally been laid to rest.
In the deep night of City F, the mountaintop should have been bitterly cold at this hour. Yet, the warmth radiating from within the vehicle painted the outside in a peaceful calm.
The moon, blushing shyly, hid behind the clouds. Inside the car, the lights remained off—darkness wrapped the space in intimacy.
Wen Ran, face buried in Mo Xiuchen's chest, hesitated to lift her head.
After an indeterminate time, the large hand around her waist stirred gently. Her body flinched instinctively, and a tender kiss fell on her forehead. His deep, husky voice caressed her ear: "Are you still feeling unwell?"
"…"
Wen Ran bit her lip, unsure how to respond.
"If it's eased a bit, let's get you dressed. There's a first-aid kit in the car—I'll treat the wounds on your face and arm."
His gaze lingered on her. Though the car was dark, he had already adjusted to the shadows over the past hour. His eyes—profound, burning—rested on the gash along her cheek. His slender fingers gently brushed the edge of the wound, overflowing with sorrow and care.
Wen Ran seemed to feel the tenderness in his touch. Her watery eyes fluttered open, clarity breaking through the haze. Meeting his warm gaze, her heart trembled uncontrollably.
She thought of the moment she jumped from the cliff—how hopeless she had felt. She had believed she would die. Yet he had come. He had saved her. And, most astonishingly, his "condition"... was no longer an issue.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked, voice low and laced with warmth.
"Nothing... Can you get up first?" she whispered.
"Mm. It's quite late. Let me treat your wounds, then we'll head back to the hotel."
Mo Xiuchen spoke with a gentle undertone, rising and turning on the small overhead light. He helped her sit up from the seat.
Opening the door, he said softly, "Get dressed," and stepped outside, picking up his own clothes as he went.
There was no one else around, and it was night—he had nothing to be shy about. He dressed calmly under the moonlight.
Inside the car, Wen Ran's hands trembled slightly as she pulled on her clothes. The earlier rush of passion, compounded by the cramped space, had left her body aching and drained.
"Ranran, are you done?"
Two minutes later, his gentle voice came from the open door. Now fully dressed, he had regained his usual elegance and composure.
Since pulling her up from the cliff, he had been calling her "Ranran" instead of "Wen Ran." The shift was subtle, but every syllable dripped with affection.
"All done," she replied softly.
She had been wearing a dress today with a light jacket over it. Despite their earlier urgency, Mo Xiuchen had been careful—not tearing her clothes in haste.
The lingering scent of passion still clung to the air, infusing it with an intimate tension. Mo Xiuchen slid back into the car, his eyes darkening slightly. Retrieving the first-aid kit, he took out the disinfectants. "This may sting a little. Bear with it."
"It's alright. I'm not afraid," she replied, lips pressed tight.
She wasn't afraid of death. Why would she fear a little pain?