"From the day we registered our marriage, you became my wife, Wenran. You once promised that unless I were the one to propose a divorce, you would remain by my side for the rest of your life—did you not?"
Seeing her lips pressed in silence, Mo Xiuchen asked again, his deep and magnetic voice striking her heart like a heavy blow. Her heartbeat faltered, and astonishment flickered across her clear eyes.
"Yes, I meant what I said."
Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Wenran answered softly.
In the driver's seat, Mo Xiuchen's gaze darkened with unreadable depth. Whether he was satisfied with her reply remained unclear. After a brief silence, his voice deepened, imbued with his usual dominance and intensity.
"Then from now on, without my permission, you are not allowed to do something as reckless as you did tonight."
He needed her solemn promise—he needed to warn her with gravity.
The road ahead would undoubtedly be treacherous, with countless storms awaiting them. The helpless terror of last night—like being strangled with no room to fight back—was not something he ever wished to relive.
Wenran couldn't quite untangle her feelings. Amid the warmth that surrounded her heart, unfamiliar emotions stirred. Did he mean that even if she had been violated tonight, he would not despise her?
Mo Xiuchen took Wenran to the hospital, where her wounds were redressed. He even instructed the doctor explicitly not to let a single scar remain on her face.
With medicine applied and prescriptions in hand, they returned to the hotel—it was already past two in the morning.
He had reserved a room beforehand in the same hotel she was staying at. Taking the key card, and before she could speak, he said, "It's already the middle of the night. Bai Xiaoxiao is surely asleep. Don't wake her—stay with me tonight."
Wenran nodded slightly, a soft blush blooming across her fair cheeks.
Her heartbeat skipped a rhythm.
…
All the way, Mo Xiuchen held her hand tightly. Once they exited the elevator, he bent down and suddenly swept her into his arms. Unprepared, Wenran let out a gasp, her eyes widening in surprise.
He caught the astonishment in her gaze and smiled, a perfect arc lifting his lips. In a low voice, he said, "There wasn't enough space in the car—you must be exhausted. Now that we're alone, let me carry you."
Her flushed face buried into his chest. The deep rumble of his laughter reverberated against her skin. When she looked up, she saw him smiling with a seductive charm that made her heart tremble once more.
Even as he opened the door, he didn't set her down. Carrying her inside, he smoothly closed the door with a flick of his foot—and without pause, resumed the tender intimacy they'd just begun…
…
The shrill ring of a phone shattered the tender ambiance of the room.
"My phone…"
Wenran's breath hitched, her voice barely audible.
"Ignore it. We'll answer later."
"Mo Xiuchen, it might be something important. Take it first."
Seeing the shyness in her eyes, Mo Xiuchen's smoldering gaze softened with a smile. "Alright." He sat up and reached into his pocket for the phone.
Noticing her gaze lingering on him, he turned his head as he answered the call, flashing her a gentle smile that made Wenran's heart skip once again.
"Hello?"
His rich, deep voice flowed like velvet as he reached for her wrist, pulling her into his arms.
She stumbled forward, falling into his embrace.
His smile widened with indulgent delight.
"Xiuchen, have you left the mountain? What about those bastards—will you hand them to the police or…?"
It was Luo Haofeng on the line. He was still waiting at Uncle Ming's place, expecting Mo Xiuchen to return and decide how to deal with the culprits. He hadn't realized Mo Xiuchen had already brought Wenran back to the hotel.
"Hold on."
At the mention of those men, Mo Xiuchen's expression instantly turned cold. Looking down at the woman in his arms, he asked, "Ranran, how do you want to deal with those who hurt you?"
Her flushed face rose from his chest. After a brief moment of thought, her voice turned cold and resolute. "Call the police. Let the law deal with them. Perhaps the one who tried to ruin me is linked to the person responsible for my parents' deaths."
Catching the flash of hatred in her eyes, Mo Xiuchen's chest tightened. He held her more firmly and spoke into the phone, "Haofeng, hand those scum over to the police. Tell Uncle Ming I'll thank him personally tomorrow."
"Got it. And…"
"We'll talk about everything else tomorrow."
Mo Xiuchen cut him off and ended the call. Tossing the phone onto the nightstand, he leaned down to continue what had just been so sweetly interrupted…
…
Bai Xiaoxiao called Wenran's phone—Mo Xiuchen picked up.
"Mo Xiuchen, where's Ranran? Haofeng said she was drugged last night. Is she alright?"
"She's fine now."
His voice on the other end was deep and terse. Only in front of Wenran did Mo Xiuchen show warmth and verbosity. To other women, he remained cold, distant, and sparing with words.