"Alright. As long as you come back, I won't blame myself."
Wen Jin's voice instantly shed its earlier heaviness, becoming tender and indulgent once more.
After exchanging a few more words with his sister, he ended the call. A cold glint flickered across his ink-dark eyes as he dialed another number.
"Hello, Young Master Wen. What can I do for you?"
After a few rings, a clear and cheerful voice answered.
"Tell your friend—whatever means he must use—he must find out who ordered those men to harm my sister. Also, if you're free this morning, come to the hospital."
Wen Jin's tone was icy, his finely-chiseled features exuding an austere coldness, a frigid aura encircling him.
"Got it. I'm out on a task now—I'll find you around noon."
F City, Hotel.
Bai Xiaoxiao's gaze swept ambiguously over the red marks on Wen Ran's neck, her expression teasing. "Ranran, how many times did you and Mo Xiuchen… do it last night?"
Already feeling awkward under her stare, Wen Ran's mind involuntarily replayed the scenes of the previous night…
Eventually, she had fallen asleep from sheer exhaustion.
Seeing her blush, Bai Xiaoxiao held up her fingers and counted playfully, "Three… four… five… Oh my—"
Wen Ran rolled her eyes at her and swatted her hand away. She quickly changed the subject, "I'm heading back to G City today. I won't be able to go shopping with you. Are you staying a few more days, or coming with me?"
"Don't change the subject—answer me first! How many times was it last night? And how was Mo Xiuchen's performance? The rumors said he was impotent. Ranran, did you cure him? Was it those outfits I bought you that did the trick?"
"You ask too many ridiculous questions."
Wen Ran gave her an exasperated look—what kind of questions were those?
Bai Xiaoxiao narrowed her eyes, her gaze locked onto Wen Ran's flushed cheeks, grinning, "You don't need to say anything—I can already guess…"
"Bai Xiaoxiao, have you no shame?"
Wen Ran truly couldn't stand her. In the past, these kinds of jokes wouldn't bother her. But after what happened last night, every word Xiaoxiao spoke brought back those intensely intimate scenes. She wished she had a needle and thread to sew her friend's mouth shut.
"Why should I be ashamed? I'm just talking—but you actually did it."
Bai Xiaoxiao arched an eyebrow with a knowing smirk. "At least now I don't have to worry about you being celibate for life. Maybe you and Mo Xiuchen really are fated—he feels nothing for other women, and treats them all with icy indifference, except for you."
"That's impossible."
Though Wen Ran said this out loud, a faint delight blossomed within her. Whether or not he was cold to other women, she wasn't sure—but toward her, he had indeed been… unusually gentle.
"Tch! Why not? You didn't see how fierce he was when I called you this morning. He said you were too exhausted and forbade me from disturbing you. Then I bumped into him in the corridor—he wouldn't even let me see you. As if you belonged solely to him."
"You're exaggerating," Wen Ran said with a laugh, just as the doorbell rang.
Bai Xiaoxiao got up to open the door and returned shortly with a shopping bag, grinning. "Mo Xiuchen is really attentive—he even brought you a change of clothes. Yesterday's outfit was shredded, wasn't it?"
She pulled out the clothes—it was the latest trendy style, even including undergarments.
"It was torn when I ran through the trees last night," Wen Ran said lightly.
"You still haven't told me what happened. How did you get those injuries? And how did Mo Xiuchen find you?"
Earlier, she'd been too distracted by curiosity over Mo Xiuchen's "abilities" to ask about the ordeal.
"I was knocked out outside the restroom. When I woke up, the car was heading into the mountains. I tried to escape when they opened the door, but they chased me to a cliff. With nowhere left to run—I jumped."
"You jumped off a cliff?!"
Bai Xiaoxiao's face turned pale.
No wonder Jin-ge had sounded so frantic on the phone this morning. She glanced at the bandaged arm—freshly wrapped, judging by the look of it. "How high was it? How could you be so reckless?"
Wen Ran forced a smile. "In that situation, I had no choice. They drugged me… I was afraid of what might happen…"
"Ranran, we must find the one behind this and tear them apart limb by limb!"
Bai Xiaoxiao's eyes reddened as she suddenly embraced Wen Ran, her voice trembling with fury.
What kind of monster could be so cruel, so determined to ruin her?
"I'm alright now, Xiaoxiao. They say those who survive great calamities are destined for future blessings. That car crash took away my parents, and my brother shielded me with his body. Last night, I jumped off a cliff, and a tree and vines saved me. It just means I'm hard to kill."
"Yeah, you're too tough to break. No one can hurt you."
But Bai Xiaoxiao couldn't suppress the ache in her chest. Wen Ran had suffered too much in the span of a single month. As her best friend, she hated being powerless to help.
"Alright now, how am I supposed to get dressed with you clinging to me like this?"
Wen Ran smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
Just as Bai Xiaoxiao let go, her phone rang again—this time, it was Mo Xiuchen calling.
"It's for you."
With a knowing grin, Bai Xiaoxiao handed over the phone and stepped back, her bright smile returning.
Wen Ran answered softly, "Hello?"
"I just spoke with your brother. Figured Bai Xiaoxiao would've already woken you up. Did the clothes I sent fit?"
Mo Xiuchen's voice was low and gentle, sending a ripple through her chest. Wen Ran glanced at the clothes on the bed and replied, "I haven't tried them yet, but they should fit."
When her eyes landed on the undergarments, her cheeks flushed crimson and her heart raced uncontrollably.
"I've booked us on the 2 p.m. flight."
"Xiaoxiao's coming too."
Wen Ran looked at Bai Xiaoxiao. Though she hadn't answered earlier, since they came together, it was unlikely she'd stay behind.
"Alright," Mo Xiuchen replied softly, catching her meaning.
After a pause, he added, "Eat a little breakfast before you go. I'll come back at noon and have lunch with you."
"No need. You've got work to do, and I've got Xiaoxiao to keep me company."
Wen Ran refused him instinctively. After the intimacy of the night before, she didn't feel ready to face him.
It wasn't just the memories that might overwhelm her—her emotions were tangled, chaotic, hard to parse.
Her heart always seemed to falter where he was concerned. And she didn't yet know… if that was a good thing or a bad one.
There was a short silence on the other end. When Mo Xiuchen finally spoke again, his voice was even lower, tinged with a quiet restraint.
"Alright. I'll come get you in the afternoon."