Bai Xiaoxiao followed Wen Ran and Mo Xiuchen back to G City. After disembarking the plane, Mo Xiuchen took a call, his expression darkening slightly. He caught up to Wen Ran in a few strides and said, "Something urgent has come up—I can't go to the hospital with you. Let Miss Bai accompany you for now. I'll come pick you up shortly."
"Go ahead, don't worry about me," Wen Ran replied, noticing the seriousness in his eyes. She hesitated, then added, "You take the car. Xiaoxiao and I will get a taxi to the hospital."
Off to the side, Bai Xiaoxiao frowned, clearly displeased that Mo Xiuchen wouldn't accompany Wen Ran. After all, they had only just become husband and wife last night—and he had left such visible marks on her…
Mo Xiuchen shook his head slightly, his cold aura softening a fraction. "No need. Let Xiao Liu drive you to the hospital. Someone's coming to pick me up."
With that, he cast a meaningful glance at Xiao Liu, who immediately understood. "Young Madam, please get in."
Wen Ran nodded and got in the car with Bai Xiaoxiao.
Mo Xiuchen stood tall outside, watching the vehicle merge into traffic. Only once it disappeared from view did he turn and head in the opposite direction.
—
Half an hour later, Wen Ran and Bai Xiaoxiao arrived at the hospital. While waiting for the elevator, they ran into Gu Kai.
"Ranran, how's your injury?"
Gu Kai called out as he approached. His jet-black eyes swept over her arm, eventually landing on her left cheek. The scabbed wound stood out starkly against her delicate, fair face.
Wen Ran smiled gently, her tone light. "I'm fine. No need to worry, Brother Gu."
Gu Kai reached out and took her arm. "Let me see your wound."
Wen Ran paused, but didn't pull away.
After examining her injury, Gu Kai said kindly, "Go see your brother first. Later, I'll reapply the medicine for you. I have a special ointment—it'll prevent any scarring."
"There's no need to trouble yourself with that. It's such a minor matter."
Wen Ran gently declined. She knew that because of Mo Xiuchen, Gu Kai had always treated her with particular care.
Gu Kai released her with a smile, a touch of teasing in his voice. "It's rare I can be of help. Since you call me Brother Gu, don't be so polite. Your brother must be anxious—go ahead, the elevator's here."
He had already said so much. If Wen Ran refused again, she'd only seem overly coy.
She gave a playful smile. "Alright then. I'll check on my brother first and come find you later."
"Go on."
Gu Kai pressed the elevator button and watched as the doors closed behind the two women. Only then did he press his lips into a thin line, a frown forming as something unreadable faded from his gaze.
He knew it—Mo Xiuchen's attitude toward Wen Ran had influenced him. Every time he saw her, he felt a strange sense of familiarity. Mo Xiuchen might claim she was his savior, but Gu Kai couldn't. His sister had a birthmark beneath her chin. Wen Ran didn't.
—
Wen Ran pushed open the hospital room door and was met with the sight of Wen Jin collapsed on the floor, his face pale with pain, struggling to rise.
Her expression changed in an instant. "Brother!" she cried, rushing forward and dropping to his side. "What happened?"
Wen Jin froze at the sound of her voice. He slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers.
The moment their eyes met, joy lit up his gentle features—but it was quickly overtaken by anguish as he caught sight of the wound on her cheek. "Ranran… your face?"
Wen Ran shook her head and gently supported his arm. "I'm fine. Let's get you up first. Your leg still needs time to heal. You can't keep pushing yourself like this."
But Wen Jin didn't seem to hear her. His gaze, filled with sorrow, remained fixed on her face. Slowly, his trembling fingers reached up to trace the scar on her cheek, and the guilt in his heart surged unbearably.
Since childhood, he had cherished this sister like a precious gem, never allowing anyone to harm her. During the car accident, he had shielded her with his own body, without a second thought.
Now, she bore injuries—nearly met a fate too horrible to imagine.
Just thinking of the events from the night before filled him with self-reproach. He longed to recover, to become stronger, so he could protect her himself.
His eyes shifted from the wound on her face to the faint pink traces at her collarbone. She wore a high-neck dress today, but it couldn't completely conceal the marks.
The fingers brushing her cheek stiffened, as though a blade had slashed across his heart—no blood, but deep, aching pain. Though those men hadn't succeeded in hurting her, she had still… become one with Mo Xiuchen.
It seemed his earlier suspicions had been correct—Mo Xiuchen must have lied to everyone. His so-called "condition" never existed.
Bai Xiaoxiao glanced at the two siblings—one seated, one crouched. She exchanged a look with the attending nurse, and they quietly exited the room.
Wen Ran's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Her delicate skin still bore the traces left by Mo Xiuchen, and the hickeys on her neck were impossible to hide.
"Brother, let's get you up, alright?"
Seeing the pain in his eyes, she bit her lip and tried to change the subject.
"Alright."
Wen Jin inhaled deeply, withdrew his hand from her face, and with her support, rose to his feet. "Help me to the sofa. I don't want to spend every day like some useless cripple, lying in bed or stuck in a wheelchair."
"You're not a cripple. Don't say that about yourself."
Wen Ran's eyes reddened. Seeing her brother like this made her heart ache beyond words.
"Alright, I won't say it again."
Wen Jin couldn't bear to see her upset. The moment he saw her eyes well up, he immediately relented.
"That's better."
A gentle smile bloomed on Wen Ran's face. The scar didn't mar her beauty—instead, it only stirred deeper pity in those who looked upon her.
She helped him to the sofa and poured him a glass of water before sitting beside him. Wen Jin grasped her wrist, his eyes falling to the injury on her arm.
"Ranran, can you tell me what happened last night?"
Wen Ran's smile was bright and radiant. Though she had faced fear, despair, and even the shadow of death the night before, she tucked away all those emotions before her brother. With ease and calm, she nodded.
"Of course. I'll tell you everything."
Wen Jin returned her smile, his eyes filled with tenderness and quiet sorrow.