Mo Xiuchen may seem a bit cold at first, but he carries himself with true gentlemanly grace. In front of Wen Ran's friends, he always gives her the respect she deserves.
During the meal, he was considerate to both ladies without losing his noble, elegant aura—a man of great charm. Compared to Mo Zixuan, who slept with that despicable Zhou Lin, Bai Xiaoxiao finds him much more reliable. If his health is fine, she believes Wen Ran's marriage will surely be a happy one.
After dinner, Bai Xiaoxiao wisely excused herself so as not to be a third wheel, while Wen Ran continued driving, taking Mo Xiuchen back to the company.
When the grand, impressive MS Group building came into view, Mo Xiuchen, who had been resting his eyes, opened them and said to Wen Ran, who was focused on driving, "Pull over to the side of the road. You drive my car back, and come pick me up at 5:30 this afternoon."
"Ah… that's not really appropriate!"
Wen Ran turned to look at him in surprise, and Mo Xiuchen calmly replied, "You promised at noon that you'd be responsible for buckling my seatbelt from now on."
Seeing her blink in confusion, he added, "If you're willing to buckle your own seatbelt, then driving won't be a problem. Just be careful."
"Ah…"
Then a large hand covered the one with which Wen Ran was holding the steering wheel, forcefully turning the wheel aside. The Aston narrowly avoided a collision.
Wen Ran's startled cry and the sound of brakes filled the air as her heart, after a brief pause, began to race wildly—almost as if it would burst out of her chest.
The man's tall, upright figure was so close now; his broad, warm hand firmly held her soft little hand, and his warm breath, brushing against her earlobes like a tiny flame, instantly reddened her ears.
The intimacy of that moment was inexplicably charged.
"Remember to focus on driving," he said.
His magnetic, slightly husky voice fell over her ears like sandpaper against the heart, making her pulse skip a beat. She sat stiffly in her seat, too nervous to turn her head, silently arguing that she had always driven attentively—and that his distraction was partly to blame as well.
Seconds passed, and the man beside her neither let go of her hand nor moved away. Whether he was waiting for her answer or simply enjoying the closeness, his deep eyes fixed on her blushing, delicate cheeks. Her naturally fair skin was now tinted with a soft blush, reminiscent of a perfectly ripened peach after a rain—so tempting one might want to take a bite.
She was the first woman he didn't find repulsive—in fact, he truly enjoyed being with her. That feeling reminded him of how it was with that little girl he once knew.
Not wanting to remain awkwardly cramped in the car, Wen Ran leaned toward the door and turned her head. Even then, Mo Xiuchen's handsome face was still so near, his exhaled breath washing over her nostrils. Ignoring her chaotic heartbeat, she asked in a slightly trembling voice,
"Don't you want to get out of the car?"
Mo Xiuchen's deep, mysterious eyes met hers, and he countered with,
"Are you afraid of me?"
Wen Ran was momentarily stunned, then quickly shook her head. It wasn't fear—it was merely unfamiliarity. Although they were now husband and wife in name, nothing had happened between them last night.
"Do you want me to be, as the rumors say, incapable for life?" he pressed.
Mo Xiuchen seemed intent on challenging her; as he spoke, his large hand casually unfastened his seatbelt, making it even easier for him to lean toward her.