In the early morning, Wen Ran opened her eyes to find that Mo Xiuchen's presence was nowhere to be seen on the spacious bed.
However, the air still carried a faint trace of his masculine scent, and the lingering warmth in the blankets reminded her that, indeed, she had spent the night in the same bed with Mo Xiuchen.
Barely off the bed, her phone began to ring.
Seeing the caller ID, Wen Ran's brows furrowed slightly—it was Bai Xiaoxiao, that troublesome girl, surely calling to pry for "military intelligence."
Sure enough, the moment she answered with a "hello," Bai Xiaoxiao's voice burst out from the phone, excited and curious: "Ranran, hurry and tell me—how did last night's 'battle' go?"
"Battle? You big dummy—I was just about to hold you accountable," Wen Ran replied irritably, recalling how Mo Xiuchen had seen her in that nightgown last night. She nearly wanted to strangle that meddlesome Bai Xiaoxiao.
"Hold you accountable? Do you mean he completely drained you?" Bai Xiaoxiao's mind was already conjuring vivid images, and her laughter on the other end turned devilish. If it weren't over the phone, Wen Ran might have pounced on her and told her off for having such impure thoughts.
"No, I already told you—Mo Xiuchen really is… he does have issues in that department," Wen Ran said, her mind involuntarily replaying the spectacular scene from the previous night… and her small face flushed crimson.
Thankfully, behind the phone line, Bai Xiaoxiao couldn't see her blushing face. She tried to comfort her, "Ranran, don't be discouraged. Take your time. I'll figure something out for you—one day, I promise you'll be a happily married woman."
"Bai Xiaoxiao!" Wen Ran snapped, "I think you're the one who's lost it. If you're so desperate to break up with someone, go ahead and pounce on your brother Xiao."
"Don't even mention him—talk about him again and I'm done," Bai Xiaoxiao retorted immediately.
At the mention of her "brother Xiao," Bai Xiaoxiao's tone shifted instantly. Wen Ran paused, blinking, and then asked, "You stood me up yesterday, wasn't that Xiao Yuting?"
"Who else? From now on, I, Bai Xiaoxiao, am determined to erase Xiao Yuting from my heart."
Bai Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth emphatically. For words she'd repeated a thousand times yet still remained hopelessly infatuated with Xiao Yuting, Wen Ran just let them pass by like wind.
"I'm serious—I'm going to excise him from my heart this time."
Without another word, Bai Xiaoxiao emphasized her resolve.
"Alright, if you're that serious, why don't you try blind dating?" Wen Ran joked. If Bai Xiaoxiao could forget about Xiao Yuting, then the sun would rise from the west.
After finishing her call with Bai Xiaoxiao, Wen Ran prepared to head downstairs when her phone rang again. Seeing Mo Xiuchen's name on the caller display, a flicker of surprise crossed her clear eyes. Assuming he was waiting for her to have breakfast, she didn't immediately answer but briskly left her room.
As she descended the stairs and glanced into the living room, she saw no sign of him. Puzzled, she furrowed her brows and pressed the answer button, "Hello?"
"I have some urgent business. I need to go on a trip for a few days—maybe ten days, or even a fortnight."
"Ah, where are you now?"
Wen Ran hurried downstairs, casting a quick look around the living room. In her ear, Mo Xiuchen's voice said, "I'm on my way to the airport. It was a last-minute decision. If there are any issues at the pharmaceutical plant, contact Tan Mu."
"Okay. Take care out there—don't overwork yourself," Wen Ran replied with concern. Hearing that he was leaving on a business trip, her first thought was that she wouldn't have to share a bed with him anymore—and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.