Mo Xiuchen didn't hand her the bag right away. His dark, penetrating gaze locked onto her, his questioning tone carrying an undeniable authority.
Wen Ran's eyes flashed with slight astonishment. When she realized his sternness came from concern, a warmth blossomed in her heart. She smiled and replied lightly, "I used warm water, not cold."
Whether it was her explanation or the brightness of her smile, something made it difficult for Mo Xiuchen to keep his serious expression. The tension in his face eased slightly, and after a moment of studying her, he finally handed her the bag. His voice, though not exactly gentle, carried a smoother warmth. "Go change."
Wen Ran took the bag from his hand and cheerfully said, "Thank you," before heading to the bathroom.
Inside, she opened the bag and was momentarily stunned when she saw that the sanitary pads were the exact brand she usually used. A second later, she brushed off the thought, assuming it was just a coincidence—there was no way he could have known her preference.
When she stepped out of the bathroom, Mo Xiuchen, who had been sitting on the sofa, stood up. His gaze swept over her before he asked in a warm tone, "Your stomach doesn't hurt, does it?"
Wen Ran shook her head. Discussing such things with a man, especially with how nonchalantly he asked, made her feel awkward. She hesitated before answering, "Not this time."
"You get pain sometimes?"
Mo Xiuchen's sharp brows furrowed slightly, his gaze locked onto her.
Wen Ran thought for a moment and replied, "Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it doesn't. But it's never too bad."
"That's good. Let's sleep."
With that, he took steady, unhurried steps toward her. His tall frame, nearly a head taller than hers, blocked the light above, casting her into his shadow. His warm breath fanned against her nose, seeping into her lungs with every inhale and spreading through her bloodstream.
The thought of sleeping beside him made Wen Ran inexplicably nervous again. She glanced at the spacious bed, contemplating an excuse to retreat to the guest room. But before she could speak, Mo Xiuchen beat her to it. "You don't need me to carry you to bed, do you?"
"…No!"
The words she had meant to say got stuck in her throat. Seeing the serious look on his face, she knew he wasn't joking. Recalling how he had forcefully pulled her to the middle of the bed that previous night, she was certain that if she didn't move on her own, he would make good on his words.
To avoid being picked up, she chose to walk to the bed by herself.
Just as she was about to climb in, Mo Xiuchen ordered from behind, "Turn on the bedside lamp."
She turned on the bedside lamp as instructed, and only then did he switch off the main lights and walk over. Seeing her settle at the edge of the bed, his brows knitted immediately. His voice was low and commanding. "Sleep in the middle."
"Oh…"
Wen Ran hesitated but obeyed, scooting closer to the center. Just as she was about to pull the blanket over herself, she heard another order.
"Turn around."
"…"
She silently protested in her mind but lacked the courage to voice it. Slowly and stiffly, she turned around.
The next moment, the man beside her slid down onto the bed. A strong arm reached out, pulling her directly into his embrace. Before she could struggle, his other arm wrapped around her waist, securing her completely against him.
"Mo Xiuchen!"
Wen Ran gasped, her voice trembling. Being held so tightly made her entire body freeze.
"I'll give you a week to get used to it. Now sleep."
Mo Xiuchen declared his decision overbearingly, then closed his eyes, completely ignoring her.
Wen Ran remained stiff in his arms, her flushed face buried against his chest. The steady, powerful rhythm of his heartbeat echoed in her ears, contrasting starkly with the erratic pounding of her own. Any trace of sleepiness she had was utterly driven away.