Mo Xiuchen gazed at her with deep, sharp eyes, his voice overbearing and allowing no room for Wen Ran to refuse. "Since you haven't forgotten, then let's go."
Wen Ran furrowed her brows tightly, instinctively trying to explain, "Can we wait a little longer? I just called Xiaoxiao and Li Jie—they're on their way to the hospital. It wouldn't be right for me to leave now."
"Alright."
Looking into her clear, watery eyes, Mo Xiuchen found himself unable to reject her request. He pressed his thin lips together before speaking in a cold tone, "Stay here and wait. I'll have Aunt Zhang prepare some soup and bring it over. Later, come find me in Gu Kai's office or call me."
After saying that, Mo Xiuchen turned and walked away.
Wen Ran wanted to tell him not to trouble Aunt Zhang, but he walked too fast, not giving her a chance to refuse. She frowned slightly but let it go.
Bai Xiaoxiao and Li Qian arrived at the hospital together, taking the elevator upstairs.
"Ranran, didn't you say Brother Jin woke up? Why aren't you inside keeping him company? Why are you standing out here?" Bai Xiaoxiao asked excitedly, while Li Qian smiled at her.
Wen Ran's eyebrows and eyes were filled with joy—she couldn't hide it even if she tried. When her brother was mentioned, she immediately brightened up, speaking cheerfully, "Yes! My brother really woke up! But he said he was tired and wanted to sleep a little longer, so I came out."
Bai Xiaoxiao's smile was replaced by regret. "Ah! Looks like Li Jie and I came too late. Since Brother Jin is asleep, we won't go in and disturb him. I'll call my mom right now and have her make some soup, so he'll have something warm to drink when he wakes up tonight."
Li Qian smiled and said, "I'll call Old Chen and ask him to send some from the hotel instead."
"There's no need! Really, no need!" Wen Ran waved her hands. "Mo Xiuchen already called and asked Aunt Zhang to prepare some soup. Xiaoxiao, Li Jie, you don't have to trouble yourselves."
Hearing this, Bai Xiaoxiao's smile returned, now tinged with playful mischief. She teased, "Ranran, Mo Xiuchen is getting better and better to you. Are you going to listen to everything he says from now on?"
Wen Ran shot her a glare and said softly, "My brother waking up—he had something to do with that too."
"I don't get it." Bai Xiaoxiao blinked in confusion. "Ranran, what does Mo Xiuchen have to do with Brother Jin waking up? Are you falling for him so much that you think he's all-powerful now?"
"Shhh! Keep your voice down—you'll wake my brother."
Wen Ran put a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture before glancing toward the hospital room. Then, she told Bai Xiaoxiao and Li Qian what Mo Xiuchen had said to her brother earlier.
Li Qian smiled and said, "Ranran, that's not impossible. Maybe your brother was so emotionally affected that he woke up. No matter what, him waking up is the most important thing. Everything else doesn't matter. And you shouldn't keep blaming Mo Xiuchen for that matter."
Thinking of Mo Xiuchen, Wen Ran suddenly remembered the dinner at the Mo family's house tonight. She looked at Bai Xiaoxiao and Li Qian, hesitating before saying, "Xiaoxiao, Li Jie, do either of you have time to stay here and take care of my brother tonight? Today is Mo Xiuchen's birthday, and he promised his dad a few days ago that he'd go home for dinner."
"I'll stay! I'm free these days anyway."
Bai Xiaoxiao volunteered eagerly—she had been looking for something to do.
"Alright, since Xiaoxiao wants to stay, I won't compete with you," Li Qian said, then turned to Wen Ran. "Ranran, since you're going to the Mo family's dinner, you should go quickly. Don't keep Mo Xiuchen waiting."
Wen Ran nodded and thanked them before leaving.
—
"Why?"
Wen Ran looked at Mo Xiuchen in confusion. After she had arranged for someone to take care of her brother, he suddenly said they weren't going to dinner tonight anymore.
Instead, he told her to stay at the hospital with her brother.
Mo Xiuchen's deep eyes swept over her doubtful face as he changed the subject. "Buckle up first."
Wen Ran pursed her lips and lowered her head to fasten her seatbelt.
"Your brother just woke up today—you must be really emotional. Even if you went home with me for dinner, your heart would still be here at the hospital. It's better to go another day."
Mo Xiuchen explained calmly. Wen Ran, having fastened her seatbelt, looked up at him. "But you already promised to go back for dinner. Now suddenly not going—won't that be bad?"
Hearing this, Mo Xiuchen's expression turned cold instantly. "I only do what I want to do—there's no such thing as good or bad."
Since his mother passed away, that place had never been his home!
Normally, he wouldn't return for years. The only reason he had agreed this time was because Mo Zixuan had walked into his office that day…
"But… isn't Cheng Jia going too?"
Wen Ran hesitated. Seeing his sudden change in demeanor, she guessed it had something to do with his mother's death.
"I didn't invite her."
Mo Xiuchen spoke indifferently. The fact that Xiao Wenqing had invited Cheng Jia to dinner—not on any other day, but specifically on his birthday, which was also his mother's death anniversary—showed her true intentions.
"Then… are you going to call and let them know?"
"No need."
Mo Xiuchen coldly spat out two words and started the car.
—
As soon as the Aston Martin entered the garage, Mo Xiuchen's phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, his eyes flashed with coldness, and his chiseled features hardened with frost.
"Hello."
"Xiuchen, when are you and Wen Ran arriving? We're only waiting for you two now."
Hearing Mo Jingteng's voice from the speaker, Wen Ran was slightly taken aback and looked up at Mo Xiuchen in surprise.
He had put the call on speakerphone!
"We're not coming."
Mo Xiuchen's voice was devoid of warmth, as if he were speaking to a stranger rather than his own father.
"Why? Didn't you agree earlier? Your Aunt Xiao specially had the kitchen prepare your favorite dishes and even ordered a cake…"
"You got it wrong. Today is not my birthday—it's my mother's death anniversary. Wen Ran and I are going to the cemetery to pay our respects to her."
Mo Xiuchen's voice suddenly sharpened with anger, startling Wen Ran beside him.
On the other end of the line, Mo Jingteng fell silent for a long moment. When he finally spoke again, his voice carried a hint of age and unspoken emotion. "Then… after you visit your mother, will you still come back?"
"No."
"Xiuchen, even if you don't think of yourself, at least think of Wen Ran. She may be married to you, but as long as she hasn't formally stepped into the Mo family's house, she isn't truly the Young Madam of the Mo family…"
Mo Jingteng had finally realized that his son regarded Wen Ran differently. Even Cheng Jia, the lifesaver he had painstakingly found, could not compare.
Tonight was meant to express gratitude to Cheng Jia for saving his life, yet Mo Xiuchen had left her hanging.
Mo Xiuchen sneered coldly, about to refuse again when Mo Jingteng added, "Tonight, I plan to finalize Zixuan and Zhou Lin's marriage. Since you and Wen Ran have registered but haven't had a wedding yet, it would be a good time to discuss…"