Mo Xiuchen observed the rich changes in her expressions and asked in a determined tone.
Wen Ran blinked and let out an awkward laugh, saying, "Uh... I suddenly need to use the restroom. I'll go first!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she struggled to escape.
"You just went before taking a shower."
Mo Xiuchen tightened his grip on her shoulders slightly, and with a swift motion, flipped over and pinned her beneath him.
"Mo Xiuchen!"
Wen Ran gasped in surprise, her wide eyes staring at him in panic.
Mo Xiuchen deliberately pressed his weight down slightly, causing Wen Ran's body to tense up instantly, not daring to move an inch.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything to you tonight."
Sensing the stiffness in the woman beneath him and the way she stared at him without blinking, Mo Xiuchen's heart softened. His voice became gentler as he reassured her.
Wen Ran's tense nerves had just relaxed when he added, "I'll give you another week to prepare. Will that be enough?"
Her face instantly turned crimson with embarrassment. How was she supposed to answer such a question? She wasn't the type to be overly open about these things. Even when she had dated Mo Zixuan for three months, their relationship had only involved holding hands—never even a kiss.
She understood that if it weren't for Mo Xiuchen's condition, she wouldn't still be a virgin. Fulfilling her marital duties was something she should do, but that didn't mean she wasn't nervous about it.
"On our way home earlier, didn't you say you had something to tell me? What is it?"
Mo Xiuchen waited for a while, but seeing her blushing and struggling to form the word "yes," he took the initiative to change the subject.
"Can you let me sit up first?"
With the topic shifted, Wen Ran felt alive again. But being pinned under him, feeling the warmth of his body, made her mind a complete mess, making it impossible for her to have a proper conversation.
A thoughtful look flashed across Mo Xiuchen's eyes. Truthfully, maintaining such an intimate posture wasn't easy for him either. The self-control he had always prided himself on seemed to crumble when he was with Wen Ran.
Even a kiss, a hug, or the smallest movement from her could set his heart racing. Lately, he felt like he was becoming a completely different person.
He helped her sit up and lean against the headboard, then picked up the water cup from the bedside table, taking a sip. The warmth inside him subsided slightly, and his voice, no longer as husky as before, sounded deep and smooth as he spoke: "Go ahead."
Wen Ran, having just calmed her own chaotic heartbeat, sat there with her flushed cheeks illuminated by the soft crystal light, as radiant as a fine piece of jade—utterly captivating.
"I'm going on a business trip to F City on Thursday. There's a pharmaceutical trade fair on Friday."
"That's all?"
Mo Xiuchen curved his lips into a smile. He had thought it was something serious. The MS Group owned a pharmaceutical company, and he was aware of Friday's trade fair. Ah Feng would be attending.
As for him, he wouldn't be able to go. The construction of the commercial building had just begun, and he was fully in charge of it. He'd be busy for a long time.
"Yes."
Wen Ran nodded. She had wanted to tell him earlier, but he had suggested waiting until they got home.
"How many days will you be away? Are you going alone?"
"It's not just me. My brother told me to take Sister Li and two more colleagues. Zhou Mingfu had a car accident this afternoon. He used to attend every year, but he can't go this time. He suggested that I take Zhou Lin instead."
Wen Ran had unknowingly developed great trust in Mo Xiuchen, never hiding anything about her work from him.
A flicker of thought crossed Mo Xiuchen's eyes, and he said indifferently, "There's no need to take Zhou Lin. Just pick two capable subordinates from your company."
It wasn't that he suspected Zhou Mingfu of planting Zhou Lin beside Wen Ran. He was more concerned that if Zhou Lin went, Mo Zixuan might use the opportunity to follow along. Even though Wen Ran no longer paid attention to Mo Zixuan, Mo Xiuchen still didn't want that man anywhere near her.
"Mm, my brother said the same thing. I don't want to take Zhou Lin either. I'll find an excuse to turn her down."
Wen Ran's face lit up with a bright smile, her eyes gleaming with a mesmerizing glow. The sight made Mo Xiuchen's heart stir again. His gaze deepened slightly, and he said warmly, "If there's nothing else, let's sleep."
"Okay!"
Wen Ran responded softly and, as she lay down, discreetly shifted slightly to the side.
Mo Xiuchen noticed her little trick and couldn't help but smile warmly. With one swift motion, he pulled her back into his arms. Feeling her body tense up again, he let out a soft sigh and whispered into her ear, "A week will pass quickly. You should start getting used to it."
"Mm…"
Wen Ran shuddered at the sensation of his breath against her ear, her cheeks instantly flushing an even deeper red. Mo Xiuchen, entertained by her bashful reaction, let out a low chuckle, then reached for the remote control and turned off the bright crystal light.
The master bedroom was instantly enveloped in darkness.
In G City, at the hospital in the afternoon—
Zhou Lin sat by the hospital bed, peeling an apple as she complained angrily, "Dad, Wen Ran doesn't respect you at all. She assigned me to another task today and chose someone else to accompany her to F City for the pharmaceutical trade fair."
"And that makes you angry?"
Zhou Mingfu laughed coldly, his eyes flashing with a sinister light.
Zhou Lin looked at him in confusion. "Shouldn't I be? If it weren't for your accident and fractured leg, you'd be attending the trade fair like every other year."
"I knew she wouldn't let you go. Ah Lin, your anger is good. You should be angry—but only on the surface, for Wen Ran to see. Not for real."
Zhou Lin paused in her apple peeling, looking at her father in surprise. "Dad, what do you mean?"