Mo Xiuchen spoke in a soft voice, "I'll disinfect your wounds first. Once we're down the mountain, we'll head to the hospital."
"It's not that deep. Just disinfect it and apply some medicine—it'll be fine. No need to go to the hospital."
It was already the early hours of morning, and Wen Ran found the idea of going to the hospital too troublesome.
Mo Xiuchen frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on the cut on her left cheek. His tone was resolute:
"No, you must go. If a scar remains on your face, it won't be acceptable."
Wen Ran didn't respond—because the moment the iodine-soaked swab touched her wound, a sharp pain surged through her. Instinctively, she bit down on her lower lip, her brows furrowing in pain.
"Don't bite your lip again—you've already broken the skin."
Seeing her discomfort, Mo Xiuchen's brows drew together. He extended his long fingers toward her lips.
The warmth of his fingertip brushing against her lip made Wen Ran's heart tremble. She released her bite at once.
From that moment on, no matter how much it hurt, she dared not bite her lip again and endured it silently. Mo Xiuchen's movements were as gentle as possible. Though not a doctor, frequent time spent with Gu Kai had made him adept at basic first aid.
Roughly ten minutes later, he finished treating her wounds and closed the medical kit. As he prepared to start the car, Wen Ran softly asked,
"Does my brother know what happened tonight?"
Mo Xiuchen's hand had just touched the steering wheel. Hearing her, he turned to her and explained gently,
"Bai Xiaoxiao found your phone. It's with me now. When I was climbing the mountain, your brother called. I told him you'd fallen asleep—he should've believed it. It's quite late. If you call him now, it might not be appropriate. Let's wait until morning."
"My brother called looking for me?"
Wen Ran's eyes widened in surprise, fixed on Mo Xiuchen.
He nodded and answered with a calm "Mm," then smiled faintly.
"If it puts your mind at ease, I can ask A'Kai to call and check on him for you."
Wen Ran thought for a moment and then shook her head. "No need. I'll call him myself tomorrow."
"Alright."
Mo Xiuchen smiled warmly and sat upright, starting the car.
The descent down the mountain was steady. Although the path twisted and turned, and some stretches were rough, his driving was smooth—Wen Ran barely felt any jolts.
Unlike the fear and unease she'd felt climbing up, now, with him by her side—and after what had just transpired between them—she found herself watching him quietly, an unfamiliar tenderness slowly blossoming within her heart.
"If you're tired, close your eyes and rest. I'll wake you when we arrive at the hospital."
Every time Mo Xiuchen glanced at the rearview mirror, she was still looking at him with the same soft gaze.
Since the day they were married, she had tried hard to play the role of a good wife. But never before had her eyes held such tender emotion—tonight, something had shifted.
He was keenly aware of this change.
His lips curved upward uncontrollably, and the usual austere lines of his face softened. In the dim glow of the dashboard lights, he seemed gentle as jade.
When his eyes met hers, Wen Ran's heart skipped a beat. She looked away shyly, lowering her lashes.
"I'm not tired," she murmured.
She wasn't sure how far they still had to go. If she fell asleep, Mo Xiuchen would be left alone, weary. She'd rather stay awake and accompany him quietly.
"The road ahead is smoother. We'll be in the city in just over ten minutes."
It was as though he could see through her thoughts. His voice was gentle, tinged with a warmth that lingered.
Wen Ran turned to glance out the window. It was late—hardly any cars were on the road. Unlike the winding descent, this stretch was wide and straight. No need to drive slowly anymore.
She turned back to him and asked,
"How did you find where I was?"
Those men had followed her into the restaurant. Though she had expected they might make another move, she hadn't anticipated their boldness—she had merely stepped out to take a call, and they'd seized the chance.
A shadow of coldness flickered in Mo Xiuchen's eyes, vanishing quickly.
Looking back at her, his gaze deepened, warm and calm.
"I had someone investigate the number that called you last night. Right after your call ended, I started tracking them. I didn't expect them to move so fast—to abduct you like that."
As he spoke, his eyes darkened.
When Luo Haofeng called to say she had been kidnapped, it felt like someone had clenched his heart in a vice. That feeling was unbearable.
Then, when he arrived at the mountaintop and heard she had jumped off the cliff trying to escape—his heart stopped altogether. A terror he had never known seized him.
His only thought was: Let her live.
Later, when he heard her voice and saw her dangling from a tree a few meters below the edge, he had felt both immense relief and paralyzing fear—afraid she might fall before he reached her.
In the car, as they kissed and clung to each other, he had made a decision—one he would never waver from. He would never let her go again.
He paused briefly before continuing:
"Ah Feng wanted to call the police, but I feared it would take too long for them to find you. So I asked Uncle Ming—Ah Mu's friend—for help. He's quite influential in F City and familiar with the underworld. It was thanks to him that we found out who the culprits were. But still…I was a step too late."
His voice grew heavier with a hint of guilt.
Wen Ran was his wife. It was his duty to protect her from all harm.
She heard the remorse beneath his words, and warmth bloomed in her chest.
"No," she said softly. "You weren't late."
That he had found her in such a short time had already far exceeded her expectations.
If he hadn't come, she would have died.
Mo Xiuchen's lips pressed into a tight line. He turned to her again and spoke in a low, solemn voice:
"Ranran, promise me one thing, will you?"
Her lashes fluttered. She looked down at his hand resting firmly on the steering wheel and asked gently,
"What is it?"
Mo Xiuchen glanced at her, then turned his eyes back to the road. His profile was sharp and refined, lips pursed into a steady line, hands gripping the wheel with quiet strength. In that moment, he radiated noble grace and irresistible allure.
"No matter what happens in the future," he said, "don't ever give up on your life so easily."
His voice was low, but the emotion beneath it stirred something deep within Wen Ran.
She blinked in surprise, and her heart clenched involuntarily.
In such a situation as tonight, she would rather die than be defiled.