"I'll be heading back soon—no need to trouble Xiao Liu," she said hastily, declining his offer, a faint, indescribable emotion stirring within her. In that moment, she no longer wished to rely on him too heavily.
Mo Xiuchen did not insist. "Alright then. I'll hang up now—call me once you get home."
"Okay."
Her voice was soft and subdued. Throughout this call, it felt as if their roles had reversed—Mo Xiuchen, usually reserved and succinct, had spoken the most, while she, once talkative, had little to say.
As the call ended, her appetite quietly vanished.
Noticing the subtle shift in her mood, Gu Kai didn't wait for her to speak. He beckoned the server, settled the bill, and said gently, "Ranran, let me take you home. Get some rest. I'll have the results for you within two days."
He was referring to the analysis of the ingredients in the shark fin soup.
Wen Ran forced a smile. "Alright."
—
Kangning Hospital
Inside the VIP ward, Cheng Jia slowly regained consciousness.
As her eyes fluttered open, the sight of a tall figure by the window brought a flicker of delight to her gaze. Her voice was hoarse as she called out, "Mo Shao…"
Mo Xiuchen turned upon hearing her, his deep, dark eyes landing on the frail woman on the bed—her head wrapped in gauze, her complexion pale and bloodless. Only her eyes held a faint, fragile light.
Their eyes met. Cheng Jia felt as if she were being drawn into the depths of his gaze, her heart stumbling over its own rhythm. A tender, wistful smile appeared on her lips. "Mo Shao… have you been by my side all along?"
Emotion stirred momentarily in Mo Xiuchen's eyes. He parted his lips, his response evading her question. "I spoke with the doctor. With proper rest, you'll make a full recovery."
Cheng Jia shook her head slightly. The movement pulled at her wound, drawing a flash of pain across her face. "I'm fine… as long as you're unharmed."
Mo Xiuchen's brow furrowed faintly. Had it been any other man, he might've been moved by a woman's sacrifice. Yet within him, not a ripple stirred.
He had personally gone to her hometown, found no flaws in her story, yet his instincts still told him—Cheng Jia was not the girl from the past.
Later, he had Qin Mu investigate her father's lottery win and their recent life. Everything checked out.
On the very day he returned from F City, Qin Mu confirmed it—her father's jackpot was genuine, the result of years playing the same numbers. A stroke of pure luck. No connection to Xiao Wenqing could be traced.
Even so, despite his disbelief, he had no proof to refute her identity. He wanted to deny it—but couldn't.
And after what happened this afternoon…
She caught him watching her in silence, her pale cheeks flushing faintly with embarrassment. Blinking slowly, she asked, her voice tender, "You've been here all this time… have you eaten yet?"
"I'll eat later," he replied coolly, suppressing the emotion in his tone.
Cheng Jia bit her lip, watching him stop just a few steps from her bedside. He seemed reluctant to come closer. Her heart sank, and a shadow passed through her gaze. "You should head back and eat. You've been working so hard lately… you don't need to stay with me."
Though her words urged him to leave, her heart yearned for him to stay.
Mo Xiuchen met her eyes and said mildly, "I tried to contact your parents, but they're abroad. Even if they return, it'll take a few days. I've arranged for the best private nurse—twenty-four-hour care. If you feel unwell at any time, make sure to tell the nurse or the doctor immediately."
Her eyes dimmed at his words, a curtain of sorrow falling across her face. She lowered her gaze, biting her lip—pitiful and fragile.
A flicker of something unreadable passed through Mo Xiuchen's eyes. After a moment's pause, he added, "You were injured because of me. Until your parents return, I'll ensure meals are delivered. If you need anything, just let me know."
"Mo Shao, I didn't push you away expecting a reward," she said suddenly, lifting her eyes to meet his.
There was a trace of sorrow, a hint of defiance, and a quiet yearning in her gaze—as though his offer of help had insulted her dignity.
He was silent for a few seconds, then, mindful of her condition, relented. "Very well. Let's talk when you've recovered. Rest now—I'll visit again tomorrow."
"Alright," she replied softly, her eyes lingering on him.
Ignoring the longing in her gaze, Mo Xiuchen exited the ward. The door clicked shut behind him. He paused briefly outside, gave a few quiet instructions to the incoming nurse, then strode away.
—
The Mo Residence
Xiao Wenqing was basking in the fantasy that, once Wen Ran consumed the shark fin soup, she would become infertile. But her delusion shattered when she received a call bearing grim news—the plan had failed.
Her expression changed instantly. She sprang up from the sofa and snapped into the phone, "What do you mean it failed? Didn't you say everything was foolproof?"
"I'm not sure what went wrong. There shouldn't have been any flaws," a man's voice replied—it was Wu Tianyi, her longtime lover. "Maybe you were too eager with her, made her suspicious."
A vicious glint flashed in Xiao Wenqing's eyes. Her well-maintained face twisted with fury. Recalling the meal at Yi Pin Xuan, she prided herself on her performance. Even Jiang Huiyun had once been deceived by her. What was a mere slip of a girl like Wen Ran to her?
"She didn't seem suspicious at all. She stepped out to take a call, and when she came back, said something had come up. I insisted she have the soup before leaving, and she said she'd take it to-go."
"You let her take it with her?" Wu Tianyi's voice sharpened with discontent. "What if she noticed something and took it for testing?"
Xiao Wenqing froze. Now that he mentioned it… it was possible. Her face darkened. "Could that little wretch Wen Ran have played me?"
"If she tests the soup, she'll discover the drug. Even if she can't prove it, you'll still be the prime suspect."
"So what now? I just wanted to sever Mo Xiuchen's future quietly… I didn't expect this to blow up. You have to make sure she doesn't find anything," Xiao Wenqing said, her voice tight with panic.
Nothing had gone her way lately, and her frustration was mounting.