"That's right. Zhou Mingfu and Xiao Wenqing both bear you ill will. And now Zhou Lin is carrying Mo Zixuan's child—she certainly doesn't want the best for you either. If the two of them join forces, there may be even greater dangers waiting ahead."
Gu Kai was not exaggerating to incite fear, but calmly stating the truth. At times, people are rendered helpless; even when we know someone means us harm, without evidence, there's little we can do.
"Which is why I must uncover the truth as soon as possible."
"This isn't something you can accomplish alone."
Gu Kai's brows furrowed, his voice turning grave. Wen Ran paused, startled, then shook her head and said, "I'll go tell my brother and Mo Xiuchen shortly."
She found Gu Kai's analysis compelling.
Gu Kai's lips curved into a faint smile. "Yes. Don't bear everything alone. Let them know soon. Though Xiuchen doesn't live at the Mo residence, gathering evidence against Xiao Wenqing will still be far easier for him than for you."
His words were veiled. He couldn't speak openly about Mo Xiuchen's matters with Wen Ran—just as he had honored her request for secrecy and hadn't told Mo Xiuchen anything either.
Wen Ran finished her milk, stood, and thanked Gu Kai before taking her leave.
She took the elevator upstairs to visit Wen Jin.
Just as she stepped out, the elevator beside her opened. Mo Zixuan saw her and called out joyfully, "Ranran!"
Wen Ran turned, her gaze sweeping past the fruit basket in his hand to meet his smiling eyes. But recalling the malice of his mother, her eyes grew cold, and without a word, she turned and walked away.
"Ranran, you're here to see your brother, right? I am too—let's go together."
Mo Zixuan strode to catch up, walking beside her.
"My brother doesn't welcome you. You should leave."
Wen Ran's tone was indifferent, unwilling to say another word to him.
Mo Zixuan's eyes dimmed momentarily, but he forced a smile. "Ranran, thank you for your concern. But today, he asked me to come."
Wen Ran turned sharply, eyes narrowing with suspicion. Meeting his smiling gaze, a surge of irritation rose within her. "Did you say something to my brother again? Mo Zixuan, no matter what you say or do—it's meaningless."
A flicker of pain crossed Mo Zixuan's eyes, his handsome face turning pale. "Ranran, I know... you are Mo Xiuchen's wife now and will never return to me. I won't force you again. But one day, you'll understand—the one who loves you most in this world isn't Mo Xiuchen. It's me."
"If you truly cared for me, you'd leave me be."
Her harsh words made Mo Zixuan's expression darken further. He looked at her with sorrowful eyes. "Ranran, you can't condemn me forever for one mistake. Besides, that night, I was set up—by Mo Xiuchen."
"Do you have proof, Mo Zixuan?"
Wen Ran sneered. He kept insisting Mo Xiuchen framed him—so where was the evidence?
"No one else could've done it. He's always hated my mother and me. No matter how kind she was to him, he's convinced she's the one who caused his mother's death."
Mo Zixuan, in a moment of agitation, aired their family's dirty laundry.
At the mention of Xiao Wenqing, Wen Ran's eyes turned glacial. Her voice was like a cold breeze as she said, "He's not the only one who hates her. I do too."
"Ranran, my mother may be a bit arrogant. That morning, she spoke to you harshly—I apologize on her behalf."
Mo Zixuan thought she was referring to the morning after he and Zhou Lin were found together at the hotel—his mother had insulted Wen Ran then.
Wen Ran scoffed. Her gaze toward him was as cold as frost. To crush his delusions, she decided to tell him the truth about what his mother had done.
"An apology? Mo Zixuan, if you knew what your mother has done to me, would you still think an apology could make up for it?"
Mo Zixuan's eyes widened in shock. The hatred in her voice was unmistakable.
A sense of panic surged in him. "Ranran, what... what did my mother do?"
Wen Ran pressed her lips together, then spoke with an icy calm: "The day before yesterday, she invited me to lunch at Yi Pin Xuan. She claimed she wanted to treat me to a meal. But in the shark fin soup, she had added musk and other drugs. If I had consumed that bowl, I would have lost the ability to bear children—for life."
No woman could endure such a betrayal.
Wen Ran was no exception. Xiao Wenqing hadn't just wanted to prevent her from conceiving Mo Xiuchen's child—she had intended to strip her of the very right to motherhood.
Mo Zixuan staggered back two steps, face as pale as a sheet.
He could not believe his mother would harm Wen Ran so ruthlessly. She had urged him to win her back—how could she simultaneously seek to destroy her?
"Ranran…"
He choked out her name, his voice hoarse. He wanted to ask if there had been some misunderstanding—but Wen Ran didn't give him the chance.
"She said she wouldn't leave until I arrived. That's the only reason I went. Mo Zixuan, do you still think an apology is enough?"
"I…"
Mo Zixuan looked at her in anguish. How could a mere apology ever be enough?
"If you truly care about me, forget me. The more you pester, the more your mother will hate me."
With that, Wen Ran turned and walked away, never glancing back.
Mo Zixuan stood frozen in the dimly lit corridor, his tall figure stiff, his face drained of color. Staring after her delicate silhouette, he murmured, "Ranran, I'm sorry…"
His voice trembled with deep sorrow and remorse. His lips pressed into a thin line, and a single resolve echoed in his heart: even if he could never have her again, he would never let anyone harm her again.
A few steps away, Wen Ran paused briefly but didn't look back. She continued walking toward Wen Jin's room.
Xiao Wenqing, feeling guilty, refrained from calling Wen Ran and Mo Xiuchen to invite them over for dinner that weekend.
The project's progress was intense, and Mo Xiuchen had no time to rest. He spent every day at the construction site, overseeing operations. Some plans were altered last-minute, and he worked overtime into the night. When he finally returned home, it was already late.
Upon entering the living room, he saw Wen Ran curled up on the leather sofa, dozing. A wave of tenderness surged in his heart, and he strode over.
The moment his hand brushed her cheek, she opened her eyes. A radiant smile blossomed on her face. "You're back! I had Zhang Ma save you dinner. I'll go heat it up—after working so long, you must be starving."
"Alright."
Mo Xiuchen's gaze softened. Watching her dash into the kitchen, he walked into the bathroom to wash his hands.
Wen Ran set the food on the table and pulled out a chair for him with a playful smile. "President Mo, please take your seat!"
Mo Xiuchen met her smiling eyes, his gaze darkening slightly. He sat down and teased, "You're being suspiciously sweet. Did you poison the soup?"
Wen Ran blinked, then retorted, "How could I? Do I look like a venomous woman?"
She sat beside him, watching intently as he tasted the winter melon. "How's the flavor? Try the ribs and sip the soup too."
Mo Xiuchen chuckled. "Did you make this soup?"
"Smart man!"
Wen Ran raised a brow proudly. "I cooked everything tonight—including the soup. My brother and Gu Kai both said it was delicious."
Mo Xiuchen's smile faded slightly, his brows tightening. "Gu Kai ate, too?"
Wen Ran grinned cheekily, spooning soup toward his lips. "I made a large portion. When I brought food to my brother, I added a serving for Gu Kai. He's always been kind to my brother—this was just a small gesture of thanks."
"I heard you visited him yesterday, too."
Mo Xiuchen's voice was calm, but his eyes were probing. He had been too busy to notice—but Cheng Jia had called earlier to inform him.
Wen Ran was momentarily startled, but then smiled and changed the subject. "Mo Xiuchen, I have something important to tell you."
"What is it?"
He followed her lead, not pressing further. Taking a sip of the soup she held to his lips, he noted how rich and flavorful it was.
Wen Ran bit her lip, then said solemnly, "You have to promise me you won't get angry."
He studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "Alright, I won't."
Relieved, she began: "The day Cheng Jia was injured, I went to Yi Pin Xuan to meet Xiao Wenqing."
She spoke slowly, watching his expression. His face changed slightly at the mention of Xiao Wenqing, but he gestured for her to continue and picked up a rib.
"I refused at first. But she insisted she would wait until I came. After all, she's your father's current wife—I couldn't completely disregard her. During the meal, she ordered several dishes, including shark fin soup. While eating, I received a call from Brother Chen—he told me not to drink it."
Mo Xiuchen suddenly looked up, his eyes sharp. "What was in the soup?"
"I had it packed and tested by Gu Kai. At first, he only detected musk. But the full results showed multiple drugs."
"Gu Kai tested it?"
Mo Xiuchen's face darkened, his tone cold.
Wen Ran, feeling the icy air around him, instinctively explained, "I asked him not to tell you or my brother. I wanted to wait for the results before saying anything. You promised me you wouldn't get angry…"
His grip on the chopsticks tightened, the darkness in his eyes deepening. She had only mentioned musk—but he could guess what those other substances were meant to do.
Xiao Wenqing... her malice knew no bounds.
She hadn't succeeded in destroying him years ago—and now she wanted to destroy the woman he loved.
The cold radiating from him chilled the room. Wen Ran dared not speak further.
When she had told Wen Jin, he had worn the same terrifying expression—not directed at her, but frightening all the same.
Time seemed to freeze.
After a long silence, Wen Ran timidly reached for his hand. "Mo Xiuchen…"
He exhaled a long breath. The cold in his gaze faded into depth and gentleness. His voice was low and hoarse: "I'm not angry at you."
She had almost been harmed—how could he be angry? Even if she had kept it from him, he had no right to blame her.
Because when Xiao Wenqing made her move, he had been at the hospital—waiting outside the operating room for another woman.
Wen Ran felt a warmth bloom in her heart, tinged with sorrow. She placed her other hand over his, holding it tightly. "I should've waited until you finished eating before I told you."
Mo Xiuchen smiled faintly, patting her hand. "It's rare you cook—I had to finish every bite."
He gently pulled away and resumed eating. Had Wen Ran not seen it herself, she would never believe the man who now praised her cooking had been so terrifying just minutes ago.
Throughout dinner, he never mentioned the shark fin soup again, as if she had never brought it up.
After the meal, Wen Ran stood to clean up, but he caught her hand.
"You've already worked hard. Leave the rest to me. Go up and wait for me."
His voice softened at the end, laced with flirtation. Wen Ran's face flushed, and she shot him a playful glare. "Then you clean—I'm going to bed!"
She fled the dining room in a flurry.
After a night of passion, Wen Ran fell into a deep sleep.
Mo Xiuchen gently cleaned her up and tucked her under the covers. He lingered for a long time, gazing at her sleeping face before rising and walking into the study.
He hadn't expected Xiao Wenqing to strike so soon.
As he closed the study door behind him, his expression darkened. His handsome features were shrouded in storm clouds. He picked up his phone and strode toward the desk.
After several rings, Gu Kai's drowsy voice answered, "Hello?"
"What other drugs were in the shark fin soup besides musk?"
Mo Xiuchen's voice, cold as steel, immediately cleared Gu Kai's sleep-fogged mind. He snapped to attention and listed the substances.
Then he added, "Wen Ran didn't want you or her brother to worry—especially with Cheng Jia in surgery. That's why she told me not to say anything."
"I know. I don't blame her."
Mo Xiuchen's voice was low and grim. If there was anyone to blame, it was himself. Because of him, Wen Ran had been dragged into this. Because of him, Xiao Wenqing had dared lay such a vicious hand on her.