Having spoken, Luo Haofeng pressed the answer key with a slender finger, turned on the speaker, and uttered a low, seductive "Hello" into the phone.
On the other end, Cheng Jia didn't immediately recognize Luo Haofeng's voice. There was a brief moment of silence before her voice finally came through, hesitant: "You're not Mo Shao. Why do you have his phone?"
"This is Luo Haofeng. Xiuchen isn't here at the moment. If there's something urgent, you can tell me."
Leaning back in his chair, Luo Haofeng spoke with a carefree smile.
"I have something important to say to Mo Shao in person. It's about the accident at the construction site."
Cheng Jia, perhaps guessing that Mo Xiuchen was avoiding her calls, hesitated before revealing her reason for reaching out. She had thought about it all day and finally made this decision.
"He'll get to the bottom of that incident soon enough. You needn't worry."
Luo Haofeng cast a glance at Mo Xiuchen, who sat silent, lips pressed into a thin line, unmoved. Luo rejected Cheng Jia's request on his behalf.
"It's not just the accident. There's something more critical. It concerns his mother—and his kidnapping years ago."
Cheng Jia's tone trembled with barely contained emotion, almost biting with suppressed rage. She had met Luo Haofeng before and knew he wasn't an ordinary driver like Xiao Liu. His refined aura betrayed his upper-class lineage.
She dared not speak to him with the same disdain she showed others.
With the phone on speaker, everyone in the private room could hear her voice.
A flicker of surprise flashed through Wen Ran's eyes. She instinctively turned to Mo Xiuchen. Aside from a subtle chill in his gaze, his expression remained unreadable. She pursed her lips and looked away from the phone, silently fixing her gaze on him.
Shen Yuting also immediately looked toward Mo Xiuchen. Gu Kai and Qin Mu exchanged glances, their faces darkening slightly, their eyes all falling on him.
"Xiuchen's here. You can tell him yourself."
Had it only been about the construction incident, Luo Haofeng wouldn't have passed the phone along. But since she mentioned Xiuchen's mother—and his abduction—he thought it best for him to hear it himself.
He handed the phone to Mo Xiuchen, who took it without protest and said coolly, "What is it? Speak."
"Mo Shao, do you have time now? I need to talk to you face to face."
Cheng Jia's voice became agitated the moment she heard his. Afraid he would refuse to see her, she quickly added, "It's about your kidnapping and your mother... it's not something that can be explained over the phone. If tonight doesn't work, tomorrow will do."
"I'm at Yi Pin Xuan. Come now."
His voice, devoid of warmth, still made Cheng Jia's heart leap with hope. She agreed without hesitation, "Alright, I'm on my way."
In that moment, she even forgot she was still a patient.
"Xiuchen, what does Cheng Jia mean by this? Is she planning to come clean?"
As soon as the call ended, Luo Haofeng asked with curiosity. Qin Mu and Gu Kai said nothing, but the same question was written on their faces.
"Isn't Cheng Jia the little girl who saved you back then? What was she implying just now? Could she also know about what happened to Aunt Jiang?"
Shen Yuting had just returned that afternoon and hadn't seen Cheng Jia yet. She had only heard of her from Gu Kai over the phone, who suspected she might be his long-lost sister.
Mo Xiuchen's sculpted features were laced with an icy sharpness, but he didn't answer either of them. His indifferent voice carried a piercing chill: "She's just afraid I'll expose her lies—and when I do, her ending will be far worse."
Luo Haofeng sneered, "Well, at least she's not completely stupid. She knows confessing might earn her leniency."
Gu Kai chuckled, glancing at Wen Ran. "She tried every pitiful trick in the book and still couldn't win your sympathy. I suppose she finally realized you'd uncover the truth sooner or later and decided to make a last-ditch move."
"Xiuchen must have some powerful charm—to make Cheng Jia turn her back on Xiao Wenqing. She's utterly bewitched by you!"
Qin Mu, who had been silent until now, dropped this remark like a casual comment on the taste of the food. His tone was mild, devoid of sarcasm, his handsome face unreadable.
"Haha!"
Luo Haofeng doubled over in laughter. Qin Mu, though a man of few words, had a tongue sharp enough to draw blood.
Ignoring the cold glares thrown his way, Qin Mu turned to Wen Ran and said with quiet politeness, "Miss Wen, Xiuchen is meeting Cheng Jia soon. Please don't be shy—if there's something you like, have the staff bring more."
"Ranran's coming with me."
Mo Xiuchen cut him off flatly. That rascal was clearly retaliating for being forced to accompany Wen Ran earlier.
Wen Ran blinked, slightly startled. She hesitated. "Cheng Jia probably wants to speak with you alone. Wouldn't my presence make her reluctant to talk?"
She thought Qin Mu had a point. If Cheng Jia wasn't the girl from the past, yet knew about the kidnapping and his mother's secrets, then perhaps she had been planted by Xiao Wenqing to mislead Mo Xiuchen.
But what Xiao Wenqing didn't expect was that Cheng Jia would fall hopelessly for him—and even betray her.
Mo Xiuchen had been digging into the past. If Cheng Jia was truly willing to talk, this was the best chance.
"Yes, Xiuchen. If you take Wen Ran, Cheng Jia might clam up. I think you should see her alone—and maybe use some charm. She'll spill everything without hesitation."
Luo Haofeng teased, a mischievous gleam in his eye, as though Mo Xiuchen might seduce her into confessing everything.
"Xiuchen, I don't know all the details, but I think Ranran and Haofeng are right. Cheng Jia asked to speak with you. If you bring Ranran, she'll definitely feel uncomfortable."
Mo Xiuchen snorted softly, unbothered. "Whether she's comfortable or not is none of my concern. Even if she refuses to talk, I'll find the truth eventually. She only agreed to meet because she's terrified of the consequences."
With those words, he rose to his feet, walked to Wen Ran, and pulled her up from her seat. Looking at the others, he said, "You carry on. Ranran and I will leave now. Yuting, we'll treat you another time."
Shen Yuting's expression shifted slightly. She pressed her lips together and said nothing, only stared after him.
After Mo Xiuchen led Wen Ran out of the room, Shen Yuting finally looked away. She picked up a bottle near Qin Mu and filled her glass to the brim. Tilting her head back, she downed it in one burning gulp.
Gu Kai's brows furrowed. "Yuting, that's not how you drink. If you get drunk, you'll be the one who suffers."
Luo Haofeng and Qin Mu remained silent. They all knew of Shen Yuting's deep affection for Mo Xiuchen.
The moment they exited the room, Mo Xiuchen released Wen Ran's hand.
The warmth vanished in an instant. Startled, Wen Ran looked up at him. In the dim light, his chiseled features seemed wrapped in a glacial air, his tightly pressed lips revealing his displeasure.
He was angry?
She blinked in confusion. He hadn't looked this upset back in the room, even though his tone had been curt.
She didn't quite understand why he was angry—especially with her. In the elevator, he still wouldn't speak to her.
Outside Yi Pin Xuan, the wind had picked up, and it looked like rain was on the way.
The chill crept into her thin clothes, and Wen Ran couldn't help but shiver. She instinctively shoved her hands into her pockets and pulled her coat tighter.
A second later, warmth settled over her shoulders—a man's suit jacket, still carrying his scent.
"Put it on."
His low voice brushed her ear. Wen Ran looked up into his deep, still eyes. She bit her lip and asked softly, "Are you angry with me?"
She had been thinking it over all the way down and guessed that his anger stemmed from her words in the room.
Mo Xiuchen didn't answer. His lips remained a tight line as he strode toward the car.
She had guessed right—his anger was indeed directed at her. Her attempt to distance herself in the private room had infuriated him.
He had told her before how to handle situations where another woman tried to approach him.
Mo Xiuchen opened the door for her, then walked around to the driver's side without waiting for her to get in—unlike his usual habit of holding the door for her.
His displeasure was written all over his actions.
Wen Ran got in. As soon as she closed the door, her wrist was seized by his strong hand. He pulled her into his arms with force, cupped the back of her head, and the next thing she knew, his breath was all over her.
Wen Ran's mind went blank, completely overtaken by his fierce kiss and overwhelming presence.
Just as she thought she might suffocate, Mo Xiuchen released her, his voice hoarse but sharp:
"Do you really not care when another woman clings to your husband?"
Still gasping, Wen Ran froze, her eyes dazed as she looked at him.
"If it hadn't been for the Wen Corporation, you would never have married a stranger. These days, you've fulfilled your role as a wife—but only because of your promise. Not because you like me, isn't that right?"
He locked eyes with her, refusing to let her look away. The more he cared, the more he longed for her to feel the same.
Not just obligation—but affection.
Wen Ran's heart raced. His intense gaze filled the cramped space with pressure, leaving her breathless.
Maybe it was the confined air, or maybe it was the lingering heat of that wild kiss.
She didn't know how to answer. Much of what he said was true. She had indeed married him for the sake of the company.
She had tried hard to be a good wife—partly to keep her word, partly out of gratitude for his support during her lowest point.
As for whether she liked him—she wasn't sure.
But she knew she didn't dislike being with him. Even if they were together for a lifetime, she wouldn't feel weary of it.
She bit her lip, calmed her thoughts, looked into his penetrating gaze, and answered softly, "Yes, I married you for the company. And yes, I've tried to be a good wife out of obligation. But these past days…"
She was interrupted by a sudden ringtone.
It was Mo Xiuchen's phone. In the dim car, she couldn't see his expression clearly. His eyes, though, burned with intensity as they stayed locked on her.
He didn't answer the phone. He just stared at her, hoping to hear the rest.
"Your phone's ringing."
Wen Ran paused, then reminded him gently.
"Forget it."
He frowned, clearly unwilling to miss what she had to say.
She clasped her hands and continued, her voice tinged with emotion: "These days, I've realized—I don't dislike being with you. As long as you don't tire of me, I'll stay by your side, forever."
She couldn't bring herself to confess love yet. But even that soft promise made her blush.
Mo Xiuchen's expression shifted. Her answer wasn't what he wanted—it wasn't clear enough.
But he also knew that if he pushed her, she'd retreat. He exhaled, trying to suppress his frustration, and said dominantly, "Ranran, I don't just want your presence. I want your heart."
Unless she truly loved him, she would always retreat when conflict arose, never standing by his side.
Wen Ran stiffened, lips pressed tight.
Mo Xiuchen finally answered the phone just before it stopped ringing. "Hello?"
"Mo Shao, it's me. I've arrived."
"Come to the parking lot."
He ended the call.
"If you don't want to see her, stay here. I'll talk to her."
His tone was clipped. He wanted her there—but not at the cost of forcing her.
"Let her come up. It's windy outside. It's warmer in here."
Her instinctive response made Mo Xiuchen pause for a second. Then the corners of his lips curved ever so slightly. He honked to get Cheng Jia's attention and said gently, "You don't have to say anything. Just stay by my side."
"Alright."
Wen Ran nodded softly. Her heart was stirred by something inexplicable. Though his behavior had been contradictory—and even childish—she suddenly felt a surge of tender affection for him.