"Who said I don't have a girlfriend?"
Luo Haofeng suddenly sat upright, glaring at Bai Xiaoxiao with barely concealed irritation. This ungrateful woman not only failed to appreciate his help, but seemed determined to oppose him at every turn.
Bai Xiaoxiao curled her lips in disdain, unaffected by his glowering expression. With elegant fingers, she stirred her drink and took a slow sip of fresh grape juice before replying nonchalantly, "If you really had a girlfriend, would you be bored enough to seek out this kind of amusement?"
Luo Haofeng's brows furrowed, and the colors on his devilishly handsome face shifted subtly. Just as Bai Xiaoxiao assumed he was about to lash out, he unexpectedly broke into a wickedly charming smile.
"Bai Xiaoxiao, have you fallen for me? Is that why you're beating around the bush, trying to find out if I'm seeing someone?"
He paused deliberately, then sighed with theatrical regret. "What a pity. I'm afraid you'll be heartbroken. The list of refined ladies waiting to be my girlfriend stretches from one end of the street to the other—you wouldn't even make the cut."
Bai Xiaoxiao stared at him in disbelief. Was this man truly so narcissistic that he believed every woman in the world adored his face?
With a decidedly unladylike snort, she discarded her straw, lifted her glass, and downed the remaining juice in one gulp. Then, rising to her feet, she tossed out a parting shot:
"Keep daydreaming all you want. I've got real work to do at the office. I have no time to waste on idle banter with a man who's clearly got too much time on his hands!"
As she picked up her bag and strode away, Luo Haofeng's eyes flickered with surprise. He called after her in frustration, "Bai Xiaoxiao! After everything I've done for you, you won't even treat me to a meal?"
At the doorway, she turned back with a playful glint in her eyes and a dazzling smile. "Thanks for the grape juice. As for the meal, why don't you let one of those ladies queuing up to be your girlfriend take care of that? Bye!"
With that, she flung open the door and sauntered out.
For the next three days, Mo Xiuchen remained buried in work. Since Wen Jin's visit to the pharmaceutical company, he'd insisted on helping Wen Ran each day—assisting her at the office in the morning and returning to the hospital in the afternoon for his rehabilitation.
Thanks to his help, Wen Ran's workload lightened, granting her a rare moment of leisure.
No matter how busy he was, Mo Xiuchen never missed a meal with her. He had deliberately asked Qin Mu to reschedule all his appointments to make sure they shared lunch and dinner.
In the first two days, even during their meals, his phone rang constantly—call after call, each demanding his attention.
But today at lunch, not once had his phone interrupted them. Wen Ran found this unusual. She paused mid-meal and looked up in surprise at his perfectly sculpted features.
"Why hasn't your phone rung at all today?"
Mo Xiuchen was mid-bite when she asked. For a moment, he looked stunned. Then he picked up a slice of meat and placed it gently onto her plate, a faint smile curling his lips.
"I turned it off."
Wen Ran blinked in astonishment. At first, she'd thought they were simply lucky—no interruptions for once. But now she realized he had made it happen.
"Is that okay? You've just taken office, there must be a ton of things needing your attention. What if something important happens and no one can reach you?"
The smile at the corner of his lips deepened, his gaze warm and indulgent. He replied with casual ease, "I've set up call forwarding. All calls now go to Ah Mu."
"Ah?!"
Wen Ran stared at him, struck speechless by his disarming grin. The poor Qin Mu probably wouldn't get to enjoy a peaceful lunch today.
Seeing her stunned expression, Mo Xiuchen let out a quiet chuckle. He picked up another piece of meat and offered it to her.
"It's rare to enjoy a peaceful meal together. Forget the rest and eat a little more. You're far too thin."
"I am not!"
Wen Ran bristled at his comment, her previous concern instantly forgotten.
Mo Xiuchen's eyes darkened, his smile taking on a teasing, intimate edge. He leaned in close and whispered by her ear, "Oh, but I know better than you—when I touch you, it's all bones, no flesh."
Whether it was his words or the sudden closeness of his breath, Wen Ran's cheeks flushed a brilliant pink. She turned her face away and cast him a reproachful glance before lowering her head to quietly sip her soup.
But before she could bring the spoon to her lips, her phone rang.
"It's Ah Mu—he's probably calling to scold you. Don't tell me you turned off both your phones?"
She pulled out her phone and glanced at the screen. Seeing Qin Mu's name, she looked toward Mo Xiuchen and asked curiously. He merely smiled, holding out his hand.
"Give me your phone."
Assuming he intended to answer the call himself, and knowing it was likely for him anyway, Wen Ran handed it over without hesitation.
But instead of answering, Mo Xiuchen powered off her phone with a calm flick of his finger.
Seeing her surprise, he smiled serenely. "It's nothing urgent. If it's Ah Mu, it can wait."
"Well, it's not like he'd be calling to speak with me anyway."
Wen Ran shrugged, her tone light and unconcerned.
Engrossed in each other's presence, neither of them noticed someone approaching. As Mo Xiuchen ladled a second bowl of soup for her, a cheerful voice rang out beside them.
"Xiuchen, Ranran!"
He set the bowl in front of her before looking up to see Shen Yuting standing at their table, her radiant smile as dazzling as ever. She looked genuinely pleased to see them.
"Ting-jie, you're here for lunch too? Are you alone?"
Wen Ran glanced toward the main dining area but saw no one else. Shen Yuting was clearly just arriving, handbag in tow.
Shen Yuting nodded with a smile. "I just returned from a two-day trip. I thought I'd grab something to eat before heading back. I never imagined I'd run into you two."
Wen Ran recalled that Shen Yuting had returned from overseas for a lengthy lecture series—something Mo Xiuchen had mentioned.
Although Shen Yuting's words were addressed to Wen Ran, her eyes lingered subtly on Mo Xiuchen. After speaking, she turned to him with polite warmth.
"Xiuchen, eating alone is a bit dull. You don't mind if I join you, do you?"
Mo Xiuchen offered her a faint smile, his tone neutral. "If Ranran doesn't mind, neither do I."
Caught off guard, Wen Ran quickly chimed in, "Of course I don't mind! Ting-jie, please sit. Xiuchen, I'm not sure what she likes—why don't you order a few more dishes?"
Mo Xiuchen gave Wen Ran a gentle smile. "I don't know her preferences either. Call the waiter—let her order for herself."
For a brief moment, Shen Yuting's smile faltered. Though she quickly recovered her composure, a subtle ache had already taken root deep within her heart.