Chapter 509: There is something called a mobile phone.
After leaving the coffee shop, Wen Ran did not head home. Instead, she called Gu Kai.
“Ranran!”
As soon as the call connected, Gu Kai’s voice echoed. Wen Ran glanced at the golden rays in the sky and calmly asked, “Brother, did you see Mo Xiuchen this morning?”
Behind her, Qing Feng and Qing Yang kept a diligent distance, ensuring her safety.
“Hmm, who told you that?”
Instead of denying, Gu Kai counter-questioned her.
“I heard that you’ve advised him to accept my request for a divorce.”
“Exactly, Dad and I have talked about it, and since it’s what you want, we’ll of course support you. I just asked Mo Xiuchen to give you some time. Once you’ve recovered, you can return to him, consider it a temporary separation.”
“By the way, I’ve told him to schedule a check-up at the hospital and he’s agreed.”
Gu Kai paused for a moment before adding.
Startled, Wen Ran asked worriedly, “How exactly did you tell him?”
“Quite simple, for months he’s been consuming Chinese medicine even though he’s healthy. Every medicine has its toxicity and to prevent him from getting poisoned, it’s normal to check-up in a hospital.”
Gu Kai attempted to lighten his tone, but Wen Ran gripped her phone tightly upon hearing those words.
“Ranran, do you think the same?”
Not hearing a response from her, Gu kai asked again after two seconds, his tone not forced.
“Hmm, yes.”
Wen Ran answered diplomatically, made up an excuse and hung up after a brief chat.
**
Whether it was Gu Kai’s words that actually got through to Mo Xiuchen or whether he had found clarity on his own, he did not spend another night outside her house that evening.
For the next two days, he did not disturb her either.
With Bai Xiaoxiao’s mother nursing a cold, Xiaoxiao stayed home to look after her. Wen Ran was left alone at home. She busied herself with magazines, TV, and some home gardening, consciously avoiding thoughts of people and things. It seemed like life was quiet.
The three-day deadline was up in a flash.
No one mentioned Mo Xiuchen in front of Wen Ran. It seemed as if such a man had never entered her life. However, come nightfall, she was unable to sleep.
Her insomnia meant waking up with dark circles under her eyes.
Examining herself in the mirror, Wen Ran frowned, sat down at the vanity table, and picked up her eyebrow pencil…
“Ranran, are you going out today?”
Wen Jin asked Wen Ran over breakfast. Wen Ran had been staying home bare-faced for the past two days and had put on light makeup this morning.
“Hmm, I’m heading to the MS Group later.”
Wen Ran responded with a light smile, her tone calm and indifferent. Her grief was no longer visible.
“Let Qing Feng and Qing Yang accompany you.”
Wen Jin advised gently, an unreadable emotion hidden deep within her eyes.
After breakfast, Wen Jin took off to work at the medicine factory while Wen Ran watered the plants she had just repotted two days earlier. It wasn’t until nine o’clock that she asked Qing Feng and Qing Yang to drive her to the MS Group.
When they heard that she wanted to see Mo Xiuchen, Qing Feng and Qing Yang were under the impression that she had finally figured things out. Both men were visibly happy. During the ride, Qing Feng eagerly told her how busy Mo Xiuchen had been over the last two days, and that he had worked late into the night.
“How do you know so much when you’ve been at the Wen residence?”
Wen Ran interrupted Qing Feng’s monologue, her tone indifferent.
Qing Feng laughed, “Well, Miss Wen, despite my physical presence at the Wen house, there’s this thing called a phone. Young Master Mo makes several calls a day to ask about your activities. Even though he hasn’t visited you these past couple of days, you’re always on his mind.”
Wen Ran didn’t respond. She pursed her lips, turning her gaze away towards the window.
“Miss Wen, there’s some unwelcome news I have to share with you.”
Undeterred by Wen Ran’s silence, Qing Feng continued his chatter. Noticing her looking out toward the window, he shifted his seat to face her, continuing his likely unwanted news.
Wen Ran didn’t look at him. Instead, she stared out the car window at the receding buildings and blooming roadside flowers. She asked indifferently, “What news?”
“Cheng Jia is back. Rumour has it, she’s achieved significant success abroad, bringing in a considerable amount of profit for the MS Group. Everyone at the company is saying she’ll receive a pay raise and a promotion. Little Liu told me that she stayed at the company last night to work late alongside Mo General.”
Wen Ran’s gaze wavered.
Cheng Jia must have just returned yesterday, and last night, she stayed late at the office with him?
“Miss Wen, Mo General gave Qin Mu and Luo Haofeng time off and has been working himself to the bone. You need to talk to him when you see him and tell him not to push himself so hard. It’s not good for his health.”
Regardless of whether Wen Ran wanted to listen or not, Qing Feng continued babbling on.
The trip from the Wen residence to the MS Group was not short, but it went by quickly with the talkative Qing Feng.
“Miss Wen, we’ve arrived!”
The ever-silent Qing Yang chimed in, bringing the car to a gentle stop along the road.
“Miss Wen, do you want us to accompany you upstairs?”
Qing Feng jumped out of the car and opened her door, grinning as he asked.
“No need, you guys wait here for me.”
Wen Ran entered the company alone. Everybody seemed to be aware that she hadn’t been to work for a few days. As soon as she stepped through the doors, she felt a change in the atmosphere – people greeted her, but their looks were strange.
She took the elevator to the top floor.
At the door of Mo Xiuchen’s office, she was about to push the door open out of habit when she heard Cheng Jia’s voice from inside, causing her to hesitate.
After a brief pause, she knocked on the door!
“Come in!”
Within the office, Mo Xiuchen’s voice sounded out, deep and magnetic with an undertone of wintry chill.
She moistened her lips and pushed the door open.
Behind the large office desk, Mo Xiuchen lifted his gaze, his eyes flickering as he made out her figure at the doorway.
Cheng Jia stood in front of the desk in professional attire. With a smile, she turned around and, seeing Wen Ran enter, flashed her a surprised look. This was followed by a radiant, confident smile that, coupled with her golden curls, made her alluringly charming.
“Ranran!”
Mo Xiuchen froze for half a second before springing up from his chair and taking quick strides towards her.
As she saw Mo Xiuchen approaching in haste, Wen Ran’s eyes started to water. His ecstatic expression and the deep affection when he called her had scattered all the thoughts she had planned to share, and she forgot her original intent.
Cheng Jia watched as Mo Xiuchen rushed towards Wen Ran. Her eyes flickered, and she tightly clenched her hands that were at her side.
Wen Ran stood at the doorway. Within a blink, she was overwhelmed by the familiar scent, as Mo Xiuchen had already reached her side. His eyes, so deep and serene, were locked onto hers like an unending abyss. He suddenly realized something and all joy in his eyes faded away, leaving a vast emptiness.
Usually, he would immediately hold her hand and lead her into his office.
But today, he simply looked at her, not daring to move rashly.
“Mo General, I should get back to my work!”
Cheng Jia couldn’t stand their heart-to-heart at the doorway and broke their silent exchange.