He didn’t need a third wheel.

And yet, the smile on Mo Xiuchen's lips now, the tenderness softening his brows—none of it was feigned. It was genuine, born from the depths of his heart.

Recalling the way he had stood up for Wen Ran, guilt pricked at his conscience once more. As a father, he had truly fallen short.

Unable to give his son happiness himself, how could he have been so cruel as to stop another woman from doing so?

Mo Xiuchen had spoken with Wen Ran for nearly ten minutes. Of that, only two sentences touched on serious matters—the rest was idle conversation. Yet even such trivial exchanges, he was reluctant to end.

The once-tense air of the hospital room eased considerably with that call. Mo Jingteng had been watching Mo Xiuchen throughout, and just as he hung up—

Just as Mo Xiuchen ended the call, Mo Jingteng seemed about to speak when the door creaked open at the worst possible moment. Mo Zixuan entered with Zhou Lin in tow. Surprise flickered in his gaze upon seeing Mo Xiuchen, but he said nothing, merely casting a glance his way before looking toward the hospital bed with a warm smile.

"Dad, I brought you lunch."

Whatever Mo Jingteng had been about to say was swallowed down at their entrance. His brows barely furrowed, but Mo Xiuchen's gentle expression vanished in an instant, replaced once more with his usual cold aloofness. As Mo Zixuan and Zhou Lin stepped into the room, he said coolly, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

"Xiuchen, think carefully about what I said," Mo Jingteng called after him urgently.

Mo Xiuchen pressed his thin lips into a firm, resolute line. Ignoring the plea, he turned and strode away without looking back.

Rather than leaving the hospital directly, Mo Xiuchen made his way to Gu Kai's office.

Gu Kai was on a call when he arrived. Upon seeing him, he gestured toward a seat. Mo Xiuchen didn't stand on ceremony—he sat on the sofa, crossed one leg over the other, and waited in silence.

"Xiuchen, who owes you money now?"

Gu Kai ended the call and sat down beside him, turning slightly to study his face.

Mo Xiuchen shot him a cold glance and remained silent.

Gu Kai shrugged, unbothered, a faint grin playing at his lips. "Alright, let me share some good news to lift your spirits."

Mo Xiuchen narrowed his eyes, his tone sharp as ice. "Yu Ting's coming back?"

Gu Kai nodded, still smiling. "She's landing tomorrow. There's a national lecture tour waiting for her, so don't worry—she won't have time to pester you."

A month ago, upon learning of Mo Xiuchen's marriage, Shen Yuting had wanted to return. But the demands of her research project had kept her overseas.

Mo Xiuchen's lips tightened into silence. Whether Shen Yuting returned or not had no bearing on him. He'd never felt anything for her—no promises made, no hints given.

Gu Kai read the emotionless expression on his face and sighed. "Xiuchen, that girl is stubborn. If she asks about your illness, don't admit it was a ruse."

Mo Xiuchen shot him a sidelong glance. "What exactly did I fake?"

Caught off guard, Gu Kai blinked, then laughed. "Fine, don't get mad. Just giving you a heads-up. She may be obsessed with you, but she's not like Cheng Jia. You don't have to hurt her to keep her at a distance. Anyway, what did you and your old man talk about for so long in the hospital room?"

Mo Xiuchen's eyes darkened. "Is there something else wrong with his health?"

Surprise flickered over Gu Kai's face. He shook his head. "What could it be? You already know about his condition. My dad filled you in."

Mo Xiuchen's gaze was contemplative, his voice low. "He was acting strange today."

Though father and son were never close, Mo Xiuchen had spent enough time in the company to understand him. Mo Jingteng was not the kind of man to apologize easily.

Especially not over something he had done—he would stand firm in his decisions.

But today, he had not only apologized to him, but also expressed willingness to apologize to Wen Ran. The remorse in his tone hadn't seemed forced.

Most telling of all was his insistence on handing over the company so suddenly. That wasn't like him. He knew full well that if Mo Xiuchen took control, Mo Zixuan's position would be threatened—he could even be ousted completely.

For someone who loved Xiao Wenqing so much, how could he ignore her wishes?

The more he thought about it, the more suspicious it all seemed. Which was why he had come to find Gu Kai.

Gu Kai watched his furrowed brows and asked curiously, "What exactly did he say to you?"

"He wants me to take over the group immediately."

Mo Xiuchen's tone was indifferent. There was nothing to celebrate—it was always meant to be his.

Gu Kai, however, beamed and slapped him on the shoulder. "That's fantastic news. Congratulations, President Mo. Once you're in charge, dealing with Xiao Wenqing will be child's play."

All these years, Xiao Wenqing had plotted against Mo Xiuchen for one reason—money. Now that power was finally in his grasp, she wouldn't be able to do a thing.

Yet Mo Xiuchen remained unmoved, his expression devoid of joy.

Gu Kai blinked in disbelief. "Don't be foolish. Even if you don't care about wealth and power, giving it all to Xiao Wenqing would be disastrous for you."

"For Wen Ran, for your future children, you cannot throw away what is rightfully yours."

He couldn't decipher what was going through Mo Xiuchen's mind and grew anxious. The coldness radiating from him, the hard line of his jaw—something was clearly wrong. After a pause, he tentatively asked, "Did you tell your dad that Xiao Wenqing tried to harm Wen Ran? Is he trying to protect her in exchange for brushing the whole thing aside?"

That was the only explanation Gu Kai could imagine for Mo Xiuchen's grim expression.

Mo Xiuchen looked up, meeting his probing gaze. His lips pressed tighter before he glanced at his watch, stood, and said quietly, "I'm going to pick Wen Ran up."

"I'm coming too. Count me in for lunch."

Gu Kai grinned, tossing aside the earlier conversation. As he stood, he removed his lab coat.

Mo Xiuchen frowned, clearly displeased. "It's broad daylight. We don't need a third wheel. If you're that lonely, go find a nurse to eat with."

Gu Kai rolled his eyes and strolled over to the coat rack. Hanging up his lab coat, he slipped on a casual blazer and said with a smirk, "Exactly—broad daylight makes my presence less blinding. If I joined you at night, you'd probably kill me."

Mo Xiuchen was caught between laughter and exasperation. Tall and imposing, he stood in the middle of the room, watching Gu Kai approach. After a moment, he said quietly:

"Kai, if you truly see Wen Ran as a sister, then get a DNA test."

Gu Kai had been about to speak, but froze at the words. His face shifted, displeasure forming in the lines of his brow as he fixed Mo Xiuchen with a sharp stare. "Xiuchen, what exactly are you afraid of?"

Mo Xiuchen didn't flinch. "I'm afraid you'll fall too deep."

Whatever amusement had been on Gu Kai's face evaporated. His lips curled into a faint sneer. "Rest assured—I'm not the kind of man who covets his brother's woman. I feel nothing for Wen Ran beyond brotherly affection."

The words hung heavy in the air.

Mo Xiuchen's gaze shifted several times, as if weighing something unspoken. Before he could respond, Gu Kai's phone rang. As he pulled it out, his tone hardened. "Just go. I'm not coming."

Mo Xiuchen remained, waiting silently.

Gu Kai had no choice. A major highway accident had just occurred—multiple collisions involving a passenger bus, with scores injured or dead.

By the time he ended the call, the irritation on his face was gone, replaced by the solemn resolve of a doctor. "There's been a crash on the expressway. I really can't go," he said briskly before rushing out of the office.

Wen Ran had invited Mo Xiuchen to a quiet, elegant Western restaurant near her workplace.

When the steak arrived, Mo Xiuchen reached over and took her plate, gracefully slicing it into neat pieces before returning it to her. "You invited me, so I can't just sit here and do nothing. Cutting your steak is the least I can do."

Wen Ran's eyes crinkled with a smile. "But I asked you here to help me. If all I get is a steak cut in return, that's a poor bargain. If I really needed your help, would I have to pay extra?"

As the waiter retreated, Mo Xiuchen's eyes shimmered with mischief. Lowering his voice, he murmured, "No rush—we'll settle that tonight."

Wen Ran's eyes widened in disbelief, stunned by the flirtatious audacity of the man who, moments ago, looked like a perfect gentleman. His words were becoming increasingly shameless.

Blushing, she averted her gaze, popped a piece of steak into her mouth, and pretended not to hear.

Mo Xiuchen caught the pink flush on her cheeks and felt an inexplicable sense of joy. Though she fell asleep in his arms every night and shared his bed, she was still so easily embarrassed.

Her shy expression stirred something tender within him.

"I was going to bring Kai along when I picked you up earlier," he said suddenly, changing the subject.

Wen Ran looked up, her clear eyes meeting his. "You went to the hospital?"

Mo Xiuchen nodded. "Uncle Gu called me. Asked me to visit."

As he spoke, his hands slowed. Wen Ran glanced down at his knife and fork, then back at his dark, thoughtful eyes. After a pause, she asked gently, "Did Dean Gu ask you because something's wrong with your father?"

She didn't need to finish the question—he understood.

After all, it had been Dean Gu who performed Mo Jingteng's surgery. Her guess was only natural.

Mo Xiuchen's expression shifted subtly. "No. He just wanted to see me. Thought I wouldn't go if he called himself, so he asked Uncle Gu to be the middleman."

He paused, gaze deep and quiet. "Ranran, if my father apologized to you, would you forgive him?"

Wen Ran's hand tightened slightly around her fork. Her expression changed as she lowered her gaze and pressed her lips together, remaining silent.

She had no answer.

Even if it was his father, she couldn't pretend nothing had happened. What he had done had nearly robbed her of the chance to ever become a mother.

To be a woman who could never conceive—what a devastating fate. She had no plans for children now, but that didn't mean she wanted to give up the possibility forever.

The air between them turned heavy.

After a long pause, Mo Xiuchen finally spoke: "Ranran, I've already refused him on your behalf. Even I can't forgive what he did."

Wen Ran looked up sharply, surprise widening her eyes.

Their gazes locked. As she looked into his dark, ink-like eyes, she remembered the words he had spoken to his father that day. Her sorrow was suddenly washed over with a warm current, and she said softly, "Though I can't forgive what he did, I do understand why he did it. You don't need to argue with him for my sake, or blame or hate him on my behalf."

The rift between father and son was already deep enough. She didn't want to be the reason for further resentment.

No matter what, he was still Mo Xiuchen's father. And she didn't want him to suffer because of hatred. Ever since learning about his childhood, she had felt a boundless compassion for him—a wish to travel back in time and offer him the warmth he never had.

Mo Xiuchen reached out, his hand gently covering hers. "I've long borne a grudge against him. One more reason doesn't change anything. He asked me to take over the company today. I think it's his way of making amends. That's why I refused."

Wen Ran's eyes widened again.

She realized she still understood him far too little—he always managed to surprise her.

He quietly held her hand, his gaze warm and steady, as though waiting for her opinion.

The thought flitted through her mind—he didn't need to discuss this with her. And yet, here he was, seeking her counsel.

And in that moment, she felt how deeply he valued their marriage—and how much he valued her.

He wasn't a man of sweet words. Unlike Mo Zixuan, he didn't profess love aloud. But everything he did quietly warmed her heart.

"Even if Chairman Mo does feel guilty, he doesn't need to use the company as compensation. In fact, I think you'd be helping him by taking over. His health isn't what it used to be. A company that size without strong leadership is dangerous."

Somehow, the knot in Mo Xiuchen's chest began to loosen with her words. He had been angry, thinking his father wanted to use power to erase the past.

But now, hearing Wen Ran's perspective, it all seemed to make sense.