Everyone in the room turned to look at Mo Tingyan at the same time—
and Wen Zhi's heart instantly flew to her throat.
She was terrified he'd casually blurt out their secret marriage.
Even worse—if Yan Duo's nosy curiosity kicked in and she opened that purse…
Her ID was still inside!
Just as Wen Zhi's nerves were stretched to breaking, Mo Tingyan spoke, calm and natural:
"This bag is the same model as Xiao Wen's. I saw how good it looked on her, so I asked for the link and bought one for my girlfriend."
Wen Zhi let out a silent, heavy sigh of relief.
关键时刻,他的脑子是真快.
At least he still had a functioning brain when it counted.
But the ward immediately exploded with excited chatter.
"What? Captain Mo actually has a girlfriend? Guess that means we're all out of the running!"
"You hid her so well! I'm dying to know what kind of woman could catch your eye."
"Right? And Captain Mo's so handsome—his girlfriend must be stunning too!"
Mo Tingyan's usual lazy, wicked expression curved into a meaningful smile.
"Very pretty. If we use Wen Zhi as a reference… she's about the same."
Wen Zhi at the doorway: "…"
Why.
Why did he drag the topic back to her every single time?!
Sure enough, someone suddenly remembered her.
"Right, why isn't Wen Zhi here today? Yan Duo, didn't you invite her?"
Yan Duo replied, "I texted in the group. Maybe she silenced notifications? I'll call her."
Wen Zhi instantly spun around and bolted toward the stairwell, switching her phone to silent in a panic.
She really hadn't seen the group chat…
Thankfully, she'd brought her phone when she slipped out. Otherwise, she'd be done for.
Right then, her phone lit up with Yan Duo's call.
She waited a few seconds before picking up, keeping her usual cool, distant tone.
"Hello? Yan Duo. What's up?"
"Wen Zhi, where are you? I messaged the group that we're all visiting Captain Mo today. You didn't see it?"
"Oh? I must've missed it. I'm out with a friend today. Tell the captain for me."
Just as she finished speaking—
"Number 7, ultrasound!"
The shout came from the hallway outside the stairwell.
Yan Duo, hearing it over the phone, paused suspiciously.
"…You're at a hospital?"
"…"
Wen Zhi's heart flew right back to her throat.
Her grip tightened on the phone.
"…Yes. My friend's period is irregular, so I'm with her at the gynecology hospital."
Yan Duo, the eternal gossip, subconsciously turned to look at the purse on the sofa…
Could it be…
Wen Zhi was actually Captain Mo's girlfriend?
Right then, a nurse pushed in a trolley to give Mo Tingyan his IV.
Seeing the crowded ward, she casually asked, "So many people here today—why isn't your little Zhang here?"
Yan Duo, still on the phone, perked up.
"Little Zhang? Who's that?"
Mo Tingyan raised a brow.
"Little Zhang, Pearl…"
A beautiful misunderstanding indeed.
He chuckled lightly.
"My girlfriend. She's preparing lunch for me."
Yan Duo suddenly relaxed.
So the captain's girlfriend's surname was Zhang.
She had really overthought it.
Over the phone, Wen Zhi also exhaled deeply.
"Yan Duo, if there's nothing else, I'll go back to my friend's ultrasound."
"Okay, okay."
Wen Zhi hung up, leaned against the wall, and pressed a hand to her forehead.
She'd been so nervous her scalp hurt.
After hiding in the stairwell for ten minutes, Mo Tingyan texted her:
"I chased them all out. Come back. I miss you."
Wen Zhi: "…"
Mo Tingyan stayed in the hospital for three days.
Aside from work and cooking for him, Wen Zhi was basically attached to him the entire time.
She discovered—
Men, when they act like a green tea, are more terrifying than women.
He needed her to feed him.
Support him to the bathroom.
Hold him to sleep.
If he weren't sick because of her, she would've punched him.
Three days later, he was cleared and discharged.
The moment they entered the house, Mo Tingyan scooped her into his arms, carried her toward the bedroom, and brushed the tip of his nose against her earlobe, voice dripping with sinful warmth:
"Your period is definitely over now, right?"
Wen Zhi's neck tingled; she shrank back.
Half an hour ago in the hospital, he had been a weak little invalid who needed help changing even his patient gown.
And now—
"Put me down," she struggled. "You just recovered. Don't push yourself."
"I had gastroenteritis, not a… 'procedure' that turned me into a eunuch."
Wen Zhi: "…"
Oh, so he does know he had gastroenteritis.
Before she could retort, he had already carried her to her room, laid her onto the bed, and caged her in.
Wen Zhi slapped a hand over his incoming kiss.
"Gastroenteritis patients need rest."
He moved her hand away, voice low, hoarse, and dangerously seductive.
"Rest is about nurturing the body and mind.
And right now… I'm nurturing the mind."
Then he didn't give her a chance to speak.
His mouth claimed hers, stealing her breath, her thoughts, and her last bit of logic—
and the two of them fell together into a wild, intoxicating storm.
Mo Tingyan had taken a seven-day medical leave.
And after tasting the sweetness of sleeping with Wen Zhi—where he had no nightmares—
he clung to her every night with new excuses, crawling into her bed for "care."
Only on the last night, when Wen Zhi had to fly a long-haul route and stay in a hotel,
was he forced to sleep alone.
That night, he was tormented by nightmares the entire time.
When he woke up the next morning, exhausted and hollow, he sat on the bed rubbing his temples, dazed.
Until the truth of that year came to light…
until that thorn lodged in his heart was pulled out…
his fear would never truly fade.
The weather was gloomy that day.
Wen Zhi came home in the afternoon and saw Mo Tingyan fully dressed, clearly about to leave.
"You're going out?" she asked.
"Yeah. Something to deal with."
She instinctively glanced out the window.
The sky was heavy, and so was her mood.
After a moment of hesitation, she did something rare—she asked first:
"Do you really have to go today?"
He stepped to her side, switching his shoes as he hooked a finger under her chin.
A teasing smile tugged at his lips.
"What's this? Missed me after one night apart? Relax. I'll be back early tonight. I promise I'll take good care of you."
Wen Zhi gave him a cold side-eye at his shamelessness.
"You're not fit for talking. Speak less in the future. Just go. And preferably don't come back tonight."
Mo Tingyan chuckled and opened the door—
but paused mid-step.
He looked back at her figure by the entryway.
Something about her… felt off today.