As Yan Duo spoke, she had already opened the group chat and scrolled to the video.
"There's a woman in this video… she looks like Captain Mo's biological mother. And they're even saying his biological mother used to be—"
Wen Zhi's expression darkened instantly. She snatched the phone from Yan Duo's hand and tapped on the video.
The woman secretly filmed on screen was none other than Xu Wan.
She was wearing the same indecent outfit she had worn to Wen Zhi's home the day before, sitting arrogantly on the sofa in Mo Tingjue's family villa, legs crossed, cigarette between her fingers, confronting Mo Tingjue's mother.
Xu Wan sneered,
"We were sisters once, slept with the same man. How is it that you get to sit here as a wealthy madam, while I get cursed as a whore?"
Gu Nian cursed angrily,
"Because you were a prostitute!"
Xu Wan laughed shamelessly.
"That's true enough. But even if you were the legal wife, I was still the concubine. I even gave the Mo family their eldest son. My existence isn't exactly glorious for your family, is it?"
"What exactly do you want?" Gu Nian demanded.
"Tsk, sister, I like straightforward people." Xu Wan leaned back lazily.
"I think, for the sake of your family's reputation, giving me some money wouldn't be too much, right? As long as I get the money, I'll try not to show up in front of you anymore. How about it?"
Gu Nian snapped,
"You think just because you gave birth to a child, you can cling to our family forever? Dream on. We'll never compromise with someone like you again!"
Xu Wan stood up, utterly shameless, and started walking toward the stairs.
"Well then, since I'm your family's 'concubine' and penniless, I'll just stay here for a few days. Tonight, I'll sleep with our husband. Which bedroom shall we use?"
The video ended abruptly.
The veins on the back of Wen Zhi's hand bulged as she clenched the phone.
Yan Duo nudged her, eyes gleaming with gossip.
"Mo Tingjue is your ex-boyfriend, right? Did he ever tell you about this? This is terrifying… Is Captain Mo really this woman's son?"
Wen Zhi said nothing. She shoved the phone back into Yan Duo's hands, grabbed her bag, and walked straight out of the meeting room.
She found a quiet corner, made sure no one was around, then pulled up Mo Tingjue's number and called him.
The call connected quickly.
Wen Zhi didn't hold back.
"Mo Tingjue, how can you be so despicable? Where do you get the nerve to stab people in the back like this?"
Mo Tingjue let out a cold laugh—his voice so icy it was unfamiliar to her.
"Stab people? Didn't I just post the truth? Mo Tingyan does have such a lowly, shameless mother. I've long known Xu Wan was his stain. I never intended to destroy him completely—but he stole the woman I love first. Why should I spare him?"
"Shut up!"
Mo Tingjue's voice rose sharply.
"I want to ruin his reputation. I want everyone to know how filthy his past is!"
Wen Zhi was shaking with rage.
"I was the one who went to him first. I was the one who seduced him and dragged him into bed—it was my revenge on you. If you have the guts, come after me! Why destroy him?!"
Mo Tingjue's eyes burned red as he roared madly,
"I don't care about that! Since you refuse to let go, I'll make him wake up properly. I'll let him see how despicable he is, so ashamed that he'll give you up himself!"
After his manic outburst, he laughed wildly before continuing,
"Xiao Zhi, guess what—after things have blown up this far, do you think he still has the face to stay by your side? Hmm?"
Wen Zhi nearly lost control, the urge to tear him apart overwhelming her.
She felt ashamed—ashamed that she had ever loved such a man.
"Very well, Mo Tingjue. Go ahead and make a scene. Let me tell you this—Mo Tingyan is now my legal husband. Even if he were to humble himself into the dust, I would still choose him. But you dared to touch my man? This isn't over. I will never let this go. If you're ruthless, don't blame me for being cruel. Who doesn't know how to burn bridges? You just wait."
She hung up the phone.
Stepping back, she leaned against the wall, her chest tight.
She thought of Mo Tingyan's deep taboo regarding his mother.
Thought of how he had said he wanted nothing—absolutely nothing—to do with her.
And yet, all of it had been torn open by a single video from Mo Tingjue.
How much pain would he be in if he knew?
No—this had already spread throughout the company.
Had he… already seen it?
Her heart clenched.
Without hesitation, Wen Zhi went straight to the purser's office.
After the life-saving incident last time, Purser Xue's attitude toward Wen Zhi had done a complete one-eighty. Though they still didn't interact much, Wen Zhi could clearly feel the change.
She nodded politely.
"Purser, have you heard about my ex-boyfriend posting things in that messy gossip group?"
Purser Xue lowered her voice.
"Yes. I know."
"Then the captain—"
Purser Xue nodded helplessly.
"He knows too."
Wen Zhi's heart sank.
"How did he find out?"
"He went to the crew office to pick up documents earlier. People were whispering about it behind his back. He overheard them… then grabbed the first officer's phone and watched the video."
Wen Zhi lowered her head.
Seeing the video herself had already hurt this much—then Mo Tingyan…
"I'm sorry, Purser. I—"
Purser Xue stood up, walked over, and patted her shoulder reassuringly.
"This isn't your fault. Your ex-boyfriend's character is the problem. Captain Mo is his half-brother, after all—what he did was far too underhanded."
She paused, then added,
"But if you don't say anything to the captain, that might not be appropriate either. You are Mo Tingjue's ex. What if he shifts the blame onto you? How about… I go explain it to him for you?"
Wen Zhi shook her head.
"I'll go apologize myself."
"Alright. Go. If it doesn't work, come back to me."
Wen Zhi nodded and walked to Mo Tingyan's office, raising her hand to knock.
From inside came his calm, steady voice.
"Come in."
She pushed the door open.
Mo Tingyan sat behind his desk. The cold, stern expression he had been wearing completely melted the instant he saw her.
The corner of his lips lifted gently. He patted his thigh and said softly,
"Palm Jewel, come here."
Wen Zhi closed the door behind her, walked over, and willingly straddled his lap.
A roguish, unruly smile appeared on Mo Tingyan's handsome face as he raised an eyebrow.
"My Palm Jewel is unusually passionate today. I'm almost flattered."
Seeing him pretend everything was fine made Wen Zhi's heart ache as if it were being torn apart.
She cupped his face with both hands, lifting his chin so he had to look at her. Her voice was gentle, careful.
"Mo Tingyan… are you okay?"