Mo Tingyan let out a carefree chuckle and tapped his lips lightly.
"I'll be fine after a kiss."
Wen Zhi didn't hesitate. She lowered her head and kissed him.
She kissed him earnestly—soft, lingering—until Mo Tingyan reacted almost instantly.
Feeling it, Wen Zhi blushed crimson. She lifted her head, breathing lightly.
"We're boarding soon… you need to restrain yourself."
Mo Tingyan wrapped an arm around her waist, his lips brushing teasingly against her neck, stealing a breath of her scent.
"What if I don't want to restrain myself?" he murmured. "I want to let it out."
Wen Zhi hesitated, clearly conflicted.
"Then… you'll have to be quick. Otherwise, we'll be late."
Seeing how obedient she was today, Mo Tingyan couldn't help but grin wickedly. He raised a hand and ruffled her hair.
"So you're only this accommodating when I'm being bullied or in a bad mood?"
Wen Zhi's cheeks flushed. Guilt flickered across her face.
"I called Mo Tingjue earlier. He did all this on purpose… because of me. I feel… really sorry."
"Oh," Mo Tingyan drawled deliberately, sounding a little displeased,
"so this is guilt-driven tenderness."
"Not entirely," Wen Zhi said softly.
"I really am worried about you. Even if we started as a marriage of convenience, we've been together for so long. We're closer than friends. If you're not okay, of course I'll worry."
Mo Tingyan cupped her face and kissed her casually, his tone relaxed.
"Don't worry. What he posted is technically the truth—but since my wife doesn't look down on me, what does anyone else's opinion matter? I don't care at all."
"Really?"
He nodded naturally.
"As long as my Palm Jewel doesn't despise me, nothing else matters."
Wen Zhi shook her head firmly.
"You are you. Your mother is your mother. I will never dislike you because of someone else's existence. I promise."
"I believe you," Mo Tingyan said, glancing at his watch.
"But being quick? That's impossible. I was born with endurance. We'll save it for tonight. Come on—meeting first."
Wen Zhi agreed.
Rarely, she walked out of the office openly alongside him.
In the hallway, a few colleagues had been whispering. When they saw Mo Tingyan, they glanced at him furtively and immediately fell silent.
Wen Zhi knew all too well what they'd been discussing.
She cast him a worried look, but Mo Tingyan acted as if nothing were wrong and walked straight into the meeting room.
The once-buzzing room fell completely silent.
The purser, seated at the front, looked at Wen Zhi with concern.
Sensing her gaze, Wen Zhi nodded calmly.
Seeing that Wen Zhi was steady, the purser finally relaxed.
Mo Tingyan opened his laptop and conducted the pre-flight briefing as usual. His expression showed no trace of disturbance.
Yet the curious—and occasionally mocking—looks directed his way made Wen Zhi's heart ache.
Because this flight required an overnight layover, after landing and finishing procedures that afternoon, everyone checked into the airport hotel as per routine.
For the first time, Wen Zhi took the initiative to message Mo Tingyan, asking if it was convenient to come see him.
At a time like this, as a partner walking through life together, she wanted to stay by his side—so he wouldn't spiral into dark thoughts.
But Mo Tingyan quickly replied:
The purser's here. Go eat first.
Wen Zhi replied with a Okay, left her room, and planned to bring him food afterward.
When she arrived at the hotel restaurant, she saw several crew members from the same group sitting near the entrance, eating and chatting.
She hadn't intended to join them.
But the moment she heard their conversation, her steps slowed.
"Captain Mo always looked flippant—never seemed like a decent man. Turns out it's because he has that kind of mother. Like mother, like son. I bet he's not clean either."
"Exactly. I used to think he was a high-potential catch. Who knew… tsk. Just his mother alone drags him down ten levels."
"I watched that video several times. His mother is utterly shameless—prostitution, being a mistress, and still acting arrogant. Disgusting. Who'd dare date a man like Captain Mo? Their family would break their legs. What kind of in-laws are those? Revolting."
One comment after another—every word harsher than the last.
The once-adored ace captain had instantly become public enemy number one.
The table buzzed noisily—except for Yan Duo, who was usually the most gossip-loving of them all. Today, she was uncharacteristically quiet.
After listening for a while, she couldn't take it anymore.
"Maybe… you guys should stop. The captain is the captain, his mother is his mother. It's not fair to lump everything together like that…"
A colleague sneered.
"Oh come on, Yan Duo. You're usually the loudest gossipmonger. Acting righteous today—don't tell me you're secretly in love with the captain?"
Yan Duo fell silent, speechless.
From a distance, Wen Zhi clenched her fists.
She couldn't listen anymore.
Striding forward, she stopped behind Yan Duo.
The group was startled to see her—after all, Wen Zhi usually didn't even bother greeting people in public.
Yan Duo turned around, pleasantly surprised.
"Xiao Zhi? You're out too?"
Wen Zhi didn't respond. She looked straight at the group and said coldly,
"You've worked with Captain Mo for so long, yet because of a single video, you're gossiping behind his back? How noble are your parents? Did they save the world? Are they national heroes?"
Some colleagues shrank back, saying nothing.
But Chen Jiaying, sitting beside Yan Duo, let out a mocking laugh.
"Wen Zhi, stop pretending. It's not just us—the whole company is talking about Captain Mo. You usually act like nothing matters to you, yet now you're here playing the moral high ground. What, do you have some ulterior motive toward that 'son of a prostitute' too?"
A few suppressed laughs rippled around them.
Wen Zhi's eyes darkened.
Because of that single video, Mo Tingyan would never be able to escape the shadow his mother cast over him.
The damage these rumors could cause was immeasurable.
Was she really going to let him face all of this alone?
No. She couldn't.
So today—
She wouldn't endure it anymore.
She picked up the glass in front of Chen Jiaying and, without hesitation, splashed the juice straight into her face.
Chen Jiaying screamed and jumped to her feet.
"Wen Zhi! Are you crazy?! What gives you the right to do that?!"
Wen Zhi stared at her coldly, slammed the empty glass onto the table, and said sharply,
"I'll tell you what gives me the right."
She stepped forward, her voice righteous and unwavering—
"Because the one you're slandering…
is my husband."