The restaurant fell into sudden silence.
So quiet that even the people at the neighboring table chatting about which attraction to visit tomorrow could be heard clearly.
Everyone stared at Wen Zhi in shock.
Only Yan Duo stood up, her face full of disbelief.
"Xiao Zhi… who did you just say is your husband?"
Wen Zhi replied with unwavering calm,
"Mo Tingyan is my lawful husband. What kind of mother he has—I know better than anyone. But what does that have to do with him? He is also a victim in front of his mother. You know nothing, yet you still dare to curse him behind his back?"
The colleagues seated around the table gradually snapped out of their shock. They exchanged looks, but no one spoke.
Only Chen Jiaying, who had been splashed, protested angrily,
"We didn't know about your relationship with the captain before! Besides, that video wasn't posted by us—it was posted by your ex-boyfriend! What right do you have to splash me? This dress is brand new!"
Wen Zhi shot back coldly,
"He posted it, so that gives you the right to badmouth people behind their backs? You called my husband trash. I didn't hit you—consider that my good manners."
"You—stop being unreasonable! Pay for my dress, or this isn't over!"
Wen Zhi sneered and was about to respond when a mocking, slightly roguish voice sounded from behind her.
"I'll pay for the dress."
Everyone at the table turned at the same time.
Mo Tingyan walked over with the purser.
As usual, a lazy, unruly smile hung on his face, as if he hadn't heard a word of the women's malicious gossip earlier.
In contrast, the flight attendants who had been badmouthing him moments ago all looked extremely uncomfortable.
Mo Tingyan took out his phone, found Chen Jiaying's number, and transferred the money swiftly.
"Doesn't look like a branded dress. Two thousand should be more than enough. Go ahead and accept it."
Chen Jiaying stood stiffly, too embarrassed to move.
The purser finally recovered from the shock of the explosive news and hurried over, bowing apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Captain Mo. I failed to manage my team properly—"
Mo Tingyan patted her shoulder casually.
"That's not entirely fair. At least Yan Duo here wasn't someone I spoiled for nothing—she still knew to speak up for me. And honestly," he added lightly, "it's not a bad thing that my mother's past is out in the open. When you're slandered and hurt, that's when you truly see people's hearts."
The women across from him all lowered their heads, so awkward they wished they could dig a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor with their toes.
Mo Tingyan didn't care about their expressions. He naturally wrapped an arm around Wen Zhi's waist and said to the purser and Yan Duo,
"Seems like everyone feels pretty disgusted seeing me right now. Since that's the case, my wife and I will eat somewhere else—no need to affect your appetites."
With that, he led Wen Zhi out of the restaurant.
As they walked, Wen Zhi deliberately said in a calm, pointed tone,
"Don't talk nonsense anymore. What's disgusting isn't you—it's those cockroaches who love to curse people behind their backs."
Only after the two of them were gone did Purser Xue turn to her team, her face dark with anger.
"You've really outdone yourselves! Chen Jiaying—last Thursday, when you were complained about for accidentally spilling coffee on a passenger, the one who argued for you in the meeting and got your punishment revoked was Captain Mo!"
Chen Jiaying froze.
That… she hadn't known.
The purser then looked sternly at the others.
"Captain Mo was transferred to Jiang City because of his outstanding professional ability—not because of his mother. He's an exceptional pilot with real authority among captains, yet he has never abused his power. The few times he's argued with anyone were all to protect you."
"He never told me to say any of this because he sees everyone as one team—like family—and didn't want to burden you. When that gossip exploded in the group chat, I thought even if outsiders mocked him, you wouldn't. I never expected this."
Shaking her head in disappointment, the purser didn't even eat. She turned and left.
The remaining flight attendants exchanged looks—no longer embarrassed, but deeply ashamed.
Outside the restaurant, Mo Tingyan still had his arm around Wen Zhi.
Seeing her cheeks puffed up with lingering anger, he leaned closer and teased with a smile,
"What's wrong? You were pretty impressive just now, protecting me like that."
Not wanting him to dwell on the topic, Wen Zhi deliberately changed the subject with a sigh.
"Don't you think we've been under some serious bad luck lately? First we paid out a million, now another two thousand. My heart hurts just thinking about the money."
Mo Tingyan pinched her cheek lightly.
"You really are a little miser. But honestly, even though I paid money today, I'm actually very happy."
"Why?"
"Because you defended me so openly." His voice softened.
"It made me feel like I finally have someone backing me up. That feeling… it's really good."
Wen Zhi brushed his hand away and rolled her eyes.
"See? Human joy and sorrow really aren't interconnected."
Mo Tingyan pulled her closer, puzzled.
"Didn't you say we were keeping our marriage secret? Why were you the one who couldn't hold back today? Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you because of me?"
Wen Zhi looked at his carefree, smiling face.
There was no trace of pain—none of the hurt one might expect after being slandered so viciously.
But could he really be as unaffected as he seemed?
He clearly loathed that woman as much as anyone, yet everyone insisted on tying him to her, using endless gossip and insults to remind him again and again that he could never truly cut ties with her.
Wen Zhi had experienced school bullying before. She knew better than anyone that appearing indifferent didn't mean you weren't hurt at all. And she knew even more clearly how much Mo Tingyan needed someone—someone who would stand by him unconditionally.
So even if they were just a marriage of convenience, she was willing to stand up and shoulder these rumors together with him.
"What's there to be afraid of?" she said softly but firmly.
"Whether others look down on me has nothing to do with me. As long as I think I'm living well, that's enough."
Mo Tingyan gazed at her, warmth spreading quietly in his chest.
He stopped, pulled her into his arms, lowered his head, and gently brushed his nose against hers.
"Thank you, my pearl."
Wen Zhi: "..."
"You suddenly being like this—I'm not used to it."
"Too serious, huh?" he said with a wicked grin. "Then let me be honest. I think going public is actually great. Next time we're stationed away like today, we won't have to sleep in separate rooms, right?"
Wen Zhi: "..."
"You're really not serious at all."
Mo Tingyan chuckled shamelessly.
"How is that not serious? My pearl moved me deeply today. To show my sincerity, I'll have to… work extra hard."
As he spoke, he lowered his head and kissed her.
From the moment Wen Zhi publicly claimed him and stood by him without hesitation, he had wanted to do this.
Wen Zhi felt a little shy and didn't quite cooperate—not because she disliked his kiss, but because they were on a busy hotel path, and being seen wouldn't be ideal.
But sometimes, life works exactly this way—
The more you fear something… the more it comes true.