Out of the corner of her eye, Wen Zhi sensed someone abruptly stopping nearby. She hurriedly pushed Mo Tingyan's face away and turned her head—only to see Chief Steward Xue standing a few meters away, his face filled with unmistakable awkwardness.
Wen Zhi's face flushed bright red in an instant.
If this had been anywhere else, the chief steward probably would have turned around and left already—but this was the only path leading out of the restaurant…
She quickly slipped out of Mo Tingyan's arms and gave Chief Steward Xue an embarrassed smile.
Mo Tingyan, however, looked completely unfazed, as if being caught like this didn't matter to him at all.
Clearing his throat, the chief steward hastily changed the subject and pointed at the night sky.
"Well… the moon looks pretty nice tonight, doesn't it?"
Wen Zhi nodded stiffly. "Yes… very nice."
But the moment she looked up, she realized—
It had been overcast all day, and there wasn't a moon in the sky at all!
The atmosphere instantly became even more awkward.
Mo Tingyan was the only one who laughed. He wrapped an arm around Wen Zhi's waist, stepped forward calmly, and asked as if nothing had happened,
"Chief Steward, why did you come out without finishing your meal?"
"I got annoyed by those girls," the chief steward replied. After a brief pause, he added seriously,
"Captain Mo, please don't take what happened today to heart. They just speak without thinking—there was no real malice."
"Don't worry," Mo Tingyan said lightly. "I'm not that petty."
The chief steward glanced between the two of them, then smiled awkwardly.
"Well then… I'll head back first. You two… carry on."
That single word—carry on—made Wen Zhi feel even more embarrassed.
She immediately stepped out of Mo Tingyan's embrace and stood beside the chief steward, deliberately putting some distance between herself and Mo Tingyan.
"Um… Captain Mo, I'll walk back with the chief steward. You should head back early too."
Mo Tingyan looked at her pretending to be unfamiliar with him and, for the first time, thought—
My little treasure is unbearably cute.
As soon as the chief steward left, Wen Zhi followed closely behind.
This was her first time walking alone with Chief Steward Xue. Combined with the fact that they'd just been "caught in the act," she felt awkward and didn't say a word for quite a while.
Only when they were nearly at the entrance of another building did the chief steward finally speak.
"You two… have actually been hiding it quite well."
Wen Zhi immediately understood what he meant, recalling the gossip she'd overheard earlier.
The chief steward continued,
"Xiao Zhi, don't misunderstand me. I don't mean anything else. I've seen that video too. I think Captain Mo is a good man—but his mother… is difficult. Marriage is a matter of two families. Having a mother-in-law like that would be very exhausting for you."
Wen Zhi knew he was speaking out of concern, and warmth spread quietly through her heart.
She pressed her lips together before replying softly,
"His parents aren't good people. And likewise… my mother passed away, and my father and stepmother aren't good people either. In that sense… we're actually quite well-matched."
Chief Steward Xue froze.
"…Second shock."
Then he said firmly,
"That's not how the term well-matched should be used. From the moment you dared to jump into that crack in the ground to save me, I knew you were someone tough on the outside but soft-hearted inside. Captain Mo… is also a good man. Two good people being together—that's what well-matched really means."
Wen Zhi looked at the usually stern chief steward, surprised by how gentle he sounded.
She nodded seriously. "Chief Steward, thank you."
"Alright, don't be so formal with me," he said with a smile.
"I just hope the two of you are happy. If you ever need help at work, make sure you come to me."
Wen Zhi met his gaze, and for the first time, felt that getting along with others wasn't as difficult as she'd imagined.
After they parted ways, Wen Zhi returned to her room.
She sat on the edge of the bed for a long time, thinking. Then she sent Yan Duo a message and asked to be added to the group chat.
She recorded a video and posted it in the group.
In the video, she openly admitted her relationship with Mo Tingyan and explained that Mo Tingjue had posted that hurtful video because—
When she had been dating Mo Tingjue in the past, he had cheated on her with her stepsister. She had caught them in bed with her own eyes.
After their breakup, Mo Tingjue refused to let go and continued harassing her. When he found out she had married Mo Tingyan, he secretly filmed that video and used despicable means to humiliate him.
The group chat fell completely silent.
Then Wen Zhi typed another message:
"Everything I said in the video is the truth."
Someone replied hesitantly.
Wen Zhi immediately responded:
"Yes, it's all true. My husband does have an unworthy mother—but what does that have to do with him? Can anyone choose who their mother is? No.
And yet, despite having such a mother, he still grew into such an outstanding man. That is something to be proud of."
The moment Mo Tingjue saw the words my husband, it felt as if someone had slammed a fist straight into his chest.
The pain was so intense he almost wanted to vomit blood.
Before he could even react, another message from Wen Zhi appeared.
"Mo Tingjue, everything I said in that video is also true. I'm warning you—don't use underhanded tricks to hurt my husband again.
Otherwise, I will publicly release the video evidence of you cheating with my stepsister."
After sending that message, Wen Zhi immediately contacted Yan Duo, one of the group administrators, and asked him to remove Mo Tingjue from the chat.
Yan Duo didn't hesitate for a second.
Mo Tingjue was kicked out of the group.
Staring at the system notification, Mo Tingjue felt the pain in his chest surge uncontrollably.
He truly loved Wen Zhi.
So why… why would she go this far just to protect Mo Tingyan?
His heart hurt so badly it felt like he couldn't breathe.
What should he do?
What else could he possibly do—
To win back the woman he loved?