After a long moment of thought, Wen Zhi answered honestly,
"It's just that… I find myself thinking about him. When I'm with him, I feel relaxed and happy. And when I see him being wronged or bullied, I get upset and want to step in for him."
Lian Qiao listened carefully, then realized Wen Zhi had stopped talking.
Wen Zhi was simply staring at her with those enchanting eyes.
"That's it?" Lian Qiao asked, puzzled.
Wen Zhi nodded.
Lian Qiao was speechless.
"Girl, that sounds like maternal love."
Wen Zhi: "..."
Lian Qiao continued seriously,
"A mom feels that way around her kid too—she worries, feels comfortable, and hates seeing her child bullied.
I think you're just compensating for the fact that his mother wasn't good enough. Your motherly instincts are overflowing!"
Wen Zhi couldn't help but laugh at the analysis.
"That's impossible. Stop talking nonsense."
"How is it impossible?" Lian Qiao countered.
"The way you feel about him isn't much different from how you feel about me.
Unless you're telling me you've fallen in love with me too?
Though to be fair, I am more likable than him."
Wen Zhi fell into deep self-doubt.
Was that really the case?
Seeing Wen Zhi rack her brain, Lian Qiao suddenly worried—
This woman had finally become curious about liking someone. What if she discouraged her by mistake?
She quickly added,
"Xiao Zhi, think again. Is there anything about how you feel toward him that's different from others?"
Wen Zhi thought for a moment.
"I don't like other men touching me. But with him… I find it easy to accept."
"That's because he's good in bed," Lian Qiao said bluntly.
He was good, yes—but…
She didn't even want to try with any other man.
After thinking some more, Wen Zhi added,
"Sometimes… when I'm with him, my heart beats faster."
Lian Qiao nodded.
"That does sound a bit more legit.
But honestly, the man you picked is just too good-looking. Lots of women would get a racing heart just seeing him.
Even I was shocked the first time I saw your husband—he's ridiculously handsome."
Wen Zhi: "..."
That actually made sense.
After all, she'd been struck by his looks the first time she saw him too.
Not wanting to dampen Wen Zhi's enthusiasm for exploring feelings, Lian Qiao smoothed things over.
"But you are different with him. You were with Mo Tingjue for so long, and nothing ever happened, right?
Just assume you've fallen for Mo Tingyan and give it a try.
A man who's tall, handsome, good in bed, listens to you, and hands over his salary card—those aren't easy to find."
The word "love" made Wen Zhi uncomfortable.
After a long internal struggle, she decided—
She would observe a bit longer.
She actually hoped she hadn't truly fallen for him.
For someone like her, liking someone wasn't a good sign. She wasn't eager to invest emotionally.
Of course, if it really was love, she would accept it calmly—
But she wouldn't let herself sink too deep.
After all, Mo Tingyan had a white moonlight in his heart.
She had no intention of being unable to walk away someday.
After chatting, they finished buying Mo Tingyan's gift.
On the taxi ride home, Mo Tingyan called.
He'd finished his meeting and was already back.
Half an hour later, Wen Zhi arrived home as well.
Mo Tingyan had just stepped out of the shower. Seeing the small shopping bag in her hand, he frowned in confusion.
Other women usually came back from shopping with armfuls of bags, didn't they?
"You shopped all afternoon and only bought that?" he asked.
"Mm." Wen Zhi changed her shoes, walked over, and handed him the bag.
"It's a gift for you."
Mo Tingyan hung the towel he was using to dry his hair over his shoulder, suddenly alert.
"A… gift? For me?"
Wen Zhi gave him a look.
"What's with that expression?"
"No, it's just…" He sucked in a breath.
"I'm a little afraid to accept it.
Last time you gave me a gift, you handed me a bank card—then immediately brought up divorce!"
Wen Zhi: "..."
"So that's never getting old, huh? I already told you—back then, it was so your dad's people wouldn't torture you.
Do you want this gift or not? If not, I'll take it back."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Before she could pull her hand away, Mo Tingyan snatched the bag and opened it.
"As long as you don't mention divorce, I'll take anything!"
Wen Zhi watched him, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.
"Are you really afraid I'll divorce you, or are you just joking?"
"Of course I'm really afraid," he said casually.
"With your looks, your figure, and how perfectly we match in bed—
Where would I find another top-tier beauty like you? I'm not letting you go."
Wen Zhi: "..."
As expected, not a single word had anything to do with love.
She didn't realize that the faint smile on her lips had already faded, or that a trace of unhappiness had crept into her heart.
Mo Tingyan opened the box and found a tie. He casually looped it around his bare neck and grinned.
"What, trying to tie me down for life?"
Wen Zhi rolled her eyes.
"I don't have much experience buying gifts for men. Qiao Qiao said a tie works for all men."
Mo Tingyan raised a brow.
"You were with Mo Tingjue for two years. You never bought him gifts?"
"I did. Once. A handmade doll keychain I made myself."
Mo Tingyan immediately thought of the delicate handmade figurines she'd brought from her rental apartment.
The tie in his hand suddenly didn't smell so good anymore.
"I want one too. Bigger than his."
Wen Zhi: "..."
"A keychain that big would be inconvenient."
Mo Tingyan turned his head stubbornly.
"I don't care. Mine has to be bigger and better than Mo Tingjue's."
Wen Zhi was speechless.
Where did this ridiculous competitiveness come from?
"Fine. Then give me the tie back. I'll go return it."
The moment she said that, Mo Tingyan tore off the price tag and grinned.
"Not returning it."
"You—" Wen Zhi frowned.
"This tie cost over six hundred yuan. If you don't like it, shouldn't we return it?"
"I like it," he said.
"I just want one more gift than Mo Tingjue. As your husband, that's not too much to ask, is it?"
Wen Zhi felt that the fact she'd thought she might like this man that morning was absolutely insane.
"Fine, fine. Nothing you say is too much.
What do you want then? A cartoon character? Some small item?"
Mo Tingyan answered solemnly,
"I want a miniature version of my little treasure.
I only want you."
Wen Zhi: "..."
Under his burning gaze, her heart started racing again for no reason.
She lowered her eyes, about to agree—
When her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen and saw a familiar name:
Feng Zhao—one of Mo Tingjue's close friends.
Wen Zhi frowned slightly.
Why was he calling her?
She didn't answer.
But the phone rang again almost immediately.
Mo Tingyan asked,
"Why aren't you picking up? Is it a troublesome call?"
Wen Zhi shook her head and answered.
On the other end, Feng Zhao's voice was loud, urgent, and on the verge of tears.
"Wen Zhi, you heartless woman! Why did it take you so long to answer?!
Tingjue… Tingjue tried to kill himself because of you!"
Wen Zhi froze.
"He… died?"