Mo Tingyan thought Wen Zhi was simply in a bad mood. He had planned to coax her gently, make her smile again.
But instead, Wen Zhi pushed him straight out of the room and shut the door behind him.
…What was going on?
On the other side, after Wen Zhi abruptly hung up the phone, Mo Tingjue was still sitting in his hospital room when Gu Nian walked in.
The moment he saw his mother, Mo Tingjue's expression darkened.
"Mom," he questioned coldly, "did you use Xu Wan to target Xiao Zhi?"
Gu Nian raised her brows and didn't bother hiding anything.
"She contacted you already? Yes, I did it. I can't stand seeing you suffer emotional pain over that cheap woman. I wanted her ruined—dragged into hell!"
Mo Tingjue felt his heart sink instantly.
"What right do you have to do that? I'm the one who wronged her. I betrayed her! She's innocent! Can't you stop targeting her?"
Gu Nian had always been domineering, someone who never changed her mind once it was made up. She rejected him outright.
"Impossible! I despise that woman, and I won't let her off. And you—don't be so pathetic. You're a grown man. Are you really incapable of living without a woman?"
How could Mo Tingjue not understand his mother?
She would never listen to him.
But Wen Zhi already hated him so deeply. If his mother didn't change, how could he ever hope to earn Wen Zhi's forgiveness again?
He didn't want to miss the woman he loved for the rest of his life.
He wanted Wen Zhi.
Only Wen Zhi.
If he couldn't have her, he would rather die.
The moment the thought crossed his mind, he suddenly sprang off the hospital bed, rushed toward the coffee table, grabbed the fruit knife from the plate, and slashed viciously at his own wrist.
Blood splattered instantly.
Gu Nian was terrified. She rushed forward in panic, clutching his bleeding wrist tightly as she screamed toward the door with all her strength,
"Doctor! Someone—help! Hurry!"
Mo Tingjue shook off her grip, staggering weakly before collapsing onto the floor. He stared at her as if he felt no pain at all.
"I can't live without her. Since you insist on hurting her, then I'll use my life to repay the debt. Is that enough for you now?"
Medical staff rushed in after hearing the commotion and quickly wheeled him away for emergency treatment.
After his wound was stitched and he was sent back to the ward, the doctor called Gu Nian—her eyes swollen red from crying—outside the room and said carefully,
"Madam Mo, while stitching Mr. Mo's wound, I spoke with him briefly. I believe… it would be best to arrange for a psychologist to evaluate him as soon as possible."
Gu Nian froze.
"What do you mean? Are you saying my son has a mental illness?"
"It appears similar to depression, but I'm not a specialist. A professional psychological evaluation would be more appropriate."
Panic surged through Gu Nian's heart. She immediately asked the doctor to make arrangements.
Not long after, a psychologist arrived. Gu Nian waited anxiously outside for half an hour before the doctor finally came out.
She rushed forward.
"Doctor, how is he?"
The psychologist handed her the evaluation report, his expression grave.
"Mr. Mo is suffering from severe depression. He's been suppressing all his emotions, unable to release them. His suicidal ideation is extremely strong. The family must provide close supervision."
Gu Nian only had this one child.
After doctors had once told her she would likely never be able to become a mother, this child had come into her life with great difficulty.
He was her life.
Her voice trembled as she asked,
"Doctor… what should I do? How can I save him?"
The psychologist replied calmly,
"Medication is only supplementary in treating psychological illness. Emotional release is key. The person who tied the knot must be the one to untie it. You need to truly listen to what the patient wants."
After the doctor left, Gu Nian returned to the ward.
Mo Tingjue lay motionless on the bed, staring blankly out the window, his eyes unfocused.
She called his name. He didn't respond.
Gu Nian sat beside the bed, holding his hand as tears streamed down her face.
"Son, don't ignore Mom. Tell me what you want. No matter what it is—heaven or hell—I'll get it for you."
"I want Xiao Zhi to live well. Don't hurt her. She's more important to me than my own life."
Remembering the doctor's words, Gu Nian realized that no matter how much she hated Wen Zhi, it wasn't worth losing her son's life over her.
She said hurriedly,
"Alright, alright. Mom will listen to you. I won't trouble her anymore. You just focus on getting better, okay?"
Mo Tingjue looked at her with hollow eyes and asked softly,
"Mom… if I recover, do you think Xiao Zhi would be willing to come back to me?"
Gu Nian truly couldn't understand what was so special about that woman besides her looks.
Why did he have to want her so desperately?
But she didn't dare him further and could only say gently,
"She will. So take care of yourself."
Mo Tingjue didn't reply. He simply turned his gaze back toward the window, sinking once more into his lonely, sorrowful world.
Soon after, Gu Nian's phone rang. Seeing Xu Wan's name on the screen, hatred flashed in her eyes.
That woman had stolen her man for half her life—now her illegitimate child dared to steal a woman too!
She stepped outside to answer.
On the phone, Xu Wan arrogantly demanded money, threatening to expose Gu Nian's past crime of locking her in a psychiatric hospital if she refused.
Hatred surged through Gu Nian's eyes. She hung up without hesitation and ordered her people to seize Xu Wan and keep her under control.
Between Mingguang Group targeting her company and caring for her precious son, Gu Nian was already overwhelmed. She had no time to deal with Xu Wan now.
Once this phase was over, she would settle all the accounts together.
The next morning, Wen Zhi got up early and prepared breakfast.
When Mo Tingyan came out of the bedroom, Wen Zhi was already eating. Smiling, he leaned down, intending to place a good-morning kiss on her cheek.
But Wen Zhi shifted aside and looked at him coolly.
"Eat."
This wasn't the first time Wen Zhi had rejected him, so Mo Tingyan didn't think much of it.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, his lips brushing her ear as he murmured in a low, teasing voice, warm breath lingering,
"I don't want breakfast. I want to eat… you."
As he spoke, he turned his head and leaned in to kiss her lips.
Wen Zhi turned her face away and pulled herself out of his arms, displeasure in her tone.
"I've eaten already. Aren't you disgusted?"
Mo Tingyan replied matter-of-factly,
"My own woman—why would I be?"
Seeing his playful, shameless grin, Wen Zhi didn't bother arguing.
She untied her apron and walked around the table.
"I'm done eating. I'm going to the company. Take your time."
Watching her reaction, Mo Tingyan finally realized something was wrong.
She had been off since last night.
Very off.
Wen Zhi walked straight to the door, pulling a small suitcase with one hand and grabbing her bag from the rack with the other.
Mo Tingyan rushed over and grabbed her wrist, his expression serious.
"Baby… tell me. What's going on with you?"