The earlier face-off was hard for Mo Yichen to digest. He was livid.
How dare she refuse him?
He would make that woman pay.
Unlike him, however, Xia Ruyan remained calm, serene as a still lake, immersed in her work reports. She looked stunning, as always. It was almost infuriating how unaffected she appeared, working as if she hadn't just brutally confronted the President of Mo Corporation.
The woman in Mo Yichen's office earlier had only been an actress, someone he brought in deliberately, to humiliate Xia Ruyan. Who would have thought the trap would backfire so badly?
Now that no further tasks were assigned to her, Ruyan took it upon herself to arrange the next day's schedule and prepare a presentation for President Mo. With an hour left before office hours ended, she quietly took out a book and began to read.
It was then that Lee Jian walked over to his workstation and noticed her.
She was deeply engrossed in an English novel, thick and heavy-looking. Something about her quiet presence made him want to ask about the book. But for some reason, the words wouldn't come.
At precisely 5:00 p.m., she packed her things.
"Bye," she said softly, nodding at Secretary Lee. He quickly stood up to bow, but she had already turned and walked away. Mo Yichen, having finally reined in his anger, called the workstation to summon Xia Ruyan to his office.
"She's already left, sir. It's past five," Lee Jian informed him. That simple response reignited his fury.
This woman…
Outside, Marie was already waiting by the car. The weather had turned overcast; gray clouds draped the city like a mourning veil. Everything looked cold and sad. Ruyan got into the car, and Marie handed her a cup of her favorite coffee blend. As the aroma reached her, Ruyan suddenly realized that it had been so long since she'd liked anything.
She used to have so many favorites, and her family would run left and right to bring her those little joys. But ever since she lost her heart… she had lost the ability to enjoy anything. Now, she simply followed routines. She lived with discipline, not desire. Because the one who used to move the world just to make her smile… was gone.
A sorrow settled over her heart, and the skies cried in her stead.
When she arrived at Mo Mansion, her mood was already low. She greeted Grandfather Mo and asked to return to her room, but he stopped her gently.
"Rest for a while and come down later. Your father-in-law, mother-in-law, and Mo Yichen's brothers are back home," he said.
Xia Ruyan nodded quietly and walked to her room, her temporary room. Something deep inside her said.
After a while, when Mo Yichen arrived home, he saw his parents and brothers gathered around his grandfather in the living room. The air felt tense. His mother looked agitated, and his grandfather seemed on the verge of an outburst.
"Mother, Father," he greeted.
"You're back, Yichen," his father replied.
His father, Mo Zhenyu, was in his early fifties, dignified and sharply dressed, his few gray hairs adding to his authority. He reclined on the sofa with composed detachment.
His mother, on the other hand, was visibly upset. Despite being in her fifties, she dressed in the latest fashion, with her hair tightly styled in a sleek bun. Adorned in diamonds, she radiated glamour. Yet something about her felt hollow.
Yichen noticed it suddenly. Compared to Madam Xia or even Xia Ruyan, his mother lacked something. An elegance not born of wealth, but character. But he quickly dismissed the thought. The Mo family could afford to indulge their women, it wasn't about comparison.
"You married a random woman?" his mother snapped. "You're the CEO of Mo Corporation! How could you marry someone from such a humble background? You're meant for great things, and now look—"
"Enough!" Grandfather Mo thundered. "It was my decision. What is wrong with Ruyan? She's beautiful, well-educated, holds three degrees, speaks multiple languages, and comes from an honorable family. What more do you want?"
They had been going in circles for the past hour, and his patience had worn thin.
"But Father, no one even knows this 'Xia family,'" Mo Zhenyu said, still trying to reason.
"Since when has the Mo family needed marriages for wealth or status? Don't make me ashamed of my own son," the old man snapped.
"And what about Ye Yutong?" Yichen's mother cried. "She's been waiting for Yichen all these years. What about her youth?
"Yichen," Grandfather Mo said, his voice sharp, "Did you promise her marriage? Did you give her hope?"
"No," Yichen said firmly. "I never made such a promise."
His two younger brothers, Mo Yize and Mo Yiran, remained silent throughout, sitting with an air of casual curiosity. Though calm, they were clearly intrigued by the unfolding drama.
"But Sister Ye has always admired Brother," Mo Yiran spoke, a strange gleam in his eyes. "Everyone in our circle knows they're practically a couple. And Brother never denied it.
"She's just my good friend's sister," Mo Yichen replied, his tone calm and detached. "I didn't want to embarrass her."
"Well," Mo Yize chimed in with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "she'll definitely be embarrassed now."
Mo Yiran and Mo Yize were twins, though only twenty-one minutes separated their births; they were opposites in every sense. Mo Yize, the younger, was playful and fun-loving, easily bribed with food, a new game, or a good race. A charming man-child.
Mo Yiran, on the other hand, was sharp, calculating, and arrogant. He ran Mo Entertainment, carried himself like a king, and had a reputation as a seasoned Casanova. His morals were questionable, but no one dared to challenge him. After all, he was the second young master of the Mo family.
At that moment, Xia Ruyan descended into the living hall. Dressed in all white, she looked ethereal, like a dream made real. Her steps were measured; her expression was serene. Grandfather Mo's face lit up with a wide smile at her entrance. Mo Yichen remained relaxed, casually swirling his teacup as he leaned back into the sofa.
"Come, child. Meet your family," Grandfather Mo called gently.
Ruyan approached with quiet grace. At his gesture, she hesitated slightly but then sat down beside Mo Yichen, leaving a respectful distance between them.
"This is my son, Mo Zhenyu, and his wife, Zhou Meiling, Yichen's parents."
Ruyan greeted them with a soft, composed, "Good evening." The couple sat momentarily stunned, gawking.
"And these two are Yichen's younger twin brothers, Mo Yiran and Mo Yize," Grandfather continued, clearly enjoying the scene.
Ruyan inclined her head politely. "Hello."
All four Mo family members stared at her, momentarily captivated. Her beauty was beyond what they had imagined, otherworldly, untouchable, almost unreal. Grandfather Mo looked rather pleased with himself.
"Do you have a sister?" Mo Yize blurted out suddenly.
Grandfather Mo smacked the back of his head with practiced familiarity. "Watch it, brat."
"I don't," Ruyan replied quietly, already understanding what the mischievous younger twin meant.
Madam Zhou Lihua, although struck by Ruyan's beauty, quickly composed herself. Too beautiful, she thought grimly. Just a vase. No depth. Yutong is still the better choice for my son.
And in that moment, she silently vowed to remove this girl from her son's life before it was too late.