Ch. 261..270
Chapter 261: What More Do You Want Me to Do for You? Late at night.
The bedroom was pitch-dark.
Qiao Ruoxin slept soundly in the arms of the man behind her, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing.
She gently removed the man’s arm from around her waist and then tenderly got out of bed.
Taking a pen and paper, she sat alone on the terrace, nestled into the outdoor sofa.
Glancing at the sleeping figure of the man in the bed, a smile formed on Qiao Ruoxin’s lips.
Looking up at the endless night sky, she suddenly felt inspired to write a song.
Qiao Ruoxin wrote down four words on the paper: His Obsession.
Then, as Mo Chen’s image came to mind, she couldn’t help but laugh.
The night was tranquil as she leaned back on the outdoor sofa, her pen dancing back and forth across the paper.
…
The next day, early morning.
Mo Chen’s towering figure stood in front of the bathroom sink, using an electric razor, his proud chin lathered with white foam, exuding an indescribable handsomeness and sexiness.
“Let me help you!”
Suddenly, Qiao Ruoxin’s soft, sweet voice intruded into the bathroom.
The man glanced back at her and handed her the electric razor.
She stood in front of Mo Chen, a good deal shorter than him, frowning in displeasure, “Bend down; it’s tiring to raise my hand so high.”
The man laughed without a voice but still lowered his head a bit, looking up at her serious little expression.
Why did it feel like an old married couple?
A smile played at the corners of his mouth.
“All done, go rinse off,” Qiao Ruoxin said, satisfied with her work.
Mo Chen’s long fingers touched the white foam on his chin, then deliberately smeared it on Little Ghost’s nose.
“What are you doing! I’ve already washed my face!”
“Wash it again.”
Qiao Ruoxin glared at him angrily, then maliciously rubbed her face against the man’s robe.
The best way to get back at someone with a serious case of germophobia.
As expected, the man looked at her with disgust and said in a deep voice, “Little Ghost, if you dirty it, you wash it.”
“No way!”
No way?
Mo Chen’s long arms wrapped around her slender waist, pulling her body close to his own, and he looked down at her, “Say that one more time?”
“No way, no way, no way! What can you do about it?” she teased Mo Chen by making a face, deliberately provoking him.
The man was directly amused by her and kissed her forcefully, causing foam to spread all over her face.
“Mo Chen, you’re so annoying! Now my whole face is covered!” Qiao Ruoxin pushed him away, her face full of disgust.
Mo Chen scoffed disdainfully, “You had it coming!”
“And to think I even prepared a gift for you, but given your attitude, I might just destroy that gift,” she huffed proudly.
The man’s eyebrows lifted in a clearly interested manner, “A gift? What gift?”
“Do you want it?”
“Hmm.”
“Not giving it to you, I’ll give it to another man.” A mischievous smile appeared in her eyes as she turned to leave the bathroom.
Mo Chen pulled her back in a swift motion and spoke in a deep voice, “Little Ghost, speak properly, or I might make sure you can’t leave the bed for three days.”
“…”
The scoundrel only knew how to use that as a threat.
“You’re still threatening me? Don’t you want the gift anymore?”
The man furrowed his brows slightly, “Another watch?”
He really had the thought process of a straight man, utterly devoid of any sense of romance.
“You’ll never guess what it is, and when the time comes, you’ll know. Be nice to me, or I might just give the gift to someone else.”
Watching her proud little expression, Mo Chen had a special urge to tease her.
Hmm, this Little Ghost is asking for a beating.
Mo Chen’s large hand gently touched her head, “How else do you want me to be nice to you?”
“Mmm… I haven’t thought it through yet, I’ll tell you when I do.”
The man chuckled softly, “Okay.”
…
Evening.
She had the bodyguard drive her back to the Qiao family’s old mansion.
The moment the car slowly came to a stop, Qiao Ruoxin felt a slight sense of trance. It had been nearly two years since she had last returned.
She still remembered playing in the old mansion as a child.
After getting out of the car, she entered the mansion with the gift she had prepared in advance, and everything was unchanged.
“Xinxin!”
Grandpa Qiao was the first to spot her, his aged face breaking into a kind smile.
Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help but smile too, walking forward to support her grandfather’s arm, “Grandpa, happy birthday.”
“It’s good that you’re back, your grandma and I have missed you. You used to play here every day as a child, but now it’s so hard to even see you once.”
She patiently listened by his side.
After entering the living room, she noticed that all the relatives and friends of the Qiao family were present, creating an extremely awkward atmosphere, with everyone casting strange looks at Qiao Ruoxin.
Qiao Ruoxin presented her prepared gift, “Grandpa, this is the birthday gift I prepared for you. I hope you like it.”
At the mention of the birthday gift, everyone came to take a closer look, curious to see what kind of gift she could afford in her current situation.
Grandpa Qiao opened the gift box, inside which lay a finely carved Jade Ruyi, worth millions.
The relatives and friends of the Qiao family all showed expressions of surprise.
The following two hours of the birthday banquet were relatively calm, eerily so.
After the dinner ended, Qiao Ruoxin was saying her goodbyes and preparing to leave when Bai Xue finally started her antics.
“Grandpa, I’ll be leaving now. I have work tomorrow, but I’ll come to see you again next time.”
“Alright, do come and visit your grandma and me more often.”
Suddenly!
Bai Xue stood up and walked over to Qiao Ruoxin, then knelt down with a thud. This scene genuinely startled Qiao Ruoxin.
All those present were baffled, unsure of what was happening.
Bai Xue grabbed her hand and began to sob loudly, “Ruoxin, I truly realize my fault. Please stop framing Sisi, she’s still lying in the hospital… sob…”
Qiao Ruoxin’s father was the first to step forward, “Bai Xue, what are you talking about? What exactly is going on here?”
Bai Xue cried out, “Husband, please plead with your precious daughter for me, I really dare not cause any more trouble, ask her to spare me and Sisi!”
Qiao Ruoxin’s father came forward, pulled Bai Xue up, and said angrily, “Clarify yourself! What exactly happened to Sisi?”
Qiao Ruoxin stood there with a bewildered face. Her stepmother was truly a great actress; it was a shame she wasn’t in the theater.
“Qiao Ruoxin had some men assault Sisi… she’s been raped. Now Sisi is pregnant and is at the hospital getting an abortion! I’m really scared, please beg her for me, I knelt last time too, why won’t she let me go…”
Bai Xue sobbed as if her heart was breaking, enough to sway anyone.
As soon as this was said, everyone was shocked.
Grandpa Qiao’s voice trembled, “What did you say? Sisi is in the hospital getting an abortion?”
Qiao Ruoxin’s father was the first to look at Qiao Ruoxin standing there, “Is what your Aunt Bai said true? How could you do such a vile thing! You’re breaking the law, do you realize that?”
Qiao Ruoxin was utterly disappointed by her father’s reaction.
She scoffed, “You believe everything Bai Xue says, you two really are a perfect match.”
Having said that, Qiao Ruoxin turned around and left without looking back.
Bai Xue suddenly ran up to her and hugged her, sobbing loudly, “Ruoxin, Auntie is truly begging you, please leave us alone!”
The next second, Bai Xue whispered into her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear, “I’ve had the hotel surveillance footage cleaned up a long time ago, no need to rush looking for it. This time, you’re going straight to hell!”
Chapter 262: Qiao Ruoxin is criticized by the whole network Qiao Ruoxin pushed Bai Xue away forcefully, and Bai Xue purposefully fell to the ground, feigning fragility.
“Boo hoo hoo, please, Ruoxin, we’re still family after all, how could you treat your sister like this… I know you hate me for taking your mother’s place, but your father and I are true love,” she wailed.
Qiao’s father approached her, raised his arm, and was about to slap her again.
Unexpectedly, the bodyguard Xiaowu stepped in front of Qiao Ruoxin: “Mr. Qiao, I advise you to think twice, do you want to be thrown out of the capital again?”
Qiao Ruoxin looked at the ugly faces of everyone present and finally turned to Grandfather Qiao: “Grandpa, I’m leaving, and I don’t want to come back again.”
She turned and left the old house, with the bodyguard following closely behind.
Grandfather Qiao: “Xinxin…”
Qiao’s father pointed angrily at her receding figure: “How could you become so malicious! That’s your sister!”
Bai Xue rushed up, trying to stop her, but was held back by Qiao’s father.
Yet, a malicious smile could clearly be seen on Bai Xue’s lips; this was just the beginning, and she intended to completely destroy this little wretch! She would let this little wretch taste what it’s like to have nowhere to turn!
…
Inside the car.
Qiao Ruoxin sat in the back seat, looking out the car window at the scenery, her mind in turmoil.
Sure enough, they hadn’t let her down; they were still the same foolish family.
Bai Xue had whispered in her ear earlier that she had destroyed the hotel’s surveillance records, which meant Bai Xue had more moves planned.
She looked at Xiaowu in the passenger seat, Mo Chen’s personal bodyguard, trustworthy.
“Xiaowu, help me pick up something from the hotel.”
“Certainly, Miss Qiao, just give the order,” he replied.
…
That evening, #QiaoRuoxinQiaoSisiSisters topped the trending list at number one, explosive!
The farce Bai Xue created at the birthday banquet was videotaped and uploaded to Weibo, which instantly blew up the comments section.
[My goodness! What kind of family ethical drama is this! Are Qiao Sisi, who harassed Lu Xingyu, and Qiao Ruoxin half-sisters? My worldview is shattered!]
[Is the woman in this video Qiao Sisi’s mother? Saying Qiao Ruoxin arranged for someone to rape Qiao Sisi? That’s illegal, isn’t it? If it’s true, they should call the police!]
[It’s just hearsay; Qiao Ruoxin clearly didn’t even have time to react. I’ll wait for Qiao Ruoxin’s clarification; I really don’t think she’s that malicious.]
[Hahaha… Mortal Princess finally crashes and burns! I always said she was a schemer, think about it, to catch Mo Chen’s eye in her teens, could it really have been Mo Chen who took the initiative? She must have seduced him! I’m not surprised at all she did something like this!]
[Uninformed, waiting for clarification!]
[Is Qiao Sisi’s mother sick or something? She could directly call the police; why is she hugging Qiao Ruoxin and crying? What’s the point?]
[Mo Chen, do you regret getting back together? With Mortal Princess being such a bitch, are you sure you can keep loving her? Why not switch to my idol? Mine is gentle and kind, much better than Qiao Ruoxin!]
[Rape my friends! Qiao Sisi’s mother said rape! If it’s true, isn’t Qiao Ruoxin going to jail? How malicious can she be?]
[If it’s true, I hope it’s not; if it’s not, I hope it is. And one more thing, those who spread rumors should die!]
[I hope the police get involved and give us netizens the truth!]
[Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t possibly be that kind of person, absolutely not! Qiao Sisi’s mother obviously had traces of acting, too exaggerated! Disgusting!]
Half an hour later, another trend hit the third spot: #QiaoRuoxinSurveillanceFootage#
An anonymous Weibo account uploaded a segment of surveillance footage showing Qiao Ruoxin and Qiao Sisi scuffling in the hotel corridor, with Qiao Sisi eventually being pushed into a room.
The entire internet was in an uproar!
“No, no, no! This can’t be true! Mortal Princess would never do such a thing! Qiao sister, say something please, I’m going to cry, come out and explain this quickly!”
“My heart truly hurts, how could my Qiao sister… I won’t believe it!”
“Can Qiao Ruoxin’s fans wake up? The surveillance video has been released, yet you’re still deluding yourselves! Your idol is about to become a felon, haha, might as well line up to visit her in prison for your fan support, right? I wonder if Mo Chen will still love her? This is killing me with laughter.”
“Clearly, the surveillance footage is edited! Why are there several minutes missing in the middle? And why is Qiao Ruoxin using the wall for support while walking later on? So many questions! It feels like Qiao Ruoxin was drugged!”
“Stop making excuses for Qiao Ruoxin, you’re disgusting, each and every one of you! Without evidence, you demand evidence, and now that there is evidence, you’re whitewashing her! #CriminalCelebQiaoRuoxin# Let’s get this topic trending!”
“Qiao sister, better learn to sing ‘Tears of Iron Windows’ now, get on good terms with your fellow inmates, so vicious, and you still want to be an idol, corrupting children! I hope you get banned by the broadcasting authority!”
“Qiao Sisi really had it rough, huh? I just saw a marketing account reveal that the harassment of Lu Xingyu by Qiao Sisi was also schemed by Qiao Ruoxin!”
“Qiao Ruoxin looks so beautiful, but with such a malicious heart? Truly a seductive serpent!”
“Where are all those celebrities and big shots who vocally professed their love for Qiao Ruoxin? Struck mute? Not choosing sides now? Disgusting!”
…
Meanwhile, in the hospital.
Qiao Sisi had just undergone an abortion surgery and was lying on the hospital bed, pale-faced, but a proud smile appeared as she saw the public opinion on Weibo turning to her side.
Bai Xue pushed open the door of the ward and walked in.
“Mom! The whole internet is cursing that little bitch! I’m so happy… she’s finally getting what she deserves!”
“Sisi, don’t worry, mom will avenge you. This time we’ll ruin Qiao Ruoxin’s life thoroughly! Making it impossible for her to ever turn things around!” Bai Xue’s eyes blazed with hatred, as if she wouldn’t be satisfied until Qiao Ruoxin was torn to shreds.
…
At the Jiangfu Number One residence.
Qiao Ruoxin sat on the outdoor sofa on the terrace, scrolling through the comments on Weibo on her mobile phone.
Suddenly, she let out a cold laugh: “Buying so many trending searches and marketing accounts, looks like they’ve really spent a fortune.”
Bai Xue intended to completely destroy her, to ensure she could never make a comeback.
Her phone rang, a call from her mother.
Without hesitation, she hung up. She was definitely calling about the hot search matter.
The phone rang again, a call from Mo Chen.
She answered the phone: “Mo Chen brother.”
“Do you need help getting the hot search removed?”
“No need.”
“Why?”
“Let them curse to their heart’s content, that’s how they’ll reveal their true nature.”
“Little Ghost, stop looking at your phone.”
Qiao Ruoxin glanced at the night sky and chuckled softly: “Hurry back, I miss you.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up the phone, she stretched lazily, stood up slowly, and decided to make dinner herself tonight.
The mother-daughter trash could wait until tomorrow.
Actually, Qiao Ruoxin didn’t feel angry, but rather, she felt a sense of relief.
Because from now on, she no longer had to worry about the facade of kinship. It had been proven that her so-called family ties weren’t worth maintaining at all.
Chapter 263: Smack Talk Online Qiao Ruoxin heard the sound of a car stopping outside; it was Mo Chen coming back.
She quietly hid by the door, then heard the man’s deep footsteps, the sound of the keypad as he entered the code to unlock the door.
With a ‘click,’ the door was pushed open.
The next second, Qiao Ruoxin’s soft body plunged into the man’s arms, causing him to take a step back.
Surprise flashed in Mo Chen’s dark eyes, followed by a crooked smile. He embraced the Little Ghost in his arms, inhaling the faint fragrance of her shower.
“Were you waiting for me to come back?” The man’s voice was deep, lazy, and sexy.
Her small face buried in his chest, she nodded: “Mm, did you have dinner?”
“Mm…”
Qiao Ruoxin looked up somewhat disappointed: “You’ve eaten? I made dinner for you…”
His slender fingers weaved through her gentle hair, touching her head with indulgence in his voice: “Then let’s eat again.”
A satisfied smile appeared on Qiao Ruoxin’s face: “That’s more like it.”
Then, she pulled the man’s tall and handsome body toward the dining room.
Mo Chen glanced at the three dishes and one soup on the table; it was evident she had put in effort.
…
After dinner, Mo Chen had to go to the study to attend to business matters, so she had no choice but to go back to the bedroom to shower and sleep.
Actually, she waited for a long time but didn’t see Mo Chen return, and as she was too sleepy, she fell asleep first.
Sleeping in a daze, she felt a moist sensation at her earlobe. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Mo Chen kissing her.
Seeing her awake, the man’s voice was hoarse: “Finally awake.”
“What are you doing… I’m so tired.”
“Your man is working in the study, and you’re sleeping alone?” There seemed to be a hint of displeasure in the man’s tone.
Qiao Ruoxin rubbed her eyes and murmured softly: “I waited for you, but you didn’t come back for a long time.”
Mo Chen rolled over and pinned her beneath him; her complete awakening was ensured by the man’s heavy body.
“You’re so heavy, get off!”
“Little Ghost.”
“Hmm?” She still felt very sleepy and wanted to sleep.
The man’s slender fingers gripped her jaw: “Nearly got hit at the Qiao Family again?”
“Luckily, your bodyguard was quick-witted and stood in front of me in time; very competent. You should give him a raise.”
Mo Chen’s gaze deepened as he stared at her: “Feeling wronged?”
She paused, then shook her head: “It’s not a big deal; they don’t matter to me anymore.”
The man stared at her in silence for a few seconds, then seized her lips in a passionate and intense kiss.
As if he wanted to erase the lousy memories of the day from this Little Ghost.
“Mmm…” Qiao Ruoxin struggled to dodge the man’s fervent kiss, turning her head away: “Mo Chen! Go to sleep nicely! Considering what you did last night, you definitely can’t touch me tonight!”
She felt like she had passed out last night and couldn’t remember when it had ended.
Mo Chen chuckled softly, touching her small face: “You’re an ungrateful little brat.”
“I’m so tired; I want to sleep.”
She struggled to turn over and go to sleep, but the man kept his weight on her: “Let’s just sleep like this; it’s been a long time since we’ve slept this way.”
…
Damn man! Damn man! Damn man!
Cursing never seems to be enough.
After a dreamless night, Qiao Ruoxin woke up with the broad daylight, feeling a crushing weight atop her that made it impossible to move.
The next day, early morning.
When she opened her eyes, the man beside her had long since disappeared.
Sitting up slowly and leaning against the bed, the first thing she did was to grab her phone and glance at the Weibo comments.
The haters were relentless, bombarding her with three hundred thousand comments overnight.
Impressive fighting power—probably many of Bai Xue’s paid trolls among them.
It was time to bring things to an end.
Qiao Ruoxin opened her own Weibo and uploaded a five-minute long video with sound.
Then she added a caption, “To the neighbor auntie playing homewrecker, today’s surprise is for you to enjoy. I’ve called the police, wait for my lawyer’s letter.”
Her slender fingertips lightly pressed the send button, and ten seconds later, the Weibo post was successfully uploaded!
Then, she threw her phone onto the bed nearby and got up to wash up in the bathroom.
…
In just half an hour, the comments and shares on Qiao Ruoxin’s Weibo post almost exploded.
Instantly topping the trending searches: #QiaoRuoxinFalselyAccused# first place on hot search! Boom!
The video Qiao Ruoxin uploaded showed Bai Xue in a hotel room, emphasizing to several men that they must ruin Ruoxin, and saying she would pay them a million if they slept with Ruoxin…
“Holy shit! I’ve really witnessed quite the drama! What kind of evil stepmother is this? She tried to set someone up to rape Qiao Ruoxin and ended up having her own daughter raped???”
“Is this even human behavior? How can she still have the face to cry in front of Qiao Ruoxin, buying trending searches and marketing accounts to defame her?”
“To be so despicable is to be invincible, I’m really impressed! What kind of trashy stepmother is this, causing her own daughter to suffer like that and still has the gall to blame someone else?”
“After watching this video, I cringed so hard my toes curled, I could dig out a Barbie princess villa right where I stand! How can someone be so vile and stupid at the same time?”
“Police officers, hurry up! I can’t take it anymore, it makes me want to vomit!”
“All those trolls slandering little sister Qiao, come out and get beaten! Do you see the truth now? I wish all of you have such an evil stepmother! You’re welcome!”
“I’m in tears! If Qiao Ruoxin hadn’t fought back that night, the consequences would be unthinkable now! This stepmother must go to jail, or it won’t appease the public’s anger!”
“I owe Qiao Ruoxin an apology; I was blinded by public opinion, I will be more cautious in the future.”
“This plot twist! I’m about to go blind! What kind of supreme scum of a stepmother is this! So only you can harm people, and Qiao Ruoxin isn’t allowed to fight back?”
“Well done, little sister Qiao! You should have pushed both the stepmother and the mother into that room! Using such a despicable tactic, let the mother and daughter duo enjoy it properly!”
“As the saying goes, behind every evil stepmother is an indifferent scumbag of a father. Little sister Qiao, I think you should stay away from your scumbag dad!”
“Little sister Qiao! Don’t go back home anymore! That’s no longer your home, it’s a den of wolves! I knew there was something wrong with the birthday banquet video last night, all those relatives and friends with their schadenfreude expressions, tsk tsk, unbelievable.”
“My poor little sister Qiao, I’m starting to stan you! You truly are the Mortal Princess, you must have descended to this world to overcome tribulations, to have such a bizarre family.”
“I told you so, how could Qiao Ruoxin have done such a thing! It’s infuriating! If she hadn’t fought back, she would have been the one raped! Support little sister Qiao!”
“This stepmother really has no brains! Qiao Ruoxin was already keeping a low profile, and she went out of her way to dig a hole for herself. Now, the whole world knows that you arranged the rape of your own biological daughter!”
…
In the Qiao Family Number One Mansion, the dining room.
While having breakfast, Qiao Ruoxin picked up her phone to take a look at Weibo and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Bai Xue probably forgot there was a camera in the room.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
She looked at it, and as expected, it was a call from Father Qiao, no doubt about Bai Xue and Qiao Sisi’s matter.
She directly hung up, unwilling to answer.
Chapter 264: Brother Mo Chen, You’re So Sweet Qiao Ruoxin finished her breakfast and left Jiang Mansion Number One, heading out for an outdoor photo shoot.
Her phone was almost blown up with calls throughout the day, all from the Qiao Family, but she didn’t answer a single one.
In the evening, she finally wrapped up the photo shoot for the day.
Qiao Ruoxin got back into the car, picked up her phone, and glanced at it—over a hundred missed calls.
A faint smile curved her lips—by now, the people at the Qiao Family were probably as restless as ants on a hot pan.
If she didn’t take drastic measures this time, Bai Xue and Qiao Sisi would surely continue to court disaster.
It was better to settle things once and for all.
She looked out the car window, frowning, “This doesn’t seem like the way back home?”
Driver: “Miss Qiao, it’s like this, Master Mo instructed me to take you to see him.”
“Oh… where is he?”
“You’ll know when you get there.”
Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help but laugh, still so secretive.
Thinking of Mo Chen, she felt a bit regretful about making such a high-profile move today.
The truth was, she really didn’t want to air the family’s dirty laundry, but her step-sister and step-mother were too presumptuous.
If she truly wanted to marry into the Mo Family, a top-tier luxury family, she would have to be low-key, avoiding giving the high society ladies fodder for gossip during their leisure time.
The Mo Family had climbed to the top of the elite circles in Asia and valued reputation and public image above all else.
Qiao Ruoxin sighed lightly, knowing she had to find a way to salvage her image.
Forty minutes later.
The car slowly stopped at the entrance to Disneyland, and the driver got out to open the door for her: “Miss Qiao, we’ve arrived.”
“Why here? Isn’t the park closed for maintenance these days?”
“I am not sure about that, all I am responsible for is to bring you here.”
Walking towards the entrance, Qiao Ruoxin reminisced about how Disneyland was usually packed with people, where you’d have to queue up for at least an hour for any ride.
Entering the eerily empty Disneyland felt unfamiliar, with only a few staff members around.
After some searching, Qiao Ruoxin found Mo Chen’s figure by the carousel.
The tall and handsome figure of the man stood there, his beautiful features softening with a hint of warmth when he saw her.
His lips curled into a smirk, as he stretched his arms out towards Qiao Ruoxin, that proud and overbearing look seemingly saying: Aren’t you coming into my embrace?
Qiao Ruoxin chuckled softly and then ran into the arms of the man, bumping into him so hard that he took a step back.
Mo Chen laughed, hugging the little devil’s body, his chin resting on top of her head as he asked in a deep, gentle voice, “Am I good to you?”
???
She looked up into his dark eyes: “What are you talking about?”
“Didn’t you say I would get that gift only if I was nicer to you?”
His deep voice was lazy and sensuous, laced with a hint of seduction.
Qiao Ruoxin was stunned for a few seconds, then burst out laughing, her laugh as melodious as a wind chime.
“By bringing me to Disneyland, is that you being nice to me?”
Mo Chen’s long fingers pinched her soft earlobe, deliberately lowering his voice: “But tonight, you’re the only one here.”
“You’ve pulled strings again?”
He chuckled softly: “If you have privileges, why not use them?”
She unabashedly slapped his shoulder with her small hand: “That’s not good. If someone captures it on camera, it will trend again, and you’ll be criticized.”
“Little Ghost, does this count as me being good to you?” he pinched Qiao Ruoxin’s pink cheeks.
Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help but smile: “Barely…”
“So, will you give me that gift?”
“Hmm… let me think.”
Mo Chen frowned displeasedly, his large hand gripping her slender waist, his tone ambiguously threatening: “If you dare to refuse, I might accidentally break your waist.”
“Mo Chen, can you not be so violent, please? Be gentler… All girls like gentle men.”
“Really?”
“Of course!”
The man scoffed disdainfully, “I won’t be gentle!”
After speaking, he didn’t forget to slap her perky butt.
“Ouch! Why did you hit me?”
“Because you deserve it.” Mo Chen glared at her without any courtesy and then commanded in a deep voice, “Go ride the merry-go-round.”
Qiao Ruoxin looked puzzled, “That’s so boring, I want to go on the Extreme Speed Light Wheel, that’s more thrilling.”
The bastard said to her with a nasty tone, “Qiao Ruoxin, are you even a woman? Women should ride merry-go-rounds!”
She made a face at Mo Chen, full of dissatisfaction, and then walked toward the merry-go-round.
It had been a long time since she’d been on a merry-go-round; riding it instantly felt like returning to her childhood, and her mood became joyful.
The machine started up, and Qiao Ruoxin waved at the man standing below.
Mo Chen stood outside the railing, a doting smile curving his lips as he watched the sweet smile of that Little Ghost.
The first time he met this Little Ghost, it was summer, and her smile was both sweet and haughty.
Then, this Little Ghost took up the word ‘summer’ in his world.
Whenever he thought of the word ‘summer,’ the image of a 12-year-old Qiao Ruoxin running under the setting sun would automatically come to his mind, her long black hair elegantly fluttering in the wind.
The man took out his phone, turned on the camera, aimed at Qiao Ruoxin, and captured the happy moment of this Little Ghost.
After a while, Qiao Ruoxin came back to his side, “Let me see the photo you just took.”
Mo Chen frowned slightly, “So inattentive?”
She snatched the man’s phone, opened the photo gallery, and upon seeing that photo… let’s just say, straight male aesthetic.
Fortunately, she was naturally beautiful; otherwise, that photo would really be hard to describe.
“Mo Chen, do you think this photo you took looks good?”
“Hmm…”
She chuckled dryly twice and handed the phone back to him, “As long as you’re happy.”
The man’s brows lifted, “You think it’s not good?”
What to say?
It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just that the angle is too straight male, almost like a dad taking a photo of his daughter.
“I’m so pretty, I look good from any angle, 360 degrees, no dead angles,” she said proudly, her lips curving teasingly.
The man let out a scornful snort, his dark eyes filled with disdain.
Qiao Ruoxin clung to his arm, “Let’s go on the Extreme Speed Light Wheel! That one is really exciting!”
At a Disneyland with no other visitors, Qiao Ruoxin had the time of her life, leaving the park two hours later.
Back in the car, Qiao Ruoxin, exhausted, lay on the man’s chest, whining softly, “I’m so tired, if you’d told me we were coming here, I would have changed shoes… Wearing high heels is exhausting.”
Mo Chen chuckled lowly and touched her little face, coaxing her, “I’ll massage them for you later, okay?”
“Okay, good.”
“Am I good to you?”
“Extremely, extremely, extremely good! No one treats me better than you do!”
The man’s large hand patted her back gently, “Go to sleep for a bit, I’ll wake you when we get there.”
Qiao Ruoxin leaned into the man’s arms, nodded, and obediently closed her eyes.
After a few seconds, she suddenly moved closer to the man’s ear and whispered, “Mo Chen, you’re so sweet.”
“Hmm…” The corners of the man’s mouth turned up.
An hour later, they arrived at Jiang Mansion Number One.
The car hadn’t even entered the garage when they saw the Qiao Family blocking the door again.
Mo Chen’s expression turned icy as he glanced down at the woman sleeping in his arms and held her tighter.
Chapter 265: Mo Chen, Will You Have an Affair in the Future? The car slowly came to a stop, and Qiao Ruoxin, groggy, opened her eyes, glanced out the window, and instantly, all sense of sleepiness disappeared.
She lay in the man’s embrace, her body tensing slightly.
Waking up to see such annoying people, it really was a mood killer.
Mo Chen looked down into her eyes and said in a low voice, “If you don’t want to deal with them, you don’t have to, okay?”
“How rude would that be? Things have to be resolved, otherwise it would be so annoying to have them blocking the door every day.” Her voice was gentle, sweet, and casual.
“…”
The man didn’t say anything more.
Qiao Ruoxin pushed the car door open and got out, just as she stood up straight, Qiao Sisi charged over.
“Qiao Ruoxin! You withdraw the lawsuit! Do you want to send my mom to prison? In your dreams!”
She glanced indifferently at the furious Qiao Sisi, “It was your mom who did it, how is it that you say I want to send her to jail?”
Mo Chen stepped out of the car and stood behind Qiao Ruoxin, his tall and handsome figure enveloping her petite body, as if he were her solid backing.
Qiao Sisi involuntarily took a step back upon seeing this man.
Qiao Family’s father approached with an embarrassed expression, “Ruoxin, could you… withdraw the lawsuit?”
The disappointment was evident in Qiao Ruoxin’s eyes, “Even after witnessing Bai Xue do such things, you’re still indifferent?”
“I… I didn’t expect her to do such a thing, she wasn’t like this before…” Qiao Family’s father stumbled over his words, indeed shocked speechless when he saw that video.
“You’ve seen it with your own eyes now, yet you still intend to shield that woman?”
Enough, really enough.
She didn’t want to see her father for another second.
Qiao Family’s father fumbled for words, “If you don’t withdraw the lawsuit, it will ruin the reputation of our Qiao Family, please, even your dad is begging you, okay?”
Qiao Ruoxin looked at her father and suddenly let out a cold laugh, “Now I finally understand why my mom decided to divorce you back then.”
Qiao Family’s father’s expression froze, and then he suddenly burst into rage, “Don’t mention your mother to me!”
“I don’t even want to talk about that mistress!”
She snapped, “Let me tell you the truth, withdrawing the lawsuit is impossible, you better think about hiring a good lawyer instead.”
With that, she turned and entered the villa without looking back.
“Qiao Ruoxin! On what grounds can you act this way! I’m the one who suffered for you, you’ve suffered nothing, why should you!”
Qiao Sisi shook with emotion and wanted to rush forward but stopped in the face of Mo Chen’s cold glare.
Mo Chen gave the father and daughter a cold glance and said in a deep voice, “Scram.”
His tone of voice was as if he were facing a pile of trash.
Then, he turned and walked with long strides towards the villa.
Qiao Sisi’s eyes widened with fear as she cried and looked at Qiao Family’s father, “Dad, what do we do now? Are we really going to let Mom go to prison?”
Qiao Family’s father’s face was pale as he stood there frozen.
…
Inside the living room.
Qiao Ruoxin sat on the sofa, her gaze filled with resentment.
The good mood from Disneyland was completely ruined.
Mo Chen sat down next to her and asked in a low voice, “Little Ghost, still angry?”
“Mo Chen, will you ever have a mistress?” She looked so serious.
The man’s dark eyes blinked in surprise and then deepened, “What do you mean?”
“If you ever plan to find a mistress in the future, let me know in advance, I don’t want to stumble upon your affair and disgust myself.”
Qiao Ruoxin could still vividly remember when as a child she stumbled upon her father being intimate with Bai Xue, but she was too young to understand what it meant at the time.
She grew up and understood, and Bai Xue ascended from a mistress to a more permanent position, utterly disgusting.
Mo Chen was instantly enraged, his irritability uncontrollable, “You’re comparing me to that piece of trash father of yours?”
It was a demeaning and contemptuous comparison to him.
“Didn’t you say it yourself? All men are the same. Can you guarantee you won’t find a mistress? Can you control yourself?”
The man, infuriated to the point of laughter, found himself actually amused by her accusations, “Little Ghost, what will it take for you to believe me?”
Qiao Ruoxin: “Only time can prove it.”
Mo Chen picked her up and set her on his lap, letting out a derisive chuckle, “You’re talking about time with me? I’ve spent nine years on you, isn’t that enough?”
“…”
It seemed she was right…
She took the initiative to wrap her arms around the man’s neck, giggling softly, “Mo Chen, you’re so formidable.”
“Not calling me a pervert anymore?” The man’s tone was filled with sarcastic undertones.
“When did I say you were a pervert? I’m going to take a shower first.” Qiao Ruoxin, feeling a bit guilty, left the man’s embrace and turned to walk upstairs.
But before she could take a step, Mo Chen forcefully pulled her back into his arms, pinching her chin, “Not admitting it?”
“Mhm, not admitting it.” She retorted with feigned arrogance.
The man deliberately leaned close to her face, lowering his voice on purpose, “Then I ought to punish you.”
Punish?
Being this close was nothing but a kiss, right?
Qiao Ruoxin had instinctively closed her eyes, it wasn’t like they hadn’t kissed before.
Mo Chen looked at her obediently closing her eyes and his lips curled up in a wicked smile, then he fiercely bumped her forehead.
“Ow! It hurts!”
The next second, the man placed her on the couch, “I’m going to the study, don’t come in!”
Having said that, he turned and left.
Qiao Ruoxin sulked on the sofa, rubbing her forehead, this bastard was really unpredictable!
“Have you been practicing iron head skill? So ruthless… a concussion from your bump!” she complained discontentedly.
Completely lacking gentleness, hitting her so hard, he was a true steel-hearted straight man!
She got up and went back to the bedroom upstairs, stood in front of the bathroom sink, and took a look at herself in the mirror, noticing a red spot on her forehead.
Dammit!
That dog of a man!
Qiao Ruoxin was about to take her clothes off for a shower when suddenly, a notification sound came from her phone.
She picked it up nonchalantly and saw it was from Simon, opening the message to read: “Mo Chen’s college girlfriend.”
Attached was a photo.
The picture was taken on the campus of Stanford University, with Mo Chen standing against the light, the interplay of light and shadow lending a sculptural quality to his features.
And there, standing beside Mo Chen in the photo, was an Asian girl! Clinging to his arm! The gesture was very intimate!
Qiao Ruoxin stared at the photo for a long time, dumbstruck. Was Mo Chen deceiving her? Did he really have a girlfriend during his college years?
The girl in the photo was very pretty and matched Mo Chen’s temperament well, she even spotted a slight resemblance that couples often share?
Qiao Ruoxin shook her head, trying to brush off these wild thoughts.
Her phone rang, it was a call from Simon.
She answered, “Stepbrother, just with this one photo, you’re already spinning stories?”
“Isn’t it you who asked me to find evidence? The evidence is right here.”
“What kind of evidence is this? Haven’t you ever taken pictures with classmates in college? If you sent a kissing photo, maybe I would be somewhat convinced.”
“There are intimate photos, but I was afraid you’d cry if you saw them.”
Qiao Ruoxin’s heart tightened, a sudden wave of panic washing over her as she feigned composure, “If you have them, then send them, stop talking nonsense! Besides, even if he had a girlfriend in college, so what? Who doesn’t have a past?”
Chapter 266: Little Ghost, I Have No Other Woman But You The other end of the phone conveyed Simon’s mocking laugh, “Really? There’s something you might not know, I went to the same school as him, just two grades above, we didn’t interact much, but I remember once during the school anniversary, I saw him with this girl. She introduced Mo Chen to others as her boyfriend, and Mo Chen did not deny it.”
After Simon finished speaking, Qiao Ruoxin indeed felt a sourness in her heart.
Because she knew Simon was from Stanford University, she had even seen his diploma.
“Are you done talking? I’m hanging up!”
Qiao Ruoxin hung up the call directly, and immediately felt very angry.
Although she claimed not to care about Mo Chen’s past, the truth was that seeing him in an intimate photo with another woman made her a bit jealous.
She looked at the photo Simon sent again, feeling that the girl in the photo looked very familiar, as though she had seen her somewhere before?
…
In the study.
Mo Chen sat behind his desk, his dark eyes fixed on the computer screen, which displayed photos from his car accident two years ago.
He began to recall the scenes from his car accident two years earlier…
The appearance of Lin Xi was quite illogical, that area wasn’t suitable for camping, and almost no one chose it for camping.
And then there were those Starfish Earrings, identical to the ones worn by the female lead in the video in his mind.
Could it be that he had seen a video of Lin Xi in bed with a man?
But what was odd was why the video of Lin Xi in bed with a man was so deeply etched in his memory? And why he couldn’t forget it.
He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, searching his mind for memories related to the car accident.
Every time he came close to a key point, he suffered an excruciating headache.
It made him frown in displeasure, and he slowly opened his eyes to look at the photo on the computer screen.
…
Late at night.
Mo Chen returned to the bedroom to find Little Ghost already asleep in the bed.
He took a ten-minute shower in the bathroom and then returned to bed with his body carrying a clear and pleasant scent, all without turning on the light.
Qiao Ruoxin felt the bed sink behind her and opened her eyes.
Then, she felt the man’s body approach her, enveloping her from behind.
“Little Ghost, go to sleep, good night.”
The man’s deep voice carried a trace of fatigue.
Qiao Ruoxin wriggled her body, trying to leave his embrace.
A few seconds later, a cold voice came from behind her, “Try moving again and see?”
“…”
Qiao Ruoxin really didn’t move again, but she kept as much distance from the man as possible.
At last, Mo Chen lost control, rudely straightening her body, “What are you fussing about?”
“It’s too hot, it’ll be cooler if we keep some distance.”
The man scoffed with a cold laugh, “Should I set the air conditioning to below zero for you?”
“No, that’s too cold.”
Mo Chen pulled her into his arms, encircled her slender waist tightly, restraining her from moving.
“Then we’ll sleep holding each other.”
“It’s too hot to hold together, it’s enough just to sleep on the same bed.”
She struggled to push away, her mind fixated on Simon’s words about other intimate photos – could there be kissing pictures, bed pictures? Just the thought repulsed her.
The man grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look him in the eye, his voice deep, “Little Ghost, are you taking out your anger with your father on me?”
Qiao Ruoxin frowned, “I’m not.”
“Then tell me, what are you angry about?”
“I’m just angry!”
Mo Chen was amused by her anger and held her even tighter, “Then I’ll have to hold you to sleep! If you keep fidgeting, I’ll take you right here on the spot!”
“…” She forcefully pushed the man’s body away, “You’re nothing but a liar!”
The man raised an eyebrow, quickly pinned her hands above her head, “What did I lie to you about?”
“I’ve asked you so many times, have you ever had a girlfriend before, and you always said no!”
“Do you want me to lie and say I have?”
“I want to hear the truth, even if you did, it wouldn’t matter, that’s all in your past, I don’t care!”
After all, there is an age gap between Mo Chen and her, it’s unreasonable to expect a man at the peak of his vitality to have never had a woman, especially someone of his caliber.
“The truth is I haven’t.”
Qiao Ruoxin kept struggling but it was futile; she was almost sweating from the effort.
She gave up struggling and stared into the man’s handsome face, “You did, you were very close with a girl in university, and even publicly acknowledged her as your girlfriend, right?”
A flicker of confusion passed through Mo Chen’s dark eyes, “How do you know? Who told you?”
Qiao Ruoxin’s eyes widened in surprise, “So it’s true! Get off me!”
Her anger was fully ignited, she struggled frantically to pull her hand back and tried to get out of bed to leave.
Unexpectedly, she was pulled back by the arms of Mo Chen, who had embraced her from behind.
“And you say you’re not lying to me! You are no different from my dad! All men are the same! Get off! I need to cool down!”
Qiao Ruoxin tried to pry off the man’s arm around her waist, but she was too weak to compete with the man behind her.
She could only hear Mo Chen sigh softly, then pick her up around the waist and walk towards the terrace.
“You’re sighing? Do you think I’m being unreasonable?” It sounded as if she was the one in the wrong.
“No.”
Mo Chen carried her to the outdoor couch and held her tightly to prevent her from struggling away.
“Are you very angry?” he looked at Qiao Ruoxin, whose eyes were filled with loathing like a little wild cat that might bite someone the next second.
“What? Do you think I don’t have a right to be angry? Don’t tell me that’s all in the past, and that you didn’t tell me to make me feel secure. I won’t listen! Those are just excuses, you’re just lying to me!”
After three seconds, the man chuckled lowly, and it was a cheerful sound.
She felt that this jerk was mocking her!
“What are you laughing at?”
“That was fake.”
???
Qiao Ruoxin was stunned for a few seconds, “What was fake?”
“That is my cousin.”
“…”
Damn!
This jerk couldn’t possibly have some bizarre fetish, right? With his own cousin? She felt like vomiting…
Mo Chen noticed the change in her expression, and his slender fingers grasped her chin, “What’s that look for? There’s nothing like what you’re thinking!”
“Then what is it? Tell me, I want to hear it.”
“She had too many suitors, and at that time I was solely focused on my research and had no time for women, so…”
Qiao Ruoxin suddenly understood, “So you pretended to be a couple to ward off those suitors? It was actually your cousin? There is no special weird feeling between you?”
The man tacitly agreed.
“You guys really know how to play the game, who knows if what you’re saying is true or false.” She huffed softly and turned her head away.
Mo Chen once again grasped her chin, “One day I’ll take you to meet her.”
She muttered softly, “I was wondering why the girl looked so much like you, I even thought it was a married couple’s resemblance…”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing, nothing, just saying you guys really know how to play.”
He embraced the woman in his arms tighter, his lips approaching her small face, and whispered, “Little Ghost, besides you, I have no other woman.”
Qiao Ruoxin felt guilty.
She was fooled by Simon again, she should reflect on herself for always being so easily manipulated by Simon.
Perhaps, it was because she cared too much about Mo Chen?
She could feel that she cared more for Mo Chen now than she did two years ago.
Chapter 267: If You Dare Marry Him, Don’t Blame Me for Being Heartless Mo Chen tightened his hold on her slender waist, his expression serious as he looked at her, “Little Ghost, tell me, who told you those things?”
She turned her head away, a bit guiltily, and whispered softly, “Simon sent me a photo of you two together, saying she was your girlfriend from your college days.”
So that was it. The man didn’t have much of a reaction, simply responding indifferently, “Hmm.”
What kind of strange reaction was that?
In fact, if Mo Chen had lost his temper at her at this moment, she might have felt somewhat better about it.
“You’re not angry? You don’t think that I don’t trust you?” Curiosity filled her eyes.
Mo Chen let out a scoff, pinched her cheek, “I’m not angry, and you’re not happy?”
“No, it’s not that. I just don’t trust you, and you’re not even a bit angry?”
She always felt that something was off.
The night was provocative, and the man began to speak in a low, sensual voice, “Psychological studies indicate that your behavior just now is because you care about me. If you had seen that picture but didn’t ask about it, if you had just quietly pretended you saw nothing, then I might really lose my temper.”
???
This guy’s way of thinking was truly unique!
“Mo Chen, how come you know so much…”
His large hand gently patted Qiao Ruoxin’s head, “In the future, if you have any doubts, just come and ask me directly, okay? Don’t throw a tantrum.”
“Hmm, I understand.”
Now, she finally sat obediently in Mo Chen’s arms without struggling any longer.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when, resting against the man’s chest, Qiao Ruoxin called out in a muffled voice, “Mo Chen…”
“Hmm?”
“Next time, we can skip the protective measures.”
In the night breeze, those words were exceedingly clear, as if the entire world was all ears, attentively listening to her statement.
Mo Chen was silent for a minute, or maybe three, his long fingers lifted her chin as his dark, intense eyes stared directly into hers, “What did you just say?”
She looked at the man’s serious face, as if they were discussing a multimillion-dollar contract.
She couldn’t help it and burst out laughing, patiently repeating, “I said, we don’t have to take safety precautions next time, there’s no need to wear a condom anymore. Is that clear enough for you?”
Having put it so bluntly, what more did she need to say?
A faint look of surprise crossed Mo Chen’s distant, handsome face, and for a moment, he seemed unable to react.
“What do you mean?” His voice was husky to the extreme.
Qiao Ruoxin’s lively eyes rolled, “Exactly what it sounds like, we don’t have to use contraception anymore.”
The corners of the man’s mouth curved in a tender smile, his voice gentle and captivating, “What if you get pregnant?”
Looking at the man’s smiling lips, she couldn’t resist playing a trick on him, and said in a deliberately carefree manner, “I can just take medicine.”
As expected, Mo Chen’s face darkened instantly as he roared lowly, “Are you asking for trouble?!”
Qiao Ruoxin laughed, a sweet and joyful laugh, “I was just kidding.”
Mo Chen slightly raised an eyebrow, “Hmm?”
“When I went to see Lan Ke a few days ago, I found out she was pregnant. Xiaobai is being especially nice to her. I want to experience what it’s like to be pregnant too, to see if you’ll spoil me even more.”
Mo Chen felt a sudden throb at his temple as the arm around her waist tightened a little more.
She winced and twisted in discomfort, “It hurts, are you trying to squeeze the life out of me?”
The man immediately let go of her slender waist, his long fingers grasping her chin as he asked again with a stern voice, “Little Ghost, are you serious?”
“Hmm, Mo Chen, let’s get married.”
At that moment, Qiao Ruoxin felt she had nothing to worry about anymore.
The Qiao Family… if possible, she didn’t want to see them in this lifetime.
As for her mother, she had married into the Lawrence Family, and was set for life.
To prevent Simon, that creep, from causing trouble again, it might be better to just get married and have children, completely eradicating any thoughts he might have of getting her.
The next second, Mo Chen’s hand clasped her head, his lips capturing hers in a fierce and lingering kiss that made it difficult for her to breathe.
Qiao Ruoxin cooperated with the kiss, knowing this was Mo Chen’s way of responding.
After the kiss ended, he rested his forehead against hers, “Little Ghost, you’re not allowed to back out once you’ve agreed.”
“I’ll never back out, it’s just…”
“What?” Mo Chen’s brows knit together with displeasure. He despised the words ‘but’ and ‘if’.
Qiao Ruoxin was somewhat apprehensive about Mrs. Mo…
A trace of unease flickered in her eyes, “Will your parents agree? What if they don’t?”
He chuckled lowly and touched her ear, his voice deep and doting, “That’s my business, I’ll handle it. Besides, you’re marrying me, not them. Their opinion doesn’t matter.”
Qiao Ruoxin nodded, but she knew Mrs. Mo definitely wouldn’t agree so readily.
She yawned, “Let’s go back to sleep, I’m sleepy.”
But Mo Chen spoke in a deep voice, “There’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“Little Ghost, after you marry me, you’ll have to leave the entertainment industry. I can’t allow my wife to be exposed in the entertainment circles.”
The man’s dark eyes locked onto her small face, observing every slight change in her expression.
Actually, she had already prepared herself mentally. With a top wealthy family like the Mo Family, how could they possibly allow their daughter-in-law to shine in the entertainment industry, especially since it could attract a lot of scandals.
Qiao Ruoxin put on a smile, “I understand, I’ll be a good wife to you. Can I get into investments later?”
“Yes.”
“Mo Chen, you’ll have to earn more money then. I’m afraid it won’t be enough for my spending.”
The man’s lips curved up slightly, “Alright.”
Then, he picked up this Little Ghost and returned to the bedroom, lying her down on the bed and looming over her.
Qiao Ruoxin’s face was filled with panic, “What are you doing?”
“Didn’t you say no need for protection?”
“…”
This dog of a man really was shameless!
She tried to push his body away, “I said so much, and that’s all you remember? Get off, I don’t want to!”
Mo Chen, however, deliberately pressed down on her body, leaving her with no escape.
“Little Ghost, it’s too late.”
“If you dare touch me, I’ll bite you to death!”
“Come on.”
Qiao Ruoxin was utterly speechless. It was completely impossible to communicate with such a shameless dog of a man.
…
The next day, at noon.
When Qiao Ruoxin opened her eyes, she found it was already twelve o’clock noon!
She sat up suddenly, she was really able to sleep.
All because of Mo Chen!
It was endless all night long!
She turned on her phone, and as soon as it powered on, a call came in, it was Simon.
The good mood from just waking up was ruined.
Qiao Ruoxin frowned and answered the call, “What is it?”
“Did you sleep well last night?” The tone was full of sarcasm.
She let out a cold laugh, “Sorry to disappoint you, but I slept exceptionally well.”
“Oh? Seeing his ex-girlfriend doesn’t bother you? It seems you really don’t love him.”
She really wanted to stuff a rag in Simon’s mouth!
“Of course, I love him; I don’t just love him, I am planning to marry him! You better give up completely! Take my mom back to the United States!”
She wanted to hang up, but a threatening voice came from the other end of the line, “Baby, you can break up amicably, with a bit of dignity for both of you, but, heh… if you dare to marry him, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
Chapter 268: I want you to carry me down the entire street! And don’t you dare call me a bumpkin! Cruel-hearted?
Wasn’t the plan just to use that video to provoke Mo Chen?
Qiao Ruoxin sneered coldly, said nothing, and hung up the phone directly.
Did they really think anything could threaten her?
She prepared to get out of bed and go to the bathroom to freshen up when her phone rang again.
It was Mo Chen calling.
Her expression lightened up a bit as she answered the call, “Hello?”
“Awake?”
“Yeah, I woke up and it’s already noon, all because of you,” she accused with a slightly haughty tone.
The man’s endearing chuckle came from the other end of the phone, “It’s my fault, I’ll take you out to dinner tonight, okay?”
“You think just having a meal will cut it?”
“You tell me, I’m listening.”
Qiao Ruoxin’s mood immediately brightened a bit, “I want you to carry me on your back down the street! And you’re not allowed to call me unsophisticated!”
“Alright, I promise you,” the man’s tone was so gentle, he probably didn’t even realize he could be this tender.
Her lips curled upwards, “That’s more like it. See you tonight, work hard and eat well, and take a little nap later.”
“Mhm.”
After hanging up, her mood indeed improved a great deal.
After freshening up in the bathroom, she looked in the mirror at herself… kiss marks ambiguous and all over.
This damn man was truly too overbearing.
Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help but laugh out loud again.
…
Evening.
Qiao Ruoxin had to attend a party but only needed to show her face briefly.
“I’ll be out in half an hour, wait for me in the car.”
She glanced at the bodyguard and instructed.
The bodyguard nodded in acknowledgment.
After she entered the party and had exchanged a few words with some big shots in the film industry, she prepared to leave but then saw Lan Ke was also there.
A smile involuntarily appeared on Qiao Ruoxin’s lips as she walked towards Lan Ke.
Unexpectedly, she witnessed a scene that made her smile freeze.
…
“How can you be so spineless? You knew Mo Chen before Qiao Ruoxin, yet she stole a march on you! And after breaking up and getting back together, now you’re setting your sights on Bai Junyan? What is wrong with your taste?”
Lan Ke, looking at the unsightly face of her mother, felt like vomiting, “I don’t like Mo Chen, and Mo Chen doesn’t like me, how could we be together?”
Lan’s mother wore a sharp and scornful expression, “I could understand you liking Bai Junyan before, but the Bai family has fallen into hard times! He’s now nothing but a lapdog to the Mo Family, working for them. Why are you wasting your time on him? Break up with him. I might talk to your father and let you come home…”
“I’m pregnant,” Lan Ke cut off her mother’s words, unable to bear it any longer.
Lan’s mother looked at her flat belly, shocked, “How could you be so foolish! Bai Junyan is just a destitute playboy now! Do you think the Mo Family will treat him as one of their own? He’s not worthy of us now! Do you understand at all?”
Tears welled up in Lan Ke’s eyes as she looked emotionlessly at her mother, “Didn’t you disown me?”
With that, Lan Ke turned to leave, but Lan’s mother forcefully grabbed her, “You can’t keep this child, you must get an abortion!”
As Lan Ke struggled, she caught sight of Qiao Ruoxin standing there.
At that moment, Lan Ke felt a kind of indescribable embarrassment and shame.
Qiao Ruoxin walked up to Lan Ke, took a glass of red wine from a waiter’s tray, and splashed it on Lan’s mother’s face.
Lan’s mother immediately screamed loudly, “Qiao Ruoxin! How dare you treat your elder like this! Have you no manners?”
She pulled Lan Ke to one side, looking arrogantly at Lan’s mother, “Now that I’m with Mo Chen, what do I need manners for?”
After saying that, she took Lan Ke and left the party.
Two people entered the elevator.
Lan Ke revealed a bitter smile, “I knew my mom would come to the cocktail party today. I originally wanted to tell her that I’m pregnant, but she just told me to have an abortion.”
Qiao Ruoxin hugged Lan Ke’s body, “You’re pregnant, don’t get angry or sad. Try to be happier.”
Lan Ke didn’t speak again and simply sighed softly.
“Ake, I’m preparing to marry Mo Chen.”
Surprise flashed in Lan Ke’s eyes, “Really? Mo Ye must be very happy, right?”
She smiled gently, “Ake, we will be happy.”
Lan Ke embraced her shoulders, “Ruoxin baby, I feel like you’ve really grown up.”
…
After Qiao Ruoxin sent Lan Ke home, she then went to the restaurant Mo Chen had booked in advance.
It was still the open-air restaurant that offered a view over the entire cityscape at night.
From a distance, she saw Mo Chen sitting there, his handsome profile turned to the side, looking down as he browsed the menu.
She walked over and took the seat opposite him, revealing a sweet smile, “Mo Chen brother, have you been waiting long?”
The man’s icy handsome face finally softened when he saw her, and he said in a deep voice, “Not really, I’ve just arrived.”
Qiao Ruoxin’s mouth curved up, “That’s good. Let’s eat quickly and don’t forget our promise after we’re done.”
“Hmm?” Mo Chen raised an eyebrow, a hint of puzzlement in his dark eyes.
“Do you want to go back on your word? Didn’t you say you would carry me the length of a street?”
So that was it.
A smile flickered across the man’s lips, and he nodded, “I haven’t forgotten. I remember.”
Throughout the meal, Mo Ye was very quiet, which was really strange; such a hot-tempered person, yet his eating manners were so elegant.
Mo Chen finished eating quickly and then stared unblinkingly at her as she ate.
From time to time, he would pour tea for her and pass her a napkin.
An hour later.
After finishing dinner, Mo Chen drove her around to choose a suitable street.
After a few turns, Qiao Ruoxin pointed to the quiet alley ahead, “Let’s stop here.”
The man slowly pulled the car over to the side of the road.
The night breeze was cool, and on this deserted alley, one could only hear the rustling of the wind through the leaves, creating an atmosphere of comfort.
Qiao Ruoxin stood in the middle of the road, looking at the endless path ahead, much like her own unknown life.
“What are you thinking about?”
The man’s deep voice suddenly invaded her world, and it was then she snapped back to reality, reverting to the vibrant young girl she was.
“Nothing much, come on, carry me!” she said, her eyes clear and bright like a child’s.
Mo Chen let out a snort of laughter, tinged with indulgence, and turned his back to that Little Ghost, “Come on up.”
She couldn’t hide the sweetness on her face, her slender arms wrapping around the man’s neck as she lay on his broad, boundless back.
Mo Chen effortlessly hoisted her up, frowning displeasedly, “Little Ghost, you’ve gotten heavier recently.”
“Don’t say I’ve gotten heavy; don’t you know that’s what women hate the most? You should say I’m very light.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he laughed softly, “Remembered. You’re very light.”
Qiao Ruoxin rested her chin on the man’s shoulder, her warm breath fanning out behind his ear: “Mo Chen brother…”
“Hmm?”
“I saw at the cocktail party earlier, Lan Ke’s mom asked her to abort the child.”
The man raised his eyebrows and said coldly, “Is that so?”
She nodded, “Yeah. Mo Chen brother, Lan Ke’s mom also said Bai Junyan is just a dog of the Mo Family.”
The trace of amusement vanished instantly from Mo Chen’s handsome face, a show of displeasure tightening his features.
“It seems it’s time to have a talk with the Lan Family.” His casual tone was mixed with a hint of threat.
Chapter 269: Brother Mo Chen, you’ve finally learned to speak words of love Qiao Ruoxin hugged the man’s neck tightly, “Actually, when I heard Auntie Lan say that she wanted Lan Ke to abort the child, I thought of my mom…”
The man’s grip on her legs tightened, but his deep voice softened, “Little Ghost, that kind of thing will never happen to you.”
“I know, Brother Mo Chen is the strongest.” She chuckled lightly and pecked the man’s earlobe.
Mo Chen’s eyes darkened, “Stop fooling around.”
“Brother Mo Chen, what if this road has no end?”
“Then I’ll just carry you forever.”
She received the answer she hoped for, revealing a sweet smile, “Brother Mo Chen, you’ve finally learned how to speak sweetly.”
The man’s handsome brows raised, “Which sentence?”
“…”
Still so clueless.
Qiao Ruoxin sighed lightly, “I’m a bit sleepy.”
“Then sleep.”
“Are you going to dump me halfway and walk away on your own?”
Mo Chen glanced back at her, his lips curving, “Depends on my mood.”
Yet she laughed, “Brother Mo Chen, where shall we go for our honeymoon?”
“You decide.”
Those years, he had always wanted to take her on a trip, but work was too busy, and it was postponed time and again, until finally, this Little Ghost caused a breakup and disappeared for two years.
Qiao Ruoxin looked up at the night sky, thought for a moment, and said, “Let’s go see the Northern Lights, I want to see them.”
“Okay.”
After a while, her steady breathing told the man that she had fallen asleep.
Mo Chen’s lips curved slightly, as he carried her on, continuing towards the end of this road.
…
In the dark of the night, under the dim street lamps.
A black luxury car lurked in the distance, with Simon sitting in the driver’s seat, watching Mo Chen carrying Qiao Ruoxin from afar.
Jealousy filled Simon’s eyes.
He sneered disdainfully, “Is this what you call love? Such a naive little girl.”
The more inseparable Qiao Ruoxin and Mo Chen seemed, the more he wanted to pull them apart.
Two years ago, he succeeded, and he was confident he would succeed again this time.
Suddenly, the ringtone of a cellphone sounded inside the car.
Simon answered the call, “What’s wrong?”
“Sir, the lady’s condition is very bad, she has been taken to the hospital, we hope you can come and sign some paperwork.”
Simon’s face instantly changed, “I’ll be right there.”
After hanging up, Simon glanced once more at the man carrying the woman in the distance, murmuring low, “Baby, you really have no conscience at all. Here you are, indulging in love and romance while I have to look after your mom. You’ll have to pay me back double for this.”
Simon started the car and turned it around, leaving the quiet alley.
…
Late at night.
Qiao Ruoxin suddenly woke from a dream, where her mom kept calling her name.
Opening her eyes, she found herself in the car, fast asleep on Mo Chen’s shoulder.
The man noticed she was awake and pinched her chin with his long fingers, “Finally willing to wake up?”
She rubbed her eyes, speaking lazily, “How long did I sleep?”
“Less than an hour, we’re home.”
The driver slowly drove the car into the garage and then parked it.
As she exited the car, still groggy with sleep, she walked toward the villa.
Something felt a bit off, her heart was beating a little faster, but she couldn’t put her finger on the feeling.
Mo Chen saw her stop walking behind him, grasped her icy hands, and furrowed his brows displeased, “Why are your hands so cold?”
“Maybe it’s because I just had a nightmare, it’s nothing.”
She revealed a reassuring smile and pulled the man’s hand, returning to the villa.
Qiao Ruoxin went back to the bedroom to take a bath, then blow-dried her hair until it was half-dry, and went out to the terrace to sit for a while.
As she looked at her phone screen, she suddenly wanted to call her mom, but hesitated for a long time and still couldn’t make the call.
Suddenly, a man’s voice came from the bathroom: “Little Ghost, get me some underwear.”
“Coming!”
She put her phone aside, ran to the wardrobe to grab a pair of men’s underwear, walked to the bathroom door, pushed it slightly ajar, and stretched her hand in, “Here you go.”
Mo Chen deliberately grabbed her wrist, “Shower together?”
“No, I just took one.”
The next second, that damn man actually forcibly pulled her into the bathroom, and immediately there were Qiao Ruoxin’s screams and the man’s low chuckles.
An hour later.
Qiao Ruoxin’s face was filled with grievance as she dried her hair with a towel and, wearing a robe, came out to the terrace.
After a while, Mo Chen also came up to the terrace and, seeing her sitting on the sofa, walked over and picked her up to sit on his lap.
“Little Ghost, are you angry?”
“Knowing I would be angry, you still did it! Annoying! I had already taken a bath, and you dragged me to take another.” She didn’t want to give Mo Chen a pleasant look, otherwise he would just become more excessive in the future.
Mo Chen touched her delicate chin and coaxed her in a low voice, “Brother is wrong, hmm?”
“What’s the use of knowing you’re wrong if you don’t change?”
She huffed, then picked up the phone beside her, suddenly noticing a missed call from Simon.
The man saw the change in her eyes and glanced at the phone number on the screen, “Who is this number? That trash?”
“…”
How could he guess so accurately?
Surprise flickered in Qiao Ruoxin’s eyes, “Have you learned the Mind Reading Technique or something? You guessed it so accurately?”
Upon hearing this, the man’s expression turned instantly grim; indeed, it was that trash.
He snatched the phone from Qiao Ruoxin’s hands and threw it onto the opposite sofa, “Don’t think about that trash when you’re having a romantic moment with me.”
“Who’s thinking about him? Would I be sick or something? Why would I think about him? I just picked up the phone and saw his missed call, that’s all.”
She felt wronged indeed; actually, she was waiting for her mom’s call, but it seemed like that wasn’t happening now.
Mo Chen lifted her chin, “Really?”
“Of course!”
“It’s getting late, let’s go to sleep.”
He carried Qiao Ruoxin horizontally and walked towards the bedroom.
She instinctively hugged the man’s neck, but her eyes involuntarily glanced back at the phone on the outdoor sofa.
That night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep, feeling an indescribable strangeness, as if something was going to happen.
But seeing Mo Chen sleeping soundly, appearing very deep in slumber, lately Mo Chen’s daily routine had also gradually returned to normal, and his medical examination report showed all indicators were normal.
Now he could touch women again, of course, any woman but her was out of the question, it would still make him nauseous.
But being able to recover to this extent was already very good. One step at a time.
As she thought, Qiao Ruoxin fell asleep.
When she opened her eyes again, it was already morning. She stretched and discovered Mo Chen had left her side.
Suddenly, the phone on the terrace started ringing.
Qiao Ruoxin got up, put on slippers, and went to the terrace. She picked up the phone; it was still Simon.
She answered the call, “What’s up?”
“Last night, Auntie Lan was taken to the emergency room, and I couldn’t reach you on your phone. Do you want to come to the hospital to see her? Auntie Lan was just transferred from the ICU to a regular ward this morning.”
The Intensive Care Unit? Was it that serious?
Qiao Ruoxin’s face instantly paled.
Chapter 270: Even Without Mo Chen, I Wouldn’t Choose You Qiao Ruoxin ended the phone call, feeling a fleeting panic.
She was surprisingly calm as she finished washing up and changed into a new outfit.
With a mask and sunglasses on, she had her bodyguard take her to the hospital, and under his escort, arrived at the VIP ward.
Standing outside the door.
She knocked on the door.
Inside, Simon’s voice came through: “Please come in.”
She took a deep breath, removed her mask and sunglasses, and pushed open the door to enter.
Just in time to see Simon sitting in front of the hospital bed, feeding her mother soup, a picture of maternal tenderness and filial piety, one would think they were mother and son.
Qiao Ruoxin felt a bit superfluous.
Upon seeing her, Qiao’s mother’s pale face showed a hint of joyful smile: “Xinxin, you came to see mom, I knew my daughter wasn’t that heartless.”
Heh…
The way she said it, she was starting to emotionally blackmail again.
“I came to check on you. Now that you’re alright, I’ll be going.”
“Xinxin!”
Just as she turned to leave, something seemed to strike her, and she turned to look at her mother on the bed: “I’m getting married, just letting you know.”
Upon hearing this, Simon’s lips curled into an ambiguous smile.
Her mother looked surprised: “You’re marrying Mo Chen? Why so soon? I’ve told you so many times over the past few years, and you still want to be with him?”
Disappointment filled her mother’s eyes. Why wouldn’t her once obedient daughter listen to her anymore?
“Yes.”
Qiao Ruoxin turned to leave, but Simon grabbed her wrist: “You’re already here, have a good talk with Aunt Lan, it’s been a long time since you two had a calm conversation.”
“Let go!” She flung Simon’s hand away with contempt.
Simon didn’t get angry, he just smiled silently and stepped back.
Qiao’s mother: “Simon, step outside for a moment, I have something to talk to her about.”
“Alright, Aunt Lan, try not to get too worked up. Call me if you need anything; I’ll be right outside.”
With that, Simon left the ward and closed the door behind him.
Qiao’s mother watched her daughter’s retreating figure: “Qiao Ruoxin, come here and sit down, I have something to tell you.”
Heh… the temper finally comes out.
With an expressionless face, she turned and walked to the bedside, sitting down on the chair.
She looked at her mother with calm detachment: “Go ahead, say whatever you have to say all at once, and please don’t go on about how it’s for my own good again. You’re just selfish, wanting to keep me by your side, that’s all.”
Qiao’s mother appeared hurt: “Can’t I? You’re the child I’ve raised from a young age, can’t I want you to stay by my side?”
“I’ve grown up, I have my own life.”
“Wings grown strong, you no longer listen to your mother.”
Qiao Ruoxin’s lips curved up slightly: “How about this, you return to our country, then I’ll stay by your side.”
Qiao’s mother exclaimed angrily, “But I am already married to the Lawrence Family! I can’t come back!”
“So, I should just go abroad with you? Am I just part of your dowry?” She was restraining her anger because she didn’t want to argue with her mom, especially since she had just come out of the ICU.
“I can’t be at ease with you alone in the country, don’t you understand? Not one person in the Qiao Family is decent; they will take any opportunity to trample you!” Qiao’s mother’s emotions were still out of control, as she clutched her hospital gown tightly.
Qiao Ruoxin fell silent for a few seconds.
“I can protect myself now, and before long, that mistress stepmother will be locked up; there’s nothing to fear.”
Qiao’s mother looked at her stubborn gaze and sighed deeply.
The ward was so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping on the floor could be heard.
After an unspecified period of silence, Qiao’s mother said, “Over a decade ago, when you were still in elementary school, during the New Year period, something big happened in the capital, a teenage girl jumped out of a hotel window and died on the spot. The hotel where the incident took place was one of Mo Family’s properties, and the case was left unsettled. Do you know why?”
Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help but laugh, “Are you trying to say that Mo Chen did it? And the Mo Family covered it up again?”
“The truth I found is just that, people in our circle know it, but no one dares to speak up. Would you dare to marry such a man? Even if he’s the son of the wealthiest man, what if one day he kills you in a fit of rage? Where would your mother go to demand justice?”
As she spoke, tears streamed down Qiao’s mother’s face as if something had actually happened to Qiao Ruoxin.
“I’m sitting here perfectly fine, and yet you insist on imagining me getting beaten to death by him? I’ve known Mo Chen for more than a day or two – over all these years, he has never laid a hand on me.”
She still wanted Mo Chen to explain; her mother was nearly thinking of Mo Chen as a criminal.
“Mo is the only son of the Mo Family, spoiled to the skies from childhood—everyone knows this. When he was little, Mo Chen didn’t want to see other kids at the amusement park because of his odd temper, so the Mo Family built an amusement park just for him. Did you know about this? He’s been spoiled so much that no one dares go against his wishes! How do you think his violent temper was fostered? It’s all because of the bad habits indulged by everyone around him!”
That genuinely surprised her, as she truly hadn’t known about it.
“Did you actually investigate Mo Chen?”
“From his childhood to now, I have looked into everything. His temper has always been bad. Your mother wants your happiness, not for you to be blinded by temporary vanity.”
“…”
Qiao Ruoxin was somewhat speechless, as if she was only interested in Mo Chen’s family background.
She stood up slowly: “Take care of your health. I’m leaving now. And, I’ve known Mo Chen since I was 14. If I were after vanity, I would have clung to him a long time ago. But I’m not!”
After finishing, she turned and left the ward without looking back.
Watching the closed door, Qiao’s mother felt a whirlwind of complicated emotions.
…
In the hospital corridor.
Qiao Ruoxin walked out of the ward, only to see Simon standing in the corridor, leaning on the wall with his arms folded. He turned to look when he heard the door open.
“How did it go talking with Aunt Lan?” His voice remained gentle.
Qiao Ruoxin didn’t speak, planning to walk in the opposite direction.
Simon’s voice came from behind her: “Are you sure about marrying Mo Chen?”
Qiao Ruoxin stopped in her tracks, turned, and glared at Simon with hostility: “Was it you who told my mom that I liked Mo Chen because I’m vain?”
Simon looked innocent: “I didn’t say that. After all, I’ve always thought Aunt Lan married my father out of vanity, but I later realized that wasn’t the case.”
“Let me tell you directly, Simon, even if Mo Chen wasn’t in the picture, I wouldn’t choose you. Marrying a stepfather’s son would make me feel like I’m in an incestuous relationship, which disgusts me!”
Qiao Ruoxin voiced the thoughts she’d kept hidden deep inside her heart and then turned away indifferently to leave.
Simon watched her leave, laughing softly to himself, yet his smile was tinged with complex emotions.