Ch. 301..310
Chapter 301: Various Signs Indicate Mo Chen’s Behavior Is Somewhat Abnormal She couldn’t help but yawn, leaning on the man’s shoulder with a soft voice, “Mo Chen, brother, I’m tired, let’s go back to sleep.”
“Mmm.”
The man picked her up and walked towards the upstairs.
Qiao Ruoxin looked up at the man’s handsome profile and unconsciously recalled his sudden stop the night before.
After returning to the bedroom, Mo Chen took a bath and went to the terrace to smoke, always feeling that his silhouette exuded a sense of decadence.
She stared at the man’s tall and majestic figure for a while before taking her nightgown into the bathroom.
On the terrace.
Mo Chen’s handsome face was indifferent, a cigarette perched between his thin lips, surrounded by smoke.
The mobile phone next to him vibrated.
His slender fingers removed the cigarette from his lips, exhaled a cloud of smoke, and stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray.
Picking up the phone, he put it to his ear, his voice low and icy, “How’s the video restoration going?”
“Mo Ye, I’ve only restored one minute so far. Should I send it over for you to check?”
“Mmm.”
Then, he hung up the phone.
A video was swiftly sent over.
His fingertips lightly tapped, and the video began to play, indeed, after the restoration, the face of the woman in the video had turned into Lin Xi.
A cold smile played at the corners of Mo Chen’s lips.
He exited the video and dialed a number, the call connected instantly.
“Mo Ye, how is it? Are you satisfied?”
“Very good.”
“Then shall I continue restoring the rest?”
Mo Chen took out another cigarette and put it between his lips, lit it with a lighter, and said in a deep voice, “No need, this one minute is enough. Your next job is to replace the man’s face with Simon’s.”
“Mo Ye, are you serious? You mean that Simon from the Lawrence Family? The body shape of the man in the video differs a lot from Simon’s, and the age too.”
He scoffed, “What use are you? Find a way yourself, I’m giving you a week.”
“It’s not that, Mo Ye, it’s really difficult…”
Mo Chen exhaled a puff of smoke, his voice hoarse, “You set the price.”
“Deal, as long as your money is right, I’ll go all out.”
He turned and leaned against the railing, his slender fingers holding the cigarette that was one-third burned, flicking off the ash, “Additionally, help me with another matter.”
“As long as the money is good, you call the shots.”
Mo Chen laughed silently, “In a week, upload this one-minute video to the internet, don’t leave out the foreign websites either, the bigger the scandal the better, it should be widely known.”
“Mo Ye, that’s a ruthless move, using an AI deepfake video to ruin the reputation of the Lawrence Family. If Simon finds out, he’ll fight you to the death.”
The man’s tone was full of scorn, “Coincidentally, that’s exactly what I’m waiting for, for him to come at me.”
“Okay, your word is law. Any other orders?”
After hanging up the phone, he let out a disdainful sneer.
Holding the cigarette between his lips, a hint of malevolence spread in his dark eyes.
The corners of the man’s mouth curled with a roguish arch.
Rather than defending passively, it’s better to attack proactively.
If Simon were to first make that video public, then Qiao Ruoxin would be utterly destroyed.
Then it’s better to destroy Simon first.
The night breeze was gentle, and Mo Chen stood in front of the railing, having finished the cigarette in his hand, then turned back towards the bedroom.
…
In the bedroom.
Qiao Ruoxin had taken a bath and was already lying in bed, seemingly lost in thought.
She was constantly messaging on her phone.
Mo Chen picked up the remote control and pressed it, the curtains slowly closed automatically, then he turned off all the lights in the bedroom.
The man slipped under the covers and into bed, noticing she was still on her phone.
“Little Ghost, time to sleep, it’s late.”
“Mhm, right away.”
Qiao Ruoxin sent a message to Lan Ke on her phone: [Good night]
Then, she turned off the phone, placed it on the bedside table, and lay down to sleep.
Tonight, Mo Chen still didn’t take the initiative to hold her, and instead slept peacefully by her side.
She turned her head to stare at the man for a while, then suddenly rolled over to lay on top of him, calling out softly in her sweet and tender voice, “Mo Chen, big brother…”
The moment she crawled over, Mo Chen’s eyes snapped open and, subconsciously, he embraced her soft body.
“Can’t sleep?”
“Mhm… a little.”
Qiao Ruoxin deliberately rubbed her chin against the man’s chest.
If this had been before, this jerk would have lost his composure long ago, but now… he seemed very calm, showing little reaction.
What was going on?
Her hands started to mischievously untie Mo Chen’s sleeping robe.
“Little Ghost, stop fidgeting…” The man’s voice was hoarse to the extreme.
He can endure this much?
Is this still the Mo Chen who used to wish he could spend every night with her until his last breath?
Qiao Ruoxin took hold of the man’s chin with her small hands and then took the initiative to kiss him, She was being proactive enough! Even an idiot should know what she meant by now!
Still no reaction?
The sense of loss in her heart was nearly overflowing.
Suddenly!
In the darkness, the man’s breathing became rapid, and he turned over to pin her beneath him.
Qiao Ruoxin’s eyes widened, her heartbeat accelerated, “Mo Chen, big brother, what…”
The man’s large hand gripped her slender waist and leaned in close, lowering his voice, “I told you to sleep, what trouble are you causing here, asking for a spanking?”
“I’m not, I… Mmph!”
Her words were silenced by a forceful kiss.
Mo Chen pulled off the belt of her sleeping robe, and his kisses rained densely on her swan-like neck.
The atmosphere in the bedroom became ambiguous.
However, just when things were about to go too far, the man suddenly stopped all his movements, and even in complete darkness, one could feel his complexion darken a few shades.
Mo Chen’s eyebrows were furrowed, his handsome face tensed, and his lips were tightly sealed; in the end, he did not proceed any further.
Instead, he helped her put back on her sleeping robe, the flame seemingly extinguished in an instant.
The man regained his composure, laid down beside her, and held her body, kissing her earlobe, “Let’s sleep.”
Qiao Ruoxin let the man hold her, her face expressionless.
Her mind was blank.
All signs indicated that Mo Chen’s behavior was abnormal! These were things that would never have happened in the past!
She took a deep breath, mustered up the courage, and asked him, “Why did you stop? Don’t you long to do it every night? Didn’t you say you wanted to make up for the lost two years?”
“…”
Mo Chen looked displeased, his jawline tense as if holding back something.
After a long while, the man’s deep voice slowly started to speak, “Just returned to the country, need to adjust to the jet lag, and your wound hasn’t healed properly, I don’t want to hurt you.”
Ha…
Such an impeccable excuse.
“Is that really all?”
“Mhm.”
“Okay, I believe you.”
Qiao Ruoxin did not say anything more but turned to sleep on her own.
Unexpectedly, the man behind her still held her, murmuring to her in a low voice, “Since you said you believe me, why sulk?”
“I’m wondering if it’s because you saw Miss Lin’s body, so you started to reject mine?”
Suddenly, Mo Chen said angrily, “Qiao Ruoxin! Try saying that again, damn it!”
Her body involuntarily shivered from the shock, and she was startled, still as fierce…
Chapter 302: Rivals in Love, Especially Jealous Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help but fold instantly.
“What are you being fierce for, I was just saying it casually…”
The quieter her voice became, the less confidence she had.
Mo Chen clasped her slender waist tightly, his grip so forceful it was as if he wanted to break her in half.
She felt like she could barely breathe: “Mo Chen…”
“Shut up! Sleep!”
“…”
The bedroom fell silent in an instant, the atmosphere still tense.
Qiao Ruoxin could only obediently let the man behind hold her, and without knowing it, fell asleep.
…
The Lu Family.
After Lu Xingxing got home, she sat on the sofa in a huff, facing her father.
“Dad! What kind of man is Mo Chen, to just dump me on the side of the road! How could you arrange such a match for me!”
Lu Ming looked up at his wilful daughter: “With your temper, it’s no wonder you irritated him.”
“Dad! I’m your daughter, why are you taking his side instead of mine? Let me tell you, I absolutely disagree with this arranged marriage with the Mo Family!”
Lu Ming snorted coldly, “You wish. Didn’t you see that boy bringing his own girlfriend? He probably doesn’t fancy you, but I have to say, I’ve really taken a liking to him today. Good looking, strong presence, and the future head of the Mo Family, tsk tsk… a much better catch than any of those men you’ve dated abroad.”
Lu Xingxing narrowed her eyes: “Dad, I feel like you quite fancy Mo Chen.”
“Xingxing, you think you’re irresistibly charming; I’d like to see if you can win over Mo Chen.”
“What? I don’t want to! He’s so rough, not gentlemanly at all! Besides being handsome, he’s good for nothing!”
Lu Ming continued to coax his daughter: “You two have an engagement, and you’ve seen Mo Chen in person today. Don’t you feel even a little bit excited?”
Lu Ming knew his daughter well, a lifelong member of the ‘looks over everything’ club; her first criteria for choosing men was appearance.
Lu Xingxing: “…”
Lu Ming then pretended to be disappointed: “Ah well… your charm is no match for Qiao Ruoxin, who has Mo Chen utterly smitten. You can only deceive those men who live off women. A man with looks and power like Mo Chen, you can’t handle.”
This reverse psychology ignited a fire in Lu Xingxing.
“Who says I can’t! Give me Qiao Ruoxin’s information; I want to see what’s so great about her!”
Lu Ming passed her a tablet from beside him: “Here.”
Lu Xingxing’s eyes widened: “Dad, you got this already?”
“I’ve been looking at it for a while. The girl is pretty, with a much nicer temperament than you. It’ll be hard for Mo Chen to take an interest in you…”
“Dad! How can you demoralize yourself by praising others like that!”
After speaking, Lu Xingxing took the tablet and headed upstairs.
She was determined to thoroughly investigate what was so special about Qiao Ruoxin that had Mo Chen so enchanted.
However, tonight, she had gotten a close look at Qiao Ruoxin… She was quite pretty, but beyond that, she didn’t see any advantages.
…
The next day.
In the evening, a cocktail party.
Qiao Ruoxin was dragged by her agent to attend a cocktail party.
She held a champagne glass and absentmindedly walked onto the terrace, gazing up at the starry sky.
Those beautiful eyes hid her troubles.
Suddenly, a woman’s voice came from behind her, “Qiao Ruoxin?”
She turned to look, it was that Lu Xingxing from last night.
But she still smiled and greeted her, “Miss Lu, hello, is there something you need?”
Lu Xingxing sized up Qiao Ruoxin from head to toe. She had to admit Qiao Ruoxin was quite pretty, with a decent figure, delicate and fair skin, a girlish charm, and nice hands. Those legs truly went deep into a man’s heart.
All in all, Qiao Ruoxin could barely score a 90.
Qiao Ruoxin slightly frowned, feeling a bit uncomfortable under Lu Xingxing’s scanning gaze.
“Miss Lu, is there something you want?”
Lu Xingxing looked curious, “I’m really curious, why do you like Mo Chen? He’s so hot-tempered and not a bit gentlemanly. Aside from being handsome, does he have any other good points? How do you tolerate his bad temper?”
She just smiled faintly without speaking, and took a sip of champagne from her glass.
Lu Xingxing’s face expressed disbelief again, “Oh, right, he’s also very rich! The son of Asia’s richest man, you’re not with him just for the money, tolerating all these grievances, are you?”
Qiao Ruoxin still looked serene with a slight smile on her lips, “You guess.”
“I heard you even got your stepmother thrown into jail, causing the Qiao Family’s business to falter. You’re really ruthless. Isn’t it all just because you rely on Mo Chen’s power? So even if he has a temper, you’re willing to put up with it?”
Every word implied that Qiao Ruoxin was just a vain, dignity-less, lowly mistress.
She finished the champagne in her glass in one gulp and, lifting her eyes, looked toward Lu Xingxing and countered, “Do you like Mo Chen?”
Caught off guard by the question, Lu Xingxing was stunned for a second and immediately retorted, “I would never like that kind of hot-tempered man! What does he have besides good looks? Money? The Lu Family isn’t lacking!”
Qiao Ruoxin let out a light laugh, “So what you mean is, you like Mo Chen’s appearance, right?”
“…”
Lu Xingxing didn’t know how to respond for a moment, her gaze flitting away, she stammered, “I… I do not!”
“If you like him, just say it. After all, nobody can fault Mo Chen’s looks.”
Lu Xingxing’s face showed disgust, “That face is wasted on him!”
But Qiao Ruoxin laughed out loud, her laughter melodious. It seemed Mo Chen’s good looks were truly irresistible.
“What are you laughing at? I heard you’re his first love?” Lu Xingxing had thoroughly researched Qiao Ruoxin’s background the night before.
She nodded with a smile, “So what if I am?”
“Qiao Ruoxin, do you know why it’s called first love?”
Qiao Ruoxin turned and leaned on the railing, just quietly watching Lu Xingxing show off.
Lu Xingxing lifted her chin, “First love is called first love because it never lasts till the end. If this were in a soap opera, you would be a white moonlight supporting character. No matter how long you entangle with Mo Chen, there will be no happy ending.”
Her brows furrowed slightly, “Do you think you are the leading lady then?”
“Heh… I’m more qualified to be the leading lady than you are. You say you don’t come from a good family background, how are you fit to stand by Mo Chen’s side?”
Qiao Ruoxin glanced at Lu Xingxing. She was too lazy to listen to this nonsense and thought she was some significant character, but it turned out to be nothing.
She turned and walked toward the center of the party.
Being ignored like this made Lu Xingxing almost laugh with anger. Her towering self-esteem was trampled upon.
She, the precious pearl of the Lu Family, was being looked down upon by this no-name female star???
Lu Xingxing chased after her, “Qiao Ruoxin, stop right there!”
Chapter 303: The Partial Grandfather Mo Qiao Ruoxin had just walked over to the poolside, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, a hint of displeasure already surfacing in her eyes.
“Don’t you want to know how I actually met Mo Chen abroad?”
The cold indifference filled Qiao Ruoxin’s sparkling eyes as she slowly turned around, “Isn’t it just Miss Lu walking into the men’s locker room and then him seeing your body? Is there anything else?”
Lu Xingxing was dumbfounded, she hadn’t expected her to speak so generously and naturally!
“You know?”
“Hmm, Mo Chen has already explained it to me, and he also said that Miss Lu’s figure is really…” She deliberately paused for a moment, then continued, “Mo Chen said, Miss Lu’s figure is really an eyesore.”
An eyesore???
It felt like a thunderbolt had struck Lu Xingxing!
“He really said that!!”
Qiao Ruoxin chuckled lightly, “Maybe I embellished it a bit, but the gist is similar.”
After saying that, she turned to leave, and at that moment of turning, she saw a tall and handsome figure in the distance, it was Mo Chen.
Tonight, he was dressed in an all-black suit with a black shirt underneath, the entire aura of the man was somber and daunting, his handsome features veiled in a layer of frost.
Qiao Ruoxin prepared to walk towards Mo Chen.
Suddenly, Lu Xingxing charged from behind, “Qiao Ruoxin! Do you really think you can bully others because you have Mo Chen as your backer? At least, not with me!”
Lu Xingxing pushed her into the pool.
Qiao Ruoxin’s eyes widened in surprise, truly not expecting a young lady of her standing to lose face like this at a social gathering.
She instinctively grabbed Lu Xingxing’s hand, and then both of them fell into the pool, causing a huge splash.
The scene erupted into chaos, with many people hurriedly crowding around to watch.
Meanwhile—
Xiaowu followed behind Mo Chen, reporting the situation, “Everything is almost ready over there, and we’ve already informed the major news apps; they will give you half an hour when it’s time.”
Mo Chen’s lips curled slightly, “Half an hour will be enough, it will spread across the whole world by then.”
This time, he intended to make sure Simon couldn’t turn things around and would just stay put in the United States.
The man lifted his eyes to the crowd in the distance, his brows furrowed, and he asked in a deep voice, “What’s going on?”
Xiaowu grabbed a passing waiter, “What happened over there?”
“Miss Lu and Miss Qiao fell into the pool…”
Before the waiter could finish speaking, Mo Chen’s dark pupils suddenly constricted, and he walked towards the pool.
Xiaowu followed as well.
The man pushed through the crowd and instantly saw Qiao Ruoxin lying at the edge of the pool, soaked to the skin, still spitting out water.
His expression darkened to the extreme as he undid his suit buttons, took off his coat, and approached Qiao Ruoxin.
“Ugh…”
Having fallen into the pool, Qiao Ruoxin had swallowed quite a bit of water and was still spitting it out when she felt a coat wrap around her body.
Her gaze, still dazed, turned back and met the deep eyes of Mo Chen.
“Mo Chen brother…”
Mo Chen, with a tight face, picked her up without saying a word and then coldly glanced at Lu Xingxing kneeling on the ground.
Lu Xingxing was in a sorry state; her makeup had run, and the black eyeliner had smeared into panda eyes.
At this moment, the host of the party came over, “Mr. Mo, I am truly sorry. Please take Miss Qiao to the villa for a bath and change of clothes. Be careful not to catch a cold.”
Mo Chen finally spoke up, his voice low and detached, “Thank you.”
…
The villa, the living room.
Mo Chen was wearing a black shirt, with the top two buttons undone and his sleeves casually rolled up, revealing the watch that Qiao Ruoxin had given him.
The man exuded a fierce presence, expressionless, silent, with an air of dissatisfaction on his handsome face.
Suddenly, a series of footsteps descended from upstairs.
He looked up, a trace of disappointment appeared in his dark eyes as he withdrew his gaze.
Descending the stairs was Lu Xingxing.
After taking a shower and changing her clothes, Lu Xingxing assessed Mo Chen’s expression as she sat on the sofa across from him, and couldn’t help but sneeze.
Mo Chen stared unblinkingly at Lu Xingxing, his gaze as if he were staring at a pile of garbage.
Unable to bear his look, Lu Xingxing finally spoke up, “Why are you staring at me like that? You seem so sure that it’s all my fault? Maybe it was her who pushed me into the pool first?”
“Then you should have just stood there and let her push you in.”
This indifferent and careless tone…
Lu Xingxing was incredulous, “Isn’t that a bit too biased? She’s nothing more than an actress, and here I am, the esteemed miss of the Lu Family, should I just allow her to bully me? On what basis!”
The next second, the man suddenly stood up.
Lu Xingxing was startled.
Then, she watched as Mo Chen stepped onto the coffee table, walked up to her, and looked down at her from above, exerting an invisible pressure.
It seemed Dad was right, Mo Chen’s presence was indeed very dominant.
Mo Chen’s handsome face was full of disdain as he sneered, “I’ll tell you, if you dare to cause trouble for my woman again, hitting a woman is what I do best.”
Lu Xingxing was utterly stunned.
Hitting a woman?
How could he say such a thing so righteously?
And why does it seem… somewhat domineering? Could it be because of his handsome face?
“Mo Chen, if it weren’t for that face, saying such things would simply make you a thug and a bully!”
The man coldly glanced at Lu Xingxing, his eyes filled with contempt, and cast an unintentional glance upstairs, just in time to catch a glimpse of Qiao Ruoxin’s figure.
Then, he turned and walked towards the staircase.
Qiao Ruoxin, having changed into a new set of clothes, came downstairs.
“How are you?” Mo Chen’s dark eyes instantly softened with affection and tenderness.
“It’s nothing.”
The man pulled her to sit down in front of the sofa and picked up the bowl of ginger tea that had been cooling for a long time.
“Drink it.”
Qiao Ruoxin smiled briefly, nodded, and took a few sips of the ginger tea.
Ever since Qiao Ruoxin appeared, the man’s gaze was tightly locked onto her.
Lu Xingxing, sitting opposite, witnessed the whole process and had always thought that no woman could tolerate Mo Chen’s temperamental nature.
But she found that Mo Chen was as docile as a tame beast in front of Qiao Ruoxin.
Just a moment ago he was full of aggression, but now in front of Qiao Ruoxin, he was so sweet?
Did this man have two faces?
Lu Xingxing couldn’t help protesting, “Isn’t that too biased? I sneezed and you didn’t even prepare a bowl for me? And I had an arranged childhood engagement with you!”
As soon as she said this, Qiao Ruoxin was taken aback and looked up at Mo Chen, “Is she the one you were engaged to as a child?”
Mo Chen’s expression darkened a few shades, and he said with a deep voice, “I’ve already said, I take no responsibility.”
“You even told Qiao Ruoxin that my body is an eyesore, what do you mean by that!”
The man frowned, a hint of confusion appearing in his gaze as he looked at the Little Ghost beside him.
When had he ever said that Lu Xingxing’s body was an eyesore?
Looking at the smile at the corner of Qiao Ruoxin’s mouth, he gave a cold laugh and spoke dismissively, “Indeed it’s an eyesore, who knows if you were purposely in the men’s changing room.”
“Mo Chen! You wait for me! I’m not done with you!”
Lu Xingxing suddenly stood up, giving one last look at that handsome yet infuriating face!
Chapter 304: Little Ghost, I Love You After Lu Xingxing left, only the two of them remained in the spacious living room.
Mo Chen directly picked her up and placed her on his lap, gripping her slim waist, “Little Ghost, when did I say anything about her figure being an eyesore?”
“It’s pretty much the same thing.”
The man chuckled derisively, “I might be retaliated against by that woman, and you’re not worried?”
Qiao Ruoxin’s slender fingers climbed onto the man’s shoulders, “Mo Chen, Miss Lu is no match for you, or is it that, because you were betrothed as children, you can’t bear to make a move?”
As expected, Mo Chen’s expression turned colder, and his grip on her slim waist tightened.
The man’s eyes narrowed slightly, his voice cold, “You’re just an ungrateful brat!”
Instead of getting angry, Qiao Ruoxin laughed, “I’ve caused trouble for you again.”
Having said that, she hugged the man’s body, her chin resting on his broad shoulders.
Mo Chen hugged her tender body, his tone nasty as he spoke into her ear, “Good that you know.”
Qiao Ruoxin leant on the man’s shoulder, complex emotions flickering in her eyes.
If one were to say what was different about Mo Chen now from before, there really wasn’t any difference. They were still intimate, hugging and kissing, but that was as far as it went.
Mo Chen would no longer make any real advances towards her.
Could it be… he was tired of her? Was he no longer interested in her body? Was just a sense of duty sustaining their love?
Thinking of these things, Qiao Ruoxin felt agitated and confused.
If that really was the case, what was the point of their love?
Suddenly, Qiao Ruoxin looked up, staring at the man’s handsome face.
A trace of confusion appeared in Mo Chen’s dark eyes, and his long fingers touched her small face, “What’s wrong?”
She was silent for a few seconds, then lowered her head and fiercely kissed the man’s thin lips.
Mo Chen was momentarily stunned, his handsome face sweeping with surprise. This was someone else’s house, and Little Ghost never messed around in public, nor did she allow him to.
This…
He watched the small face before him, her thick curled lashes still damp.
Feeling Qiao Ruoxin’s soft lips.
The man’s large palm slowly moved from her waist to her shoulders, pushing her back, “Little Ghost, what are you doing?”
“I can’t even kiss my own boyfriend now? Do you not even want to kiss me anymore?”
Qiao Ruoxin’s voice came with a whimper of grievance. What on earth was wrong with this damned man?
She really wanted to know! But whether she asked indirectly or directly, Mo Chen always seemed unwilling to answer her.
Mo Chen’s handsome face suddenly looked a bit gloomier; he touched her head, trying to soothe her, “Stop it, we’re in someone else’s house.”
“…”
Her tears suddenly burst out, feeling incredibly wronged.
Even after making such an initiative, was this really the only reaction the damned man could muster?
At that moment, the sound of footsteps approached.
Qiao Ruoxin wiped her tears and quickly moved away from the man’s embrace, sitting down on a nearby sofa.
The hostess of the party came over, smiling, “Mr. Mo, is Miss Qiao all right?”
Mo Chen took her hand, stood up, and spoke with a heavy voice, “It’s nothing, we should be going. Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Sure, take care on your way.”
Qiao Ruoxin said nothing, allowing the man to lead her away by the hand.
…
In the car.
The atmosphere was extremely stiff.
Qiao Ruoxin was sitting on one side, intentionally keeping her distance from the man, not wanting to get close to him.
After staring at her for ten minutes, Mo Chen finally couldn’t bear it any longer, pulling her into his arms and tightly wrapping around her body.
“Let go of me!” She struggled, twisting her body.
“…”
The man remained silent, yet he refused to let her go.
Qiao Ruoxin struggled in vain for quite a while, causing a fine layer of sweat to form on her forehead.
The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt; tears couldn’t help but flow out, gliding down her cheeks to her jawline before dropping onto the back of the man’s hand.
Seeing the teardrop on the back of his hand, Mo Chen felt a tightness in his chest.
Obvious panic appeared in his dark eyes; he kissed Qiao Ruoxin’s cheek and coaxed her softly, “I’m sorry, I was wrong. Don’t cry, alright?”
Still asking her if it’s alright?
“Then do you even know why I am crying?” Her soft voice was filled with a mixture of grievance and reluctance.
Mo Chen’s eyes darkened: “Because you have physical needs, and I didn’t satisfy them for you.”
Once these words were out.
Qiao Ruoxin’s face suddenly turned extremely embarrassed, what was a heartfelt sorrow suddenly took on an odd atmosphere because of his words!
It took her a full ten seconds to snap out of it before she fiercely slapped her hand on the man’s shoulder: “What nonsense are you talking about! I’m crying because… I feel like you don’t love me as much as you used to!”
How did she always feel that she and this damned man were never on the same wavelength?
Mo Chen frowned unhappily, hugged her tight, and scolded, “Not true!”
“Then why do you seem so repelled? Are you tired of me, fed up…”
Though she wanted to say such words, she really couldn’t bear it anymore; she couldn’t tolerate Mo Chen’s attitude towards her.
Perhaps she had been spoiled by Mo Chen, which made her unable to withstand even the slightest bit of neglect.
The next second, Mo Chen pinned her down on the seat, forcefully kissing her lips, leaving her unable to speak anymore, even tasting the salty flavor of her tears.
Qiao Ruoxin felt as if she were about to suffocate from his kisses, virtually given no chance to breathe.
“Mmm! What are you doing!”
“Is this passionate enough? Does it convey how I feel? Do I look like I’m tired of it to you?”
“…”
She gasped for fresh air, feeling that her face must have turned red from suffocation.
She locked eyes with Mo Chen for a full minute, then the man kissed her lips again.
But this time, Qiao Ruoxin pushed away his chest: “Again? Haven’t you had enough?”
“Didn’t you think I wasn’t passionate enough?” The man said plainly, his expression calm.
“I… I can’t explain it to you, just get up!”
Qiao Ruoxin felt unable to communicate with him; Mo Chen completely misunderstood her meaning.
She spoke of an emotional feeling, but Mo Chen took it as her having physical needs, which was really a bit exasperating.
Even though, Qiao Ruoxin also felt that her series of actions seemed like the complaints of someone frustrated in desire.
But actually, she wanted to understand what was on Mo Chen’s mind!
Mo Chen sat upright, helping her to sit up as well, his slender fingers straightening her disheveled curls, his voice patient and deep: “Speak clearly, I can understand.”
“I… I just feel like you don’t love me anymore, or not as much as you used to.”
The man coldly retorted, “Not true.”
“Then why do I feel like you’re avoiding me intentionally or not?”
“It’s not true, it’s your delusion.”
Qiao Ruoxin looked bewildered: “Really?”
“Hmm.”
Mo Chen wrapped his arms around her slender waist, holding her soft body against him, his chin resting in the hollow of her neck, his voice low and sensual: “Little Ghost, I love you.”
She immediately felt a tingling sensation spread throughout her body.
Could it really be that she was overthinking everything?
Chapter 305: Mo Ye’s Little Secret Suddenly, the sound of a mobile phone vibrating filled the car.
Mo Chen frowned slightly, with some reluctance, he let go of the Little Ghost he was holding and picked up the phone to answer.
“Boss Mo, Miss Lin Xi’s whereabouts can’t be found anywhere; it’s as if she has evaporated from the Human World.”
His face turned cold in an instant, “No need to look for her, she will come to us on her own when the time comes.”
“Yes! Understood!”
The man hung up the phone.
Because the atmosphere inside the car was too quiet, Qiao Ruoxin also heard the content of the call very clearly.
“Lin Xi is missing?”
Mo Chen held her shoulders lightly, responding indifferently, “Yeah, she ran away.”
“What do you plan to do with Lin Xi after you find her?”
“Kill her.”
“…”
How could he still be so violent and bloody? That irritable temper hadn’t changed at all, only it had become more sinister instead of overtly cruel.
During the conversation, the car slowly entered the garage of Villa No. 1.
…
After returning to the villa, Mo Chen went to the study to deal with some matters, and she decided to take a bath first.
Half an hour later.
Qiao Ruoxin, wearing a bathrobe, came out to the terrace and sat on the outdoor sofa to get some fresh air.
A short while later, the sound of a door opening came from the bedroom.
The tall figure of the man walked up to her and sat on the sofa, his long arm wrapping around her slender waist, when his phone vibrated again.
Mo Chen’s eyebrows knitted together, seeming somewhat impatient as he glanced at the phone screen showing: Father.
He picked up the phone and put it to his ear, “Dad, what is it?”
Qiao Ruoxin was wrapped in his arms, playing with her delicate fingers, her fingertips caressing the ‘Sun Star’ diamond ring on her ring finger.
From the other end of the phone, Mo Tian’s voice came through, “You little rascal, did you give the endorsement for the LK product series to your little girlfriend?”
She leaned against the man, hearing this, her body involuntarily stiffened as she looked up at the man’s handsome face.
Mo Chen’s expression remained calm as he spoke in a deep voice, “Yeah.”
“Son, I don’t oppose your involvement with girls, but isn’t this too big a price to pay? We have never sought celebrity endorsements for the LK series, precisely to stay away from the influence of celebrities. We aim to produce only conscience products, don’t you understand that?”
The man lowered his head to play with Qiao Ruoxin’s fingers, even kissing them gently, his voice deep, “There’s a saying, ‘a new official makes a show of authority’.”
“You scamp, do you know why I kept you in the lab for two years? Or why I didn’t let you join the board until now? Without moral character, no one will respect you! This is pushing someone to their downfall!”
Mo Chen raised his eyes to the night sky, “Dad, I know what I’m doing. I just want to bring about a reform, to expand into the young people’s market.”
“Even so, you should proceed step by step. Alright, we’ll talk in detail at the company tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up the phone, the man fell into silence, his thoughts unknown.
Qiao Ruoxin called out, “Brother Mo Chen.”
“Hmm?” The man looked into her eyes.
“I think Uncle Mo is quite right. I also feel I’m not worthy of my position. Maybe I should…”
The man chuckled, “If you didn’t have such high popularity, I wouldn’t have chosen you.”
Qiao Ruoxin looked puzzled; she really didn’t understand business matters.
Mo Chen gently stroked her head, his tone indulgent, “Sweetheart, I have my own plans. You don’t need to worry about these things.”
“Oh…”
She lay in the man’s arms, closed her eyes, and realized that overthinking really did give her a headache.
Suddenly, Mo Chen picked her up and headed towards the bedroom. His chin resting on top of her head, he spoke softly, “It’s very late, go to sleep. I’ll take a shower.”
“Mm, okay.”
He placed Qiao Ruoxin on the bed, then turned and walked toward the bathroom.
Qiao Ruoxin lay on her side in bed, staring at the firmly shut bathroom door, the four words Uncle Mo had said echoing in her ears: “Virtue does not match position…”
After ten minutes, the man returned to the bed, his body carrying a fresh, cool scent, and turned off all the lights.
Then, he held Qiao Ruoxin in his arms and whispered in her ear, “Sleep.”
She didn’t speak, letting the man hold her as she fell asleep, and gradually, she closed her eyes and entered into slumber.
…
The next day.
Qiao Ruoxin woke up early because she had an important movie audition today.
After washing up and changing her clothes, as she was about to leave, she noticed Mo Tian out on his morning run.
No matter how busy he was with work, Mo Chen would still find time to run three days a week and visit the gym in the evening.
Did it look like he was trying to overcome jet lag?
“Miss Qiao, it’s time to leave.”
The driver opened the car door for her and couldn’t help but remind her.
Qiao Ruoxin came back to her senses, “Oh, let’s go.”
Once she got into the car, she rolled down the window and watched the tall figure in the distance, dressed in light grey sportswear, wearing headphones.
It was as if she saw Mo Chen from their college days, fresh and spirited, full of youthful vigor, the man usually in suits and shoes now carried a youthful vibe.
Qiao Ruoxin smiled helplessly and then rolled up the window.
At the same time—
Xiaowu ran up to Mo Chen, holding an envelope, “Mo Tian, stop for a moment! The results are out!”
Mo Chen stopped running and took off his headphones, sweat glistening on his handsome face with an abstinent sexiness.
The man, out of breath, opened the envelope and pulled out the medical examination results.
Xiaowu said on the side, “The doctor said all your bodily functions are very normal, maybe it’s still a psychological barrier that hasn’t been overcome…”
Xiaowu trailed off, not daring to continue, because, at that moment, Mo Tian’s expression had turned extremely unpleasant.
Mo Chen stared at the medical report, all tests normal, and his eyes darkened, his handsome face becoming tense.
Xiaowu couldn’t help but offer a cautious suggestion, “Why not tell Miss Qiao the truth? I think she’s so understanding, she will understand you…”
Suddenly!
Mo Chen threw the medical report at Xiaowu, his emotions uncontrollably volatile, he shouted angrily, “What do you want me to say? Tell her I’m not performing recently? To stay away from me? I warn you! If you dare let slip even a half word, I’ll kill you!”
Xiaowu caught the medical report, coughed awkwardly and lowered his head.
“The doctor said, you may still need to continue seeing a psychologist…”
“See crap! If I keep seeing that, I’ll really become useless!”
The man’s handsome face was full of frustration. He put on his headphones and continued to run, venting the nameless fire within him.
Xiaowu stood still, watching his retreating back, and heaved a helpless sigh, “Sigh, but if he doesn’t see a psychologist, who knows when he’ll recover…”
Xiaowu looked down at the medical report, all bodily functions normal, which meant the issue was still psychological.
The saying goes, “a mental problem requires a mental cure.” How could it work without seeing a psychologist?
But without Mo Tian’s permission, Xiaowu didn’t dare to take it upon himself to inform Qiao Ruoxin.
Chapter 306: Brother Mo Chen, I am especially, especially happy today! Audition site.
After Qiao Ruoxin arrived at the audition site, she found that the queue for the female lead role stretched over ten meters long.
“Why are there so many people?” She was shocked by this scene.
The assistant whispered in her ear, “This is just the number for today’s audition, it’s like this every day.”
It seems a big production directed by a renowned filmmaker never lacks investors and actors.
It felt like all the female actors in the capital had come here to audition.
Suddenly, two bodyguards clearing the way approached from behind, guarding a woman.
Qiao Ruoxin turned around and recognized her at a glance—it was Lu Xingxing!
When Lu Xingxing passed by her, she stopped in her tracks, a look of surprise on her face, “You’re auditioning too? I advise you not to waste your time; I’m set on being the lead actress for this movie!”
She couldn’t help but laugh out of anger, “You’ve neither graduated from a professional film academy nor have any artistic talents, so why are you even here in the entertainment industry?”
Lu Xingxing lifted her chin, her smile smug, “Because our family is rich, isn’t that enough? Look at the newbies in the entertainment industry these days, with their crooked melons and split dates, plenty of them peddling a mentally-challenged persona; if they can make it, why can’t I?”
Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t be bothered to argue with her and grabbed her assistant, preparing to leave.
There was no point in auditioning anyway, since it was all rigged for Lu Xingxing from the start.
Unexpectedly, Lu Xingxing grabbed her wrist, “Qiao Ruoxin, you aren’t going to bother Mo Chen to snatch the role from me, are you? I can fight for many resources just by relying on the Lu Family, and without Mo Chen to back you up, who do you think you are?”
Qiao Ruoxin withdrew her hand, giving a cold laugh, “Don’t worry, such a trivial matter isn’t worth me going to Mo Chen.”
After speaking, she lead her assistant away from the audition site.
…
The assistant followed her closely, “Ruoxin! How could you just give up on the audition like that! It was arranged by President Bai himself!”
Qiao Ruoxin stopped in front of the elevator and pressed the call button.
“Didn’t you see it was all predetermined? What’s the point in trying?”
“But…”
Before the assistant could say more, Qiao Ruoxin accidentally noticed a room with a piece of paper on the door: “Falling Star Audition Site.”
But the place was utterly deserted.
Qiao Ruoxin stepped past the assistant and walked into the room, where only one assistant director sat.
Upon seeing her, the assistant director’s face lit up with surprise, “Qiao Ruoxin?”
“Hello, are you holding auditions? How come there’s no one here?”
The assistant director was genuinely excited to see her, after all, she was currently a popular girl group idol.
“Ah, this is a science fiction movie, and the funds are quite tight. The investors aren’t very optimistic about the market for the film, so the pay isn’t very high, which is why not many people are coming to audition.”
Qiao Ruoxin suddenly became interested.
There were hardly any decent science fiction movies produced domestically; if she could really star in a successful sci-fi film, her future would be limitless.
“Director, could you tell me about the general plot of ‘Falling Star’?”
“Certainly, certainly!” The assistant director’s eyes shone, and he was exceedingly excited.
…
An hour later.
The little assistant followed Qiao Ruoxin with a frown, “Ruoxin, why did you agree to play the leading lady in this movie? The financial situation of this film is so unstable that it might stop production any day, and the pay is just tens of thousands, with your current value, that’s simply…”
But Qiao Ruoxin was smiling very happily, patting the assistant on the shoulder, “You’ve got to look at the bigger picture, what if it’s a hit? And the film’s theme is quite good.”
And it was in line with Mo Chen’s standards.
It was a science fiction movie, so there were no romantic scenes, and certainly no kissing or bed scenes.
Yay! Finally, she could play the leading role!
She had to make something of her career, otherwise Uncle Mo’s words “unworthy of the position” pierced her heart like a thorn.
At that moment, Lu Xingxing was once again escorted out by her bodyguards.
Lu Xingxing strutted around with an air of arrogance, as if her entitlement and princess syndrome were written all over her face.
“Qiao Ruoxin, even if you can’t outcompete me, there’s no need to degrade yourself like this, actually auditioning for some unknown movie,” the disdain in Lu Xingxing’s voice was clear.
Qiao Ruoxin crossed her arms, glanced coldly at Lu Xingxing, and smiled faintly, “What’s it to you?”
“I don’t want you to get fooled and end up not getting paid. Just a friendly reminder,” Lu Xingxing sighed.
“Doesn’t matter, I’m not short on cash. With Mo Chen taking care of me, consider it just for fun.”
The casual tone instantly ignited Lu Xingxing’s rage, “Are you addicted to relying on Mo Chen? You don’t find it shameful but rather take pride in it?”
She couldn’t help but chuckle and nodded her head lightly.
With a ding, the elevator doors slowly opened.
Qiao Ruoxin, followed by her assistant, walked into the elevator, looking at Lu Xingxing and her crowded entourage, “Why don’t you wait for the next one, you guys take up too much space.”
“You!”
The elevator doors slowly closed, and Qiao Ruoxin revealed a sweet smile until the doors shut tightly.
Lu Xingxing’s face was filled with rage, “What’s so great about Qiao Ruoxin besides her good looks? I thought Mo Chen saw something special in her, turns out it’s just about the face, so superficial!”
A bodyguard beside her whispered, “Miss, Qiao Ruoxin does have some talent. She’s the hottest new star in the country right now and was the top scorer to enter the Film Academy. She’s widely regarded in the industry.”
“Whose bodyguard are you? Praising her?”
Lu Xingxing kicked the bodyguard, who silently closed his mouth.
…
Hengzhong Group.
Outside the Chairman’s office.
The secretary Jiang, who was on the phone, looked up and saw Qiao Ruoxin approaching and couldn’t help but widen her eyes.
Jiang quickly hung up the phone and got up to greet her, “Miss Qiao, how come you’re here? You didn’t even give us a heads-up, Director Mo is in a high-level meeting.”
“It’s alright, I’ll wait for him in his office,” Qiao Ruoxin replied.
Jiang, “Okay, would you like something to drink?”
“Make me a cup of coffee, please. Thank you.”
“No problem, please wait a moment.”
After entering the office, Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help but marvel; being the chairman really was different—the new office was twice the size of the previous one.
She sat down on the sofa in the reception area and surveyed the office’s interior design: simple and stylish, understated yet exuding luxury.
After Jiang brought the coffee and left,
Qiao Ruoxin had drunk half her coffee when the office door opened, and there was Mr. Mo, finally back.
She looked up and saw Mo Chen dressed in a white shirt and black suit pants, his sleeves rolled up, revealing his sexy forearms.
The man had a gloomy expression when he entered the office, which changed to surprise and delight when he saw her sitting on the sofa.
Mo Chen laughed out loud, heading toward the sofa.
Before he could get close, Qiao Ruoxin happily stood up and rushed straight into the man’s arms.
Mo Chen instinctively caught her delicate, soft body, stumbled backward, then looked down at her exquisite face, “Feeling good?”
“Mo Chen, I’m particularly happy today! Because I get to play the female lead,” Qiao Ruoxin beamed.
The man didn’t react much and just smiled slightly, “I know.”
She continued, “It’s not the opportunity you gave me, I got it myself.”
The man’s expression changed instantly, becoming dark and ominous as his long fingers gripped her jaw, “What did you say?”
Qiao Ruoxin was taken aback, then quickly responded, “Don’t worry, it’s a science fiction movie, no romance scenes!”
Chapter 307: Little Ghost, Don’t Leave Me Once she explained, the man’s expression became a bit more pleasant, but he was still clearly annoyed.
Mo Chen looked down at her and said in a deep voice, “Why didn’t you want the movie I picked for you?”
The films he chose for Little Ghost were naturally big productions, with stable financial backing, professionalism in all aspects, and of course, no romantic scenes.
“Lu Xingxing snatched it away, she’s started to get into the entertainment industry as well,” she said.
The man frowned in displeasure, his tone full of aversion, “Her again!”
He picked up his phone, ready to make a call.
Qiao Ruoxin stopped him, “No need, the science fiction movie I’ve chosen now is also very interesting, I really like it.”
The man lifted her into his arms and sat down on the couch, with Qiao Ruoxin sitting on top of him.
Qiao Ruoxin looked at him in silence and asked softly, “Aren’t you happy?”
“No.”
The man’s tone was indifferent, showing no sign of displeasure, but it was indeed cold.
He just hated the feeling of Little Ghost slipping out of his control.
Perhaps his desire for control was too strong, or maybe his paranoia was acting up.
“But I feel like you’re unhappy.”
Mo Chen’s slender fingers caressed her cheek as he said in a deep voice, “I don’t want you to be out of my control, just like that.”
She was slightly taken aback.
“Mo Chen, all I’m doing is going to work to shoot a film, and there are no romantic scenes in this movie, let alone any kissing or bed scenes…”
She was interrupted by his scoffing, followed by a sigh, “I know, you’re a good girl, it’s not your fault, it’s mine.”
But he couldn’t control himself.
Mo Chen hugged her soft body, burying his head in the nape of her neck, inhaling the faint scent of a young girl that lingered on her.
“Little Ghost…”
“Yes?”
His low and sexy voice echoed in her ear, giving her goosebumps.
There was a touch of decadence in the man’s voice, “It seems like my condition has gotten worse.”
Shock filled Ruoxin’s eyes as she looked down at the man’s broad shoulders.
Her slender fingers climbed onto Mo Chen’s shoulders, wrapping around his neck, she said with a smile, “But I think you’re perfectly normal, don’t overthink it.”
Mo Chen did not respond.
Only he knew how complex his feelings were at that moment.
On the surface, everything seemed calm, showing no signs of abnormality, but in reality… he could feel his heart in his chest changing bit by bit.
Where did the problem lie?
He didn’t know, but his emotions were becoming increasingly difficult to control.
Before, it was just irritability, but now he seemed unable to command those emotions, like a stagnant pool, lifeless and dull.
Mo Chen held her close, “Little Ghost, don’t leave me.”
Her eyes were filled with confusion, unsure of what was happening.
The man’s voice had become extremely hoarse as he kissed her earlobe and whispered, “Even if I can’t… you must not leave me.”
Qiao Ruoxin felt as though she couldn’t understand a single word.
“Mo Chen, what are you talking about?”
“It’s nothing, in any case, you can’t leave me, understand?”
Mo Chen suddenly spoke with a heavier tone, his large hand clasping the back of her head, and he kissed her fiercely, a kiss that stormed her defenses and was filled with intense possessiveness.
Qiao Ruoxin felt completely bewildered.
I had no idea what was happening.
The kiss ended.
I felt like I was about to suffocate, panting slightly.
The man was resting his forehead against mine, “Little Ghost, wait for me a bit longer, I still have to attend a meeting. Accompany me to a banquet tonight, okay?”
Her little face flushed, she nodded obediently, “Got it, go ahead.”
Mo Chen chuckled softly, planted a kiss on her forehead, and then stood up.
He glanced at the half-cup of coffee left by Qiao Ruoxin, picked it up directly, and finished the remaining coffee.
Then, he turned and walked towards the desk, picked up a document, and left the office again.
After hearing the door close, Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help but collapse onto the sofa, hugging the pillow.
“What’s going on with Mo Chen…”
She fell into deep thought, sensing that Mo Chen was a bit off, but couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was strange.
Qiao Ruoxin sat up straight, couldn’t help but pick up her phone, and opened a social forum app.
After much deliberation, she posted a message: My boyfriend has suddenly become very strange, what should I do? Waiting online!
She soon received many responses from netizens.
[How strange? Could he be cheating?]
[Tell us specifically what kind of strange we’re talking about, otherwise, how can we help you?]
Qiao Ruoxin thought for a long while before replying: [It’s just… he feels a bit odd to me, he used to be beast-mode, and now he’s become the silent gentleman type, very polite.]
[It’s over, you must have been cuckolded, has the frequency of your lovemaking decreased lately?]
Qiao Ruoxin’s heart skipped a beat, she replied: [Yes…]
[Then it’s settled, he’s definitely got someone on the side!]
[Same here! That’s how my boyfriend cheated! It pissed me off so much! Just thinking about it makes me want to strangle that dog of a man!]
[Girl! All men are dogs, just break up! You know we always advise to break up rather than make up!]
Break up?
Isn’t that a bit rash?
Qiao Ruoxin frowned slightly, fingers tapping the keyboard quickly, she replied: [But he still treats me the same as before, nothing’s changed. Maybe we’re just in a relationship rut?]
[Don’t listen to them, breakups should be considered carefully. Maybe your boyfriend has just been busy with work lately, you know when work gets too much, there really isn’t much mood for applause in love.]
[But be careful, once a man goes into sage mode, it’s dangerous. You have to figure out a way to stimulate him, with sexy lingerie or something, act cute and allure him!]
[You should decide for yourself, it’s not good for us to judge. After all, we’re not you.]
Qiao Ruoxin was browsing through the replies in the post, what is this messy advice?
She simply exited the app, the more she read, the more it gave her a headache.
Forty minutes later, Mo Chen returned.
There seemed to be a hint of exhaustion on Mo Chen’s handsome face. He sat down beside her, leaned against the sofa, and pinched the bridge of his nose with his long fingers.
Qiao Ruoxin looked at his perfect side profile, maybe he really was just too busy with work to be in the mood?
After all, Mr. Mo was the chairman of the Hengzhong Group, and now that he was part of the board of directors, there were even more matters requiring his attention and decisions every day.
She got up, moved behind the sofa, and placed her delicate fingers on the man’s temples.
The man suddenly opened his eyes, and his first sight was Qiao Ruoxin’s little face turned upside down. His lips curled up, his voice lazy, “So well-behaved?”
Qiao Ruoxin, with a gentle touch, massaged the man’s temples, her voice soft, “The internet says that when a boyfriend is busy with work, a girlfriend should be more understanding.”
Mo Chen’s handsome brows raised, “Again with going online?”
“Yeah.”
The man closed his eyes, his lips curving into an indulgent smile, “Spend more time online when you’re free.”
Chapter 308: Do You Want the Beauty to Save the Hero? “Is the meeting very tiring?”
The man’s voice responded lazily, “Mmm…”
While Qiao Ruoxin massaged the man’s temples, she asked, “Do you have to go to the banquet? Why not go home to sleep instead?”
Mo Chen slowly opened his dark eyes, grasped her slender wrist, pulled her around in front of the sofa, and drew her into his embrace.
He held her as if she was a pillow.
The man’s deep voice resonated next to her ear, “I can’t push it off, it’s the Lu Family’s celebration banquet.”
Qiao Ruoxin leaned on his shoulder, the smile at the corner of her mouth stiffening slightly. She really didn’t want to go to the Lu Family, and she wanted even less to meet that Lu Xingxing.
Mo Chen hugged her on the couch, closed his eyes, and said softly, “Sleep with me for half an hour, then we’ll leave.”
“Okay, sleep. I’ll be with you.”
She looked at the man’s handsome profile, which appeared tired.
She couldn’t help but stroke his face with her fingers, feeling a twinge of heartache for him, as he had to deal with so much every day, he must be very tired.
…
Evening.
The Lu Family’s celebration banquet.
The Lu Family had shut down all their factories abroad and was completely shifting their development back to the domestic market, so they held a celebration banquet to not only entertain friends within the circle but also to widely announce their return.
The banquet was at the Lu Family’s villa.
Qiao Ruoxin stood chatting with Lan Ke in a corner.
“Are you still experiencing morning sickness?” She took a sip of her juice.
Lan Ke shook her head with a smile, “Not anymore, I just feel really sleepy. Xiaobai has been coming home every day to accompany me, taking me everywhere, probably afraid I’ll be kidnapped again.”
“Who would’ve thought Xiaobai usually acts so carefree, but when it comes to loving you, he has always been serious,” Qiao Ruoxin said with a touch of envy in her tone.
Lan Ke frowned, “What do you mean by that… Is the love Mo Chen gives you not enough?”
Not wanting to burden Lan Ke with her troubles, she just smiled faintly, “He’s also very good to me.”
Lan Ke spoke to her seriously, “Ruoxin, I think you made the right choice marrying Mo Chen. He’s very suitable for you; you two are the most perfect match.”
“Yeah, I know. Oh, by the way, I heard that the Lan Family’s business has recently run into problems, and they’re looking to Xiaobai for help?”
Lan Ke scoffed coldly, “Do you think Xiaobai would care about the Lan Family’s mess? He’s known for his vindictiveness.”
“Yeah, Bai Junyan may act all easy-going around us, but in the business world, he has never been soft-hearted.”
Qiao Ruoxin glanced unintentionally over to where Mo Chen was, just in time to see Lu Xingxing coming over with a champagne glass.
It looked like the newcomer had ill intentions.
She put down her juice, “Ake, I’m going to check over there.”
“Okay, sure.”
…
Mo Chen was conversing with someone, and his peripheral vision had already caught sight of Lu Xingxing approaching.
The moment he saw this woman, impatience flashed across his brows.
His long fingers picked up a champagne glass, took a sip, and frowned in displeasure.
Lu Xingxing, with a smug smile on her face, walked up to the man and taunted, “Lord Mo, you don’t think that just because you’ve seen my body and said I’m hard on the eyes, I’m going to let it go, do you? Do I look like the type who’s easy to push around?”
Disdain filled Mo Chen’s black eyes as he said in a cold, emotionless tone, “I can see it, you have a shrewish nature.”
“Mo Chen! I have put up with you for a long time. You saw my body and said I’m hard on the eyes! Now you’re also calling me a shrew! How can there be a man like you!”
Lu Xingxing, her anger flaming, clutched the champagne glass, ready to splash it onto that exceptionally handsome face!
Truly, aside from his good looks, he was good for nothing else!
Suddenly!
“Ah!”
Qiao Ruoxin was caught between two people, and the champagne in Lu Xingxing’s hand had accidentally spilled onto her own face.
The surroundings erupted into a commotion.
At this moment, Lu Xingxing looked extremely embarrassed, her eyes burning with resentment as she glared at Qiao Ruoxin, who had suddenly appeared before her!
Whereas Qiao Ruoxin had an innocent expression, “Miss Lu, I’m sorry, let me quickly help you change your clothes!”
Having said that, she looked back and gave Mo Chen a glance, “Mo Chen, wait for me a moment, I will be right back.”
Then, she pulled Lu Xingxing away from there.
With so many curious stares around her, Lu Xingxing had no choice but to cover her face with her hands and let Qiao Ruoxin lead her to a secluded area.
Glancing around and seeing no one, Qiao Ruoxin let go of Lu Xingxing’s hand and said coldly, “Go change your clothes yourself.”
After speaking, she intended to turn around and leave.
Lu Xingxing shouted angrily, “You stop right there! Did you do that on purpose or not?”
She slowly smiled, turning around, “Of course it was on purpose. Do you think I would just stand by and watch as you threw champagne on Mo Chen? You really thought highly of yourself.”
“He owes me that! Who let him see my body! Perverts should pay the price!”
Qiao Ruoxin was somewhat helpless, even finding it laughable, “Please, Miss Lu, can we be reasonable? It was you who showed up in the men’s changing room, not Mo Chen actively going into the ladies’ changing room to peek at you changing.”
“I don’t care! He must apologize to me and beg for my forgiveness! Otherwise, I will not let him off!”
“…”
She truly was unreasonable and impossible to communicate with.
Qiao Ruoxin stepped closer to Lu Xingxing, her gaze cold and clear, “Lu Xingxing, I warn you, don’t try to embarrass Mo Chen in public, put away your childish little tricks.”
“Ha! Qiao Ruoxin, I’m ready to take you on. Do you want to be the damsel who rescues the hero? You should weigh whether you have the strength for that!” Lu Xingxing said disdainfully, her every move filled with arrogance.
The night was silent.
Qiao Ruoxin slightly narrowed her beautiful eyes, sizing up the willful and arrogant Lu Xingxing before her.
“Lu Xingxing, could it be that you want to pursue Mo Chen?”
“Chase after him? Why should I chase him? We are already betrothed since childhood. You, Qiao Ruoxin, you’re like a homewrecker now, aren’t you?”
She couldn’t help but laugh out loud, her laughter filled with sarcasm. “A homewrecker? How shameless you are to say that.”
…
At the party scene.
Mo Chen wore a black suit, tall and majestic, his handsome face veiled with frost, his eyes searching for the figure of that “Little Ghost.”
He even looked at his wristwatch impatiently.
Twenty minutes had passed.
Suddenly, that soft voice rang out: “Mo Chen, looking for me?”
The man looked up to see Qiao Ruoxin standing before him with a radiant smile, his irritable expression eased somewhat.
Mo Chen picked up a glass of orange juice and handed it to her, his voice deep, “What took you so long?”
“Nothing much, just chatting with Miss Lu.”
She took a sip of the orange juice, her manner elegant, poised, and proper.
The man frowned slightly, “What do you have to talk about with her?”
Qiao Ruoxin looked at him, blinked her eyes, and said, “Miss Lu said she wanted to take revenge on you, and I said I would protect you.”
Mo Chen stared at the charming and sweet little face before him, finding it a bit amusing, “You protect me?”
“Yes, indeed, don’t you believe me?”
The man raised his right hand, touched Qiao Ruoxin’s head, “Okay, I’ll let you protect me.”
Qiao Ruoxin revealed a sweet smile.
Chapter 309: Little Ghost, how do you plan to protect me? She nudged the man’s sturdy arm with her shoulder and whispered, “To protect you, is there any reward?”
“When the person is already yours, what reward do you still want?”
Mo Chen chuckled softly and gently swayed the champagne glass in his hand.
She chuckled softly, “That’s true, huh…”
The corners of the man’s mouth curled up, and he glanced sideways at Qiao Ruoxin’s delicate profile, “Little Ghost, how do you plan to protect me?”
This was the first time in his life that he had been protected by a woman, and it was his woman at that.
This feeling…seemed rather nice.
“I already protected you once just now, didn’t you notice?”
Mo Chen’s sword-like brows furrowed, and a trace of confusion surfaced in his dark eyes. Just now…?
Seeing the confusion in the man’s eyes, she couldn’t help sighing, “Brother Mo Chen, I was wrong. I thought Lu Xingxing was no match for you, but if she plays those little tricks and tactics of women, you would definitely be caught off guard.”
After all, Mo was a steel-brained straight man and also a chauvinist.
However, Mo Chen laughed, his laughter deep and filled with pleasure, “Then you’d better protect me well.”
…
In the car.
On the way back, Qiao Ruoxin felt dizzy because she had drunk quite a bit.
She lay powerless in the man’s arms, and he massaged her temples while the atmosphere inside the car was quiet and harmonious.
Qiao Ruoxin murmured softly, “Brother Mo Chen, it still hurts, could you press a bit harder…?”
Mo Chen looked at the little drunk in his arms, who still had so many requests even when drunk, but he still increased his strength, massaging her temples.
“Is this okay?”
“Mm, feels good…” She closed her eyes, her lashes thick and curled, the corners of her mouth lifted in a sweet curve.
“You’re not allowed to drink so much next time, okay?” His voice was deep and sexy, tempting her in her groggy state.
Qiao Ruoxin lay in the man’s arms, her little hand tightly clutching his tie, obediently nodding her head, “Understood…”
It was unclear how much time passed before Qiao Ruoxin slowly opened her eyes, and Mo Chen was still massaging her.
“Brother Mo Chen, are you tired?”
The man’s gaze turned toward the dark night outside the car window, but his long fingers continued the massaging motion on her temples.
At the sound, he turned back to look at her in his arms, “A little.”
Qiao Ruoxin caught the hand massaging her, “Then stop rubbing, rest for a bit.”
She held his hand, idly playing with it—this scoundrel of a man had nice hands, long and slender fingers with distinct knuckles.
Suddenly, a sly gleam flashed in her eyes, she picked up the man’s finger and gently bit it.
Sure enough, Mo Chen’s body stiffened in an instant.
That sensitive?
Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“Little Ghost…” The man’s voice was hoarse to the extreme.
“What’s wrong? Want to be bitten by me again?”
Mo Chen snorted with laughter and pinched her little cheek, “You’re getting naughtier.”
“What if it were Lu Xingxing who bit you?”
The intimate atmosphere was instantly shattered, and the man unceremoniously smacked her on the butt, “Say that again, I dare you!”
Just thinking of that scene made Mo Chen feel sick.
Some intimate gestures were only for this Little Ghost to perform. If it were another woman, he might not be able to control himself from kicking her away.
Looking at the disgust between the man’s brows, Qiao Ruoxin laughed, “I won’t say it, just joking.”
At that moment, her cell phone began to ring.
She lay in the man’s arms, picked up the phone, and placed it to her ear, her voice still cheerful, “I’m Qiao Ruoxin, who’s this?”
A middle-aged man’s voice came from the other end, “It’s me.”
In an instant, Qiao Ruoxin’s smile stiffened on her face, her entire being frozen.
It was Uncle Lawrence…
Naturally, Mo Chen also noticed her change, examining the subtle shifts in her expression.
“Do you need me for something?” she forced herself to calm down.
“I heard from Simon that you refuse to come back no matter what, that you don’t even care about your mom anymore.”
Listening to Lawrence’s voice on the phone, she really wanted to ask: Are you really my biological father?
She slowly sat up straight, leaving Mo Chen’s embrace, and moved closer to the car window on the other side, saying, “Yes, I have no desire to return, no matter what.”
“Don’t you like the United States, or is it that you don’t like us? Hasn’t our care for you over the past two years moved you at all?”
“Yes!” Her tone was filled with resolve.
“Fine, then stay there for now, but when it comes to getting married, it’s not for you to decide.”
After saying that, he hung up the phone directly.
Qiao Ruoxin wanted to say something else, but the line was already dead.
Although Uncle Lawrence hadn’t said anything harsh, she felt a silent threat.
Mo Chen looked at her silent figure and spoke up: “Was it Lawrence?”
“Mmm…”
The atmosphere inside the car was quiet, so Mo Chen had heard every word of her conversation crystal clear.
The car slowly entered Jiang Mansion Number One.
Back in the villa, the man didn’t go straight upstairs but sat down on the living room sofa instead.
“Aren’t you going upstairs?”
She found it odd, stopped in her tracks, and looked towards the man on the sofa.
Mo Chen sat on the sofa, took out a cigarette and placed it between his thin lips, ready to light it with a lighter.
“You go up first, I’ll have a smoke.”
Smoking again!
The moment the man opened the lighter, the cigarette between his lips was suddenly taken away by Qiao Ruoxin.
He frowned in displeasure, but unexpectedly, an orange lollipop was pushed towards his lips.
“Stop smoking, eat this instead.”
Mo Chen looked down at the lollipop in front of him, thinking what was he, a grown man, doing with a lollipop?
“I won’t eat it, take it back.”
His stubborn streak was flaring up again!
Qiao Ruoxin frowned: “If you smoke, you’re not allowed to sleep in the bedroom tonight!”
The man looked up glaring at her, but Qiao Ruoxin glared back, both of them locked in stalemate, neither willing to back down.
In the end, it was Mo Chen who compromised first.
An expression of resignation crossed his handsome face, he opened his thin lips and bit into the lollipop.
Instantly, a wave of sweet orange flavor spread across his tongue.
The man frowned in distaste: “Disgusting.”
“Is that more disgusting than the smell of smoke? Don’t take it out, I’m going to take a shower.”
After Qiao Ruoxin spoke, she went upstairs.
The man looked back at her slender figure and laughed softly.
The handsome and tall Mo Chen leaned back on the sofa, a lollipop staged between his lips, a smile of indulgence appearing at the corners of his mouth.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated.
Mo Chen sat up straight immediately, his expression turning serious.
He picked up the phone and put it to his ear: “How’s it going?”
“Boss Mo, the video is finally ready, enough to deceive the eyes of laymen. Should I send it over for your review?”
“Send it over.”
After hanging up the phone, Mo Chen removed the lollipop from his mouth, then quickly opened the video he had received on his phone.
After watching it, the smile on his lips grew even more pronounced.
He dialed a number and gave an order: “Send it out now.”
“Yes!”
The man reclined leisurely on the sofa and continued to put the lollipop back in his mouth, closing his eyes.
Chapter 310: #simonvideo# hits the top of the trending searches, explosive! Qiao Ruoxin finished her bath after some time and came downstairs wearing a white silk robe.
She approached the sofa and looked at the man resting there with his eyes closed, still biting on that lollipop, exuding a carefree aura.
“Why haven’t you gone up to take a shower?”
Mo Chen slowly opened his dark eyes, pulled her down to sit on the sofa, and wrapped his arms around her slender waist.
His long fingers removed the lollipop from his mouth and said, “I haven’t finished this yet.”
Qiao Ruoxin smiled lightly, “Is it tasty?”
The man frowned, “It’s disgusting.”
“Then why have you been licking it for so long?” This damn man always says one thing and means another.
The man sneered, grasped Qiao Ruoxin’s chin, forced her to open her mouth, and then put the lollipop in her mouth.
Qiao Ruoxin immediately showed rejection, “Mmph!”
“Don’t you dislike it! You’re not allowed to go back to the bedroom to sleep until you’ve finished it!”
Having said that, Mo Chen got up and walked towards the stairs, lazily dropping the words, “I’m going to take a shower.”
Qiao Ruoxin took out the lollipop, “Mo Chen! You’ve already licked this!”
The man walked up the stairs, glanced back at her with a relaxed expression, “Yeah, just to bully you.”
She widened her eyes, watching helplessly as the despicable man went upstairs, and continued to angrily lick the lollipop.
Actually… she didn’t really mind it.
With a ‘crunch,’ she bit the rest of the lollipop to pieces.
Leaning on the sofa, she casually picked up Mo Chen’s phone that he had left behind and unlocked the screen. What caught her eye the moment the screen lit up was a video playback paused.
She clicked to continue the playback, and then her pupils suddenly contracted as she opened her lips in surprise.
This… this video… turned into Lin Xi and Simon???
What kind of black magic is this?
The next second, Qiao Ruoxin immediately got up with the phone and went upstairs.
She returned to the bedroom and didn’t see Mo Chen’s figure, but the bathroom door was closed tightly, and she could hear the sound of water rushing inside.
Qiao Ruoxin walked to the bathroom door, just as she was about to knock, the sound of running water inside stopped abruptly.
All of a sudden, the bathroom door opened.
Mo Chen, bare-chested with only a towel wrapped around his waist, displayed his sexy Mermaid lines of abs.
His short hair was still dripping water, and the fresh scent of body wash emanated from him.
“What’s up?”
Qiao Ruoxin froze for a few seconds, quickly regained her composure, and raised the phone to show him, “Did you make this video?”
“Mm.”
The man walked towards the walk-in closet.
Qiao Ruoxin followed behind him, unable to help asking, “How did you do it? How did you switch the faces in the video with Lin Xi and Simon’s?”
Simply unbelievable!
The man entered the walk-in closet, casually picked out a black robe: “AI face swapping. If he can do it, so can I.”
While talking, the man tore off the towel around his waist and then put on the robe right in front of Qiao Ruoxin.
Qiao Ruoxin’s eyes widened, and she awkwardly diverted her gaze; although she had seen it all before, staring at him like that still made her blush uncontrollably.
Mo Chen, however, turned around naturally and looked at her, “Want to continue watching? I’m going to change my underwear.”
“…”
Qiao Ruoxin immediately turned and left the walk-in closet.
At that moment, she felt she understood what was odd about Mo Chen—had he learned modesty? Was he not as shameless as before?
…
Late at night, #simonvideo# hit number one on the trending searches, explosive!
Within an hour, the video was scrubbed clean from the entire network, but many netizens had already downloaded backups, and the internet went into an uproar.
[Holy shit! It’s the Lawrence Family’s simon! A bed scene video has come out! It must have been filmed by the woman, right? Trying to blackmail him with this?]
[So disgusting, the woman in the video got exposed, she’s a flight attendant from Jiashi Airlines! And he still wants to chase after our sister Qiao! Pff!]
[Thank goodness Qiao Ruoxin didn’t choose this simon! Mo Chen is the reliable one, Qiao Ruoxin and Mo Chen have always been so sweet together!]
[I heard that Gu Mocheng, the Crown Prince of Jiashi Airlines, is Mo Chen’s good brother, haha, what a show this is!]
[Some big shot on Weibo analyzed and said the video looks like it’s AI face-swapped!]
[Impossible, it looks so real? These are Hollywood blockbuster-level effects, right? The best special effects in the world are the Lawrence Family’s, was it simon who released the video himself?]
[With this kind of video out there, simon is probably going to be dealt with by family law, haha, the Lawrence Family seems to have always cared about reputation, haha…]
[Hahaha I’m dying, he used to show off competing with Mo Chen for a woman, and now this video comes out, how can he show his face! But those rich people have thick skins beyond our imagination, I’m sure he takes it well.]
[Did sister Qiao see clearly? Just stay with Mo Chen! Such discerning eyes, good thing she didn’t choose simon!]
[Let’s not jump to conclusions, I saw some big shot saying the video might really be an AI face-swap.]
[The Lawrence side hasn’t released any statement yet, but they were sure quick to scrub the video and the trending searches, obviously guilty conscience.]
…
United States, New York, early morning.
With a ‘smack,’ Lawrence slapped simon across the face, scolding, “You’ve completely disgraced the Lawrence Family! How could you leave such a huge handle for that kid! Clean up the internet immediately!”
simon’s face twisted to one side from the hit, no longer showing his usual gentle expression, now filled with rage.
It indeed was his oversight, he had not expected Mo Chen to play such a move, pushing him into a corner.
Even if he now released the part of the video with Qiao Ruoxin as the female lead, no one would believe it.
“Understood.”
Lawrence turned away angrily and left the study.
Left alone, simon stood there and the next second, he pushed everything off the desk onto the carpet, creating a dull thud.
This was probably the greatest humiliation simon had ever suffered in his life!
simon took out his phone and made a call, issuing an order, “Release a statement, saying the video is unrelated to me, and then send out the original video.”
The person on the other end hesitated, “Sir, the male lead in the original video is the former president of Jiashi Airlines, and we’re planning to cooperate with Jiashi Airlines, this…”
“I can’t worry about that much now! Send it out! The cooperation can be canceled if it has to be!”
“Yes! Understood!”
After hanging up the call.
simon kicked over a potted plant in front of him, his rage having no outlet!
He really hadn’t expected Mo Chen to still be concerned with such matters, it seems that Mo Chen didn’t experience any side effects after regaining his memory?
That’s impossible…
Such a severe psychological disorder, just cured like that?
simon had anticipated that Mo Chen would find out the truth about the video, but he hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly, catching him off guard.
Suddenly, the phone rang.
It was a call from Jiang Ruolin.
simon answered the phone, and a woman’s voice came through, “simon, is that really you in the video?”
“No, a declaration and the real original video will follow,” he answered, calm and collected.
“That’s good, I believe you.”