Ch. 381..390
: The Uglier It Gets Lu Xingxing was dismissive, “So what? The recording is there, with Qiao Ruoxin admitting with her own lips that she wasn’t pregnant and that she deceived Mrs. Mo. Would going to the hospital suddenly make her pregnant?”
“…”
Lu Xingxing didn’t speak but her expression was grave, feeling that things might not be so simple.
Mrs. Mo had weathered many storms; she certainly knew how to verify the truth and wouldn’t easily believe slander.
Suddenly, the butler’s voice came from behind them.
“Miss, Second Miss, Mr. Mo from the Mo Family is here, saying he has something to announce to everyone,”
Lu Feifei suddenly turned around, something to announce? This felt off.
The first reaction of Lu Xingxing, however, was to laugh out loud, “Haha, it must be that their lies were seen through by Mrs. Mo, and he’s here to apologize to me! Maybe he’s already broken up with Qiao Ruoxin and is coming to me to try and win me back, perhaps to bring up the matter of our arranged marriage!”
“…” Lu Feifei looked at her naive sister, truly innocent.
It was clear to anyone with eyes that Mo Chen didn’t like a woman of Lu Xingxing’s type, yet only Lu Xingxing confidently believed that there was no man in the world who wouldn’t like her.
Lu Xingxing confidently muttered to herself, “Hmph, Mo Chen, you’ve made me look foolish, I won’t easily forgive you. You chased after Qiao Ruoxin for years, you’ll need to chase me for years too! Otherwise, don’t think about being with me!”
“…”
Lu Feifei silently turned and walked away.
“Sis, wait for me! You have to back me up later, don’t just take his side because he says a few sweet words,” Lu Xingxing called after her.
…
In the drawing room.
Lu Ming and his wife were already sitting opposite on the sofa, while Mo Chen, in a black suit, sat on the sofa with a cold and steady demeanor, casually sipping tea from the exquisite cup in front of him.
Lu Ming spoke first, “Mo Chen, may I ask what brings you here this time?”
Lu Ming initially thought that the reality show recording had sparked something between the two and therefore Mo Chen took the initiative to visit.
But Mo Chen’s indifferent face and strong aura across from him didn’t seem like someone who was here to propose marriage; instead, it seemed like he was here to… cause trouble.
“Let’s wait for her to come out before we talk,” he said, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as his low voice betrayed no emotion, cold and indifferent.
At that moment, Lu Xingxing and Lu Feifei arrived in the living room together.
Upon seeing Mo Chen sitting there, Lu Xingxing’s eyes held an uncontrollable surge of excitement, her lips curling into a triumphant smile.
The Lu sisters sat on either side of their father.
“Now that both my daughters are here, can we speak now?”
Lu Ming was getting anxious, as the wait was unbearable, especially now, with his emotions being tugged at by such a youngster.
Mo Chen’s long fingers held the teacup, and after a few seconds, he looked up at Lu Xingxing across from him, his eyes revealing a hint of disgust.
“Uncle Lu, I heard that Lu Xingxing and I had an arranged marriage when we were children?”
Lu Xingxing’s spine stiffened with nervousness, her eyes filled with anticipation, tension, and an inexplicable flutter.
Lu Ming laughed, “Yes, that did happen. You must have been around three or four years old, while Xingxing had just been born. Your father and I were good friends, so we arranged a betrothal between you two.”
Lu Ming was secretly elated, thinking could this brat really be here to recognize this engagement?
Mo Chen chuckled lowly, straightened his posture, set down the teacup, and spoke in a deep voice, “Uncle Lu, I’m here today to cancel that engagement. After all, I was very young at the time; it wasn’t my decision.”
Upon these words.
The atmosphere in the parlor turned frigid in an instant.
Lu Xingxing’s and Lu Ming’s smiles froze on their faces.
It was as if the whole world had come to a standstill, the father-daughter duo wearing extremely unpleasant expressions.
Only Lu Feifei laughed, as if it was all within her expectations.
Especially during the filming of variety shows, Lu Xingxing exhibited her petulant and willful rich girl temper to its fullest, which no man would like.
Lu Xingxing’s face began to whiten as she angrily stood up, “Mo Chen, what do you mean! Have you lost your mind! Your mother already knows Qiao Ruoxin isn’t pregnant! You still…”
“Sit down!” Lu Ming violently pulled his daughter back into her seat.
Lu Ming looked towards the calm Mo Chen across from him, “Did your father send you?”
“This has nothing to do with my father. You also know I’ve always had a bad temper, and no one in the Mo Family could control me, including my father. When it comes to marriage, only I have the final say.” A smug, cold smile curled the corner of his lips.
“…” Lu Ming felt insulted by a younger member of society, as if he had lost all face. Was this a public repudiation of their engagement?
Unable to endure it any longer, Lu Xingxing trembled with anger, “Mo Chen! You’re going too far! How can you speak to my father like this!”
Mo Chen scoffed, “Oh? And how did you speak to my mother?”
“I… what did I say? I told the truth. I let her know the real facts! Otherwise, should you and Qiao Ruoxin keep making mistakes? I’m saving you!” Lu Xingxing exclaimed with self-righteous indignation.
“Enough! Stop arguing!” Lu Ming stood up, feeling as though his daughter had caused him to lose all dignity.
Mo Chen continued, “Uncle Lu, I’m aware that you’ve been looking to cash out on some domestic businesses lately. It might be presumptuous of me, but it’s only right that I offer some compensation. I will buy all of the businesses you’re selling.”
He slowly stood up, impeccably dressed in a suit, striking in his handsomeness and with a commanding, dominant presence.
“I’ll take my leave now, so as not to disturb you any further.”
With that, the man indifferently turned and left the parlor.
The room fell into dead silence, punctuated only by the deep sound of the man’s footsteps.
Lu Ming stood there, his face reflecting his extreme discomfort.
Lu Xingxing, unable to contain her fury, chased after him—this was probably the most embarrassing moment of her life.
In the garden.
Lu Xingxing ran in front of the man, spread her arms wide to block his path, and yelled, “Mo Chen! Who do you think you are! How can you come into my home and talk like this, causing my father to lose so much face! My father values his reputation above all else!”
“What’s that to me?” His eyes were filled with indifference and disdain.
“You! You’re so ungrateful. You deserve to be toyed with emotionally by Qiao Ruoxin! She deceived your family about being pregnant, and you can tolerate it. You’re hopeless!”
All of a sudden, Mo Chen spoke up, “Oh, right, I should thank you. If you hadn’t made such a fuss, I wouldn’t have known that my woman is actually pregnant.”
Lu Xingxing felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
“What did you say? Qiao Ruoxin is really pregnant? You’re lying! Impossible! You two must be conspiring to deceive people again!”
Without blinking, the man stared at Lu Xingxing, making her feel somewhat self-conscious.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
With a cold voice, he said, “The more I look, the uglier you seem.”
After speaking, he brushed past Lu Xingxing and left, his detached silhouette showing not a trace of reluctance.
Stunned for a moment, Lu Xingxing then turned and bellowed, “Mo Chen! You jerk! You bastard!”
Chapter 382: You Cry and Curse Me as a Scumbag Lu Xingxing stood in place, cursing at the air for who knows how long, with tears and snot running down her face.
“That’s enough, what’s the point of cursing by yourself here? They’re long gone,” Lu Feifei walked over to her, handing her a tissue.
Lu Xingxing wiped her tears with the tissue, sobbing grievously, “Sis! I won’t let them off the hook! Even if I can’t have him, that little bitch shouldn’t think she can have him either! What does she have anyway? What’s so good about her? The Mo Family must be out of their minds to consider someone without any family background! Letting Mo Chen do whatever he wants! They’ll regret it later! In the world of the rich and powerful, it’s all about marrying equals! How could they let Mo Chen be so reckless!”
“That’s because Uncle Mo has worked hard enough, the Mo Family no longer needs to marry for business, and no one can help them now. Hengzhong Group is practically a monopoly in the domestic market,” Lu Feifei retorted.
Lu Xingxing roared with rage, “I don’t care! I will definitely not let their wedding go smoothly! It’s killing me! Ahhhhh!”
Lu Xingxing, consumed with anger, stamped her feet and screamed shrilly, teetering on the brink of madness.
…
Inside the car.
Once Mo Chen returned to the car, Qiao Ruoxin was already asleep, leaning against the window.
He rested Little Ghost’s head on his shoulder and wrapped his arm around her slender waist.
It was now clear why she had been so lethargic and sleepy lately; it turned out to be because of the pregnancy.
A tender veil softened the handsome features of the man, in striking contrast to his demeanor back at the Lu Family’s.
“Drive slowly, don’t wake her up,” he instructed.
The driver nodded, “Yes.”
The car drove slowly on the road, heading towards the Mo Family Estate.
After some time, Qiao Ruoxin’s head slipped from the man’s shoulder, causing her to suddenly open her eyes.
She rubbed her eyes and looked at the man beside her, straightening up, her voice tender and lazy, “How long have I slept?”
The man caressed her cheek, “Not very long.”
Qiao Ruoxin yawned and leaned back on the man’s shoulder, her expression lazy, “I was wondering why I’ve become so lazy lately, always wanting to sleep. It turns out it’s all your fault.”
“Me?” he furrowed his brow slightly.
She lifted her head to look at the man’s chin, her slender finger touching his Adam’s apple, “Mhm, isn’t this child yours? Of course, it’s your fault, you got me pregnant, making it so that I can’t wake up.”
Mo Chen let out a pleased chuckle, enfolding her slender waist, “Little Ghost, are you now willing to get pregnant for me?”
“It’s already happened, why are you asking this?” she replied, a bit incredulously.
The man gazed into her eyes, the streetlights casting alternating shadows across his handsome face, and said solemnly, “Was it voluntary?”
Unable to contain her amusement, Qiao Ruoxin burst into laughter, “Of course, it was!”
Mo Chen’s lips curved into a smile as he pulled her into his embrace, resting his chin on her slender shoulder, his voice sensuously coiling, “Little Ghost, thank you for being so young and willing to get pregnant for me.”
Perhaps, deep down, Little Ghost did hold some affection for him.
A woman probably wouldn’t want to have a child for a man she didn’t love.
After all, Little Ghost was only 21 years old.
Qiao Ruoxin revealed a sweet smile, leaning on the man’s shoulder, wrapping her arms around his body.
“Mo Chen brother, am I very touching, getting pregnant for you at such a young age?”
“A little.”
“Then promise me one thing,” she requested.
Mo Chen raised an eyebrow, loosening his hold of her, “What is it?”
“My agent got me a spot to sing at the Mid-Autumn Festival gala. Just one song, three minutes, no risk whatsoever…”
Before she could finish, the man objected sternly, “No way!”
“A ballad, no dancing—just like going out for fun, can’t I? If I just follow you to work every day with no hobbies or personal interests of my own, wouldn’t I die of boredom?”
Mo Chen looked at her pitiful, pleading little expression, and his heart softened as well. Perhaps he shouldn’t stifle the dreams of this Little Ghost.
“Please, Mo Chen, brother?” Her small hand grasped the man’s jaw, waiting for a response.
The man finally answered, “I’ll go with you, I must be there on-site.”
“Okay!”
She agreed without hesitation, her happy laughter ringing out.
She hugged the man’s body again, her voice becoming more animated, “I knew you were the best to me!”
“Little Ghost, follow me, and you won’t regret it.”
“Mhmm, I know, brother Mo Chen is a good man.”
He, however, chuckled, “Half an hour ago, there was a woman yelling at me, calling me a scumbag.”
Qiao Ruoxin pushed away from his embrace, her little face full of displeasure, “Who?”
Then she realized, “Lu Xingxing? She called you a scumbag?”
“Mhmm.”
She couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “But you’re not scummy to me at all.”
It’s like one man’s meat is another man’s poison.
“You’ve called me a scumbag too.” There seemed to be a trace of grievance in the man’s deep voice.
????
Qiao Ruoxin looked puzzled, “Have I? When did I call you a scumbag? I don’t remember.”
She truly didn’t remember, even after thinking it over carefully, she couldn’t recall such a time.
Mo Chen’s slender fingers held her chin, and he gently bumped her forehead with his, tender and doting.
“Don’t you remember what I did that morning? You were crying and calling me a scumbag.”
This Little Ghost really didn’t hold grudges; in just a few days, she had already forgotten about his misdeeds that morning.
“…”
Qiao Ruoxin huffed, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten. You were indeed like a scumbag that morning! A super huge scumbag!”
“…” Why did he have to bring this up???
She shook off the man’s hand, “If you dare to treat me like you did that morning, I promise I’ll make your child call someone else daddy!”
Mo Chen’s face darkened, and he said in a deep voice, “I wouldn’t dare again.”
After three seconds, he added, “At least not for ten months.”
Qiao Ruoxin took a moment to realize, then lifted her proud chin, “Serves you right! Who made me pregnant! Deal with it yourself!”
The man’s lips curled into an ambiguous smile, he moved close to her cheek, and gently kissed every inch of her skin, whispering softly, “How do you want me to deal with it?”
“I don’t care; a man has plenty of ways.”
She dodged the man’s sultry cheek kisses.
Mo Chen’s voice was hoarse, “Really? Such as?”
The more she dodged, the more brazen his kisses became, leaving her nowhere to hide.
“What about your special service? It could come in handy now.”
“Dream on! Those are moves I use only when I’ve made you mad.”
Qiao Ruoxin pushed the man away, preventing him from continuing his misdeeds because the car had already slowly entered the Mo Family Estate.
Mo Chen leaned to one side, no longer approaching her, but his eyes stayed on her, slowly moving to her flat abdomen with the corners of his mouth hooking up.
Chapter 383: I’m a Father Now! Mo Family, dining room.
After Mo Chen and Qiao Ruoxin entered the dining room, all eyes converged on them.
The first to speak was Mo Tian, “Son! Come, give Daddy a hug.”
Mo Tian stood up, walked over to Mo Chen, and embraced his tall figure with a sentimental look on his face, “Son, well done! You’re finally going to be a dad. When I was your age, you were already three years old and knew how to swear.”
“…” Mo Chen’s handsome face darkened, his lips tightly pressed together.
Mo Tian burst into laughter, patting his shoulder, “That’s good! I’ve been looking forward to the day you’d become a father, and it finally came.”
Standing to the side, Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help but want to laugh.
Mo Chen ignored his father, pulled out a chair for Qiao Ruoxin to sit down, and then took the seat next to her.
“How did the hospital check-up go, did you see the baby?” Grandma Mo asked impatiently.
Before she could answer, Mrs. Mo spoke up in her stead, “Mom, it’s only around three weeks, still early. I’ll take her for a prenatal check-up in two weeks and then we’ll be able to see.”
“That’s wonderful, the Mo Family hasn’t had fresh blood added for so many years, and now another little one is coming.” Grandma Mo, always bored, just wanted to hold a sweet grandchild.
Grandpa Mo smiled, “If it’s a boy, it would be nice to be like Mo Chen, and if it’s a girl, she should be like this little girl, good-looking.”
“But let’s hope she doesn’t inherit that stinky boy’s temper, I really can’t handle another version of him,” Mo Tian complained involuntarily.
Mo Chen’s mouth twitched involuntarily, and he said in a deep voice, “Dad, do you really find me that unsatisfactory?”
“…” The dining room fell silent.
Mo Tian laughed awkwardly, “No, not at all unsatisfactory, just that it would be better if that bad temper of yours improved a bit.”
“It won’t change.”
The answer came so crisply and straightforwardly.
Mrs. Mo couldn’t help but say with a laugh, “Do you think you have a great temper? You can’t change, and you expect Mo Chen to? But, I must set a condition for you, and that is once the child is born, you stay away from the child! I don’t want my little grandson’s first words to be swear words either!”
“Mo Chen’s first words as a child were swear words?” She was stunned.
Mrs. Mo glanced at her son, “The more I think about it, the more angry I get. Other people’s children’s first words are ‘daddy’ and ‘mommy,’ but he had to learn swear words right away.”
Immediately, the room erupted with laughter.
The man’s expression darkened, his handsome face tensed.
Was this some kind of public criticism meeting against him?
Qiao Ruoxin laughed non-stop, then suddenly met the man’s dark gaze, and her laughter ceased abruptly.
“Is it funny?”
“Not really… it’s just that the stories of your childhood are quite adorable.”
Mrs. Mo sternly looked at the father and son, Mo Tian and Mo Chen, “I’m seriously warning you both, when my grandson is born, you’re not allowed to swear in front of the child!”
Mo Tian: “…”
Mo Chen: “…”
Grandpa Mo: “Right, it’d be best to keep the two of them far from the child, a cute little baby with a mouth full of curse words, what kind of image is that?”
Grandma Mo: “I haven’t held a child in so many years, I miss that feeling so much. I remember when I used to hold Mo Chen, he was particularly naughty, always running around and never sitting still on my lap for even a few minutes.”
Qiao Ruoxin also laughed out loud, the atmosphere lively and joyous.
It felt as if she had already become a part of this family.
…
After dinner, the grandparents insisted they stay the night, and Qiao Ruoxin no longer refused.
At that moment, Mo Chen accompanied her for a walk in the garden.
Thinking back to the scene in the dining room, she couldn’t help but laugh again, enjoying the warm and cozy feeling.
Mo Chen glanced at her and said in a deep voice, “What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing much, just that their stories of your childhood were funny, how could you have been so adorable as a child and grown up to be so irritable.”
Mo Chen frowned slightly, paused in his steps, and looking down at her he said, “Actually, I hope our child turns out more like you.”
“Why?”
“I have a bad temper,” he answered truthfully.
She chuckled, “Then we should just have more children? One like you, one like me.”
“No need.”
????
What did she just hear? When a woman says something like that, shouldn’t a man be happy? He actually said no need?
Qiao Ruoxin: “What do you mean no need?”
Mo Chen’s slender fingers caressed her face, slowly moving to the back of her neck, rubbing back and forth: “His woman only gave birth to one, why should my woman have to give birth to many?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Your Uncle Mo.”
“…”
True to his Mo family pride, always so petty, just like her father.
Laughing, she said, “Didn’t you say Uncle Mo did it because he’s afraid your mom will spoil the child too much?”
“Hmm, I’m also afraid my woman will spoil the child.”
Her heart got ruthlessly hit by wild throbs again—this damn man only let slip sweet nothings in such unexpected moments.
Qiao Ruoxin opened her arms and embraced the tall figure of the man, revealing a shallow smile: “Mo Chen, you’re really nice.”
The man raised an eyebrow: “That’s all it takes to be nice?”
She sighed softly: “Ah, for a straight man to do as much as you have is already pretty good. I’m not very demanding, just keep liking me like this, but you can’t force yourself on me like you did that morning again, I was really scared.”
Though he had apologized countless times and soothed the Little Ghost over and over, he still patiently replied, “Hmmm…”
“Mo Chen, do you like boys or girls?”
She remembered asking this question before but forgot what Mo Chen’s answer was.
The man’s deep voice sounded in her ear: “I like both.”
…
Late at night, in the bedroom.
Qiao Ruoxin lay sleeping next to him.
The man lifted the blanket and took his phone to the terrace alone.
He sat on the outdoor sofa, lit a cigarette and placed it between his lips, then opened the WeChat group chat with his brothers.
Mo Chen: [@everyone]
Bai Junyan: [What are you doing up so late? Don’t you have a sex life?]
Mo Chen: [Hmm, no.]
All the brothers: [????]
Ji Haochuan: [Mo, are you confessing? Are you breaking up? You think you could really handle that?]
Lu Siheng: [I advise you to think carefully! If Qiao Ruoxin really leaves this time, you may never be able to get her back.]
Bai Junyan: [Would you really let other men touch our darling Qiao sister?]
Gu Mocheng: [In a word, don’t court death.]
A look of disdain crossed Mo Chen’s handsome face, and his slender fingers quickly typed out a line.
Mo Chen: [I’m gonna be a dad!]
All the brothers: [????????]
Gu Mocheng: [Damn you! Get lost!]
Bai Junyan: [Hahaha I’m dying of laughter. Our ‘Super Daddy Club’s’ no.2 baby is booked. You guys better hurry up, my project starts on schedule by the end of next year. I don’t care if you borrow kids or have kids by then, but you’re all joining!]
Ji Haochuan: [Holy crap! I’ve taken a critical hit!]
Lu Siheng: [I’m off to find a woman.]
Chapter 384: Twins The man looked at the chat history on his phone screen and did not reply again.
Setting the phone aside on the sofa, he quietly finished his cigarette and began to fantasize about what the child he and Little Ghost would have would look like.
Would the child look more like him, or like Little Ghost?
A gentle, doting smile appeared on the corner of his lips.
He leaned back, resting his head against the sofa and gazing up at the night sky.
He thought of the starry sky he had seen over the vast grasslands and a hint of disappointment appeared in his eyes—indeed, it was quite different.
The star-filled expanse of the grasslands and the sparsely starred sky before him seemed like they were not part of the same sky.
After finishing his cigarette, he returned to the bedroom to take a look at the woman sound asleep in the bed, then went to the bathroom to rinse his mouth several times with mint-flavored mouthwash.
Mo Chen returned to the bed, his breath carrying a fresh and pleasant hint of mint, and held her from behind.
…
In the following two weeks, the wife of Mr. Mo specifically arranged for several people to take care of Qiao Ruoxin’s daily needs.
Qiao Ruoxin thoroughly enjoyed what could be described as national-treasure-level treatment.
She was just short of being carried around everywhere like a princess by Grandpa Mo.
Mo Chen always carried her, simply because the doctor said that it was best not to move too much during the first three months and to rest in bed.
Her morning sickness was getting worse, to the point she hardly had any appetite at all—she vomited whatever she ate and only wanted to sleep all day.
Finally, it came time for her first prenatal checkup.
Madam Mo personally accompanied her to the private hospital of the Mo Family which was established specifically for the Mo Family. The medical technology was advanced, and they also tended to the needs of other wealthy and esteemed patients.
The Mo Family received royal treatment in this place.
Groggy, Qiao Ruoxin completed a series of examinations. When it was time for the ultrasound, Madam Mo accompanied her in as well.
Lying on the bed, she watched the young female doctor move the equipment back and forth across her flat belly.
She had her doubts whether she was really pregnant—her stomach hadn’t changed at all; it was just as before.
The female doctor stared at the screen for a long while, then furrowed her brows, “Eh?”
Madam Mo couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”
After examining further and confirming, the doctor smiled and said, “There are two embryos developing.”
Madam Mo was taken aback before she burst into delighted laughter, “You mean twins?”
Indeed, Madam Mo was thrilled. Twins???
The doctor nodded, “Yes, congratulations, they are indeed twins.”
Lying on the bed, Qiao Ruoxin froze upon hearing this. Twins? Really, twins?
She never imagined that she would get pregnant so soon, let alone with twins!
It felt like a dream. Her eyes filled with surprise, it was just too incredible.
After coming out of the ultrasound room, Madam Mo looked at the image and smiled.
Madam Mo steadied her, and she quickly dodged, “No need, no need. I’m not that bad. I can’t have you supporting me.”
“It’s alright. We’re both women; I understand your discomfort. Is the morning sickness quite severe?”
“Um… a little.”
Madam Mo laughed and said, “When I was pregnant with Mo Chen, the little guy tormented me for a full six months. I vomited so much every day that I couldn’t even eat—almost puked out bile.”
She let Madam Mo support her, listening to her talk and suddenly felt an inexplicable wave of emotion.
It was as if she had found a bit of maternal love in Madam Mo.
“You seem a bit down. Have you been getting cabin fever at home?”
She smiled faintly, without speaking.
Madam Mo said, “How about this, accompany me to a dinner party tonight. Let’s go out and clear your mind. The most important thing for a pregnant woman is to maintain a good mood.”
“Thank you, Madam Mo.”
“Ruoxin, your wedding with Mo Chen, I will also expedite the schedule, trying to have it before your belly gets too big.”
“Okay, I have no objections.”
Madam Mo further inquired, “Will your parents come then?”
This question caused the smile at the corner of Qiao Ruoxin’s mouth to stiffen. She fell silent, at a loss for words.
Seeing the forlorn look on her small face, Madam Mo suddenly softened, gently patting her shoulder, “Stay at the estate tonight. The kitchen is preparing a soup for you; you need to replenish your strength.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Mo.”
“It’s nothing.”
…
Soon, night fell.
Mrs. Mo took her back to the manor, and after overseeing her dinner, she took her to the party to clear her mind.
Qiao Ruoxin wore a rather loose-fitting dress; although her belly still looked flat, not showing any signs of pregnancy.
Nevertheless, Mrs. Mo had selected a pair of comfortable flat shoes for her.
“You go get a drink over there. I’ll talk with a friend for a moment,” Mrs. Mo told her.
“Alright, you go ahead,” Qiao Ruoxin replied.
Qiao Ruoxin walked around on her own, picked up a glass of juice, and went to the terrace to enjoy the night view of the entire city.
She immediately spotted the landmark building of Hengzhong Group, a whale swimming through the night.
Her phone rang.
She answered, “Hello?”
“Little Ghost, where are you?”
It was then she realized that she had forgotten to greet Mo Chen.
“Oh, I went with your mother for a prenatal checkup today.”
“You’re at the Mo Family’s place? I’ll come to pick you up.”
Qiao Ruoxin turned and leaned against the railing, her lips curving slightly, “Big Brother Mo Chen, I have some good news for you.”
“Mm, tell me,” he responded.
“Are you near a tree?” she asked.
“What?” The man on the other end of the call, seemingly driving, was puzzled by her question.
She couldn’t help but giggle, “If there’s no tree around, find a place to sit. I’m afraid you won’t be able to stand firm after hearing what I’m about to say.”
“What’s wrong?” The man’s tone on the phone became more serious, tinged with a hint of concern.
“I’ll tell you! I’m so awesome! There are actually two babies inside my belly,” she exclaimed, unable to hold back her laughter.
…
What she got in response was endless silence and the sudden sound of brakes screeching.
“Big Brother Mo Chen, are you alright?” she asked.
“Say that again!”
“I said, at the prenatal checkup today, the doctor told me I’m having twins,” she repeated.
A cheerful, low chuckle came from the man on the other end, laced with a bit of skepticism, “Really?”
“Of course, aren’t I amazing?”
“Mm, wait for me. I’ll be right there.”
“I’m out with your mom attending a dinner party. I’ll probably be back late.”
“Little Ghost, I miss you. Where are you? I’ll come to you.”
She could hear Big Brother Mo’s impatience on the phone, so she gave him the address, and then that dog man simply hung up the call, not even saying goodbye, how impolite.
Looking at the call end screen on her mobile, she laughed, her adorable dog man.
…
Meanwhile, Mrs. Mo was chatting with several society ladies, including Mrs. Lu, Lu Xingxing’s mother.
“Mrs. Mo, do you really plan to let Master Mo marry that little star?”
Mrs. Mo could only pretend to be helpless, “It’s up to the young people to decide on their matters. They just like beautiful trophies; what can I do?”
Mrs. Lu suddenly spoke up, “There are so many illegitimate children of wealthy families out there now. If a girl gets pregnant, she has to be married into the family. Imagine how many female stars would be eager to marry into a wealthy family. You could deceive her into having the child and then give her some money to send her away.”
The smile on Mrs. Mo’s face gradually faded, and her expression turned somewhat unpleasant, even a bit impatient.
“We’re all women; is there a need to be so malicious?” Mrs. Mo said indifferently.
Instantly, an awkward silence fell among the society ladies, none daring to speak, as not everyone had the privilege to snap back at Mrs. Mo.
Chapter 385: Love is Not a Formula Lady Lu felt she couldn’t maintain her dignity and forced a laugh, “Indeed, the Mo Family is famous for their foolishness in love. I remember when you and Director Mo also mutually called off your weddings and then, despite society’s objections, ended up together, hurting two innocent people.”
These words were quite unpleasant to hear, and even carried a hint of a declaration of war.
By revealing Mrs. Mo’s private affairs, the circle of noblewomen around her all wore expressions full of gossip, astonished that there could be such a story.
“Director Mo and Mrs. Mo had such a tale from their youth?”
“I haven’t heard of it.”
“Nor have I. I thought they had simply fallen in love, married, and had children; after all, both families have extremely powerful influence.”
“I think I vaguely recall hearing that Director Mo did have a fiancée, and Mrs. Mo had a fiancé, but they both called off their engagements and then got together.”
“Tsk, tsk. Now isn’t that a piece of gossip? That’s true love, this is.”
Meanwhile, Qiao Ruoxin happened to walk over and heard their murmurs, her brows twisting in disapproval.
“Ladies, let’s not spread unfounded gossip, spoken without thought, but heard with intent,” she said with a slight smile, exceedingly polite.
A few gossiping noblewomen glanced at her and silently dispersed.
Qiao Ruoxin’s gaze returned to Mrs. Mo’s direction; after all, this was going to be her future mother-in-law. Naturally, she needed to stand up for her, as the Mo Family places utmost importance on their reputation.
At the same time—
Mrs. Mo’s polite smile had vanished without a trace, and she raised her eyes to face Lady Lu, “Lady Lu, are you declaring war on me? Is it simply because my son doesn’t fancy your daughter? Is that reason enough? Are you insisting on this marriage?”
Her words caused the surrounding crowd to react with shock.
Lady Lu hadn’t expected her to be so blunt in front of everyone.
“Li Xueli! Do you really want to come to blows?”
Mrs. Mo, with an air of arrogance, let out a cold laugh, “Weren’t you the one who started tearing face first? If even I, as Mrs. Mo, dare not tear face when the Mo Family is in such a state, what’s the point of my position?”
The crowd erupted into a murmur; it was like watching a live broadcast of the wealthy tearing into each other, everyone’s eyes wide and ears perked, not wanting to miss a second.
The ultimate showdown between the matrons of the Mo Family and the Lu Family.
“So, calling off engagements is a tradition of the Mo Family, is it? I see your son has certainly inherited that trait well,” Lady Lu said, each word and phrase a provocation, completely tearing off the façade. The recent visit by Mo Chen to cancel the arrangement had made the Lu Family lose face.
Mrs. Mo’s hand, adorned with a jade ring, furiously slammed the table, completely enraged, she exclaimed, “I warn you! Don’t spout nonsense just because your husband and my husband have a relationship.”
“Are you trying to destroy their brotherhood of many years?”
The surroundings fell silent, all eyes quietly watching the standoff between the matriarchs of these wealthy families.
“Lady Lu, how naive. Is brotherly love that important to you? The one who spends his life with him is me, the one who marries and has children with him is also me, the one who takes care of his daily needs is me. I want to see how Mo Tian will choose,” Mrs. Mo replied calmly.
Lady Lu indeed started to panic. It was rumored that Mo Tian was famously doting on his wife, and during his youth, he would even kneel for his wife’s forgiveness when he did something wrong.
Qiao Ruoxin watched from a distance, seeing Mrs. Mo’s anger as she slapped the table, thinking she was just like Mo Chen… when she first returned to the country and met Mo Chen, he had made the same gestures, expressing the same emotions. Truly like mother, like son.
But seeing Mrs. Mo’s combativeness, it seemed she needed no outside assistance.
She gave a slow smile and turned to leave the banquet hall, preparing to wait outside for Mo Chen.
…
Outside the banquet hall.
Qiao Ruoxin stood in the night wind, looking up at the starry sky with disappointment filling her eyes; it was far less impressive than the one she’d seen on the grassland.
Suddenly, a black Bentley stopped in front of her.
The car door opened, and Mo Chen stepped out in a dark blue suit, a hint of urgency on his tall and handsome figure.
The man’s long legs took a few steps to reach her, and a smile formed on her lips, “Brother Mo Chen.”
But Mo Chen’s handsome face was tight with tension as he stared at her for a long time, his dark eyes filled with complex emotions.
The next second, the man pulled her into his embrace, his large hand cradling the back of her head, burying his face in the crook of her neck, “The doctor said it’s twins?”
“If you don’t believe it, you can ask your mom, but she might be too busy to answer right now since she’s inside having a falling-out with Mrs. Lu.”
She had thought that Mo Chen would go in to help Mrs. Mo right away, but instead, Mo Chen calmly responded, “Mhm, let’s go home.”
Qiao Ruoxin looked at him in astonishment, tugging at his sleeve, “Aren’t you going to help Mrs. Mo?”
He let out a snort of laughter, opened the car door, and scooped her into the car in one smooth motion, taking care to buckle her seatbelt.
Qiao Ruoxin watched the man who was bending down to fasten her seatbelt, “You really won’t help your mother?”
“Don’t worry, no one can hurt her.”
After leaving those words behind, Mo Chen closed the car door, walked around to the other side of the vehicle, and sat down in the driver’s seat.
She was slightly taken aback and then remembered the arrogant bearing of Mrs. Mo she had just seen, and couldn’t help but laugh; indeed, there were hardly any people present who could harm Mrs. Mo, as they were all watching for her expressions.
The car slowly drove onto the street.
Suddenly, Qiao Ruoxin remembered the discussions she had overheard from the ladies at the dinner.
“Brother Mo Chen, may I ask you something? Of course, if you don’t want to answer, never mind.”
“Go ahead and ask.”
She looked at the man’s profile, cautiously asking, “I heard those ladies gossiping just now, saying that Uncle Mo and Mrs. Mo both had a fiancé and fiancée when they were young and then broke off those engagements to be together?”
She knew it was improper to ask about such matters, but she was genuinely curious.
Mo Chen glanced at her indifferently and said in a deep voice, “Indeed, that’s true. Originally, their union was an alliance between families, but Uncle Mo met my mom at someone else’s wedding and it was love at first sight.”
After hearing this, she chuckled softly, “That’s so romantic. So they just broke off their engagements recklessly to be together?”
“Yeah, but Uncle Mo pursued her for quite some time before he succeeded.”
Qiao Ruoxin’s eyes widened in surprise, “Mrs. Mo didn’t fall in love with Uncle Mo at first sight? I think Uncle Mo was very handsome when he was young.”
He was exactly the kind of humorous and witty man that women would like.
Mo Chen let out a low laugh, “Love isn’t a formula. Apparently, my mom rejected him seventeen times over three years before he finally won her over.”
“That’s quite persistent.” She couldn’t help but admire; it was unexpected that Uncle Mo could pursue a woman for three years, but it was good that he eventually succeeded.
Before they knew it, the car had entered the gates of the Mo Family Estate.
The butler came forward to open the car door, helping her out with utmost care.
Once again, Qiao Ruoxin saw the vast sea of roses, and she asked, “Uncle Mo planted such a big sea of roses for Mrs. Mo, his love is almost spilling over.”
Chapter 386: Baby, Don’t Look, Daddy is a Nasty Hooligan The man’s tall figure wrapped around her slender waist as they walked toward the sea of flowers. He said in a deep voice, “Do you like it? I can plant some for you as well.”
She revealed a sweet smile, “No need, I’m not very fond of roses.”
“Then what flowers do you like?” While speaking, his large palm had already covered her lower abdomen, seemingly wanting to touch the presence of the two little babies.
“They are just embryos right now; you can’t feel anything.”
“Answer me, what flowers do you like?”
Qiao Ruoxin considered seriously, “Hmm… cherry blossoms, I guess!”
Mo Chen’s lips curved into a smile, “Alright, I got it.”
“You got what?”
“To plant a few cherry blossom trees for you.”
“Where will you plant them?”
The man glanced at the lawn opposite the sea of roses, “Right here, to let your Uncle Mo see what kind of aesthetic my woman has.”
Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “Aren’t you being a bit too much?”
“What’s too much about it? It’s settled then.”
Having said that, Mo Chen once again scooped her up horizontally and headed toward the villa complex.
She felt somewhat helpless, “Stop carrying me like this all the time, I can walk by myself now.”
“You are already unable to walk.” His tone was indifferent and domineering, not allowing any refusal from her.
Qiao Ruoxin laughed, exasperated, “Can you not stand it when a woman rejects you?”
“Just assume that’s the case.”
…
Back in the bedroom.
Mo Chen offered to help her bathe, but she firmly refused—this man was becoming too much.
In the end, unable to persuade her, he let her bathe herself, but Mo Chen waited outside the bathroom door.
In the bathroom, Qiao Ruoxin took off her clothes, ready to soak in the bathtub.
A man’s deep voice came from outside the door, “Are you sure you don’t need my help?”
“Really, I don’t! Just wait outside; I’m not so pregnant that I can’t move around.”
She lay in the bathtub, saying with a laugh.
After half an hour, Qiao Ruoxin decided to leave the bathtub because she felt dizzy from soaking too long.
As she was getting up out of the bathtub, she wavered for a moment and almost fell, involuntarily letting out a cry, “Ah…”
The next second, the bathroom door was kicked open.
Mo Chen rushed in and held her in his arms, his face turning extremely grim as he yelled, “Qiao Ruoxin! Can’t you be more careful?”
“…”
So fierce—there was that savage Divine Beast again.
She muttered quietly, “It’s not like I did it on purpose…”
“Which is why I offered to help you bathe,” he said angrily.
“I… I’m not used to it.”
Even though she had already done all sorts of intimate things with Mo Chen, helping her bathe was just embarrassing.
Mo Chen’s face darkened, “Then get used to it slowly. What part of you haven’t I seen?”
“…”
He placed her on a mat next to him and began to carefully dry the drops of water on her body with a bath towel.
Qiao Ruoxin stood naked in front of the man—it really was…
Does this man have no shame at all?
“Mo Chen, do you have no shame? I’m pregnant now, and you’re educating the baby like this?”
The man completely ignored her words, dried her off, and then helped her into her nightgown.
“I’m talking to you!”
“What’s the need for a man to save face?”
“…”
She noticed Mo Chen’s white shirt was soaked, clinging tightly to his sexy chest muscles. She said, “Your shirt is all wet.”
“Hmm, it is wet.”
“Then you should just take off your clothes and go take a shower.”
Mo Chen raised an eyebrow, “Are you going to watch me shower here?”
“What’s wrong with that? You’ve seen me shower, why can’t I watch you shower?” She was doing this on purpose, to let this damned man have a taste of this kind of feeling.
But the man laughed, “I don’t mind, you watch.”
As he spoke, his slender fingers began to unbutton the shirt from top to bottom.
Qiao Ruoxin’s eyes widened, “Are you an exhibitionist, liking to be watched so much?”
“Little Ghost, I only enjoy being watched by you.”
The next second, he suddenly took off the shirt on his body, completely revealing his sexy mermaid-line abs.
Qiao Ruoxin covered her own belly and muttered to herself, “Baby, don’t look, daddy is a filthy hooligan; we’ll ignore him.”
After speaking, she turned and quickly left the bathroom.
Mo Chen was left standing in place, watching her retreating figure and let out a low laugh, his eyes filled with indulgence.
He walked under the shower, turned it on, and the warm water quickly fell.
The man closed his eyes, letting the water rinse over his body.
Twins…
A smile crept onto his lips, two little ones looking the same should be pretty fun.
…
Lu Family.
These past few days, Lu Xingxing had been gathering all sorts of dirt on Qiao Ruoxin, but it seemed that Qiao Ruoxin had no dark past to find.
“I refuse to believe that you haven’t left a single trace behind!”
She kept scrolling through Qiao Ruoxin’s information online, digging through her anti-fan forums.
Finally, she clicked on a post with the title: [Qiao Ruoxin’s new song plagiarises a foreign singer’s work, yet has the shamelessness to claim it was written for Mo Ye! Disgusting!]
Plagiarism!
This is a sore point with the netizens, and once touched, will definitely lead to being universally condemned to death!
Lu Xingxing opened the post, looking at those anti-fans’ well-reasoned analysis and the comparison of sound tracks.
The anti-fans claimed that the song “His Obsession” composed and written by Qiao Ruoxin was plagiarised from a song by an obscure foreign singer, who was extremely mysterious with not even a single photo available, anonymously releasing many songs.
The comments section was filled with vulgar curses.
[Disgusting! The face of a plagiarist, it’s exactly the bloody same! How dare she say it was written for Mo Chen, utterly revolting.]
[This so-called Mortal Princess is so pretentious, stealing others’ hard work, yet claims it’s her original, why isn’t someone suing her to death! Just smudge her out, I’m so sick of her!]
[Like she’s the only beauty in the entertainment circle, all the male stars love her? Just loves to set up this princess persona, shameless to the extreme.]
[Well, she must have some skills, otherwise why would Mo Ye fall for her like that, breaking up and getting back together again and again.]
[Mo Chen, are you blind? Check out the evidence of plagiarism! What in the world do you love about her! You’ve got to be blinded by lard! Pull back from the brink!]
[I saw in the neighboring thread the paparazzi shots from a variety show recording, and Mo Chen is actually accompanying that little princess for the love of ‘romance’ by joining a reality show! He’s famously reserved, tsk tsk, must be bewitched, right?]
[Mo Chen! Even if I were your father, I would be pissed to death! Heir of Asia’s richest, the Mo Family waiting for you to take over and you like such a pretentious, hypocritical plagiarist little princess!]
After reading the post, Lu Xingxing laughed out loud, delighted to find such a severe dark history on Qiao Ruoxin.
Lu Xingxing quickly made a call: “I need a wave of marketing accounts and Internet trolls to hype up Qiao Ruoxin’s plagiarism; I want her reputation to be utterly ruined! She won’t have it easy! I’ll send you the post later, okay.”
After hanging up the phone, Lu Xingxing couldn’t help but laugh out loud, curious to see how Qiao Ruoxin would explain this plagiarism!
Chapter 387: The Thing I Hate Doing the Most Right Now Is Sleeping Mo Family Estate, bedroom, walk-in closet.
After Qiao Ruoxin changed into her nightgown, she stood in front of the full-length mirror examining her figure.
Although no changes were visible on her figure for now, it wouldn’t be long before her belly swelled, especially since it was twins.
Plus, those nutritionists made her nutritious meals every day, which she was almost sick of eating.
Suddenly, the door to the walk-in closet was pushed open.
Mo Chen, wearing a black robe with the collar open, revealing his sexy chest and abs, his wet hair still dripping, exuded a sexy aura.
“Why aren’t you coming out?” the man frowned.
Qiao Ruoxin glanced at him and huffed arrogantly, “I’m pregnant, and with twins at that! My belly is going to get big soon!”
The man’s dark eyes were slightly startled, “And then?”
“And then my slim waist is gone, my figure is going to get distorted!”
Thinking about it made her sad; she’d been wearing cheongsams just a few days ago, and now she probably wouldn’t be able to wear those beautiful evening gowns for almost a year.
Mo Chen came up behind her, his lips curved upwards as he wrapped his arms around her from behind, looking at the ‘Little Ghost’ reflected in the mirror, her feisty eyes filled with grievances.
“Not angry anymore, huh?”
“It’s all your fault! Getting me pregnant so early, I hate it…”
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. Others her age were all striving in their careers, yet she was expecting twins. But when she thought about the two little babies, it still seemed pretty fun.
The man let out a deep sigh, “Brother is not young anymore, you know?”
She could tell he was just coaxing her. Could a man like Mo Chen really lack women willing to bear his children?
Unable to help it, Qiao Ruoxin laughed out loud, “You should say it like this, ‘I only want the children you bear for me’.”
Mo Chen frowned slightly, “Does that make you feel better?”
“Mhm.” She nodded.
The man straightened her body to face him, and looking into her eyes, he said gravely, “Little Ghost, I only want the children you bear for me, okay?”
Gazing at his handsome face and listening to the sweet nothings she had taught him, it was indeed a treat to the eyes.
“Alright, I forgive you. But you’re not going to bail on tomorrow night’s Mid-Autumn Festival gala, are you?”
She’d been looking forward to this day for so long, at least it would be a bit fun.
Mo Chen chuckled softly, “No, I will accompany you tomorrow.”
Qiao Ruoxin smiled happily, stood on her tiptoes, and hugged the man’s neck enthusiastically, “Thank you, Brother Mo Chen.”
The man embraced her, his large hand gently stroking her soft hair from behind, “What song are you going to sing tomorrow?”
“‘His Obsession.’ The program team specifically requested this song, saying it’s quite popular.”
Mo Chen responded. He was actually eager to experience what it would be like live.
“Let’s go to bed.”
With tender movements, he picked her up and carried her out of the walk-in closet towards the soft, sprawling bed.
“Great, my favorite thing to do now is to sleep. I feel like I could sleep 24 hours a day. Is this normal for pregnant women?”
She was starting to wonder if she’d entered a state of hibernation.
After placing her on the bed, Mo Chen complained in a hoarse voice, “Sleeping is what I hate the most right now.”
???
She looked at him innocently, “Why? Can’t you sleep again?”
The man glanced at her indifferently, “Little Ghost, do you know what it’s like for a man to sleep holding his woman, but can only kiss and hug without going further?”
“…”
Damn man…
Embarrassed, Qiao Ruoxin coughed twice, “Who are you blaming? It’s your own wish to get me pregnant. For your little baby, ahem, no, two little babies, you’ll just have to hold back.”
“Hmm…”
But she could clearly see that hint of restraint on the man’s handsome face.
She couldn’t help but chuckle.
…
Late at night.
Hundreds of marketing accounts mobilized across the web, starting to hype the plagiarism of Qiao Ruoxin’s new song; the spread was rapid.
Online public opinion was one-sided, all filled with derogatory comments. Qiao Ruoxin’s Weibo was bombarded with insults.
[Qiao Ruoxin, you’ve really disappointed me! That song was plagiarized! And to copy from my favorite mysterious singer ‘Alice’! How could you! Pretty face but ugly heart, that’s you!]
[I never thought she could be such a person, I’ve followed her since ‘Idol 101’. I’m unfollowing! Goodbye! Never see you again! I hope you get out of the entertainment industry!]
[I really don’t want to believe it, but after seeing the track comparison and listening to the original artist’s song, it’s exactly the same. Is this plagiarism? This is copy-paste!]
[Qiao Ruoxin, are you planning to switch careers and become a tailor? Patching things up, other people’s work becomes yours?]
[Amazing, to plagiarize a song to confess to Mo Chen, and then Mo Chen is surely touched to tears. But in the end, it’s still plagiarized! Face-slapping, smack smack smack!]
[Mo Chen! A plea from thousands of fans for you to break up! You deserve better! Isn’t the Lu Family’s young mistress, Lu Xingxing, fragrant? Why settle for someone like Qiao Ruoxin with no family background? Mo Chen, please, open your eyes and look at other pretty girls!]
[I really feel Mo Chen is wasted on such a hypocritical woman. He’s spent so many years on her—half of his youth! A fate destined to be calamity!]
[I’ve already emailed the original artist Alice, who has tens of millions of fans on INS, with significant influence. I hope she can sue Qiao Ruoxin to death!]
[Mo Chen, break up please. Lu Xingxing, who is of equal status, suits you better! Although she’s not as pretty as Qiao Ruoxin, she has integrity!]
[By the way, who is this Alice? She really can keep her composure. Her INS account hasn’t been updated for half a year already.]
[The original artist made just a humming tune, and this Mortal Princess writes some lyrics and it becomes her own work? I’ve seen shameless, but never this shameless.]
…
The next day.
Qiao Ruoxin slept till late afternoon again, as she’d been getting increasingly sleepy lately.
She had to go to the rehearsal on-site today; the live broadcast was set for 8 p.m., a Mid-Autumn Festival gala with an audience of over ten thousand people.
She stretched languidly, slowly sitting up and getting out of bed to wash up in the bathroom.
After washing up, she returned to the bedroom to pick up her phone to check Weibo, but then she remembered that Mo Chen had forcefully uninstalled all those apps.
The parenting expert had even advised her not to play with her phone due to the radiation, which, while not significant, was best avoided.
Because she was a celebrity, they were especially concerned about her seeing negative comments on Weibo, which could affect her mood.
That’s when the maid came knocking, “Miss Qiao, the madam is calling you down for lunch. You didn’t have breakfast.”
“Oh, coming.”
Qiao Ruoxin put down the phone and left the bedroom, but she really had no appetite at all.
Thus, she didn’t have a chance to see those negative comments on Weibo. Her Weibo was filled with over a million insulting comments; this was the effect of being a star with high traffic. Naturally, the negative impact was magnified hundreds of times.
This was the result Lu Xingxing wanted to see; she kept spending money overnight, preparing to push Qiao Ruoxin to the top of the trending searches before the live broadcast of the Mid-Autumn Festival gala that night.
Chapter 388: Sister Qiao is Alice Lu Family.
Lu Xingxing looked at the results of the evening’s battle and laughed aloud, “Hahaha, you little bitch, are you dumbfounded now? How come you’re not responding, is it because you’re guilty? Such obvious plagiarism, I’d like to see how you explain this!”
Lu Xingxing picked up the phone again, “Contact all the artists under Sunrise Entertainment for me, have them repost and comment to draw attention to this incident. I want to make it known to everyone!”
Sunrise Entertainment Agency is owned by the Lu Family.
Therefore, it’s only natural that their artists would not dare to disobey orders.
Consequently, a tidal wave of celebrities reposted content from marketing accounts on Weibo, commented to express their regret, and further hoped that Qiao Ruoxin would take down her song and apologize to the original artist.
With the support of these stars, the fans became even more brazen, slandering Qiao Ruoxin ruthlessly and even creating maliciously edited photos.
All sorts of unsavory characters showed up, seemingly eager to crush Qiao Ruoxin completely this time, hoping she’d never recover.
After all, Qiao Ruoxin’s rapid rise to fame in the past half-year had affected the opportunities of many other celebrities—most sought-after endorsements were now going to her.
Many resources for films and television dramas were only passed down to them after Qiao Ruoxin had had her pick, understandably causing bitterness.
Numerous malicious fans started to come out and spread rumors.
[I’ve got some hot gossip for everyone—my cousin’s classmate’s sister is a gynecologist, and she said Qiao Ruoxin recently visited the gynecology department! Looks like she probably went there for an abortion.]
[OMG! How could there be such a vicious woman! Whose child could it be that she’d go to the hospital for an abortion?]
[Definitely not Mo Chen’s, let’s analyze this—if it was Mo Chen’s child, wouldn’t she be rushing to force a marriage? Why would she ever consider an abortion?]
[This is utterly disgusting! How can she be so dirty at such a young age, and still prance around calling herself the “Princess of Human World”? I feel sick!]
[Mo Chen, open your eyes! She’s going behind your back to get an abortion, what are you still clinging to? It’s just that she’s pretty, but beauties are dime a dozen! If you keep being with her, careful you don’t get cuckolded!]
[I don’t believe she’d have the guts to do that, who doesn’t know Mo Chen’s temper? Would she dare to cuckold Mo Chen and not be afraid of getting killed?]
[Exactly, Mo Chen isn’t stupid, for all we know, they might be each doing their own thing by now, the entertainment industry is full of this, and as the saying goes, those who flaunt their love die fast.]
[It’s karma! Look at how many celebrities personally got involved in tearing apart Qiao Ruoxin’s plagiarism today? It proves that she must have offended many people in the past! Let her fans, who are always so rude every day, saying this and that aren’t good enough, now see their idol getting exposed for plagiarism, hahaha I’m laughing so hard I’m crying.]
…
Evening.
One hour left until the live broadcast on Mid-Autumn Festival night.
Qiao Ruoxin was in the makeup room getting ready; the makeup for tonight was gentle and cute, still the same vibrant young girl.
If she did not say she was pregnant herself, no one would probably suspect that she was.
The assistant stayed beside her, feeling anxious because the criticisms online were overwhelming, and she dared not tell Qiao Ruoxin.
After the makeup and hair were done, Qiao Ruoxin went to change clothes with the help of her assistant.
Her performance outfit for the evening was a white evening gown that exuded ethereal charm, off-the-shoulder, revealing her sexy and delicate collarbones, with a cinched waist.
Fortunately, the pregnancy wasn’t very prominent yet, and she could still wear these beautiful dresses for a while, but in another month it would probably be…
At that thought, Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help but sigh.
“Where is Mo Chen?” she asked.
The junior assistant replied, “Mo Chen is seated in the VIP area.”
She nodded her head. Mo Chen was relatively well-behaved today and hadn’t stopped her; perhaps he too thought this would be her last performance before having the baby.
At that moment, the executive director broke into her makeup room, panting and sweating profusely, “Ruoxin!”
“What’s wrong, Director?” her beautiful eyes full of confusion.
The executive director, gasping for breath, said, “Ruoxin, your performance might be canceled.”
At this statement, the makeup room fell deadly silent.
Qiao Ruoxin did not react for a while, with her current popularity and traffic, even if there wasn’t enough time, her show wouldn’t be cut, right?
“What happened?”
“Ruoxin, you… haven’t checked your phone? It’s been revealed on the trending searches that your song is a plagiarism, the whole internet is discussing it hotly, someone reported it to the authorities, so…”
A look of surprise appeared in Qiao Ruoxin’s eyes as she turned to her assistant, “Give me the phone!”
“I…” The assistant seemed embarrassed.
“Give it to me!”
The assistant had no choice but to hand over her phone.
She quickly opened up Weibo trending searches, and there it was, first on the list, #QiaoRuoxin’sNewSongIsAPlagiarism exploded!
The comments section was a mess, too dreadful to witness, as if she had become the world’s number one criminal.
Qiao Ruoxin skimmed through a few comments, all accusing her of plagiarizing a song from the mysterious overseas singer ‘Alice’.
Suddenly, she let out a cold laugh, handed the phone back to her assistant, and looked at the director, “Don’t cancel the program, I’ll deal with this.”
“But…” The executive director obviously felt overwhelmed with the responsibility.
“I’ll take full responsibility for all consequences, don’t worry.”
“Alright… but we have to move your segment earlier; you can’t be the finale anymore.”
After speaking, the director left.
Qiao Ruoxin’s facial expression was cool and detached; this clearly was Lu Xingxing’s doing, endlessly spending money on trending searches, hiring internet bots and marketing accounts.
She picked up her phone and quickly downloaded the Instagram app.
She logged in successfully after entering her username and password, then took a selfie, typed a line:[It’s me.]
Then, she exited the Instagram page and dialed Lu Xingxing’s phone number.
The call connected quickly.
“Qiao Ruoxin, you’ve got time to call me now?”
“Lu Xingxing, having fun? That must’ve cost you quite a bit, but sadly for you, that money’s about to go down the drain.”
“Hahahahaha, hilarious, why don’t you go online and see who’s being cursed back to their eighteenth ancestor!”
Qiao Ruoxin let out a light laugh, “I’ve collected some gossip about you, and I really didn’t expect you to be this kind of person. You’d better watch the trending searches every second.”
After that, she hung up immediately and tossed the phone to her assistant, “I’m going on stage.”
“Oh, okay!”
…
Meanwhile, Weibo was exploding once again.
Entertainment Gossip V: [Oh my god! That mysterious singer Alice just updated her Instagram! And she posted a photo of Qiao Ruoxin! With ‘It’s me’! What does this mean?!]
[What the hell does this mean? Alice updated her Instagram with a photo of Qiao Ruoxin? Is she saying that she is Qiao Ruoxin??? My view of the world is shattered.]
[No! I don’t believe it! This must be Alice mocking her for plagiarism!]
[Alice is Qiao Ruoxin?????]
[My god, all you haters open your eyes and take a good look! You’ve been cursing her to her eighteenth ancestor, and it turns out Alice is Qiao Ruoxin!]
[Definitely a hacked account! Alice hasn’t updated for half a year!]
[It’s terrifying to think about, Alice hasn’t updated her Instagram in half a year, and Qiao Ruoxin happened to debut half a year ago!]
[My goodness! Shocking my entire family, Alice has been consistently writing songs all these years, many of her songs dominating the charts in Europe and America, and she’s actually Qiao Ruoxin??]
Chapter 389: If you act cheap once more, I’ll make you trend on social media once again. Lu Family.
Lu Xingxing was completely baffled, pacing back and forth in her bedroom.
She couldn’t figure out what Qiao Ruoxin meant by her words; what kind of gossip could she possibly have in China?
The Lu Family had only returned to China this year, and she had been born overseas. She had left no trace in China; everything was starting anew.
“What kind of gossip can you gather about me? Do you think I’m as clueless as you, a country bumpkin? I’ve never even lived in China.”
Lu Xingxing cursed to herself as she spoke.
But still, she picked up her phone and stared at the trending search list. Suddenly, the top trending topic changed to #QiaoRuoxinIsAlice#Exploding!
Lu Xingxing’s face was a picture of shock as she stared at the trending keyword for a long time. How could this be possible?
How could Qiao Ruoxin possibly be the mysterious singer Alice?
Many big names in the music industry have rated Alice’s music at least at a master level; how could it be that little girl Qiao Ruoxin???
“Impossible, impossible! How could this be possible!”
Lu Xingxing laughed out of anger, clicked on the trending search, and then saw the marketing accounts had posted screenshots of Alice’s Instagram page, which actually posted a photo of Qiao Ruoxin!
She stared blankly at the photo for a long time, her mind completely blank.
Qiao Ruoxin is Alice?
That means no plagiarism?
Lu Xingxing collapsed onto the bed, her fists clenched so tight that her fingernails dug into her palms.
“Qiao Ruoxin, you bitch!!!”
Suddenly, her phone rang, a notification from Weibo.
Lu Xingxing picked up her phone and glanced at it, the title read: [Lu Family’s Heiress Embroiled in a Photo Scandal]
!!!!!!
Lu Xingxing’s fingers trembled as she picked up her phone and clicked on Weibo again; the top trending topic had been replaced with #LuFamily’sHeiressPhotoScandal#Exploding!
Her face turned deathly pale as she clicked on the trending topic.
Then she saw the identical copy that countless marketing accounts had posted: [Lu Family’s heiress, Lu Xingxing, embroiled in a photo scandal. The second young miss’s private life abroad is quite the spectacle, eh? So many boyfriends, sharing her favors with all.]
The post was accompanied by eighteen photos, all intimate shots with various boyfriends she had dated overseas: kissing photos, bedroom shots, and other various private images!
At this moment, Lu Xingxing felt as though her brain was exploding!
With a thunderous boom, it was as if she had been struck by lightning.
All this was from when she was young and ignorant abroad… It’s normal to be more open-minded overseas, it’s not a big deal, but now it’s in China!
Suddenly, she remembered the words Qiao Ruoxin had said over the phone…
Lu Xingxing’s trembling fingertips opened the comment section. She couldn’t last five seconds before she threw her phone on the ground.
“Slut, slut! Qiao Ruoxin, you slut! Are you trying to ruin me completely!”
…
Meanwhile.
In the Weibo comment section, the online spectators were feasting on the drama.
[Who’s the shameless one who said Lu Xingxing was a virtuous lady of the noble family? Come out and get beat up! Disgusting to death, she even kept the bed photos!]
[I counted, eighteen photos, not a single male lead repeated. Miss Lu, the second daughter, really likes collecting handsome men like stamps, all muscle-bound hunks.]
[My eyes must be going bad, that bed photo is so disgusting. Does she think she’s beautiful? Or is it that rich people know how to play?]
[Who said Lu Xingxing and Mo Chen are a good match? Gross, as a fan of Lord Mo, I absolutely refuse to accept this kind of woman.]
[I’m beginning to suspect that the plagiarism incident involving Qiao Ruoxin was orchestrated by Lu Xingxing. Isn’t there a rumor that she was engaged to Lord Mo since they were kids? Surely she wants to tarnish Qiao Ruoxin and then snatch Lord Mo back.]
[Lord Mo has a serious case of mysophobia; with such a rich romantic history, he definitely wouldn’t take a second look at her.]
[Let’s not talk about how many men she’s slept with. Just by her looks, she’s not Lord Mo’s type. Just think about Sister Qiao!]
[Mid-Autumn Festival Gala live broadcast is coming up soon, and I’m going to cheer for Sister Qiao Ruoxin!]
[Wuuu, I’ve been crying, my Qiao Ruoxin is so tragic, a true Mortal Princess! Such an outstanding child, entered the entertainment industry just to cleanse our eyes, otherwise we would be bombarded by those mediocre second-generation stars and rich second-generation all day long, but she still got blackballed by the capital, too tragic!]
[This is definitely a premeditated smear campaign! Precision targeting, it started heating up across the whole network from last night to tonight, straight to the top of the trending search, but good thing Qiao Ruoxin fought back!]
[Those second-generation stars and rich second-generation are so annoying! Flaunting their wealth and acting arrogantly in the entertainment industry, can you please consider our feelings as viewers? You really aren’t fit for the entertainment industry! I am begging you!]
…
Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, live broadcast venue.
VIP seating area.
Mo Chen was sitting right in the center. Tonight, he wore a snowy white shirt and a pair of dark gray trousers. Clearly meant to convey the style of a refined gentleman, yet on Mo Chen, there was an inexplicable fierceness.
The man’s sleeves were rolled up, revealing his sexy forearms. His handsome face was cold, his brows expressing a hint of impatience.
He checked his watch with a raise of his hand—the Little Ghost was scheduled for the finale.
Suddenly!
Above the stage, the host shouted loudly, “Let’s welcome Mortal Princess Qiao Ruoxin, as she performs ‘His Obsession’ for us!”
Immediately the venue erupted in screams.
The man, who initially had an indifferent expression, suddenly showed a glint in his eyes, lifting his gaze to the stage.
Qiao Ruoxin slowly rose from the elevator platform, dressed in a white evening gown, with soft, romantic, long waves in her hair, wearing a pair of cherry earrings, looking charming and bright.
The most astonishing feature on her face were those sparkling eyes, beautiful and lively, as if they could speak.
The musical prelude slowly started playing.
Down below.
The man’s gaze was deep, unblinkingly fixated on her slender figure, and the corner of his mouth curved up.
Right now, this Little Ghost represented three people.
He picked up his phone, turned on the video function, aimed at the Little Ghost on the stage, and recorded for five seconds, capturing her tender smile.
Then he posted it on social media.
His account had only a few posts, but all of them were about Qiao Ruoxin.
Perhaps, it was time for him to buck up too, it had been over two years since he had been in the lab.
In the past, it was Qiao Ruoxin who sat below the stage at new product launches, looking up to him as he talked about his research achievements, but now the roles had been reversed.
Mo Chen suddenly let out a snicker, filled with a bit of self-mockery.
The performance ended.
Qiao Ruoxin stood on the elevator platform, slowly descending as screams and cheers filled the air, and some fans even cried out in excitement.
The moment she left the stage, Mo Chen also rose slowly and left the VIP stands.
…
Backstage.
Qiao Ruoxin was about to change her clothes when her phone rang—it was Lu Xingxing calling.
She answered the phone with a relaxed tone and a smile on her lips, “Is the trending search exciting?”
“Where did you find those photos! You are despicable and shameless!”
“Yell at me again and see what happens. I have videos too, and if I’m not happy, I’ll release them all.”
“What do you want exactly!” Lu Xingxing was nearly breaking down on the other end of the call.
Qiao Ruoxin replied coldly, “If you act like a slut again, I’ll make you trend again. I don’t just have material on you, but also on your father. I truly didn’t expect Director Lu to have kept ten mistresses on the outside, your whole family’s private life is quite thrilling indeed.”
“Qiao Ruoxin!!! Delete them!”
She hung up the phone, not bothering to waste words with that blockhead, Lu Xingxing.
Chapter 390: I Will Be a Qualified Husband and Father in the Future After changing her clothes, Qiao Ruoxin left the backstage.
A white Koenigsegg was parked there, with Mo Chen’s handsome and tall figure standing beside the car, waiting.
His usually indifferent handsome face softened with warmth when he saw her.
Unconsciously, she also lifted her lips into a smile and walked up to the man, “Brother Mo Chen, how did I perform tonight? Wasn’t I beautiful?”
The man raised his hand to touch her cheek, chuckling lightly, “Mhm.”
Mo Chen opened the rear car door.
Qiao Ruoxin frowned slightly, “Hey, hey, hey, Lord Mo, when I was still your girlfriend, I could sit in the passenger seat. Now that I’m the mother of your child, I can only sit in the back?”
The man let out a snort of laughter, his large palm gripping the back of her neck, voice low and indulgent, “Fool, the back seat is the safest.”
“Really? You’re not lying to me, are you?”
Half-doubtful, she was pushed by the man into the back seat. He then bent down to buckle her seatbelt and lightly kissed her smooth, fair forehead, “Be good, if something goes wrong, you’re now one body with three lives. I can’t handle that blow.”
A tremor went through her heart, her long, dense lashes fluttering slightly as she smiled shallowly, “Got it, then I’ll sit in the back obediently.”
Mo Chen closed the car door and then returned to the driver’s seat.
The car slowly drove away from there, even though the stadium behind them was still broadcasting the Mid-Autumn Festival gala.
In the back of the car, Qiao Ruoxin gazed at the man’s profile as he drove.
This was her first time sitting in the back seat, watching Mo Chen drive; the experience felt quite wonderful.
Mo Chen, “Little Ghost.”
“Hmm?”
“Just how much are you still hiding from me? So you were Alice all along?”
She smiled, “During those two years I was held captive in the United States, I had nothing to do. They wouldn’t let me go out, so I passed the time by writing songs for fun. The composition I wrote for you was actually finished a long time ago, but it was only after I came back this time that I was struck by inspiration and finished the lyrics, creating this song.”
The corners of Mo Chen’s mouth curved up. He didn’t say anything more, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, driving with full concentration.
He didn’t dare to get distracted for even a second; the car now carried not only his woman but also his two children.
He had been upgraded to a father now, and it hadn’t fully sunk in yet.
And it was twins at that, a huge responsibility.
The atmosphere in the car was quiet. Qiao Ruoxin, leaning in the back seat, nearly fell asleep.
Suddenly, the man said in a deep voice, “Little Ghost, I will be a qualified husband and father in the future, and I will learn to control my temper too.”
The previously drowsy Qiao Ruoxin woke up a bit when she heard this.
The temperamental Lord Mo said he would learn to control his temper?
Shock filtered through Qiao Ruoxin, “Brother Mo Chen, are you really going to change your bad temper?”
“Mhm.”
Was that bad temper really something he could just change on the spot?
Madam Mo had said that Mo Chen learned to curse at the age of three; changing that was likely going to be difficult, wasn’t it?
She looked down at her belly, smiling unconsciously; the two little ones were really lucky, able to make Mo Chen voluntarily suggest changing his temper.
“Brother Mo Chen, I want to eat ice cream, is that okay?”
The next second, the man chided angrily, “Qiao Ruoxin! Are you fucking trying to die?”
“…”
Qiao Ruoxin was genuinely startled, completely dumbfounded.
This damn man… She was just moved in vain a moment ago, and not even a minute passed before he lost his temper.
She thought so after all, could Lord Mo’s irascible temper really be changed that easily?
The car slowly pulled over to a parking spot by the road and stopped.
Mo Chen got out of the car and opened the rear door, leaning in to unfasten her seatbelt, then carried her out of the car with a cold expression.
She was still completely befuddled.
Was it really that savage just because she mentioned wanting ice cream?
Mo Chen lifted her and placed her neatly on the hood of the car, his arms braced on either side of her body, looking directly into her eyes.
Qiao Ruoxin’s eye makeup tonight was captivating, with a tender and bright gaze that could make anyone fall with just a few glances.
“There are some things I need to make clear to you in advance.”
“???” She looked puzzled, what had she done? Was it just about wanting to eat some ice cream?
The man’s expression was grave as he said in a deep voice, “Little Ghost, you are pregnant now, and you need to know what you can do and what you can’t do. You need to have a sense of measure.”
Qiao Ruoxin snorted proudly, pouting slightly, “You just said you need to learn to control your temper, and now you’re scolding me again…”
“…”
The man was momentarily taken aback, belatedly realizing that he seemed to have lost control of his emotions again.
He straightened up, and embraced Qiao Ruoxin, his voice much gentler, “I’m sorry, big brother was wrong.”
Qiao Ruoxin’s chin rested on the man’s shoulder, smelling the fragrance of the pearl beads on his white shirt—faint, yet very refreshing.
“Admitting the mistake but not repenting, typical.”
“…”
She raised her arms and wrapped them around the man’s body. “Then, can I have double skin milk?”
Mo Chen released her from his embrace and smiled, “Alright, let’s go.”
…
Mo Family Estate.
After Qiao Ruoxin and Mo Chen got out of the car, they planned to take a little walk before going back to sleep.
She hugged his arm, “Mo Chen brother, I’m a bit sleepy.”
“Yeah, let’s go back to sleep.”
“Okay.”
However, from behind the greenery wall ahead came the sounds of Mr. and Mrs. Mo’s argument.
They happened to pass by, and when Qiao Ruoxin saw the scene in front of her, she was bewildered.
What was she witnessing!
Uncle Mo was kneeling down to Mrs. Mo!
At that moment, Mrs. Mo stood coldly on the lawn, while Mo Tian was kneeling on the grass with a defiant look, completely unconcerned about his image.
“I’m wrong, is that not enough? Are you satisfied now? Can you stop being angry?” Mo Tian said the harshest words, yet he was kneeling on the ground.
“Stand up! Did I ask you to kneel? You argue with me for the sake of your good brother, so why don’t you just go and live with your brother then?”
“Wife, what nonsense are you talking about?”
“You still know I’m your wife? Your good brother’s woman speaks so rudely in public, and I’m in the wrong for making a scene?”
“Let’s make a scene then, as long as you’re happy. Just don’t ignore me anymore, I just can’t stand it when you ignore me like this!”
…
This scene was truly shocking for her whole family, such a rare sight!
It seems the rumors out there were not false at all—Uncle Mo really does spoil his wife to the heavens.
Qiao Ruoxin was about to pull Mo Chen to leave quickly; it would be too embarrassing to be seen.
To her surprise, the man beside her suddenly spoke in a deep voice, “Dad, Mom, what are you doing?”
!!!
Qiao Ruoxin looked at his profile in shock.
Mo Tian instantly stood up, cleared his throat, and returned to his usual CEO demeanor, “What are you doing here? I… I was just chatting with your mother here.”
“Oh, we’re going to sleep.”
With that, he pulled Qiao Ruoxin’s hand and left.
Qiao Ruoxin smiled awkwardly at Mrs. Mo and Uncle Mo.
Mrs. Mo: “Wait.”
Mo Chen stopped and looked back.