Ch. 391..400
Chapter 391: You two will have the engagement ceremony at the end of the month Mrs. Mo: “Your father and I have discussed it, and you two will hold an engagement ceremony at the end of the month. The wedding date is set for one and a half months later, and we are still selecting the specific day.”
“I have no objections,” Mo Chen said indifferently before taking Qiao Ruoxin’s hand and leading her away.
Qiao Ruoxin flashed an embarrassed smile. “I have no objections either. You and Uncle Mo can decide on that. Thank you, you two have worked hard.”
Before she could finish, the rascal beside her had straightened her head, making her look forward and walk properly.
…
Inside the bedroom.
After returning to the bedroom, Qiao Ruoxin finally burst into laughter, unable to stop herself.
She had wanted to laugh since the moment she saw Uncle Mo kneel down, and she had been holding it in to the point of almost hurting herself inside.
“?”
Mo Chen frowned slightly as he watched her.
Sitting on the bed and looking at the man’s handsome face, she laughed and said, “Brother Mo Chen, if you make me angry in the future, will you also use the trick of kneeling like Uncle Mo did?”
“…”
The man’s face darkened a bit as he said in a deep voice, “Why should I learn from him?”
There was a clear disdain in his dark eyes.
“Are you disdainful of your father?”
Mo Chen: “Mhm.”
Qiao Ruoxin widened her eyes in surprise. “You even ‘mhm’! I think Uncle Mo is quite nice, pampering his woman so much.”
But she really couldn’t imagine what it would be like for the irascible Old Master Mo to kneel to her. Just thinking about it seemed… terrifying.
Mo Chen’s long, distinct fingers gripped her chin,”Little Ghost, do you also want me to kneel for you?”
“That depends on what you do wrong. If it’s cheating or betrayal, even kneeling would be useless.”
The man scoffed, holding her chin, he lowered his head and fiercely kissed her lips, his voice dropping, “That’s what I should be saying to you!”
“…”
Mo Chen released her chin and turned to walk toward the bathroom.
Qiao Ruoxin stared at the bathroom door and muttered discontentedly under her breath, “Rascal.”
After a while, the man came out of the bathroom after his shower, looking at her, “Let’s go, I’ll help you bathe.”
She couldn’t help but cross her arms over her chest, “Why do you always want to help me bathe?”
Mo Chen picked her up sideways, “Less nonsense!”
“Brother Mo Chen, where’s your gentleness? Has it been eaten by a dog? But you said you would temper your anger.”
“…”
Watching a flicker of embarrassment pass over the rascal’s handsome features, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curl up.
She had anticipated this all along. Could such a temperament change just because one said it would?
Inside the bathroom.
Standing beside the bathtub, ever since she got pregnant, Mo Chen wouldn’t allow her to take showers anymore, only baths in the tub.
The man looked serious as he undid the buttons on her clothes. Why did this action look so seductive?
Even though she was pregnant now, this rascal really couldn’t do anything.
Mo Chen peeled her bare, then she lay in the tub to prepare for a soak.
“Can you not stare at me like that? It makes me uncomfortable,” she said.
She tried several times to avoid the man’s naked gaze, but she couldn’t escape it; his eyes followed her like a shadow.
The man raised an eyebrow, “What’s making you uncomfortable?”
“Usually, you only undress me when we’re going to do that thing, and you’re so rough. Now you’re undressing me just for the sake of it, and it’s really…”
“Qiao Ruoxin, I’ve taken off your clothes but haven’t done anything to you. Are you disappointed?”
“…”
She was speechless; this jerk’s reading comprehension was truly perfect!
A classic case of straight male cancer.
She didn’t speak again, and Mo Chen also quickened his pace, washing her swiftly before wrapping her in a bath towel and lifting her out of the tub.
The man meticulously wiped her body dry and then offered her a choice of several nightgowns: “Which one do you want to wear?”
“The white one, please.”
Mo Chen helped her into the nightgown, then carried her back to the bedroom and laid her on the soft, spacious bed.
“You’re not being so nice to me just because of these two little babies, are you?”
The man paused for a moment, then looked up at her: “Was I not good to you before?”
Qiao Ruoxin leaned against the bed, speaking indifferently, “Are you talking about two years ago?”
Mo Chen looked at her intently, waiting for her to continue.
Instead, she said, “It was quite nice too, you’ve always been good to me. But at the beginning when we got together, I felt like I was more a pet to you.”
Back then, the young Master Mo was arrogant and dismissive of others.
Qiao Ruoxin even felt that Mo Chen didn’t care whether she loved him or not; his love for her was sufficient.
Then two years later, she went back to China, only to find that Master Mo had started to care whether she loved him, minding the depth of her love.
Mo Chen also lay on the bed, pulling her into his arms, his voice hoarse: “Little Ghost, I didn’t treat you as a pet. It was just that back then it was my first time trying to love, and I thought that was love.”
She nestled against the man’s chest, her fingers tracing the collar of his robe.
After two years apart, both she and Master Mo had matured a lot and had come to a new understanding of love.
…
Meanwhile.
Across the ocean, in the United States, New York.
Early morning, in the dining room.
Simon and Qiao’s mother sat opposite each other, both looking utterly lifeless, devoid of any vitality.
At that moment, a stream of footsteps approached from outside the restaurant. A seemingly gentle and cultured middle-aged man entered, wearing a pair of glasses with silver rims.
He was the current patriarch of the Lawrence Family.
Lawrence took his seat at the head of the table: “Why isn’t anyone eating?”
Qiao’s mother: “I have no appetite. Did you hear the news from China? They say Ruoxin is going to have her engagement ceremony with Young Master Mo at the end of the month.”
Simon gripped his fork a bit harder, nearly bending it.
Lawrence scoffed: “I was just about to discuss this with you. Things here are almost settled, and it’s time we took care of our daughter.”
Qiao’s mother looked surprised: “You’re going to China?”
“How would it look if the parents don’t show up for their own daughter’s engagement ceremony?” Lawrence said with equanimity.
“You agree to Ruoxin staying in China?” Qiao’s mother was still struggling to grasp the situation. When had Lawrence changed his mind?
Lawrence: “I’m going to give my darling daughter a generous gift so she recognizes the dangers of the human world, to lead her to give up the idea and come back obediently to inherit the family fortune.”
Lawrence then glanced at Simon: “You stay here and take care of things. I don’t want anyone else meddling with the family affairs. Wait until I bring Ruoxin back.”
Qiao’s mother was faintly worried: “Are you planning to reveal her identity? I’m afraid she won’t be able to handle the shock.”
Lawrence looked disdainful: “Being the daughter of the Lawrence Family is the greatest honor of her life. Since she is my daughter, she has an obligation to fulfill her duties.”
“Father, I want to go too,” Simon suddenly said.
Lawrence, however, scoffed: “What’s the point of going as a loser to Mo Chen?”
Simon remained silent, a trace of endurance showing on his gentle face.
Qiao’s mother couldn’t help but speak up: “Don’t blame Simon. The Mo Family is not so easy to deal with, and Ruoxin is stubborn.”
Chapter 392: Brother Mo Chen, You Are Most Charming When You Scold People Simon didn’t speak again but kept his head down and continued to eat.
Suddenly, his cell phone vibrated.
He answered the call, bringing the phone to his ear, “What’s up? Hold on a second.”
After hanging up, Simon looked toward Lawrence and Aunt Lan, “Dad, Aunt Lan, I’m full. I’m heading to the office now.”
The man wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin, then slowly stood up and left.
Simon drove to the outside of the Lawrence Family Manor.
He happened to see a red Ferrari parked there, with Jiang Ruolin leaning against it, wearing a pair of black sunglasses, waiting for him.
He slowed down and stopped the car, then opened the door and got out.
Jiang Ruolin straightened up when she saw him, “Simon!”
“Ruolin, did you need something?”
“Simon, I might be getting engaged. It’s arranged by my father,” Jiang Ruolin said with a hint of sadness.
But Simon just laughed, “Congratulations, I wish you happiness.”
Wish you happiness?
Those four words really hurt.
Jiang Ruolin’s gaze turned even more somber, filled with reluctance, “I don’t love him!”
“Then choose to refuse him.”
“But I have no reason to refuse!”
Simon said, “Then just accept it.”
Tears welled up in Jiang Ruolin’s eyes, and she looked somewhat aggrieved, “Is it because I kept rejecting you all those years that you won’t accept me now? Don’t tell me you love Qiao Ruoxin, you’ve only known her for so short a time. How profound could your love for her be?”
Simon let out a snort of laughter, “Ruolin, it was normal for you to not like me and reject me those years, and now I don’t like you either, so…”
“Because of Qiao Ruoxin? You wouldn’t care even if you had to watch me marry someone else, right in front of your eyes?”
“Yes, and no.”
Jiang Ruolin looked confused, with tears slowly streaming down her cheeks, “What do you mean?”
“It means, when I wanted you, you were unwilling. But some feelings lose their validity once they’re overdue.”
Jiang Ruolin snorted coldly, “It all comes down to Qiao Ruoxin in the end, doesn’t it?”
“Without her, I might have ended up with you, but now that Ruoxin is here, I can’t bring myself to like you anymore.”
“…”
Jiang Ruolin looked stunned. She never thought Simon could love Qiao Ruoxin that deeply, especially when Qiao Ruoxin had never even shown Simon a friendly face. What was there to love?
“Do you just like women who reject you?”
Simon chuckled coldly without a word, turned around, got back into his car, and drove away from there.
Jiang Ruolin was left standing there alone, watching the tail lights of his car as she cried her heart out.
…
The next day.
Recently, Mo Chen had almost been going to work with Little Ghost in tow, because he wanted to watch her every moment, not willing to let her out of his sight.
The man at the desk glanced up to see Qiao Ruoxin lying on the sofa in the reception area, holding a fashion magazine in her hands.
He lowered his head and continued his work.
Qiao Ruoxin was lying sideways on the sofa, flipping through the fashion magazine. In reality, she couldn’t focus on a single word.
She was thinking about the engagement ceremony at the end of the month. She wouldn’t have any relatives coming on her behalf; would it be very awkward then?
But whom could she invite?
The Qiao Family had no blood relation to her, how could they possibly come?
Suddenly, a shadow fell across her vision.
She moved the magazine from in front of her face and saw the tall, handsome figure of the man standing in front of her. She couldn’t help but smile, “Why aren’t you working properly? What are you doing over here?”
The man knelt on one knee, his beautiful features covered in a layer of tenderness, “Just checking what you are doing.”
“I’m reading a magazine.”
“You’re distracted.”
“…” This man’s eyesight was really good; he could tell she was distracted from so far away.
Mo Chen took the magazine from her hands and said in a deep voice, “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing much, I’m just looking forward to our engagement ceremony. It should be fun.”
Once the engagement ceremony took place, she guessed it would be time for her to semi-retire from the public eye. Many of her projects would stop, and she would focus on nurturing her pregnancy each day. The thought of it was boring.
The man held her chin, “Come do something with me, okay?”
“What’s the matter?” She frowned.
“It’s very important.”
Mo Chen bent down and scooped her up around the waist.
But Qiao Ruoxin struggled, wanting to walk on her own: “I can walk by myself. You’re making my walking ability degenerate. Wait until later when there’s a time you have to carry me, and even if you don’t want to, you’ll have to.”
The man’s lips curled into a smile, and then he set her down on the carpet to stand.
“What exactly are we going to do?”
“Only you and I can do it.”
????
Why does that sound so awkward?
What on earth is it?
Having gone so long without touching a woman, hasn’t Mo Chen become even more perverted? Is he concocting some new perverted strategy to bully her?
She let the man pull her to the underground parking lot, where Xiaowu had been waiting to open the car door for them.
She entered the car with a belly full of questions.
Xiaowu drove slowly out of the underground parking garage.
Mo Chen took her small hand and looked at the Sun Star diamond ring on her ring finger – she had long been his.
It wasn’t until the car slowed to a stop outside the civil affairs bureau
that Qiao Ruoxin’s eyes widened. She suddenly turned to look at that damned man: “Brother Mo Chen! Is this the thing that only you and I can do?”
“What else did you think it was?”
“…”
Cough cough, alright, it was her thoughts that had gone astray.
“It’s nothing, I thought it was this too.” She fobbed off a response, then pushed open the car door and got out.
Mo Chen walked to her side, his large hand grasping her slender nape, his voice lazy: “Little Ghost, why is your face red?”
“Is it? Must be too hot, I guess.”
Looking at the sign for the civil affairs bureau, was she really about to register for marriage? She had never thought she would register at this age, the nervousness was inexplicable, her heartbeat quickened.
The man also noticed her nervousness and tenderly asked, looking down: “You’re going to marry me, right?”
“Yes!”
Nonsense, she was already pregnant with his child, what other choice did she have besides marrying him? And it was twins!
“Then let’s go register.”
“Okay.” She smiled faintly and intertwined her fingers with his.
…
Half an hour later.
Qiao Ruoxin walked out holding two marriage certificates, her face a mask of confusion.
So this makes them a legally married couple?
Just like that?
The man stopped walking and looked at her: “Little Ghost, from today on, I need to change what I call you.”
She was slightly taken aback: “But I’m used to calling you Brother Mo Chen.”
Mo Chen chuckled, tapping her forehead: “Can’t you call me ‘husband’?”
She called out awkwardly and shyly: “Husband…”
Her voice soft and sweet, and somewhat cute.
“Hmm, good girl.” The man chuckled, and it was rare to see him smile so pleasantly.
Qiao Ruoxin looked at the man before her, this was the older brother she had respected since childhood, now her husband, the father of her babies; fate was indeed a strange thing.
She raised her chin in haughty pride: “Then what will you call me?”
The man pulled her into his embrace, his palm cradling the back of her head, his voice low in her ear: “Wife…”
She couldn’t hold back and burst into giggles, the laughter genuine from the heart.
Mo Chen’s face darkened instantly, glaring at her: “Is it that funny?”
“No, it’s just… kind of strange, ha ha…”
The man was at the end of his rope: “You’re really asking for it!”
Qiao Ruoxin’s laughter was even sweeter: “There you go, Brother Mo Chen, you’re most charming when you curse at people.”
“…”
Why did he have to like a woman who was so oblivious to romantic sentiment????
Chapter 393: Only I Can Discipline My Woman Qiao Ruoxin looked at his restrained expression, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
The man grabbed her hand and turned to leave.
“Where are we going?”
“To celebrate.”
To celebrate getting their marriage certificate?
Qiao Ruoxin revealed a smile; indeed, it was worth celebrating.
…
Mansion No. 7.
The door of the private room opened.
Qiao Ruoxin saw those familiar figures again, including Lan Ke.
Bai Junyan: “You drag your feet coming here at this hour? We managed to squeeze out some time out of our busy schedules.”
Ji Haochuan: “Definitely here to show off that his woman is pregnant, sheesh, what’s the big deal, as if no one else has that ability.”
Mo Chen pulled out two marriage certificates and placed them on the pool table, his voice solemn, “I announce that I am now legally bound to this Little Ghost.”
Suddenly, there was dead silence in the room.
Everyone stared at the two marriage certificates, dumbfounded, unsure of how to react.
Gu Mocheng gritted his teeth and said angrily, “Damn it! Get lost!”
Bai Junyan: “Fuck! You actually got your certificates? You’re really legal now!”
Lu Siheng: “Congratulations, congratulations, a harmonious union lasting a hundred years, may you have children soon.”
Ji Haochuan: “Please, President Lu, Qiao’s little sister is already pregnant, okay!”
Mo Chen chuckled, proudly lifting his chin, his tone lazy and deep, “And it’s twins.”
All the brothers exclaimed in unison: “Damn…”
Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help but laugh as well; what kind of expressions were those? Envy, jealousy, and resentment?
Bai Junyan: “How come? You got twins? That’s unfair! I only have one, and that was such a struggle.”
Ji Haochuan: “I’m seriously feeling the sting, I’m so darn stung!”
The smile on Mo Chen’s lips grew stronger; he poured a glass of wine and downed it in one gulp, feeling refreshed.
Gu Mocheng remained silent, a shadow of gloom covering his handsome face as he took out a cigarette and placed it between his lips, lighting it with a lighter.
The next second, Mo Chen took away the cigarette from his lips and extinguished it in the ashtray, his voice stern, “There are two pregnant women here, who are you trying to harm?”
Gu Mocheng: “…”
Lan Ke approached Qiao Ruoxin, expressing happiness for her, “Ruoxin, you actually have twins, aren’t you amazing?”
“Just lucky, I guess.” Her lips couldn’t help but curl into a smile.
“That’s really lucky, the chance of naturally conceiving twins isn’t high.”
Qiao Ruoxin laughed, looking down at her still-flat belly, seeing nothing yet, wondering who the babies would look like in the future?
Lu Siheng: “Miss Qiao, it’s time to make the payment of one hundred million each, right?”
Gu Mocheng: “I must pay double.”
Mo Chen’s brows furrowed slightly as he looked at the Little Ghost beside him, “One hundred million each?”
She laughed awkwardly, “That… that… they’re all your good brothers, after all, they have your best interests at heart, right?”
Mo Chen chuckled quietly, his large hand patting heavily on her shoulder, the laughter somewhat chilling, “Little Ghost, I really want to kill you, my money doesn’t just come blowing in with the wind.”
She continued to laugh awkwardly, opening her arms and hugging the man’s body, “Why be so stingy, they are your good brothers after all, and after this test, I’ve found they really do care about you, so this money isn’t wasted.”
The man snorted, hugging her delicate and soft body, whispering in her ear, “Considering the children, I’ll let you off this time, if there’s a next time, I’ll kill you.”
Qiao Ruoxin stiffened, that was close, these twins sure have clout.
Mo Chen looked at them, his voice imposing, “No problem, but I will follow proper procedures and not a penny less will be transferred to your accounts.”
Bai Junyan stood up, walked over to them, and took Qiao Ruoxin’s hand, “Sister Qiao, I’ve got the money for my kid’s formula now, so next time there’s such a good opportunity, you can just find me alone.”
“In your dreams!” She pulled her hand away. She didn’t dare to have a next time.
Mo Chen: “Can’t you teach her something good? Teach her how to squander money?”
Qiao Ruoxin’s mouth curved into a smile, and she slightly raised her head to look at the refreshingly handsome Mo Chen.
After getting their marriage certificate, she felt that Mo Chen was in an exceptionally good mood, even though he rarely showed his joy so openly.
Bai Junyan: “Ha ha… Who are you, sir? You’re wealthy, so what does this amount to? True joy can’t be bought with money.”
Suddenly, Mo Chen spoke again in a deep voice, “Also…”
Everyone looked up at him, waiting for what he would say next.
Qiao Ruoxin looked at him seriously as well, eager to hear what he was going to say.
“I am going to return to the laboratory.”
Once he said this, the private room once again fell silent.
Qiao Ruoxin’s heart skipped a beat, the image of that once dedicated scientific research magnate was about to re-emerge!
Ji Haochuan: “Mo Chen, if you restart that project you abandoned and bring it to market, you will make history.”
Bai Junyan: “It’s all because of Sister Qiao, that femme fatale, who has made a promising young talent become so degenerate. Women, ah…”
Mo Chen picked up a cushion and threw it hard at him, his voice stern, “All you need to do is congratulate me. Only I can discipline my woman.”
Qiao Ruoxin, who had been feeling somewhat guilty from Bai Junyan’s words, suddenly burst into laughter again.
No matter the timing, Mo Chen would always unconditionally support her, standing by her side.
Bai Junyan: “Alright, alright, I can’t provoke the two of you, but I can hide.”
…
Ten o’clock at night.
Mo Chen left early, using the excuse that Qiao Ruoxin, who was pregnant, needed to go to bed early.
Inside the car.
Qiao Ruoxin leaned on the back seat, looking at Mo Chen’s profile as he drove and asked, “Mo Chen, brother, are you really going back to the lab?”
“Mm.”
“Good luck, both the baby and I support you.”
Mo Chen’s mouth curved into a smile, “I’m doing it for you both.”
He wanted to be a role model for his unborn child, actually, for two of them.
All the way home, Qiao Ruoxin dozed off in the back seat, unaware of when they arrived at the Mo Family Estate.
Lately, she had been forcibly kept in the estate; she found it hard to refuse the overwhelming hospitality.
Mo Chen opened the rear door of the car, bent down to unbuckle her seat belt, and sighed softly as he picked her up from the car.
After arriving in the bedroom, he placed her on the bed, helped her undress, and prepared to give her a quick bath.
That’s when Qiao Ruoxin lazily opened her eyes, “Are we home?”
“Mm, I’m taking you for a bath.”
“Mm…”
She had gone from initial embarrassment to habit, willingly wrapping her arms around his neck, and he carried her into the bathroom.
A few minutes later.
Qiao Ruoxin was carried out again, and he helped her dry her hair and blow-dried it with a hairdryer.
“Take a look at this first, I need to take a shower.”
Mo Chen handed her some documents in bed, then took off his shirt, ready to shower.
She opened the first page with a puzzled look and found it was filled with types of men’s wedding rings, understatedly luxurious yet domineering.
“This men’s wedding ring is for you to wear, shouldn’t you be the one to choose it?”
Mo Chen spoke indifferently, “It doesn’t matter to me, choose what you like.”
Chapter 394: Three Days Until the Engagement Banquet She let out a laugh, “Mo Chen, are you suffering from decision paralysis? Can’t make up your mind, so you’re asking me to choose for you?”
“Let’s just go with that.”
With those words, the man turned and walked towards the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Qiao Ruoxin felt somewhat helpless as she looked down at the styles of men’s wedding rings. Each design was crafted by a master, and the prices were astonishingly high.
In the end, she selected a men’s ring with a simple style, made of platinum and set with a small diamond, which suited Mo Chen’s temperament very well.
The bathroom door opened, and Mo Chen came out wearing a black robe, his short hair still dripping water.
He picked up a towel and casually dried his hair a couple of times before sitting on the bed, looking at her, “Have you made a choice?”
“Mmm, let’s go with this one. I think it suits you,” she replied.
Mo Chen took it and glanced at the ring, then smiled, “Good, not bad.”
“Why don’t you dry your hair?” she asked.
“It’s fine.”
Ruoxin frowned slightly in displeasure, then threw off the covers, got out of bed, and went to the bathroom to get a hairdryer.
Then, she silently began to dry his hair, her slender fingers weaving through his hair, meticulously ensuring it was dry.
Mo Chen looked up at her serious expression and burst into laughter, then pulled her into his embrace, burying his head in front of her chest.
Ruoxin had to turn off the hairdryer, since it was already mostly dry anyway.
The man’s voice was husky to the extreme, “Little Ghost, I still have to endure for quite a while…”
Did she actually understand instantly?
She raised her eyebrows slightly, “What can we do? This is the price of pregnancy.”
Mo Chen’s kisses landed on her delicate collarbone, and he murmured lowly, “Had I known, I wouldn’t have let you get pregnant. Delaying it for two years wouldn’t be too bad.”
Her expressive eyes darted around before she suddenly said, “How about we get rid of these two babies?”
The very next second, the man’s large hand gripped her slender waist, and he roared, “Qiao Ruoxin! Say that again!”
She shuddered in fright. This damned man talked about his temper, but it was clearly even more volatile.
“I was just joking.”
“They are listening,” the man said darkly, staring at her belly.
Ruoxin followed his gaze to her own abdomen, gently touching it, “It won’t be, not yet. They’re still embryos, not even shaped like humans yet, they can’t hear us.”
The man pulled her into his embrace, his voice grave and serious, “Listen, I don’t care what you think, but now that you’re pregnant, you are not allowed to think about abortion again, understood?”
She was intimidated by Mr. Mo’s aura and obediently nodded, “Understood.”
“Moreover, you are now legally my wife. You have to report any decision you make to me, got it?”
“Yeah, I got it.”
She leaned into his embrace, her hand gently scratching his chest like a cat’s paw, whispering, “Don’t be mad, okay? I was just joking with you. How could I possibly bear to terminate the twins?”
The man snorted coldly, “Just so you know.”
This Little Ghost was always immature, with a child-like mentality. In Mo Chen’s eyes, she herself was still a child.
“Let’s go to sleep, shall we? I’m sleepy. Ever since I got pregnant, I feel like I could sleep 24 hours a day.”
“Mmm, let’s sleep,” he agreed.
The long night was endless, but the only one suffering was Mo Chen.
He held a warm and tender beauty in his arms, yet he could do nothing, enduring with all his might, even if it meant enduring to the point of explosion.
…
As the month neared its end, everyone was busy with Mo Chen’s engagement ceremony, and the news had also spread on the internet.
A host of fans were heartbroken.
[“My dear Qiao sister is getting engaged? Is she really so love-struck? Why marry so early, when her career is just taking off?”]
[“But having the Mo Family at her back, she won’t have to worry about wealth and honor for the rest of her life, so why would she care about the little money she earns from the entertainment industry?”]
[“Moreover, she’s already gathered a huge following; now if she sneezes, the whole internet knows about it.”]
[“A source revealed that Qiao Ruoxin is indeed pregnant, which is why she has to marry, and it seems they’re twins, no less.”]
[“Holy shit!!! What kind of divine fate is this, twins? But is this news reliable? Just a few days ago, weren’t there rumors about her getting an abortion at a gynecology clinic?”]
[“I think she must be pregnant, otherwise why the sudden engagement? I heard the wedding is also being prepared; it’s obvious her belly is going to swell, and she won’t be able to hide it.”]
[“Could it be a case of going from a poor mother to a rich child, forcing a marriage to succeed?”]
[“Does Qiao sister even need to force a marriage? Didn’t you see, a while ago when Mo Chen accompanied her on the variety show, his eyes saw no one but Qiao sister.”]
[“That’s what I’m saying, if she’s pregnant, the child has to be Mo Chen’s. How many guts would Qiao Ruoxin need to cuckold Mo Chen?”]
…
Three days before the engagement banquet.
Lawrence and Qiao’s mother flew in on a private plane, landing in the capital.
They checked directly into the villa in the capital; they didn’t seek out Qiao Ruoxin right away but instead invited a pair of honest and simple country folks to meet.
Inside the villa.
The couple, dressed in simple and somewhat rustic clothing, sat on the massive sofa, looking around the house that seemed to belong to another world, making them seem even more out of place.
Lawrence and Qiao’s mother came downstairs.
The couple immediately stood up when they saw them, their voices carrying the accent of their dialect, “Who are you, and why have you called us here?”
The rural couple had no idea what was going on. They had been brought to the capital city, a place distant from their normal lives, and had been staying at a six-star hotel for a whole week.
Today, they finally met the people who had invited them, a couple who clearly belonged to high society.
“Please, have a seat,” Lawrence said as he too sat down, with Qiao’s mother by his side.
Qiao’s mother spoke up, “We’ve called you here to investigate the incident from ten years ago, when your daughter fell to her death from a hotel. It’s said that the culprit was Mo Chen?”
The rugged-looking man suddenly choked up, “If it wasn’t him, then who? We couldn’t sue him. They always said there wasn’t enough evidence, but it was him. He’s the son of the richest man in Asia; we had no way to fight back.”
The woman broke down in tears, “I’m heartbroken every time I think of my daughter. The coroner said she was abused before she died and found traces of some drug in her body. That rich kid at the time was a minor; we were helpless.”
After listening, Lawrence let out a cold laugh, “If the law can’t punish him, then let public opinion do the job. If we make enough noise, someone will have to take action.”
“Can we really do it? Sir, ma’am, are you truly going to seek justice for my daughter?”
Lawrence, “Because my daughter is also about to walk into the tiger’s den; I can’t stand by.”
“Then, on behalf of my deceased daughter, I thank you both. We really can’t do anything, not even avenge her.”
Qiao’s mother still couldn’t help asking, “Why were you so certain that the murderer was Mo Chen back then?”
Chapter 395: At the Engagement Banquet The woman stopped crying and said with a serious face, “At the time, the case kept dragging on with no culprit found. We didn’t know how far the investigation had gone, but one day, some kind soul sent us a surveillance video. In it was Young Master Mo walking out of the room from which my daughter had jumped! If not him, then who else could it be?”
The man said, “Sadly, he is the son of a wealthy family and was still a minor at that time. There was simply nothing we could do. My poor daughter just died in vain.”
The rural couple cried so hard they could hardly catch their breath, heartbroken.
“Sir, my daughter was very sensible,” she said. “She told us she wanted to go to the big city to earn money and build us a house. In the end… she lost her life, and we can’t even catch the murderer.”
Lawrence said with an indifferent face, “If you commit a crime, you have to take responsibility, no matter whose son you are. You can’t indulge them.”
“Sir, madam, if you could help catch my daughter’s murderer, my husband and I would be indebted to you in our next life, ready to do anything to repay you…”
Qiao’s mother saw the honest and simple couple kneel down to them and hurriedly stepped forward to help them up.
“No need, we’re all doing this for the children. As long as you do as we say, the murderer will be punished by the law.”
“Yes, yes, yes! We will definitely do as you say!” The couple was so grateful they nearly kowtowed.
Lawrence spoke up, “Alright, everyone go back and get ready. In three days, the show begins.”
He was curious to see how Mo Tian and Mo Chen, the father and son, would end up.
After sending off the rural couple, Qiao’s mother came and sat beside Lawrence, “Are you confident?”
“I have contacted the three major domestic media. They will broadcast the engagement party live.”
Qiao’s mother: “The Mo Family’s engagement party will definitely have security measures, and they won’t let the media in. How can it be broadcasted live?”
“If they can’t come openly, they’ll have to broadcast it secretly.”
“Are you sure that Mo Chen will take the bait? Last time I brought up this case in front of Mo Chen, he seemed completely indifferent, even able to calmly discuss the case with me, as if it had nothing to do with him at all.”
Lawrence let out a cold laugh, “The kid’s mental fortitude is indeed strong; otherwise, he wouldn’t dare to kill at such a young age, you think?”
Qiao’s mother’s complexion instantly turned pale, “I didn’t expect the young Mo to be so ruthless.”
“Spoiled since childhood, Mo Tian holds his son up on a pedestal, purely indulging him.”
Lawrence said, “With his temper, this kid’s never going to change in this lifetime.”
…
Three days later.
The engagement party.
Tonight’s engagement party only invited friends and relatives from within the country. Overseas guests would be formally invited to the wedding.
Qiao Ruoxin wore a white strapless gown, her hair up in a bun, her ears adorned with tassel earrings.
Due to her pregnancy, she wore light makeup tonight, but it did not detract from her delicate beauty.
Lady Mo was busy introducing her to the ladies of their circle.
Meanwhile, Mo Chen accompanied Mo Tian, greeting and chatting with the elders.
“Old Mo, we used to discuss whose son would get married first. We all thought your Mo Chen would be the last, but he turned out to be the first one,” said someone.
Mo Tian laughed, “Slap in the face, right? My son knows what’s sensible. Not only am I the first to become a father-in-law, but I’m also going to be the first to become a grandfather.”
A group of people looked at each other in shock.
“Already?” someone asked.
Mo Tian just smiled without a word, and everyone understood.
Mo Chen also curled up the corners of his mouth and raised his champagne glass, “Thank you all, uncles and gentlemen, for gracing us with your presence at Ruoxin’s and my engagement party tonight.”
Tonight, Mo Chen was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, complemented by a black shirt and a white tie, exuding a gentlemanly elegance that was softened by an unusual touch of tenderness.
Any discerning observer could tell that Lord Mo tonight was in high spirits.
The engagement dinner also extended an invitation to the Lu Family. Lu Ming and his wife were present, as well as Lu Xingxing and Lu Feifei. Looking at the scene, the whole family was seething with envy.
“Mom! Just look at that little vixen, still flaunting her figure in that kind of dress while pregnant, huh!” Lu Xingxing’s eyes were filled with spite.
Madam Lu: “Enough! Why mention such things? They’re having an engagement party and have even set the wedding date for a month and a half from now!”
Lu Ming: “You two stop talking! Do we really want to fall out with the Mo Family? We’ve just returned to the country and we still need the Mo Family’s support in many areas!”
A few wealthy ladies huddled together, starting to gossip about tonight’s dinner.
“I heard that the little actress is pregnant. She’s carrying a golden child now, so the Mo Family is hastening the wedding preparations. That belly is growing day by day, impossible to hide.”
“Really? Tsk, tsk, the young girls these days are something else. That’s a smart move, but it would also need Lord Mo’s agreement, wouldn’t it? With his temperament, who would dare to get pregnant with his child so casually?”
“Mo Chen must surely like that young girl. He always has, I remember from many years ago, he’s preferred that style, no helping it.”
“In truth, Qiao Ruoxin isn’t all that bad, it’s just that her family background doesn’t quite match up. She’s not on equal footing with the Mo Family.”
“The Mo Family has already climbed to the top of Asia’s elite. No one dares to criticize them now. This could well become a beautiful tale in the future—the Cinderella story may actually happen.”
“Qiao Ruoxin isn’t exactly Cinderella, though. The Qiao Family can at best be considered middle class, it’s just that they are far behind the Mo Family.”
“How come tonight it’s all friends and relatives of the Mo Family? I haven’t seen anyone from the Qiao Family.”
…
Qiao Ruoxin was standing beside Mrs. Mo, her lips curved into a smile as she listened to the discussions of the noblewomen.
Her expression turned absent-minded for a moment. Indeed, glancing around, it appeared to be all friends and relatives of the Mo Family.
Mrs. Mo glanced at her: “What’s wrong, tired? Go over there and sit down to rest for a while.”
“Okay, thank you Mrs. Mo.”
She turned and headed towards the rest area. Standing for so long had indeed made her a little tired. She had become quite delicate.
No sooner had she sat down than Mo Chen came walking towards her through the crowd.
Her smile widened immediately, as the handsome and imposing man approached her. His long fingers grasped the back of her neck and gently caressed it, “Tired?”
“A little, and you? Have you been drinking a lot?”
Mo Chen took a seat beside her, his large hand resting on her waist, drawing her close: “No.”
“Do you think my belly has gotten a bit bigger? This dress feels a bit tight around the waist today.”
The man’s gaze fell on her waist, which was still as slim as ever, and he said in a deep voice, “No, your waist is still slim.”
She frowned: “Really? I feel like it’s gotten a bit bigger…”
Was it an illusion? She felt her belly growing a little each day.
“Are you going to propose to me in front of all these people tonight?”
Isn’t there usually such a segment during engagement parties?
Mo Chen’s eyebrows furrowed: “Haven’t I already proposed?”
“It’s not the same, tonight is the engagement ceremony. You need to propose for everyone to see.”
He let out a chuckle: “Do you want to see it?”
“Mm… I’m quite curious.” She couldn’t help but smile. What would it be like to see the lofty Lord Mo propose in public?
Chapter 396: Mo Chen! You will pay for the murder! Amidst the banquet.
Mo Tian and Mrs. Mo stood at the center stage, beginning to speak.
Mo Tian: “I appreciate everyone taking time out of their busy schedules to attend my son Mo Chen’s engagement party…”
Mrs. Mo stood beside him with a smile, dressed in a dark red evening gown that evening, noble and elegant, that perfectly suited the status of the Mo Family matriarch.
Meanwhile, Mo Chen was holding Qiao Ruoxin by her slender waist at one side, his usually cold face now sporting an upward curve at the corners of his mouth.
Qiao Ruoxin surveyed the room and immediately noticed the people from the Lu Family looking dispirited.
She had originally thought that the Lu Family might not come at all, but surprisingly, they had all attended.
She had clearly underestimated their psychological resilience.
However, it was evident that Lu Xingxing was so angered that she was almost green in the face, seemingly on the verge of erupting like a volcano, while the lady beside her tightly grasped Lu Xingxing’s hand.
Qiao Ruoxin smiled faintly, not realizing that she and Mo Chen had actually reached the point of engagement, and so the next step would be preparing for the wedding.
She then looked down at her abdomen, hoping the two little babies would be born safely.
After Mo Tian and Mrs. Mo finished their speeches, it was time for Mo Chen to speak.
The security measures were extremely strict that evening, for the engagement party, after all, the Mo Family valued their reputation above all else.
Xiaowu stood guard at the entrance of the banquet hall, not letting anyone enter or leave casually.
Mo Chen took her hand beside him and said in a deep voice, “We’ve known each other for nine years, through ups and downs, and in the end, she is still my woman, I got my wish…”
As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar at the venue.
“They’ve known each other for nine years? How old was Qiao Ruoxin back then?”
“Nine years ago, Mo Chen was only 18, right?”
“Tsk tsk, no wonder Mrs. Mo didn’t interfere, one simply can’t stop this, it’s been nine years, those feelings must be deep.”
“I always thought it was that little star who got lucky because of her child, using the baby to force a marriage, but now it seems Mo Chen truly loves her.”
“I heard this rumor long ago, but I didn’t expect it to be true, tsk tsk…”
The people from the Lu Family stood among the crowd, their faces ugly to the extreme.
Lu Xingxing snorted disdainfully, “What a show-off, who knows how long you’ll be able to stay pleased with yourself, plenty of female stars who marry into wealthy families end up divorced.”
“Enough, stop talking,” Lu Ming glared at his daughter; he did not want to fall out with the Mo Family just yet.
Suddenly!
A farmer couple burst into the banquet hall, yelling, “Mo Chen! You must pay with your life for the murder! My daughter is dead, how dare you happily get engaged here and continue to harm someone else’s daughter!”
Their roaring voice seemed to have mustered all the strength in their body.
The entire venue erupted into chaos.
On the stage, Mo Tian shouted in anger, “What is going on here!”
Mrs. Mo glanced back at the bodyguard: “Throw them out!”
Bodyguard: “Yes!”
However, everyone at the scene was bustling with discussion.
Mo Chen’s handsome face instantly turned ice-cold and grim, looking indifferently at the farmer couple outside the banquet hall.
A trace of panic appeared in Qiao Ruoxin’s eyes. What in the world was going on?
Pay with a life for a murder?
She looked at the man’s handsome profile beside her, Mo Chen committing murder? That was absolutely impossible.
Outside the banquet hall, Xiaowu quickly blocked the couple, “Who are you?”
Xiaowu, holding one person, prepared to drag the couple out, and soon the other bodyguards also hurried over, ready to throw the couple out.
The woman cried out, “You rich people are so arrogant, you caused my daughter such misery, and now here you are, happily holding an engagement party. How is that fair? Did you forget how you caused my daughter to die ten years ago? Do you even remember how you drove her to jump off a building?”
At this moment, the editors-in-chief of the three major media outlets arranged by Lawrence also appeared.
“Hold on! Mr. Mo, you wouldn’t want Mr. Mo Senior to suffer this injustice, would you? I really want to know why they say Mr. Mo Senior killed their daughter.”
The other two joined in, “Exactly, if this isn’t true, it’s best to clarify it on the spot.”
Mo Tian’s face turned extremely cold on stage. Who had invited these media people? He had not agreed to media involvement in the engagement party at all.
He despised the media for their indiscriminate reporting, all for the sake of creating hot topics for public opinion.
Mo Tian finally lost his patience and roared, “Clarify what? Which one of you three let yourselves in? It’s my son’s engagement party, I didn’t invite any media reporters, why did you come in?”
The three editors were instantly speechless, unsure of how to react.
Only Mo Tian dared to lose his temper on such an occasion because the immense power of the Mo Family made him fearless.
Mo Tian: “Xiaowu! Throw these three out!”
Xiaowu: “Yes, sir!”
After the couple and the three editors were driven out, the scene became even more chaotic.
“What did that uncouth couple just say? Mr. Mo Senior a murderer? Killed their daughter? What’s going on here?”
“I have no idea, I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“Mo Chen has been studying abroad since primary school, he only comes back for a few days during the New Year, a murderer?”
“Mo Chen wouldn’t fancy girls from the lower class, would he? He’s so particular about women with his high standards.”
“I’ve heard from my son that Mo Chen is very picky about women, he wouldn’t just mess around with any.”
“Exactly, those rich second-generation kids keep sending beauties his way, and he doesn’t even give them a glance, would he fancy a bumpkin from the countryside?”
Qiao Ruoxin stood by the man’s side, looking at the woman, and suddenly remembered something her mother had mentioned once; Mo Chen was involved in a case about a girl’s suicide ten years ago.
Could it be… that this was arranged by her mother?
Thinking of this, her face grew even uglier.
Mo Chen glanced at her and noticed her slightly pale face, “Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, I was probably just a bit startled earlier.”
The man wrapped his arm around her waist, letting her lean into his embrace.
Mo Chen’s handsome face was taut, expressionless, and his deep eyes emanated a brooding darkness.
…
Even though the engagement party went on, it wasn’t very pleasant, but everyone being from noble families knew the importance of maintaining a dignified appearance.
When the Lu Family left, Lu Xingxing laughed gleefully, “I told you, a female celebrity jinxes a wealthy family, look at the state of today’s engagement party, will the wedding still go smoothly?”
Lady Lu also laughed, “Such a relief, just look at Li Xueli’s face, didn’t she indulge her son to marry whoever he wanted, huh… what an embarrassment.”
Lu Ming, “However, I am really curious, did Mo Chen actually kill someone?”
Lu Xingxing, “Impossible, how could Mo Chen fancy a woman from the countryside? He only likes pretty and classy ones, and the figure matters too, he doesn’t like Cinderellas one bit.”
Lu Feifei, “You seem to know him quite well?”
Lu Xingxing fell silent, indeed, she had learned a lot about his preferences in an attempt to get close to Mo Chen.
Chapter 397: Mo Chen Will Never Let Her Down Mo Family Estate, in the parlor.
As soon as Mo Tian entered the living room, he flew into a rage, “What kind of people are those editors, causing a commotion at my son’s engagement party? Shut down those media outlets for me! I’m fed up!”
“If you shut down those media outlets now, won’t everyone online say that our Mo Family is overbearing and covers the sky with one hand?” Madame Mo sat on the sofa, arms crossed, speaking coldly.
“I’m filled with anger; who let those dogs into the well-conducted engagement party!”
Madame Mo: “Alright, alright, I’ve already sent someone to investigate.”
After sending Qiao Ruoxin back to her bedroom, Mo Chen took the elevator down to the parlor on the first floor.
“Dad, Mom, have you figured out the background of that couple yet?”
He sat down in front of the sofa, still in the suit he wore at the engagement party, with his jacket unbuttoned, exuding a graceful yet chilling presence.
Mo Tian, huffing with anger, sat on the sofa, “Not yet, this is definitely someone trying to target me.”
At this moment, the butler came over, holding a tablet computer, “Chairman, Madam, Young Master Mo, those editors we just drove out and that couple have started a live broadcast online, with viewers reaching ten million.”
Mo Chen frowned, “What are they broadcasting?”
Butler: “They’re saying that you are the murderer who killed their daughter, the very teenage girl who fell from the hotel ten years ago, whose murderer has never been found.”
The man erupted like a volcano, irate, “What the hell does this have to do with me?”
Butler: “During the live broadcast, the couple said that years ago, a kind-hearted person sent them surveillance footage, showing records of you coming out of that girl’s hotel room …”
Mo Tian, impatiently extending his hand, said, “Give it here! I want to see it!”
Mo Chen fell into deep thought.
He had only heard about that case of the teenage girl falling from the hotel ten years ago, not even knowing the exact day it happened, and now he was suddenly the murderer?
It was nothing short of ludicrous.
Someone must be orchestrating this behind the scenes.
Suddenly, Mo Chen stood up and left the parlor.
Madame Mo and Mo Tian were watching the replay of the couple’s live broadcast.
Mo Tian swore as he watched, “Damn it! Erase all copies of this live broadcast replay from the internet, and furthermore! Sue these three media companies! They must be tired of living to pull this!”
…
In the bedroom.
Qiao Ruoxin stepped out onto the balcony alone and dialed her mother’s number on her phone, soon getting through.
Her mother’s voice came from inside, “Xinxin, you haven’t called me in a long time.”
“Jiang Peilan, do you just hate to see me well? Were that couple at my engagement banquet today hired by you?”
“Xinxin, you actually don’t inquire whether the matter is true, instead directly questioning me? Do you trust Mo Chen that much?”
Qiao Ruoxin scoffed, “Nonsense! He’s my husband, of course, I trust him!”
“Xinxin, what if what the couple said is true?”
“I don’t care whether it’s true or not, I just want to tell you that no matter what you do, I won’t leave Mo Chen.”
“You’re that devoted to him now? If the case from ten years ago really was his doing, wouldn’t you have wrongly devoted your heart?”
Qiao Ruoxin intended to hang up the phone, not wanting to waste words with Jiang Peilan, as no one could sway the other’s thoughts.
“Xinxin! Your Uncle Lawrence and I have come to China, can you have a meal with us tomorrow?”
Her heart skipped a beat—Uncle Lawrence…
Was he her biological father?
“Sure, but I’ll go with Mo Chen.”
“We only want to see you.”
“Then forget it.”
She was about to hang up again, but then Lawrence’s voice came through the phone, “Alright, bring Young Master Mo along.”
The call ended.
Qiao Ruoxin prepared to return to her bedroom to take a shower and go to sleep.
Just as she turned around, she saw Mo Chen standing there, his hands in his trouser pockets, apparently he had been there for quite some time.
“You… Have you been standing there for a long time? Did you hear what I was talking about on the phone?”
“Mhm.”
The man walked up to her and pulled her into his embrace, gently holding her body as he said in a deep voice, “I’ll accompany you tomorrow.”
“Mo Chen Brother…”
“Hmm?”
“Tonight’s… Will it affect the Mo Family’s reputation?”
Mo Chen’s mouth curled up slightly, “It won’t have any effect, everything will be cleaned up within half an hour.”
She sighed in relief, “That’s good then.”
The man gently picked her up and walked towards the bedroom, “Taking you for a shower, then it’s bedtime.”
“I’m not that sleepy…”
“They are sleepy,” Mo Chen said, looking down at her belly.
Qiao Ruoxin chuckled lightly, “Why do I feel like you don’t love me anymore, only these two little babies, and I’m out of favor now?”
Her slender fingers gripped his chin, teasing him on purpose.
The man let out a snort of laughter, “Little Ghost, are you competing with them for affection?”
“What if I am? I’m asking you, if you had to choose between me and the two little babies, whom would you choose?”
Although this was just a joking question, she still wanted Mo Chen to choose her unconditionally.
Of course, Mo Chen would never let her down.
“I choose you.”
She laughed out loud, “So you don’t want your two little babies anymore?”
Mo Chen brought her into the bathroom and set her down on her feet, his long finger tapping her forehead, “Qiao Ruoxin, you need to understand, I am not particularly fond of children, just the ones you give birth to, nothing more.”
“…”
Indeed, that was true.
She had never seen Mo Chen interact with small children, he even seemed reluctant to get close, finding it troublesome and nothing but crying and fussing.
The man started to help her take off her clothes, unbuttoning each button, while she kept staring at his face.
“What are you looking at me for?” he asked casually.
Qiao Ruoxin said with a smile, “I’m thinking, such a handsome and dashing Mo Chen is about to become a married man, and he’s also going to be the father of two little babies, probably countless young girls are going to cry.”
The man burst out laughing and threw her clothes into the hamper nearby.
Then he reached out to test the water temperature in the bathtub, which was just right.
He had filled the bathtub with water when he came back, and then went to the terrace to find her, where he overheard her phone conversation.
Qiao Ruoxin lay in the bathtub, looking at the man’s shirt that had gotten wet, and said, “Mo Chen Brother, come take a shower with me, your clothes are already wet anyway.”
The man raised an eyebrow slightly, “Doesn’t it feel awkward?”
“We’re already legal anyway.”
Mo Chen’s mouth curled into a smile, directly answering with actions by taking off his shirt and then undoing his belt.
This series of movements was so charged with hormones, it made her blush involuntarily.
The man got into the tub, water noticeably spilling over as he settled next to Qiao Ruoxin, cradling her soft body and restlessly moving his hand toward her belly, wanting to feel the presence of those two little lives.
Qiao Ruoxin sighed, “You’ll have to wait another two months to feel the fetal movements, you can’t feel anything now.”
The man frowned slightly, “Is that so? That long?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Chapter 398: Xinxin… Are you pregnant? Qiao Ruoxin leaned into the man’s embrace, “Brother Mo Chen, what star sign are you?”
The man played with a few strands of her hair that hung down, his voice lazy, “It should be Virgo.”
She looked up at the man’s handsome face, her eyes full of an indescribable sentiment, “No wonder your personality is so peculiar…”
“What do you mean?” The man narrowed his eyes.
“Nothing much, just that I think our two little babies will definitely have a better temperament than you.”
“…”
The man’s face darkened a shade.
Mo Chen held her soft body, lowered his head, and kissed her earlobe, “Little Ghost, only you can cure my bad temper.”
She couldn’t help but smile, “Of course.”
An hour later.
The man carried her out of the bathroom, placed her on the bed, and tucked her in.
“You sleep first, I’ll go to the study to take care of some things.”
Qiao Ruoxin grabbed his arm, “We’re meeting my mom tomorrow. Can you not lose your temper, please?”
The man responded indifferently, “Mhm, go to sleep.”
She smiled, closed her eyes, and obediently fell asleep.
In fact, what she was most worried about was that Mo Chen wouldn’t be able to hold back his anger when meeting her mother tomorrow, especially since she was now pregnant and Mo Chen’s tolerance had also increased.
…
The next day, in the evening.
Mo Chen drove her to a villa in the imperial capital that belonged to Lawrence.
The car slowly entered the villa grounds.
The man got out of the car first to open the door for her, took her hand, and walked toward the front door, pressing the doorbell.
The maid came to open the door, “Miss, the lady and sir are waiting for you in the dining room.”
The maid glanced again at the man with the imposing aura and greeted, “Young Master Mo.”
The man, with a cold expression, directly pulled Qiao Ruoxin into the villa, passed through the living room, and headed toward the dining room.
In the dining room, Lawrence sat at the head of the table, with Qiao’s mother beside him.
Hearing the footsteps, Qiao’s mother began to get nervous. It had been a long time since she had seen her beloved daughter, and she could only catch glimpses of her through domestic news media.
After Mo Chen and Qiao Ruoxin entered the dining room, Qiao’s mother’s eyes lit up, “Xinxin, you’re here.”
Qiao Ruoxin’s expression was cold, and she merely responded, “Mhm.”
Then, she looked at Lawrence who was seated at the far end. Her perception of him had changed; in the past, she only considered him a stepfather, but now… she unexpectedly had a blood relation with him.
“Mr. Lawrence, how do you find it here, coming from afar?”
Mo Chen was composed, showing no sign of feeling out of place, and pulled out a chair for Qiao Ruoxin to sit down.
Then he unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat at the other end of the long dining table.
It looked more like a standoff between the two men.
Qiao Ruoxin and her mother each sat on one side, seemingly without much right to speak.
Lawrence assessed Mo Chen and smiled, “Young Master Mo is young and promising, but also quite hot-tempered.”
Mo Chen, however, let out a disdainful scoff and did not reply.
Qiao Ruoxin finally spoke up, “Say it, what’s the matter with meeting me.”
Qiao’s mother glanced at her, then at Mo Chen, “Let’s have dinner first and then talk. I made many of your favorite dishes, all hand-cooked by mom.”
She glanced at the Chinese dishes on the table, all made from exquisite ingredients, but she felt a wave of nausea.
She finally couldn’t hold back any longer, covered her mouth with her hand, and heaved twice as her body leaned to one side.
“What’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?” Qiao’s mother asked worriedly.
Lawrence also squinted his eyes, “Mr. Mo, is this how the Mo Family takes care of people?”
Mo Chen had no significant reaction, gently patting her back before handing her the glass of water from the table.
Qiao Ruoxin took the glass and drank a few sips, feeling much better, but she moved her gaze away from the table, feeling nauseous at the sight of the rich food.
The man’s deep voice slowly rose, “Morning sickness, it’s quite normal.”
As soon as he said this!
Qiao’s mother and Lawrence were both stunned.
Morning sickness???
Qiao’s mother’s face showed shock, her lips slightly parted, “Xinxin… are you pregnant?”
Her voice was filled with disbelief.
Qiao’s mother had never imagined her precious daughter would become pregnant so early and for a moment, she didn’t know how to react, her mind buzzing.
Lawrence’s brows furrowed in anger, she was actually pregnant!
Mo Chen noticed their reactions and his lips curved into a lazy, deep-voiced chuckle, “And it’s twins.”
!!!
Another bolt from the blue!
Qiao’s mother stared dumbfounded at Qiao Ruoxin, her gaze even drifting to her still-flat abdomen.
Lawrence, on the other hand, roared, “How could you let her get pregnant so early?”
“And you’re saying this in what capacity?” Mo Chen retorted in a cold and aggressive tone.
Lawrence: “…”
Qiao’s mother had always feared that Ruoxin wouldn’t be able to accept the truth about her origins, so she had kept it hidden from her, and now she was pregnant?
What were they supposed to do next?
The pregnancy had caught them off guard, throwing all their plans into disarray.
The child is always innocent!
Ruoxin said, “Let’s get straight to the point. I didn’t come here to eat.”
Lawrence held back his anger, maintaining his elegance and gentlemanly demeanor, “I wonder how Mr. Mo intends to deal with those public opinions online? Is the case of the girl falling from the building years ago really related to you?”
Ruoxin couldn’t stand it any longer, “Enough! Wasn’t it all orchestrated by you? What’s with this act now!”
Mo Chen, however, with a calm expression, took hold of her hand and said in a deep voice, “Little Ghost, don’t get agitated during pregnancy. I will handle this.”
Only then did she realize she was a pregnant woman, took a deep breath, and nodded her head.
The man then looked up at the middle-aged man opposite him and said word by word, “I would like to ask what evidence you have that connects me to that case?”
“The couple has surveillance footage of you at 17 years old leaving the hotel room, and that room was the very room from which the girl fell. How do you explain that?” Lawrence said with a dark face, gripping his wineglass tightly, so hard it might shatter at any moment.
His daughter was pregnant; how could he not be furious?
He had arranged her whole life, and now it was all ruined.
Mo Chen scoffed, “And what can that prove?”
Qiao’s mother: “At the very least, it proves that on the night of the incident, you indeed went to that hotel, proving you are a suspect! And you left the room from which the girl fell!”
Qiao’s mother couldn’t contain herself, standing up, “Ruoxin! Do you know what kind of man he is? You dare to get pregnant with his child? When he was just 17, he was bold enough to join those rich second generations in driving a country girl to a mental breakdown and suicide. Do you think he can be a good husband, a good father now?”
Mo Chen could no longer bear it, slamming his hand down on the dining table, which emitted a loud crash, “Enough!”
Chapter 399: I will personally investigate this case to find the murderer, don’t even think of pinning it on me! The restaurant suddenly fell silent.
All three other gazes converged on Mo Chen.
The man, suppressing his anger, raised his eyes to look at Qiao’s mother and said coldly, “After so much time, there’s still no improvement, anyone can influence your thoughts, your intelligence is indeed mediocre.”
Being attacked on her intelligence by such a junior left Qiao’s mother at a loss, even unsure of how to retaliate.
Mo Chen then chuckled, “It seems my woman hasn’t completely inherited your intelligence, thankfully.”
“You… What do you mean?” Qiao’s mother’s face was struggling to maintain composure.
Ruoxin stared at the profile of the man, she had to admit this bastard’s presence was truly formidable, capable of dominating the scene within minutes even amidst such chaos.
“Last night, I took some time to think back on that year. The reason I went to that hotel was that someone lured me there, but by the time I entered the room, it was half an hour after the incident, the room was empty, so what does this case have to do with me?”
He spent last night in the study, smoking through an entire box of cigarettes, reminiscing about ten years ago.
He vaguely remembered being provoked by someone at the time, going to the hotel to fight. He hadn’t expected to find the room empty when he entered.
Moreover, by the time he entered the room, it was already half an hour after the incident, he was completely unaware of the young girl’s fall from the building.
Lawrence however sneered coldly, “After ten years, to be able to talk about this case so candidly, it seems Mr. Mo’s mental fortitude is indeed strong. Do you dare say you weren’t playing with that girl along with those other rich second-generation kids?”
Mo Chen’s handsome face was full of scorn. He sneered, slowly stood up, and eased Ruoxin to her feet as well.
The man wrapped his arm around her slim waist, but his gaze was fixed on Lawrence opposite him, “What have I done that I wouldn’t dare to admit? But don’t even think about pinning things I haven’t done on me.”
“Words are no proof, with what happened that year, no one can tell clearly, the real evidence has long been destroyed by the Mo Family,” said Lawrence.
Ruoxin couldn’t hold back anymore, “And what evidence do you have, relying on that unclear surveillance video from ten years ago?”
Qiao’s mother scolded, “Ruoxin! You’re being blinded right now! You can’t tell right from wrong!”
Ruoxin wanted to argue, but the man beside her grabbed her, and said in a deep voice, “I will personally investigate this case until I find the murderer, don’t think about blaming it on me!”
With that, he encircled Ruoxin’s slender waist and turned to leave.
The moment he turned around, a fierce viciousness appeared in his eyes.
Dammit!
He had an empire to run every day, and now he had to investigate a case! Enough was enough!
Ruoxin could clearly feel his irritability, but he was forcibly restraining himself.
Suddenly, Qiao’s mother’s voice came from behind: “Xinxin, can we talk alone for a moment, we have something to tell you.”
Mo Chen was already struggling on the edge of rage, about to erupt like a volcano, when he suddenly turned back and bellowed, “Enough already!”
Lawrence observed his explosive temper, his expression darkening. The rumors were true; his temper was indeed volatile.
Ruoxin closed her eyes, took a moment to adjust her emotions, then turned back and said, “Are you trying to say that Lawrence is my biological father, so whatever you do is for my own good, right?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, both Lawrence and Qiao’s mother were shocked anew.
How did she know about this?
Could it have been Mo Chen who told her?
Mo Chen glanced at her beside him, a hint of surprise flashing in his pitch-dark eyes. How did this Little Ghost come to know that?
Qiao Ruoxin suddenly let out a cold laugh, “All my life, I’ve called other people Dad. Now you suddenly show up wanting to resume the role of a father? Do you think I need you anymore? Are you really here for my wellbeing now? Or do you just want me to return and help you fight for power and position?”
Lawrence’s eyes showed a flicker of panic, and his voice trembled slightly, “Ruoxin, all these years, I…”
“I don’t want to know how you’ve been these years; what does it have to do with me? If it weren’t for all your ex-wife’s children dying in accidents, would you have remembered me?”
Mo Chen gazed deeply at her profile; this Little Ghost had endured more than he had imagined.
Qiao Ruoxin laughed, her laughter tinged with desolation, “I’ve been thinking about why you’re so adamant on having me marry Simon. Isn’t that incest? Then it finally dawned on me, perhaps Simon isn’t your biological child either? Otherwise, you wouldn’t be so desperately needing me to return and fight for the inheritance, right?”
Qiao’s mother collapsed into a chair, unable to utter a word, feeling guilt-ridden and ashamed.
Lawrence was silent, there really wasn’t anything good to say; she had said it all.
Tears welled up in Qiao Ruoxin’s eyes as she glanced at Lawrence and her mother and said, “Stop meddling in my affairs, will you? I’m begging you! You’ve never considered my feelings! Whatever I wanted, you never cared! Whether you got married or divorced, whenever you wanted to fight for the inheritance, you tried to claim me back. I have always been just a tool to you! Stop saying you love me!”
After speaking, she turned around and left the restaurant straight away.
Mo Chen glanced at the middle-aged man and woman at the dining table and said coldly, “From now on, Qiao Ruoxin has me.”
The man turned around and left indifferently.
…
Qiao Ruoxin quickly left the villa, stepping outside where the night air was cooling, her emotions complex, but she did not regret the words she had just said.
Suddenly, a suit jacket was draped over her shoulders, and she turned to see the handsome face of Mo Chen.
The man embraced her, cooing softly, “Little Ghost, no crying.”
She opened her arms and hugged the tall frame of the man, “I won’t cry, it just feels strange… All my life, I’ve called other people Dad, and fought with that Dad’s mistress and her daughter, only to find out that my own biological father has always been a bystander, how ludicrous.”
Mo Chen held her tight, his large hand cradling her head, laughing uncontrollably, “I’d make a pretty good dad too.”
“Can’t you be my husband instead of insisting on being my dad…” she said, somewhat bemused, unable to fathom Mo Chen’s thought process.
The corner of the man’s mouth curved up, “Hmm, okay.”
“Let’s go home, I’m actually a bit hungry now. I want to eat noodles.”
“Alright.”
Mo Chen released her, inspecting her eyes carefully; she hadn’t cried, not too bad.
…
On the way back.
Qiao Ruoxin was still sitting in the backseat of the car, scrolling through Weibo on her phone out of boredom, but she saw online discussions everywhere about the relationship between Mo Chen and that case from ten years ago.
Cyberbullying was getting more severe, and the number of rumors was increasing. Those media reporters seemed determined to keep the Mo Family in the trending searches to attract attention daily.
“Mo Chen, brother, the internet is full of discussions about this case, what should we do?”
“I’ll investigate and find the killer. The truth coming to light would be the best solution.”
Chapter 400: Assemble Private Detectives Mo Family Estate.
After returning, Mo Chen helped her bathe, then, after coaxing her to sleep, he went alone to the terrace to smoke.
The man’s thin lips clutched a cigarette while he sat on an outdoor sofa, browsing through public opinion trends on his smartphone.
His handsome features were cold and detached as he puffed on the smoke, the drifting fumes blurring his beautiful visage.
He stared at the nonsensical comments on Weibo, his brows knitted in frustration, before tossing his phone aside.
He extinguished the cigarette butt in the ashtray, then lit another one and placed it between his lips.
Mo Chen picked up his phone and dialed Xiaowu’s number, the call connecting quickly.
Xiaowu’s voice sounded somewhat lazy, as if he was asleep, “Boss Mo, what’s up?”
“Find me some well-known private detectives.”
“Are you really going to investigate that ten-year-old case of the girl’s fall? It seems quite complex, and the live stream videos online have been wiped clean. Those public opinions will blow over soon as well.”
Mo Chen exhaled a stream of smoke, his tone disdainful, “Are you teaching me how to handle my affairs?”
“No, I got it! I’ll start searching for private detectives right away.”
“Hmm.”
After hanging up the phone, he leaned back, resting his head on the sofa, looking up at the pitch-black, endless night sky that resembled his dark eyes.
…
Although the media and the couple’s live-streaming video had been thoroughly deleted from the internet, the fervor of public opinion continued to escalate, becoming a topic of national discussion.
Both offline and online were abuzz with chatter, after all, Mo Chen’s identity was too special—son of Asia’s wealthiest tycoon, and also tied to an unresolved case from when he was just a seventeen-year-old boy.
This piqued the curiosity of the masses, who were eager to know just how filthy the childhood of this top scion of an Asian powerhouse could be.
The number of people who resented the wealthy was not small; they all wanted to tear off the luxurious mask of the rich to see the dirt and grime beneath.
#MoChen# topped the trending searches, explosive!
Marketing accounts collectively lost their voices, not daring to comment too much on Mo Chen, as the matter involved a homicide.
Comments in the discussion section reached over a million.
“Let’s analyze this rationally, just how much truth is there in that couple’s words? Are we relying solely on a blurry surveillance video from ten years ago? And who sent them the footage? The person who mailed the video is very suspicious, obviously trying to frame Mo Chen as the murderer.”
“No!!! I can’t believe Mo Chen would do such a thing! He was only 17 years old at the time, how could he have?!”
“This is clearly a premeditated smear campaign. A few days ago they were spreading rumors that Qiao Ruoxin was plagiarizing, and now it’s Mo Chen’s turn, saying he’s a murderer. Who is so envious they can’t stand to see them happy? Who did their happiness offend?”
“Putting aside whether Mo Chen would do such a thing, where’s his motive? I remember he went abroad for schooling starting in elementary school, only returning once a year for the New Year. And he just happened to encounter this kind of incident right after coming back?”
“I looked up the news from back then, and the girl who fell was said to be naked, and had been severely violated, clearly abused by several men which led to her mental breakdown and subsequent suicide by jumping.”
“Hey upstairs, can you trust the information you found? If that’s true, it means there’s more than one killer, right? Why is everyone targeting Mo Chen now? Because he’s famous?”
“These young scions of wealthy families are real beasts! You can totally imagine how desperate that girl must have been before she jumped off the building, those beasts! We must uncover the truth; the culprit in this case isn’t just one person, there are definitely more than four or five!”
“If we’re saying there are multiple killers, could Mo Chen be one of them?”
“Use your brains, will you! The Mo Family has already issued a lawyer’s letter. If Mo Chen did it, would they dare to be so bold and confident?”
“Honestly, I think Mo Chen is one of the more low-profile rich second-generation kids. Throughout the years, I haven’t seen any gossip about him messing around with women. The rest of those rich kids are crazy, treating women like they’re playing with psychological disorders.”
“Exactly, I always feel that Mo isn’t that kind of guy, how could his personality allow him to do such a thing? Besides, rumors in the circle say he’s super picky about women, it’s impossible for him to just mess around with any woman.”
“I don’t believe it was Mo Chen. With his status, what kind of woman can’t he find? Would he really like a girl from the countryside? I don’t mean there’s anything wrong with country girls, but just thinking about Mo Chen’s proud demeanor, it’s just not possible!”
“Right, just look at Qiao Ruoxin, now she is Mo’s ideal type.”
“How idle does Mo Chen have to be? He spends a year abroad, comes home for a month during the New Year, and still has time to mess with women and drive one to jump off a building?”
“This is obviously a frame-up, but I want to know why Mo was at the hotel at that time of the year? Seems a bit too coincidental.”
“A classmate’s cousin is in the circle of wealthy families. I’m just passing on an irresponsible rumor, but it’s said that the real murderer in this case had a background, and their patron in the government was a Lee. Take a guess.”
“Hey upstairs, stop being so annoying, only giving us half the information. There are so many officials with the surname Lee, how are we supposed to guess? Could it be that Young Master Lee who has a grudge against Mo Chen?”
…
Inside the villa.
Lawrence and Qiao’s mother were in the bedroom, silent, both weighed down by heavy thoughts.
Qiao’s mother: “If this case truly wasn’t done by Mo Chen, then we…”
Lawrence: “If not him, then who?”
Qiao’s mother: “But his behavior today really didn’t seem like that of a murderer, plus back then he was only 17 years old, and the Mo Family weren’t Asia’s top tycoons yet. Even though the Mo Family doted on him, their family education was also very strict.”
“He wants to personally investigate the case, right? Let him investigate. Anyhow, the matter has already blown up; at least the wedding can be postponed.” Lawrence’s ultimate goal was exactly this; postponing the wedding meant there was still a chance for a turnaround.
However, Qiao’s mother was somewhat distressed: “But Ruoxin is pregnant, what should we do? We can’t possibly ask her to abort the child, can we?”
Lawrence said coldly: “Why not? She’s still so young; what business does she have getting pregnant? There’s plenty of time later!”
Lawrence was naturally heartless and wouldn’t soften just because they were talking about his own daughter.
Qiao’s mother was shocked: “Have you gone mad? That’s our daughter! And she’s carrying twins; would that not be committing a sin!”
“Precisely because she is my daughter, I’ll manage her, or else who would care about her wellbeing? The Lawrence Family’s assets can never fall into outsider’s hands. Right now, Ruoxin is my only heir, and it has to be her who inherits it.”
“Over the years, you’ve been so serious about training Simon; haven’t you ever considered him?”
“Hmph, he’s not my own son after all, how could I possibly hand it over to him?” Lawrence snorted coldly, turned off the table lamp, and lay down to sleep.
Qiao’s mother fell into deep contemplation.