?Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Even Without Mo Chen, I Wouldn’t Choose You   Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Even Without Mo Chen, I Wouldn’t Choose You                                   Qiao Ruoxin ended the phone call, feeling a fleeting panic.


    She was surprisingly calm as she finished washing up and changed into a new outfit.


    With a mask and sunsses on, she had her bodyguard take her to the hospital, and under his escort, arrived at the VIP ward.


    Standing outside the door.


    She knocked on the door.


    Inside, Simon’s voice came through: “Pleasee in.”


    She took a deep breath, removed her mask and sunsses, and pushed open the door to enter.


    Just in time to see Simon sitting in front of the hospital bed, feeding her mother soup, a picture of maternal tenderness and filial piety, one would think they were mother and son.


    Qiao Ruoxin felt a bit superfluous.


    Upon seeing her, Qiao’s mother’s pale face showed a hint of joyful smile: “Xinxin, you came to see mom, I knew my daughter wasn’t that heartless.”


    Heh…


    The way she said it, she was starting to emotionally ckmail again.


    “I came to check on you. Now that you’re alright, I’ll be going.”


    “Xinxin!”


    Just as she turned to leave, something seemed to strike her, and she turned to look at her mother on the bed: “I’m getting married, just letting you know.”


    Upon hearing this, Simon’s lips curled into an ambiguous smile.


    Her mother looked surprised: “You’re marrying Mo Chen? Why so soon? I’ve told you so many times over the past few years, and you still want to be with him?”


    Disappointment filled her mother’s eyes. Why wouldn’t her once obedient daughter listen to her anymore?


    “Yes.”


    Qiao Ruoxin turned to leave, but Simon grabbed her wrist: “You’re already here, have a good talk with Aunt Lan, it’s been a long time since you two had a calm conversation.”


    “Let go!” She flung Simon’s hand away with contempt.


    Simon didn’t get angry, he just smiled silently and stepped back.


    Qiao’s mother: “Simon, step outside for a moment, I have something to talk to her about.”


    “Alright, Aunt Lan, try not to get too worked up. Call me if you need anything; I’ll be right outside.”


    With that, Simon left the ward and closed the door behind him.


    Qiao’s mother watched her daughter’s retreating figure: “Qiao Ruoxin,e here and sit down, I have something to tell you.”


    Heh… the temper finallyes out.


    With an expressionless face, she turned and walked to the bedside, sitting down on the chair.


    She looked at her mother with calm detachment: “Go ahead, say whatever you have to say all at once, and please don’t go on about how it’s for my own good again. You’re just selfish, wanting to keep me by your side, that’s all.”


    Qiao’s mother appeared hurt: “Can’t I? You’re the child I’ve raised from a young age, can’t I want you to stay by my side?”


    “I’ve grown up, I have my own life.”


    “Wings grown strong, you no longer listen to your mother.”


    Qiao Ruoxin’s lips curved up slightly: “How about this, you return to our country, then I’ll stay by your side.”


    Qiao’s mother eximed angrily, “But I am already married to the Lawrence Family! I can’te back!”


    “So, I should just go abroad with you? Am I just part of your dowry?” She was restraining her anger because she didn’t want to argue with her mom, especially since she had juste out of the ICU.


    “I can’t be at ease with you alone in the country, don’t you understand? Not one person in the Qiao Family is decent; they will take any opportunity to trample you!” Qiao’s mother’s emotions were still out of control, as she clutched her hospital gown tightly.


    Qiao Ruoxin fell silent for a few seconds.


    “I can protect myself now, and before long, that mistress stepmother will be locked up; there’s nothing to fear.”


    Qiao’s mother looked at her stubborn gaze and sighed deeply.


    The ward was so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping on the floor could be heard.


    After an unspecified period of silence, Qiao’s mother said, “Over a decade ago, when you were still in elementary school, during the New Year period, something big happened in the capital, a teenage girl jumped out of a hotel window and died on the spot. The hotel where the incident took ce was one of Mo Family’s properties, and the case was left unsettled. Do you know why?”


    Qiao Ruoxin couldn’t help butugh, “Are you trying to say that Mo Chen did it? And the Mo Family covered it up again?”


    “The truth I found is just that, people in our circle know it, but no one dares to speak up. Would you dare to marry such a man? Even if he’s the son of the wealthiest man, what if one day he kills you in a fit of rage? Where would your mother go to demand justice?”


    As she spoke, tears streamed down Qiao’s mother’s face as if something had actually happened to Qiao Ruoxin.


    “I’m sitting here perfectly fine, and yet you insist on imagining me getting beaten to death by him? I’ve known Mo Chen for more than a day or two – over all these years, he has neverid a hand on me.”


    She still wanted Mo Chen to exin; her mother was nearly thinking of Mo Chen as a criminal.


    “Mo is the only son of the Mo Family, spoiled to the skies from childhood—everyone knows this. When he was little, Mo Chen didn’t want to see other kids at the amusement park because of his odd temper, so the Mo Family built an amusement park just for him. Did you know about this? He’s been spoiled so much that no one dares go against his wishes! How do you think his violent temper was fostered? It’s all because of the bad habits indulged by everyone around him!”


    That genuinely surprised her, as she truly hadn’t known about it.


    “Did you actually investigate Mo Chen?”


    “From his childhood to now, I have looked into everything. His temper has always been bad. Your mother wants your happiness, not for you to be blinded by temporary vanity.”


    “…”


    Qiao Ruoxin was somewhat speechless, as if she was only interested in Mo Chen’s family background.


    She stood up slowly: “Take care of your health. I’m leaving now. And, I’ve known Mo Chen since I was 14. If I were after vanity, I would have clung to him a long time ago. But I’m not!”


    After finishing, she turned and left the ward without looking back.


    Watching the closed door, Qiao’s mother felt a whirlwind ofplicated emotions.


    …


    In the hospital corridor.


    Qiao Ruoxin walked out of the ward, only to see Simon standing in the corridor, leaning on the wall with his arms folded. He turned to look when he heard the door open.


    “How did it go talking with Aunt Lan?” His voice remained gentle.


    Qiao Ruoxin didn’t speak, nning to walk in the opposite direction.


    Simon’s voice came from behind her: “Are you sure about marrying Mo Chen?”


    Qiao Ruoxin stopped in her tracks, turned, and red at Simon with hostility: “Was it you who told my mom that I liked Mo Chen because I’m vain?”


    Simon looked innocent: “I didn’t say that. After all, I’ve always thought Aunt Lan married my father out of vanity, but Iter realized that wasn’t the case.”


    “Let me tell you directly, Simon, even if Mo Chen wasn’t in the picture, I wouldn’t choose you. Marrying a stepfather’s son would make me feel like I’m in an incestuous rtionship, which disgusts me!”


    Qiao Ruoxin voiced the thoughts she’d kept hidden deep inside her heart and then turned away indifferently to leave.


    Simon watched her leave,ughing softly to himself, yet his smile was tinged withplex emotions.