C18 He Is a Respected Person

Qiao Yiyi spent the entire afternoon fast asleep in her pink room. Upon waking, she felt so invigorated she could take on the world! This was just what she needed, especially with Mo Xiling, that creep, planning to visit in the evening. She was ready and waiting for him.

Mo Siyu delivered her dinner punctually, and it was a more lavish spread than lunch, complete with desserts and a fruit salad.

"Did you make all this?" Qiao Yiyi inquired.

"No, we have a chef," Mo Siyu replied with a smile. "But I'm quite good in the kitchen myself. I'll have to cook for you sometime."

"You're not like other heiresses I know," Qiao Yiyi observed. "The wealthy girls I've met never lift a finger; they just boss the staff around."

Mo Siyu chuckled. "It's better to be self-reliant than to depend on others. That's how we Mo family people do things."

"Does Mr. Mo handle everything himself too?"

"He's an exception," Mo Siyu said, her eyes softening. "He's a man of respect."

The more Qiao Yiyi heard, the more baffled she became. The Mo family was truly enigmatic, shrouded in mystery.

"May I go down to the garden after dinner?"

"Absolutely, no one will stop you."

"Has Mr. Mo returned?"

"He's been home the whole time, never left."

"Huh," Qiao Yiyi exclaimed, "but didn't you say he was too busy to meet with me?"

"He's working from home, busy until late every night."

"Why does Mr. Mo work from home? Doesn't he need to go to the office?"

"Xiling prefers to keep a low profile. Qingze is the one managing the company."

Knowing Mo Qingze to be the man in his thirties, Qiao Yiyi probed further, "Is Mr. Mo Qingze Mr. Mo Xiling's brother?"

Suddenly, Mo Siyu's demeanor turned icy, her voice chilling, "You're asking too many questions."

Though petite and pretty, Mo Siyu's stern expression exuded an intimidating coldness that made Qiao Yiyi's heart skip a beat, silencing her immediately.

It wasn't until she had left that Qiao Yiyi let out a sigh of relief and patted her chest. She bowed her head and continued to eat with haste.

Yiyi was a fast eater who never let food go to waste. Despite feeling a bit full towards the end, she made sure to finish every last bit on her plate.

After polishing off the final slice of orange, she found herself unable to stand, sinking into the couch and softly stroking her rounded belly.

She wore a soft, apricot-yellow dress that hugged her swollen belly snugly. From her perspective, it almost looked as though she were pregnant.

A wave of dread washed over Qiao Yiyi as a chilling thought struck her: what if she were violated by the depraved Mo Xiling and became pregnant? What if she were coerced into having the child?

The more she dwelled on these fears, the colder her heart felt, as if her future was shrouded in darkness with no glimmer of light in sight.

After spending some time resting in her room, Yiyi descended the stairs, her spirits low.

The sun had long since set, yet the lingering glow painted the sky in shades of red. The stunning sunset, layered like a magnificent, trailing gown or an expansive embroidered tapestry, failed to lift her spirits. Having been confined here for nearly a day, she wondered, when would she be free to leave?

She pondered whether her parents would worry about her absence. Mo Xiling had claimed to have notified them, but could his words be trusted?

Standing at the base of the castle, Yiyi gazed up at its imposing structure and realized the reason for her accommodation on the top floor—it was to prevent her escape. The lower levels had accessible windows for climbing, but the upper walls were smooth and sheer, promising certain death to anyone who fell.

As twilight deepened, a gray mist seemed to rise. One by one, lights flickered on in the windows, dotting the mysterious castle like stars in the night sky.