Chapter 7 Visiting

Qiao Xuanshuo remained silent. Starting the car, stepping on the accelerator, Qiao Xuanshuo drove away from the Qiao family. On the way, Bai Ruoxi felt like she was suffocating. Even though the car window was open and there was some distance between them, she couldn't control her heart, which was beating too fast and too violently. She was so nervous that her palms were sweating. This was the first time she had been in such a small space with Qiao Xuanshuo for half an hour since she grew up. She didn't even dare to breathe too hard, afraid of revealing her thoughts. The car stopped in front of a military building, and Bai Ruoxi frowned. She quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. The building in front of her was where her mother was being held. Because the case was significant, no one was allowed to meet except for the lawyer before the trial. Having exhausted all methods, she had never seen her mother. Bai Ruoxi looked in astonishment at Qiao Xuanshuo, who had gotten out of the car on the other side. She saw him walk to the side and make a phone call. Two minutes later, a fully armed soldier came out and saluted Qiao Xuanshuo. Bai Ruoxi was stunned. In front of the authority she thought was inviolable, Qiao Xuanshuo was so casual and effortless, as if it was just a small matter to make a phone call. At this moment, her admiring heart boiled once again. She obediently followed Qiao Xuanshuo, passing through several iron gates without any hindrance, and arrived at the visitation hall. When Bai Ruoxi walked into the room, she saw that her mother was already waiting for them. Despite the signs of aging, her elegant demeanor couldn't be concealed. Her eyes were lifeless, but her smile was so loving. "Mom..." Bai Ruoxi held back her tears and rushed over to hug An Xiao. An Xiao's eyes became moist, and she choked with a soft voice, "Ruoxi, how did you get in?" Bai Ruoxi blinked and swallowed her tears, quickly pushing her mother away. She didn't come here to reminisce. "Mom, it was Third Brother who brought me in." An Xiao lowered her head and secretly wiped away the tears in the corners of her eyes. She smiled and looked up at the door. Qiao Xuanshuo walked in slowly, his gaze gentle and his tone different from before, becoming gentle. "Mom, are you okay?" An Xiao smiled lightly, "I'm fine. The people here take good care of me. I live here like a queen, eating and sleeping, not having to do anything." Bai Ruoxi was shocked. She turned to look at Qiao Xuanshuo and saw that his attitude towards her mother was completely different. "Let's sit down and talk." Qiao Xuanshuo made a gesture of invitation, showing respect. Bai Ruoxi felt warm in her heart. Although this man disliked her, he still respected her mother. It was not in vain that her mother had given all her maternal love to the three brothers for more than twenty years. An Xiao sat down opposite them, and Bai Ruoxi sat next to Qiao Xuanshuo. Although she was heartbroken, An Xiao tried to maintain a cheerful smile on her face and slowly said, "Xuanshuo, don't give your mother any special privileges. It's not good for the situation." Bai Ruoxi looked confused. Qiao Xuanshuo smiled bitterly, "This is not considered a special privilege." "Even the guards nod and bow to me. I'm not here to be imprisoned, I'm clearly here to enjoy myself. It scares the other prisoners, as if I'm the king of hell." Qiao Xuanshuo pursed his lips, lowered his gaze, and remained silent. Bai Ruoxi quickly held An Xiao's hand. "Mom, let's not talk about this for now. Tell Third Brother about the details of the incident, and also..." "Didn't he already come to see me last time..." An Xiao was confused. "Cough!" Qiao Xuanshuo was choked and coughed lightly, interrupting An Xiao's words. Bai Ruoxi looked at Qiao Xuanshuo in confusion. She had begged him so hard, but it turned out that he was just playing with her? Wasn't he supposed to not interfere? Why did he set a trap for her? "Mom, tell Third Brother about the details of the incident!" Qiao Xuanshuo's tone was weak, lacking confidence. An Xiao felt that Qiao Xuanshuo was strange, but she still patiently recounted the events that happened two weeks ago. "That day..." "That day, your second aunt invited me to the beauty salon. I thought since you were going to marry Yin Rui, she would be my daughter-in-law, so I wanted to spend more time with her. I also invited her. The three of us went to the beauty salon, had lunch outside, went shopping, and around three o'clock in the afternoon, Yin Rui said she wanted to learn how to make a cake. Coincidentally, your second aunt is an expert in baking, so we went to Beiyuan together to make a cake." "That day, your second uncle and their children were not at home, and the two maids were cleaning the swimming pool on the rooftop. After we finished making the cake, we sat together and had afternoon tea. As it approached evening, Yin Rui left first, and then I returned to Nanyuan... But I didn't expect that less than an hour later, I heard the sirens of an ambulance and police cars. The next day, the police came to arrest me." Bai Ruoxi looked worried. "What about the surveillance? There should be surveillance in the kitchen..." "The police said that the surveillance system in the Qiao family happened to be down that day, and I forgot to bring back my coat and phone." "Why were your fingerprints on the fruit knife stuck in Aunt's heart?" An Xiao shook her head and sighed, "Ah, this is really unfair. I was in charge of cutting the fruit that day, so of course there were my fingerprints on the knife." Bai Ruoxi covered her face and anxiously leaned on the table. She hated herself for not being smart enough. The more anxious she was, the more chaotic her thoughts became. Qiao Xuanshuo slowly said, "More importantly, your aunt's hair was found in the crack of her fingernail, and the DNA results have confirmed it." An Xiao nodded calmly, "This is a deliberate setup. It doesn't matter if I'm wronged. It's a pity that your aunt, so young, died like this. The insane murderer will definitely face retribution." "Can Yin Rui testify for Mom?" Bai Ruoxi looked at Qiao Xuanshuo, seeking his approval. "Why are you asking me?" Qiao Xuanshuo furrowed his brows lightly, his face darkened. Bai Ruoxi was silenced by the man's cold aura and didn't dare to speak. She thought to herself, because Yin Rui is your fiancée. An Xiao broke the icy atmosphere, "It's useless. Yin Rui left before me, and I can prove that she wasn't present, but she can't prove that I didn't commit the murder." Bai Ruoxi took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She went over her mother's words in her mind and suddenly exclaimed, clapping her hands on the table in excitement, "Mom, I've found a breakthrough..." An Xiao was startled by her excitement and covered her heart, looking at her in astonishment. Qiao Xuanshuo's eyes flashed with a glimmer of anticipation as he looked at her. "Maids, the two maids were cleaning the swimming pool on the rooftop that day, right?" "Yes, yes." An Xiao nodded. Bai Ruoxi was extremely excited, her eyes flickering with a glimmer of hope. "Actually, it's very common for the two maids to clean the swimming pool together, but I have lived in the Qiao family for more than ten years, and in my impression, Aunt is the most annoyed by the maids gathering around her. She said that chatting while working would affect efficiency and quality. Cleaning the swimming pool is not difficult, and Aunt would never let them do it together." An Xiao didn't know that her sister-in-law had such a personality. Qiao Xuanshuo's eyes flashed with a deep admiration, and the corners of his mouth gently curved, forming a smile that seemed like a smile but not quite. Bai Ruoxi continued her analysis seriously, "We can investigate why the two maids acted so unusually that day and why they decided to work together. Moreover, Aunt was at home, so weren't they afraid of being scolded?" An Xiao and Qiao Xuanshuo remained silent. Bai Ruoxi seemed a little anxious, afraid that she had said something irrelevant. She looked at her mother uncertainly, then at Qiao Xuanshuo. After a moment's pause, Qiao Xuanshuo stood up. "Mom, let's go back first. I'll come pick you up next time and take you home." An Xiao felt sweet in her heart and nodded reassuringly. "Okay." Bai Ruoxi hadn't reacted yet when the man suddenly took hold of her hand. "Let's go," he said. The warm temperature, the rough and sturdy touch, sent a shockwave from her palm to her entire body, melting her heart in an instant. Her mind went blank, forgetting even to say goodbye to her mother. She was dragged out of the room in quick steps. Afraid of walking too slowly and having this big hand let go of her, she quickened her pace to keep up with him, feeling her heart about to explode. When they reached the second iron gate, he released her hand, and a moment of disappointment filled Bai Ruoxi's heart. It seemed that it was all just an act for her mother to see.