Chapter 19

Sheng Mumu was curious and stepped back two steps to look over. She asked:

“You’re not full yet?”

Teenage boys with growing bodies really do have huge appetites.

Qi Shaobai didn’t hear Sheng Mumu’s words.

Standing in front of the malt sugar stall, scenes of the few times he had spent time alone with his dad floated through his mind.

At the beginning of 10th grade when the school held a parents meeting, his dad happened to not be busy that day and came.

On the way home after the meeting, Qi Shaobai saw his dad ask the driver to stop and buy a bag of malt sugar.

He seemed to like eating this.

Seeing Qi Shaobai lost in thought, Sheng Mumu took out her wallet.

“Do you want to eat some malt sugar? I'll treat you.”

Qi Shaobai looked away, appearing indifferent as he glanced at the street lamp. “I don't eat that stuff, my dad likes it.”

“Oh.” Sheng Mumu paused. “If he likes it, why not just buy it? The vendor won't give it to you for free just because you're looking longingly at it.”

Qi Shaobai: “......”

He wasn't looking longingly at all.

As Sheng Mumu spoke, she laughed and took out some money to buy a bag. She held it out to Qi Shaobai.

“Here, take it.”

Qi Shaobai didn't reach out. Instead he put his hands in his pockets, looking aloof.

“I didn't say I wanted to buy it.”

Sheng Mumu: “......”

What a stubborn kid!

He clearly wanted to buy a treat for his dad but didn't want his dad to know it was his idea.

Sheng Mumu was too lazy to explain further. “Fine, I’ll give it to your dad for you.”

Qi Shaobai's expression softened, but his mouth remained stubborn. He shrank his neck back.

“It’s not for me, you wanted to buy it yourself, so you give it to him.”

Sheng Mumu laughed. “Alright, alright, I bought it.”

Would rather die than admit it, huh?

Oh well, no need to expose this rebellious kid.

The car had just driven into a nice neighborhood when Sheng Mumu rolled down her window halfway.

The weather today was great, and the evening breeze felt especially refreshing on her face.

On a whim, she wanted to get out of the car for a walk to help digest her meal.

She really ate too much.

She turned off the engine, parked, and got out in one smooth motion.

Qi Shaobai didn't understand. “What are you doing? We're not there yet.”

Sheng Mumu realized that after spending a day together, Qi Shaobai was no longer as guarded and cold towards her as before. This wasn’t a good thing. She was supposed to act like a stepmother.

She retorted, “You’re the old one, your whole family is old.”

Qi Shaobai: “......”

That was hard to respond to.

Compared to Sheng Mumu, his dad was pretty old.

Seeing Qi Shaobai at a loss for words, Sheng Mumu felt satisfied. She pushed open the door and got out.

Bending down to look in the car, she asked,

“I ate too much and want to walk it off for a bit. I’ll leave the car here and have Butler Zhang come get it later, or do you want the keys to drive back yourself? Oh right, do you have a license?”

Qi Shaobai wasn’t yet 18 and didn’t have a license, but he knew how to drive.

He sighed resignedly without mentioning he could drive. He got out of the car, as if reluctantly.

“I’ll walk too.”

And so the two strolled slowly down the scenic path.

Sheng Mumu held the bag of malt sugar in one hand, swinging both hands casually behind her back. She looked up at the sky, breathing in the fresh air, and felt her overstuffed stomach settle down quite a bit.

Just then, a black Rolls-Royce drove into the nice neighborhood.

Qi Mo was returning from a tedious board meeting, sitting in the backseat massaging his temples.

Usually at times like this, Driver Wang would keep silent, providing him an environment of absolute quiet to rest in.

But today he broke the norm and spoke up, disturbing the peace in the car.

“Boss Qi, I think that’s Young Master and... Madame up ahead.”

Qi Mo looked up to see.

He was very familiar with Qi Shaobai’s lanky figure and recognized him instantly.

Qi Shaobai was holding a woman’s handbag.

He recognized it as the one Sheng Mumu took when she went out.

Beside Qi Shaobai, Sheng Mumu walked leisurely and carefreely, occasionally turning to chat with him. They seemed to be getting along well.

Driver Wang glanced in the rearview mirror.

“Boss Qi, should we stop to give Madame and Young Master a ride?”

Qi Mo was silent for a few seconds before nodding slightly.

“Mm, stop up ahead.”

“Yes Boss Qi.”

When the Rolls-Royce pulled up next to Sheng Mumu and Qi Shaobai, Sheng Mumu had just finished telling Qi Shaobai about a lame joke she'd seen.

After Sheng Mumu finished the joke, she laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight.

Qi Shaobai just looked at her coldly, thinking she looked more like a joke than the lame joke itself. He forced out a couple laughs to humor her.

“Heh heh.”

Sheng Mumu stood up straight, face falling.

“You're better off not laughing. You know going 'heh heh' is likely to get you beat up out there.”

Qi Shaobai thought to himself: Who would dare hit me?

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from beside them.

“Why didn’t you drive back?”

They both turned to see the handsome, charismatic man with a commanding aura through the partially rolled down window. They were both surprised.

Seeing Qi Mo, Qi Shaobai instantly switched to good boy mode. “Dad.”

Perhaps it was the intimacy built up from sharing a bed, but Sheng Mumu had forgotten about Qi Mo's aloof demeanor. She spoke casually, “I ate too much and wanted to walk back.”

Driver Wang got out of the driver's seat to open the door for his boss.

Qi Mo stepped out with his long legs and stood before them, tidying his coat collar. His tone was casual:

“I’ll walk too.”

Qi Shaobai was stunned. “......”

Sheng Mumu blinked. For a moment she didn't say anything either.

Not because she was shocked that Qi Mo wanted to take a stroll with them, but because his getting out of the car and straightening his clothes was so suave it left her in awe.

Once again she marveled that this man really knew how to charm people, exuding mature masculine appeal at all times.

The sidewalks in this elite neighborhood were usually empty since most residents came and went by car.

With no one else around, the three of them standing by the side of the road made Qi Shaobai feel like a high wattage light bulb.

He was certain his dad only decided to walk instead of riding in the car because of Sheng Mumu.

In Qi Shaobai's eyes, his 38 year-old dad suddenly marrying a woman 10 years younger could only mean he was head over heels in love.

Qi Shaobai hesitated, thinking he might as well just take the car home.

Before he could suggest it, Driver Wang had already driven the Rolls-Royce away.

Qi Shaobai: "......"

Fine, he was stuck being the light bulb whether he wanted to or not.

Qi Mo very naturally walked to Sheng Mumu's right side.

Seeing the two men on either side of her, both a bit taller, Sheng Mumu wondered if she should change their formation from a "V" to a diagonal "I".

That way she wouldn't look so short in comparison.

She was pondering this silliness when she felt a gentle grip on her elbow.

Qi Mo's broad palm touched her arm lightly as he looked at the bag in her hand.

"Let me carry that."

He was well-bred, so it was only right for him to help carry things whether she was really his wife or not.

Sheng Mumu didn't stand on ceremony and handed the bag over.

"Here, this was bought for you anyway so you should take it."

Hearing this, Qi Shaobai tensed up.

He was very worried Sheng Mumu would blurt out about the scene at the malt sugar stand.

As Qi Mumu's eyes narrowed following Sheng Mumu's lighthearted words, the warmth in them hardened.

The lamplight shone in his dark yet bright pupils, a flash of subtle surprise passing through.

"Bought for me? What is it?"

Sheng Mumu: "Malt sugar."

To prevent her from letting anything slip, Qi Shaobai quickly added:

"She happened to pick me up from school today after I finished playing basketball, and we came across it on the way back."

Qi Mo glanced at Qi Shaobai then back at Sheng Mumu. "Thank you."

Walking in the shadow of the streetlamp, Qi Shaobai's shoulders sagged in relief.

He quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Phew -

Luckily this stepmother was decently trustworthy.

She didn't mention to his dad that it was his idea to buy it.

However, Qi Shaobai didn't know that Sheng Mumu ratted him out later that night...