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Chapter 53
When Qi Mo and Sheng Mumu returned to the villa, the hot pot ingredients had already been delivered.
The large marble dining table that could seat ten was set full of food. At first glance, there were already five or six varieties of mushrooms that she loved to eat.
"Madam, if there is not enough food or you would like anything else, please let me know and the hotel kitchen will prepare and deliver it immediately," the resort manager said obsequiously.
Sheng Mumu shook her head. "Enough, enough, more than enough."
With just the three of them, let alone ten people, there was definitely more than enough to eat.
It turned out there really was too much. Even Qi Shaobai, a growing teenage boy with a big appetite, had only finished three plates of meat.
On the other hand, Qi Mo's appetite today surprised Qi Shaobai.
In his memory, his dad had always been disciplined and restrained.
He was the same when it came to eating. He never overate.
Yet today, exceptionally, even after Qi Shaobai had set his chopsticks down, his dad was still adding mushrooms to the hot pot.
He seemed to be in a very good mood.
"I'm going to get some drinks, do you guys want any?" Qi Shaobai asked Sheng Mumu who was picking mushrooms.
After getting their requests, he ambled leisurely towards the kitchen.
He browsed for the sparkling water he wanted to drink, the sour plum juice Sheng Mumu specified, and the mineral water for his dad in the fridge.
After taking these out, Qi Shaobai did not immediately return.
Instead, he hopped up onto the spotless countertop, pulled open the tab on the sparkling water can, and took a sip with his head tilted back.
Dragging out time...
These past two days, it was obvious to him that the atmosphere between his dad and stepmom had gotten ambiguous.
That scene from skiing the other day was unbelievable now that he thought back on it.
Just now when his dad and stepmom got out of the car after returning to the villa, he happened to see it from the balcony.
Even from a distance, with his good eyesight, he could see Sheng Mumu's earlobes were flushed.
They were that intimate even in the car.
As expected of newlyweds.
Strangely though, they spoke less over dinner.
Could it be because he was there, so they were shy?
Qi Shaobai somehow thought this to himself.
Then he would just wait here in the kitchen a bit longer before going back out.
He didn't want to be a light bulb.
The sensitive and quiet seventeen-year-old was thinking this as he took out his phone.
He didn't dare play on his phone during the meal earlier, afraid of getting scolded by his dad.
Now was a good time to indulge.
...
At the dining table outside.
Qi Mo's phone lit up.
He leisurely wiped his hands with a wet tissue before looking at the message.
Putting his phone down, through the thin mist rising from the hot pot, he looked at Sheng Mumu who seemed to have been burnt by the dried chili powder.
He slowly spoke only after Sheng Mumu gulped down a large mouthful of her drink to soothe the spiciness:
"The return flight plan has been approved. There are two days left, anywhere else you want to visit before we leave?"
Sheng Mumu's lips were red from the spicy food, and her eyes were a little wet. She raised her head to look at him:
"Approved?"
As she spoke, she wanted to drink more water, only to find there were just ice cubes left in her cup.
Qi Mo slid his cup over and gazed at her with deep, dark eyes. "Mm-hmm."
Sheng Mumu hesitated for a few seconds.
The cup before her contained the sour plum juice she had poured for him. It was nearly full since he didn't seem to like sour drinks and had only taken one or two sips.
She picked up the cup and took a sip, finally relieving the spiciness.
With clear thoughts, she asked:
"We're taking a private jet for the return flight?"
If they had booked normal tickets, it would just be to Jing City. There would be no mention of "approval".
Qi Mo's eyes quirked up imperceptibly as he replied in his magnetic, leisurely voice:
"Mm-hmm, we left in a hurry this time, and it was peak travel season, so flight plans were hard to get approved."
Sheng Mumu: "Then does that mean I can bring more stuff back without having to check baggage?"
Qi Mo was taken aback for a moment before chuckling in response: "That's right."
He had never considered that she might have worries in this aspect.
Over this period, Sheng Mumu had gained a good grasp of what the world of the wealthy was like.
But she had never actually been on a private jet before.
Back when she was working, she had heard colleagues who loved palace dramas chat about how a single private jet flight, factoring in takeoff and landing fees, fuel costs, etc., would cost at least five to six hundred thousand.
Five to six hundred thousand!
If it wasn't for this ultra-rich man before her eyes, she probably would never get the chance to experience it in her lifetime.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help feeling amazed.
Heaven really was blessing her.
Even though they were only pretend spouses, Qi Mo treated her very generously.
So generously that it gave her the illusion they were a real married couple.
On second thought, Sheng Mumu rejected this notion again.
She was still too narrow-minded.
What she considered generous, sprinkling money like dirt, was probably just a tiny figure in Qi Mo's eyes.
With this in mind, the way Sheng Mumu looked at Qi Mo through the rising steam even took on a shine like twinkling gold coins.
...
At that time.
Outside the gates of Xiyu Yueting Villa Area, Jing City.
Sheng Lei was stopped by the security guard yet again.
Noticing the disdainful looks from those in the luxury car about to enter the villa area, Sheng Lei angrily said:
"How many times do I have to tell you, my sister lives here, why can't you understand?"
The well-trained, burly guard stood in his way and sternly warned:
"Sir, if you keep this up I'll have to call security to drag you away. This is private property, no entry without proof of residency."
"Che, power tripping jerk." Sheng Lei spat at the guard's feet and stomped away cursing.
Recently he had invested in cryptocurrency. His investment advisor told him now was a good time to buy in at the low point.
Once news of the currency going public was announced, it could surge multiplied times in value.
Everything was ready, just lacking funds.
Just at this time, he somehow couldn't get in contact with that deadbeat Sheng Mumu at all.
Phone calls were always busy.
A few days ago he sent her a WeChat message, only to find he was blocked.
How dare she block him?
The more Sheng Lei thought about it, the more irritated he got, cursing crudely under his breath a few times.
"Damn it, I don't believe I can't run into you if I wait here everyday."
At thirty-three this year, Sheng Lei had little accomplishments and was restless with steady work, fantasizing about getting rich quick overnight.
Before Sheng Mumu's parents passed away unexpectedly, he was the treasured baby boy doted on.
After his parents' death, the huge drop was difficult for him to adapt to initially.
He remembered his parents' words to him on their deathbeds.
At that time, Sheng Mumu was still just an ordinary office worker before marrying into the Qi family.
"Lei, if you run into any difficulties in the future, have your sister help you."
"She is destined to dedicate everything to the Sheng family. When she marries, her bride price should also go to you. You must remember to ask for it."
Sheng Lei firmly kept his parents words in heart.
Yes, he was the Sheng family's only man who could continue their ancestral line.
Sheng Mumu was just a daughter who married out.
A married out daughter is splashed out water.
Even if this bucket of water that was Sheng Mumu would eventually be splashed out one day, it must first nurture and water the soil called "Sheng".