You Make Money, I'll Spend It: Stepmother's Ultimate Pleasure in the Aristocratic Family

Chapter 61

When Sheng Mumu was speaking, the other two people's hearts were stirred to varying degrees.

Qi Mo's eyes flashed, and the slender fingers on the folder bent slightly as a soft tenderness rose in his heart.

He knew she had been very busy recently.

Busy investigating opening a branch in Shen City.

He hadn't expected that even though she was already so busy, she still found time to understand Qi Shaobai's grades.

It seemed she attached great importance to the high school entrance exam mobilization meeting.

Or perhaps, she attached great importance to this family...

Across the table, the Class Advisor's mouth opened slightly, unable to conceal her surprise and delight as she adjusted her glasses frame, wanting to see Sheng Mumu more clearly.

Previously, when Qi Shaobai had angered a professor into calling his parents, the Class Advisor had met Sheng Mumu.

At that time, she had only felt that this stepmother's aura didn't quite match Qi Shaobai's, and the two didn't seem to exchange more than a few words in their conversation.

How after just one summer vacation could she be so clear about Qi Shaobai's grades?

She had obviously done her homework in advance and come prepared today.

As a Class Advisor, she was most willing to see a parent like Sheng Mumu.

Communication with her would not be difficult.

The next ten-odd minutes.

Almost became a one-on-one consultation between the Class Advisor and her.

In the end, the Class Advisor's attitude was:

If Qi Shaobai could bring his English scores up over the next year, he would have a good chance of being admitted to a first-tier university.

The Class Advisor added: "But the academic workload is heavy in 12th grade. Our school does not recommend students attend cram schools externally, as excessive pressure may be counterproductive. Parents should mainly play a supervisory and supporting role."

Sheng Mumu pursed her lips in thought for a moment before replying:

"Mm, I understand what you're saying. I plan to provide supplementary English tutoring for him during his free time at home, without affecting his other subjects."

The Class Advisor looked hesitant.

She thought to herself: You? Tutoring? Can you do it?

One couldn't blame the Class Advisor for looking down on Sheng Mumu. She had seen far too many students' parents after all.

At an elite school like Beijing No. 1 High School, many parents didn't care what their children actually learned in school, caring more about which young masters and noble ladies they befriended there.

Many parents had already planned from the start to send their children abroad after the gaokao, buying admission to foreign universities with sponsorship fees.

Parents like Sheng Mumu who proposed tutoring their children themselves were few and far between.

The Class Advisor naturally assumed she was exaggerating.

She thought this in her heart, but did not say it aloud.

Instead she responded euphemistically: "The gaokao English is different from everyday English, the difficulty is not small."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Mumu revealed a confident smile. "I--"

She had just wanted to say "I got close to a perfect score on the gaokao English exam", but her breath suddenly hitched and she stopped herself.

She couldn't speak recklessly. That was from her previous life.

Fortunately she had stopped herself in time. She changed the direction of her words:

"I... Old Qi is very good at English, and I'm decent too. Tutoring Qi Shaobai should be more than adequate."

As she finished speaking, she quirked a brow at Qi Mo.

The man who had just been referred to as "Old Qi" maintained a calm composure, unmoving as a mountain.

Only he himself knew that his brow had twitched involuntarily.

Tutoring Qi Shaobai in English? Him?

The Class Advisor still didn't believe it in her heart, but knew better than to show it directly. She responded with a perfunctory sentiment:

"It's wonderful that you parents can cooperate with the school like this."

Next, the topic shifted to "how to work jointly between family and school to provide comprehensive psychological health guidance to students."

*

While her mother was chatting one-on-one, Chi Xia had gone to the backstreet to buy a cup of milk tea by herself.

Yet she hadn't expected to get lost on her way back.

Beijing No. 1 High School was just too big.

The further she walked, the fewer people there were around her.

Hesitantly, she saw a male student resting on a bench not far away.

She deliberated for a few steps, wanting to ask for directions.

But as she drew nearer, the thought instantly dissipated.

Even with his eyes closed, this male student looked like he had an awful temper.

It would be best not to provoke him.

Just then, the male student's eyes slowly opened, and his distant, aloof gaze narrowed.

Their eyes met.

Chi Xia was taken aback, blinking rapidly before turning around.

She sighed inwardly, what a fierce expression.

Qi Shaobai's brows furrowed slightly as he sized up the girl who had suddenly appeared before him.

Bathed in sunlight, the girl's fair and translucent skin glowed, with her hair pinned behind her ears and fluffy bangs across her forehead.

He felt somewhat familiar with her looks but couldn't remember where he had seen her before.

This girl was a bit strange.

Why did she immediately turn and leave upon seeing him look over?

Qi Shaobai's brows knitted together, his gaze still nonchalantly lingering on her.

He saw the girl stop in front of a three-way intersection, looking left and right, seemingly conflicted.

Qi Shaobai's brows relaxed a little.

He understood now, she was directionally challenged.

He rolled his neck and lazily called out:

"Can't find your way?"

The girl looked back at him in bewilderment.

Her watery eyes scanned the surroundings. Seeing no one else around, she confirmed he was speaking to her.

She nodded in reply: "Mm."

Qi Shaobai's lips pressed into a straight line, his face taking on an "how troublesome" expression.

The next second, he got up from the bench.

Hands in his pockets, he walked over to stand in front of her and coolly glanced her over once, speaking coldly: "Where are you going?"

Chi Xia blinked blankly.

The words were clearly well-intentioned, but coming from this guy's mouth and paired with his frosty, piercing eyes, it was like an interrogation.

After a few seconds' pause, Chi Xia replied with a faint smile:

"The East No. 3 Lab Building."

Qi Shaobai didn't know why she had to smile. His brow quirked slightly.

He pointed in one direction at the three-way intersection:

"Go straight down this way, take a right after the swimming center and you'll arrive."

Chi Xia's smile remained. "Oh okay, thank you!"

Just as she was about to take a step, she heard his lazy voice drift over again:

"I'm also going that way, follow me."

Upon finishing speaking, Chi Xia watched as he strode ahead of her with languid steps.

Qi Shaobai's gaze lazily swept back once, slowing his pace to allow the directionally challenged girl to keep up.

Beijing No. 1 High School had three swimming centers. Judging by this girl's dazed look, it was highly likely she wouldn't be able to find her way alone.

It was still early now. Killing time by walking wasn't a problem for him.

Chi Xia craned her head to look at the male student a full head taller than her. She hesitated for two seconds before catching up to his steps.

The two of them walked on the fragrant camphor tree-lined paths of the campus about a meter apart from each other.

The whole way, neither spoke another word.

Upon reaching their destination, Qi Shaobai jerked his chin towards the lab building:

"Here it is, we've arrived."

Chi Xia smiled. "Thanks--"

Before she could finish the word, a voice cut her off.

"Xiaxia-- I'm over here--"

Qin Jiamu had just finished chatting with the Class Advisor and came out of the lab building, immediately catching sight of her daughter.

In a flash, her eyes narrowed, gaining an extra trace of wariness.

Who was that punk beside her daughter?

Seeing her mother, Chi Xia did not go over. She intended to thank the boy who had led her here first.

But when she turned her head, the boy who had been beside her just a moment ago was gone.

Looking into the distance, she saw the boy's tall, slender figure leisurely dragging his feet as he walked back along the way they had come.

Chi Xia stared blankly for a moment.

Hadn't he said it was on his way just now?

Why did he go back again?

As she puzzled it over, her mother had already come down the stairs to stand beside her, following her line of sight.

"Xiaxia, who was that punk?"

Chi Xia looped her arm around her mother's. "A student from No. 1 High School."

Qin Jiamu looked wary. "Did that punk try to hit on you?"

Because her daughter was so pretty, Qin Jiamu was never short of worries.

As a result, whenever she saw boys of around her daughter's age surrounding her, she would unconsciously take on a scrutinizing gaze.

Ever since elementary school, there had always been punks hovering around her precious daughter.

Entering middle school, there were even more little boys who would approach her daughter under the pretext of "borrowing books", "borrowing pens", or "borrowing umbrellas".

With Qin Jiamu's experience, she could see through those bratty boys' intentions at a glance.

Thus for high school, she specifically chose a school known for its relatively strict etiquette.

It was a boarding school with no male students, putting her more at ease.

Fortunately her daughter had always been very well-behaved, never seeing her get particularly close with any punk.

Thinking of this, Qin Jiamu couldn't help but sigh.

Before giving birth to her darling daughter, where had she known that her previously carefree self would become so paranoid?

Ever since having her precious baby girl, she only wanted to give her the best of everything in the world.

She mustn't grow up to be casually deceived by some sweet-talking man.

Chi Xia knew her mother meant well. She drew out her words teasingly:

"Mom, no, he's just being nice and helping me find my way. He's not some punk kid," Chi Xia explained.

He's a cold-faced but warm-hearted nice guy.

Qin Jiamu was still worried. She stroked her daughter's hair and cautioned seriously:

"Okay, I'll say it again - I don't care if you do well or poorly in school. No dating allowed, at least not until you get into college. Be wise and find someone gentle and considerate, like your dad."

Chi Xia tugged at her mom's arm as they walked, teasing playfully:

"I know, I know. In your eyes, no one's as good as Dad. He's the best in the world."

Qin Jiamu: ...

That's not the point!