After that day.
Sheng Mumu realized that the relationship between her and Qi Mo had subtly changed.
The two still sent each other messages every day.
But between the lines, there was always a hint of ambiguous and indescribable intimacy.
No matter what they talked about, it was like they were confessing their affection.
For example.
Sheng Mumu happened to hear a nice song in the daily recommendations on a music app.
She shared it with Qi Mo.
Sheng Mumu: "[Music]"
Sheng Mumu: "Come, let's refresh our ears together."
Five minutes later.
Sheng Mumu: "How is it?"
Qi Mo: "Pretty good."
Sheng Mumu fished for compliments and asked on purpose: "Are you saying the song is good, or my musical taste is good?"
Qi Mo replied casually: "Both are good, but the best is my vision."
Sheng Mumu was stunned.
It took her a good while to react to what he was implying.
She couldn't help but sigh inwardly: You little...
Tsk tsk, you're so slick.
But her inner voice was stopped as soon as it spoke.
No.
Strictly speaking, Qi Mo could no longer be called a little one.
It should be, you old...
Uh... weird.
Or another time.
Sheng Mumu had meetings at work all day and was starving by the time she got back to the hotel.
She sent Qi Mo her usual random musings.
It was a sticker that she particularly loved using recently.
Sheng Mumu: "I'm back from goofing off.jpg"
Fifteen minutes later.
The dinner arranged by Qi Mo was delivered to Sheng Mumu's room.
It was exquisite, with five dishes and a soup, plus fruit for dessert.
And as if on cue, his message came through:
Qi Mo: "Do you want to try something different tomorrow?"
The private chef had been sending meals to her for three days. He was worried she might get tired of the food.
After devouring the meal happily, Sheng Mumu replied: "No need to change. I'm Sheng Mumu (workaholic version) now. To me, any gourmet food is just fuel."
After laying the groundwork, Sheng Mumu changed the subject:
"Speaking of work, I'm trying to find ways to lower Yueji's transportation costs for flowers in Shen City."
"President Qi, share some tips with me, please? [handing the mic.jpg]"
Qi Mo teased her: "There's a fee. Prices vary based on the tips."
Sheng Mumu cursed under her breath.
He's actually asking her for a consulting fee!?
As expected of a businessman.
Gritting her teeth, she transferred 100 yuan to Qi Mo.
Sheng Mumu: "Here's 100 first. Let's see what you've got."
Qi Mo: "Okay."
After a while, the head of the biggest transportation company in Shen City called Sheng Mumu.
He respectfully told her that Qi Group had just contracted them, and from now on, they would handle all logistics and transportation for Yueji in Shen City. He guaranteed the lowest costs.
Sheng Mumu was stunned.
After probing further, she learned that Qi Group had given them a small transportation contract in Shen City.
Sheng Mumu didn't ask further.
She knew that what Qi Group gave was definitely not a "small" contract.
After hanging up, she immediately called Qi Mo, meaning to admonish him for acting rashly:
"You... the costs didn't go down. You just shifted them. How is that experience?"
Qi Mo's tone suddenly became serious, as if he was really imparting 100-yuan advice.
"The best way to reduce costs is to utilize connections. Qi Group would have outsourced that transportation contract anyway. Since we were going to outsource it, why not take the opportunity."
"..." Sheng Mumu was taken aback.
She couldn't refute him for the moment.
She understood the favors and unspoken rules in the business world.
This approach was actually very common.
Just as she was pondering it further, she heard that magnetic, low voice come through the phone:
"We're husband and wife. I'm your connection, available anytime, no need to feel bad about it."
"We're just nominally married for now," Sheng Mumu retorted without missing a beat.
Qi Mo was silent for two seconds before seizing on the key point in her words.
He chuckled lowly, drawing out the last note: "Hmm, just for now."
Sheng Mumu: "............"
Scenes like this happened many times in the week since Sheng Mumu arrived in Shen City.
Their conversations kept taking subtle turns.
Sheng Mumu thought about it.
Perhaps this subtle change had to do with them being in different places now.
Although Qi Mo was always away on business trips before, and they didn't see each other for half a month at a time, back then she was in Jing City.
She was surrounded by familiar people and places, so loneliness wasn't so obvious.
Now, she was alone in Shen City.
The loneliness she didn't notice before reared its head.
And spiraled out of control.
She was outgoing and extroverted by nature. At work, she had to maintain her boss image before employees, so she couldn't fully be herself.
So...
She could only pour everything she wanted to share onto Qi Mo.
And every time, he caught it steadily.
He would respond to all her random musings, gossip, and trivial matters.
With their chatting frequency increasing.
Plus...
Qi's scores were going up.
The atmosphere was becoming more and more ambiguous and subtle, as if it was natural.
On the other hand, apart from her daily back-and-forth with Qi Mo, Sheng Mumu also had some snarky exchanges with Qi Shaobai.
One day.
Qi Shaobai suddenly sent her a message.
Three in a row, buzzing her palm.
Qi Shaobai: "When are you guys coming back to Jing City?"
Qi Shaobai: "If you don't come back soon, I might go crazy."
Qi Shaobai: "I'm not joking."
Sheng Mumu: "???"
Qi Shaobai immediately sent a photo.
It showed a box of lo mai fan (螺蛳粉, snail rice noodles).
Vacuum-sealed to preserve the original broth.
From the photo, half the box had been eaten.
Qi Shaobai was in despair: "Grandma sent this back. It only keeps for a week. I've been eating it every day these days. I'm almost pickled through. Come back quick, I saved the other half for you."
Sheng Mumu laughed her head off.
She felt sorry for Qi Shaobai for one second.
Then mischievously opened their family group chat.
【Illustrious Radish Meeting (6)】——
【Sheng Mumu: @Feng Yaoqin, mom, Qi Shaobai said he really likes the lo mai fan you sent.】
【Feng Yaoqin: [Smile] Really? Then I'll send him another box.】
Seeing the group message, Qi Shaobai was stunned.
He frantically tapped the screen.
【Qi Shaobai (Pickled Version): @Feng Yaoqin No, grandma, I actually don't like it that much.】
【Feng Yaoqin: This child, really grown up and sensible, too polite to admit what he likes. [Thumbs up][Thumbs up][Thumbs up]】
【Qi Shaobai (Pickled Version): ......】
【Feng Yaoqin: My next stop is Yunnan. Lots of local specialties there, anything you guys want me to send?】
Qi Shaobai couldn't swallow this.
He immediately retaliated.
【Qi Shaobai (Pickled Version): @Sheng Mumu, didn't you say you really like eating cicada pupa?】
【Sheng Mumu: I never said that!】
【Feng Yaoqin: Mumu loves cicada pupa? I'll send some. [Smile]】
Sheng Mumu: "!!!!!"
【Sheng Mumu: Mom, I really don't eat that.】
【Feng Yaoqin: What's with you two? Each trying to out-polite the other. It's convenient for me to send things, no trouble at all.】
Sheng Mumu knew her mother-in-law had completely misunderstood.
She thought Sheng Mumu and Qi Shaobai were just being politely modest.
It would be hard to explain clearly right away.
She angrily sent Qi Shaobai a private message.
Sheng Mumu: "Qi, you have no honor."
Qi Shaobai: "You started it. If we go down, we go down together. I eat lo mai fan, you get the cicadas."
Sheng Mumu took a deep breath, eyes narrowing.
She slowly opened their family group chat again.
【Sheng Mumu: @Qi Mo, control your son.】
