That night, Cheng Zhuo gave Sheng Mumu a detailed account of his family situation over the phone.
Including how his parents Cheng Father and Cheng Mother had passed away early on, and he had been raised by his elder brother Cheng Xin all this time.
When he talked about his elder brother, pride was evident in Cheng Zhuo's tone:
"Sis, have you heard of Fangcheng Group?"
Sheng Mumu thought for a moment.
The name rang a bell but she couldn't quite remember what it was.
She hazarded a guess:
"Fangcheng...is it a math tutoring institute?"
As soon as she finished speaking, there was a moment of silence over the phone.
Then the person on the other end raised his voice in exclamation:
"No, Fangcheng Group! One of the top 30 Chinese companies in the US after just 5 short years, Fangcheng Group!"
As Sheng Mumu listened to Cheng Zhuo speak faster and faster, proudly and excitedly announcing to her:
"Fangcheng Group's current CEO, Cheng Xin, is my elder brother!"
He paused for a second, then corrected himself:
"―Our elder brother."
"We haven't had a DNA test yet, don't get ahead of yourself." Sheng Mumu calmly interrupted.
But Cheng Zhuo's floodgates had already opened, and he continued on, oblivious:
"Although my brother is very strict with me, I actually really look up to him."
"He's so smart and capable, already established on Wall Street at just 34, he's awesome."
"Damn it, and he's more handsome than me too!"
"It really is difficult being his younger brother."
Hearing Cheng Zhuo simultaneously praise and complain about him, Sheng Mumu belatedly realized she had misunderstood.
So it turns out...Cheng Zhuo wasn't involved in shady dealings after all.
The "boss" he referred to was a legitimate tycoon.
Thinking that someone so outstanding according to Cheng Zhuo's description might be her brother, Sheng Mumu suddenly felt a sense of surrealism.
By the end of the call, the two agreed to take a DNA test the next day.
After hanging up, Sheng Mumu reflexively opened her WeChat conversation with Qi Mo.
Sheng Mumu: "Let me tell you a joke, I might not be surnamed Sheng after all."
Not even half a minute after the message was sent, Qi Mo called her.
His voice concealed a barely detectable unease:
"Cheng Zhuo talked to you?"
"Yeah, he told me―" Sheng Mumu answered naturally, but then her brows twitched and she stopped. "Wait, why do you sound like you already knew??"
Silence over the phone for a few seconds.
Qi Mo didn't intend to hide it from her.
He had anticipated this day would come.
Even so, when this day arrived, his feelings were far more complicated than he had imagined.
After a long pause, Sheng Mumu finally heard the low, husky voice over the phone.
Tinged with a hint of indiscernible melancholy.
"I'm sorry, Mumu."
Sheng Mumu was puzzled. "Why are you suddenly apologizing?"
"I found out a few months ago," Qi Mo's voice slowed. "Back then, I thought he was approaching you with ulterior motives, so I secretly met with him once..."
Standing in front of the window, Qi Mo's deep gaze looked outside vacantly.
Not really focusing on anything.
As he confessed to Sheng Mumu, he also counted the thoughts in his own heart.
He had known long ago why Cheng Zhuo was approaching her.
He also had countless opportunities to verify things and confess to her.
But he never did any of that.
He was selfish.
Afraid that she really was a member of the Cheng family.
With a marriage certificate and monetary agreement, he would no longer be able to keep her by his side.
He was despicable.
Secretly hoping Cheng Zhuo wouldn't bring up recognizing kinship so quickly.
The slower the better.
Slow enough for her to fully accept him.
By then, regardless of the outcome, he wouldn't be afraid.
The deep as fog pupils churned with dark undercurrents.
These unscrupulous thoughts were like moss growing in the dark, always hidden in his heart.
Now, he had confessed them in one breath.
Qi Mo's shoulders sank, as if a weight had been lifted.
Then immediately wrapped up again in feelings of unease.
Standing tall and straight beside the window, his handsome features failed to conceal the gloom.
His fingertips curled slightly, grip tightening on the phone.
Afraid of missing the slightest sound from the other end.
It felt like a long time, but also just a few seconds.
He heard Sheng Mumu give a soft chuckle over the phone.
Then her delightful voice, still containing vestiges of laughter, spoke:
"So President Qi...the reason you met with Cheng Zhuo was because you mistook him for my suitor?"
Qi Mo hesitated briefly before answering, "Yes, that's right."
"How could you―" Sheng Mumu drew out the last word, filled with bewilderment and amusement:
"―be so adorable?"
Qi Mo was suddenly taken aback. "......"
The boulder weighing on his heart crashed down in an instant.
The moss in the dark was as if finally illuminated by sunlight.
Disintegrating inch by inch.
"You're not mad at me for keeping it from you?" he asked.
"I'm not mad about that." She said.
Qi Mo's gaze tightened. He only felt his heart rapidly soar then fall with her words.
It was agonizing.
In all his years, no matter how complex or difficult a problem he encountered in his career,
he could always remain calm and composed.
He had long perfected the skill of maintaining an impassive demeanor.
Yet now, with just four simple words from her,
he was thrown into turmoil.
The cold, expressionless handsome face openly revealed the surging undercurrents.
Qi Mo lowered his voice, "Then what are you mad about?"
"I'm mad that someone as smart as you has no self-awareness." Sheng Mumu sighed lightly. "Did you really think you could only keep me by your side with money?"
As her words trailed off, the gloom in the man's eyes slowly receded, replaced by a piercing bright light.
Every crease that had formed in his heart due to unease was instantly smoothed out by her words.
The corners of his eyes and mouth all revealed his elation and smugness.
She wasn't mad at him after all.
Not only was she not mad at him...
She also said... she liked him...
Sheng Mumu didn't mean to tease Qi Mo on purpose.
It was just in that context, she blurted out her true feelings unthinkingly.
She never could have imagined that Qi Mo had feelings for her so long ago.
That he childishly assumed Cheng Zhuo was her suitor and arranged a private meeting.
She had only seen storylines like this on TV dramas before.
Experiencing it herself now felt completely different.
If she was just an observer,
she probably would have mercilessly mocked―
A private meeting? How hilarious!
What for, a dance battle?
The dance studio's already packed!
But as the person involved, this feeling was indescribable.
It felt like...
Like when she was extremely thirsty, someone handed her half a chilled watermelon with a sugar cube inside.
Sweet and refreshing.
Most importantly, the one who gave her the watermelon was a hottie.
A seemingly cool and composed hottie who was actually secretly scheming to win her affections.
With all these factors combined,
she couldn't help but say those words.
Damn it, she really was bewitched by him.
That night, Sheng Mumu tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep for a long time.
She kept thinking about the end of that phone call.
She had mischievously, tentatively asked him:
"What if, I'm just saying what if, Cheng Zhuo really was my suitor and didn't come to recognize kinship, how would you respond then?"
After a long pause, she finally heard Qi Mo's blunt, decisive reply come through the phone.
Tinged with a hint of faint amusement.
"I'll tell you when I get back."
With that, Sheng Mumu suddenly froze.
His low, attractive voice had drawn out the last word.
Somehow, it took on an enchanting nuance.
Sheng Mumu felt like feathers were brushing her earlobes.
Her heart also started pounding uncontrollably.
She finally managed to steady her breathing after much difficulty, and monotonously bid him good night.
As soon as she hung up the phone, she flopped onto her bed.
Burying her head in the blanket, she let out a muffled shriek.
Embarrassed because she had boldly teased Qi Mo.
Yet also heartbeat racing because Qi Mo told her to wait for him to get back.
She was looking forward to...the sense of occasion when starting a romantic relationship.
That irresistible moment when you just have to be together, no matter the cost.
It seemed to be getting closer and closer...
