The news gradually spread to others within a few days.
Qi Mo was the first to find out, and the test results were as he expected.
Soon after, Madam Qiao and Feng Yaoqin also learned about it. They felt sorry for the early demise of Cheng's parents but were happy that Sheng Mumu had found her family.
Qiao Li heard about it from Cheng Zhuo and was shocked for a whole day.
Belatedly, Qiao Li said to Cheng Zhuo, "No wonder I always felt that you and your sister-in-law have similar expressions, especially when you look lost and bewildered. It's like you were carved from the same mold."
Cheng Zhuo stiffened, catching the key point of the conversation accurately.
With a hint of meaning, he dragged out his tone and asked, "You've been observing my subtle expressions seriously? You..."
"...," Qiao Li froze for a moment, immediately changing the subject, "You're diverting the topic. I have to go for rehearsals now. Bye."
Among the people at the Qi family, Qi Shaobai had the strangest reaction upon hearing the news.
His brows furrowed momentarily before quickly relaxing.
He pondered for a moment, nodding his chin, and muttered to himself, "That makes sense... that makes sense..."
After speaking, he suddenly clicked his tongue, wearing a regretful expression.
Shaking his head, he murmured, "What a pity, what a pity."
Sheng Mumu was confused and couldn't understand what Qi Shaobai was talking about. She asked, "What makes sense? What's a pity? Little Qi, what are you mumbling about?"
Qi Shaobai looked up and said, "The last time I kicked your brother... No, not your brother, that guy named Lei. I regret that I didn't kick him harder. Now, I wish I could go and deliver a few more kicks."
These words touched Sheng Mumu, and she smiled, her eyes and eyebrows curved.
She originally intended to praise Qi Shaobai for his filial behavior, but it turned into a joking tone when it reached her lips.
"Little Qi, I didn't expect you to be so eager to stand up for others. Have you been fighting for justice at school?"
Qi Shaobai glanced to the side and lifted his chin.
In a lazy tone, he said, "It depends on who it is. I don't meddle in other people's affairs that much."
Sheng Mumu was even more moved.
Her eyes instantly sparkled with tenderness.
Having an obedient son who was diligent in his studies, well-behaved, and filial was simply wonderful.
She took a step forward, grabbed Qi Shaobai's naturally stern face, and pulled it into an exaggerated angle.
Unable to help herself, she praised, "Little Qi, you're such a good boy, always thinking of standing up for me."
Qi Shaobai froze, "..."
One second ago, he was lazily gazing at the sky, exuding an air of coolness and impatience.
But now, his pupils suddenly contracted.
Internally, he exclaimed, "What are you doing??"
Sheng Mumu seemed oblivious to his terrified gaze and the deep furrow between his brows.
Releasing her grip, she moved her fingers to his chin.
Like teasing a small dog, she gently scratched it twice.
"You're such a good boy from our family."
Qi Shaobai, "!!!!"
Internally, he thought, "Please don't come any closer!!"
Sheng Mumu looked at him with a contented expression, smiling warmly as she asked, "What would you like for a late-night snack? I'll personally cook for you tonight. Let's not have snail noodles."
Qi Shaobai tilted his neck backward.
He received Sheng Mumu's "motherly love" so directly, feeling somewhat uneasy.
He averted his gaze randomly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Lifting his leg, he walked toward his room and said, "I'm not hungry. I'll go back to my room to study."
As the words fell, Qi Shaobai quickened his pace and returned to his room.
Closing the door behind him, he casually threw his backpack onto the chair.
He slowly raised his hand and touched his face, feeling the spot where Sheng Mumu had pinched him earlier.
Ouch, she really pinched hard.
He could sense a motherly love, but not much of it.
Sheng Mumu was still standing in the living room with a kind smile, thinking about Qi Shaobai's reaction just now, finding his shy and spoiled appearance quite amusing.
Just as she was about to take out her phone to share Qi Mo's daily shyness with Qi Mo, she suddenly heard the sound of the room door being pushed open.
Qi Shaobai's lazy voice floated out through the crack of the door:
"If you insist on cooking, you can just make a bowl of noodles casually. I'll reluctantly eat some to save face."
After speaking, there was a "slam" as the door closed again.
Sheng Mumu's mouth twitched: "..."
She couldn't figure it out.
Would this kid die if he wasn't spoiled?
Sheng Mumu was the type of person who couldn't hold back her words.
She messaged Qin Jiamu and Su Tingran to briefly tell them about what had just happened.
She felt that they were good girlfriends now, so she should share such a big thing with them.
Qin Jiamu received the message and immediately came over from the next office.
She pulled out the chair opposite Sheng Mumu and sat down, and they chatted for a while.
After a while, Qin Jiamu said leisurely:
"The names of you three siblings are quite interesting, one 'Xin', one 'Zhuo,' and one 'Mu'."
Sheng Mumu's eyes brightened, "Oh yeah, I didn't notice that until you mentioned it."
Qin Jiamu said, "Gold, wood, water, fire, and earth. Your three names account for four of them."
Sheng Mumu smiled, "I occupy two of them alone."
Qin Jiamu's eyes flickered as she said seriously, "Your parents are good at giving names. Look at your older brother Cheng Xin, with three 'gold' characters in his name. He is also the same, very wealthy."
Sheng Mumu discovered a new world, "Really?"
Qin Jiamu used her finger to write and draw on the table, "Look again, Cheng Zhuo, passionate like fire, and it suits his personality, cheerful, and loves to laugh."
"Yes," Sheng Mumu continued the analysis, "The 'Mu' character in my name has the radical for three dots, corresponding to my personality, gentle like water--"
"Wait, gentle like water?" Before she could finish her sentence, Qin Jiamu interrupted her, "Mumu, do you have a misunderstanding about yourself?"
Sheng Mumu blinked in confusion, "Am I not gentle? I think I'm quite gentle sometimes."
Just like yesterday, when she was cooking supper for Qi Shaobai, she accidentally caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and felt that her gentle and motherly side was about to overflow.
"You..." Qin Jiamu sighed, got up and walked towards the door, and turned back, saying, "Like a block of wood."
Sheng Mumu: "..."
"Jiamu, wait a minute." Sheng Mumu chased after her and pulled Qin Jiamu back.
"Where do I look like a block of wood?"
She couldn't stand it when people only said half of something and vowed to get to the bottom of it.
Qin Jiamu looked her up and down and smiled without saying a word.
Qin Jiamu could come up with several pieces of evidence just by thinking about it casually.
For example, one time she, Sheng Mumu, and Su Tingran went shopping together.
After browsing through the women's clothing floor, she and Su Tingran instinctively headed towards the men's clothing stores, intending to buy something for their husbands as well.
Sheng Mumu trailed behind them, not looking or picking anything, idly playing with her phone.
She bought a few new pairs of underwear for her husband, and Su Tingran casually picked up a few pairs as well.
They asked Sheng Mumu, "Since you're here, why don't you buy something?"
Sheng Mumu blushed instantly and stammered, "...Huh? He... he can buy them himself."
Qin Jiamu and Su Tingran exchanged puzzled looks: ???
Why would she feel shy about buying underwear for her husband?
Another instance comes to mind.
It was the three of them again, drinking red wine and chatting late into the night at Su Tingran's place.
After a few glasses, the topics became bolder and more daring.
They were all married, so of course, they would indulge in some improper conversations late at night.
Even Su Tingran, who had a gentle and docile personality, got caught up in the tipsy atmosphere and talked a lot.
But not Sheng Mumu.
No matter what they asked, she would evade and hesitate to speak.
In the end, she even made an excuse to go to the bathroom!
Qin Jiamu and Su Tingran, both married women, couldn't really understand.
Why would Sheng Mumu, after being married for so long, still be so shy?
After pondering for a while, they came to a conclusion:
Mumu, she's like a block of wood!
Suddenly, a phone ringing broke Qin Jiamu's train of thought.
The ringtone was coming from Sheng Mumu's pocket.
Sheng Mumu pulled out her phone, shook it in front of Qin Jiamu, and said, "It's Tingran's call. Perfect timing, let's have her judge whether I'm being wooden or not."
Sheng Mumu smiled and put the phone on speaker, "Tingran—"
Before she could finish her greeting, a teary voice, tinged with sadness, came through the phone.
"Mumu, my husband... he's having an affair."
