To avoid forgetting to watch movies again, Sheng Mumu set a schedule on her phone.
Promptly at 3:15 every afternoon, her phone would ring.
A text reminder popped up on the screen—
"Did you watch a movie today?"
But even with this silly method, watching movies was repeatedly postponed.
She was also very helpless.
There were simply too many things to handle at the company by the end of the year.
Entertainment items could only be put at the back.
Qi Mo was extremely patient about this and did not urge her at all.
He only had an VIP room in one of the Qi's movie theaters kept empty.
Whenever she wanted to meet him, they could go over.
One afternoon a week later.
Sheng Mumu finally finished today's work ahead of time.
She leaned back in her chair.
Casually picked up her phone and first sent Qi Mo two emojis expressing her happy mood.
Sheng Mumu: "Happily jumping.gif"
Sheng Mumu: “Good news, good news.gif"
Without waiting for a reply, she continued to tap: "I can go watch a mov"
Before she could type out the last two characters, her palm suddenly vibrated.
An incoming call.
The caller ID—Qi Shaobai’s Class Teacher.
Sheng Mumu's breath hitched.
Her heart suddenly clenched.
During the college entrance examination mobilization meeting, Sheng Mumu had saved Qi Shaobai’s class teacher's phone number.
After saving it for so long, this was still the first time it lit up on the screen.
Looking at her phone, Sheng Mumu couldn't help but feel nervous.
In a few seconds, countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
The corners of her lips slowly pressed tight.
Usually when Qi Shaobai caused trouble at school, it was always Zhang Housekeeper who found out first before informing her.
Why was the class teacher calling her directly today?
Could it be that Qi Shaobai encountered some sudden incident???
Her palms instantly became slightly damp.
Without realizing it, she had completely stepped into the "mother" role.
Facing the sudden phone call, her first reaction was whether Qi Shaobai was safe.
She hadn't even answered but was already afraid.
After a long pause she finally moved the phone to her ear.
Her voice carried subtle nervousness:
"Hello—"
On the phone, the class teacher's voice was calm:
"Hello, are you Qi Shaobai’s parent?"
"Yes, I am."
Ten minutes later.
As the class teacher slowly explained her intention, Sheng Mumu's furrowed brows finally relaxed.
On the phone, the class teacher and Sheng Mumu talked about Qi Shaobai's recent performance at school...
First, the class teacher affirmed Qi Shaobai's recent improvement in grades.
Then she got to the point.
Yesterday when patrolling, the class teacher discovered Qi Shaobai sleeping during English class.
The class teacher spoke gravely, "It would be fine if it was only once, but he also fell asleep during math class this morning."
Sheng Mumu's brows that had just relaxed furrowed again.
Her knuckles holding the phone clenched tight as she earnestly listened to the class teacher.
After repeatedly emphasizing the seriousness of the matter, the class teacher sighed and earnestly said:
"Starting next week, in accordance with the new regulations from the Municipal Education Bureau, extra classes will not allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, and evening study for high school seniors will end at 7:30."
"This means whether students use time after returning home to review depends entirely on their self-discipline."
"Judging from Qi Shaobai’s current learning attitude, sending him back home would likely—"
The class teacher's tone softened.
Sheng Mumu understood the class teacher's implication and seriously promised:
"Teacher, please rest assured. I will definitely talk seriously to Qi Shaobai and tighten supervision over him!"
Promises are not weighed equally.
The promise to accompany Elder Qi to watch movies clearly didn't take priority over educating little Qi.
After hanging up the phone, Sheng Mumu grabbed her coat and bag.
She strode out of the office directly to a nearby bookstore.
She wandered around the book store for a full hour, purchasing everything needed.
Putting the items in the trunk, she sat in the car and glanced at her phone to discover Qi Mo had sent several messages.
Qi Mo: "What good news? So happy."
Ten minutes later...
Qi Mo: "What's the good news?"
Three minutes later...
Qi Mo: "?"
Twenty minutes later...
Qi Mo: "I regret agreeing to your terms and conditions."
Sheng Mumu was stunned: "......"
She thought back to when she and Qi Mo had talked about terms and conditions before.
That was on a certain weekday afternoon.
Having lunch separately at their own companies, they started chatting on the phone for about an hour and a half after lunch.
They said "Goodbye" four or five times but still couldn't bear to end the call.
Just when Sheng Mumu happened to stand up to get some water and accidentally knocked a stack of documents onto the ground.
She bent over to pick them up and finished tidying the documents before realizing the phone was still connected.
Sheng Mumu brought the receiver to her ear to listen and check if Qi Mo was still there.
But she heard knocking sounds coming from the phone.
Qi Mo said, "Come in."
President Chen's voice came through:
"President Qi, President Chen from Huayuan Technology has already been waiting in the reception room for an hour..."
Sheng Mumu hung up the phone and was silent for a long time.
Qi Mo's tone had been so relaxed when talking on the phone earlier, and he hadn't mentioned at all that he had an important guest waiting.
Sheng Mumu suddenly felt as if she was some kind of femme fatale*.
So she decisively proposed that very night:
"Qi Mo, I think we should lay down three rules."
Qi Mo, who had been reading a magazine in bed, paused and raised his eyes to look over.
"Lay down three rules?"
"Mm," Sheng Mumu set herself in work mode.
Pacing as she spoke:
"First, no long phone calls during work hours."
"Second, if there's work, work comes first—the same goes for me."
"Third—"
"No." Qi Mo's brow furrowed, his voice sinking as he abruptly cut her off.
His expression also darkened, lips pressed in a straight line.
Every pore was emitting a cold and hard aura.
Silently protesting.
Sheng Mumu was stunned for a moment, suddenly feeling that he now resembled a petulant husband making unreasonable demands.
The corners of her lips curved up as she smiled and sat down next to him.
Suddenly, Qi Mo's distinct jawline was slowly lifted up by Sheng Mumu's slender fingers.
She asked teasingly:
"Why not? You have to give reasons, Mr. Qi."
Qi Mo's gaze tightened, and the corners of his lips slowly curved up an interested smile.
Letting his chin be held up by her, he followed her words:
"Miss Sheng wants to talk reason?"
Sheng Mumu was slightly stunned: ......
Sensing the rising pressure in the man's eyes, Sheng Mumu found herself at a loss for words for a moment.
Just now still playfully provoking him, now shrinking back halfway.
She had just wanted to withdraw when Qi Mo single-handedly snapped the finance magazine he had been reading shut and casually threw it to the bedside.
His broad, warm palm instantly pressed against her back, pulling her into his arms. He leaned against the headboard, and Sheng Mumu nearly sprawled on top of him.
The magnetic appeal of the man's voice carried mockery to her ear.
It had a bewitching, spellbinding power.
Enunciating each word:
"Then let's talk reason."
The distance between them suddenly shrank.
Sheng Mumu held her breath and looked at him blankly.
Her hand inadvertently pressed against the man's firm, lean waist.
The feeling was unfamiliar yet solid.
She saw a fleeting anomaly flash through his eyes.
"As you know, businessmen never take losses."
Qi Mo looked straight at her, the shifting light in his pitch-black eyes flickering on and off.
It seemed he was asking for her opinion but every syllable oozed irrepressible dominance.
"For you to agree to an unequal treaty, what are you planning to offer in exchange?"
