She said she was going to buy groceries for the new year.
In reality, it was more about the feeling of ceremony than actually buying things.
The villa was usually kept tidy and well-stocked by Zhang Housekeeper, so it was close to having everything needed already.
This time, in addition to buying all the fish maw, abalone, ham etc. as instructed by Feng Yaoqin,
Sheng Mumu focused on small objects that would add to the festive atmosphere.
Sheng Mumu walked in front, picking and choosing.
Qi Mo followed half a step behind her, pushing the shopping cart.
Sheng Mumu would occasionally turn back, holding two different brands of the same item, shake them and ask him,
"Which one of these two?"
He seemed to think for a couple of seconds, then gave an unchanging standard answer:
“Whichever one you like.”
Sheng Mumu helplessly lowered her hand with a wry smile, “Can’t you change your line?”
"I can." Qi Mo responded with a straight face, changing his line, “Then take both.”
Sheng Mumu: "......"
Oh Well.
As expected, she couldn’t rely on a man to go grocery shopping.
Qi Mo looked stylish and impeccable on the outside.
But in reality, he had very low material desires.
Other than spending his money on necessities like houses, cars, watches that a CEO would need, he didn’t have many other requirements for everyday goods.
Regarding daily supplies - as long as they’re not expired.
Regarding food - as long as it's not lethal.
But the less requirements he had, the more Sheng Mumu's enthusiasm grew, wanting to make things difficult for him.
Sheng Mumu shoved two bags of spiced peanuts in front of him and cocked an eyebrow.
In an slightly coquettish tone:
“Nope... today I’m determined to make you choose one.”
Qi Mo was stunned for a moment, looking straight at her.
The darkness in his eyes overflowed with laughter, his lips curled helplessly.
His gaze scanned over the package specifications on the two bags of spiced peanuts.
A few seconds later, he slowly opened his mouth, “Pick the bigger pack.”
"......" Sheng Mumu was taken aback, blinking blankly.
She wondered privately in her heart.
Why was this man so fixated on the word “big”?
It was just a bag of spiced peanuts, yet he still wanted the bigger one?
She didn’t get it, didn’t get it at all.
After this incident, Sheng Mumu completely gave up on asking Qi Mo for his opinion.
She would make her own decisions without asking him anymore.
Qi Shaobai lazily followed behind them with his shopping cart, ambling along, looking around.
For some reason, as he wandered around, he felt more and more uncomfortable. It was as if there was a 1000-watt light bulb shining above his head.
Qi Shaobai noticed his dad occasionally sticking close to his stepmother.
As long as his stepmother’s hands were free, his dad would seize every opportunity to reach out and hold hers.
If his stepmother was too busy to pay him any attention, he would just stand quietly beside her and watch her.
His usually aloof face would reveal an exceptionally patient and content expression.
It seemed as if grocery shopping was an especially relaxing and enjoyable event for him.
In Qi Shaobai’s nearly eighteen years of life, this was the first time he had seen his dad push a shopping cart.
Let alone push a shopping cart, even just entering a supermarket was a first.
Qi Shaobai was greatly shocked.
He quietly complained to himself: I didn’t expect you to be this kind of dad.
I don’t understand but I’m very shocked.
Qi Shaobai was trying to think of an appropriate and tactful excuse to slip away.
A few minutes later, he finally found an opportunity.
“Dad, I’m going over there to take a look—”
He suddenly said, taking advantage of the moment they were choosing new dinnerware.
To make the excuse more reasonable, he randomly pointed in a direction.
“—I have some personal items I want to buy. I’ll come find you afterwards.”
Qi Mo and Sheng Mumu turned to look at him at the same time.
And said in unison: “Okay.”
Qi Shaobai left without looking back.
Sheng Mumu hadn’t turned her head back yet to look in the direction Qi Shaobai had gone. A puzzled expression appeared on her face.
She used her arm to nudge the tall, cool CEO (former) standing unusually close beside her
“Uh... although... what “personal items” does little Qi want to buy?”
Following her gaze, Qi Mo’s eyes darkened for a moment, “......”
Not far ahead,
was a themed product showcase that the mall had specially set up to cater to the younger consumer crowd for the Spring Festival period.
The theme would change weekly to showcase featured products.
Over these days, the theme was “Barbie.”
At a glance, the advertising wall was awash in shades of pink and purple.
On a huge poster, a blonde Barbie in a pink dress was sweetly winking at the customers.
The slender youth in a black down jacket and gray sweatpants cut an abrupt figure amidst the sea of pink.
Sheng Mumu: ......
Qi Mo: ......
It wasn’t until a Barbie-clad sales promoter appeared before him that Qi Shaobai suddenly became aware something was off.
From behind, one could clearly see the slender and straight youth’s body visibly shudder.
He then hastily waved the promoter away.
The next second, his shopping cart made an abrupt 90 degree turn
And fled the product zone as if escaping for his life.
Sheng Mumu shook her head with an amused sigh:
“I used to think only girls would be attracted to Barbie dolls. I didn’t expect that even tough young men wouldn’t be immune.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, her wrist was grasped by Qi Mo with a slight force that pulled her forward, forcing her to keep walking.
“???” Sheng Mumu looked puzzled, “Where are we going? We haven’t finished choosing the dinnerware yet.”
Qi Mo turned to look at her, a faint smile on his lips.
Beneath the feathers of his long eyelashes, the obsidian eyes seemed to glow.
His palm slowly tightened, firmly encircling her slender wrist.
Laughter threaded through the magnetic quality of his voice:
“Going to help you pick a Barbie doll. Didn’t you say that no girl can resist them?”
Sheng Mumu’s heart-strings quivered violently.
By the time she regained her senses and refocused, she could only see the back of his head with the neatly trimmed hair.
Distracted by Qi Mo’s sudden words, Sheng Mumu’s thoughts spiraled into turmoil.
So he considered her a little girl?
What a joke.
But also inexplicably sweet.
The light and fluttery feeling of being pampered wrapped around her and settled in her heart.
After a long pause, a brilliant smile lit up Sheng Mumu’s exquisite, beautiful face.
She made no attempt to hide the sweetness that was currently permeating from the bottom of her heart.
With a twist of her wrist, she broke free of the man’s grasp.
Then she slid her hand down his sturdy forearm and turned the tables by firmly intertwining their fingers instead.
Surprised delight that was not easy to detect slipped through the composed mask of the man as he glanced back at her.
Sheng Mumu held his burning gaze directly and tipped up her chin, curving her lips.
“Yes, I like it.”
She left her words hanging for a bit, then suddenly stood on tiptoes to lightly peck the man’s lips.
In a fleeting moment, it was as if their world was isolated into its own little sphere.
The clamor of the crowd faded away.
So did the Spring Festival tune on constant loop over the mall’s sound system.
They saw only each other reflected in their eyes.
Qi Mo’s lips softened from the unexpected stolen kiss.
His hand on the shopping cart handle clenched violently as his pupils dilated in shock.
Before he could react, her warm, tender voice was heard again, now teasing and flirtatious.
A single, simple word.
“You.”
The man's whole body reacted as if he'd been electrified,
from the residual warmth at his lips all the way to his heart.
He gazed at her.
Those dark eyes melted completely into a pool of liquid gentleness.
