This was the first time Sheng Mumu had come to Qi Shaobai's bedroom.
The decor was simple, in cool gray tones.
Against the wall was a full display case of sneakers, filled with various limited edition shoes.
The wide array of colorful sneakers softened the overall cold color scheme of the room.
Next to the display case were two shelves full of CDs, and in the corner leaned an acoustic guitar.
Only from these details could you tell this was a teenage boy’s bedroom.
Qi Shaobai gave the chair to Sheng Mumu and sat down on the beanbag chair himself.
Sensing Sheng Mumu's serious demeanor, he sat up straighter than usual, raising his eyebrows quizzically.
"What did you want to talk about?"
Sheng Mumu got right to the point, “I was chatting with your homeroom teacher last time. She mentioned that many students in your class are planning to go abroad right after the college entrance exams?”
Qi Shaobai nodded, not quite understanding why she was asking. “Yeah, that’s true.”
Sheng Mumu continued, “Is that what you’re thinking of doing too?”
“Think what? Going abroad?” Qi Shaobai looked puzzled.
He felt that China was good enough, and that you didn't have to go abroad just to be successful.
Just as he was about to answer "No," he heard Sheng Mumu ask again:
"Have you ever considered having your father use his money to get you a spot at a famous foreign university?"
"I've never thought about that. And-" Qi Shaobai answered without hesitation.
Then he glanced away, shoulders sinking down.
"And he would never do something like that for me anyway."
From elementary to middle to high school.
His father had never donated equipment, libraries, or even school buildings to his schools like other parents.
He would only tell Qi Shaobai: Do your best.
Qi Shaobai's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he used an indifferent expression to hide the sense of loss in his heart.
He didn't want his inner emotions to show.
But at seventeen, he was not yet able to conceal his feelings with ease.
Even if Sheng Mumu had not read the original book and did not know of his sensitive nature, she could still read between the lines of that awkward adolescent face.
Perhaps to every boy, their father was like a great mountain looming before them.
They wanted to look up to it, and also to climb over it.
Qi Mo's personality and life experiences meant he could never give Qi Shaobai the most pure and flawless paternal love, as other parents did.
Over time, Qi Shaobai both longed for his approval, yet resisted wanting to prove himself in his own way.
Sheng Mumu did not want the atmosphere to become too heavy.
She casually grabbed two grape soda cans from the desk.
Tossing one to Qi Shaobai, she lightly said:
"You're doing very well, little Qi. Very impressive!"
Qi Shaobai reflexively caught the can with one hand, raising his eyebrows, "Hm?"
Sheng Mumu explained, "Having money and resources is an advantage. But being able to think that you shouldn't use these advantages to squeeze others who may not have your upbringing, that's a very rare mindset."
For a rich young master raised in this kind of environment to not be assimilated by it, that was truly commendable.
Qi Shaobai's eyes flashed a hint of light, a faint smile finally appearing on his cool and aloof face.
A little embarrassed by the praise, he changed the subject, "So does that mean I don't have to study English anymore?"
"You wish!" Sheng Mumu rolled her eyes at him, "What I mean is, the college exams are important, but not THAT important."
Qi Shaobai wondered if he had heard wrong.
Ever since he entered senior year, everyone around him had been telling him how important and life-changing the college exams were, that he must make them his top priority.
Yet she was saying they weren't that important?
Sheng Mumu said, "More precious than your test scores is your experience this year, the satisfaction from trying your best, and the feeling years later of looking back fondly at your younger self that year. That's what matters."
Qi Shaobai's gaze flickered, seeming to understand yet not fully grasping it.
Sheng Mumu paused, then continued gently:
"I believe as long as you try your best, no matter what scores you get, your dad will be proud of you."
Qi Shaobai suddenly looked up, "Really?"
Would he really be proud of him?
If the class advisor, butler Zhang, assistant Dong or others had told him this,
he would have just thought it was a ploy to make him study more.
But strangely, coming from Sheng Mumu, it had a convincing power.
Sheng Mumu's expression was firm as she nodded slowly, "Definitely."
Qi Shaobai was silent, eyebrows knitted lightly.
After a long while, they finally relaxed.
His eyes showed a hint of determination.
"Then I'll try."
Sheng Mumu smiled, "Good, try it."
Sheng Mumu was always good at encouraging others. She seized the opportunity and continued:
"Lately there are fewer sticky notes left around the house, you've grasped almost half of them already. See, you definitely can remember them if you want to."
The complimented boy's eyes curved up smugly as he leaned back into the beanbag chair.
Revealing his arrogant nature.
Raising his eyebrows disdainfully, "Of course, who do you think I am?"
Strangely, upon seeing his arrogant attitude, Sheng Mumu for once didn't feel like mocking him.
She even found it a little cute.
Qi Shaobai rarely made promises.
But when he did make a commitment, he would do his utmost to fulfill it.
He had truly made an effort, seen in:
Taking the initiative to cancel his weekly basketball meetups with Wei Zhaonan.
And having butler Zhang put away all his Legos into the storeroom.
Afterwards he solemnly made a pledge - he would not touch them again until after the college exams.
In the mornings he appeared in the dining room on time without the butler needing to knock on his door.
He would grab a few slices of bread and hurriedly go out the door.
At night after dinner he would bury himself in his room.
The noisy music from his stereo was replaced by the sound of English listening comprehension recordings.
The butler and servants all felt it was freakish.
If not for Sheng Mumu stopping him, the butler really considered getting a mystic master to inspect the young master's body.
To see if he had been possessed.
Yet Qi Mo did not witness any of Qi Shaobai's changes firsthand.
That's right.
The workaholic had gone on another business trip.
This time for a full two weeks.
Sheng Mumu acted as a messenger.
Like a pet shop employee tasked with looking after a boarding puppy.
Every now and then she would send Qi Mo updates on Qi Shaobai's situation.
With pictures and text.
When Qi Shaobai was holding two slices of bread in his mouth, grabbing his schoolbag and accidentally dropping it, trying to hook it with his foot but tripping over it instead, and losing the bread in his mouth.
Sheng Mumu would send Qi Mo:
"Shocking! Rare early footage of humans domesticating quadrupeds [video]"
Upon receiving the message, the handsome man's face was full of smiles as he slowly replied:
"Clickbait."
Sheng Mumu: "You flatter me, how about hiring me as the creative director for the Qi Corporation?"
When seeing Qi Shaobai's language test paper where he got the whole reading comprehension section wrong.
Sheng Mumu sent: "Qi Shaobai's test paper which he randomly filled out and got everything wrong looks just like my life - not sure what I'm busy with."
Qi Mo replied: "Hmm...at least you have a sense of humor."
Sheng Mumu: "Why thank you."
When Qi Shaobai was frustrated from repeatedly getting a difficult word wrong.
Sheng Mumu would send:
"This brat is always messing up his hair taking advantage of his thick head of hair, should I arrange ginger shampoo for him in advance? Get you a bottle too?"
Qi Mo replied:
"Just get it for him, I don't need it."
Sheng Mumu: "Better safe than sorry, you might need it in a few years."
Qi Mo: "Thank you."
When Qi Shaobai reluctantly put his Legos into the storeroom with a pained expression.
Sheng Mumu jokingly sent: "Is there a spare key to the storeroom? I could sneak in and assemble all his unfinished Legos, bet he'd blow his top when he finds out! [laughs evilly.jpg]"
Qi Mo replied: [Hold on.]
Half a minute later, butler Zhang knocked on the bedroom door.
"Madam, this is the spare key to the storeroom. The master told me to give it to you."
Sheng Mumu: ......
She increasingly felt that getting along with Qi Mo was simply delightful.
No matter what nonsense she said, he would always reply.
Never complaining that she talked too much or was boring.
Even when he didn't know how to respond, he would at least send six dots to indicate he saw it.
It was like they were old friends who had known each other for ages.
Sheng Mumu was very touched.
With such a generous sponsor, what more could she ask for!
She just wanted to work for the Qi family forever.
