Chapter 44

Qi Mo's long, slender fingers rubbed his brow slightly helplessly. "Of course you'll sit."

Sheng Mumu's bright eyes blinked. "Really?"

The man chuckled lowly. "Mm."

"Let's go!"

Then...

What Qi Shaobai saw next was a scene he would never have believed if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes—

His aloof father, who was always chauffeured around and had servants bring anything he wanted with a glance, was happily pushing his stepmother's shoulders and sliding down a completely flat snowy slope?

Amidst his shock, he didn't forget to take out his phone and capture this shocking scene.

Sheng Mumu sat with her legs crossed on the sled, smiling radiantly.

She felt it was actually more fun than the small slope from earlier.

After being pushed around playing for a good while, the man behind her still seemed very energetic, as if he wasn't tired at all.

But even though Qi Mo didn't complain of tiredness, Sheng Mumu didn't feel right continuing to play like this.

Firstly, it didn't seem proper for the esteemed President Qi to be used as a sled dog.

Secondly, she overheard a couple next to them using them as a negative example for comparison.

"Look how much strength her boyfriend has, now look at you."

In order not to negatively impact others' relationships, Sheng Mumu called for a stop, "Let's take a break."

The man stopped and looked down at her, "Was it fun?"

Sheng Mumu smiled up at him, "Super fun, should we switch and I'll push you next?"

Qi Mo's voice was low and magnetic, "No need."

She wanted to stand up and pushed off twice but couldn't seem to use any strength.

After sitting cross-legged for so long, her legs were numb.

Just as she was about to try again, a pair of large, warm hands reached over.

Qi Mo's tall, straight figure cut an imposing silhouette.

From Sheng Mumu's angle looking up, with the light behind him and the crisp blue sky as a backdrop, she couldn't see his expression clearly, but she could feel the air around them suddenly become gentle.

She paused for a moment before placing her hands in his, "Thank you!"

At the same time, she mustered her strength and pushed off the ground to stand up.

Right then, a few rowdy little boys came bounding over, and one mischievous child bumped into Qi Mo's leg.

He suddenly lost his balance and lurched forward.

Sheng Mumu was mid-pull and lost the counterforce, her legs went soft and she tipped backwards.

In that instant, the figure carrying the brisk, icy scent of snow enveloped her. As they were about to collide, Sheng Mumu instinctively closed her eyes.

Suddenly, she felt something soft cushion the back of her head, the clamor around her faded away, and all she could hear was the sound of light panting by her ear.

Qi Mo had thrown out an arm to brace himself and used the other to protect the back of her head, preventing them from knocking into each other.

Sheng Mumu slowly opened her eyes again, meeting that pair of deep, inky eyes gazing at her.

The man's voice was low and magnetic, "Are you okay?"

Her heart suddenly clenched.

Her earlobes secretly flushed red.

"I'm fine."

Qi Mo pulled her up and bent down to brush the snow off her knees.

"Sorry, uncle and auntie," the child who had bumped into them said softly from the side.

"It's okay."

"It's okay."

The two spoke in unison.

Their gazes collided in the air.

"Uncle, you should hold the sister's hand," the slightly bigger child in the group looked up at Qi Mo and made a hand-holding gesture, "That's how my dad holds my mom's hand so they don't slip and fall in the snow."

Sheng Mumu: "..."

Uncle? Sister?

This kid needed to spend more time on one of those vibrating kiddie rides outside malls to get the relationships and terms sorted out properly.

Just as her thoughts wandered, she heard the man beside her respond with a hint of laughter:

"Your dad is right."

The next second, a long-fingered, well-proportioned hand appeared before her.

"Give me your hand."

Sheng Mumu was stunned.

She slowly extended her hand.

The man's fingertips had slight calluses, unlike the cold feeling when they had accidentally touched before. This time there was warmth.

So warm that Sheng Mumu suspected he had a stove hidden on him.

She didn't overthink Qi Mo's gesture, taking it as normal couple behavior for appearances.

She even foolishly smiled, "You really are odd."

Qi Mo raised a brow, "Hm?"

Sheng Mumu explained, "You're dressed more lightly than me and Qi Shaobai, yet your hands are still so hot. Have you secretly been taking a lot of tonics? Too much inner fire."

Qi Mo's breath hitched. "..."

The always quick-witted man felt for the first time what it was like to be rendered speechless by a remark.

Evening.

The setting sun slanted over the snowy mountains, bathing the sky and earth in warm yellow hues.

A black Range Rover drove along the mountain road. "What should we eat tonight?"

Qi Shaobai, sitting in the middle of the backseat, propped his hands on the front headrests, and asked hungrily.

Sheng Mumu said, "Oh shoot, I forgot to check the travel guides ahead of time. I don't know what good restaurants are around here."

Qi Mo kept his gaze forward and tilted his head slightly. "Since you two don't have any ideas, I'll decide?"

Sheng Mumu and Qi Shaobai said in unison, "Okay!"

Twenty minutes later, the Range Rover stopped at the summit.

Qi Mo undid his seatbelt, "We're here, this is the place."

From the outside, the mountaintop restaurant looked like a massive glass house. Aside from the log frame structure for support, it was almost completely surrounded by glass windows, reflecting light and giving the interior a bright, open feel.

Sheng Mumu took a deep breath of the fresh, high-altitude air and sincerely exclaimed, "Eating here, just drinking in the northwest wind would already put you in high spirits!"

Qi Shaobai glanced at her, his sarcasm intact. "Don't worry, our family isn't so poor that we'd make you fill up on northwest wind."

The dinner was also arranged by Qi Mo.

Delicate French cuisine was swiftly served.

Not only was the scenery sublime, the plating of the dishes was also a feast for the eyes.

Watching the elegant dining manners of the two Qi men across from her, Sheng Mumu began to wonder if the enthusiastic feedback she got after taking them to that hole-in-the-wall restaurant yesterday was them humoring her.

As dusk deepened and night gradually swallowed up the last remnants of sunlight, small decorative lights in the trees lining the mountain road blinked on.

The exterior lights on the restaurant also came on, making the surroundings resemble a fairytale.

After finishing the last course of lemon tart, Sheng Mumu gave Qi Mo a satisfied thumbs up.

"This place is amazing."

Qi Shaobai also nodded, "Mm, I agree."

Qi Mo elegantly dabbed the corners of his mouth with a napkin, his tone relaxed, "As long as you two like it."

As he finished speaking, Sheng Mumu excitedly pulled Qi Shaobai into a discussion about which dish was the best.

Qi Shaobai didn't really want to participate but Sheng Mumu was brimming with enthusiasm, so he reluctantly feigned interest and responded languidly.

Qi Mo leaned back into his seat, posture casual and lazy. He slowly looked between the two enthusiastically discussing inane topics, a smile in his eyes.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

It was a message from an unfamiliar number.

"President Qi, are you free to meet tomorrow night? I have some things I'd like to say to you. Qu Hui."

Qi Mo's brows silently furrowed. He was extremely annoyed by this woman's repeated disturbances.

He turned off the screen, not wanting to respond.

Another message came through.

"I want to talk to you about Gu Wan."

His eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze instantly turning icy.

The fingers resting on the table curled inward.

Qi Shaobai noticed his change in expression.

"Dad, are you okay?"

Qi Mo put his phone away and said in a low voice,

"I'm fine."