You Make Money, I'll Spend It: Stepmother's Ultimate Pleasure in the Aristocratic Family

Chapter 22

Sierdun Restaurant VIP Luxury Package.

"Mr. Qi, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come today," said Mr. Li carefully, keeping a close watch on Qi Mo's expression and weighing every word before speaking. Whether the company's performance in the second half of the year could stabilize and improve depended on whether Qi Mo would agree to hand over operations of the newly built resort restaurant to him.

So he had to be extra attentive.

Qi Mo gave a barely perceptible nod in response.

Knowing Qi Mo was a man of few words, Mr. Li turned the lazy susan and took the initiative to find a conversation topic.

"Mr. Qi, please try this. It was made by the new Thai chef. It's very authentic and delicious."

Qi Mo looked over.

On the plate was a serving of green curry beef shank in Thai style.

Thai cuisine.

Qi Mo's eyes flickered slightly as a scene suddenly came to his mind—

Last night before falling asleep, Sheng Mumu seemed to be murmuring to herself, or chatting idly with him:

"It looks like Zhang Housekeeper really thinks I'm pregnant. Hilarious. These past two days the dishes he's been making for the kitchen have either been super sour or super spicy."

As she spoke, he saw Sheng Mumu lift her head slightly in regret: "Ah, I suddenly feel like eating winter melon barley soup. Weird."

Sheng Mumu flipped over and opened a food delivery app.

After a while, she sighed again in disappointment, "The photos of these delivery restaurants don't look authentic at all. Never mind, forget it."

...

Qi Mo didn't know what had come over him. With Mr. Li still talking about his ideas for managing the resort restaurant across from him, he suddenly asked:

"You said the chef here is from Thailand?"

Mr. Li's eyes lit up. Seeing the usually silent Qi Mo take the initiative to ask a question, he felt like he had grasped his preferences and immediately gave an enthusiastic thumbs up, dramatically replying:

"Yes, Mr. Qi! This chef is top-notch even in Thailand."

Qi Mo nodded thoughtfully.

...

Fifteen minutes later.

Gauging that the business dinner was likely ending soon, driver Wang parked the car outside ahead of time and got out to stand beside it, waiting for Qi Mo.

Soon, several people walked out of the restaurant's revolving doors.

As usual, Wang maintained his professional smile as he waited for Qi Mo to get in the car.

Suddenly, a look of puzzlement appeared on his face.

He had been Qi Mo's personal driver for many years, accompanying him to countless business dinners.

Yet he had never seen Qi Mo like today, walking out carrying a takeout bag.

After Qi Mo bid the others farewell, Wang hurried up to him.

"Mr. Qi, let me take that for you."

Without stopping, Qi Mo replied, "No need, I'll carry it."

"As you wish, Mr. Qi."

Though curious, Wang didn't say more. He quickened his pace to open the rear door for Qi Mo. After Qi Mo got in, he routinely asked:

"Mr. Qi, would you like to go back to Xiyu Yue Ting or the office?"

Qi Mo had a private bedroom in his office rest area that he often used for overnight stays when he had an early flight the next day or worked too late.

Qi Mo's face was obscured in shadow as he quietly answered, "Xiyu Yue Ting."

"Very well, Mr. Qi."

Hearing his reply, Wang regretted asking the extra question.

It seemed his ability to read the situation still wasn't as good as Zhang Housekeeper's or Executive Assistant Dong's.

Seeing Mr. Qi uncharacteristically taking home a to-go package, he really shouldn't have had to ask where to go.

Of course it was home.

Wang drove a little faster than usual on the road back.

By the time the car pulled up to the villa entrance, the soup Qi Mo held was still hot.

Inside the villa.

Sheng Mumu had just got off a phone call with the manager in charge of decorating her new store.

Ending the call, she realized they had talked for over an hour.

Sheng Mumu rubbed her stomach, famished.

Just as she was wondering what to eat, she saw Qi Mo come in from the foyer, having changed into casual clothes.

With his suit jacket draped over one arm, he extended the other forward and naturally said:

"I brought you something to eat."

Sheng Mumu was caught off guard. She reflexively reached out to take the bag. "You brought me food?"

The bag emitted a tantalizing sour and spicy aroma that wafted into her nose and straight to her taste buds.

It smelled amazing.

Loosening his tie, Qi Mo headed inside and casually remarked:

"Mm, it should still be hot."

The corners of Sheng Mumu's eyes curled up. "What is it?"

Qi Mo: "The Thai chef at this restaurant makes excellent winter melon barley soup. I got you a serving, and two boxes of coconut jelly dessert."

When Sheng Mumu heard this, her face lit up in delight.

"Yay! I've been craving that lately!"

She had always been good at playing along and reacting positively when shown kindness. Back when she was working, whenever her work WeChat group got a red envelope, she was always the first to send the "Thank you, Boss!" emoji.

She reflexively started to blurt out: "Thank you, darl—"

Catching Zhang Housekeeper entering the room in her peripheral vision, she abruptly stopped herself.

Saying "Thank you, Boss" to Qi Mo in front of Zhang Housekeeper would make their husband and wife relationship seem distant.

She swiftly switched gears and lilted: "—ling."

Thank you, darling...

Qi Mo's brow flickered slightly. His movements stilled briefly as he untied his tie, and his deep eyes narrowed while slowly turning to look at her.

After silently gazing at her for a few seconds, the corners of his lips faintly quirked up.

He tugged off his tie with extra force and headed to the walk-in closet while undoing the first button of his shirt.

Sheng Mumu didn't dwell too much on the slightly stilted exchange just now. After all, at the wine reception that day, she had sweetly called Qi Mo "darling" in front of many people already.

Calling him that now didn't feel awkward, at least.

What she cared about more at the moment was the tantalizing winter melon barley soup in her hands.

She was just too hungry.

Qi Mo came out of the walk-in closet in workout clothes and entered the first floor gym.

Lately, Sheng Mumu had observed and summarized some of Qi Mo's lifestyle habits.

For example, no matter how busy he was with work, he always set aside two days a week to work out.

Sitting in the living room, Sheng Mumu took out the winter melon barley soup from the bag.

Unintentionally glancing up, through the frosted glass windows of the gym, she saw Qi Mo stepping onto the treadmill.

A sudden sense of guilt welled up inside her.

He already had such a good physique—broad shoulders, narrow waist, chiseled abs, handsomely sculpted. Yet he still worked out so diligently.

Was he trying to discourage ordinary people?

Sheng Mumu pressed her lips together and shot a glare at Qi Mo. She silently went to the kitchen to take out two bowls and divided the winter melon barley soup into two portions.

Glancing at the time, she thought to herself: It should be soon, the rebellious brat will be home any minute.

Well, if old Qi is so against work-life balance, she would have to pull his son little Qi into her schemes against his unreasonable standards.

She wouldn't be the only one gaining weight.

...

It was early July, and school was out for summer vacation.

With no school to go to every day, Qi Shaobai's life now consisted of two things:

Either going out to play basketball with Wei Zhaonan and the guys, not coming home until after dinner.

Or staying home all day building large Lego sets, going at it for the entire day.

He alternated between these two activities.

Yesterday, Sheng Mumu saw Zhang Housekeeper taking a completed giant race car Lego set into the collection room.

She guessed today Qi Shaobai was probably out playing basketball.

Sure enough, not long after, she heard the faintly dragging footsteps of a teenager coming from the foyer.

Qi Shaobai lazily shuffled in.

Right after turning the corner into the living room, a clear, cheerful voice called out to him.

"Little Qi, come, come over!"

Qi Shaobai's scalp tingled. Seeing Sheng Mumu smiling brightly and beckoning to him, his eyebrows knitted together in puzzlement.

Uncomfortably craning his neck back, he felt Sheng Mumu was being overly enthusiastic today.

"I already ate, I don't need anything else."

But Sheng Mumu was not to be so easily deterred. She continued to entice him: "Your dad specially brought back takeout of hot and sour winter melon barley soup for us."

Qi Shaobai halted in his tracks.

"Huh?"

Did he hear that right?

His dad.

Brought takeout.

For them?

The three key points didn't make sense individually or combined.

His reticent dad would bring him takeout food?