Chapter 76

Sheng Mumu wracked her brains but couldn't recall anyone with the surname Qiao from her memory.

Zhang Housekeeper heard the commotion and came to the front hall.

Upon seeing Feng Yaoqin, he quickly took the leopard-print handbag from her hands and respectfully said, "Madam, you've arrived, Miss Qiao is here too, but Master is not at home. I'll go and fetch Madam."

"Fetch?" Feng Yaoqin glanced at Zhang Housekeeper.

She seemed dissatisfied with the word "fetch."

Her tone rose, as if she deliberately wanted the person upstairs to hear, and she said, "What? Do daughters-in-law need to be 'summoned' to come and greet their mother-in-law? They won't move unless they're 'invited'?"

Zhang Housekeeper realized he had misspoken and hurriedly explained, "Look at me, as I grow older, I lose the ability to speak. I'll go and call Madam downstairs. Madam, please wait a moment."

Only then did Feng Yaoqin nod slightly and sat down on the sofa.

She turned her head and looked at the young woman behind her, patting the sofa and beckoning her to come over, saying, "Come, Lili, sit beside your aunt."

Qiao Li, the daughter of a distant relative of Feng Yaoqin.

Although she called Feng Yaoqin "Aunt," their blood relationship had taken many twists and turns.

Before Feng Yaoqin and her husband adopted Qi Mo from the orphanage, they had always treated Qiao Li as their own daughter.

At that time, the Qi family was just an ordinary family living near Jing City, and they often interacted with the Qiao family.

However, as Qi Mo's career became more successful, he purchased many properties in the inner city for his parents, and the relationship between the Qi and Qiao families gradually drifted apart.

It was not until a few years ago, after Feng Yaoqin's husband passed away and her son Qi Mo became busy with work, that she began to reconnect with Qiao Li, her niece by marriage.

When the old lady insisted on matchmaking Sheng Mumu and Qi Mo.

Feng Yaoqin had expressed opposition.

She thought, why marry a woman who knows nothing about her background?

If it were Qiao Li who became her daughter-in-law, it would be a perfect match.

However, as a son, Qi Mo respected filial piety and was unwilling to follow her arrangements in this major matter.

Even though she spent time bringing Qiao Li to their home every day during that period, and even had her son purchase another villa in Xiyu Yueting for Qiao Li to live with them, Qi Mo always maintained a polite distance from Qiao Li and showed no intention of deepening their relationship.

Over time, Feng Yaoqin gave up on this idea.

Today, she had just returned from a trip abroad and called Qiao Li over. Mainly, she wanted her daughter-in-law, who had barely met her, to see that there were many outstanding women around her son.

Her son had chosen Sheng Mumu, and Sheng Mumu should be grateful and fulfill her duties as a good wife.

Sheng Mumu and Qi Shaobai sat on the sofa opposite them.

With the mindset of a dutiful daughter-in-law, Sheng Mumu assumed the role and as soon as she sat down, she affectionately called out, "Mom~"

Feng Yaoqin was taken aback, as if she wasn't accustomed to it.

Qi Shaobai also followed suit and called out, "Grandma."

Feng Yaoqin said, "Oh~"

For the next fifteen minutes, the entire living room became Feng Yaoqin's stage.

She kept praising Qiao Li, subtly reminding Sheng Mumu, never pausing for a moment.

"This niece of mine is truly outstanding."

"She has a high education level, good looks, and a particularly gentle personality."

"She just won't get married, and it's driving me crazy."

Feng Yaoqin adjusted the leopard-print silk scarf on her shoulder and continued, "If it weren't for Qimo... sigh, let's not talk about it."

Upon hearing herself described as "well-behaved" by her cousin aunt, Qiao Li's eyelashes trembled involuntarily.

Sheng Mumu caught a glimpse of her slightly furrowed brows.

That expression looked familiar.

It was like being praised by parents during the New Year's and feeling particularly awkward about it.

Because of unintentionally noticing her subtle expression, Sheng Mumu started to carefully assess Qiao Li.

She had fair and beautiful features, and her eyes were especially lively, embodying the popular trend of a delicate and charming beauty.

Combining Feng Yaoqin's words, Sheng Mumu had already guessed about seventy to eighty percent of the situation.

Her supposed mother-in-law probably once wanted Miss Qiao to become her daughter-in-law but failed. Today, she brought her here specifically to assert her dominance through Miss Qiao's presence.

Thinking this way, everything made sense.

Sheng Mumu shifted her gaze and let out a shallow breath.

It seemed that her mother-in-law couldn't be considered an evil mother-in-law commonly seen on TV. The method she employed to put her daughter-in-law in her place seemed a bit... childish.

Finally, among the four people in the living room, Qi Shaobai, the youngest, couldn't sit still anymore.

He placed his hands on the armrest of the couch and said, "I still have a pile of exercises to do, so I'll go back to my room first, Grandma. Take your time chatting."

Qi Shaobai and Feng Yaoqin didn't have a particularly good relationship. Compared to his relationship with the old lady, it was like night and day. Talking to her felt much more unfamiliar.

Feng Yaoqin's face showed a belated realization, "Right, you're in your final year of high school, focus on your studies, go ahead, go ahead."

After speaking, Feng Yaoqin's gaze fell on the bag of uneaten egg puffs that Sheng Mumu had brought down from the coffee table. She turned her head to look at Sheng Mumu and sternly reprimanded, "Mumu, I have to say, in the future, buy less of these junk foods for Shaobai. He's in his final year of high school, don't you know how important food safety is?"

Sheng Mumu listened to her mother-in-law's scolding with a bewildered blink of her eyes.

Just when Qi Shaobai had escaped the situation and was halfway out, he turned back.

"Grandma, you misunderstood... I bought those for her."

Feng Yaoqin looked at him in astonishment, "? ? ?"

Qiao Li, who had remained silent all evening, burst into laughter upon hearing Qi Shaobai's words.

She suddenly felt that the laughter was untimely, so she immediately covered her mouth, suppressing her laughter.

The atmosphere momentarily became awkward.

The situation was gradually changing.

Sheng Mumu's face once again showed the expression of a contented mother.

On the other side...

Qi Mo walked out of the international terminal of Jing City Airport.

Xiao Wang was already waiting outside in the car.

Seeing him come out, Xiao Wang approached, took his luggage, and put it in the trunk.

As he was about to get into the driver's seat, he saw his boss raise his phone to his ear.

Xiao Wang turned to the side and waited outside the car, ready to get in after his boss finished the call.

Inside the car...

Qi Mo dialed the phone number he had just learned.

With deep eyes, he gazed out the window, exuding a chilling sense of oppression.

The call connected.

A clear and clean voice came from the other side, "Hello?"

Qi Mo's gaze tightened, and he spoke in a deep voice, "I am Qi Mo."

As his words fell, the person on the other end fell silent for a few seconds before letting out what seemed like a short sigh and said,

"President Qi, I knew I couldn't hide it from you."

The contours of Qi Mo's jawline were accentuated by the harsh lights from the outer edges of the airport.

Although phrased as a question, it carried an irresistible sense of urgency:

"Do you have time to meet now?"

The person on the other end of the line stiffened, then slowly replied:

"Alright, where should we meet?"