Chapter 68

"Our flower shop business is getting better and better. In the spirit of shared prosperity, I've prepared a small gift for you both," Sheng Mumu announced as they were finishing up dinner. She took out the gifts she had prepared and presented them to the two handsome men sitting across from her.

Qi Shaobai's eyebrows furrowed slightly, finding the phrase "shared prosperity" to be used strangely.

But before he could complain, he saw Sheng Mumu's fair and radiant face light up with a brilliant smile.

She pulled out a gift box from under her chair and solemnly placed it on the table.

Then she fished out a red envelope from her pocket and handed it to her father, saying in a cheerful voice:

"Here, I didn't know what to get for you. I thought and thought about it, and realized you don't lack anything. So I could only give you this red envelope to bring you good luck and fortune, and let you bask in my joy."

Qi Mo's gaze lingered briefly, the corners of his eyes slowly curling up.

His tender eyes fell upon the red envelope, and after a moment's hesitation, he reached out and took it.

His voice hinted at smiles as he said, "Alright, I'll bask in your joy."

In Qi Mo's memory, he had only received red envelopes from his grandmother when he was little during Chinese New Year.

No one had given him money as a gift since he grew up.

Compared to the paintings, wine, and flattery he received from people currying favor in the business world, the red envelope before him, though not very fat, felt especially meaningful.

Running his fingertip along the edge of the red envelope, an unfamiliar sense of warmth and emotion washed over him.

But then his eyes suddenly contracted when he flipped the envelope over. He stared blankly in surprise.

On the back were the words: May all of life's surprises and good fortune flow ceaselessly towards you.

It was signed with a cute little ingot drawn in colored pencil.

Seeing the crooked little ingot, the mature and steady man couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile, his dark eyes brimming unconcealed with mirth.

Sheng Mumu had found this message by searching online for "inspirational words." She immediately felt it was perfect for Qi Mo.

And it was, wasn't it?

Only with all of life's surprises and good fortune flowing towards him could he make money without end.

Only with him getting continuously richer could their family live free from worry and in comfort.

She guessed this would be the kind of blessing he would like.

Sheng Mumu blinked, looking at the man before her with expectation in her eyes, and asked:

"Do you like it?"

The man slowly lifted his eyes to meet hers. He looked at her very seriously and spoke at an unhurried pace:

"I like it very much."

Sheng Mumu smiled, "That's good that you like it." Beside them, Qi Shaobai had been unable to restrain himself for a while now.

Seeing his father receive a red envelope as a gift, he guessed the exquisitely wrapped gift box must be for him.

It looked very formal.

He was wild with joy inside.

The corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.

His previously sullen face was no longer sullen at all, as if the words "Let me open my present" were written all over his face.

Qi Shaobai gave Sheng Mumu a toothy grin and asked full of anticipation:

"This is for me, right?"

The corner's of Sheng Mumu's mouth curled into a meaningful smile.

"Yes, I picked it out just for you after a long time of consideration."

Wow, she took a long time to consider it.

Then it must be a very special gift!

Qi Shaobai couldn't wait to unwrap it.

He carefully pulled at the ribbon tying the gift box closed.

Doing his best not to damage the wrapping paper, he slowly peeled it back bit by bit along the edges.

His gaze was full of concentration.

Sheng Mumu leaned in and whispered, "I think you'll like it."

Qi Shaobai said, "Of course, I'll definitely rea-"

He cut himself off mid-sentence, freezing abruptly.

What is this?!

A...stack of test papers?

He whipped his head around to look at Sheng Mumu.

"Did you pack the wrong thing?"

Sheng Mumu narrowed her eyes with an impish grin. "No, this is the custom gift I prepared just for you."

Qi Shaobai's expression shifted from delight to grievance in a second. "You call this...a gift?"

Sheng Mumu tilted her head and twisted the knife. "Well...why wouldn't it count as one?"

Qi Shaobai: ........................

Qi Mo also saw the pile of test papers in the gift box, the corners of his eyes slowly curling up. But when Qi Shaobai shot him an accusing look, he lowered his gaze to hide his smile.

He raised a pale, long-fingered hand to his lips, barely suppressing a cough, and said in a low voice:

"Hmm, it counts."

Qi Shaobai: ........................

How is this any kind of gift???

Were they ganging up to mess with him? It wasn't April Fool's day today.

Just as he was about to protest further, he realized Qi Mo and Sheng Mumu had already left the dinner table at some point, headed upstairs one after the other.

Qi Shaobai looked at the test papers before him, then at their retreating figures.

He made a silent, exaggerated sighing expression.

The servants hiding their laughter nearby found it amusing.

Upstairs, Sheng Mumu lounged bored on the couch in the sitting area, idly scrolling through her phone.

She hadn't checked the wives' group chat in a long time.

Today she happened to open it and saw some people discussing the gaokao (college entrance exam).

She immediately sat up straight, and started reading their conversation intently.

She had been wanting to bring up this topic with Qi Shaobai.

Several wives in the group had kids in their last year of high school.

Maybe...she could gain some insight from these "real mothers'" chat?

However, the more she read, the more uneasy she became.

Eventually her eyebrows knitted tightly together.

The chat started out just discussing which foreign universities they should send their kids to for the best education and resources.

But then the tone gradually changed:

- [Mrs. Chen, which senior did you ask for a recommendation letter when sending your child to Harvard before?]

- [How much donation is appropriate now if you want to send your child to Harvard or Cambridge?]

- [No need to go through so much trouble, just find a famous tutor for the kids to intensively prep their artistic talents for a few months and pull some connections, they can still get into top schools that way.]

- [I can help make introductions if needed.]

Sheng Mumu found it hard to pinpoint what exactly made her feel strange about this chat.

After all, it was common knowledge that some foreign universities granted admission in exchange for donations.

Recommendation letters from prestigious alumni also carried heavy weight for certain schools.

This was all very normal among the upper class.

She turned her head towards Qi Shaobai's bedroom.

Her gaze gradually tightened as she fell deep in thought...

Did Qi Shaobai also take it for granted that he could get into a good university easily without trying hard, and that's why he didn't care about his grades?

She pressed her lips in a tight line, agonizing over it for a long time before finally deciding to knock on Qi Shaobai's door.

The door opened from the inside.

Seeing Sheng Mumu's solemn expression, Qi Shaobai paused briefly in confusion and asked, "What's up?"

Sheng Mumu took a light breath and got straight to the point.

"Do you have time to chat?"