Chapter 9: She’s not really taking herself as a mother, is she

Chapter 9

Wei Zhaonan's voice was very loud. Several people playing poker next to him also glanced over, whispering:

"Qi's mom is here?"

"Whose mom?"

"Qi's mom."

It sounded like they were cursing someone.

Qi Shaobai's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he slowly opened his eyes.

The noon sun shone in the clear, clean eyes of the young man, making him look especially good-looking.

A flash of disbelief crossed Qi Shaobai's icy pupils.

He gave a cold snort.

"Che, you think I'd believe that?"

He didn't believe it.

He was certain Wei Zhaonan was just bored and screaming nonsense to play a prank.

Then he closed his eyes again and continued basking in the sun.

"Really, I'm not kidding you. Your mom is so beautiful, it's hard not to recognize her."

Qi Shaobai opened his eyes and glared at Wei Zhaonan, feeling his wording was very inappropriate. He impatiently said: "Your mom."

Wei Zhaonan apologetically said: "Stepmom, stepmom, I misspoke."

Seeing Wei Zhaonan's sincere expression, Qi Shaobai was half believing and half doubting.

Could that woman really have come?

He knew the Dean had called home yesterday.

He thought it would be like the many times before, with Mr. Dong coming as his dad's representative to say a few perfunctory words.

He had never imagined that woman would come to his school.

What was she here for?

Did she really think of him as her son?

Or did she want to catch him doing something wrong so she could tattle to his dad?

Soon, a classmate came up to the rooftop to notify Qi Shaobai:

"The teacher asked you to go to the office."

Qi Shaobai lazily pushed open the office door.

The Dean, his class teacher, and professors were all there.

Sheng Mumu was there too...

His brows wrinkled in displeasure as he looked out the window with an indifferent attitude.

Yell and scold all you want, just get it over with quickly.

Outside the office, several classmates close to Qi Shaobai gathered, led by Wei Zhaonan.

Someone said: "Qi's in for it this time. His stepmom came. He won't get away without a good scolding."

"Our Qi is afraid of that?"

Professor Dai's expression was ugly. In his many years of teaching, he had always had the final say.

This was the first time a parent didn't agree the child was in the wrong.

"If he doesn't apologize or write a self-criticism, isn't that equivalent to you thinking he did nothing wrong?"

Sheng Mumu took a deep breath, sensing this conversation would take some effort.

"Professor Dai, from my understanding, Qi Shaobai didn't actually talk back to you, and before you yelled at him, he didn't make any move to leave the classroom either."

"You're a teacher, and need to establish authority in front of students. I understand that very well. However, children also have self-esteem, and teenagers around seventeen or eighteen have especially strong self-esteem. Professor, don't you think your attitude toward Qi Shaobai was also damaging to his self-esteem?"

...

As Sheng Mumu spoke, Qi Shaobai kept staring at her from the side.

A strange, indescribable feeling welled up in his chest.

Sour, warm.

A very unfamiliar sensation.

Ten minutes later, Qi Shaobai came out of the office.

Wei Zhaonan zoomed over like a wisp of smoke.

"So, what happened? Got another scolding?"

"How many words do you have to write for your self-criticism? 3,000? 5,000?"

"We can pay someone to write it for you if needed."

Qi Shaobai's mind was still on what had just happened. He ignored Wei Zhaonan.

Sheng Mumu walked out of the office.

Qi Shaobai coldly cut Wei Zhaonan off: "Talk less."

Wei Zhaonan shut his mouth and greeted Sheng Mumu with a smile, standing up perfectly straight.

"Hello, Auntie!"

Sheng Mumu suppressed the urge to clench her teeth and forced a smile in return.

She then turned to look at Qi Shaobai.

"Well...I'm going home first then. You should go back to class."

Talking to Qi Shaobai felt somewhat awkward and unfamiliar to Sheng Mumu.

She knew how to play the parental role in front of the class teacher and professors.

But facing her stepson himself, she still struggled to find her position.

Having this grown son suddenly pop up was difficult to get used to.

Qi Shaobai gave an indifferent "Mm" and headed toward the classroom.

Wei Zhaonan followed behind Qi Shaobai, looking back and forth between him and Sheng Mumu with a baffled expression as he continued asking:

"That's it? Auntie didn't scold you?"

"You don't need to write the self-criticism either?"

Qi Shaobai tsked and kicked Wei Zhaonan. He felt Wei talked too much nonsense.

"Shut up."