Chapter 133: Qi Mo’s Gift to Qi Shaobai

Chapter 133

"Qi Shaobai, don't be afraid. I'll ask him for you," Sheng Mumu said, as if encouraging Qi Shaobai. Qi Shaobai's gaze drifted toward his silent father.

Qi Mo laughed softly and asked directly, "Alright, what gift do you want?"

Qi Shaobai was stunned. Ever since he could remember, he had never received a gift from his father before.

Seeing that asking for a gift was working, Sheng Mumu's face revealed joy. She hurriedly nudged Qi Shaobai with her elbow. She strategized, "Quick, your dad agreed. Make a bold wish, ask him for a small goal first."

Qi Shaobai was skeptical, looking at his father, "Can I really choose whatever I want?"

The handsome, composed man's eyes gradually softened, his tone light but firm: "Yes, you can."

After hesitating for a few seconds, Qi Shaobai carefully said, "I want...a watch."

Qi Mo replied, "Okay, what kind of--"

"I want dad's first watch," Qi Shaobai interrupted Qi Mo before he could finish, expectancy in his eyes.

At the same time, a memory flashed in his mind--

A few years ago, he had accidentally seen his father's watch case.

There was a watch that wasn't the usual valuable brands like Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Earl in the watch case.

But his father had solemnly placed it in a separate drawer.

Qi Shaobai suppressed his curiosity, simply remembering what that watch looked like.

Later, when flipping through a magazine, he saw an exclusive interview with his father.

In the inset picture, it showed his father leading the founding team of the group to ring the bell at Nasdaq.

In the photo, the watch on his father's wrist was exactly that seemingly unremarkable mechanical watch.

Qi Shaobai took the opportunity of his father's executive assistant coming to the school for a parent-teacher conference, and asked the executive assistant about it.

Having followed Qi Mo for many years, the executive assistant naturally knew the story behind the watch. He spoke admiringly,

"That watch, I remember Mr. Qi said it was the first watch he bought after earning his first pot of gold."

"In the years when Qi Group was just starting to grow, Mr. Qi would always wear it when attending important events."

"I guess Mr. Qi wanted to remind himself not to forget his original aspiration, and remember the hardships of building his career bit by bit. Mr. Qi is truly my idol in life!"

These scenes flashed through Qi Shaobai's mind.

His thoughts returned to the present, and he felt somewhat apprehensive.

Asking for this watch that held such great significance for his father as a gift, would that be inappropriate?

He had just blurted it out in the heat of the moment.

Now he suddenly regretted speaking too hastily.

Just as he was feeling remorseful, Qi Shaobai heard his father's deep voice.

"Alright, I'll bring it to you when I get home."

Qi Shaobai knew this was the real coming of age gift his "dad" had prepared for him.

In the past, Qi Mo didn't have the habit of celebrating occasions, and rarely used certain actions to give special meaning to a particular day.

Until a few days ago.

One night before bed, he saw Sheng Mumu frowning at her phone, mumbling to herself,

"So hard to decide, what kind of gift would an eighteen year old brat like..."

"Can't not give him anything."

"But what to give? So hard to decide..."

Sheng Mumu rested her cheek on her palm, tapping her chin as she seriously pondered...

In that moment, Qi Mo suddenly realized.

As Qi Shaobai's "dad" now, shouldn't he also give something to mark this coming of age day?

To give the ordinary day a sense of ritual, like she did.

It was almost instantaneous.

He decided what to use as the gift.

Qi Mo thought back to his own eighteenth birthday.

On the day he came of age, his parents had gone out of town to take care of a sick relative, leaving him home alone.

On the way back, passing the small shop at the alley entrance, he had only wanted to buy a bottle of mineral water, but his attention was caught by the beer in the cooler.

When checking out, on impulse he grabbed two cans and put them on the counter.

Back home, he climbed up to the rooftop.

The rooftop of the old housing complex had the smell of dry cement bricks.

In the evening breeze, accompanied by the brick smell and scents of cooking drifting up from downstairs,

He drank the two cans of beer in one go.

Raising his hand to the pitch black night sky, as if toasting.

In his heart, he said to his parents and sister who had passed away,

"After today, I'll be eighteen. Don't worry, you don't have to think of me anymore."

Qi Shaobai closing his bedroom door pulled Qi Mo's thoughts back to the present.

The darkness in Qi Mo's eyes gradually dispersed, the corners crinkling up slightly.

He lifted his sharp, handsome jaw toward the second floor balcony.

Stepping forward, fingers loosely curled around the beer cans, he said to Qi Shaobai,

"Let's go, kid."