Chapter 199: All Warm Colors

Chapter 199

"Wonderful--."

On the morning of Chinese New Year's Eve.

As Sheng Mumu had just come out of the bedroom, she heard Qi Shaobai's voice coming from downstairs.

Leaning over the railing on the second floor looking down.

She saw in the living room, Granny and Qi Shaobai were writing spring couplets together.

The paperweights pressed on the top edges of the red fretwork spring couplet paper.

Granny rolled up her sleeves and lifted the brush to write calligraphy.

The golden ink shimmered brightly, following the movement of the brush tip falling on the paper.

The brushwork was powerful and unrestrained, with rhythm.

Vigorous yet not without gentleness.

Sheng Mumu looked at it admiringly, and hurried downstairs.

She stood in a line with Qi Shaobai, posing as Granny’s fan girl, joining the chorus of praise.

Last time at the Garden Square, she had witnessed Qi Shaobai’s calligraphy.

Qi Mo had told her then that Qi Shaobai had learned some superficial skills from Granny when he was little.

Now at the first sight,

Sheng Mumu realized how precise Qi Mo's words were.

Compared to Granny’s masterful calligraphy, Qi Shaobai's bit of shoddy work could only be described as "superficial".

While she was thinking, Granny had already put down the brush, looking satisfied at the newly written couplet.

Top line: Wish with snowy meaning to pray for a bountiful year

Bottom line: Glorious spring sees ten thousand things anew

Horizontal inscription: Fortune and joy fill the doors

"Wow!"

Qi Shaobai seemed to have discovered something and suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the table.

"Granny, you hid names in the couplet!"

Granny smiled and nodded gently, praising: "Clever little one."

Qi Shaobai analyzed:

"The character ‘wish’ in the top line looks similar to Qi, there is ‘Sheng’ in the bottom line, it’s obviously our family’s spring couplets, so suitable--"

Sheng Mumu was pleasantly surprised, staring with rounded eyes.

She never thought her name would be included in the couplet.

"Not only does it represent little one and Mumu." Granny smiled benevolently, looking at her great grandson, "Little one, there is also your name, see if you can find it."

Qi Shaobai's eyebrows rose happily: "Where, where?"

"I found it!" Sheng Mumu answered quickly, "Snowy meaning, white, Qi Shaobai."

"That’s right~" Granny's smile deepened.

Just then, Qi Mo pushed open the study door, stepped down the stairs casually.

Sheng Mumu glanced at him and waved her hand, "Granny wrote spring couplets, come and see quickly."

When the man came down, Sheng Mumu said solemnly in a matter-of-fact tone:

"This pair of couplets was written by Granny, little Qi and I stood by the side cheering, we can barely count as participating in the creation."

She paused briefly, looking up at the handsome side profile of the man.

"As a member of the family, you can't shirk labour, you have to contribute as well."

Hearing this, the man was silent for a few seconds, and said slowly:

"Then...shall I write a pair too?"

He understood Sheng Mumu’s meaning clumsily.

He reached out to take the writing brush.

Both large and small, containing abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, about six to seven bags.

After putting down his things, Cheng Zhuo took out two game disc cases from his body.

Without changing his shoes, he called towards the inside:

"Qi Shaobai, Uncle brought you New Year gifts."

Qi Shaobai was accompanying Granny in watching the Nian Gen Xiao Pin Ji, a collection of CCTV New Year’s Gala skits from previous years. Ge You was sprawled paralyzed on the sofa.

Hearing there were gifts to collect, Qi Shaobai sprang up from the sofa like a carp.

"What gifts?"

Taking the game discs from Cheng Zhuo’s hands, Qi Shaobai scrutinized them front and back with interest, reading the game introductions in English.

He didn't notice at all a shrewd gleam flash across Cheng Zhuo's eyes for a moment.

Okay.

Qi Shaobai was interested in the game discs.

Cheng Zhuo thought inwardly: plan success.

Over the last few days, Cheng Zhuo had mulled over this for a long time.

Why was Qi Shaobai’s evaluation of his brother so different from his evaluation of him as uncles?

After thinking back and forth.

Perhaps it was because he had not shown his talents in front of Qi Shaobai.

Hmm, it must be so.

During high school, his brother was often busy with work and not at home. He was always alone at home, conquering various games. He was the game king of several blocks in the neighbourhood.

By gifting game discs as an opportunity to demonstrate to Qi Shaobai that his gaming talents were far above average.

It was a good plan.

"Shall we compete?" Cheng Zhuo smiled brilliantly, hooking Qi Shaobai.

Qi Shaobai nodded casually, saying offhandedly: "Sure, let’s go."

A few hours later.

Feng Yaoqin walked to the entertainment room door and knocked, calling loudly:

"Little Cheng, Shaobai, stop playing, come out for dinner, hurry up."

"Coming." One voice answered happily.

"Okay." Another voice was slightly frustrated.

After a while, the entertainment room door was pushed open.

Qi Shaobai walked lightly towards the dining room.

Cheng Zhuo followed slowly behind, patting the back of his head with a look on his face that showed he still could not figure things out at all.

How strange.

Skill level may decline but shouldn't lose every round to this little rascal Qi Shaobai.

What's going on. Where exactly was the problem.

Just as he was puzzling over this, Sheng Mumu came out from the kitchen next to him.

She held a few cans of the grape flavoured soda Qi Shaobai loved. Seeing the crestfallen look on her silly brother, she sighed and comforted with a smile: "Silly, losing to little Qi is not embarrassing at all."

Cheng Zhuo looked up somewhat comprehendingly: "?"

Sheng Mumu looked towards the dining table.

At the end of her line of vision was Qi Shaobai’s slender and straight back.

That back used to always hide traces of stubbornness and loneliness.

Now, the shoulders naturally relaxed down.

Sitting between Granny and Qi Mo, Qi Shaobai looked carefree as he proudly announced:

"I played games with Uncle just now and won five rounds in a row!"

Sheng Mumu withdrew her gaze. Long lashes lowered to hide the distressed look in her eyes. Her lips turned up slightly as she said softly to Cheng Zhuo:

"In terms of conquering games alone by oneself, he may have learned it earlier than you."