Chapter 215: Love (The Finale)

Chapter 215

June 7th.

Birds fluttered past the branches, waking the morning.

The lingering chill in the air was soon warmed by the sunshine.

On the usually jammed roads in Beijing city during rush hour, the blaring of car horns urging people to move was unusually absent.

The radio in the taxi was playing, and the broadcaster gently reminded parents to avoid congested routes and relax their mood.

Outside the school gates, crowds of people lined the streets.

Parents held their children's breakfast in hand, hoping they would eat their fill while worrying that eating too much would make their heads fuzzy.

A black sedan pulled up and three people stepped out, merging into the crowds.

Qi Shaobai was holding a clear file folder containing his exam permit and stationery. His dad and stepmom had already taken turns double checking it on the drive over.

As soon as Sheng Mumu got out of the car, she turned and held out her palm to Qi Mo.

Qi Shaobai looked over in confusion.

He saw his dad in a suit suddenly take two red hair ties out of his pocket and hand them to his stepmother.

Qi Shaobai: "???"

Disregarding the eyes of the people around her, Sheng Mumu tied one of the hair ties around her forehead.

She then crooked a finger at the strong and steady handsome man beside her.

Qi Mo obligingly bent down.

Sheng Mumu stood on her toes to slick back the fringe on his forehead and tied on an identical headband. She looked him up and down satisfingly and stroked her chin as she commented:

"Not only still handsome as ever, but actually look younger too!"

Qi Mo's body stiffened slightly as he slowly straightened back up.

Qi Shaobai finally made out the words on the red hair ties - "Go Qi Shaobai!"

The words were bold and forceful, vigorous strokes.

He recognized it as his dad's handwriting.

Qi Shaobai was shocked.

His pupils quaked epically.

Any silly antics from Sheng Mumu he would expect as par for the course.

What was unbelievable was his dad actually going along with it too.

Before he could recover from the shock, a pat landed on his shoulder.

He must've watched too many anime lately for his chuunibyou syndrome to be this advanced.

Before long, the chuuni spirit proved contagious.

The previously grave atmosphere outside the exam hall instantly lightened.

Parents could be continually seen pumping fists to cheer their children on, using spirited language to encourage:

"Go for it!"

"Conquer the exam hall!"

The security guard pulled the doors open, announcing examinees could start entering the exam venue.

A din arose from the crowds as people started shuffling forward.

Qi Shaobai rubbed the back of his neck shyly.

Suddenly he grabbed his dad and stepmom's hands.

Stacking all three palms together with his on top.

In a clear ringing voice:

"I'll do my best!"

Then slowly raised his head, lowering his volume:

"I love you guys."

The sunshine was just right, breeze perfectly mild.

The boy retracted his hands, cocked his chin, broke into laughter.

Casually turning away, he raced into the exam hall.

His straight back figure was jaunty and dauntless.

The fragrant cedars on campus sliced the dazzling rays into flickering spots of light.

Paved onto the road ahead he was going to tread.

Behind him, the man pulled the woman into his embrace by the shoulders.

"If memory serves, it's Little Qi's first time saying something so cheesy right?" Sheng Mumu suddenly asked as she looked up.

Qi Mo: "Yes, the first time."

"It really wasn't easy getting that boy to say something like this." Sheng Mumu smiled tenderly as a mother, her hand unconsciously coming to rest at the man's waist in light support. There was a hint of smugness in her tone, "Thanks to me you get to hear it this first time."

The man's gaze darkened slightly as he turned to look at her.

After a long silence, a scorching deep bass slid past her ears.

"Sheng Mumu, I love you."