Chapter 65: I Am Her Father
The two of them chatted for most of the study period.
After dinner, while Wen Xia went to the bathroom, she called Qin Mo. “Qin Xueba, I have some bad news to tell you.”
Hearing her mysterious tone, Qin Mo stopped writing and raised an eyebrow. “Pregnant?”
Zhao Zichuan, who was playing a game nearby, was so shocked that his phone fell to the ground with a thud.
Qin Mo glanced at him.
Wen Xia: “…”
Pregnant, you big-headed ghost.
She pouted, dissatisfied. “Qin Mo, can you be serious? I’m telling you something, and if you keep this up, I’ll be mad, the kind that can’t be easily coaxed.”
Hearing his wife’s usual phrase, Qin Mo smiled and said, “I’m sorry, my dear wife. Please go on.”
At that moment, two girls’ voices could be heard from the bathroom.
“I’ll take a big one; you go to the classroom and get me some tissue.”
“Okay.”
Wen Xia: “…”
Qin Mo: “…”
“In the bathroom?”
Wen Xia, feeling quite embarrassed, mumbled, “Mmhmm.” She had already let out a fart in front of Qin Mo, so this was nothing. She whispered, “My legs are numb from squatting.”
Qin Mo chuckled. “Call me after you’re done in the bathroom. Don’t squat too long, it’s easy to lack oxygen.”
“Wait, I haven’t told you the bad news.”
Wen Xia didn’t keep him in suspense any longer. She said, “The top scorer of the semester can go to No.1 Middle School to study next semester. Husband, we can’t be classmates anymore.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Mo frowned slightly but quickly returned to normal. “How many days until the final exam?”
Wen Xia counted on her fingers. “Ten days left.”
“It’s not too late. Starting today, after the evening self-study, I’ll call you and go over the lessons, focusing on the key points.”
Qin Mo took out his math textbook and began marking the important knowledge, making it easier to explain later that night.
Wen Xia responded with a soft “Mmhmm.”
“Wife, you’ve worked hard these days. When we’re at the same school, I’ll make you lunch every day, help you with cleaning, and get you water.” Qin Mo tempted her appropriately.
He knew his wife’s temperament best. A little sweetness, and she would do anything quickly.
Wen Xia’s eyes lit up, and she seized the opportunity to add another condition, “Washing the dishes is also your job.”
“Okay, I promise. Now, a kiss.” Qin Mo kissed the phone screen.
Zhao Zichuan: “…”
He really didn’t want to live anymore.
‘Teacher, I want to change seats.’
…
After that, the two of them began remote tutoring. During the day, Qin Mo would find time to prepare lessons, and after evening self-study, he would go home and teach her. They both stayed up until 11:30 p.m. every night.
To avoid disturbing the other students, Wen Xia would wait until no one was using the bathroom, then turn on the light inside and listen to Qin Mo’s lessons. She only spoke up when she didn’t understand something.
…
On the day of the final exam, Wen Xia was nervous for a while, but the math paper went much more smoothly than she had expected. The major question types Qin Mo had highlighted were all included.
After finishing the math exam, Wen Xia felt relieved. The other subjects went smoothly as well, though the questions were a bit more difficult than the midterm ones.
That day after the exams, Wen De came to the school to pick up Wen Xia and help carry her things.
In previous years, as soon as winter break started, Wen Xia would go to stay at the Wen family’s house, but this year, she had signed up for a tutoring class and didn’t go.
On the day they checked their scores online, Wen Xia and Qin Mo were in class on Pearson for physics.
After the third class, Wen Xia quickly pulled out her phone, entered the teacher’s website, and typed in her student number and password. She then handed the phone to Qin Mo. “I’m so nervous, you look first, and then tell me.”
Seeing her with her eyes closed, her little mouth mumbling, he thought she was absolutely adorable.
Qin Mo couldn’t help but laugh, but his survival instinct made him stifle the sound. If he laughed out loud, his wife would definitely scratch him with her claws.
He then lowered his head and clicked on the student grade query. Wen Xia: Chinese 123, Math 132, English 150, Chemistry 92, Biology 95, Physics 90, Total 682, Ranked 1st in grade, 1st in class.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
Wen Xia, eyes still closed, nervously muttered, “Qin Mo, did I pass?”
Qin Mo leaned in closer and called out, “Wife, open your eyes.”
When Wen Xia opened her eyes, he quickly kissed her, then patted her head. “Congratulations, wife, you’ve got first place.” After that, he showed her the phone.
When she saw the score on the screen, Wen Xia smiled so widely that her eyes curved. “Qin Mo, I want two hamburgers for lunch, and a cup of cola.”
“Okay, I’ll fulfill your request.” Qin Mo replied.
…
After finishing her supplementary classes that afternoon, Wen De had already prepared dinner.
Wen Xia dropped her bag and immediately hugged Wen De. She raised her face excitedly and asked, “Dad, guess how many points I got on the final?”
“How many?”
Wen De stiffened for a moment, then reached out to pat her head. The next second, he froze again, as though it had been a long time since he had patted Wen Xia’s head.
Wen Xia pretended not to notice and gave a cheeky smile. “Hehe, 682. Dad, isn’t that awesome? Come on, praise me.”
Hearing “682,” Wen De was a little surprised, but quickly became serious again. His gaze softened a lot. “Not bad, keep up the good work next time.”
“Hehe, Dad, you have to give me more New Year’s money this year,” Wen Xia said, playfully shaking his arm.
Wen De nodded. “Okay.”
No.1 Middle School’s results were released two days later than No.2 Middle School’s. Qin Mo scored 746, improving by two more points.
With such high scores, Wen Xia felt a bit disheartened.
…
The holidays were similar to the school routine. Pearson stopped classes on the 28th of the twelfth lunar month.
The next day, Wen De took Wen Xia back to the Wen family to celebrate the New Year, while Qin Mo went back to his family as well. Before leaving, he bought his wife a new outfit for the holiday.
Every year during the New Year, the village was very lively with many children returning home. Wen Xia had grown up with them, and they all made plans to play together.
On the night of the 31st, Li Shang and the others invited her to go out and set off fireworks.
She left her phone at home.
Around 9 p.m., Wen Xia’s phone kept ringing. Wen De picked it up and took a quick glance—Qin Xueba.
He put it down.
The phone kept ringing for a long time.
Xu Qiong’s gaze shifted from the TV to Wen De. “Dezi, why don’t you pick it up for Xia Xia? There might be something urgent.”
After hesitating for a moment, Wen De answered the phone. Just as he was about to say something, a young voice came from the other side. “Wife, where have you gone? Now that your husband’s not around, you’re starting to let loose?”
“Hmm? Wife, are you too guilty to speak?”
Wen De’s serious expression turned even more stern as he said in a low voice, “I’m her father. What’s the matter?”
There was a silence on the other end for about ten seconds. “Uncle Wen, I was looking for Wen Xia to ask her something.”
“She went out to play.”
Wen De pressed his lips together, wanting to scold him for calling her so recklessly. But then he thought of something and held back, eventually hanging up the phone without saying anything.
…
When Wen Xia returned, Xu Qiong mentioned that someone had called and that Wen De had already answered it for her.
Hearing this, she immediately realized that Qin Mo had probably clashed with Wen De again.
“…”
She cautiously glanced at Wen De. His expression seemed fine, so Qin Mo probably hadn’t said anything upsetting. She let out a sigh of relief.
She then went to her room and called Qin Mo. The call connected, but there was no immediate response from his end.
She asked, “Husband, are you there?”
Qin Mo’s voice came through, sounding pitiful. “Wife, I just had a clash with Dad. I’m scared. I need kisses, hugs, and to be lifted up.”