Study System: I'm a 38-Year-Old Student-Chapter 321 - 215: Considerate Mother-in-law

"Stop right there!"

Chen Qingzhu burst out laughing at Shen Qiushan’s awful acting.

Who sleepwalks and declares they are sleepwalking?

She quickly walked over, patted Shen Qiushan on the shoulder, and then reached out to push open the door that had been left ajar.

Trying to run away?

No way!

Shen Qiushan sighed in resignation, knowing further acting was pointless.

He had originally planned to personally deliver a surprise to Lin Xiamo!

But the surprise turned into a shock!

Who would have thought that at this time, Chen Qingzhu, the mother-in-law, would be in Lin Xiamo’s room!

The reason Chen Qingzhu was there was actually to get Lin Xiamo’s help with setting up a personal internet singing account, something she had wanted to do for a long time as a former cultural troupe singer.

It was partly to enrich her retired life, but her husband, Lin Moxuan, had always been adamantly opposed, saying it wasn’t appropriate for the wife of a department head to livestream singing.

Although Chen Qingzhu didn’t quite agree with that viewpoint, since Lin Moxuan was still in office, she decided to hold off on the livestream idea to avoid unnecessary influence.

But now the situation was different. Her daughter, Lin Xiamo, was participating in "Voice of Hua Country," a very influential national program.

Since her daughter could be on a show, her singing online shouldn’t be a big deal!

With this in mind, Chen Qingzhu decided to set up an account to sing occasionally.

With her husband Lin Moxuan already asleep and her daughter Lin Xiamo at home, she came over to ask for help!

Who would have thought, just as she was attentively listening, Shen Qiushan would show up uninvited and even lock the door!

Chen Qingzhu was initially stunned, then she understood!

Turns out the two of them were already together!

Otherwise, how could Shen Qiushan sneak into her daughter’s room in the middle of the night and so skillfully lock the door?

"Since you’re here, have a seat!"

Lin Xiamo’s room was quite large, a suite with a double sofa by the window and a small independent balcony.

Chen Qingzhu pointed to the sofa and then looked at her daughter Lin Xiamo, who was half leaning against the bed: "You sit over there too!"

It was clear Chen Qingzhu was preparing for a "family tribunal!"

To have a good interrogation of the two of them!

Lin Xiamo looked helpless; she was paralyzed when Shen Qiushan entered the room.

In your own home, you’d usually send a WeChat message to ask first, but tonight, in such a "dangerous" environment, he didn’t even ask.

The double sofa seemed perfectly made for the two of them, as they could sit side by side comfortably.

However, as they sat, Lin Xiamo gave Shen Qiushan a hard pinch to release some of her "inner frustration."

"Mom, Momo pinched me!"

Shen Qiushan, deciding to face the music, raised his hand to report.

"You..."

Lin Xiamo was speechless; this man, who usually seemed reliable, was now behaving like a child.

Is this what they call "men remain boys till death?"

"Momo, stop your antics."

Chen Qingzhu said with a stern face. Once they were both seated, she glanced at them twice, then cleared her throat to start questioning: "So, since when have you been together?"

"We’re not together!"

"Not many days!"

The two replied almost in unison.

But their answers were completely different—Lin Xiamo said "not together," while Shen Qiushan said "not many days!"

Although both answers started with "not," the meanings were worlds apart.

Lin Xiamo outright denied it; she wasn’t prepared to confess to her parents that she and Shen Qiushan were already together, so she instinctively wanted to deny it.

Anyway, they hadn’t been caught with any concrete evidence; Shen Qiushan had come to her room, but that was all.

If she simply refused to admit it, her mom couldn’t do much about it.

But Shen Qiushan’s thoughts were different; he wasn’t too worried about Chen Qingzhu knowing. He had a sense of what his mother-in-law was like.

She was a former cultural troupe singer, naturally more open-minded than Lin Moxuan, so Shen Qiushan thought persuading Chen Qingzhu wouldn’t be too difficult.

In this matter, Shen Qiushan’s main concern had been his father-in-law Lin Moxuan’s potentially strong reaction, but since the "father-in-law and son-in-law agreement," Shen Qiushan felt he had some leverage.

Though the agreement hadn’t been fulfilled yet, if given three more months, Shen Qiushan was confident he could handle it, even if it were Lin Moxuan who caught them now.

So, Shen Qiushan’s plan was clear: it wouldn’t matter much if he admitted their relationship to Chen Qingzhu, as long as he could persuade her to keep it a secret for now.

Plus, after Chen Qingzhu knew and accepted their relationship, Shen Qiushan could look for a chance to "bribe" her onto his side.

By the time they revealed the relationship to Lin Moxuan, Chen Qingzhu could be a significant ally!

"How many days is ’not many days’?"

Chen Qingzhu ignored her daughter’s evasion and pressed Shen Qiushan, who provided more information.

"About half a month."

Shen Qiushan silently calculated, counting from when he and Lin Xiamo officially started sleeping together.

"Only half a month?"

Chen Qingzhu was skeptical. In fact, after the time Shen Qiushan spent the night in Lin Xiamo’s room and Lin Moxuan took her to Sanjiang University early the next morning, Chen Qingzhu had suspected their relationship.

She had even asked Lin Xiamo in private but received a denial.

Uh?

Shen Qiushan was a bit taken aback; the way Chen Qingzhu said "only" was intriguing.

"Mom, what length of time do you think is suitable?"

Shen Qiushan responded with a question.

"What do you mean, what I think is suitable!"

"Don’t be cheeky!"

Chen Qingzhu rolled her eyes at Shen Qiushan and continued to probe: "Really, only half a month?"

"Absolutely!"

"In front of mom, I wouldn’t lie!"

Shen Qiushan declared with an earnest look.

"Do Xiaoxiao and Yanran know?"

Chen Qingzhu asked further.

"Haven’t told them yet!"

Shen Qiushan shook his head, then swore convincingly, "Mom, you’re the first to know!"

Hearing Shen Qiushan’s answer, Lin Xiamo twitched her lips involuntarily; this man had just said he wouldn’t lie to mother Chen Qingzhu!

The next second, he was convincingly lying!

Shen Yixiao already knew, and he’d even bought an Alienware laptop as hush money.

But clearly, Chen Qingzhu was pleased with this. Knowing she was the first to learn the secret, she nodded in satisfaction and said earnestly, "Qiushan, I trust your character!"

"Since you and Momo are together, I won’t say much!"

"But your relationship is somewhat special, and it will require a process for everyone to accept, so I think it should remain confidential for now, especially from your dad; it must be strictly kept secret!"

"Mm-hmm, I think so too!"

Shen Qiushan nodded repeatedly, having anticipated that Chen Qingzhu would be agreeable but didn’t expect her to be so thoughtful, expressing exactly what he wanted without him having to bring it up.

"Qiushan, but you must make a commitment."

"With Momo, there must be a future; no being indecisive!"

Chen Qingzhu said sternly again.