Chapter 24: Explanation

Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan quickly returned to their seats.

Lan Lin's cafeteria has several service windows.

With their family status in the circle, they don't need to wait in line.

Yu Ci set aside Jiang Liangjin and Mu Youyu's portions, then sat opposite them with Gu Xingnan.

They started eating.

During the meal, Yu Ci wanted to ask Mu Youyu several times, but Gu Xingnan stopped him with glances or small gestures.

He gave up.

After the four quietly finished eating, they left the cafeteria under various gazes.

On the way, Yu Ci brought up the topic again.

"Youbao, although I don't know what happened to you in A City, since you're back, let's be as we were before!" Yu Ci said with a bright smile and cheerful tone.

Mu Youyu felt warm inside hearing that.

Returning to the familiar city and familiar people, Yu Ci remained unchanged as before.

She nodded, her red lips slightly curving, "Thank you, A Ci."

Gu Xingnan glanced at her, also nodding, "I'm the same as A Ci."

Yesterday A Jin overreacted, he felt……

Mu Youyu left C City largely because she was angry, angry that Jiang Liangjin disappeared during the middle school exam period.

Perhaps she has now figured things out and returned; he originally thought she would deliberately avoid Jiang Liangjin this time, but seeing her current state, it's not entirely so.

The most likely possibility is that she thought A Jin was studying at neighboring Nan Feng, and then she came back to Lan Lin.

No matter what, she is back.

He only hopes the two can resolve their conflict, so A Jin won't be upset from time to time.

"If anything comes up, just find us." Gu Xingnan patted Mu Youyu's shoulder and said gently.

"I know, A Nan." Mu Youyu replied with a soft smile.

Gu Xingnan seems silent, not expressive, but he is thoughtful, caring for her emotions all along, his nature unchanged.

Cold to outsiders, gentle to his own.

Jiang Liangjin felt uneasy hearing Mu Youyu's affectionate terms for them.

Is she unwilling to call him?

He couldn't help feeling gloomy.

Yu Ci was still chatting with Mu Youyu when Gu Xingnan sensed the subtle atmosphere and said, "Youbao just transferred to school; timing is perfect—let's show you around?"

Mu Youyu didn't refuse.

Before the middle school exam, she had a chance to visit but was lazy and didn't go; now it's a good time to stroll.

Yu Ci and Jiang Liangjin had no objections.

They walked along the campus path, sunlight just falling on them, casting long shadows.

To kill time and ease the mood, Yu Ci introduced things to Mu Youyu.

Having grown up together, they felt no awkwardness; Mu Youyu occasionally smiled.

Passing a library, the sign read "Lan Lin First Library."

"This is Lan Lin First Library." Yu Ci pointed ahead, enthusiastically introducing.

Mu Youyu looked up; she had seen online that Lan Lin Library is one of the city's largest, with multiple self-study and reading rooms.

Indeed quite large.

In short, Lan Lin overall can be summed up with one word: "luxurious."

"Shall we go in?" Gu Xingnan suggested timely.

Jiang Liangjin glanced at him, expression unreadable.

"Sure!" Mu Youyu agreed happily.

The four entered the library.

As soon as they stepped in, Gu Xingnan instantly regretted it.

It was too quiet inside; everyone was searching for books, heads down reading, they couldn't disturb others or do something improper.

Gu Xingnan sighed softly, "Forget it, leave it to fate."

The four found seats; Mu Youyu took a textbook she hadn't finished, sat down and began reading.

Seeing this, the other three each grabbed a book and started reading.

Mu Youyu was engrossed, looked up and noticed Jiang Liangjin missing, startled.

After hesitating a moment but not wanting to hesitate, she immediately closed her book, stood up, and left the library.

Yu Ci looked up and saw her, wanting to follow.

Just as he stood, Gu Xingnan grabbed his hand.

Gu Xingnan lowered his voice: "A Ci, don't go; give them some private time. Looking at this situation, Youbao might be upset about not being able to contact A Jin during the middle school exam period; it's not good for them to stay tense, better wait for A Jin to explain to Youbao himself; once explained, everything will be fine."

Yu Ci thought for a few seconds, then sat back down, "Makes sense."

The two began chatting on their phones.

Mu Youyu saw Jiang Liangjin on the small path beside the library.

He wore a deep red T-shirt, revealing pale skin, his back to her, fingertips pinching a wrinkled leaf, pads repeatedly rubbing the leaf's edge.

A heavy low pressure surrounded him.

Mu Youyu looked at Jiang Liangjin ahead, feeling inexplicably surprised.

She hesitated a moment, then stepped forward, thinking she'd just take a look, do nothing, should be fine, right?

On the quiet little path, there weren't many people, and the footsteps were especially clear.

Jiang Liangjin heard the movement, his fingertips paused, he still kept his head slightly lowered, his wine-red strands of hair falling down, just enough to cover his handsome brows and eyes, revealing only his dark brown eyes.

Having known him for so long, Mu Youyu still saw him for the first time… a gloomy look.

Completely unlike the boy in my memory who would laugh while ruffling her hair and walk with youthful vigor, he now had a touch of coldness and an indescribable melancholy.

Jiang…

Mu Youyu called out just one character and then didn't continue speaking.

Jiang Liangjin had originally been keeping his head lowered.

Thinking he had hallucinated, he instinctively turned his head, and upon seeing it really was Mu Youyu, he froze.

He tossed aside the useless leaf in his hand.

"How did you come out?" Jiang Liangjin's voice was lower than usual, with a hint of unresolved hoarseness, but his Expression softened.

"I saw you weren't in the library, so I came out to look for you."

Mu Youyu walked up to him, tilted her head to look at him; the boy's stature had already grown, half a head taller than her, and she asked, "What are you doing here?"

Her lips were a pale pink, the lip line soft; even without much Expression, she seemed to hint at a faint softness.

Jiang Liangjin lowered his gaze to her, a flicker of emotion flashing in his eyes, he vaguely deflected the topic: "Nothing, just came out for some fresh air."

Seeing this, Mu Youyu likely guessed what it was.

After a long silence, she stepped toward Jiang Liangjin and brushed off the fallen leaves on him.

Both of them stared for a while before Mu Youyu finally mustered the courage to ask: "Why didn't you take the middle school exam? Where did you go when you were supposed to take it?"

Why, after school that time, did you not wait for her and instead get involved with the An Family, making her, Yu Ci, and Gu Xingnan unreachable?

Mu Youyu didn't ask those, but instead lifted her gaze, waiting for him to answer the two questions above.