Chapter 305: All My Preferences and Exceptions

At half past eleven, the crowd in the square began to surge toward the rooftop observation deck, all waiting for the New Year's fireworks at midnight.

Seeing the girls walking one by one toward the middle of the crowd, Jiang Liangjin took Mu Youyu's hand and headed again toward the rooftop observation deck.

He had already booked this place in advance; aside from the accompanying bodyguards and the doctor on standby, there was no one else.

Mu Youyu put away her mask, walked to the railing, placed both hands on it, and poked her little head out to look down.

The smile at the corners of her mouth, which appeared the moment she saw the fireworks countdown sign, never faded.

The evening breeze was slightly cool; Jiang Liangjin pulled her a bit closer to himself, saying, "It's cold, don't let the wind blow too much."

Mu Youyu, however, seemed not to have heard, spreading her arms wide, showing no trace of the weakness from her illness, and said, "It's so refreshing, not cold at all!"

He let out a helpless sigh and could only step half a pace in front of her.

The two sat side by side on the soft chairs by the railing, chatting idly about funny childhood incidents.

Time crept closer to zero, minute by minute, second by second, and the countdown voice on the square grew louder and louder.

When the last second's number dropped, the midnight bell rang on schedule, and countless helium balloons were released from the crowd, rising into the night sky.

At the same moment, fireworks shot up, blooming across the sky and illuminating the entire square.

Mu Youyu also released the helium balloon in her hand, watched it drift toward where the fireworks burst, then turned her head and said, "A Jin, I've prepared a gift for you—guess what it is."

She kept her little hands behind her back, leaned slightly forward, and swayed with bright, smiling eyes.

Jiang Liangjin looked at the girl before him and, answering a different question, said, "Having you by my side is already the best New Year's gift."

His voice was clear, his gaze filled with an indescribable focus.

In the new year, thank you for being by my side—all my preferences and exceptions.

My most precious thought.

Mu Youyu naturally understood the deep meaning in his words, reached out and gently embraced his waist, saying, "You are also my best gift, A Jin; we will always be together."

Jiang Liangjin's body stiffened slightly, then he raised his arms, gently encircling her back and pulling her tightly into his embrace, saying, "Will do."

Fireworks bloomed across the sky behind them, while his whole world lay in his arms.

The opposite rooftop.

Not far away, the brothers who had secretly followed were playing by themselves, but most of them couldn't help occasionally glancing toward the opposite observation deck.

They couldn't see anything.

Each then lowered their heads.

Song Huaixian raised his high-powered telescope, suddenly slapped the brother beside him who was lowering his head to drink milk tea, and exclaimed, "They're hugging, they're hugging!"

Song Huaiyu, shaken by the slap, coughed violently a few times, so angry he almost smashed his milk tea cup on the brother's head.

He took a deep breath, repeatedly telling himself in his mind, "This is my younger brother, my younger brother, and he looks exactly like me—I can't hit him," barely suppressing his anger.

Song Huaiyu snatched the telescope from his hand and looked toward the opposite side.

But all he saw was the two leaning together, heads lowered, whispering, with nothing beyond that.

He expressionlessly lowered the telescope, tossed it back into Song Huaixian's arms, and said in an icy tone, "You lied to me? Song Huaixian, are you that bored?"

The hateful younger brother just wanted to see him angry, deliberately making up nonsense to tease him.

Song Huaixian shrugged, spread his hands with an innocent look, and said, "No, I really did see them hugging just now; you just missed it."

Mu Xianqi leaned on the chair where Qing An was sitting, gave him a faint glance, and said with a hint of disdain, "Xianxian, your joke isn't funny at all."

Song LuXiao leaned on the nearby sofa and echoed, "Yes."

Song Lujing huddled in the corner, not daring to interject to speak up for Jiang Liangjin at this moment, only silently lowering his head to tap at the elimination game on his tablet.

His gaming room had already been locked up by his brothers.

He felt angry inside, yet he knew who was in charge in that household, so for the past few days he could only go to Song Huaixian's house to play.

The hateful older brother just knows how to play dirty with him—how pitiful he is……

Song Huaixian had nothing to say, "Believe it or not."

Mu Xin was playing cards with Mu Xi and Mu Nian; hearing that, he lifted his eyes, completely disbelieving, and said, "A Jin knows his limits."

Song Huaixian could only hold the telescope and let out a "huh," "…Believe it or not, I really did see it."

Qing An held the glutinous rice in his arms, watching Song Huaixian's embarrassed look, couldn't help laughing, and said, "Don't rush, Xianxian—I don't believe you either; nine out of ten things you say are false."

"Do you think I want to bother with you?" Song Huaixian, angry, reached out and snatched the glutinous rice from Qing An's arms, holding it on his lap, and angrily rubbed the kitten's head, saying, "Mine, give it back."

Qing An pretended to be magnanimous, saying, "Why are you still acting like a child? If you want it, just take it."

……

Mu Xi threw the pair of Aces from her hand onto the table, raised her chin triumphantly, and said, "I won, you all lost!"

Song Huaixian pulled a hidden three from Mu Xi's pile, shook it, and said, "Little Xi Xi, cheating doesn't count as winning."

Mu Xin then tossed his last two pairs of twos onto the table and said calmly, "I won."

Mu Xi declared righteously, "Me and Xinbao are a team—no matter who wins, it's still me who won!"

Mu Nian laid his cards on the table with a bored expression, saying, "Not fun; you all just know how to cheat."

Mu Xi said, "Big brother is really no fun; he doesn't even let me win."

……

Mu Xianqi counted the people present and asked, "Where are Mu Yichen and the others? They said yesterday they'd come back today."

Song Huaiyu replied in a flat tone, "I can't get through on the phone."

Mu Yichen and Mu Yichi are the twin sons of Uncle Mu, often staying in B City.

Although they aren't blood-related to him, they've grown up together since childhood, dote on their younger sister, and are usually in B City as well; they can chat easily, and his relationship with them is very good.

Lu Yuchu replied to a work message without looking up, "They should be in B City, right? Anyway, given their abilities, no one could hurt them."

Mu Xianqi leaned back against the chair and said, "Will they come back for the New Year? Grandfather keeps mentioning that he wants the whole family to eat the reunion dinner together."

Mu Xi chuckled and said, "If you want them to come back, you have to ask Youbao—after all, they don't even listen to Grandfather's words."

Mu Xianqi heard the words, her brows slightly lifted, yet she didn't argue back.

Mu Yichen and Mu Yichi are very wild in temperament, fearing neither heaven nor earth.

Only towards this little princess at home do they listen and obey.

Not to mention grandfather's words; even other elders' words might not work as well as a single coquettish line from Mu Youyu.

Whenever she calls and says she misses them, not to mention New Year's, even at midnight they'll drop everything and rush back.

Once, for her younger sister's birthday, the two were abroad on some mission, yet they flew back overnight several days early.

Just to sing her a birthday song.