Chapter 326: The Place We Missed for a Year

Jiang Liangjin sat beside her, legs slightly drawn, pulling her half into his side, shielding her from the passing crowd's gaze. "Uncomfortable?"

Mu Youyu lightly shook her head, explaining, "No, the car's sway made me dizzy."

Jiang Liangjin saw her complexion was fine, then relaxed a bit, his voice softer: "If you're dizzy, we won't play. Want to find Grandma and the others?"

Mu Youyu grabbed his sleeve, "No need, just keep me company for a bit."

That made Jiang Liangjin chuckle, "Sure."

Song Huaixian leaned sideways on the gaming chair, head down, phone in hand, apparently sending a message to someone.

Mu Xi stood by the rest area, his peripheral vision never leaving his sister.

Mu Xin sat in the seat next to his sister, keeping her firmly within his sight.

Song Lujing scooped ice cream, moved over to Yu Ci and chatted, "You two are good at finding quiet spots—staying out on New Year's Eve instead of home to play games."

Gu Xingnan replied gently, "There are many elders at home, so I came out to keep A Ci company."

Yu Ci immediately objected, slapping his arm, "What do you mean 'keep me company'? Clearly you wanted to come out too!"

Gu Xingnan wasn't annoyed, just narrowed his eyes slightly, didn't argue, tacitly agreeing.

Mu Youyu watched the noisy pair not far off, then glanced at the person beside her, suddenly recalling something from many years ago.

The two families have been close friends for generations; since infancy, when the elders held them together for a photo, their lives have been intertwined.

At the international kindergarten, Mu Youyu was the most pampered girl, wearing exquisite, never‑repeating dresses every day, with Jiang Liangjin always by her side.

Spoiled at home, she had a touch of pride and a fearless nature.

Whoever upset her would get a glare, but as soon as Jiang Liangjin approached, she'd instantly wipe her expression, obediently reach out her little hand, and let him lead her.

Back then, no one in the circle knew she was the hidden eldest daughter of the Mu and Song families, backed by the four major conglomerates.

All anyone knew was that she came from a wealthy home, a little treasure cherished by teachers and most everyone.

But Jiang Liangjin was different—his status was clear from birth.

He is the sole heir of the Jiang Family, the designated successor of the Shen Family, and the pride of the whole circle.

The other kindergarten kids feared him, yet he reserved all his tenderness and favor for Mu Youyu.

Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan, meanwhile, were childhood sweethearts bound from birth, their fathers sworn life‑and‑death friends, their birth rooms adjacent.

Growing up wearing the same clothes and playing with the same toys, their bond ran deeper than that of brothers.

Yu Ci was naturally carefree, fearless of heaven and earth, blunt and thick‑skinned, yet very loyal.

Gu Xingnan was the opposite—quiet and restrained, polite to outsiders, but gentle only with those he knew well.

Later, the kindergarten and elementary sections were in the same school but different zones; Mu Youyu then skipped ahead to elementary, insisting on being in Lin Ning's class.

It also happened to place her in the same class as Gu Xingnan and Yu Ci.

Aside from having Lin Ning nearby, Mu Youyu's life changed not at all; she remained the little princess surrounded by admirers.

Jiang Liangjin had no intention of making friends; besides Mu Youyu and her friends, he rarely saw peers his age.

Funny enough, the friendship among the four was sparked by him.

One day, for some unknown reason, Yu Ci started getting close to Jiang Liangjin.

Gu Xingnan and Mu Youyu initially felt it was odd, but naturally gravitated toward them.

From then on, the group officially met Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan, becoming an inseparable clique on campus.

Mu Youyu propped her chin, watching Song Huaixian and Yu Ci go all out, then nudged Jiang Liangjin's arm, "Back then, Brother Huaixian always brought us here to play this."

Jiang Liangjin replied to each point, "I remember—A Ci couldn't even compare to him back then."

Mu Youyu suddenly turned to Mu Xin, soft voice: "Big Brother Xin, do you play games in Y Guo?"

Mu Xin's gaze softened, he shook his head lightly, "Never played; there I only care about courses and training."

In Y Guo he has hardly any friends; those around him are mostly family and subordinates.

He's never been interested in games.

The only entertainment he's touched since returning home is being dragged by these brothers to play Dou Dizhu.

Mu Xi walked over, pressed a hand on his head, "I don't know why Grandpa took you away back then—staying domestically would've been better."

Mu Xin didn't shake off the hand, just said softly, "Grandpa needed an heir."

In his and Grandpa's plan, returning home wasn't supposed to be this soon.

If it weren't for missing his sister at home, he'd have stayed in Y Guo for several more years.

Over there, Yu Ci, Gu Xingnan, and Song Huaixian had finally had their fill of the simulator, walking over side by side.

Yu Ci's smile widened, eager as he asked, "What time are you heading back? Staying here any longer is pointless."

Mu Youyu: "We came out with Grandpa and them; not sure yet, but we should be able to play until evening."

Yu Ci's eyes lit up, instantly enthusiastic, he leaned in, "Want to go to another city to play? It's barely past two—there's plenty of time."

Just swing by a nearby city for a loop, we'll be back in time for the New Year's feast!

Jiang Liangjin and the other brothers heard this, their eyes unconsciously turning to Mu Youyu, naturally letting her decide.

Gu Xingnan interjected timely, "Let's have lunch first."

Yu Ci waved his hands, "Not hungry, not hungry—I'm saving my stomach for the New Year's feast tonight."

Gu Xingnan lifted his gaze at him, "I'm hungry."

Yu Ci then remembered, pulling out the half‑eaten bun from his pocket and handing it over, "That's all I've got; we can buy whatever you like on the road."

Gu Xingnan silently took it.

Mu Youyu's eyes flashed as she spotted a good idea, "How about A City? I'll let Grandma and them know—just us few going."

C Shi is not far from A City; a normal drive gets there in an hour.

The route is short, she's familiar with it—it couldn't be a more suitable choice.

Hearing that city, Jiang Liangjin's fingertip paused—this was the place they'd missed for a year.

He showed no change in expression, "Fine, I'll listen to you."

Yu Ci's interest was piqued, "You studied first year of high school there before, right?"

Mu Youyu nodded repeatedly, lowered her head and sent a message in the family group saying she was going out to play, then stared at the screen waiting for her brothers' replies.

Seeing no one objected, she immediately stood up, pulled Jiang Liangjin, "Let's go, let's go, let's leave now!"

Song Huaixian saw that several brothers had little reaction, hurriedly grabbed each one, urging everyone toward the parking lot, "Hurry, hurry, my older brothers will catch up later."

By then we'll have to follow a bunch of people, not fun at all.

Several people said let's go and went, soon they went downstairs.

Mu Xi sat in the driver's seat, Song Lujing sat in the front passenger seat, Mu Youyu, Jiang Liangjin, and Mu Xin sat in the back.

Seeing the first car was full, Song Huaixian was forced to take Gu Xingnan and Yu Ci into his own car.

Yu Ci sat in the back seat, glanced at him, "Older brother Xian, what's this expression? You're not happy to give us a ride? We two handsome guys, accompanying you in the car, you still feel shortchanged?"

Gu Xingnan spoke gently, "Or you could go yourself, Older Brother Xian, and I'll have A Ci drive."

Song Huaixian collected his little emotion, started the car, "No unhappiness, I'll just give you a ride. Fasten your seatbelts, let's go."

Yu Ci immediately moved closer to Gu Xingnan, "See, I still have face; Older Brother Xian is reluctant to let us go."

Gu Xingnan lowered his gaze to look at the top of his head as he approached, silently reached out and helped him fasten his seatbelt.

The two luxury cars slowly drove out of the parking lot, merged into traffic, and sped toward A City.

The scenery outside the window flew backward rapidly, Mu Youyu said to Jiang Liangjin, "I've already explored all of A City; over there I have my own little studio, plus several paintings I didn't have time to take… Shall I take you to see them later?"

Jiang Liangjin turned his body toward her, his gaze always gently resting on her face, patiently replied, "Sure, I'll accompany you."

Seeing the joy she couldn't hide in her eyes, he softly asked, "Do you really like that place?"

"Yes." Mu Youyu turned her head to look at him, the corners of her eyes curving upward.

Mu Xin sat on the other side, hearing this she spoke softly, "If you want to live there again in the future, I'll accompany you."

Mu Xi glanced at her younger sister in the back seat via the rearview mirror, tone indulgent: "Want to go? Just go, we can leave anytime."

He has never been constrained since childhood; basically all cities within a few hours' drive around have been toured by him.

As long as his sister is happy, it doesn't matter where they go.

Song Lujing: "Exactly, exactly, we can leave anytime."

Mu Youyu suddenly thought of something, glanced at Jiang Liangjin beside her, subtly shifted toward Mu Xin, lowered her head and quickly sent a message to her good friend Yu Yu:

【Xiao Yu, are you at home? Please help me uncover the paintings in my studio covered with red cloth】

Yu Yu also studies art; Mu Youyu had personally taught her techniques, and deliberately left a studio key for her so she could occasionally come over to practice.

After sending the message, the other party didn't reply immediately; probably they were busy and didn't see it.

Seeing her head down, focused on her phone, Jiang Liangjin also silently took out his phone and quietly searched for a travel guide to southern A City.

Mu Youyu noticed he wasn't paying attention, then separately sent messages to Feng Cen and Liu Wanwan.

In the other car, the atmosphere was much livelier.

Yu Ci leaned against the car window, watching the scenery fly backward rapidly, chattering nonstop: "Older brother Xian, drive faster! We're ahead of that car!"

Song Huaixian gripped the steering wheel, raised an eyebrow and glanced at him, "Professional racers don't speed on the highway with you; it's unsafe."

Gu Xingnan gently tugged at Yu Ci's shirt hem, speaking softly: "Don't make a fuss, safety first."

Yu Ci realized today was New Year's Eve, immediately sat properly, moved closer to him, "I'll listen to you; when we get to A City later, what should we eat?"

"Anything is fine." Gu Xingnan took out his phone and silently began searching for popular spots in A City.

An hour's drive passed in the blink of an eye; the two luxury cars slowly entered the southern district of A City.

The car stopped near Sheng Luo Middle School.

Just after getting out of the car, Mu Youyu took a deep breath, smiled and turned her head, "Shall I take you to see my studio?"

Jiang Liangjin followed her out of the car, "Okay."

Mu Xi, Mu Xin, and Song Lujing got out of the car in turn, and Song Huaixian's car also pulled up shortly after and parked steadily.

As soon as Yu Ci got out of the car, he looked around, gazing at the gate of Sheng Luo Middle School, couldn't help muttering, "Hey, why does this school feel so tiny? Compared to Lan Lin in C City, it's far worse."

Mu Youyu explained, "It's okay; it just looks small from the outside, but it's actually quite big inside."

The group's looks were off the charts; walking down the street instantly attracted countless gazes.

Passing girls couldn't help but secretly pull out their phones to take photos.

"I feel like I've seen you before… you're Lu Yuchu's sister, the little princess of the Mu family!"

"We recognized you! You were the campus belle of Sheng Luo back in the day, a friend of the school bully, but then you suddenly transferred away."

"Did the young lady ever study here?"

"……"

Mu Youyu paid no heed to the gossip, walked straight to a quiet little building, took out a key and opened the studio door.

The smell of paint filled the room, large and small easels stood against the walls, the table held unused paints and brushes.

The lights were still on, obviously someone had been here.

She thought Yu Yu had forgotten to turn them off, but didn't think much of it.

"Wow." Yu Ci couldn't help exclaiming, "Youbao, you're amazing, so many paintings!"

Jiang Liangjin quietly looked at the paintings on the wall, "Each one is very beautiful."

The brothers also all praised them.

Mu Youyu smiled, her gaze unconsciously fell on the corner where the red cloth had obviously been moved, her heart gave a little jump.

Fortunately Yu Yu and the others had already helped her put them away in advance.

Just as that thought settled, a few familiar voices came from the inner room.

"It's not these paintings, right? Yu Yu specifically said not to move the red cloth covering them." Liu Wanwan's voice was certain.

"That's it, Older sister Mu said." Yu Yu's voice was soft and gentle.

"I also think not; if she really wanted to hide it, she wouldn't put it in such an obvious place." Feng Cen said.

"Exactly, this painting is completely placed in the living room, eh."

"It's this one... because it's placed too conspicuously, Older sister Mu had me hurry and hide it."

"Don't rush, ah, Xiao Yu; let's put it back first, then later send her a message to ask, so we don't make a mistake."

Just as her voice fell, three figures walked out from the inner room.

Yu Yu walked in front, her long hair soft and hanging over her shoulders; upon seeing Mu Youyu, her eyes instantly lit up, and she gently curved the corners of her mouth, "Older sister Mu, you've come."

Liu Wanwan immediately sprang forward and grabbed Mu Youyu's arm, "Youyou! We rushed over as soon as we got your message—are we supposed to hide this painting?"

Feng Cen followed behind leisurely, not knowing when he had cut his hair into a neat short style, losing some of his former swagger and gaining some freshness.

She had one hand in her pocket, raised an eyebrow and smiled: "I snuck Wanwan out of the house— isn't that loyal enough?"

Seeing this person, Song Huaixian leaned toward Jiang Liangjin and said, "A Jin, we need to be on alert— my little sister actually knows such a handsome guy."

Moreover, their relationship seems pretty good.

He added: "But he's not as tall as you."

Feng Cen couldn't be bothered to argue with him.

Jiang Liangjin: "Female."

The implication is that there's nothing to fear.

Mu Youyu felt warm hearing her three friends; just as she was about to say "Sorry to bother you," her gaze suddenly froze.

In Yu Yu's hand, she was holding a rolled-up painting.

Just a glance at the mark on the back, and she immediately recognized it.

That painting, besides her, Liu Wanwan, Feng Cen, and Yu Yu, no one else has seen it.

Not even Mu Xi, who had doted on her since childhood, has seen it.