Chapter 331: Teaching Him the Rules

The next day was Spring Festival.

Mu Youyu walked out of the side gate of the main residence, one hand wrapping a scarf around her neck, clearly just woke up.

She intended to go to the front courtyard to find Jiang Liangjin, but as she turned the corner, a figure blocked her path in the middle.

It was Jiang Yan.

He had deliberately changed into a suit, wore thin‑rimmed glasses, and his neatly groomed hair made him look refined and tidy, obviously having put thought into his appearance.

The moment he saw Mu Youyu, he grew so nervous his fingertips twitched slightly.

This was the first time he had seen the Mu family's little princess at such close range.

Usually she was surrounded by a crowd, untouchable, and at banquets he could only catch a distant glimpse of her.

Now she stood just three steps away, her petite face beautiful, her skin unnaturally fair, her gaze shallow yet pure, her whole person spotless, even the faint aura around her discernible.

He had rehearsed his opening line countless times in his heart, but when it reached his lips it came out stumbling: "Little… Miss Mu, good morning."

Mu Youyu paused her step to go around him and gave him a light glance.

That gaze was clean, devoid of surprise or joy, not a trace of extra emotion—like looking at a complete stranger.

The only thought in her mind was puzzlement.

In such cold weather, isn't he cold wearing a suit?

Grandma said she'd go out this afternoon.

Jiang Yan had been full of anticipation, but the moment his eyes met her calm, waveless gaze, he froze in place.

He had thought that even if he wasn't close to Mu Youyu, he and Jiang Liangjin both belonged to the Jiang family and had seen each other a few times from afar at banquets.

She ought to have some impression of him.

But her gaze was too faint; clearly she truly didn't remember him.

"Mu…" Jiang Yan still wanted to say more, trying to draw the attention of this heavenly‑pride girl before him, even if just to make her notice him for another second.

But before he could finish, a breath carrying an indescribable possessiveness swept in from his side and gently pulled Mu Youyu to his side.

It was Jiang Liangjin.

He had just come out of Grandfather Jiang's study, and at a glance saw Jiang Yan blocking Mu Youyu's way; his tone was flat: "Something up?"

Just those two words, so bland they couldn't be blander, yet Jiang Yan heard a hint of warning in them.

The fear from last night, when Mu Xin had given him a cold glance, surged up again.

The youth before him was clearly his peer in age, yet the aura of superiority he carried, the deep‑seated indifference and intimidation in his eyes, were things he could never imitate in a lifetime.

In his panic, Jiang Yan's mind went blank; all his prepared words vanished, and he could only force a dry laugh and blurt out an inappropriate line: "No, no… hahaha… wishing you a hundred years of harmony!"

As soon as he said it, even he felt mortified to the extreme, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Mu Youyu tilted her head slightly, and her gaze toward Jiang Yan gained a hint of bewilderment.

She gently tugged at Jiang Liangjin's sleeve and asked softly, "A Jin, who is he? He just greeted me."

Jiang Liangjin lowered his eyes to the person beside him; the original expression faded, leaving only pure indulgence: "I don't know him."

He lifted his gaze to Jiang Yan, his tone carrying a clear dismissive intent: "If you have something to say, say it in front of me; there's no need to block her just to say hello—if it's nothing, don't stand in the way."

"Haha, bye‑bye." Jiang Yan dared not linger; he nodded hastily and fled.

Damn it, he would never come again while Jiang Liangjin was around.

Mu Youyu saw him leave and didn't bring it up further.

She obediently let Jiang Liangjin take her hand and walked forward, saying, "A Jin, will you help me put up spring couplets today? Grandfather and Grandmother said we need to get all the couplets up today and hang new lanterns."

The old residence had many courtyards; last night everyone slept in the Jiang family's old manor.

The main courtyard's couplets, the elders said, were to be put up by them.

"Put them up." Jiang Liangjin grasped her wrist, his touch warm, "Once we're done we'll have breakfast."

The front courtyard was already bustling.

The elders gathered under the corridor to drink tea and chat, while the juniors each took their duties, busy rearranging the courtyard.

The servants waited on the side.

As soon as Mu Youyu arrived, she picked up a pair of spring couplets and, together with Jiang Liangjin, applied glue to them.

The elders and brothers stood not far away, their eyes full of undisguised indulgence.

Mu Youyu eagerly stepped onto a stool, ready to put up the couplet.

Jiang Liangjin stood beside her, holding the stool, never leaving her side.

Mu Youyu occasionally lowered her head to ask if it was straight.

Jiang Yan came out and watched this scene, his inner imbalance growing worse.

He steeled himself and stepped forward, hoping to help by handing things over just to feel present.

In his flustered steps, he ended up crashing straight into Mu Xi, who was sideways picking up something.

Mu Xi had intended to go to his sister's side to show his face, but unexpectedly someone bumped him from behind, scattering the spring couplets in his hands across the ground.

His brows furrowed instantly; the mild aura around him vanished in an instant, replaced by a bone‑chilling cold.

Jiang Yan saw that the person he'd hit was Mu Xi and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Good thing it was Mu Xi.

He had seen yesterday how Mu Xi treated Mu Youyu with utmost gentleness, and even when his brothers teased him he didn't get angry.

From yesterday onward, he'd labeled Mu Xi as a sister‑complex, thinking the outside rumors were exaggerations.

In his view, this young master of the Mu family ought to have a good temper and wouldn't quarrel with him.

Jiang Yan not only didn't apologize, but feeling guilty, he tried to slip sideways away, pretending nothing had happened.

"Stop." Mu Xi called out to him, his eyes icy.

Hearing that tone, Jiang Yan jumped in fright, turned around, and forced a stiff smile: "Xi… Xi Shao, I didn't mean to…"

"Not intentional?" Mu Xi stepped forward, looking down at him with a glare, "You bumped into someone and can't even say sorry? What kind of upbringing, taught to go into a dog's belly?"

The surrounding atmosphere instantly froze.

The people who were originally busy all stopped their actions, their gazes shooting over in unison.

The smiles on the mouths of the brothers present vanished completely.

Even the elders' gazes dimmed, showing obvious displeasure.

Several collateral elders of the Jiang family were the first to react, hurriedly stepping forward to smooth things over, fearing Mu Xi might truly lose his temper:

"What are you doing, Jiang Yan! Don't cause trouble here during the New Year!"

"You can't stay at home and insist on coming out to loiter, I've said this isn't a place where you can run wild—do you not understand human speech?"

"Little Xi, don't be angry, don't be angry, it's the New Year, the child doesn't know better, we'll have him apologize right away."

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and pick up the stuff, don't be an eyesore here!"

"……"

Mu Youyu was helped by Jiang Liangjin to jump down from the stool, she poked her head out curiously, looking at the frozen Jiang Yan, and whispered: "A Jin, what's wrong with him?"

Jiang Liangjin rubbed her head, his tone flat: "It's fine, let the second brother teach him the rules for someone who doesn't know them."

"Hmm... I also think he doesn't know the rules, second brother should teach him."

As the words fell, Mu Xi had already stepped forward a step and said coldly: "Pick it up."

Song Lujing, watching from the side, had his eyes go wide, almost unable to hold back a curse.

"Wow, Brother Xi's temper is surprisingly good today in front of outsiders?"