Chapter 332: Stop!

Urging cries crashed down one after another, leaving Jiang Yan stunned again and again.

He still couldn't believe that all he'd done was bump into someone and try to slip away, yet in an instant he'd become the center of attention.

Mu Xi before him was clearly a few years younger, but the aura radiating from his bones left him almost afraid to speak.

Those beautiful yet emotionless eyes regarded him as if he were a clueless piece of trash, grudgingly giving him not a shred of feeling.

Jiang Yan didn't dare resist; his legs went weak as he sank down, his fingers frantically scraping up the scattered spring couplets.

He picked them up, brushed off the dust, and with both hands respectfully handed them to Mu Xi: 'Young Master Xi, here.'

Mu Xi lowered his gaze at the crumpled, wrinkled stack of spring couplets, his eyes full of disdain: 'Put them aside.'

'Okay, okay.' Jiang Yan set them down, lowered his head, wishing he could bury his face in his chest, just wanting to quickly leave this embarrassing place.

But just as he lifted his foot, a youth stood silently beside Mu Xi, blocking his way.

Jiang Yan recognized him.

Lu Yuchu, the head of the Song Clan conglomerate, used to be in the entertainment industry, excelling at singing and acting; most importantly, fans said he was good at everything.

His temperament is surely fine as well.

Thinking this, he secretly relaxed, about to take a detour away.

But just as he shifted his steps, Lu Yuchu gave a light laugh and called out: 'Stop!'

Jiang Yan's steps halted; he froze in place.

Lu Yuchu placed a hand on Mu Xi's shoulder, his gaze calm, his tone carrying an invisible pressure: 'Seeing an elder, you don't know how to address them? You lack even basic courtesy?'

He didn't know him, but having provoked little Xi, might as well give him a show of force.

The elders never said a word to Mu Xi from start to finish, so naturally they won't say more now.

They just pretended not to have seen.

Jiang Yan awkwardly turned his head: 'Chu Ge, hello.'

What elder? We're clearly of the same generation.

Lu Yuchu's gaze swept over his tense side profile, and he lightly ordered: 'Go help serve the dishes.'

Jiang Yan didn't dare say the kitchen had servants; he quickly agreed, turned, and headed toward the kitchen.

But before he could take two steps, Mu Xi's voice sounded again: 'Stop!'

Jiang Yan's body stiffened; he turned back and asked, 'Young Master Xi, is there anything else?'

'Don't go,' Mu Xi lifted his eyes, glanced toward the fish pond, and said lightly, 'Go to the rear courtyard fish pond and feed the fish.'

The fish pond is at least a ten-minute walk from the main hall, and it's cold.

Jiang Yan's heart turned cold; he knew exactly what that meant.

This wasn't about feeding fish; it was a disguised punishment—making him stand in the cold wind, forbidden to come even half a step closer to the front courtyard.

He never imagined that over such a trifle, Mu Xi would be so unsparing.

But he dared not be angry nor speak.

The Mu family's power and status lay before him; not to mention he was merely a branch of the Jiang family, even if he were the Jiang main line, he wouldn't dare oppose the Mu family.

Jiang Yan replied hesitantly: 'Yes.'

He silently comforted himself: it's fine, just think of it as currying favor with his future second uncle-in-law; endure a bit and it'll pass.

As long as he could get close to Mu Youyu, this bit of grievance amounts to nothing.

Thinking this, he actually felt considerably lighter inside.

Lu Yuchu beside him found it amusing: 'How did you provoke him like this? A trifle scares you into this? Just let him go serve dishes.'

Mu Xi shook off the hand on his shoulder: 'I'm afraid he'll poison the food.'

'What kid would have that much gall?' Lu Yuchu sighed, chuckling helplessly, gently pushing him toward his sister's direction: 'Don't hold a grudge against him; it's almost time for breakfast.'

Mu Xi added lightly: 'He just wanted to get close to my sister; his intentions aren't pure.'

?

'What? Why didn't you say earlier? Who gave him permission to approach my sister?' Lu Yuchu stopped moving, the smile in his eyes fading a bit, his gaze at Jiang Yan's back growing colder: 'How could you let him go feed the fish? Aren't you afraid he'll drug them?'

'Stop.' He called out to Jiang Yan.

……

Mu Youyu had already finished posting the last spring couplet.

Grandma stepped forward first, laughing and clapping: 'Oh dear, our Youbao is truly capable! The spring couplets are red, and she wrote a blessing character—just one look and our Youbao is a little luck-bringer born with fortune!'

Grandpa Jiang followed: 'Exactly, exactly, from this point on, the whole year should go smoothly and peacefully, with fortune rushing into the home!'

'Yes yes yes, wealth and fortune all rush toward the home, nobody can stop them!'

Amidst those lovely words, Mu Youyu was led by her brothers toward the inside to get ready for a meal.

She turned and waved at the lagging Jiang Liangjin: 'A Jin, hurry over, breakfast is ready.'

Jiang Liangjin gazed at her bright smile and replied softly: 'Okay, I'm coming right away.'

Seeing the girl disappear from view, his surrounding temperature suddenly dropped.

Just now Mu Xi had said that to him.

Truly overestimating himself.

The bodyguard behind him stepped forward quickly, bowed slightly, and lowered his voice to a whisper: 'Young Master, should we deal with him?'

Finally there's something to do!

Jiang Liangjin's gaze swept lightly over that direction, his tone calm yet carrying absolute authority: 'Let the Jiang family branch take him back themselves; from now on, he is forbidden to set foot at any Jiang family banquet.'

'Yes.'

The bodyguard acknowledged and withdrew; Jiang Liangjin turned and walked toward the dining hall.

The Yu family.

Today is Spring Festival, ten o'clock in the morning, Yu Ci was finally woken up by the alarm clock.

He irritably raised his hand and slapped off the alarm clock on the bedside table that kept ringing, then turned over and buried his face in the soft pillow.

Yu Ci dawdled for a while before reluctantly sitting up; his messy black hair stuck up in a few cowlicks, and the collar of his pajamas hung loosely off his shoulders.

He rubbed his eyes, his gaze passing through the wall and sweeping over Gu Xingnan's room.

Here there is a conspicuous connecting small door.

It was when he saw Mu Youyu at the Jiang family as a child; their rooms were next to each other, and the wall had been deliberately opened, and he had pestered Yu Xing to have someone specially dig this connecting small door.

At this moment, that small door was tightly shut.

Yu Ci stared at that door for two seconds, just as he lifted his foot to approach it, he suddenly remembered.

Gu Xingnan was taken back by the Gu family yesterday to spend the New Year.

Tsk, boring.

After washing up and changing clothes, Yu Ci had just opened his door when he smelled the aroma of food drifting up from downstairs, a New Year brunch specially prepared by the family chef.

He leisurely went downstairs and saw Yu Xing sitting alone on the living room sofa, reading documents.

His whole body lacked any of the relaxation that should come with the New Year; instead, it exuded fatigue.

Yu Ci's gaze swept quickly across the living room; not seeing Rong Yu, he instantly felt much more at ease.

Hearing the footsteps, Yu Xing looked up at him; the sternness on his face softened a bit, and he rare-ly showed a hint of a smile: 'Awake? Perfect, the dishes are just ready.'

Yu Ci gave an 'uh' and lazily walked toward the dining room, speaking without much emotion: 'Just you?'

'Grandpa and the others are at the old house, they told us to go there for dinner; at noon it's just the two of us.' Yu Xing followed him, sat down, and personally served him a bowl of soup, asking, 'Did you have fun playing with Xiao Nan yesterday?'

'Not bad, it's more fun than staying at home.'