Chapter 361: Stay

Mu Xianqi was the first to break the silence: "All right, Uncle Jiang Yuan is one of us, so there's nothing to worry about."

Qing An saw Mu Xin still lowering her eyes, silent, turned her gaze and asked: "So how is your uncle going to handle this?"

Jiang Liangjin pondered for a moment, "Let me find out clearly, and I'll tell the brothers right away."

The few of them said no more and went their separate ways.

Before leaving, Mu Xin turned back to glance at Jiang Liangjin, opened her mouth, but ultimately just nodded at him.

Jiang Liangjin returned her look, silently signaling her to relax.

He closed the door, returned to the bedside, and just as he sat down, the fingertips of the person sleeping on the bed twitched slightly.

Her breathing also seemed a bit steadier than before, as if she had shifted a little from the edge of a chaotic nightmare toward wakefulness.

Mu Youyu slept very uneasily.

In the dream, she was still in that dilapidated warehouse, her hands and feet bound, that person standing before her with a dagger pressed to her throat.

It was deathly quiet all around; she opened her mouth but could not make a sound.

Suddenly, the warehouse door was shoved open.

Light poured in from outside, stinging her eyes so she couldn't open them.

She instinctively narrowed her eyes and saw a tall figure walking toward her against the light, the coat's hem stirring a gust of wind.

It was A Jin.

Behind him stood Second Brother, Elder Brother Xin, and a group of people she knew.

Everyone reached out toward her, their gazes anxious; she wanted to rush over, but found she couldn't move.

She lowered her head and saw her ankles wrapped in layer after layer of hemp rope.

She turned her head again, and suddenly blood appeared on the floor, spreading more and more…

"Youbao." A low, gentle voice sounded; Mu Youyu's eyelashes trembled as she lifted her lids.

What met her eyes was warm yellow light, an ornate ceiling, and a familiar face.

Jiang Liangjin sat at the bedside, one palm still wrapped around her hand; seeing her open her eyes, the tension in his brow finally eased a little. "Awake?"

Mu Youyu's gaze met his face blankly, and she stared for a few seconds.

Jiang Liangjin felt a tightness in his chest, lowered his voice: "Did you have a nightmare?"

Mu Youyu didn't answer, just stared at him unblinking, her eye sockets slowly reddening.

The next second, she raised her hand, grabbed his collar, pulled him down, and buried herself in his embrace.

Jiang Liangjin was jerked off balance by her pull, afraid of pressing on her, so he immediately braced a hand against her side to steady himself.

The pose was awkward, but he didn't move, letting her stay buried in his arms while his other hand gently patted her back.

"A Jin…" Mu Youyu's voice muffled, "So much blood."

"It's all fake." Jiang Liangjin lowered his head, softened his voice, "Look, I'm here, I'm fine."

Mu Youyu tightened her grip on his collar even more.

Jiang Liangjin maintained that awkward pose, completely still.

After a long while, the person in his arms shifted and said, "I thought I'd never see you again."

"Nonsense." Jiang Liangjin lowered his head, forehead against her hair, "Even if I had to turn M Guo upside down, I'd find you."

Mu Youyu gave a soft "um," lifted her head, her eye sockets red and pitiful.

Jiang Liangjin leaned forward, reached out to feel her forehead, "Anywhere uncomfortable?"

Mu Youyu shook her head, just as she propped herself up to sit, Jiang Liangjin pressed her back down, "Lie a bit longer, rest."

She obediently lay back down, her gaze falling on his face, and she stared for several seconds.

Jiang Liangjin felt a little uneasy under her stare, "What's wrong?"

"You just…" Mu Youyu paused, her voice softer than before, as if talking to herself, "Have you been sitting here all this time?"

"Yes."

"You didn't leave?"

"I didn't."

"I half‑heard some noise in my daze."

"Second Brother and the others came by, glanced at you, worried they'd disturb you, so they didn't stay long."

Mu Youyu didn't ask further.

Jiang Liangjin rubbed the top of her head, "Hungry?"

She blinked, then nodded obediently.

Jiang Liangjin's heart melted completely, "What do you want to eat?"

Mu Youyu named a few dishes.

Jiang Liangjin noted them down, helped her lie back down, "Wait, I'll have someone prepare it."

"Don't go." Mu Youyu grabbed his sleeve, "Just send someone."

Jiang Liangjin felt a sharp ache in his heart, sat back down beside the bed, "All right, I won't go."

He took out his phone and sent a message.

A few minutes later, the door was gently pushed open.

Mu Xin entered carrying a tray with several small dishes, a bowl of porridge, and two sets of chopsticks.

It was clearly prepared in advance.

He set the tray on the bedside table, looked at his sister, and said gently, "Awake?"

"Mm." Mu Youyu replied, her gaze flicking to what was behind him.

Mu Xin understood, stepped aside, "Everyone's here, waiting outside, afraid to wake you."

After speaking, several heads poked in at the doorway; aside from Mu Xianqi, who had gone ahead to handle matters, everyone was present.

Mu Xi was the first to squeeze in, taking three steps at a time to the bedside, bending down to carefully examine his sister's complexion, asking, "Still feeling unwell?"

"Much better." Mu Youyu smiled at him.

Mu Xi looked at her for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her close before quickly letting go.

He straightened up, forcing a relaxed smile as he said, "All good as long as you're okay; our Youbao is the bravest."

Song Yusui and the two others who came in afterward also gathered around the bedside, asking questions all at once.

Mu Youyu answered each in turn, a smile gradually appearing on her face, putting everyone completely at ease.

Worried about disturbing his sister's meal, Mu Xi waved his hand and pointed at the porridge on the tray, saying, "Eat first; it won't taste good if it gets cold."

Only then did the crowd make a little space.

Jiang Liangjin helped her sit up and placed a pillow behind her back.

Mu Youyu took the bowl, scooped a spoonful of porridge into her mouth.

After swallowing, she lifted her head, looking at the circle of people around the bed, somewhat helplessly, "Aren't you going to eat?"

They exchanged glances.

"Of course we will." Song Yusui spoke first, turning to the others, "Let's all go eat and let Youbao rest properly."

"And what about you?"

Song Yusui naturally said, "I'll stay."

Jiang Liangjin added, "I'll stay too."

Mu Xi immediately followed, "Then I'll stay as well."

Mu Xin kept his sitting posture unchanged, "I'll follow you."

Song Lujing spread his hands, "I'm not leaving either."

Song Yan, who had just retreated to the doorway, silently pulled his foot back, "Sweetie, you eat first; I'll keep you company."

Mu Youyu had no choice but to continue spooning porridge, taking a few sips, then suddenly remembered something, looked up at Mu Xin, and asked, "Brother, what about the glutinous rice?"

"Downstairs, someone is looking after it." Mu Xin sat down beside the bed, "Missing it?"

"Yeah, after I finish eating I want to hug it."

"Sure, I'll have someone bring it up later."

Mu Youyu crinkled her eyes and continued lowering her head to drink the porridge.

After finishing the bowl of porridge, Jiang Liangjin took the bowl and set it down, "Want to sleep a bit more?"

"No more sleep; if I sleep again I won't be able to sleep at night." Mu Youyu shook her head.

Mu Xi hurried forward, "Then what would you like to do? We'll keep you company."

Mu Youyu thought for a moment, "Call Grandma."

Mu Xin's chest tightened, "Call Grandma?"

His phone was about to blow up from calls by the family group; Mu Xianqi had gone to report safety, but no one else had replied.

"Yeah." Mu Youyu lowered her eyes, "Grandma must be worried sick; I need to tell her I'm fine."

Mu Xin handed her his phone, "Use mine."

Jiang Liangjin replied gently, "Your new phone is on the way."

Mu Youyu took it, swiped the screen, and it unlocked.