Chapter 384

Several people chatted for a while, Mu Youyu tapped her head and asked, "Brother, when are we going back home? School starts soon."

These past few days have been terribly boring—just eating when I open my eyes and sleeping when I close them; the rest of the time is spent drawing.

Jun Chenling finished speaking, and only then did Mu Xin, who had graduated long ago and been handling affairs year-round, belatedly realize that his sister was about to start school.

He softened his voice to coax, "What's the rush? School is still far off."

Mu Youyu silently counted the days in her mind—there was indeed still a week left, but she had already been holed up in the Duke's Mansion for four days.

"But it's so boring." Mu Youyu leaned back against the sofa and complained, "Every day is just eat, sleep, draw—if this continues, I'll start growing mushrooms."

Jiang Liangjin sat beside her and said, "Even if you grow mushrooms, they'd be the prettiest ones."

Mu Youyu's little gloom dissipated halfway, "Of course!"

Qing An plopped down on her other side, his golden eyes sparkling, "Sis bored? Let me take you out to play! I know Y Guo well—where do you want to go? Shopping? An exhibition?"

Jun Chenling stood to the side, hearing this he raised an eyebrow, "Qing An, have you forgotten? You're still a convicted criminal."

Qing An blinked, "What do you mean, a convicted criminal?"

"That's from grandfather's side." Jun Chenling drawled, "The trouble you caused hasn't been cleared yet."

Qing An drew back his neck, "Then we'll wait until grandfather's anger subsides… Sis, when do you think grandfather will finally calm down?"

Mu Youyu tilted her head, thinking seriously, "Well… it depends on when the brothers finish handling things."

Qing An turned to look at Mu Xin, eyes pleading, "Xin, when can you guys finish up?"

Mu Xin: "Guess."

Qing An: "……"

Jun Chenling laughed out loud beside them without restraint.

Mu Youyu tugged at Jiang Liangjin's sleeve, "A Jin, let's go check on Nuomi—it seemed to have just woken up."

Jiang Liangjin followed her gaze to the little cat licking its paws in the corner, nodded, and said, "Sure, let's go."

The two stood up and walked toward Nuomi.

Qing An also wanted to follow, but Jun Chenling grabbed him, "What are you butting in for?"

Qing An protested, "Isn't it okay for me to help my sister and my future brother-in-law build their relationship?"

"Are you sure you're not just going to be a third wheel?"

Qing An was left speechless.

Mu Xin couldn't be bothered with those two immature brats, turned and walked out, "I'm going to handle some business."

Jun Chenling hurried after him, his voice instantly softening, "I'll come with you."

Qing An stood alone where he was, watching the two recede, then glancing at the two teasing the cat in the corner, and suddenly felt as if the whole world had abandoned him.

He sighed, resignedly flopping onto the sofa, "Fine, I'm just a spare part."

Song Yusui happened to come in from outside, saw the scene, and raised an eyebrow, "Yo, Your Highness, why are you lying here? Did someone bully you?"

Qing An gave him a weak, listless look, "Sui Sui, do you think I'm especially unlikeable?"

Song Yusui sat down beside him, crossing his legs, "Not really, you're just sometimes genuinely annoying."

Qing An: "You're really annoying."

Song Yusui patted his shoulder, grinning sheepishly, "Just get used to it."

Qing An didn't want to say another word.

The next morning, as Mu Youyu came downstairs, she sensed that the atmosphere was different from usual.

In the living room, Jiang Liangjin stood facing two familiar figures, while the only brothers present were Mu Xin, Mu Xi, and Mu Xianqi, each with a different expression.

One stood, the other sat, and their Atmosphere was completely different.

The one standing was tall and slender, a black high-neck sweater wrapping his thin frame, his head perpetually lowered, looking weary.

The one sitting lounged lazily on the sofa, wearing the same black ensemble, yet he gave off an air of nonchalance.

He was idly turning his phone in his hands when his peripheral vision caught a figure on the stairs, and his face lit up instantly.

"Youbao!"

Seeing his sister, Mu Yichi nearly sprang up, taking two strides in three steps to the stairwell, arms wide as he lunged upward, "Dear little sister, did you miss me?"

Mu Youyu didn't hesitate, "Yichi Brother! Of course I did!"

Mu Yichi ruffled her head with satisfaction, stepped aside, and jerked his chin toward those behind him, "There, we've all come over."

Following his gesture, Mu Youyu looked over and saw Mu Yichen, who had been standing still, rise to his feet as well.

"Yichen Brother!" Mu Youyu jogged over, stood before him, and tilted her face up, "When did you guys arrive? Why didn't you give us a heads‑up?"

Mu Yichen replied with a hook of his lips, "Last night."

Mu Yichi followed, plopping back onto the sofa, and interjected, "It was the middle of the night; we didn't want to wake you, so we didn't have Xin and the others call you."

Mu Youyu didn't press further, "All right then."

Jiang Liangjin sat beside her and asked, "Did you sleep well?"

Mu Youyu nodded, but her gaze lingered on Mu Yichen, "Yichen Brother, did you come this time for something specific?"

Mu Yichen didn't speak, merely glanced at Mu Yichi.

Mu Yichi immediately understood, sat up straight, and put away his earlier laxness, "We've found some stuff and came over to compare notes with Xin and the others."

Mu Youyu blinked, "Is it about that group of people?"

"Yes." Mu Yichi answered, but didn't elaborate, merely looking at her with a hint of coaxing a child, "Youbao, why don't you go have breakfast first? We'll talk after you finish."

Mu Youyu knew they didn't want her to hear those unpleasant matters, and though she was in a good mood she didn't insist, obediently nodding, "All right, you guys talk first—I'll go eat."

Mu Xi, Mu Xin, and Mu Xianqi each gave a reply.

Mu Youyu turned to look at Jiang Liangjin, "A Jin, have you eaten?"

Jiang Liangjin shook his head, "I'll wait for you."

Mu Youyu narrowed her eyes, reached out her hand to him, and said, "Let's go."

Behind them, Mu Yichi watched their backs, leaned close to Mu Xi's ear, and lowered his voice: "Hey, when did this kid get so close to my sister?"

Mu Xin: "Get to the point."

All right.

After breakfast, Mu Youyu and Jiang Liangjin returned to the living room.

In the living room, Mu Xi, Mu Xin, Mu Xianqi, Song Lujing, Song Yusui, and Song Yan were present, along with the two princes, already seated in a circle.

Mu Yichen and Mu Yichi sat in the center, with several documents spread out before them.

Seeing his sister enter, Mu Yichi immediately waved, "Youbao, come sit here."

People sat on both sides of Mu Xin.

Mu Youyu walked over, sat beside Mu Xi, and Jiang Liangjin sat on her other side.

Mu Yichen said concernedly, "What comes next might be a bit boring; you can just listen, or not—it doesn't matter. We mainly want to hear your thoughts."