Chapter 393: Gathering

In the blink of an eye, it's almost time for school to start.

The Grade 10 Class A group chat started discussing the pre‑school gathering from morning, messages flying by one after another.

【Kind‑hearted and beautiful class monitor: @All members, the hotel private room nearest the school gate at 4 p. m., don't be late!】

Below, all have responded.

Mo Song couldn't hold back, and a message quickly popped up: "There's still an hour left; will Sister Yu go? She just came back from abroad, maybe she's still dealing with jet lag."

【Kind‑hearted and beautiful class monitor: Impossible! I just made plans with her the day before yesterday; didn't you make plans with her either?】

Without waiting for others to reply, Bai Yun continued: "@Little Yu, will you come at 4 p. m.?"

【Leng Yueyou: Maybe she's busy? I'll ask her in a private chat.】

Mu Youyu had just finished a set of homework problems, lounging on the sofa playing a game; seeing continuous @mentions in the group, she casually switched out of the game and typed: "I'll be there."

As soon as her message was sent, Jiang Liangjin, who was right beside her in the chat, replied with an identical one.

Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan rarely chimed in, but they both replied they'd be there, in such sync that no further words were needed.

【Xia Chao Yi: Wow, four people popped out】

【Wow, Brother Jin, Brother Ci, and Brother Nan also came out, without being @mentioned】

【So we'll all be able to see each other in an hour? Then I need to get ready properly】

Mu Youyu, returning to the game interface, quickly frowned; the level difficulty far exceeded expectations, seeing only one revival card left in her inventory, she nearly got frustrated.

She didn't rush to use it, calling out loudly: "Second Brother!"

Mu Xi, who was in the kitchen looking for the nanny Qing Ma, immediately came out: "What's wrong, dear?"

Mu Youyu handed over her phone without a word.

Mu Xi looked at the stalled game interface on the screen, let out a soft laugh, took the phone, and began to operate it.

Mu Youyu couldn't help feeling pleased; having a brother who can tinker with game programming is great.

Half an hour later, Jiang Liangjin came to pick her up, walked up to Mu Youyu, naturally took her wrist, and said: "Second Brother, we're going to the class gathering."

Since that night, Mu Xi couldn't keep a straight face when looking at her sister: "Alright, you two stay safe; I won't join the fun."

The two left.

Inside the private room, with twenty minutes left until the appointed time, most of the classmates had already arrived—only five more were needed for full attendance.

Bai Yun, as the organizer of this gathering, sat in the center, with Xia Chao Yi to her left and Mo Song to her right.

She glanced around and said, "The attendance is pretty good; besides Little Yu and her four companions, who else is missing?"

The short‑haired girl replied, "My desk mate, the sports committee member, can't come today because his family is out of town; he has to go with them, probably still on the plane."

Bai Yun said no more, and the conversation in the private room naturally turned to the recent hot news circulating online.

That is, the kidnapping incident that had caused a stir recently.

"I went, I'm really curious about that kidnapping incident—is it real?"

"What is M Guo up to, bullying our people? They even dared to target Sister Yu!"

"Fortunately, she's safe; the King of M Guo also issued a statement, saying he would give Sister Yu an explanation, and all those involved have been apprehended."

"He definitely has to give it; otherwise, how would people from other countries view them? Besides, Sister Yu's status is right here—who would dare not give her face?"

The classmates were chatting animatedly when the private room door was pushed open from outside.

Everyone looked up and froze in unison.

Mu Youyu stood at the front of the doorway, still with her pinkish‑gold long hair flowing, her skin a bit more rosy than before, dressed in light colors, her aura carrying an untouched, pure freshness.

Looking at the dazed faces in the private room, she gave a perfectly timed smile: "What, you don't recognize me?"

"Little Yu!" Bai Yun was the first to jump up from her seat: "You've finally come—we've missed you to death!"

Bai Yun opened her arms to lunge forward, but the moment she touched the figure behind Mu Youyu, she slammed on the brakes.

Jiang Liangjin stood beside Mu Youyu in light casual attire, his cool gaze sweeping over Mo Song.

The two stood side by side, pleasing to the eye, yet Bai Yun inexplicably felt pressure—it had never been like this before……

She sheepishly withdrew her hand, gave an awkward smile twice, and said, "Young Master Jiang, hello."

Jiang Liangjin gave a slight nod, acknowledging her, but his gaze had already fallen back onto the person before him.

Bai Yun felt bitter inside; she just wanted to express her longing for Little Yu—why was it so hard?

Xia Chao Yi found it amusing, sauntered over from behind, patted her shoulder, and said, "My condolences."

Bai Yun: "... Get lost, it's none of your business."

Well, this is the childhood friend who grew up with her, inferior in every way and lacking emotional intelligence—let alone compare to others' childhood friends!

Mo Song welcomed her with delight: "Elder Sister Yu, you've finally come! Hurry and sit—this is the seat I and the class monitor reserved especially for you."

She pulled Mu Youyu toward the seat between her and Bai Yun, and Jiang Liangjin naturally followed behind.

Bai Yun leaned close to Mu Youyu, worried, and asked: "Little Yu, are you really alright? We were dying of worry."

Mu Youyu reassured her: "I'm fine, just got kidnapped once."

Leng Yueyou's mouth twitched; online it wasn't said like that: "Just kidnapped, once?"

"Yes." Mu Youyu didn't want to say more.

Beside her, Jiang Liangjin lifted his teacup, took a sip, expressionless: "Once? His heart almost jumped out of his chest at that moment."

After a few minutes of chatting, Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan entered the private room one after the other.

One stood with hands in pockets, relaxed; the other stood to the side; together they presented an inexplicably harmonious picture.

Xia Chao Yi said, "Yo, just waiting for you two young masters—hurry and sit."

"Sorry, I'm late by five minutes," Yu Ci waved his hand, taking his seat.

Jiang Liangjin and Mu Youyu greeted the two.

Seeing no seats beside them, Yu Ci thought, sat opposite, crossed his legs, scrolled his phone, appearing completely unbothered.

Gu Xingnan sat quietly at the side.

The waiter began serving dishes, and the private room became lively again.

As class monitor, Bai Yun stood up first and raised her glass, "Come, come, come, let's all raise a glass to Xiao Yu, celebrating her safe return!"

Everyone raised their glasses; Mu Youyu also lifted the juice in front of her, smiling as she returned the toast.

After finishing one glass, the atmosphere became even more lively.

Mo Song leaned close to Mu Youyu, lowered her voice and asked: "Yu jie, what exactly happened with that kidnapping? The rumors online are terrifying."

Mu Youyu looked at her eyes full of worry, her heart softened a bit, and she said lightly: "Nothing much, just an enemy."

Besides family and those involved in the incident, only Jiang Liangjin, Gu Xingnan, and Yu Ci knew about this.

She didn't say much to outsiders, only simply reported her safety to the worried classmates and teachers.

——

Some extra words were added later~