Chapter 41: Tied for First

After entering the elevator, Jiang Su asked, "A Jin, how are you and A You doing?"

The Jiang and Mu families have been close friends for generations; Jiang Su has watched Mu Youyu grow up since childhood, while Jiang Liangjin and she have been on good terms since they were young.

Last year he received a message from Jiang Liangjin, learning that Mu Youyu had disappeared; afterwards he used the Jiang family's resources to investigate, but found nothing.

So his wife went again to ask Mu Youyu's mother; her mother, on vacation, said she didn't know.

He then tried to gauge the attitudes of the Song and Mu families, but both families unanimously kept silent, clearly intending to conceal something.

The Jiang family had no choice but to give up.

A few days ago, Jiang Su received news that Mu Youyu would be transferring to Lan Lin; he therefore specially dispatched the vice principal to place her in Class A, where she would sit at the same desk as Jiang Liangjin.

However, he did not tell Jiang Liangjin.

Today, he saw his son in a good mood, no longer listless and depressed.

He felt certain that his son must have seen A You these past few days.

So he now asked.

Jiang Liangjin lifted his eyes and said, "You know?"

Jiang Su nodded, "Naturally, as a school governor, how could I not know?"

After a moment of silence, Jiang Liangjin asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Jiang Su sneered, "A You left C Shi in a huff, and we still can't find any information about her; it must be that you did something to upset her."

Jiang Liangjin: "……"

Jiang Su: "Have you two reconciled?"

If you haven't made up, that's too pathetic.

Jiang Liangjin didn't even look at him and said, "Of course."

Jiang Su clicked his tongue twice, "Hurry back to school to chase after her; otherwise, some other little boy will sweep her away."

Hearing this, Jiang Liangjin glanced sideways at Jiang Su, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, half-smiling, and said, "You'd better first placate Lady Shen; she's still angry and has gone abroad on vacation."

The Jiang family matriarch, Shen Ningmu, outwardly said she was going abroad on vacation because the Jiang family had too many worries.

But Jiang Liangjin knew she was quarreling with Jiang Su and had fled abroad to avoid him.

He didn't know what they were arguing about, but he mostly felt schadenfreude.

Jiang Su sighed helplessly, "Can't you say a few good words about me in front of your mother?"

After they both exited the elevator, Jiang Liangjin then replied, "I remember you saying in front of me... that you had Lady Shen completely under your control?"

She's already been wrapped around his finger; what good words could he say?

Jiang Su: "……"

Jiang Liangjin's phone rang; he looked at it, then lifted his gaze to Jiang Su and said, "Youbao sent me a message."

Jiang Su: "……"

Jiang Su sighed, "You go back to school first; I'll head to the company."

Jiang Liangjin acknowledged with a sound, his fingers flying across the screen as he walked straight ahead.

Mu Youyu, sitting in Class 1, told Mu Xi and Song Lujing at the start of the third period that she wanted to return to Lan Lin.

Mu Xi, who hadn't been focused on class anyway, immediately stood up upon hearing this and said, "I'll see you off."

Leaving the Class 1 students staring in bewilderment.

"Hiss, haven't heard that the Song family has a young lady in this generation?"

"The Mu family still has a daughter studying abroad, right?" someone overheard and muttered under his breath.

"The one who went abroad is an adopted daughter!"

"Couldn't that just now be the Mu family's adopted daughter? Maybe Cousin Mu Xi?"

"But didn't they say Mu Xi and Song Lujing don't care about that Miss Yan?"

"Exactly, I think that younger sister looks a lot like Mu Xi! She's really pretty!"

"She definitely isn't an adopted daughter; otherwise, how could she be Song Lujing's sister?"

Various speculations rose up.

"Don't gossip about Princess Yan!" a girl passing by Class 1 shouted loudly.

The students in the class who had been discussing her all jumped in surprise and turned to look out the window.

"No, who are you?"

"Pat my little heart that got scared."

"You're not allowed to talk about Princess Yan!"

"……"

Song Lujing naturally heard their words.

He raised his eyes, increased his volume, and said, "That person just now is Mu Xi's biological younger sister, also my only sister, the sole little princess of both the Song and Mu families. If I find anyone spreading rumors outside, don't blame the Song and Mu families for not showing mercy!"

As he spoke the last sentence, his voice grew heavier.

His lip line remained that natural curve, and even when he didn't smile before, it still held warmth.

But now his voice sank a few degrees, cold without a trace of warmth, and even his eyes turned cool, losing their former gentleness.

This made the Class 1 students repeatedly promise.

"Okay, okay! Young Master Song, rest assured, we definitely won't spout nonsense!"

"Exactly, the Class 1 students are so busy with their studies they couldn't possibly have time to spread rumors!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

"What an impressive identity!"

Ever since we were little, we've been pampered by both the Song and Mu families, ah ah ah ah, so enviable.

I'm going to tell my best friend!

……

Mu Xi sent her sister to the gate of Lan Lin School, then went off to play elsewhere.

Mu Youyu walked into Class A, where a lesson was just underway.

She called out a report, and Teacher Liu said, "Come in."

The classmates all stared at her, making her feel somewhat inexplicable, though she didn't think much of it.

Mu Youyu spotted Jiang Liangjin at a glance.

She tiptoed back to her seat, just about to pull out the chair, when she saw Jiang Liangjin reach out first, pressing against the seat and moving the chair half an inch outward for her.

As she sat down, Jiang Liangjin turned his head, his voice barely a whisper: "Where did you go?"

Mu Youyu leaned in and whispered back, "Nan Feng."

"Looking for your second brother?" Jiang Liangjin propped his head on one hand.

She nodded, "Sort of."

Jiang Liangjin withdrew his gaze.

Teacher Liu said: "The Chinese exam papers from yesterday have been graded; this time the difficulty is at the level of the college entrance exam, and hardly anyone in the whole grade scored above 140!"

Teacher Liu picked up the two top stacked exam papers, his face flushed, tone full of praise: "But our class has two students who scored 146, tying for first in the grade—let's give them a round of applause!"

Teacher Liu is famous for grading exams quickly!

Written yesterday, graded today!

As soon as he finished speaking, a rustle of astonishment rose from below.

As the applause began, someone couldn't help but peek out, "Surely it's Jin-ge? His Chinese has never dropped below 140!"

Jiang Liangjin must be first in the grade whenever he takes an exam—no surprise!

And who is the other one?

Bai Yun's Chinese has never broken 140; she just hovers around that range.

Teacher Liu first picked up the top exam paper, his tone clearly praising as he read the name: "Jiang Liangjin, 146 points—still first!"

The surrounding students, long accustomed to admiring him, broke into applause again.

"As expected, it's still Jin-ge!"

"He's maintaining his original level even at this difficulty!"

"Awesome!"

"Who's the other first place?"

"It can't be the class monitor, can it?"

Bai Yun heard, shook her head: "I estimate my score at most 137."

Teacher Liu didn't keep them in suspense, picked up the other paper, and directly read the name: "Classmate Mu Youyu, also 146 points! Having just transferred, she can keep up with the pace—very impressive!"

As soon as he said that, the classroom instantly exploded.

Someone muttered involuntarily: "No way? Just transferred and already near perfect? Tied for first with Jin-ge?"

"That's too amazing!"

"These two desk mates are too outrageous..."

Mu Youyu had just sat up straight when she saw Jiang Liangjin beside her already pick up the two exam papers.

His was on top, hers on the bottom; both papers were clean, with no alterations.

Jiang Liangjin handed the papers to her, a hint of smile in his eyes, as if praising her.