Chapter 429: Just doodling

Lin Ning felt more and more awkward, burying her face in the pillow, "Ah, I was absent‑minded back then, I reached out to pull him, but my foot slipped and I bumped into him, and we both fell down."

Mu Youyu's mouth twitched. "Why did you pull him? Aren't you in a cold war?"

"I didn't think that much back then." Lin Ning lifted her head from the pillow, her hair messy and sticking to her face.

Mu Youyu couldn't hold back her laughter.

"You're still laughing!" She lost all face.

"Sorry." Mu Youyu suppressed her laugh. "So what did you think afterwards?"

"Afterwards?" Lin Ning pondered for a moment. "Afterwards I just thought, why did I pull him? What does it matter to me if he falls? If he really jumped, I could still call an ambulance for him—that would be doing my duty."

Mu Youyu saw her saying one thing while meaning another, and didn't call her out.

Lin Ning lay back down on the pillow. "Forget it, forget it, I don't want to think about it. Anyway, I've already embarrassed myself, and tomorrow is another day."

Mu Youyu handed her a towel. "Dry your hair first, don't catch a cold."

Lin Ning took the towel and rubbed her hair hastily, then suddenly remembered something. "Right, you have a competition tomorrow—is Yu Yu going too?"

"Hmm, they said it's for a recommendation spot." Mu Youyu tidied her things, planning to take a shower. "I'll just go see her."

"Then could you also check on her for me?" Lin Ning tossed the towel aside and started blowing her hair dry. "I haven't seen her in a while, I really miss her."

Okay.

The next afternoon, Mu Youyu arrived at the competition venue on time.

The exhibition hall of A City Art Museum was turned into the competition arena, with dozens of easels neatly arranged, and contestants entered one after another.

Mu Youyu had come here several times before.

Jiang Liangjin followed behind her, carrying her small backpack, while Mu Xi and Song Lujing came empty‑handed.

Just as they entered, they saw Yu Yu standing in the corner, holding a sketchbook, looking down at something.

"Xiao Yu."

Yu Yu looked up, saw her, and her eyes lit up. "Mu Sis!"

The last time they met was during the New Year in A City.

"Are you here just for the recommendation spot?" Mu Youyu stepped forward, took her hand, and asked.

"Yeah." Yu Yu smiled. "My teacher told me to come for the recommendation spot."

"When did you take on this teacher?"

Yu Yu felt a little embarrassed. "Just after the B City competition, on my way back to A City, I met him—he was the PE teacher who taught us at Sheng Luo."

"PE teacher?"

Mu Youyu hesitated. "You mean that teacher who only gave us one lesson a year, and I even skipped that class?"

"Yeah, he's actually pretty capable. He had something to do today and didn't come to see me off; I'll introduce you next time."

Mu Youyu didn't say more. "How prepared are you?"

"Not bad." Yu Yu turned her gaze to the three other boys, nodded politely. "Hey, brothers, I'm Yu Yu."

Other titles are hard to say, so I'll just keep calling you Mu Sis.

Jiang Liangjin glanced at her. "Long time no see."

Mu Xi and Song Lujing also came over. Yu Yu greeted each of them, looked around, and lowered her voice: "But I heard there are several strong competitors today, all coming from other cities."

Mu Youyu didn't care about those. "Got it."

As they were talking, a few more people walked in through the door, led by a girl in a white dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, with a few people following her.

Yu Yu glanced at her, then leaned close to Mu Youyu's ear and whispered softly: "She's a student of a professor from the Art Institute; I heard she's won many awards."

Mu Youyu followed her gaze and saw the girl also looking over; their eyes met in midair for an instant.

Obviously she knew who Mu Youyu was; she nodded, considered it a greeting, and then led her group away to another side.

Yu Yu pulled Mu Youyu inward. "Come on, let's go inside first—I'll explain the competition rules."

Mu Youyu was tugged forward by her; she glanced back at Jiang Liangjin, who smiled and said, "Good luck, don't tire yourself out from drawing—we'll be waiting here for you."

Mu Xi: "Just draw casually; if you don't feel like drawing, just come out."

Song Lujing waved his fist. "Little sis, make them cry with your drawings!"

Mu Youyu laughed helplessly and followed Yu Yu inside.

The competition venue was a spacious hall filled with easels and chairs, already occupied by many contestants.

Not long after they sat down, the competition began with a prompt. Mu Youyu stared at the blank white paper in front of her, thought for a moment, then put down the first stroke.

Half an hour later, people in the back who had heard of her couldn't help but think to themselves, "Is this talent?"

Over an hour later, Mu Youyu came out early, while Jiang Liangjin, Mu Xi, and Song Lujing were still waiting outside.

Seeing Jiang Liangjin come up to meet her, she asked, "Heading back?"

Mu Youyu handed her art supplies to the bodyguard. "I want to go to Xiao Yu's place to check on her."

No one objected; they stood at the door waiting for Yu Yu to come out.

After the competition ended, Yu Yu rarely had a smile on her face. Mu Youyu stepped forward and asked, "How do you feel?"

"I feel fine."

"Then that's good. Can we go to your place for a bit?"

As soon as she said that, Yu Yu visibly froze for a moment, then fidgeted with her fingers somewhat awkwardly. "Are you all coming over? Mu Sis, my place… is a bit messy."

"No problem." Mu Youyu affectionately linked arms with her. "It's on the way anyway—let's go see your uncle and aunt."

Yu Yu glanced at the three outstanding‑looking guys on the field, thinking they probably wouldn't be scared off… In the end she didn't refuse again, "Well… let's go."

Jiang Liangjin had already had the bodyguard drive the car over. Yu Yu looked at the car, her steps hesitated, and Mu Youyu pulled her into the vehicle.

In the car, Mu Youyu casually asked a few questions about Yu Yu's home situation, and Yu Yu answered them all.

Her family has been scholarly for generations; her parents devoted themselves to culture and business, a typical literary household. Later the family gradually expanded through trade, and after the Fu family incident, the Yu household became one of A City's four great clans, though they keep a low profile and rarely appear in public.

Yu Yu said, raising her head, "Mu sister, I really envy you, whatever you do, someone supports you."

Not everyone is that fortunate; like Mu sister, born into a loving family, they get unconditional support without having to do anything, possessing something others spend a lifetime striving for and never obtain.

If she could choose, she wouldn't want such a family either.

Mu Xi and Song Lujing sat in front; Jiang Liangjin instinctively turned toward Mu Youyu, only to see her curl her lips, "Xiao Yu, are you dissatisfied that Wanwan, Cencen, and I aren't supporting you enough?"

Yu Yu panicked, "No, no......"

Mu Youyu laughed and started to change the subject; not long after chatting, the car stopped in front of a detached villa, and Yu Yu's family's door was open.

Just as they reached the door, a female voice came from inside: "When are you going to be useful as a dad? After saying it over and over, can painting be a meal? Let her look at your awards—are they useful? Can they add points to the college entrance exam?"

Another voice chimed in, a male voice: "I said I can't control her; you take care of yourself!"

Yu Yu stood at the doorway; Mu Youyu glanced at her, lifted her foot, and walked in.