Chapter 435: How Did They Get In?

Song Yusui forced out his usual smile, "It's fine, I just tripped accidentally."

Lu Yuchu adjusted his mask properly, "Nothing much, I'm just waiting for my sister here."

Jiang Liangjin followed behind Mu Youyu, glancing at the two without a word, not exposing them, merely lifting his chin in greeting.

This look seemed off no matter how you looked at it; seeing both unharmed, Mu Youyu didn't press further, "Then let's go, to my place."

The car was already waiting at the entrance; Mu Xi and Song Lujing sat in the front, the former closing her eyes to rest.

The latter, wearing earphones in the passenger seat, was engrossed in his game, not noticing the car door opening; Song Yusui even feared he'd be kidnapped.

Mu Xi noticed the movement, lifting her eyelids, "Is the party over?"

"No, we came out first." Mu Youyu slipped into the car, sitting beside Mu Xi, with Jiang Liangjin following and taking the seat on her other side.

Song Yusui and Lu Yuchu got into another car, and the group headed toward Mu Youyu's villa in A City.

The car drove for about twenty minutes, entering a tranquil villa district.

This villa was where Mu Youyu lived during her first year of high school; after returning to C City, it remained vacant, cleaned regularly.

The villa is a standalone four-story building with a small garden; from the outside, the interior lights are on.

Mu Youyu stepped forward to open the main door, changed her shoes, and plopped onto the sofa, "Upstairs rooms besides mine and my second older brother's are free to take."

Song Lujing was the last to enter, his lips moving as if talking to someone, though it was unclear whom.

Mu Xi is a regular here, completely familiar.

Jiang Liangjin sat beside Mu Youyu, pulled out his phone to glance at a message, then put it away.

Song Yusui looked around, sensing something off, "Why are the lights on? Why does it feel strange?"

"Maybe the auntie came to clean and forgot to turn them off."

As she finished speaking, Mu Youyu's phone chimed with a message notification, and at the same moment a faint sound came from upstairs.

Several people instinctively glanced upstairs; before they could speak, another rustling sounded from above, as if someone was hurriedly gathering things, followed by a dull thud of something hitting the floor.

Song Yusui lifted his foot to head for the stairs, "Sis, did thieves break into your house?"

Jiang Liangjin frowned, about to follow him up, when a familiar female voice from upstairs, tinged with panic, called out, "Hey little Youyou, are you back?"

Hearing that, Mu Youyu froze for a moment, "Wanwan?"

A head poked out from the stairwell corner; Liu Wanwan's hair was disheveled, she wore a loose house outfit, looking as if she had just fled home, her expression caught between embarrassment and delight.

Seeing several people arrive, she hurriedly gathered her things into her pockets and pattered down the stairs, "Good evening, brothers!"

Mu Youyu saw her like this, momentarily unsure what to ask first, before she could speak, she noticed another person descending the stairs.

He was a tall, handsome young man with slightly messy hair, his face showing unease.

Jiang Liangjin's gaze swept over him, then Liu Wanwan, his brow twitching slightly as if thinking Youbao's friend was here, not a thief.

Mu Xi remained silent; Mu Youyu recognized him, "Sheng Ling? Why are you here too?"

Before going out with Liu Wanwan, she had seen this childhood friend of hers a few times.

Sheng Ling gave an awkward chuckle twice, "Well... it's a long story."

Liu Wanwan had already stepped in front of Mu Youyu, her expression priceless; wanting to explain but not knowing how, she struggled for a while and managed only, "I just called you to tell you about this, but you returned before I could say it."

Mu Youyu raised an eyebrow, "So?"

"So... we just happened to pass by, picking up something along the way." This was true, but Liu Wanwan's voice grew softer as she spoke.

Jiang Liangjin's gaze swept back and forth between the two.

Song Lujing found it interesting, stopped his game; Song Yusui's eyes darted around, seeing that the people his sister knew had returned to their original spots.

Sheng Ling felt even more uneasy under the stare, gave a light cough, and tried to shift the topic, "Haha, good evening everyone, we're all strangers! Miss Mu, long time no see."

"..." No one paid attention.

Mu Youyu always felt the atmosphere between the two was weird.

Liu Wanwan, usually proud, now showed a rare hint of awkwardness, her gaze drifting, avoiding looking at Sheng Ling.

Sheng Ling was no better, frozen at the stairwell entrance, his fingers incessantly turning something in his pocket, a feigned calm, without lifting his head.

Refocusing, Song Yusui was the first to respond, lounging lazily, "Hello hello."

Lu Yuchu leaned lazily on the sofa, listless, "How did you get in?"

Sheng Ling caught the tone, instantly recognizing the speaker, his expression finally shifting slightly.

!!

The descending Sheng Ling blurted out, "We came in through the main gate, that very door!"

Huh, what a strange sound.

Liu Wanwan punched him, then answered obediently, "The door lock code hasn't changed; Youyou told me before. I dropped something here, didn't expect anyone, I'll leave right away."

Sheng Ling fell silent.

Mu Youyu couldn't help but chuckle, "I didn't say anything, why are you rushing?"

Back in Sheng Luo, Mu Nian was busy with work, Mu Xi often stayed in C City, and she lived alone feeling lonely; Liu Wanwan, Feng Cen, and Yu Yu were regulars here, and they even knew the password.

Among them, Liu Wanwan came most often, even leaving her fingerprints here; before departing she had urged them to drop by anytime, so surely no one would blame them now.

"Not guilty at all." Liu Wanwan exhaled, glaring at Sheng Ling, "It's all your fault!"

Sheng Ling, bewildered by her stare, retorted, "Wasn't it you who said a ghost was dragging me along?"

"You do whatever I say; won't you refuse?"

"..."

Mu Youyu suddenly recalled Liu Wanwan's past complaints about Sheng Ling, sensing a different nuance.

Liu Wanwan seemed to realize her behavior was odd, quickly changing the subject, "Youyou, why did you suddenly come over? Weren't you on a spring outing?"

Without forgetting to glance sideways at Jiang Liangjin, Mu Xi, and Song Lujing nearby, she secretly wondered why so many had shown up.

"The spring outing ends tomorrow; stay over tonight." Mu Youyu replied, "We'll head back tomorrow."

"Then you all rest well, we won't disturb you." Liu Wanwan pulled the person beside her and walked toward the door.

Sheng Ling was pulled by her so their steps staggered, their gaze still glanced toward Lu Yuchu, "What's the rush, I haven't even gotten an autograph yet."

"Do you see if your male god pays attention to you?"

Lu Yuchu raised eyebrows.

Song Yusui placed a hand on their shoulder and whispered, "Hey, male god."

Mu Xi was already tired, looking at her younger sister, "Baby, let's go upstairs."

"Okay."

The two of them tugged and pulled as they walked to the door; Liu Wanwan suddenly stopped, turned to glance at Mu Youyu, "Bye-bye, I'll come to C Shi to find you in a few days to play! See you next time, brothers!"

"To be polite to the younger sister's friend, Song Yusui instinctively said, 'Okay, okay, goodbye.'"

Jiang Liangjin heard that the address was obviously not for him, so he ignored it; Mu Xi and the others saw that the younger sister hadn't responded first, and also didn't speak.

Seeing that no one responded to Liu Wanwan, Mu Youyu helplessly waved a hand, "Bye-bye."