Chapter 438

Mu Youyu sat before the vanity mirror, her pink-gold hair coiled into a loose low bun, a few strands of hair falling loose.

Her makeup was light, with a touch of pale pink eyeshadow at the outer corners, and her lips were moist.

The dress was one of the sets personally designed by Yan Yuejiu, a gold princess gown that shimmered in the light, its hem sparkling.

The grandmother standing beside her looked over and over, her eye sockets reddened, yet she held back tears, reaching out to straighten the hem, saying, "Our Youbao looks truly beautiful today."

Mu Youyu linked her arm, smiling sweetly, "Grandma, you look beautiful too."

Grandma Song was coaxed into laughing by her, "Grandma's old, what's there to look at?"

"Grandma isn't old at all!"

Grandma Song laughed again, indulging, "Our Youbao has grown from a little treasure into a treasure."

"Still a treasure?" Mu Youyu coquettishly said, "Grandma, Uncle Jiang even said sixteen counts as a kind of adulthood!"

"That may hold for adults, but for a treasure it never counts."

Grandma Song ruffled the top of her head, took her hand and headed downstairs, "Come on, it's midnight."

All the lights in the manor were on, both the Mu and Song families were present.

With most of the attendees being elders, the two outsider juniors, Jun Chenling and Qing An, dared not vie for the main seat, instead naturally clustering together and sitting far from Mu Xin.

Most people were doing their own thing, especially the brothers whose expressions were richest; none were sleepy, they urged whoever to sleep, as if everyone had agreed on something.

Mu Xin was already standing at the stairwell, reaching out his hand to her.

He too wore a formal suit of the same series as her dress; standing together, they looked like a painting.

Mu Xin glanced down at her, inexplicably feeling a bit proud, "Dear, come sit over here; they should have arrived."

Mu Youyu placed her hand in his palm, smiling brightly, "Happy birthday, brother!"

"Fine, let's celebrate our sixteenth."

Just then, the butler came trotting over, unable to contain his excitement, "Sir, the Jiang and Shen families have arrived!"

Not "people have come," but "they have come," the meaning goes without saying.

Quite the timing, Grandfather Mu straightened up and went out first.

Mu Youyu, who had not yet seated herself, instinctively straightened, followed behind Grandfather Mu, and stepped toward the door.

The brothers hurried over.

The manor gates stood open, the car lights outside forming a continuous band that illuminated the entire drive like daylight.

Various luxury cars lined up in a row from the gate to the road's end, their lights all on without a single extinguished, like some silent tribute.

Car doors opened one after another, and the people stepping out, one by one, were all prominent figures from the domestic financial circles whose names could be called out.

Jiang Liangjin walked in front, standing in the interlocking light and shadow of the outside car lights and the manor gate lights, his bearing outstanding.

His gaze swept over everyone and met Mu Youyu at the door, brimming with myriad emotions, made to shine by the light.

Grandfather Jiang followed half a step behind, his affectionate gaze resting on Mu Youyu.

Jiang Su followed behind him, with Shen Ningmu linking his arm, her makeup exquisite, joy evident at the brows and corners of her eyes that could not be suppressed.

Several uncles, aunts, and cousin brothers and sisters of the Jiang family followed closely after.

And the two elders who were the last to alight from the car surprised many present.

Shen Ningmu's parents emerged one after another from the car, Grandfather Shen looking vigorous, Grandmother Shen supported attentively by him.

These two had not appeared in public for many years, rarely involving themselves in Shen family affairs, and had not even attended their grandson's birthday.

Tonight they came entirely for one matter.

Mu Youyu was not surprised by this entourage; standing at the door, she tugged Mu Xin's hand, and Mu Nian took the lead stepping down the stairs to go greet them.

With him leading, the others followed suit in offering greetings.

The Jiang and Shen families began the usual praise for the two birthday celebrants.

Mu Youyu lifted her skirt and stepped down one stair; Grandfather Jiang's gaze swept past the brothers, "Ah You, did we come too early?"

Mu Youyu gave a well-behaved smile, "Grandfather Jiang, you arrived just right."

"All good, all good," Grandfather Jiang laughed even more openly.

As expected, the timing was meticulously calculated by the grandson!

Mu Youyu called each person in turn, and each responded with a reply, their tones brimming with uncontainable emotion.

Grandfather Shen approached her, examined her closely, then smiled and nodded, "Good child."

Grandmother Shen also beamed, unable to close her mouth, "Our Ah You has grown taller."

"Thank you, Grandmother Shen."

Grandmother Shen patted the back of her hand, her gaze lingering on her face for a moment, saying nothing yet seeming to say everything.

Seeing the brothers make way, Jiang Liangjin stepped forward toward her.

Mu Youyu stood in place, watching him approach step by step, suddenly recalling the few characters she had seen in the atrium that afternoon—"Bestow you the rest of your life."

That line lingered on the electronic screen for only a few seconds, yet it turned over in her mind all afternoon, now surging back, making her heartbeat somewhat unsteady.

Before she could speak, Jiang Liangjin stood before her, lowered his head to look at her, "Happy birthday."

Speaking, he slightly raised his hand, and the accompanying digital bodyguards, in the direction of Mu Youyu and Mu Xin, first set off a birthday salute.

Salute ribbons fell from above; Mu Youyu tilted her head toward her childhood friend, her voice level and soft: "Ah Jin, good evening."

Jiang Liangjin only smiled, extending his hand palm up, "May I have a chance to hold your hand?"

She placed her hand on his, lifted her chin, "All right."

The brothers did not step forward to disturb, each lost in thought, while Mu Xin went around them and took hold of her other hand.

The bodyguards orderly carried the prepared birthday gifts from the trunk, after greeting Grandfather Mu, moved them piece by piece indoors, making several trips back and forth.

This shows how solemn today is!

Grandfather Jiang walked up to Grandfather Mu, "Old Mu, congratulations, congratulations."

Not easy, finally managed to lure A You into the Jiang Family!

Grandfather Mu saw the endless stream of congratulatory gifts being moved in, smiling until his eyes narrowed into slits, repeatedly responding: "Same joy, same joy, don't stand at the doorway, come inside and sit!"

Inside the house, the elders of the Mu and Song families remained in their original seats; Song Grandmother sat on the sofa beside the center, clutching a handkerchief, her eye sockets slightly red, yet the corners of her mouth bore a smile.

Jiang Su stepped forward and chatted with several uncles of the Song family.

Shen Ningmu rushed to Song Grandmother, linked arms with the elderly woman and wouldn't let go, being affectionate as if her own daughter had returned to her parents' home, continuously saying kind words.

Song Grandmother, coaxed by Shen Ningmu, put away her handkerchief, her smile deepening: "Today is the birthday of our Youbao and Xinbao; we're all one family, sit casually, no need for restraint."

Shen Ningmu immediately echoed: "Exactly, exactly, exactly—one family doesn't speak of two families!"

This remark was cleverly put; everyone present caught the hidden meaning, and they all laughed and echoed in agreement.

Mu Youyu, Jiang Liangjin, and Mu Xin were surrounded by the crowd and led to the seats in the main row, with Mu Youyu sitting in the center.