Chapter 440: Another Year Older

Qing An heard a hint of "Your reaction is really slow," and after hearing the earlier "family" and "completely at ease" repeatedly, he finally understood the meaning: "No way? This fast? My sister is only sixteen!"

Jun Chenling's posture remained unchanged: "It's not now, why are you rushing?"

After thinking, Qing An felt that was right, and pushed the plate toward him: "Yeah, yeah, I'm not in a hurry."

"Don't talk, everyone's watching." Jun Chenling disdainfully pushed the plate aside, his gaze sweeping over the crowd and landing on Mu Xin.

Mu Xin was turning his head to say something to his sister, his expression soft, unlike his usual aloof self.

Jun Chenling looked for a while, unwilling to look away, only silently thinking to himself, "Not coming for nothing."

Sighing, Mu Xianqi was on a video call with Ruo Ya; the woman in the camera gazed at the lively room, her tone tinged with regret: "I really wish I could be there in person."

"Then come, I'll have someone pick you up." Mu Xianqi raised his phone a bit so she could see the whole living room.

Ruo Ya glanced at the people in the room, especially the sister surrounded like stars around the moon at the main seat, and chuckled: "There are too many people, sorry, I'll come again for the daytime birthday banquet."

"Fine, I won't pick you up tomorrow; you come yourself." Mu Xianqi's tone showed no concession.

Ruo Ya was amused: "All right, I won't disturb you anymore; tomorrow I'll bring Yan Yan over to tell Mingxi happy birthday for me."

"Okay, what is Yan Yan doing?" Mu Xianqi asked casually, puzzled that she hadn't come along today and hadn't replied to any messages.

"She went to meet someone."

"Keep an eye on her for me, see you tomorrow." Mu Xianqi assumed it was a friend and didn't ask further.

After hanging up the video call, Mu Xianqi continued drinking; Mu Yichen beside him suddenly raised a hand and patted his back, asking, "What were you talking about……"

Mu Xianqi was caught off guard and couldn't help choking on a mouthful of wine.

Having anticipated this, Mu Yichi quickly used his brother's jacket to barely block it, then added, "Don't spray if you don't like it."

Mu Yichen: "Jacket!"

Mu Xianqi's complaining words stopped: "You two are sick, huh?"

Mu Yichen: "What's it got to do with me?"

Mu Yichi grinningly returned the jacket to his brother; Mu Yichen didn't mind and didn't take it.

Song LuXiao and Song Lujing sat together; the former sat upright, the latter poked at his phone screen, only putting it away after a glare from Mu Xi beside him: "Got it, it's my sister's birthday, I won't play games."

"As long as you know."

Song Huaiyu lowered his head, busy arranging follow-up work; Song Huaixian saw off his father and also buried his head in typing messages.

Song Yusui and Lu Yuchu didn't know what they were saying; Song Yusui himself laughed until he doubled over.

Lu Yuchu frowned slightly, reached out to push him, afraid he'd bump into the nearby decor: "Can you restrain yourself? This is a public place, mind your image."

"Got it." Song Yusui was used to it; his brother was just born like that…… but after a while, his smile froze.

Only see, the person laughing switched to Song Yan, and Lu Yuchu actually laughed along with him.

Song Yusui, clutching his chest in pain, "……I've seen through it, who really is the older brother?"

Lu Yuchu had been annoyed by him lately and didn't want to deal with him: "There's no older brother, only younger sister and younger brother."

Song Yan immediately straightened his back, smugly leaning against Lu Yuchu: "You lost because you were born a few minutes after the older brother."

"Haha." Song Yusui couldn't understand; although they were twins, Mu Yichen and Mu Yichi were inseparable, and the sister and Mu Xin were extremely close.

Although Song Huaiyu and Song Huaixian grew up scheming against each other, they appear quite harmonious in front of outsiders.

How did it become like this with him…… He's not the slightest bit upset!!

Seeing the children get along so well, the elders felt relieved.

The birthday banquet was held at the most luxurious hotel in C Shi, the one Jiang Liangjin held in February.

Now once again booked by the Mu and Song families, solely to celebrate the sixteenth birthdays of Mu Youyu and Mu Xin.

Unlike the decoration for Jiang Liangjin's birthday, the banquet hall's main theme was red and blue; flowers, balloons, and ribbons everywhere made the scene look dreamy.

On April fifteenth daytime, the weather in C Shi was absurdly good, cloudless for miles.

Before seven o'clock, the driveway in front of the hotel was already congested; license plates were increasingly low-key, but the faces getting out of the cars were increasingly astonishing.

Guests kept arriving, all prominent figures domestic and abroad…… media reporters filled both sides, comparable to any national-level diplomatic event.

Mu Youyu changed into a second outfit, a light blue fluffy princess dress style, with a long train at the back, her makeup elegant, her styled hair loose, a gold crown placed on her head.

Mu Xin wore a matching custom tailcoat, holding his sister's hand as they slowly descended the spiral staircase, his blue eyes soft, the two standing side by side, like a princess and prince stepped out of a fairy tale, instantly drawing everyone's gaze.

"The Mu family's young lady is too beautiful today; who designed that dress? I've never seen this style domestically."

"It's normal you haven't seen it; it's handmade by Teacher Yan."

"Here he comes, quick look, Mu Nian is here too; the person beside him must be Yan Yuejiu, right?"

"The young master is wearing a tailcoat, his aesthetic is pretty similar to the Y Country little prince."

""

Jiang Liangjin had long been waiting quietly beneath the stairs, his bearing outstanding; upon the appearance of the one he longed for, his scorching gaze began to stick to Mu Youyu.

Seeing her come downstairs, Jiang Liangjin immediately stepped forward, taking her other hand: "Let's go, Your Highness."

The three walked side by side toward the front rows, closely followed by Mu Xi, Yu Ci, Gu Xingnan, Lin Ning and other friends, the scene grand.

Time hadn't arrived yet, many people found their targets and began socializing.

"Is that the Y Country prince? How did he come too? I saw in the news a few days ago he was still representing Y Country at an international conference."

"And Princess Ruo Ya is here too!"

"That must be the old lady of the Shen family from back then…… she hasn't shown her face in years……"

"And those people, I've seen them in the news; supposedly they're M Guo or Y Guo nobles who haven't appeared in public for years!"

"So many people came?"

""

Mu grandfather and grandmother sat on the other side of the main table; both elders were dressed especially formally today, and the maternal grandfather far away in Y Guo had rushed back in the early morning.

The grandfather looked at the full hall of guests, then at his little granddaughter and grandson, his eye sockets slightly red: "Our Youbao and Xinbao have grown another year."

Grandma, standing nearby, chimed in: "Why are you crying? It's a joyous day."

"I wasn't crying." Grandfather turned his face away, blinking his eyes rapidly a few times, "It's just the wind."

"Where does the wind come from in the banquet hall?" Grandma Song didn't bother to expose him, just smiled and shook her head.

When the time came, the lights in the hall dimmed, and a spotlight shone onto the stage.

The master of ceremonies walked onto the stage, gave an opening remark, then invited Mu Nian to come up and give a speech.