Chapter 444: Packed Up

Mu Xi and Lu Yuchu's four-hand duet ended, and the applause lingered.

The two stood before the piano, their temperaments vastly different, yet they achieved a certain wonderful tacit understanding in the music.

After Mu Xi bowed off stage, she walked away without a hint of reluctance, as if the few minutes of being the center of attention were just something she did casually.

Lu Yuchu, however, turned back and smiled at the audience; that Smile was caught by the livestream camera, instantly sparking a new wave of screams online.

【Ahhh Chu Chu! My white moonlight!】

【It's a pity he's rare and doesn't mix in the circle; I just eat up his looks like this.】

【Why didn't Song Yan go up? Oh, I forgot he's tone-deaf.】

【How long has it been since this happened? Song Yan, you should have practiced properly!】

【Chu Chu, if you're busy with the company, just be busy; when can you release that song you said would come out half a year ago? Give the kids something to crave.】

【I just realized it's been half a year! Is Chu Chu's boss brother feeding us big dreams?】

【It's not the brother's fault; it's a company problem.】

「……」

The applause downstairs had not yet fully faded when the lights dimmed again, and a violin solo began.

Mu Xianyan stood at center stage in a white long dress, her beige hair loose, a red string visible on her wrist like a mark etched into her skin.

The violin sound flowed from her fingertips, gentle and entwining.

Jiang Liangjin's gaze never left Mu Youyu; seeing her absorbed, he quietly accompanied her without a word.

Mu Youyu had seen her older sister practice violin; usually blunt and carefree, the sister would calm down completely when playing, as if she were a different person.

Today's piece differed from past expressions of emotion, lacking those heavy elements; it seemed to tell a warm story, or perhaps respond to someone's expectation.

After the piece ended, Mu Youyu gradually gathered her thoughts, lifting her eyes to meet Jiang Liangjin's gaze.

Mu Xianyan bowed, her gaze sweeping the audience, pausing a few seconds in one direction before turning and walking forward.

Liu Wanwan, who had caught a hint of something, came over, gossip igniting: "Who was your older sister looking at down there just now? You're not dating, are you?"

Mu Youyu followed the direction of her gaze, seeing only scattered guests, no one special: "I don't know; she never told me."

「……」

One who had been watching Song Yusui on stage shook his head and sighed, "Intentional blossoms, indifferent water."

Lu Yuchu: 「……」

Qing An was bewildered: "What does that mean?"

Song Huaixian leaned over: "It means your head is full of water."

Qing An felt hurt: "Song Yusui, I've been so good to you, and you scold me?"

Jun Chenling, who understood the meaning, didn't want to bother with this idiot, and went to look for Mu Xin.

「……」

In the corner, Feng Cen, whose vision was normal, spoke up: "You Liu, are you blind? She wasn't looking at our Youbao, was she?"

Liu Wanwan, severely nearsighted and astigmatic without glasses, retorted: "What's it to you, Miss?"

Mu Youyu tilted her head, tapped Jiang Liangjin's arm, and asked, "Was my older sister looking at me?"

After Mu Xi stepped down, Jiang Liangjin stopped paying attention to the stage: "Maybe."

Turning to Mu Xin, she replied blandly: "I didn't notice."

Yu Yu was a bit nearsighted and couldn't see clearly, but she intuitively felt that Mu Xianyan was looking at Mu Xi.

The thought settled, and Mu Xianyan walked straight over, stopping before Mu Youyu: "Happy birthday, little sister."

Her gift had already been sent to the Mu family two days earlier; now she was followed by an assistant holding several gift bags, which looked heavy.

The three girls greeted each other.

Jiang Liangjin: "Older sister."

"Young Master Jiang."

After the squeak, the assistant directly handed the box in his hand to Mu Youyu's bodyguard beside her; Mu Xianyan pointed over and said, "Here, the gift— the one from two days ago doesn't count."

Mu Youyu wasn't polite: "Thank you, older sister; your violin playing sounds wonderful."

Mu Xianyan openly proud: "Of course."

"The violin beauty is also beautiful." Mu Youyu added offhand.

Mu Xianyan's eyes curved as she stared, then she suddenly smiled: "Did you take a liking to that violin? I have another similar one, unused— want me to give it to you?"

The younger sister had praised her, though the violin she'd just used was a bit old; should we give it away or treat it as a collectible?

Yu Yu, who had been keeping an eye on music-circle developments nearby, widened her eyes.

This violin is the one recently used exclusively for performances by Princess Yan; it's obviously the most suitable, and the only other one "similar" to it is that very one……

How can you just say you'll give it away and then do it?

The assistant behind Mu Xianyan also stiffened.

He had been by Miss Yan's side for several years and knew best the origin of that "other similar" violin.

That was a collectible Miss Yan had scraped together money for and pulled strings through many layers to acquire!

Once in hand, it was treasured to the extreme, normally locked in the violin room, occasionally wiped down— even Mu Xianqi wasn't allowed in, let alone outsiders touching it, and no one had ever played it.

And now you say you want to give it away?

"Forget it, I can't really play," Mu Youyu shook her head, answering sincerely.

Her violin skill only reaches the point of being able to play a complete piece, completely incomparable to Mu Xianyan's professional level.

A fine violin in her hands would be a waste of heavenly riches.

Mu Xianyan didn't care, directly ordering the assistant: "Go help me pack things up."

She happened to have brought it.

The little assistant didn't dare say more, answered with a sound and turned to leave.

Just consider it a second gift for your sister—no refusing allowed.

Mu Xianyan turned her head, met her sister's hesitant expression, and added, "Keeping it with me would just gather dust; better give it to you—play it if you want, otherwise just leave it as a display, it's still quite nice."

After she spoke, she unconsciously glanced sideways, then fell silent.

Originally, Mu Xin had somehow ended up beside Jun Chenling, a few tables away.

... Excuse me for a moment, sister; I'll come find you later.

After a few people responded, Mu Xianyan left without looking back.

Feng Cen watched her series of actions and finally couldn't help saying, "Youbao, how many gifts have you received today? I just saw you've piled up several dozen boxes over there."

"I don't know." Mu Youyu thought for a moment, "I haven't counted."

Feng Cen feigned a sigh: "The worries of the rich."

Liu Wanwan chimed in from the side: "Sounds like you're not a rich person."

Feng Cen: "Not as rich as you."

After everyone left, Yu Yu finally dared to speak, her tone incredulous: "Mu sis, Princess Yan is actually preparing to give you her collection?!"

"Collection?"

Mu Youyu turned her head and glanced at her: "You know about it?"

Yu Yu nodded: "I saw that violin she played on stage online before—it's a work of a certain country's master luthier, priceless, few remain in the world, each a unique artwork."

"The violin Princess Yan holds is the one she often uses for recent performances, similar to the one she intends to give you; it should be the one she bought at an auction a few years ago."

She paused, lowering her voice a bit, as if afraid someone might hear: "The price at the time was very high; reportedly, Princess Yan had someone intercept it… before she could buy it, and she's never brought herself to use that collectible violin."

Jiang Liangjin: "What gibberish."

Mu Youyu fell silent for a moment, still thinking it was just an ordinary good violin, not expecting such a story.

She unconsciously looked in the direction Mu Xianyan had gone, and saw that the person had already reached Mu Xin's side.

Before she could think further, Jiang Liangjin's words came again, inexplicably carrying a competitive tone: "Youbao likes it; I can give it too."

If I remember correctly, that Old Xiao still knows a few violin masters; he should have plenty of good stuff.

Feng Cen: "Yo ho, big boss."

Liu Wanwan clapped: "Impressive skills, I admire."

Jiang Liangjin ignored them.

"We'll talk later." Mu Youyu smiled, took his hand, eyes curved, and said, "Let's go find A Ci and the others."