Chapter 446: People always change

Mu Youyu's gaze swept back and forth between Lin Ning and Ye Zeli.

Lin Ning walked ahead, Ye Zeli followed behind her, keeping a distance that was neither too far nor too close.

""

No wonder I didn't see her just now…

Mu Youyu grew more confused—how could they appear side by side at her birthday banquet after such a short time?

Lin Ning walked to the table, naturally pulled a stool next to her and sat down, smiling as she said, "Happy birthday, Youbao!"

"You too." Mu Youyu absentmindedly shifted sideways, but her gaze passed over Lin Ning and landed on Ye Zeli, who stood beside the table, hesitating whether to sit down.

Ye Zeli wore a dark formal outfit today, his hair shorter than when I saw him at school, and he looked much more spirited.

He noticed Mu Youyu's gaze, gave a slight nod, said a greeting, then withdrew his gaze.

After receiving the birthday girl's reply, Ye Zeli's gaze fell on Lin Ning, as if waiting for her next instruction.

Jiang Liangjin raised her eyebrows slightly.

What, you too?

Today isn't Lin Ning's birthday either.

Yu Ci pressed her lips, while Lin Ning and Ye Zeli seemed not to have reacted, their postures unchanged.

Mu Youyu withdrew her gaze, looked at Lin Ning, weighed her words, and still couldn't help whispering, "You…?"

Lin Ning laughed openly, pointed behind her, and said, "Just passing by, just passing by."

Mu Youyu fell silent for a moment.

That night after the spring outing ended, Lin Ning sent her a long string of voice messages, from start to finish criticizing Ye Zeli.

From "dead straight guy" to "wooden-headed" to "I was really blind back then," ending with "Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore, it's already over."

She had thought their relationship was truly over back then, even comforting her until the early morning!

"I heard you complaining about him just a few days ago." Mu Youyu lowered her voice, recalling how she had joined in badmouthing Ye Zeli, and seeing the person himself made her feel a bit guilty.

Lin Ning blinked and said, "That was in the past—people change, after all."

Sounds familiar?

Mu Youyu tried to find some flaw in that smile.

Lin Ning felt a bit uneasy under her stare, reached out and pinched her cheek, saying, "Stop looking—it really is just on the way; he happened to be coming here too, so we came together."

Jiang Liangjin caught the gist of their conversation and glanced at Ye Zeli.

Ye Zeli stood beside the table, head lowered, looking at Lin Ning's outfit.

Jiang Liangjin didn't speak up rashly.

Yu Ci had fewer reservations and asked directly, "Ye Zeli, didn't you say you weren't coming? Song-ge and the others asked you earlier and you said you weren't coming."

Ye Zeli lifted his chin, "Plans have changed."

Yu Ci raised an eyebrow, "What plans?"

Ye Zeli didn't answer, merely glanced at Lin Ning.

Lin Ning answered for him instead: "He happened to have free time, so he came over—why do you have so many questions?"

Yu Ci sensibly shut up and muttered to Gu Xingnan, "I'm just concerned about a classmate."

Gu Xingnan didn't respond, just pushed his drink toward him, indicating he should have something to drink to shut him up.

Mu Youyu pointed to the empty seat opposite and finally spoke again: "…Sit down, don't stand."

Ye Zeli glanced at Lin Ning, saw she had no objection, then sat down opposite, ending up right beside Yu Ci.

Yu Ci shifted half an inch toward Gu Xingnan to make space, and still couldn't resist whispering to her childhood friend, nagging and complaining.

Lin Ning leaned back in her chair, scanned the table, and finally asked, "Where's your little brother?"

Mu Youyu pointed to the main table, "Being dragged away by Ling-gege."

Lin Ning looked over and instantly saw Mu Xin and Jun Chenling standing side by side, one aloof, one clear-eyed, together especially striking.

She couldn't take her eyes off them, couldn't help sighing, "Those two really are a sight to behold whenever they stand together—why didn't you inherit blue eyes like your little brother?"

Mu Youyu didn't respond to that, her gaze unconsciously drifting to the other side of the banquet hall.

Mu Yichen and Mu Yichi reappeared on the scene, seen sitting side by side, neither wanting to engage with the other.

Song Yusui showed up sometime later, slinging an arm over Lu Yuchu's shoulder, laughing wildly, "Sis, you two brothers are too low-key—standing there you're practically invisible."

Lu Yuchu gave him a bland glance, "If you go over and talk to them, you might get kicked out on the spot."

Song Yusui immediately restrained herself, "Forget it, I won't provoke them—I can't win."

Mu Youyu's mind was a mess, she didn't know what to say, only smiled at Jiang Liangjin, who understood and immediately launched a topic: "What a coincidence, Song-ge and Chu-ge!"

Song Yusui chuckled, "Not a coincidence at all—I came specially to find you two."

Lu Yuchu: "Right."

Mu Youyu also didn't know why her childhood friend blurted out those words.

On the other side, Mu Xianyan had just gotten a face full of dust from Mu Xin, her aura low.

The assistant dared not breathe loudly at the side.

When Ruo Ya approached her, Mu Xianyan finally came to herself, forcing a smile at the corner of her mouth: "Ruo Ya-jie."

Ruo Ya looked at her state, felt askew, sighed inwardly, but kept her expression neutral, only saying gently, "Yan Yan, you did well on stage."

Mu Xianyan put on a brave smile, "Thanks, Ruo Ya-jie—what do you need from me?"

Ruo Ya spoke frankly, "They've come to the venue today, saying they want to see you—will you go?"

Mu Xianyan's smile froze—she of course knew who Ruo Ya meant by "they."

Ruo Ya had said at that time that those people had relayed messages through various channels several times, requesting to see her.

Their attitude was sincere, their posture low, as they begged the M Guo princess for a few minutes of her time.

Mu Xianyan lowered her brows, her eyes dark, 'Again?'

Yesterday, when the Song and Mu families were at the Mu household, she did not go with them.

Although she had Mu Xianqi and her foster father, she felt she was nothing, as if something separated her from their lively little world, her heart full of bewilderment and exhaustion.

Later, her foster father also called her, asking why she hadn't come over; she said she felt unwell, and he urged her to rest well and not overexert herself.

After hanging up, she sat on the edge of the bed for a long time, her thoughts in turmoil, finally repeatedly agonizing over one matter.

She had long grown accustomed to Mu Xianqi's remarks akin to her being picked up, initially taking them as jokes.

After learning the truth, she digested it alone for several days, her initial strange emotions shifting to quiet self‑satisfaction; once her emotions eased, she pretended nothing was wrong.

Only later did she learn she was an abandoned infant; Mu Xianyan felt indifferent, but hearing Mu Xianqi say it in person evoked a different feeling.

She mocked herself: being adopted, having no blood ties—wasn't that exactly what she wanted?

No need to smile and brush it off when others say 'You and your brother don't look alike at all,' and no need to worry about... and Mu Xin...

Now that she knows, several emotions are tangled together, like a road split open, unable to tell which is which, feeling as if she might topple backward at any moment, leaving her breathless.

Later, Mu Xianyan practiced the piano when she should, and went through the motions when she needed to.

She is doing well now…… Why are those people coming after her, and on what grounds?