Chapter 447: with translation of chapter title

Ruo Ya heard the voice say "again" and knew she had started hesitating.

Mu Xianyan froze in place, caring only about one thing: "How does my brother feel?"

Ruo Ya, fearing she would be upset, didn't tell her that Mu Xianqi had agreed to look for her, and softly replied: "Your brother said it's up to you."

"Doesn't he want me either?"

"Impossible!" Ruo Ya said with heavier tone, "Even if everyone abandons you, your brother and I never will."

The air was still, as if the people around didn't exist, and only the other's words could be heard.

Mu Xianyan's voice hoarse, she softly called: "Ruo Ya sister... did they say why they want to see me?"

"They said they wanted to apologize in person; these years they've been looking for you, just never had the right moment."

Mu Xianyan fell silent again; Ruo Ya didn't speak for her, as no one else could decide such a thing for her.

Mu Xianyan let out a laugh: "What's there to say? It's been so many years."

Ruo Ya looked at her patiently, smiling: "Of course, we're all watching you; don't rush, tell me when you have an idea."

Mu Xianyan lowered her head, gazing at her wrist, her fingertips unconsciously resting there.

Mu Xianyan's fingertips slightly curled, hanging at her side, she clenched the hem of her skirt, her expression cold and hard: "I'm not going."

Ruo Ya looked at her tense profile, full of pity: "Alright, I'll help you refuse."

When she lifted her brows again, Mu Xianyan's expression held only a faint indifference: "Thank you, Ruo Ya sister. Since they chose to abandon me back then, there's no need to acknowledge me now; my life is fine, I don't need extra relatives."

"I understand." Ruo Ya said gently, "With me and your brother here, no one can disturb you."

Mu Xianyan's heart stirred slightly, she gave a soft "mm," and said nothing more.

She had been accustomed since childhood to hiding her emotions in the music, in unseen corners, and this moment was no exception.

The birthday banquet was drawing to a close, and Mu's father and mother both embraced their daughter, intending to say goodbye.

Just as the two were holding Mu Youyu with reluctance, Mu Nian couldn't help but interrupt the sentimental atmosphere: "What's the fuss? Don't be reluctant to leave."

Mu's father glared at him: "You brat, did you eat explosives today?!"

"Just to oppose him on purpose!"

Mu's mother chuckled: "A Nian is just reluctant to part with us."

Mu Nian replied in one sentence: "If you think that way, there's nothing I can do."

Song Yusui, fearing a few people would spoil the sister's birthday finale, hurriedly smoothed things over: "Aunt and uncle, please leave quickly, or you'll have to fly the plane yourselves if it's late."

Mu's father and mother took the hint and left, without pointing out that the private plane would wait for them.

Qing An, the more he looked, the more he felt his earlier words were right—what bad weather could there be in M Guo this season?

Whether they want to come or leave, nothing can stop them; actually they could come earlier.

"Goodbye, precious daughter; you brothers and A Jin, remember to look after her!"

"Got it, got it."

"Okay, Aunt."

After the two left, Mu Xin, who had been behind, stepped forward: "Finally they're gone."

Mu Youyu laughed, pulling him: "Brother, let's go back; we still have a small event this afternoon."

Originally they planned, like the Jiang family, to have one event for the Mu family, one for the Song family, and another in the evening.

Later, Mu Xi, worried that Mu Youyu and Mu Xin would be too tired, decided to cancel and instead hold a combined Mu-Song event.

Jiang Liangjin stood straight: "Yeah, brother, let's go back."

Qing An found it amusing and joined the fun: "Yes, brother, let's go back."

Jun Chenling glanced at him: "Have you no shame, still calling Ah Xin brother?"

Song Huaixian also couldn't believe it: "How old are you, still taking advantage of our Xinbao?"

Song Yusui murmured in agreement: "Exactly."

"Just to liven up the atmosphere."

Jiang Liangjin was used to it; the elders only felt these kids were close.

Mu Xin laughed, taking his sister's hand and heading out, followed by a bustling crowd.

Jiang Liangjin walked on Mu Youyu's other side; Qing An chattered beside Mu Xin, while Jun Chenling shoved him aside and had the guards slightly block him.

Having followed Prince Xun Li for so long, the guards feared nothing, standing one on each side of Mu Xin and Jun Chenling.

Qing An, feeling wronged, went to complain to his older siblings; they were helpless, only telling him to ignore Jun Chenling and next time bring the guards to stop him.

Mu Xi was forced to stand with Mu Nian and Yan Yuejiu, listening to the couple chat, all wanting to see the eldest brother in a maid outfit.

"……"

All the way noisy, they returned to the manor; Mu Xin was surrounded by people talking, and Mu Youyu seized the chance to pull Jiang Liangjin into her room, locking the door behind her.

Mu Youyu took off her shoes, barefoot on the carpet, walked to the bed and leaned back.

Jiang Liangjin saw her completely relaxed, his lips curved; he placed her shoes neatly, walked over and sat on the sofa beside her bed.

Mu Youyu, back against the bed, spoke in a muffled voice: "Are you tired today?"

"Not tired." Saying that, Jiang Liangjin casually turned the air conditioner down a few degrees.

She nodded slightly, then blurted out: "I noticed that Xin Xin brother is here, and it seems he doesn't know anyone."

Jiang Liangjin didn't know what to say, he took out a candy from his pocket, unwrapped it and offered it to her lips.

Mu Youyu opened her mouth to take it: "What about tonight? Will Brother feel uncomfortable?"

Jiang Liangjin patiently soothed: "It's fine, we have us and Qing An brother and the others."

"Also true." Mu Youyu, having rested enough, went downstairs with Jiang Liangjin.

Just as they reached the stairwell, they noticed the living room was very quiet; Mu Youyu's gaze swept around and landed on the curled-up figure in the sofa corner.

Nuomi was nestled in the deepest part of the sofa, its whole body curled into a fluffy ball, tail resting on the outside of its body, occasionally twitching slightly, showing it wasn't really asleep.

Mu Youyu crouched down, reached out and stroked its back; Glutinous Rice finally gave face, lifted its head, and rubbed its forehead against her palm.

"She's gotten fat again." She muttered softly, then picked up the cat.

Glutinous Rice curled up in her arms, its front paws resting on her shoulders, its tail dangling and swaying, surprisingly well‑behaved. Only its eyes remained half‑closed, looking as if it hadn't fully woken up.

Jiang Liangjin sat on the sofa, watching her posture as she held the cat, and the corner of her mouth curved slightly.

Several of the brothers couldn't help but glance up.

Just now, no one had sat within a meter of Glutinous Rice; it wasn't that nobody liked it—on the contrary, several people had tried to pick it up earlier, but it had pushed them away with its paws.

In the end, nobody wanted to admit they'd been rejected by a cat, so they tacitly stepped back, leaving it a whole territory.

Song Huaixian watched the scene, clicked his tongue, feeling a pang of jealousy, and remarked, "This cat really judges people by the dish."

Ah, that's true.

When Qing An first pulled that badge from the imperial treasury and hung it around its neck, he knew the cat's future wouldn't be bad.