Chapter 469

Jiang Liangjin glanced at the message and realized Ye Zeli had been absent for some time.

Gu Xingnan and Yu Ci slipped back to the classroom after taking the big graduation photo.

Mu Youyu no longer wanted to stay, handed the bouquet of platycodon to him, "Let's go back to the classroom, A Jin."

Jiang Liangjin took the bouquet and gave her a warm smile, "Okay."

After leaving the Nan Feng school gate, Mu Yichi didn't go straight home but drove to an old commercial street.

Arriving at the location, Mu Yichi walked straight into an inconspicuous internet cafe facing the street.

The internet cafe's storefront is small, with a few electric bikes and shared bicycles parked at the entrance, a sign reading "No minors allowed" posted, its corners already lifted, fluttering in the wind, making it seem especially desolate.

The boss wasn't there; a few people sat in the corner playing games, the keyboard clacking loudly, occasionally interspersed with a few curses.

Mu Yichi didn't find the person he was looking for on the first floor, so he went up the stairs to the second floor.

There were few customers on the second floor; a male student sat by the window, with a computer in front of him, a waveform undulating on the screen.

He wore headphones, obviously practicing lines; from the subtitles Mu Yichi saw it was a clip from a currently popular anime.

He walked over, didn't disturb him, and sat in the empty seat beside him.

Shang You looked up just in time, saw the arrival, his eyes lit up instantly, he pressed pause and took off his headphones.

He pulled the corners of his mouth apart, revealing two little tiger teeth, "Senior brother? How did you come here?"

Mu Yichi paused for a moment at the faint blue under the boy's eye, pulled a palm-sized box from his pocket and tossed it onto the table, "Isn't today your birthday?"

Shang You startled, spoke softly, "Ah, is it today?"

"You don't even remember your own birthday?"

Mu Yichi mentioned it casually, then recalled that quite a few people have birthdays in June.

First Shang You, then the Song Huaiyu brothers and Song Yan, and finally Song Lujing's coming-of-age ceremony in June.

After celebrating his, then theirs; after celebrating his, then his; after celebrating his, then his again!

He tapped his chin with his fingertip, feeling a bit overwhelmed…

Forget it, let's just visit the Song Huaiyu brothers; Song Yan can be left for later; Song Lujing had previously deleted him and his brother, so we can leave it as is.

Forget it, let Song Huaiyu and the two of them go on a trip; Song Yan, just do as you like, we'll see later; Song Lujing had already deleted him and his older brother, also just be casual.

Shang Xiao felt a bit embarrassed, "I've been busy practicing lately and mixed up the time."

Mu Yichi didn't respond, pulled his mask down, and sat down beside him.

Shang You had already opened the box; inside lay a watch, the dial deep blue, the hands plated with rose gold, "Holy crap, Senior Brother, you've struck it rich?"

"When am I not making money?" Mu Yichi replied with a chuckle, leaning back in his chair, "Put it on, don't lose it."

"I'm always making money!" Shang You immediately took the watch out and fastened it on his wrist, turning it several angles under the dim light of the internet cafe, looking left and right, liking it more and more.

Finally, he lifted his head and gave Mu Yichi an overly radiant smile, "Thank you, Senior Brother, you're so handsome, you're the most handsome person I've ever seen!"

Mu Yichi leaned back in the chair, hands behind his head, posture relaxed, "Handsomeness isn't yours, it's my sister's."

Shang You's smile stiffened slightly, and he unconsciously rubbed his nose.

More than a month has passed since the love-love incident, yet every time he hears the words "little sister," he still thinks of that affair, inevitably feeling guilty.

He gave an awkward laugh twice, "Yes, yes, your sister is the most beautiful in the world, Senior Brother."

Mu Yichi didn't notice his oddness and casually asked, "Are you on vacation?"

Shang You relaxed, "We have a week off; our school is being used as a venue for the college entrance exam."

"Have you finished the exam?"

"Finished." Bringing up the matter, Shang You's tone was relieved, "This time the final exam should get me into the top three of the grade."

"Alright." Mu Yichi asked offhand, "How did that voice acting competition you mentioned last time go?"

The first round was a slot obtained through Mu Xianqi's connections; it ended in early May, and the results were good.

What we're asking about now is the competition at the end of this month; simply put, it's also an opportunity made possible by Mu Xianqi paving the way.

Shang You took off his headphones and hung them on the computer host, turned to face him directly, "Qi Ge said I should first prepare a piece and wait for notice. He said the director over there is quite satisfied with my vocal conditions, but thinks I'm too young, worried I won't perform stably on the spot."

"Senior Brother, do you think I should record another different piece? I've recently practiced several…"

As he spoke, his speech sped up, as if afraid he wouldn't finish before someone interrupted him.

Mu Yichi reached out and tapped his head, "Speak slowly, I'm not going anywhere."

Shang You lowered his head from the tap, and after two seconds lifted it again, "Senior Brother, you don't know; the teacher said that project is the biggest one in the second half of the year—if we can land it, we won't have to worry about living expenses for the whole next year."

Mu Yichi tilted his head to glance at him; he knew Shang You's family situation.

His parents divorced; he stayed with his father, who did some shady things and ended up in debt, owing a huge amount; the family house had already been mortgaged, and later was awarded to his mother.

His mother remarried and couldn't care for him; from middle school onward, Shang You never asked his family for a cent, his tuition covered by scholarships, and his living expenses came from occasional odd jobs.

"You don't need to worry about living expenses; I'll take care of it." Mu Yichi said, pulling out his phone to glance at it.

It was a message just sent by Mu Yichen, asking where he was and urging him to come back quickly; he lowered his head to reply.

Shang You shook his head firmly, "No need, Senior Brother, I can handle it myself. Once I secure that thing, I'll treat you to a meal."

"Alright, then I'll wait." Mu Yichi sent the message, stood up, pulled his mask back up, "Prepare well for the competition, don't lose face for me."

Shang You turned serious, "That's a must; when have I ever embarrassed you, Senior Brother? That previous incident doesn't count."

If he didn't bring it up, it'd be fine, but mentioning it made Mu Yichi recall it; he fell silent for a few seconds, "I'm heading out first; you should go back early, don't stay too long in the internet cafe—the air here is bad."

Actually not bad; that incident also benefited him and Mu Yichen—Mu Xianqi was looked down upon by the other brothers.

Shang You responded with an acknowledgment, "Got it, Senior Brother, I'm leaving now."

Three days before the college entrance exam, Nanfeng Gaozhong had officially suspended classes; only a few stray seniors remained in the senior teaching building to pick up belongings.

Mu Youyu finally made a trip to the classroom, gathering the few sheets of drawing paper still left on the desk into her bag.

Jiang Liangjin helped her carry the things, serving as a bodyguard; neither of them spoke.

Jiang Liangjin helped her carry the things, serving as a bodyguard; neither of them spoke.