Chapter 499

The air in the private room suddenly became a bit lighter.

Xu Lao walked over, glanced at the opened suit, and chuckled, 'However, being so generous, I knew it was you, President Song.'

Song Huai's posture paused slightly, hiding the gloom in his eyes, 'I can't be called President Song anymore; the company has long been handed over to the children to handle.'

Xu Lao shook his head, turned back to the main topic: 'Although I put this up for auction, as soon as I guessed you were coming, I wanted to buy it back at a high price and return it to you when you arrived; my granddaughter thought the same.'

'It's just that a few people have been bargaining with me to lower the price—you, Siqing, and another...'

Jiang Liangjin silently moved closer to Mu Youyu.

Xu Lao looked at the two youngsters, a faint smile tugging at his lips, 'But since you've come, this set of jewelry belongs to you; it can be considered returning to its rightful owner.'

Mu Youyu roughly guessed that this person was the host of Yi Hao Bao Xiang.

'Thank you, Xu Lao, but no need.' Song Huai's tone was calm, 'Just charge whatever it costs.'

Xu Lao shook his head and spoke again: 'Back then we agreed that in twenty years, if you still wanted it, I would return it at any time. How come you're having second thoughts now?'

Song Huai fell silent for a moment, then finally did not refuse further.

Xu Lao rose slowly, patted his shoulder, 'Your wife's belongings are best kept by you. This old body of mine isn't useful anyway.'

Having said that, he nodded at the bodyguard by the door, and the bodyguard left the private room.

Xu Lao's gaze fell on Mu Youyu and Jiang Liangjin, lingering a moment longer, 'Are these two your family's children?'

'Yes.' Song Huai introduced, 'My niece and nephew-in-law.'

Mu Youyu didn't know how to respond, so she softly called out, 'Grandfather.'

Jiang Liangjin, on the other hand, kept a normal expression, 'Grandfather.'

Xu Lao sized up Jiang Liangjin with a few glances, a flash of sharpness in his eyes, 'Young man, you have guts—was it you who raised the bid upstairs just now?'

Jiang Liangjin did not deny it.

Xu Lao smiled, stepped toward the door, 'All right, take the stuff, I'm heading back. Song Huai, don't keep Qingqing waiting too long.'

Having kept her waiting for so long, Song Huai politely said, 'I'll see you out.'

The door closed, and the private room fell silent.

The staff knocked and entered, this time delivering a box; needless to say, inside lay a full set of ruby jewelry.

Song Huai fondly touched the outer box without opening it, 'I'll take this set first.'

Jiang Liangjin slightly bowed, 'Uncle, please go ahead.'

Song Huai lowered his eyes and added, 'If you're preparing a gift for my mother, I happen to have one she'll surely like; I'll have someone send it to you later. Consider it my thanks to you.'

Jiang Liangjin smiled faintly, 'Uncle, this is what I should do as your future nephew-in-law. But since it's your kindness, I won't decline.'

'No need to be polite.'

Seeing that her uncle's spirits were still low, Mu Youyu spoke in a joking tone, 'Uncle, you gave A Jin a gift—what should I give?'

Upon hearing this, Song Huai sighed helplessly, 'Don't fool Uncle, I don't believe you're not ready; you've always been the most enthusiastic about preparing gifts in past years.'

Mu Youyu feigned hurt, 'Uncle, how can you not trust me?'

Song Huai's lips curved, 'No, I trust you the most. Later, Uncle will transfer some pocket money for you—buy whatever you like. Even if you gave Mom a trash bag, she'd still like it.'

'How could I possibly give a trash bag?' Mu Youyu leaned over, resting her chin on Jiang Liangjin's shoulder, 'Would A Jin give a trash bag?'

Jiang Liangjin helplessly moved his body, 'I don't want it.'

After a while, Song Huai finally lifted his head, 'Let's go, heading back.'

Leaving the auction house, the sky had already darkened considerably.

Song Huai did not accompany the two; after bidding farewell at the door, he took the ruby jewelry set and got into another car.

Mu Youyu leaned against the seat, turned her head to look out the window, her gaze unfocused, giving the feeling that her thoughts were far away.

'What are you thinking about?' Jiang Liangjin asked.

'Uncle looks quite sad.'

Jiang Liangjin could certainly see that.

'My aunt passed away many years ago; I wasn't born yet, but I've heard a lot about her from my grandmother.'

Mu Youyu said, leaning slightly toward him, 'Chu Chu, Yu Sui, and I said that third uncle has been searching for her belongings all these years, keeping whatever he finds and placing them at home.'

Jiang Liangjin reached out to embrace her shoulder, pulling her slightly toward him, 'We can't really comment on this; it mainly depends on Uncle himself. If Youbao is worried, she can go check more often.'

'Forget it; I think he needs peace. Third uncle has Yu Chu and the others— that's enough.'

Advising to let go is futile; some wounds don't fade with time, they're just buried deeper.

The car turned into Jingxi Manor, and its speed slowed.

Mu Xi's car stopped at the gate, its lights still on; he didn't get out, leaning in the driver's seat, head down looking at his phone, the screen's glow casting a stern outline on his face.

Hearing the commotion behind, he glanced in the rearview mirror, then pushed the door open and got out.

'Why so late?' Mu Xi walked over to his sister, opened the car door, bent to glance at her complexion, 'You didn't even reply to the message.'

Mu Youyu replied, 'Got stuck in traffic, didn't notice.'

'All right, is it that auction house in the east of the city?' Mu Xi helped her undo the seatbelt, casually picking up the slipped blanket and tossing it inside, 'That stretch really does get jammed at this time.'

'Right.'

Jiang Liangjin took the blanket, gave a soft cough, 'How did it get so dark? Oh, it's already six. Second Brother, may I leave first?'

Mu Xi waved, 'Let's go.'

'I'm really leaving?'

Mu Xi, who had anticipated this, said, 'If you want to stay, stay; get out of the car.'

Mu Youyu turned her face away.

Jiang Liangjin feigned embarrassment, 'Then I'll be bothering you.'

Mu Xi: 'Don't be polite.'

Three people entered the house and finished dinner.

Mu Xi sat up, glanced at her sister, and said, "Let's go upstairs—will you still be able to get up tomorrow?"

Mu Youyu: "If you can sleep, you can get up."

Jiang Liangjin added: "If you can't sleep, you can't get up."

All right.

The summer heat in C Shi only truly shows its power in August.

However, this doesn't concern Mu Xi, Mu Youyu, and Jiang Liangjin, who are already in M Guo.

After Grandma's birthday was over, they came here to escape the heat; Mu Xin didn't come this time.

Mu Xi indeed came with them, but she has been busy with her own matters.

Also, Song Yusui was already here.

August in M Guo is much cooler than in C Shi; even mornings and evenings require a light jacket.

On the second day after arriving, Mu Youyu had adjusted to the time difference, no longer lying awake at night staring at the ceiling in a daze.

Jiang Liangjin adapted faster than she did, and by the next day had already returned to a normal schedule.

Every morning he promptly appears in the study, laptop open before him, working while waiting for her to come downstairs.

Mu Youyu sometimes suspects that he doesn't need to sleep at all.

Qing An arrived a week earlier than they did and has already been bored stiff in the imperial palace.

Upon hearing that his dear little sister was coming, he had people clean the palace inside and out in advance, and swapped the flowers in the garden for varieties she likes.

One day Mu Youyu woke up to find several more paintings in the living room, all her earlier works, most of which had been put up for auction.

I don't know when he collected them, but they are neatly framed and hung in the most conspicuous spot.

Several palace servants are still carefully wiping them.

"Qing An gege, when did you do these?" Mu Youyu stood before the paintings, glanced back at him.

Qing An's lips curled up, wearing a look of seeking credit, and said, "Guess."

"I can't guess."

"The little sister doesn't want to guess; I'm heartbroken, waa waa waa..."

Qing An feigned a few sobs, then examined them seriously, saying, "These few paintings are from when you were fourteen, right? Back then you especially liked using cool tones; one look and it's clear your mood wasn't great."