Chapter 531: More Than a Little Irritable

The other person spoke in a gentle tone: "Mu Xi classmate, what did you think of that improvisational handling just now? I noticed when you were reprising the second theme…"

Mu Xi stepped back a large step, increasing the distance between herself and that girl from one meter to nearly two meters, her tone giving no hint of emotion: "Just random playing."

The girl obviously hadn't expected that answer, she choked for a few seconds before putting a smile back on her face, then began to introduce herself: "I'm a first-year graduate student at the Music Institute, your senior, Xu Ying. I'd heard your concert in En Yin Lun Xia Ge's Golden Hall before, and I'd wanted to find a chance to chat with you, junior."

"However, you've always had bodyguards around you, junior; today I finally got the chance."

Saying that, she took a step forward.

Mu Xi frowned, stepped back, it was obvious to anyone that she was resisting: "What's up?"

Mu Youyu's step hesitated a beat, she unconsciously turned her face to peek through the loosely closed door.

Jiang Liangjin caught her movement, gently led her forward as they continued walking, and pushed open the door.

Pushing open that half‑closed door, Mu Youyu saw clearly the situation inside the lounge.

A girl in a black dress stood in the center, long hair draped over her shoulders, makeup exquisite, holding an open score in her hand, constantly opening and closing her little mouth at Mu Xi.

Mu Xi kept a distance of over a meter from her, holding a half‑bottle of mineral water in her hand.

Seeing his sister appear at the doorway, his expression visibly relaxed a bit, he put the mineral‑water bottle down and said, "That fast?"

Xu Ying followed his gaze, turned her head, saw the two people standing at the doorway, smiled faintly, obviously prepared, and said, "Your sister?"

Mu Xi walked over, her expression not as cold as before, and said, "Yeah, this is my sister, and this is her boyfriend."

Mu Youyu felt embarrassed again, she thought to herself, before they'd confirmed their relationship, she hadn't been like this either.

Jiang Liangjin immediately confirmed that identity: "Yes."

Xu Ying initially recognized him, then suddenly realized, "Young Master Jiang? Long admired."

Jiang Liangjin didn't respond, Xu Ying didn't mind, and turned her gaze back to Mu Xi: "The question I just asked, you can consider it when you have time, junior."

"I've recently been researching improvisational elements in contemporary piano performance; your playing style fits my research direction, so if you're willing, we could find a time to talk in depth."

Mu Xi: "No thanks, I don't like discussing my ideas about playing with people; the ideas are all in the music—if you want to hear them, go listen to a concert."

Mu Youyu silently sighed, her second brother's way of refusing people is still the same as ever.

Xu Ying's gentle smile cracked, she forced a laugh: "Haha, no wonder you're a talented person in our music circle, full of individuality."

She closed the score in her hand: "Well then, I won't disturb you. This is my business card; if you change your mind, junior, feel free to contact me anytime."

"Mu Xi, see you next time." She placed a business card on the coffee table, gave Mu Youyu and Jiang Liangjin a smiling nod, then walked out in her high heels.

Mu Xi: "……"

Mu Youyu walked over, lowered her head; the top printed the two characters "Xu Ying", below were her major and research direction, and in the lower‑right corner was a string of phone numbers.

"Second brother, do you want it?" Mu Youyu pointed at the card.

Mu Xi didn't even look at it: "I don't want it."

"All right." Mu Youyu sat on the sofa, lifted her head to look at him, drawing out her tone: "Second brother, you're so handsome today—so many people downstairs were staring blankly!"

Mu Xi reached out and rubbed her head, indulging praise: "Really? You observed that very carefully."

"Of course." Mu Youyu giggled: "I was just thinking, when will second brother find me a second sister‑in‑law?"

Mu Xi's fingertips stalled, she pulled her hand back, sighed helplessly: "Don't tease me, treasure, I don't like outside girls."

Mu Youyu blinked; she herself knew second brother's standards were extremely high—any outsider who could catch his eye probably hasn't even been born yet.

For now it's just idle talk.

Jiang Liangjin sat down beside them, heard that and added: "Does second brother like men?"

"……" Mu Xi's tone was cool: "Just you talking too much."

Jiang Liangjin tactfully shut his mouth, reached out to grasp Mu Youyu's fingers, then leaned lightly against her.

Mu Xi felt that irritation well up from nowhere.

He no longer had the thought "if my sister's good, I'm good"; he only felt Jiang Liangjin becoming more and more displeasing, constantly clinging to his sister.

Before, he was clinging; now he's clinging; even at home he's clinging, plus the two days he'd spent living with Song Lujing—every time he returned home from school, he felt that talking to his sister was a bit of an interruption to them.

Mu Xi secretly regretted that she should have kept some selfishness back then and hit him a few more times……

The lounge door was pushed open again, Yu Ci poked half his head in: "Xi‑ge, someone's looking for you outside—seems like a professor from the Music Institute, saying there's a recommendation slot for an international piano competition and wants you to consider it."

Mu Xi sighed, turned to her sister and instructed: "Treasure, I'll go check it out; wait a bit for me, don't run around everywhere."

Mu Youyu obediently nodded: "Got it."

Jiang Liangjin: "Got it, second brother, I won't run around."

Mu Xi couldn't be bothered with him, pushed the door and went out.

Jiang Liangjin felt that Mu Xi had been more than a little irritable lately, often giving him a cold face for no reason.

It seems we ought to think about getting him a new piano—after all, that previous "Star Sink" had already fallen out of favor with him for a while.

Yu Ci swaggered in, pulled over a chair, sat down, crossed his legs, swayed, and said: "Who's that girl? I heard her talking to Xi‑ge for ages and thought he'd suddenly become enlightened."

Mu Youyu shook her head and briefly recounted what had just happened.

After hearing it, Yu Ci clicked his tongue: "I've seen this kind of talk many times—approaching people under the banner of academic exchange, asking professional questions, but the direction of their gaze is totally off; I've run into plenty like that."

Gu Xingnan also came in: "Xi‑ge is obviously being harassed."

"Right, right, right."

"Not really clear…" Mu Youyu suddenly realized something, tilted her head: "No, you guys didn't just leave? How are you back again?"

Yu Ci blinked: "You guess."

Jiang Liangjin's gaze drifted over obliquely.

Yu Ci dropped the joke, laughed heartily: "We didn't leave; we've been waiting next door for you all along—just now, hearing the commotion, we came out."

"I see."

A few minutes later, Mu Xi pushed the door open, picked up the jacket draped over the chair back, put it on, and said, "Let's go, let's head home to eat."

Mu Youyu stood up, curious: "Second brother, are you going to that competition or not?"

Mu Xi put on the coat, "Not going, it's not some important competition."

He now, besides invitations from relatives or friends, rarely participates in competitions smaller than international level, complaining it's a waste of time.

Yu Ci poked their head, "Where are you going? Going to join the international competition? Win a championship and come back?"

Mu Xi looked up, "Why are you still here?"