Chapter 536

Leaving the conglomerate building, Jiang Liangjin didn't go straight back to school, but first went to a nearby flower shop.

The shop owner greeted him familiarly: "Handsome guy, you're back again? What flowers are you picking today?"

Jiang Liangjin walked around the flower shop, his gaze settling on a delicate bouquet of hydrangeas, "Wrap this one up."

The shop owner efficiently wrapped the flowers, using light-colored wrapping paper and pairing it with a pale blue ribbon.

He took the bouquet, paid, and left the flower shop.

The car arrived at the foot of C University's Art School building, and he himself carried the flowers upstairs.

Most of the people on the floor where Lin Tingsong's studio is located are off-campus residents or contracted painters, who seldom come, making the whole floor especially quiet.

Now the door is half-open, and a vague silhouette can be seen inside.

He pushed the door open and entered; Mu Youyu was standing before the easel, holding a paintbrush, applying color.

Hearing the movement, she suddenly turned her head, caught sight of the flower bundle in his arms, and her brows and eyes softened into a smile: "You're back so early?"

Jiang Liangjin set the flowers down, walked over, and lightly embraced her from behind: "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Mu Youyu's paintbrush paused in her hand, "But how did your meeting end so quickly?"

Jiang Liangjin gave a low chuckle, glanced at the unfinished colors on the canvas, turned his eyes, "Do you like it, A Yu?"

Mu Youyu put down her paintbrush, turned around, "I like it, I like it, A Jin, you've worked hard."

Jiang Liangjin naturally took her hand, pulled her a bit toward himself, resting his chin on top of her head, "Seeing you makes it not feel like hard work."

Mu Youyu, held in his arms, instinctively lifted her head and met his brown eyes smiling, "Really?"

Her tone carried a hint of playful feigned innocence, her eyelashes fluttered lightly, and the smile at the corner of her mouth couldn't be suppressed.

Jiang Liangjin's fingers lightly tightened at her waist, about to say something, when a deliberate cough suddenly came from the doorway.

"Cough cough cough cough cough cough!"

That sound was drawn out extremely long, carrying an obvious reminder, and in the quiet hallway it seemed especially jarring.

Even the hand of Jiang Liangjin that was around her waist didn't withdraw; he merely turned his head, directing an innocent expression toward the doorway, "Second brother, Lujing brother, how did you guys come?"

Mu Xi, Song Lujing: "……"

Mu Youyu condition-reflexively sprang from Jiang Liangjin's embrace, stepped back a pace, stood behind him, her eyes darting about, pretending not to know him.

Song Lujing leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, "Yo, it's not the right time for big brother to come."

Mu Youyu: "No, no!"

Mu Xi's tone was a bit cooler than usual: "Why didn't you close the door?"

Jiang Liangjin: "The door is open for ventilation."

Mu Youyu pressed her lips, peered out half a face from behind him, "I just forgot."

Mu Xi didn't dwell on this, her gaze fell on Jiang Liangjin's face, showing no joy or anger, "Is the meeting over?"

"Yes." Jiang Liangjin straightened up a bit, his attitude obedient as if reporting to an elder.

Song Lujing closed the door behind him, sauntered in leisurely, sat on the sofa, stretched his long legs, "Can you two pay a bit more attention? It's broad daylight, and you left the door open—what if someone other than us walked in?"

Mu Youyu felt even more embarrassed by his words, stepped out from behind Jiang Liangjin, picked up the paintbrush on the table and pretended to mix colors, diverting her attention, "How did you guys come so early? It's only eleven now."

Mu Xi came before her sister and explained, "There's not much class today."

He majors in music production; at the start of the term he skimmed the textbook, listened to a few lessons casually, and realized the course material had already been mastered—classroom knowledge offered him little novelty.

Usually he relies mostly on self-study, and in his free time he takes part in various meaningful performance activities.

"We're the same." Song Lujing interjected, his major needing no further explanation.

He had been busy preparing for the competition these past few weeks, continuously working for over a month; now basically wrapping up, he's organizing his leave-of-absence materials, preparing to devote himself fully to competition training.

While thinking, Song Lujing leaned half his body from the sofa, "But for Brother Xi, it's indeed still not as good as practicing piano at home."

Mu Youyu reflected a moment, and indeed that was true.

Since Mu Xi frequently won international piano awards, and his campus fame rose conspicuously, the Music School's attitude toward him has become a laissez-faire state where as long as he doesn't drop out, it's fine.

Even evaluations are just a formality, reportedly because they fear he'd find it troublesome and directly apply for early graduation.

Mu Xi didn't continue the topic, "Finished painting? Let's go eat first, then continue this afternoon."

"Almost done, just let me wash a brush."

Mu Youyu turned to the sink to rinse her paintbrush; Jiang Liangjin followed, stood side by side with her, and handed her the few brushes scattered on the table as well.

The water made a splashing sound, and the two stood very close.

Mu Xi leaned against a nearby easel, watching this scene, and shifted her gaze without showing any emotion.

Song Lujing had already risen from the sofa, walked to the doorway, one hand in his pocket, the other pulling out his phone to unlock and check comments.

The screen lit up; his originally somewhat lazy smile faded slightly, as if he'd seen something he didn't really want to see.

Mu Youyu finished washing the brush, set it properly, wiped the water droplets from her hands, and eagerly turned around, "Let's go, we're heading home to eat!"

Song Lujing lifted his head; the lazy expression on his face had been replaced by irritation, "I have something to do, you guys go ahead, no need to wait for me."

Jiang Liangjin's gaze slowly turned toward him.

Mu Xi: "Speak nicely." What are you glaring at my sister for?

Only then did Song Lujing realize his tone wasn't great; the surging emotions eased a bit, "Honey, my friend has something going on over there, I need to go over, you guys eat your meal."

Mu Youyu didn't press further, just nodded, "Then Lujing brother, be careful on the road."

Song Lujing reached out and rubbed her head lightly, with a touch of indulgence, "Got it, honey, eat a bit more, don't go hungry. I'll be back later."

Seeing Mu Xi and Jiang Liangjin standing still, nobody asking further, he withdrew his gaze, pushed the door open, and went out.

After the three went downstairs, Mu Xi raised her hand, pulled out the car key from her pocket, and lightly pressed it.

Not far away, the parked luxury car immediately flashed its headlights, blinking twice briefly.

As the few people had just stepped toward the car, a person suddenly rushed out from the side.

The person wore a hooded sweatshirt, revealing a head of brown curly hair, face showing a bit of surprise, "Xixi! It's really you, I just saw from afar and thought it was your car!"

Mu Xi's steps paused for a moment; this person was his childhood playmate, but since he had repeated a grade in elementary school, this person was one year ahead of him—by the time he was in his third year of high school, this person had already entered university, and they seldom saw each other.

During the college entrance exam period, this person even specially ran to the school gate to hold up a banner and shout the loudest, making him one of the friends who caused him social death.

Mu Xi, who disliked the nickname 'Xixi': "……"

Afraid that refuting would likely provoke even louder jeers and screams, he suppressed his inner impatience: "What's up?"