Chapter 558: For the Purpose of Marriage

Everyone caught up on old times, Mu Youyu suddenly sat up straight, raised her cup, and said, "Thank you all for coming today. In the new year, I hope we can keep getting together often."

Jiang Liangjin also stood up, reaching out to lightly support the bottom of her cup, and said, "Same."

Bai Yun was the first to clink cups with her, saying, "Definitely, as long as you say the word, nobody will refuse to come!"

Xia Chaoyi: "Exactly, exactly!"

Bai Yun's eyes darted, and she teased with a grin, "Just don't complain later that we're bothering your two-person date."

Mu Youyu was about to speak up in defense, but Jiang Liangjin already answered for her, "No way, the more the merrier."

"Fine, fine, fine—then when the time comes, invite us and don't refuse, okay."

Jiang Liangjin said in an unhurried tone, "Mm, A Yu decides."

Everyone laughed together, raised their cups and clinked them, the clear sound accompanying the room's cheerful noise.

Yu Ci set down his cup, sat back down, and said, "By the way, what are your plans for the winter break? You're not going to Y Guo or M Guo again, are you?"

Mu Youyu shook her head, "Not decided yet; I want to go somewhere warmer."

Jiang Liangjin took over the conversation, "I've looked into a few places; I'll send you the itinerary in a couple of days—let me know if you like any of them."

"That's great—perfect, I have nothing planned for the winter break either!"

Yu Ci's eyes lit up, as if he were already mentally calculating how to squeeze his own vacation into someone else's itinerary.

After saying that, he leaned a bit toward Gu Xingnan, as if seeking an ally.

Gu Xingnan gave a faint reply: "Yes."

Leng Anzhi leisurely interjected, "They're going on their honeymoon; you might as well go somewhere else with Xingnan."

"What honeymoon? We're not even married yet," Mu Youyu just laughed, without refuting.

That's also a matter of time.

Her relationship with A Jin is a love that began with the goal of marriage.

They will go from innocent childhood sweethearts to lovers, to fiancés, to spouses, becoming each other's lifelong love.

When his name was mentioned, Gu Xingnan gave Leng Anzhi a sideways glance.

Yu Ci forced out a sentence: "If I go with A Nan, that's also just for fun—why can't I join them?"

"Oh, fine."

Mu Youyu casually said, "Welcome."

Jiang Liangjin added, "Welcome."

As he spoke, his hand under the table lightly pinched Mu Youyu's fingertip, as if saying, "See how well I'm cooperating."

Mu Youyu returned the pinch.

Yu Ci lifted his chin high, "Did you hear that? They all said they welcome us!"

Indeed, the friendship we've had since childhood is not empty.

Leng Anzhi didn't chime in.

By the time the gathering dispersed, it was almost nine o'clock.

Mu Youyu stood at the courtyard gate waving to a few people, while Jiang Liangjin stood behind her, his expression gentle, his hands looping around her neck to retighten her scarf.

The winter break officially begins on January 15 and lasts until March 5.

The day after the final exams ended, the winter break homework was already finished, and Mu Youyu was completely free.

She slept until she woke naturally each day; occasionally, when the mood struck, she'd go to the music room, but most of her time was spent in the painting studio.

The Mu family keeps the constant-temperature air conditioning running year-round, so no matter how cold it is outside, the indoors always stays at that mild, neither-hot-nor-cold temperature.

That day, Mu Youyu was curled up on the living-room sofa, with Glutinous Rice lying beside her, half-closed eyes as she dozed.

Mu Xi walked over with a cup of hot milk, placing it on the coffee table in front of her, and said, "Want to go out for a walk tomorrow? You've been cooped up at home for several days."

"I've only been here a week."

Glutinous Rice shifted position in Mu Youyu's arms, its tail tip brushing her wrist.

Mu Youyu lowered her head to pinch its ears, softly saying, "Second Brother looks at you and all you know how to do in winter is sleep—he doesn't even take me out to play!"

Glutinous Rice half-lidded its eyes and flicked its tail.

Mu Xi sighed helplessly, sat down beside her, glanced at his phone screen, then lifted his head and asked, "Why didn't A Jin come today?"

Mu Youyu took the milk, took a sip, and said, "He has a meeting at his company; he said he'll come over after it ends this afternoon."

Mu Xi gave an "mm" sound; lately he's been practicing new piano pieces in the music room, rarely coming down, and with his sister staying at home, it's good to have someone keep her company.

Song Lujing came out of the dining hall, speaking with a grandmotherly tone: "Really well-behaved, not running around even on vacation—puts people at ease."

Mu Xi: "……"

Mu Youyu: "Brother Lujing, don't imitate grandma's way of speaking."

Song Lujing set the fruit bowl in front of her, sighing, "Brother meant well with the fruit, but the sister still dislikes it—boo hoo hoo."

Mu Youyu: "Wow."

Feigning pity didn't work; Song Lujing picked up a piece of apple and stuffed it into his own mouth.

But seriously, honey, you haven't been going out much lately; every time I come over, I see you on the sofa, and I start wondering if you've grown together with the sofa...

No sooner had he finished speaking than Mu Youyu grabbed the cushion from the sofa and threw it at him, "I definitely haven't grown together with the sofa!"

If anything were to grow, it'd be with her beautiful bed.

Song Lujing dodged to the side, and the cushion hit Mu Xi's back.

Mu Xi turned his head, "……How old are you?"

Song Lujing protested, "It wasn't me who threw it!"

Mu Xi picked up another cushion and threw it over, "What are you dodging for?"

"It's a subconscious reaction."

Mu Youyu feared the two were about to fight, she coughed, put on a cute expression, "That second brother, where should I go play?"

Mu Xi's attention immediately returned to her younger sister, "Just stroll around, or we can go see a movie."

"I've already seen all the movies I wanted to watch." Mu Youyu rubbed the glutinous rice's head, "Let's see how it goes; it's too cold outside, I don't even want to go out."

Mu Xi smiled slightly, didn't say anything else, sat down beside her, and switched her phone to a documentary.

Not long after, Jiang Liangjin finished his work at the company and came over, bringing a chill as he entered the living room.

He changed his shoes, sat down beside Mu Youyu, reached out to feel her hand, "Didn't go out today?"

"No." Mu Youyu shook her head, leaned toward him, pulled his hand into her palm to warm it, "You're done with work."

Jiang Liangjin turned his hand to hold hers, "Work's done, the rest of the time is yours."

Mu Xi and Song Lujing exchanged a glance, then both turned their faces away.

The television in the living room was still playing the documentary; the screen showed a certain sea area, with pleasant sunlight and the sea surface a deep blue.

Mu Youyu tilted her head to look at the screen for a moment, then suddenly said, "How about we go to the seaside?"

Mu Xi didn't even lift her head, "If you want to, little sister, I'll have a car ready right away."

Jiang Liangjin turned sideways to look at her, a faint smile in his eyes, "Which seaside do you want to go to?"

Mu Youyu lowered her head to scroll through her phone, "Tomorrow, my cousin told me to go to Y Guo to visit her, and I can also go to the seaside there..."

She explained the schedule for the next few days, then eagerly said, "A Jin, let's go out!"

Before Jiang Liangjin could reply, Mu Youyu grabbed him and dragged him upstairs to change clothes.

Mu Xi shook her head in the back, utterly helpless.

The person who just complained about the cold and didn't want to go out is now the most eager of all.