Chapter 576: The First Dance

Liu Wanwan had been joking all along; hearing that, she giggled and went over to Yu Yu's side, then naturally sat on the arm of her sofa.

She put one hand on Yu Yu's shoulder, but her eyes stayed on Mu Youyu as she continued the earlier topic: "So, where are you planning to hold your wedding later? Or will it be here?"

She and A Jin had already settled this question, and Mu Youyu gave a definite answer: "Right."

Although the sisters weren't of age yet, Liu Wanwan still eagerly raised her hand: "Can I be a bridesmaid then? I want to be a bridesmaid!"

Feng Cen raised his hand too, saying, "Me too!"

Mu Youyu laughed, "Sure, sure, I'll save you spots when the time comes."

Another hand went up, and Yu Yu whispered, "I want to go too."

Mu Youyu smiled, "Our little fish will definitely have a place; just follow Niannian when the time comes."

Liu Wanwan, having gotten a definite answer, leaned back satisfied: "Then it's settled."

After chatting with them a few sentences, Mu Youyu found herself drifting a few steps toward Jiang Liangjin's side.

He stood between Mu Yichen and Mu Yichi, head tilted, listening to several refined gentlemen speak, occasionally nodding in response, his demeanor steady.

Those few were unfamiliar to him, but judging from the expressions of the three brothers, the respectful bearing of the people around them, and the deliberate distance they kept, they were not ordinary folks.

Mu Yichen stood to the front-left of Jiang Liangjin, his every movement bearing the poise of one long accustomed to high position, slightly angled as if shielding Jiang Liangjin from part of the view.

Mu Yichi stood on Jiang Liangjin's other side, his gaze appearing to wander elsewhere, but Mu Youyu noticed he had been keeping an eye on this side's movements.

Song Huaiyu remained seated there, paying attention to the situation over by Jiang Liangjin.

Liu Wanwan followed her gaze over and lowered her voice: "Those people over there look like they have some background—your fiancé was called over there; won't anything happen?"

Mu Youyu shook her head; she hadn't seen that elder before, but she trusted her brothers' judgment: "No problem, they're all acquaintances."

Over on Mu Xin's side, he was still boasting to several business partners about his sister.

Nearby, Qing An saw several M Guo nobles he disliked; although Mu Xin had no intention of currying favor with them, he still furrowed his brows slightly.

Not long after, he rolled his eyes, nudged his childhood friend's arm, and said, "Hey, Xun Li."

Jun Chenling caught a glimpse of his expression, recoiled reflexively, and said, "What are you scheming again? I'm not joining you in any mischief today."

Qing An spread his hands innocently, "What scheme could I possibly have?"

Jun Chenling ignored him and slipped behind Mu Xin's back.

"You! Stingy." Qing An gave a cold snort, then reverted to his aloof, keep-your-distance demeanor when facing foreigners in M Guo.

Mu Xin saw them off, then helplessly turned around: "You two, cut it out—how long can you stay here?"

Qing An raised an eyebrow, "They said I've worked hard these past few months, so I can stay a few extra days."

Jun Chenling said, "I'll stay four or five days; my parents will handle my affairs."

Mu Xin nodded, glanced at the nobles who had a grudge against Qing An earlier, and asked, "How do you want to deal with those people?"

"Let someone beat them up…" Qing An clicked his tongue, "Never mind, I'll let my sister handle it."

Mu Xin didn't press further, "Fine, come find me if you need anything."

"Knowing that Ah Xin treats me best… compared to some people…"

Before Qing An's words had even faded, Jun Chenling shoved him aside and stepped forward, "Ah Xin, can I also come to you if I need something?"

Mu Xin's tone didn't change, "Mm."

Jun Chenling smirked and raised his eyebrows at Qing An, who then laughed, slinging an arm over his shoulder, "You can also come to me, your brother."

Jun Chenling's smile instantly faded by half.

Once the chatter at that table finally wound down, Liu Wanwan and her group had already left, and Jiang Liangjin walked back to the main table holding his plate.

Mu Youyu was lowering her head to play a little game with Mu Xi when she heard footsteps, looked up, handed her phone to her second brother so he could play by himself, then lifted her face and said, "A Jin."

Jiang Liangjin set the plate on the table, then sat down beside her, each dish chosen from the parts she loved, and even the dipping sauces matched her usual preferences.

While handing her a fork, he casually explained, "Those few are the scholars who previously taught Chen ge and Yi ge, plus a couple of their junior disciples, invited by them."

Mu Youyu wasn't listening for that, "I know, I know."

After speaking, Jiang Liangjin pushed the plate toward her, "Eat first."

Mu Youyu picked up her chopsticks, took a bite with lowered brows, and said, "Sit down."

Mu Xi had nothing to say, and put away the two phones she'd finished using.

When everyone had more or less finished eating, the banquet hall lights dimmed a few notches.

The music switched to a livelier waltz, clearly entering the latter half.

The area before the main stage was cleared, and the lights converged into a warm golden circle.

The elders who had been standing there at the start smiled and stepped back, making room for the young people.

Mu Youyu tilted her head toward Jiang Liangjin, her smile bright, "Shall we go?"

Jiang Liangjin put down his fork, rose, slightly bowed, and extended his hand to her, "May I ask my fiancée to dance the first dance of today?"

"Of course." Mu Youyu placed her hand in his, used his pull to rise, and they walked side by side to the center of the stage.

After this opening, several other couples gradually stepped onto the dance floor, sparsely scattered along the edge of the light circle.

The brothers stood around the outer ring of the stage, each in a different posture.

Mu Xianqi and Ruo Ya naturally took the stage hand in hand, and Mu Xianyan was also invited up by a young man.

Song Yusui clicked his tongue at those figures, turned his head, and said, "Chu bao, let's go play too."

Lu Yuchu stepped back half a step, "I'm not going."

Song Yusui tentatively said, "I'm begging you?"

Lu Yuchu: "Even if you beg, I'm not going."

Song Yusui pursed his lips, turned to look at Song Yan, who raised an eyebrow, "My appearance fee is pretty high."

Song Yusui silently shifted his gaze to a comparatively low-key spot elsewhere.

There stood Mu Yichen and Mu Yichi, speaking in low voices, their figures side by side in the light, inexplicably separated from the lively scene by an invisible barrier.

Song Huaixian didn't know when he had run over to Song Huaiyu's place, chatting and smiling with several elders.

Song Yusui decided not to disturb them, walking over to Mu Nian nearby. "Brother Nian, aren't you going up? Sister Yan isn't sitting over there?"

Mu Nian turned his gaze to his wife, who was chatting with several ladies. "Just a moment."

Song Yusui: "……Not a single one of them is going, right?"

He turned around and saw Mu Xi already standing up, with Song Lujing beside her.

Song Yusui hurried over, "Little Xi! You're finally going to dance! Come on, bring me with you!"

"No." Mu Xi only wanted to dance with her sister.

Song Yusui felt heartbroken. Fine, then it's like this towards this brother of his?

Halfway through the song, Mu Youyu still had her hands on her fiancé's arm, slightly lifting her chin with pride. "How was it?"

"Impressive." After praising, Jiang Liangjin whispered, "If I accidentally stepped on Ah You, would Ah You hold a grudge?"

This person has never stepped on me from childhood to adulthood; what accidental stepping?

Mu Youyu leaned forward half a step, saying, "I'll note it down, and when we're seventy or eighty, I'll bring it up again—saying that my fiancé stepped on my foot when he was seventeen."

At 5 p. m., the second banquet was set up in another garden of the Youjin Manor.

The venue was decorated warmly, with twinkling lights and many lanterns hung up; the number of guests was greatly reduced, mostly close family and close friends.

The procedure was simple, more like the usual Little New Year's ceremony.

Mu Youyu changed into a light pink gown, while Jiang Liangjin wore a blue tailcoat; both outfits were splendid, and standing together, their colors complemented each other perfectly.