Chapter 648: Extra: Childhood 5

Extra: Childhood 5

Shen Ningmu said carefreely, "Yes, what do you think?"

Song Ningsheng's gaze also fell on the courtyard.

The two stood together, one looking up at the sky, the other looking down at people, their clothes matching; standing together, they seemed made for each other.

She only softly replied, "Let them decide for themselves."

Shen Ningmu got an answer that wasn't a refusal, and said with a smile, "Then today we can consider it settled."

"I didn't agree."

"You didn't refuse either."

Song Ningsheng still said, "Let them decide for themselves."

"Shengsheng—my dear Shengsheng~" Shen Ningmu shook her hand, drawing out the tone, "How can you bear to see me sad?" sniffle sniffle sniffle

Song Ningsheng gave a helpless smile, "You."

Shen Ningmu, however, had already raised her cup with a smile and tapped the rim against hers, "Then it's settled; from now on we'll be a family."

Song Ningsheng clinked cups with her and didn't object further.

Another round of fireworks burst, lighting up their youthful faces with warm light.

They were too young to know what wish they had made that year, nor did they realize what had been decided on this ordinary night; they were simply led back inside by their elders after the fireworks faded.

Mu Youyu curled up in the blankets, half-asleep, hearing the adults chuckle softly: "Our A Jin and A You, we'll always be together."

On the night before Mu Xin's departure, which was the fifth day of the first lunar month, Song Ningsheng sat beside the siblings' small bed, tucked in the blankets for both, and sat there a long while.

Mu Xin grabbed her hand and said, "Mom, I'll miss you."

Song Ningsheng rubbed his forehead, "Mom will miss you too, Xinbao. Remember to bother Grandpa a lot, don't be too sensible, and make him work for you."

"Okay." Mu Xin replied, turned his head, looked at his sister sleeping soundly nearby, leaned in close, and whispered, "Sister, grow up well."

That morning, Grandpa took Mu Xin and flew to Y Guo.

Mu Youyu woke up, rubbed her eyes, habitually called out "Xin Xin," only to find the neighboring small bed empty and no one answering.

She sat on the bed, dazed for a moment, pouted her lips, and her eye sockets instantly reddened.

Song Ningsheng jumped in surprise, walked over, and asked, "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"Xin Xin is a big bad guy, getting up without calling me!"

Song Ningsheng felt a tug at her heart, quickly pulled her daughter into her arms, and gently patted her back.

Mu Youyu's crying summoned Mu Nian and Mu Xi from next door.

Mu Nian poked his head in to look at the sister on the bed, lowered his voice, and asked, "What's wrong, Youbao?"

Mu Youyu ignored her older brother, only clutching her mother's collar, tears swirling in her eyes, "Mom… Xin Xin… I want Xin Xin."

Song Ningsheng used her fingertip to wipe the tear about to fall from her daughter's cheek, and said gently, "Xin Xin went to Y Guo to study with Grandpa; when he left this morning you were still asleep, so he didn't wake you."

Mu Youyu blinked, half‑understanding, and tears streamed down as she said, "Y Guo isn't Grandpa's home? Why didn't Xin Xin call me? I want to go to Y Guo too!"

Seeing her daughter like this made Song Ningsheng's own eyes sting, but she steadied her voice to coax: "When Youbao grows up, I'll also send you to Y Guo, okay?"

Mu Youyu shook her head, crying harder, "I want to go now… Why, why send Xin Xin away? Is it… is it because I took his toy and he doesn't like me? So he won't call me…"

She rubbed her tear‑stained face against her mother's embrace, "I won't take it anymore, Mom, call him back…"

Hearing this, Song Ningsheng felt her heart break, "How could that be? Xin Xin loves Youbao the most; he wouldn't blame you for taking his toy. Before he left he even kissed you, saying let the little sister grow up well and wait for him to come back from vacation—you forgot?"

"I don't remember." Mu Youyu had no recollection, face buried, crying with hiccups.

Mu Nian stepped forward, bent slightly, softened his voice: "Don't cry, sweetheart. Xin Xin will miss you too. If you miss him, we can video‑call him tonight, okay? Let him see your pretty little dress today."

Mu Youyu lifted half her tear‑streaked face, nose red, and said, "I want to call now."

"It's still night in Y Guo right now," Mu Nian explained patiently. "Wait until evening, okay? When Xin Xin gets up in the morning there, he'll be able to see you."

"You're lying, it's bright out now."

"Sweetheart, Y Guo and we are in different time zones."

"Liar!"

"Don't be sad, little sister." Mu Xi, who had come up behind Mu Nian and climbed onto the bed's edge standing on a low stool, said, "If Xin Xin knew Youbao was crying like this, he'd surely be upset too. Youbao doesn't want to worry her brother, right?"

Mu Youyu sniffled and asked softly, "Then… will he miss me?"

Song Ningsheng put her back on the bed; Mu Xi had already tiptoed to reach her face, "Of course! Xin Xin loves Youbao the most; when he left he secretly asked me to look after you."

Mu Youyu lifted her eyes, "Really?"

"Really, he also said he'd bring you lots and lots of gifts when he returns—you can ask him to buy whatever you want."

Mu Youyu sniffled, "Then I want him to play with me."

"Sure," Mu Nian said, rubbing the top of her head, "He definitely most wants to play with you."

After being soothed by her two brothers for a while, and hearing her mother repeatedly assure that "Xin Xin loves Youbao the most," Mu Youyu's emotions finally began to calm.

All morning she remained listless; the toys and storybooks she usually loved failed to interest her.

Song Ningsheng then placed the stuffed bear that Mu Xin usually held beside her; Mu Youyu sat on the bed, hugging the bear and occasionally rubbing against it.

This was the bear she had given Xin Xin; he didn't even take it with him—how annoying!

At lunchtime, Mu Youyu ate a few bites, put down her spoon, and lay her head on the table, silent.

Mu Yunshuo brought over a bowl of her favorite egg custard to coax her, but she only took a small spoonful and showed no reaction.

In the afternoon, Mu Nian brought the snacks she loved, but after one bite she didn't want any more.

The brothers tried every trick to cheer her up; normally Mu Youyu would giggle nonstop, but today she just buried her head in Mu Xi's arms, refusing to socialize.

Mu Yichi and Mu Yichen, returning from training, felt heartbroken.

Mu Yichi sighed, "My sister's mood is terrible."

Mu Yichen also let out a soft sigh, "When will Mu Xianqi come over? Let him learn to bark like a dog to amuse the sister."

Mu Yichi also wanted to say, "I don't know, he's been training at the martial arts hall these days."

Not long after, the remaining few brothers also heard the news and rushed over.

The little sister ignored everyone, and Song Lujing burst into tears instantly, "Wuwuwuwu, little sister, what's wrong?"

As soon as he cried, Mu Youyu, who had just been coaxed into calm, started crying again, tears streaming like golden beans.

The scene fell into chaos for a moment.

The brothers hurriedly followed suit to coax her.

Song LuXiao, quick-eyed and quick-handed, covered his brother's mouth in one sweep and hauled him away, "Don't cry."

"Wuwuwuwuwuwu!"

Mu Xi found it too noisy here, holding the sister as she walked toward the room, coaxing along the way, "Brother is here, brother will always be with you."

"..."

That evening, Mu Nian calculated the time difference with his grandfather overseas and placed a video call.

The screen lit up, and Mu Xin's face appeared against the backdrop of the study in the Duke's Mansion.

Mu Youyu was held in Song Ningsheng's lap, and upon seeing her longed-for brother, her eyes reddened again, "Xin Xin..."

Seeing her like this, Mu Xin's voice grew even softer: "Don't cry, little sister, I'll miss you; I'll come back to see you after a while and bring you a gift."

Mu Youyu sniffled, "You're not allowed to lie to me."

Mu Xin nodded, "I won't lie to you."

Only then did Mu Youyu feel somewhat satisfied, and she chatted on and on with him for a long time.

Mostly things like "What did you eat today?", "Is the weather over there the same as here?", "Remember to think of me," and similar remarks.

Mu Xin answered each one patiently; even when someone nearby urged him to go eat dinner, he just shook his head slightly, indicating to wait a bit longer.

Only when Mu Youyu finally yawned did Song Ningsheng end the video call and carry her daughter back to bed.

The next day, Mu Youyu still hadn't fully recovered her strength, but at least she no longer teared up at the slightest provocation.

She began to regain some energy, though she would occasionally sit quietly beside Mu Xin's empty small bed, flipping through a book on her own.

In the afternoon, Grandma Mu took her to visit the nearby Lin family, saying that the Lin family's young lady was about her age and they could play together.

Mu Youyu hadn't wanted to go, but upon hearing the word "older sister," she still went along.

In the Lin family's courtyard, a girl with chestnut-length short hair, wearing overalls, was poking ants with a tree branch.

Mu Youyu stood at the doorway watching for a while before Grandma Mu took her hand and led her forward.

Lin Ning looked up, saw a pink-dumpling-like baby, immediately threw away the branch, brushed off dust and stood up, glancing at Grandma Mu, "Wow! Grandma Mu, nice to see you! Are you here to find my grandma? I'll go call her!"

She screamed inside: "Ahhh, there's such a cute baby here! She wanted to go and fetch her sister to discuss how to lure the baby home."

"If she didn't have a little sister, would she even know how to grab one?"

Grandma Mu smiled, "I'm here to bring my granddaughter to find you."

Lin Ning halted her steps, "What?"

Grandma Mu first introduced the precious granddaughter: "Youbao, this is Grandma Lin's granddaughter, Lin Ning, who is one year older than you; you can play together from now on."

Mu Youyu opened her mouth, still unsure how to introduce herself, when Lin Ning strode up, looked her up and down, then reached out and pinched her cheek, "You're so cute."

Mu Youyu let her pinch her cheek, "Thank you."

Seeing them chatting, Grandma Mu released her hold on Mu Youyu's hand, "You two little treasures play for now, Youbao; I'll come pick you up later. Lin Ning, I'm going over to find your grandma."

Seeing Grandma Mu go inside, Lin Ning took Mu Youyu's hand and declared, "From now on you're my first friend, and I'll protect you!"

Mu Youyu hesitated a few seconds, then replied, "But brother said you have to give something to be considered a friend, and I don't even know you."

Lin Ning had been the "king of the kids" at kindergarten for two years, and no little friend had ever been able to refuse her.

Upon hearing that, she said, "How about I let you wear the little dress my mom bought me? She said the designer of that dress is hard to come by, and it cost as much as buying a house."

"Brother said you can't just take other people's things."

"Then next time you share your snacks with me to eat, that way you won't be taking mine for free!"

"Brother also said you can't just give other people food to eat."

Lin Ning: "..."

"Just who is her brother? He has so many rules."

Lin Ning had no choice but to step back a few paces, returning to her first words: "Let's tell each other our names; once we know each other, we'll be good friends!"

Mu Youyu found this person's words quite reasonable, and since she knows Grandma Mu, she's surely not a bad person.

She chirped, "I'm Mu Youyu, three years old!"

"Three? She doesn't look it," Lin Ning replied, "I'm Lin Ning, four years old."

As soon as she finished speaking, Mu Youyu pulled a lollipop from her pocket and offered it, "Okay, here you go."

Lin Ning instantly broke into a sweet smile, her heart full of joy, "Thank you, baby."

Not bad.

Lin Shu came into the courtyard, saw her younger sister with a lollipop in her mouth, and instinctively said, "Lin Ning, don't snatch people's snacks the moment you meet."

"She didn't snatch it; this baby shared it with me."

"That's the sister wrongly accusing you."

Lin Shu shook her head helplessly, turned to look gently at Mu Youyu, and with a light smile greeted, "Hello there, little one; I'm Lin Ning's sister. When you were just born, I held you—do you remember?"

Mu Youyu shook her head honestly, "I don't remember."

"It's fine if you don't remember." Lin Shu said in the same tone, "You two play first; I'll be over there—just call if you need anything."

She turned and walked away, and Lin Ning immediately took Mu Youyu's hand, heading deeper into the courtyard, exclaiming excitedly, "I'll take you to see my little turtle I'm raising—it's so pretty!"

Lin Ning pulled Mu Youyu to squat by the shallow pond, pointing at the gray stone lying still beneath the water, and proudly introduced, "Look, that's it! It's called Xiao Hui, the name I gave it."

The servants' eyelids twitched, they hurriedly walked closer, afraid they would fall.

Mu Youyu learned to crouch down, they leaned forward to look, the stone was covered in moss, exuding dampness, almost blending with the turtle's color.

They looked for a long time, but couldn't see any difference between that stone and an ordinary one, "Why isn't it moving?"

"It's sleeping, it sleeps for a long time every day."

Lin Ning gently flicked the water surface a few times with their hand, the turtle slowly moved its head, "Look! It moved! It's giving you face, it never gave me face before."

Mu Youyu extended their index finger and tapped above the turtle's shell, "Then will you give Little Gray a bath?"

Lin Ning answered truthfully: "Occasionally, it's my sister who helps me change the water."

Mu Youyu withdrew their hand in disdain, "No wonder it's so black."

The two of them squatted by the pond for a while, then moved to the small slide in the courtyard.

Lin Ning brought them sliding several times, they got tired playing, and the two sat on the swing under the grape arbor.

Mu Youyu swung their two short legs, "Will you still be here tomorrow?"

"Sure, I'm at home every day, will you come play tomorrow?"

"I don't know, I'll ask my grandmother."

"Then come tomorrow, I haven't shared my new dress with you yet, tomorrow I'll share the snacks my sister hid for you to eat!"

"Good! Then I'll bring A Jin tomorrow."

Lin Ning eyed suspiciously, "Who is this?"

Mu Youyu smiled, "My mom said we are childhood sweethearts."

Lin Ning's parents were childhood sweethearts, they immediately understood, this is the relationship that will later marry and have a baby.