Chapter 651: Extra: Childhood 8

Extra: Childhood 8

Yuanyuan didn't expect her to let slip, "Really? Would he be willing?"

Mu Youyu poked her classmate's arm, "A Jin, are you willing to be with me and play with them?"

Jiang Liangjin closed his book, "If you're here, I'll be here."

Geez, yesterday she still said she didn't want to share him with others.

Upon hearing this, Yuanyuan felt as if she had received an imperial decree, she hurried back to share the good news, and a few children gathered together, chattering away.

In the afternoon, several kids sat in the corner of the martial arts hall, watching Song Lujing lie on the mat and stretch his legs.

The coach was a sturdy middle-aged man, his hand pressing on Song Lujing's back, his tone rather gentle, yet Song Lujing's complexion kept shifting.

It hurt, but he didn't dare cry out, his little sister was watching nearby.

Mu Youyu sat on the mat, chin resting on her hands, full of admiration, "Brother Lujing is so amazing, truly a man among men."

Song Lujing immediately straightened his waist and back even more.

Coach: "Don't move around."

"Yes, Coach!" he gritted his teeth, still trying to lift the corners of his mouth.

On the other side of the martial arts hall, two figures walked over shoulder to shoulder.

Mu Yichen and Mu Yichi changed into their uniforms, belts tied neatly, wearing all-white taekwondo uniforms with black-edged collars, tightly bound black belts around their waists, embroidered with the exquisite insignia of the dojang, solemn and capable.

The nine-year-old boy was already taller than his peers by more than a head, and his demeanor was far more composed than his age would suggest.

Mu Youyu shook off Jiang Liangjin's hand and pattered over, "Brother Yichen! Brother Yichi!"

Mu Yichi scooped up his sister and spun her around once, "Good afternoon, sweetheart, I heard you went to school yesterday?"

"Mm!" Mu Youyu wiggled her short legs, "I'm now a little kid in the junior class!"

"What a wonderful little kid!" Mu Yichi set her down, asking, "Has anyone been bullying you?"

"No!"

"That's good." Mu Yichi then turned toward the little boy who had been staring for a while.

He exchanged a glance with his brother, Mu Yichen handed him the water, and also lifted his eyes to size up Jiang Liangjin.

They had already finished elementary school curriculum, now they were tackling high school textbooks, rarely attending classes, spending most of their time at the martial arts hall.

They now hold second-degree black belts, virtually unopposed in the children's division competitions, and have discussed starting formal training in sanda and free fighting before year's end, under the personal guidance of the world's top coach.

They had long wanted to comprehensively enhance their combat abilities, after all, the path Mu Yichen and Mu Yichi walk is destined not to stop at taekwondo.

But now, what they are pondering in their hearts is not their own training plan.

Mu Yichi strolled over leisurely, smiling kindly, "A Jin, you're three and a half years old, right?"

Jiang Liangjin met his gaze, a sudden chill ran down his neck for no reason, "Yes."

"That's not so young; do you want to train with the brothers?" Mu Yichi half-squatted, coaxing gently, "If you train well, you can protect my little sister."

Mu Xi started learning this only after her sister was born, so she naturally knows what it feels like, speaking for Jiang Liangjin: "He's only three and a half."

Mu Yichi wasn't having it, "He's almost four; start early, lay a foundation and things will be easier later, and the moves will be easy to pick up."

Mu Yichen added, "Exactly, four is the golden period for enlightenment."

Jiang Liangjin instinctively glanced toward Mu Youyu, who was blinking her big eyes at him, her gaze clear and full of anticipation.

Jiang Liangjin clenched his little fists, "I want to train too, so I can beat up bad guys and protect Youbao."

Mu Yichi had long anticipated success, striking while the iron was hot, "Exactly! If you train, no one will dare bully her, and other kids won't snatch her away."

Hearing this, Mu Youyu shook the handle of her bamboo horse, her voice soft and sweet, "A Jin, you're really nice."

Jiang Liangjin imitated her hand-waving motion, "This is what I should do."

Mu Xi clicked her tongue, "This kid just fell for it so easily."

Mu Yichen saw that he had agreed, and said nothing more.

Mu Yichi smiled, "Then starting tomorrow, I'll find someone to teach you; you can learn at home or with us."

Wanting to stay by his sister's side, how could he do so without ability?

Jiang Liangjin nodded eagerly, "Okay!"

Weekend, at the Jiang residence.

Shen Ningmu was curled up on the sofa, the TV on, but she had no mind to watch.

Her gaze would occasionally drift upstairs, where the little rascal had been in the room remodeled into a training studio, with the coach for two hours already.

Full of energy, a shame that the little rascal wouldn't let her come over to watch.

When the doorbell rang, Shen Ningmu finally snapped out of it and got up to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, the boredom on her face instantly melted away.

Mu Youyu wore a puffy dress, clutching a stuffed bear about half her height in her arms, with two round little buns on her head, she looked up and smiled at her, "Hello, Aunt Shen."

The driver and bodyguard stood far off, not approaching.

Shen Ningmu bent over to pick her up, cheek rubbing against her soft little face, "Oh my, how did our Youyu come all alone? Come in quickly, come in quickly."

"I miss A Jin." Mu Youyu shoved the stuffed bear a bit further into her embrace, "He'll be bored all alone at home, I came to see him."

Actually, the eldest brother went to a training class, the second brother and some other brothers went to the martial arts hall, the house was nearly empty, and she herself was bored and came over.

Shen Ningmu carried her inside, "A Jin is upstairs training, the coach is still there, but it should be ending soon. Youyu, let's go with Aunt to the room and see if the new clothes look good? Aunt bought you several especially pretty little dresses a few days ago."

Her daily task now is to keep a good mood, then spend money, and when she goes out shopping with her girlfriends and sees something she likes, she buys it.

Mu Youyu's room in the Jiang residence was personally arranged by Shen Ningmu; this floor is where she and Jiang Liangjin live, the floor space is about the same as her room in the Mu household, and there are many closets.

Her eyes flickered for a moment, yet she still asked first, "Will A Jin come find me after his practice?"

"Sure, sure, as soon as he finishes training he'll definitely be the first to come find you."

Shen Ningmu held her as they turned into Jiang Liangjin's neighboring room, laid her on the bed, opened the wardrobe, various dresses neatly arranged, the closet full of lace, bows, and puffed sleeves.

Look, this lace-trimmed one, and this sheer one—Auntie thinks you'll look great in them!

Mu Youyu got distracted by several racks of pretty clothes, and soon forgot what she was supposed to be doing, flipping through them one by one and occasionally holding them up to herself to see how they looked.

Shen Ningmu sat beside her, smiling, and occasionally passed her an item, saying, "This one goes perfectly with those little white shoes you wore last time."

Just as she was having fun picking things out, a fuzzy head suddenly poked through the door.

Jiang Liangjin wore a tracksuit, his forehead slightly damp with sweat, and his cheeks flushed a light pink.

His gaze swept over the clothes on the bed and landed on the figure crouched before the soft cushion—"Youbao."

Mu Youyu turned at the sound, "A Jin! You done practicing?"

She dropped the skirt in her hand, turned and ran over to him, examining him closely, "Are you tired? You're all sweaty."

Jiang Liangjin shook his head. "Not tired."

He lowered his head to look at his slightly trembling hands, then quietly hid them behind his back, "Just my hands are a bit sore."

Mu Youyu immediately shoved the plush bear into his arms, "Then let me hug you for a moment."

Having said that, she stepped forward, wrapped her arms around him, patted his back, and coaxed him like a pro, "A Jin, you're working so hard!"

Shen Ningmu watched from the side, her heart bursting with joy, "Exactly, exactly, exactly—when we were kids, our relationship should be as good as hers and Song Ningsheng's!"

Jiang Liangjin felt embarrassed by the sudden hug.

He lowered his eyes, tucked the bear into the crook of his arm, freed his other hand, and returned her hug, "I'll become strong, so no one will ever be able to bully you!"

"I know!" Mu Youyu let go of him, took half a step back to look him over, "How about you take a shower and change first? I'll wait for you, then we can play together."

Jiang Liangjin nodded, and his mother led him to another bathroom.

Mu Youyu had just been playing downstairs with the bear for a while when a young man pushed the door open and walked in.

The newcomer was tall and slender, wearing a loose T-shirt and a baseball cap; beneath the cap, his brows and eyes were handsome and carried a hint of unrestraint.

Jiang Yuan looked at the newcomer, then smiled and quickened his pace, "Yo, it's Xiao A You! Long time no see, you've grown so tall!"

He's much younger than Jiang Su, barely twenty, and spends most of his time busy with affairs in M Guo, rarely showing up domestically.

Mu Youyu had seen him a few times and hadn't forgotten, "Uncle Jiang Yuan, hello."

Jiang Yuan crouched in front of her, "Want to come watch A Jin train? This kid's got real grit, just like someone from the Jiang family."

After his shower, Jiang Liangjin came downstairs expressionless and asked back, "Do you take after the Jiang family?"

Seeing him on the stairs, Jiang Yuan chuckled, "Hey, little A Jin, you say that—if I weren't from the Jiang family, could I help your dad run the company?"

Jiang Liangjin obviously wasn't buying it, took Mu Youyu's hand and headed upstairs, "We're leaving now, Uncle, take your time looking."

Jiang Yuan shouted from behind, "Don't rush off! My dear third uncle, it's not easy for me to come back to the country—won't you two keep me company for a chat?"

No one paid attention.

Jiang Yuan watched the two little ones' backs, murmuring softly, "This little guy, whose temperament does he really take after?"

Just then, Shen Ningmu came downstairs and overheard, chuckling lightly, "Anyway, he doesn't take after you."

Jiang Yuan feigned hurt, "Sister-in-law, your words really wound me."

Shen Ningmu gave an elegant eye roll, "How come you're back? Not going to school?"

Jiang Yuan shrugged, "I just came back to take a look."

She didn't believe a word of it.

Shen Ningmu wondered aloud, "By the way, did you raise a kid?"

"Yeah." Jiang Yuan had already reported it in the family group chat.

"Did you bring him back?"

"No, he's still in the hospital."

Shen Ningmu, unaware of the situation, asked, "What's his name?"

Jiang Yuan's thoughts drifted, and he smiled, "Zhu Zhou—Zhu as in blessing, Zhou as in daytime."

"Zhu? He doesn't even share your surname?" Shen Ningmu didn't press further: "Fine, once he's healthier, remember to bring him back to see us."

"Got it, sister-in-law."

Another year has passed, and Jiang Liangjin and Mu Youyu are now four years old.

That May, the Jiang family rented a manor near C City, saying they wanted to organize a spring outing.

Several families had agreed to go together, with important figures and children from the four major conglomerates all present.

In early May, the weather was warm but not sweltering; picnic blankets were spread on the grassy slope, and distant old trees had sprouted new buds.

Mu Youyu wore a light green spring shirt, held in Mu Yichi's arms.

She clung to his neck, looking left and right, "Brother, brother, why are they fighting?"

Mu Yichi glanced back and saw his older brother Mu Yichen, who didn't know when, start fighting with Mu Xianqi.

His older brother had the other pinned to the ground, no elder stepped in, while the remaining brothers formed a circle to watch, guessing who would win.

He blocked his sister's view and replied, "They're just playing around."

Mu Youyu believed him, and began to feel wronged, "Why won't they let me play with them?"

Mu Yichi laughed, giving the sister in his arms a little bounce, "Because Brother's here to play with you."

"Okay."

Jiang Liangjin wore a light blue short jacket, clutching half-eaten lollipop in his hand, sticking close like an inseparable little watermark.

Shen Ningmu called out to him several times, asking him to come over and hold her hand, but he didn't even turn his head.

Jiang Su and Jiang Yuan bent down to try to hug him, but he dodged sideways, insisting on walking by himself.

Grandma Jiang watched from behind, smiling so wide her eyes nearly closed, she took Grandma Mu's hand and said, "Look at this kid, he's like a little tail."

Grandma Mu also smiled and replied, "Can't argue with that."

Mu Yichi felt the same; every time he turned around, he could see Jiang Liangjin following behind at a distance that was neither too far nor too close!

After walking a few stretches, he finally couldn't hold back, stopped and waved at the other person: "A Jin, come over, isn't it tiring to follow?"

Jiang Liangjin quickened his steps to approach, looked up at Mu Yichi, then at Mu Youyu, hesitated a moment, and whispered: "I want to follow Youbao."

Mu Yichi was left speechless by his words.

Turning his head to glance behind, Song Lujing was holding onto Mu Xi, not letting him go, while Lu Yusu was squatting in the distance helping Song Yan tie his shoelaces, and no one noticed this side.

He lowered his head and asked: "Then what are you doing following her?"

Jiang Liangjin's expression was solemn: "She's gone far, I can't find her."

Mu Yichi has been quite pleased with his performance lately; he's just a little brat, saying and doing whatever, obedient, no threat, quite fun.

He bent down and put his sister down: "Then you hold the baby's hand and walk, don't let her get lost."

"Received!" Jiang Liangjin immediately reached out and took Mu Youyu's little hand.

Mu Youyu looked at their joined hands, smiled, pointed ahead, and said in a childish voice: "A Jin, let's go over there to look at the flowers."

Okay!

The two then ran off, one ahead of the other, and the older brothers followed after them.

In the afternoon, several elders called the children together to take a big group photo.

Mu Yichi took Mu Youyu's hand and walked to the middle of the line; Jiang Liangjin was already standing at the side waiting for her.

He was holding a red balloon in his hand; seeing her approach, he instinctively passed it over.

Mu Youyu took it, and noticed he still clutched a blue balloon in his other hand, both given by Grandma Jiang.

She tugged his sleeve: "I want the blue one."

Jiang Liangjin nodded, handed her the blue balloon, and kept the red one for himself.

Shen Ningmu laughed so hard he couldn't stop, and took a separate photo of the two.

At the moment the shutter clicked, the two balloons stood out clearly in the frame, one red, one blue.

This period of time was thus left here, waiting to be remembered again at some suitable moment.