Chapter 652: Extra: Childhood 9

Extra: Childhood 9

The photo session had just ended when Grandma Mu's phone rang.

She answered, listened for only a few seconds, frowned slightly, hung up, walked to her granddaughter and squatted down, saying, "Be good, Grandma has something to attend to at the institute first; you stay and play with Mom, okay?"

Mu Youyu's smile faded a little, "Grandma, you said you'd play with me all day, I'm going to be angry!"

She covered her eyes with her two small hands.

Grandma Mu apologized softly, "Sorry, be good, Grandma really has something to do, I'll be back as soon as I can, forgive Grandma, okay?"

Mu Youyu snorted, and a tiny gap opened between her fingertips.

Grandma Mu smiled while rubbing her little head, "When Grandma comes back, I'll buy you your favorite taro paste mini cakes, okay?"

"Well..." Mu Youyu lowered her hands from her eyes, tugged at the corner of her clothes, "Alright, then I forgive Grandma, so please come back quickly."

"Oh, thank you for forgiving me, be good." Grandma Mu bent over and gave her a hug, "Our little treasure is truly a good baby."

Jiang Liangjin stood a step away and said, "Grandma Mu, go attend to your business; I'll watch over Little Treasure."

The brothers also chimed in one after another, saying they would take good care of the sister and not let her run around.

Grandma Mu and Grandpa Mu exchanged a few words in low voices, then turned and walked toward the outside of the manor.

The spring outing continued, the children ran after each other on the grass, laughter mingling with their footsteps.

Mu Youyu lowered her head to play with the blue balloon in her hand for a moment, then glanced back in the direction Grandma had left, after which Jiang Liangjin pulled her away to fly a kite.

That was the last time she saw Grandma's departing back.

One week later, Mu Youyu was picked up early from kindergarten and taken home.

The living room was filled with people; aside from New Year's, the house had never been this full before.

Uncles, aunts, and virtually everyone who could come from the Mu and Song clans had gathered.

The institute brought bad news: after Grandma Mu finished archiving a batch of core data, she suffered a sudden heart attack, and when she was found and sent to the hospital, she already had no vital signs.

In her final moments, she was still storing the last set of critical data, then quietly collapsed onto her own desk, leaving no last words.

Upon hearing the news, Grandpa Mu stayed by his beloved's side without leaving for a whole day, and overcome with grief, he fainted twice in succession.

On the day of the funeral, Mu Youyu dressed all in white was led by Mu Xi to stand at the very front.

In the large black-and-white photo frame, Grandma was still smiling.

Mu Youyu whispered, "Why are there so many people? Why is Grandma's photo so dark? Where is Grandma?"

Mu Nian and Mu Xi held her left and right hands, pressing their lips together without answering her.

The other young ones also cast puzzled glances.

Song Ningsheng stood beside Mu Yunshuo, her throat tight.

She didn't know how to explain death; if she made it sound too beautiful, the child might think death is a relief, but if she made it too heavy, she feared the child would be so upset she couldn't sleep.

After a moment of silence, Song Ningsheng held back her tears, choked up, and replied, "Baby, she has gone to a happier world."

Academician Tang Yun, the head of the domestic nuclear physics project, died at fifty-nine and was laid to rest forever at the scientific post she loved all her life.

In the notarized will she signed before her passing, it was clearly stated that all of her assets—property, funds, copyrights, and the technical patents held by the laboratory—were to be transferred into Mu Youyu's name.

A trust fund would manage them, and she could handle them herself once she came of age.

After that, Grandpa Mu never entered Grandma Mu's study again, nor did he ever mention her.

Most of the time he sat in the old residence's courtyard, clutching a string of prayer beads, gazing into the distance, not knowing what he was recalling, and occasionally Mu Youyu would tug at his sleeve to bring him back.

He began spending most of his time with his granddaughter, taking her to school, picking her up after school, watching TV with her, and playing games together.

Later he bought seeds, and with his little granddaughter he dug the soil and planted them in the backyard, waiting for them to sprout the following year.

Grandma Jiang's side also passed away just as suddenly.

It was two days after Grandma Mu's passing that a chemical laboratory in the suburbs of C Shi experienced an explosion, classified as the highest level.

The on-site report was later classified as an extremely top-secret file, and many details remain undisclosed to this day.

The only thing confirmed is that Grandma Jiang was present that afternoon.

Outside the emergency room, the crowd was packed, and many strangers in formal attire were also there.

English: Jiang Ye Ye, Jiang Su, Shen Ningmu, Jiang Liangjin, Uncle Jiang Huan, Aunt Cheng Siqing, Third Uncle Jiang Yuan, and Fourth Uncle Jiang Qi all stood outside.

Jiang Liangjin was the first to be called inside; at a glance he saw the figure on the bed wrapped layer upon layer in gauze and bandages, only a pair of half-closed eyes visible.

Grandma Jiang's burned skin was no longer recognizable in its original tone; one could only barely tell she was still alive from the monitoring sounds of the instruments beside the bed.

She summoned all her strength to speak: "Ah Jin, Grandma has a few things to say to you; listen well."

Jiang Liangjin knew Grandma was injured, sat quietly beside her bed with a straight back, and said, "Grandma, go ahead."

"There is an estate with several gardens behind it; you visited it once last year, and it still has no name—do you remember it?"

"That estate is relatively close to the Mu family; Jiang Liangjin had an impression of it: 'I remember, there were lots of flowers there.'"

"Yes, lots of flowers." She caught her breath, "That courtyard, Grandma now gives it to you."

Jiang Liangjin didn't understand why Grandma suddenly said these things, "Grandma, I don't need it yet."

"You will need it; I've locked that bunch of keys in the calligraphy cabinet. When the time comes, take them, keep them safe, don't lose them. Later, when you've settled on a partner, take them out and use them as a bridal chamber—remember that."

"I remember, Grandma."

Grandma Jiang then called in her other sons; halfway through her words, her voice cut off.

The waveform on the monitor began to turn irregular; Shen Ningmu was the first to react, turning and shouting toward the door.

Several white-clad figures rushed in, instantly filling the ward with busy silhouettes.

Jiang Su stepped forward, pulled his son away from the bedside, and shielded him at his side.

Jiang Liangjin was half-supported by his father as he retreated to the corner, watching the doctors bustle around the bed.

The monitor emitted a prolonged beep.

The doctors stopped their movements, and someone whispered something.

Jiang Yuan stood in place, dazed.

Jiang Liangjin saw Jiang Su's shoulders slump, Shen Ningmu turned his head away, pressed the back of his hand to his lips, and heard the uncle's choked sob as he knelt.

Jiang Ye Ye didn't enter the ward, just stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall, gazing at the light on the ceiling.

From those adults' reactions, Jiang Liangjin read something he was still reluctant to believe.

Comrade Ji Yue Rong, who had devoted decades to chemical research, had his life frozen at fifty-five.

The aftermath of that accident lasted a long time; the Jiang family's comings and goings were nonstop during that period, but Jiang Liangjin rarely asked about that day again.

That day after returning home, Jiang Liangjin pulled out his diary, wrote the date, skipped a line, and began writing: 【Mom said, Grandma went to a faraway place and will forever live in our hearts. Grandma left me a string of keys, saying that once I settle down, she'll clear the yard for a wedding room, and I will remember.】

"……"

Mu grandma and Jiang grandma grew up together from childhood, were university classmates back then, and were among the few of their era who pursued graduate studies in cutting-edge scientific research.

One specialized in nuclear physics, the other in chemistry; they had trained several batches of doctoral and master's students, whose disciples spread across major universities and research institutes.

When young, they studied abroad together, often pulling all-nighters in the library, and in old age they agreed to live out their retirement together.

After returning to their country, each took root in their respective fields, nurturing generation after generation of talent for the nation.

After that, Jiang Ye Ye started frequently visiting the Mu family.

The two elders always sat together in the courtyard, drinking tea, playing chess, and occasionally chatting about things only they understood.

They no longer mentioned their deceased spouses, merely growing accustomed in silence to each other's long companionship.

Days passed under a veil of gray.

One day Mu Youyu felt unwell, she stayed home from kindergarten for a long while, each day staying at home, taught by Qing Ma, and no longer begged to play with Jiang Liangjin.

Mu Xi met Tan Jingyan and began learning piano from him.

After a long rest, Mu Youyu went to attend the middle class, then after a semester Mu Xi moved up to third grade.

One day after school, Mu Youyu went to find Lin Ning, took her hand and said, "Ningning, I want to be in the same class as my second older brother!"

Lin Ning went along with her: "Then your second older brother must be really happy."

Mu Youyu blinked and blurted out, "What about you?"

"I'm very happy too, because you're my best friend."

"Wow."

Lin Ning pinched her little cheeks, turned serious, and said, "But treasure, if you want to be in the same class as Xi ge, you have to skip a grade."

"What's skipping a grade?"

"It means crossing over, standing above others, being able to attend the same school and grade as your second older brother."

That day after returning home, Mu Youyu counted on her fingers repeatedly, and finally after dinner she ran to Song Ningsheng and said, "Mom, I want to be in the same class as my second older brother!"

Song Ningsheng was playing a game, her hands still moving, "Your second older brother is already in third grade; you're several grades apart, so you can't be in the same class."

After middle class comes senior class; Mu Youyu understood and asked, "If I study another year, will I be able to be in the same class as my second older brother?"

Song Ningsheng felt it was hard to explain in a few words, so she tried to patiently explain: "No, after another year you could enter elementary school, but you'd have to start from first grade; your second older brother is already in third grade, so by the time you reach third grade, he'll be in fifth grade."

"That means you can be in the same school district as little Xi, but still not in the same class. You can only be in class with peers your own age, for example, A Jin."

Mu Youyu frowned, seized on the point: "I don't want A Jin anymore; I want to skip a grade and go to school with my second older brother!"

"Skipping a grade?" Song Ningsheng also didn't know where she had learned that.

She put down her phone, laughing and crying, "How come you don't want A Jin again? Weren't you just saying you wanted to always be with him?"

Mu Youyu tugged at her shirt corner and shook it, her voice softening a bit: "A Jin can go to school on his own, but if my second older brother doesn't wait for me, he'll be snatched away by someone else to be their brother! He can't be someone else's brother!"

Song Ningsheng's heart went soft, "Then tell Mom, why do you insist on going to school with your second older brother?"

Mu Youyu tilted her head, earnest: "Because my second older brother will help me with homework, tell me stories, play piano for me, while A Jin only plays with me."

Song Ningsheng: "……"

"That would make A Jin sad."

Mu Youyu twisted and turned, pulling at her shirt corner, "Then, then can I have both?"

Song Ningsheng was amused by her greedy little expression, but still patiently said, "No, you can't, just like you can't eat two servings of ice cream at once or you'll get a stomachache."

Mu Youyu's eyes shifted, "Then I can finish one serving and then eat another; that way I won't get a stomachache!"

Song Ningsheng: "……"

Finally the family held a little meeting; Mu grandfather spoke first, "Our Youbao is smart, can learn it, if she wants to skip a grade, let her skip!"

Mu Yunshuo also said, "At Youbao's age, skipping a grade is completely fine."

Song grandmother also nodded in agreement; Song Ningsheng ultimately nodded as well.

Afterwards Shen Ningmu worried the two kids couldn't attend school together, so he asked Jiang Liangjin's opinion, planning to send both to first grade.

Thus, in the year Mu Youyu turned five, she did not attend senior kindergarten; instead, after a period she directly skipped a grade and became an elementary transfer student alongside Jiang Liangjin.

Song Ningsheng is someone who values ceremony greatly, believing graduation rites cannot be omitted.

It wasn't graduation season, but on the day they took the graduation photos, the kindergarten district's auditorium held just their few families, plus the teachers, principal, and photographer.

The auditorium was decorated somewhat solemnly, the backdrop a huge hand-painted sky.

Beside it were written the crooked big characters "We graduated!", obviously put up overnight by the teachers.

The Mu, Song, Jiang, and Shen families all arrived; the elders sat in the front-row folding chairs, and the older brothers were there too.

Mu Youyu wore the kindergarten graduation outfit: a white short-sleeved shirt with light gray checkered shorts, her collar tied with a small bow tie.

Her hair was tied into two little buns, the pink butterfly clips at the ends swaying with her movements, making her look especially playful.

Jiang Liangjin stood beside her, wearing the same light gray checkered shorts with a white shirt.

His gaze lingered on her; only when he looked at others did his expression revert to that indifferent, detached look, as if nothing concerned him.

The older brothers were scattered around, each with their own thoughts, sizing up the little boy standing next to that sister.

The photographer adjusted the lighting, coaxing the kids with a child‑soothing tone.

Mu Youyu was led by Jiang Liangjin, step by step she stood onto the stage.

Mu Xi took advantage of the gap, walked behind her sister, bent down, lowered her voice, and said a few words to her sister.

Mu Youyu understood, "Second Brother, don't worry!"

The photographer reminded, "Are you ready? Little ones, look at the camera!"

Mu Xi stepped down from the stage.

Mu Youyu turned her gaze forward, then she moved closer to Jiang Liangjin beside her, grabbed his sleeve with both hands, tiptoed, and kissed his cheek.

A soft sensation came, and Jiang Liangjin reached out to lightly support her.

Mu Xi's Smile froze.

Grandfather, uncles, brothers:?!!

Shen Ningmu reacted the fastest, immediately raised the camera and pressed the shutter several times, secretly thinking the camera wasn't brought in vain.