Chapter 658

Extra: Childhood 15

Not far away, Song Lujing lightly bumped Song LuXiao with his elbow.

He lowered his voice and urged: "Brother, go talk to your little sister, don't let that kid keep monopolizing her, showing off in front of her."

Song LuXiao showed hesitation, hesitating before asking: "Is it appropriate to go now?"

Song Lujing shoved him hard: "Hurry up, didn't you see your little sister smiling? If you don't go now, you'll miss the chance! I've given this opportunity to you!"

Who wouldn't want the chance to get along with their little sister?

Song LuXiao was pushed forward two steps, about to go over, when Jiang Liangjin already looked his way.

Before Song LuXiao could speak, Jiang Liangjin took out a delicate rabbit nest from the bag behind him, handed it over, and said in an obedient tone: "Xiao Ge, this is for you."

Mu Youyu turned her head curiously: "What is this?"

Jiang Liangjin gently pushed the swing: "Little rabbit."

Song LuXiao was caught off guard by this; he lowered his gaze, and in the nest curled up several fluffy black baby rabbits, especially endearing.

Among them, two fluffy white baby rabbits were his favorites.

Song LuXiao bent his knees and squatted, beginning to examine them: "... When did you prepare these in advance?"

Jiang Liangjin patiently replied: "Last week."

Song LuXiao glanced at the calm Jiang Liangjin, then lowered his gaze to the rabbits, his mouth involuntarily curling up: "Don't think I like you; I'm accepting this only for my little sister's sake!"

"Mm-hmm." Jiang Liangjin replied obediently.

"As long as you know." Song LuXiao turned away, holding the two baby rabbits, and went back inside.

"?" Song Lujing looked at Jiang Liangjin and his little sister by the swing, then at his older brother's back, feeling as if he had been outshined by something.

After seeing Song LuXiao off, Jiang Liangjin placed his hand on the swing's chain and gave it another push.

Mu Youyu turned her pale little face sideways, laughing and shouting: "Go a little higher."

Jiang Liangjin responded with a sound, pushed again, and the swing went a bit higher.

Later, Song LuXiao named the two white rabbits: the larger one Little White Cabbage, the smaller one Milk Candy.

Within two days, the fate of those two rabbits was sealed.

That day, Song Huaixian came to visit, and happened to see Song LuXiao squatting in the courtyard feeding the rabbits vegetables, and casually asked: "Xiao Ge, where did you get these rabbits?"

"A Jin gave them to me."

With the two white rabbits, Song LuXiao's mood improved considerably, and even mentioning that person's name made him excited.

Song Huaixian squatted down to look at the two rabbits, pinched their bellies, turned his thoughts over, and said: "They look quite plump."

Song LuXiao didn't catch his meaning: "Hmm, they're being raised well."

Song Huaixian didn't say anything more.

Song LuXiao fed the rabbits again, and after school he also instructed his younger brother to help feed them.

Song Lujing was speechless, but didn't dare to say anything.

The next day, Song LuXiao returned home from school, found the rabbit nest empty, and Little White Cabbage and Milk Candy were gone.

He searched for a long time, and finally found some fur in the kitchen trash can.

At that moment, Song Huaixian came in from the dining room holding a bowl of soup, saw him squatting by the trash can, and asked calmly: "Xiao Ge, what are you looking for?"

Song LuXiao said nothing, stared at the bowl of soup for a long time, then slowly asked: "Did you eat them?"

Song Huaixian raised the soup bowl: "I made a soup, it tastes not bad; if there are more rabbits like this next time, remember to bring me two."

Song LuXiao instantly flared with anger, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion: "No, are you sick?"

"Yeah, I caught a cold, I need to eat some meat to replenish."

"Get lost, Song Huaixian, do you owe me or not! How could you lay hands on such adorable little white rabbits?"

"It's precisely because I found them cute that I couldn't bear to keep them and waste them, so I dealt with them."

Song LuXiao: "... I'm going to tell my little sister!"

Song Huaixian shook the bowl in his hand: "Sure, my little sister also ate it; if you tell her, she'll be heartbroken."

Song LuXiao went a long time without speaking to Song Huaixian, and consequently also grew distant toward Jiang Liangjin.

Jiang Liangjin was completely bewildered.

Another enrollment season arrived.

Mu Youyu entered fifth grade, while Mu Xi, who had always been by her side, reached the point of moving from primary to middle school and was about to enter the junior high department.

After learning this, Mu Youyu felt gloomy for several days; during meals she poked at the rice grains in her bowl with her chopsticks, remained silent, and her expression was gloomy.

Mu Xi noticed, squatted beside the desk, felt heartbroken, and said: "Dear, why aren't you happy?"

Mu Youyu lowered her head, tugged at his sleeve, her tone aggrieved: "Second older brother, you're going to the junior high department; what am I to do?"

Previously, both being in the primary school department, as long as nothing happened, Mu Xi would come to find her during every major break, and occasionally they'd end up in the same outdoor class.

Mu Xi had no reply for a moment.

Mu Youyu had a flash of inspiration: "What if I skip a grade?"

Mu Xi sighed helplessly, reached out to ruffle her head: "Dear, you're still too young; I, as your older brother, don't really want you to skip a grade."

The light in Mu Youyu's eyes dimmed, she drooped her little face: "Then what should I do? I don't want to be separated from my older brother."

"The little sister is something I've spoiled; Mu Xi naturally indulges her unconditionally: 'It's fine, I can repeat a year.'"

Mu Youyu lifted her eyes, spoke sullenly: "But wouldn't this delay my second older brother?"

Mu Xi said casually, "Anyway, wherever you go it's studying; repeating a grade isn't a big deal, and it'll make things easier for big brother."

Mu Youyu still hesitated, also a bit worried, "Will second older brother think I'm being selfish?"

Mu Xi gave a doting smile, "Dear, this isn't selfishness; it's big brother's willing heart. With me, your feelings always come first. But big brother really hopes our dear can be a bit selfish, always putting yourself first."

That day, Mu Xi found Mu Nian, and the next day had the application processed, planning to repeat sixth grade.

Arranged by Mu Nian to be in the same class as Song Lujing, only one grade older than his sister.

After Song Lujing found out, he happily grabbed his hand and spun around several times, "Xi Ge! We can finally be in the same class! Can I sit next to you in class from now on?"

Mu Xi flicked him away disdainfully, "Don't grab and grab, and also, you talk too much."

Song Lujing made a zip-the-lip gesture, shifted to a sheepish grin, "Xi Ge, I can talk a little less!"

I don't believe it.

Although he said that, Song Lujing still carried his backpack and sat down next to him, and deliberately tidied the desk spotless to show he was a quiet, good-study desk partner.

Song Lujing's friends were very puzzled—how had the previously study-averse Song Ge suddenly changed this semester?

On the first day of class, Song Lujing held back and didn't speak for a whole lesson, but as soon as the bell rang after class, he broke down, "Xi Ge, Xi Ge, how do you solve this problem?"

Mu Xi lowered his head to look at the textbook, "Idiot, you can't even solve this problem?"

I can't, Xi Ge, I'm not an idiot.

If you're not an idiot, then think about it a bit longer.

Okay…… then Xi Ge, what are we doing in the outdoor class later?

Mu Xi perfunctorily said, "Sleep."

Song Lujing let out a wail, slumped back onto his desk listlessly, recalled something, and asked again, "Then during the long break, shall we go find my sister?"

Mu Xi finally had the mood to reply to him: "Go."

Time passed, and it was Jiang Liangjin's tenth birthday.

The Jiang family threw a big celebration for him, the banquet set in the main hall of the old residence, the guests were all familiar faces from the circle, the scene was grand and lively.

Jiang Liangjin stood among the crowd, being praised in turn by the elders, he thanked them one by one, a proper smile on his face, but his gaze inadvertently swept over the moving throng.

After searching everywhere to no avail, the boy lowered his gaze slightly.

Youbao's identity had not been made public; she had rarely appeared before outsiders, but she did not miss his birthday banquet.

Now for some reason she didn't come, he didn't ask much, and silently left her a large piece of cake.

After the banquet dispersed, it was already almost seven o'clock.

Jiang Liangjin carried that piece of cake back home, and when he pushed open his room door, he saw Mu Youyu.

She wore pajamas, holding a rolled-up drawing paper in her arms, sat on the edge of his bed, looked up and smiled, "A Jin, happy birthday!"

The wall behind her had already changed.

Several walls were covered in light pink wallpaper; in the center was her hand-drawn three-tier cake, beside the cake she drew a cute little male and female figure in Q-version style, colors vivid and lifelike.

The little girl was making a motion to feed the boy beside her cake.

The little boy wore a tiny suit, the black bow tie at his collar she had drawn as a strawberry, waiting quietly to be fed, looking well-behaved.

Seeing those two little figures, Jiang Liangjin's lips twitched up, and he began to look around.

The walls, along with the opened door, were covered with little stickers—stars, moons, clouds, small flowers, and white rabbits.

Mu Youyu gathered up the drawing scroll, stepped back a few steps, admired her work in full, "Isn't it nice? I painted it over several days, sticking it on bit by bit—isn't it cute?"

Jiang Liangjin put the cake on the table, "So cute, thank you for your hard work."

Mu Youyu became even more proud—just as the teacher said, there's nobody who doesn't like her artwork!

Shen Ningmu came over holding a glass of milk, the door hadn't even closed yet; she stood in the doorway and sucked in a breath of cool air.

She gazed at the wall painted in riotous colors and the stickers on it, then after a moment said, "What is this?"

Mu Youyu bounced up, smiling brightly, "Auntie Shen, I drew this birthday gift for A Jin!"

Shen Ningmu walked over, examined the huge cream cake and the two little figures closely, "This is too beautiful! A You is amazing! Did you also paint the door?"

"Mm-hmm, I stuck a ring of stars around it." Mu Youyu said, "That way, if A Jin gets scared at night, he can open the little door and see the stars, and won't be afraid."

Shen Ningmu's heart softened at her words, "How come our A You is so good at caring for people! Auntie Shen, I'm liking you more and more!"

Mu Youyu, embarrassed by the praise, said, "I like Auntie Shen too!"

Shen Ningmu laughed, sat up straight, patted her son's shoulder, "A Jin, you ought to properly thank A You—this is something someone put a lot of thought into drawing for you."

Jiang Liangjin nodded seriously, "I know."

Shen Ningmu didn't linger any longer; after looking a while, she took the door with her as she left, and reminded Mu Youyu to drink her milk.

This milk wasn't the one she had brought for Jiang Liangjin; she had come here to look for Mu Youyu after noticing she wasn't in her own room.

Mu Youyu blinked and asked, "A Jin, is the cake tasty?"

Jiang Liangjin broke open the cake, handed her a fork, "Delicious!"

Afterwards, Mu Youyu sat at the table eating small bites of cake, while Jiang Liangjin just rested his chin on his hand watching her eat, occasionally being fed by her.

After eating and washing up, they had pretty much digested; Mu Youyu stood up, "I'll go to sleep first; you should also go to bed early, tomorrow is Friday and we have to get up early to go to grandma's house."

She goes to the Song family's old residence every Friday to keep grandma company.

Jiang Liangjin also rose, "I'll see you off."

It's just a few steps.

Still, I'll see you off.

Okay, okay.

Mu Youyu had no choice but to let him see her to the little door surrounded by stickers.

She pushed open the door, glanced back at him once, "Good night, A Jin."

Jiang Liangjin stood at the doorway and replied softly, "Good night."

This birthday banquet earned Jiang Liangjin a good amount of pocket money, all given because of his status, with Jiang Su and Shen Ningmu letting him dispose of it as he wished.

Not long after the birthday, Jiang Liangjin began to look at the money in his hand with a new perspective.

He read many books on investment and business, the more he read the more he found those theories interesting; by chance he clicked into a webpage, opened an overseas account, and named it You.

From then on, he began to pay attention to some financial market movements in his spare time, such as capital flows, and then did technical analysis.

After observing for about a month, he once saw a question post in an international finance discussion group; the OP asked seriously, but there were few replies, mostly teasing and mocking.

Jiang Liangjin considered those mockeries utterly unfounded and casually replied with a paragraph.

The poster quickly private‑messaged him, the message written in pure Y Country Language: 【You? I just saw your reply in the thread; you make a lot of sense. Are you an alt of some big shot? Want to add a contact and chat?】

Jiang Liangjin originally thought the other party was just a fleeting three‑minute enthusiasm and would lose interest in a few days, so he ignored him.

Unexpectedly, that person, for unknown reasons, kept sending him market and industry updates every few days, each accompanied by his own opinion, very persistently.

Jiang Liangjin at first would glance and close it, occasionally not even looking before swiping it away.

But that person never got discouraged; after sending a financial brief he would also add a daily greeting, as if saying, "I know you ignore me, but I just love sending them."

To this day Jiang Liangjin doesn't know why that person is so idle; his knowledge of him is limited to the fact that his avatar is a person wearing sunglasses and his ID is shay.

One day, after school he came home, opened his computer, and found that the message count in that chat window had turned into a red bubble, the number having reached three digits.

Jiang Liangjin couldn't be bothered to open it.

He browsed the market within his circle and took a liking to an investment that almost all analysts had sentenced to death.

It was a small tech company with a niche technical route, having lost money for several consecutive quarters, and its share price had fallen to one‑tenth of its issue price.

In that company's public annual report he noticed a line about a supplemental clause on patent transfer, believing that this detail, overlooked by everyone, might still hold a chance.

After a moment's thought, he decisively invested all of his disposable funds into it, instantly becoming a 99 % shareholder.