Chapter 666

Extra: Childhood 23

Yu Ci interjected, face full of confusion: "No way, Z shouldn't look like a zero of 2?"

Mu Youyu: "... That's not what I meant."

Jiang Liangjin looked at the draft paper covered in messy notes: "You should just study liberal arts; you really can't understand what she's saying."

Lin Ning objected: "I get it! Isn't Z just equal to 2?"

"Z is not equal to 2; it equals 0."

Mu Youyu closed the book, her eyes speechless: "Do you still remember what x and y are?"

Lin Ning said confidently: "It's your and your little brother's names, Yan and Yu?"

Mu Youyu pushed the book back: "Let's start from elementary school."

"Pah!" Lin Ning immediately corrected: "Is it your second older brother and your name?"

Yu Ci laughed until he couldn't straighten up: "Ningning, these are horizontal and vertical coordinates—you're really inspirational!"

Lin Ning, unblushing and unafraid: "Who said only top students can be inspirational? Underachievers can too."

If she were a top student, she wouldn't be putting in effort only now; she could spend every day looking in the mirror and falling in love with her reflection.

Jiang Liangjin asked: "So how do you plan to study?"

Lin Ning thought a moment, then gave her prep strategy: "First memorize this problem, then fill it in during the exam."

Gu Xingnan sincerely: "The exam might not even have this question; studying like that might not get you into Nanfeng."

Nanfeng is at least a key high school.

Lin Ning didn't care: "If I can't get in on my own, I'll rely on my family; anyway I'll end up at Nanfeng."

After a while of chatting, Lin Ning steered the conversation off again, looking pitifully at Mu Youyu: "Teacher Mu, I think you teach well… but I'm a bit tired, my brain cells have died off in droves—how about we call it a day?"

Mu Youyu: "... You've studied less than ten minutes."

Lin Ning slumped onto the desk: "That's already a long time, better than a three-minute enthusiasm."

Yu Ci clicked his tongue: "This is too much effort."

Lin Ning picked up a pen, struck a pose of hard work: "Don't disturb me, I'm contemplating life."

That line of thought lasted until the school bell rang.

Lin Ning closed her exercise book, let out a long breath: "That's enough for today; I'll go home and digest it."

Mu Youyu glanced at her page of notes with only one character written: "What did you remember?"

Lin Ning replied seriously: "I remembered that Z is not equal to 0."

Mu Youyu had nothing to say; her friend's inspirational attitude seemed useless.

Jiang Liangjin became even more convinced that her chances of getting into Nanfeng by her own ability were zero.

With two weeks left until the middle-school entrance exam, Mu Youyu began discussing with Jiang Liangjin where to go to school.

Jiang Liangjin gazed at her silently, the meaning clear: wherever she went, he would go too.

Mu Youyu suggested she apply to Lanlin High, letting him choose Nanfeng High.

Jiang Liangjin feigned hurt, lightly biting his lip: "If we're not at the same school, I won't get to see Youbao every moment; I want to see Youbao every day."

Mu Youyu rested her chin on her hand, thought a moment: "Also, then let's both go to Nanfeng."

Second brother said, Nanfeng's management is more relaxed than Lanlin's, and besides, second brother and Lu Jing brother are there! Lin Ning will also go there in the future.

Only then did Jiang Liangjin satisfy himself with a hooking gesture.

Mu Youyu let out a light sigh, slightly regretful: "It's just a shame we can't dominate separately."

Jiang Liangjin soothed gently: "We can dominate together."

"That works too; let's both go to Nanfeng!"

Mu Youyu raised a smiling face and extended her pinky; Jiang Liangjin followed suit, hooking pinkies. The girl said: "Whoever backs out is a puppy."

Yu Ci, who had been eavesdropping from the front row, turned back: "So which of you is the puppy?"

Jiang Liangjin didn't want to joke with him, replied lightly with one word: "You."

June 9, the weather was hot and dry, carrying an inexpressive oppression.

Jiang Liangjin took a full day off due to family matters.

Lin Ning seized the chance to move her chair over, openly occupying the seat beside Mu Youyu.

When the bell rang for the last class in the afternoon, Mu Youyu was called to the office.

Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Liangjin messaged her, asking why she hadn't come out yet, saying he was coming to pick her up.

Mu Youyu was used to it; she wouldn't specially go to school to pick up Jiang Liangjin when she took leave, but Jiang Liangjin would specially come to pick her up.

She replied: 【I'm in the office now; come wait at the office door.】

On the other side, Jiang Liangjin saw the message, lifted his foot toward the office, and replied: 【On my way.】

A female voice came from behind, tone malicious: "Young Master Jiang, what a coincidence, alone?"

He turned his head and saw An Qingting standing a few steps away, with four boys staggered behind her, blocking both ends of the path.

"That's all?"

Four people were nothing to Jiang Liangjin; he couldn't be bothered with her, was about to leave, when suddenly a crowd emerged from behind, all wielding weapons, forcibly stopping his steps.

Jiang Liangjin counted them—over forty people. It was after school, and this place was some distance from the school; he frowned, not really wanting to start a conflict here.

An Qingting watched his expression, finally satisfied.

She wore a gentle smile, her tone slow: "Don't be nervous, I'm just here to chat a bit; someone wants to see you."

She stepped forward lightly, and the dozens following her smoothly entered the nearby vehicles, watching from a distance: "I have lots of people, I advise you not to act rashly."

Jiang Liangjin remained silent.

An Qingting's eyes darkened: "Jiang Liangjin, you're good at hiding; I finally caught you today."

"I came this time just to tell you, Jiang family, you can't hold onto it, you'd better hand over authority to your cousin soon. Be good and go study your books, stop fighting—this is good for both of us."

"……"

When Mu Youyu came out, she didn't see Jiang Liangjin at the door.

She was slightly annoyed, took out her phone and sent a message: 【You said you were coming, where are you?】

Mu Youyu waited patiently, but after ten minutes there was still no reply; she picked up her phone, but there was still no response.

The pampered Mu Youyu felt displeased welling up—what does this mean? We agreed he'd wait for her, but he didn't come; second older brother wouldn't do this!

Moreover, she had never stood waiting for someone this long before!

Mu Youyu picked up her backpack, intending to go alone to the school gate to find him; just as she reached the corner near the school gate, she saw Jiang Liangjin's figure.

The boy stood across the road, slightly turned sideways, with a girl standing beside him, her features delicate and pretty.

Apart from a few passersby nearby, only those two were there.

The boy and girl were extremely close; that girl deliberately moved in near his side, and Jiang Liangjin did not step back.

From this angle, Jiang Liangjin had his back to her, so Mu Youyu couldn't see the girl's expression; she just stopped in her tracks, feeling a tightness in her chest.

She realized it was An Qingqing's face, didn't want to look anymore, turned and walked in another direction, then got into the car heading home.

That day, Mu Youyu thought Jiang Liangjin was at fault first.

Usually, regardless of right or wrong, she had always been the one being coaxed.

Her brothers and Jiang Liangjin always said she couldn't possibly be wrong, so she didn't plan to approach him proactively.

She had expected Jiang Liangjin to come explain soon, but she waited until late at night, eleven o'clock, and still received no message.

Mu Youyu instinctively wanted to go out, but Mu Xi caught her, saying, "Baby, where are you going?"

She stopped at the stairwell, "……I'm getting water."

"Isn't there a water dispenser in your room?" Mu Xi instinctively thought her sister was going to the fridge for milk, "It's late at night, don't drink cold things."

Mu Youyu had nothing to say, so she changed her words: "I suddenly aren't thirsty anymore; I'll go to sleep first, good night, second older brother."

"Okay, good night."

Unable to go out, Mu Youyu returned to her room, tossing and turning unable to sleep, her phone screen never showing that familiar avatar.

She closed her eyes, began to recall that afternoon's scene; the more she thought about it, the more it felt like they had kissed.

How could An Qingqing alone possibly block Jiang Liangjin? Besides, he's studied taekwondo for ten years plus sanda……

The sight of those two standing together is really eyesore, really annoying.

The next day, Mu Youyu went to school as usual.

Jiang Liangjin's seat was empty, and An Qingqing's was too.

In the week before the middle school entrance exam, neither of them appeared.

Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan thought Jiang Liangjin had a serious illness, they asked Mu Youyu about the situation, but got no response at all, which only strengthened their belief, so they didn't ask further.

Mu Youyu was initially angry, then gradually shifted from anger to worry, but she refused to lower herself and ask proactively.

Auntie Shen would usually come and say something to her, right?

Unexpectedly, not a single person came to explain the situation to her even by the day before the middle school entrance exam.

Tomorrow is the middle school entrance exam; everything in the classroom has been moved out.

Lin Ning was still comforting the dejected Mu Youyu: "He might have something urgent; he should come back after the exam, don't be angry."

That remark carried a hint of sarcasm.

This semester, Lin Ning had long been prejudiced against Jiang Liangjin; she hadn't forgotten his claim that the odds of him getting into Nan Feng relying solely on his own ability were zero!

Lin Ning had no intention of mediating between this person and her close friend; as long as her relationship with her friend was fine, that was enough.

Mu Youyu denied: "He said he'd accompany me to the exam—how could he come back after the test? Besides, I'm not angry!"

Lin Ning immediately followed up angrily: "Exactly, exactly, exactly—I'll be angry on your behalf; how could he do this? We'll ignore that bad person, I'm so angry!"

"……" Mu Youyu didn't respond.

She felt a surge of anger inside; she didn't think she couldn't find him, it was just too embarrassing, and besides he was at fault first, so she kept waiting.

On the day of the middle school entrance exam, Mu Youyu and Lin Ning went to the exam hall together.

Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan, meanwhile, were taking the exam at another campus.

Lin Ning looked around for a while, confirmed Jiang Liangjin wasn't nearby, then went on: "Goodness, from now on we won't bother with him—how could he treat you like this? It's terrible."

Mu Youyu pressed her lips together, didn't speak up for Jiang Liangjin, "Let's go take the exam first."

All the way, Lin Ning kept chattering on, criticizing that person.

After the middle school entrance exam ended, Mu Youyu learned that Jiang Liangjin had missed the entire exam, and her anger flared up another notch.

"Great, we had agreed to experience the middle school entrance exam together."

Later, she completely grew cold-hearted at a class gathering.

Mu Youyu chatted with other classmates, but her peripheral vision kept glancing toward the door.

Even after the gathering ended, she still didn't see that person, and the hidden hope deep inside her completely faded away.

After the meal, she and Lin Ning, Yu Ci, and Gu Xingnan left the restaurant and said goodbye to the other classmates.

Yu Ci unusually put aside his usual carefree demeanor, "A Jin probably really has something going on; don't overthink it, why don't we go together to his place to check? Is Auntie Shen at home?"

Gu Xingnan also chimed in: "Right, he must have his own difficulties."

Lin Ning retorted: "What difficulties? Youbao, he's deceiving you; if he really wanted to find you, he would have come long ago!"

Only then did Mu Youyu realize that Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan were in cahoots with Jiang Liangjin, while only Ning Ning shared her stance!

She pouted, "I don't want to go to his place; if you want to go, go yourselves."

Lin Ning linked arms with her, "Let's just go home first, no more waiting."

Yu Ci waved his hand, he also couldn't do anything; he had sent a message to Jiang Liangjin, but the other side didn't reply at all.

If he interferes further, Mu Youyu will only see him as an accomplice; he can only wait for Jiang Liangjin to come back and coax him. Anyway, they'll still be at the same school, and he and Gu Xingnan are going to Lan Lin.

After returning home, Mu Youyu boarded a plane, preparing to fly to A City for two months.

Meanwhile, Jiang Liangjin woke up two days after Mu Youyu had left, in the hospital.

He had a few stitches on the back of his head, a mild concussion, and a strained ligament in his right wrist.

Shen Ningmu kept watch by his bedside; seeing him open his eyes, her eye sockets instantly reddened. "Awake? The doctor said you have a mild concussion and need rest; you can't rush discharge."

Jiang Liangjin's lips moved dryly, his voice hoarse and weak; his first words were: "My phone…"

Shen Ningmu handed him the broken phone together with a new one: "The previous one was smashed; this is the new one."

Jiang Liangjin took the phone with the cracked screen, tried pressing the power button; the screen flickered weakly for a moment, then went completely black.

Jiang Liangjin had no choice but to take the new phone, log into WeChat, and send a message to the top chat; after a long silence, there was no response at all.

Thinking she might be asleep so late, he suppressed his anxiety and did not disturb her further.

After waiting until six a. m., Jiang Liangjin tried calling again; every contact method went unanswered.

He had Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan try calling as well, but still no one answered.

Jiang Liangjin hesitated slightly, tried sending a message to Lin Ning, and discovered he had been blocked.

…He gave up, Jiang Liangjin asked Shen Ningmu for help: "Mom, could you ask Brother Xi where Youbao is now?"

Shen Ningmu agreed; an hour later she returned, saying, "Little Xi said Youbao is in a bad mood and doesn't want to see you."

How are these two kids still fighting? Her son wouldn't have upset someone, would he?

No wonder Ah You hasn't come to visit these past few days.

Jiang Liangjin leaned against the hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, and asked in a low voice, "Did she say anything else?"

Shen Ningmu hesitated, then said softly, "An Qingqing has been sent to juvenile detention; Jiang Yun we can't touch for now—he's been strictly controlled by your grandfather—just focus on recovering."

Jiang Liangjin spent a total of fourteen days in the hospital; on the day of his discharge, he tried every means he could think of to contact Mu Youyu, but all efforts vanished without a trace.

Mu Youyu's identity was too special; he dared not ask others, so he sent only the trustworthy subordinates his parents had trained to covertly investigate her whereabouts.

The feedback that came back, however, was consistently fruitless.

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Little Baos, the childhood side story ends; the next chapter is about that year in A City!

【F5 Character Design】 Finally, add another character sheet of the five little ones; in this view, Ningyu Jin stands in front, Ci Nan stands behind, okay?