Chapter 667: In A City that year 1

In A City that year 1

Mu Youyu reached A City on her first night, her mood was poor, and Mu Nian, Mu Xi, and Mu Xin spared no effort to lull her to sleep.

The next day, Mu Xin stayed by her side without leaving for a whole day; when morning came, he prepared to return to Y Guo.

Mu Xin now holds a master's degree and is currently busy preparing for his doctorate.

The affairs of the Duke's Mansion were also gradually handed over to him; his grandparents went abroad to play, and the Duke's Mansion cannot be left unattended for long.

His schedule in A City was only two days; traveling from Y Guo to the domestic region takes twenty hours, one day for the journey and one day to accompany his sister.

Mu Xin wore a dark gray tailcoat, stood over 1.8 meters tall, with a tall and slender posture; his deep blue eyes were profound and gloomy, his facial features exquisite and striking, his whole bearing exuding an aura, as if a youth stepped out of an ancient painting.

The hatch of the helicopter ahead was already open, and Song Zeyi had already boarded.

"Brother, do you really have to go?" Mu Youyu said wistfully, "Can't you stay a few more days?"

Hearing the sadness in his sister's tone, Mu Xin lowered his gaze, his voice warm and deep: "Grandpa still has matters to attend to; once I'm done with this period, I'll come back to keep you company."

"How long is a period?"

"More than a year, I suppose."

Mu Youyu didn't press further; she stepped forward, wrapped her arms around his waist, buried her face in his chest, and murmured, "I'll miss you, brother."

Mu Xin gently placed his palm on her head, rubbed it, and said, "Me too."

Mu Nian and Mu Xi stood a few steps away, not intending to disturb the siblings.

After they let go, Mu Nian approached, pulled his sister over, and said, "All right, Xinbao, you can head back now."

Mu Xin gazed at his sister and said, "If you miss me, just call me anytime… or… would you like to go to Y Guo together with your brother?"

As he spoke, he slightly turned his head toward Mu Xi's direction, his eyes warm: "You said you didn't want to study in C Shi, didn't you? Going to Y Guo with me to relax would be nice."

Being alone in A City is boring; it'd be better to go to Y Guo with him.

Mu Xi's previously slouched posture snapped upright, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes: "She's only been by my side a few days, and you're already trying to lure her away?"

Mu Xin was indifferent: "If you leave her in A City, I have no objection; anyway, I don't want her to return to C Shi so quickly."

"……" Mu Xi fell silent for a moment, then weighed his words: "Then let her stay in A City; I'll come see her when I have time."

Mu Xin's brow twitched slightly; he wasn't surprised by that answer.

He turned his gaze back to his sister's face, gently pinched her soft cheek, and said, "Then I'll be off, dear; take good care of yourself."

Mu Youyu nodded. "You too, brother."

Mu Xin released his grip, turned and walked toward the private jet; his silhouette gradually faded in the morning light.

Mu Youyu was led back inside by her two brothers; Mu Nian went to the study to hold a meeting.

Her number had already been changed to a new card on the day she came to A City, at Mu Nian's direction. She used to check the old number every few days, waiting for that profile picture to light up.

But so much time had passed, and Jiang Liangjin had sent no word.

She began to wonder if she had gotten something wrong—An Qingqing's family had some influence; could Jiang Liangjin have been bullied……

No, she rebutted in her mind; with his strength, how could he be bullied? Besides, her brothers were around—if he truly wanted to find her, he had a hundred ways.

Mu Youyu didn't know that her brothers had already fully encrypted her information; she only felt completely neglected.

Feeling disheartened, she that day completely quit WeChat, registered a new account, and added only her family, teachers, and Lin Ning.

She also ignored Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan, learning to steer clear of memories of the past; her mood during that period was terrible.

That evening after dinner, a thunderstorm fell outside without warning.

Mu Youyu sat before the living-room floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the hazy gray sky outside, her voice low: "Brother, I feel so awful……"

Mu Xi was typing nearby; hearing this, he paused for a moment and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I miss Grandma."

Mu Xi closed his laptop, walked over, squatted beside her, met her gaze, and pulled her into his arms: "Grandma's thinking of you too; knowing you miss her, she'll surely be happy…… Brother's here."

Ever since she learned that Grandma hadn't just gone on a trip but had passed away forever, Mu Youyu rarely brought her up voluntarily; she hated making others sad alongside her, and also feared Grandma would still worry about her in the afterlife.

Even when she dreamed of her, she would wake up quickly, concealing it well so no one could tell.

But now, the emotions she had carefully bottled up surged forth; she buried her face in the crook of Mu Xi's shoulder, and her eye sockets throbbed with soreness.

Mu Xi felt heartbroken, yet didn't know whom to blame, so he ultimately chalked it up to Jiang Liangjin.

Later, Mu Xi took Mu Youyu to dye her hair.

By then Mu Xi already had blue hair; Mu Youyu didn't want something too eye‑catching, so she chose brown.

Although a glance showed it differed from natural colour and was clearly dyed, she didn't mind much, thinking she still looked pretty good.

Mu Youyu settled in A City without issue, living a week according to the arranged routine.

Mu Nian hired several nannies to come along and look after her; the servants each performed their duties.

When she informed her elders, she only said she wanted to come to A City to relax and change her surroundings; though they were surprised, they didn't press further.

Her brothers naturally agreed.

During that time, Mu Xi had her pick a school; Mu Youyu took a liking to the private key middle school close to home, Sheng Luo Middle School.

She thought the name sounded impressive, then checked out the teaching environment, planning to enroll there when the term started.

On the other side, the first thing Jiang Liangjin did after leaving the hospital was to go look for the Mu Family.

At the Mu Family's gate, the guards—seemingly a new crew—politely blocked the entrance, saying the young lady wasn't home.

Jiang Liangjin lingered for days, and finally managed to intercept Mu Xi.

During this period Mu Xi shuttled between A City and C Shi; hearing his question, he snapped impatiently, "She's recuperating and doesn't want to see you."

"Recuperating?" Jiang Liangjin stepped closer, "What's wrong with her? Which hospital is she in?"

"You don't need to know." Mu Xi replied flatly, "She said she doesn't want to see you, so don't bother looking for her, and don't come ask me again."

Jiang Liangjin pressed his lips together and stood in silence.

Mu Xi finished speaking and walked away.

In the afternoon, Shen Ningmu couldn't bear it anymore and made a special trip to the Mu Family's home.

But the elders wouldn't say anything, and Mu Xi only replied, "She's recuperating and won't see anyone."

"Then her..." Shen Ningmu wanted to ask more, but Mu Xi had already stood up, "Aunt Shen, I still have things to do, I'm leaving first."

Shen Ningmu stood where he was, watching his back, feeling vaguely that something was off, and then went to look for Song Ningsheng, who was playing outside.

Song Ningsheng only replied, "I don't know."

Shen Ningmu had no other recourse; he could only hope Jiang Liangjin would quickly appease the person, otherwise even she would be ignored together, which would be terrible!

After coming out, Mu Xi went straight to the headquarters of the Mu Clan Conglomerate; the people in the company knew him, and he faced no obstruction.

Mu Nian was still signing contracts in the office when he heard footsteps, glanced at him, and said, "Jiang Liangjin is looking for you? What do you have to say?"

Mu Xi sat on the sofa and said lazily, "I said my sister is recuperating and will need several years. He didn't believe me, kept asking where she went, and I didn't answer."

Mu Nian nodded, "Then let him look; anyway, he won't find anything. If he really has the ability, let him find out himself first."

"Do you think he can find out?"

"He can't find it; I've already had people encrypt it, and Jun Chenling and Qing An are also helping."

"That's fine." Mu Xi changed the subject, "What does Mom say?"

"She said to let things take their natural course."

Everyone in the Mu Family respects Mu Youyu's wishes, and no one will divulge them.

On the Song brothers' side, the first to get the news was Song Yusui.

He was holed up in a school dormitory in M Guo, busy with the accounts of a new company, and when he received Mu Xi's call, he felt somewhat surprised and honored.

After he came to M Guo, Xiao Xixi made her first phone call to him.

After hearing just a few sentences, his expression changed; he put down the ledger and went to the balcony, "Are you serious? My sister really doesn't want to see him? She still has to go to school in A City? What about A Jin's place then?"

Mu Xi warned, "Well, you can hang out with Jiang Liangjin, but don't leak any news about my sister."

Although Song Yusui had taken forty million from Jiang Liangjin, the weight of his sister in his heart was not just forty million but four hundred million—she was still important.

If Jiang Liangjin needs him to repay that money, he'll just borrow it; anyway, he won't do anything that would make his sister dislike him.

He simply agreed, "Alright, I know what I'm doing."

The second person Mu Xi warned was Song Huaixian; after hearing her words, he only said, "I understand."

He was the same as Song Yusui.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Song brothers, upon hearing from Mu Xi that the sister no longer hung out with Jiang Liangjin, couldn't be bothered to ask why and just began to gloat at her misfortune.

Afterward, Jiang Liangjin gradually began to inquire among the other brothers.

Mu Nian's side was the most straightforward; he called, heard Jiang Liangjin's question, replied, "She's fine, you don't need to worry," and hung up.

Mu Xianqi, far away in M Guo, hadn't heard Jiang Liangjin's voice in a long time; upon hearing this, he teased, "You're not unaware, my sister's personality—we won't force her to do what she doesn't want, nor will we betray her. If you really want to know where she is, think about what you might have done to upset her."

Jiang Liangjin didn't even know where the person was, let alone ask; he just stayed silent, "Thanks."

Mu Yichen and Mu Yichi were both at B Da; Jiang Liangjin called the former, but the latter answered.

Mu Yichi's attitude was unexpectedly courteous: "A Jin, don't make things difficult for me; just wait quietly for my sister to seek you out—she'll come find you on her own, you don't need to worry about her, we'll take good care of her."

Besides these, the remaining brothers of the Mu and Song families each had their own explanations.

Song LuXiao didn't answer the phone.

After Song Lujing answered, he only said, "Serves you right," and hung up.

Song Huaiyu remained consistently indifferent: "I don't know; you go ask her yourself."

When Song Huaixian was asked, his tone was helpless: "A Jin, it's not that I don't want to help you, but my sister's wishes will always come first with me, and I can't help you."

Song Yusui's tone was helpless: "A Jin, I owe you a favor, but this has nothing to do with my sister. She doesn't want to see you, and I won't divulge any information about her."

"I know you're anxious, but don't be; I really can't help you with this."

Jiang Liangjin didn't know when he had incurred a favor, only aware that the other party had refused, and he had no mood to ask further.

When the next call went through, Lu Yuchu listened and then countered, "Why doesn't your sister want to see you? What did you do to upset her?"

Jiang Liangjin couldn't explain, and Lu Yuchu didn't press further, only saying, "Since she doesn't want to see you, stop looking; when she does want to see you, she'll naturally come."

Song Yan, who was at his side, took the chance to say, "Same here—don't call me."

Jiang Liangjin had almost exhausted everyone he could find, getting similar replies, so he had to send trusted people to investigate himself.

Mu Youyu always put herself first; after feeling disheartened, she instead turned her attention back to herself.

The city had many tourist spots, and during the holiday she enjoyed herself quite a bit.

As the summer vacation drew to a close, Mu Youyu finally toured all the scenic spots in A City.

She went to the ancient city walls, ancient villages, holiday resort, museum, botanical garden, and also visited A City's largest art museum, staying there for an entire afternoon until closing time.

On the day school started, Mu Nian and Mu Xi accompanied her to school.

Mu Nian stopped the car at a point still some distance from the middle school and said, "Baby, go on in; the homeroom teacher is surnamed Cheng, in the second-floor office—I've already said hello, so if there's any trouble you can go straight to her."

Mu Xi indulged, "Right, if you don't want to look for her, just go to the brothers; if you don't want to go to school, you can also call the brothers anytime, no need to worry about hassle, got it?"

Mu Youyu picked up her backpack, curled her lips, "I know, I know, second brother has already said it several times."

Mu Xi smiled, walked to the other side of the car to open her door, "Just remember that, dear."

Mu Nian handed over a card, "This card has no limit; buy whatever you want, don't wrong yourself."

"Thanks, big brother!" Mu Youyu took it, got out of the car, turned and waved, "Big brother, second brother, bye—I'm going in."

It was some distance from the school; Mu Youyu walked to the gate with her new backpack, her brown hair tied in a low ponytail, wearing a pristine blue-and-white uniform that made her look bright and clear.

Along the way, many gazes quietly fell on her.

"Is this person a new student? She's also quite pretty."

"Just like a doll."

"This bearing — is she the young lady from the Liu family? Or from the Fu family?"

Those two don't look like that.

……

Sheng Luo Middle School is one of the top private schools in A City, located in the core area of South City.

The school gate looks exquisite and low-key from the outside, but once inside, every step reveals a scene; pavilions and waterside terraces are arranged in orderly grace, exuding a garden-like elegance.

Mu Youyu walked along the main Future Path, following the signs to find her classroom.

The classroom was in the middle of the second floor of the first-year building; by the time she arrived, over half the seats were already taken, and there was no fixed seating arrangement.

She glanced around and chose a seat in the back row.

Just as she put her bag down, a girl with double ponytails sat down beside her.