Chapter 670: In A City, that year 4

In A City, that year 4

After Liu Wanwan transferred to Class 1, our lunch buddy group went from just Feng Cen to three people

Liu Wanwan is proud yet warm-hearted; getting along with her takes no effort—it's the kind of relationship that flows naturally without deliberate cultivation

Feng Cen wasn't surprised by how quickly the two hit it off; he only remarked during their first meal together, "You two get along pretty well"

Liu Wanwan didn't even look up, busy picking the cilantro out of her bowl and putting it into Feng Cen's, saying, "She has better taste than you"

Feng Cen shoved the cilantro back, "If you don't eat it, don't put it on my plate"

Liu Wanwan wouldn't give up, she kept passing it back, and the two pushed the cilantro back and forth on the same chopsticks for a few rounds

In the end, Mu Youyu silently pushed her untouched plate of vinegar-braised cabbage over, breaking the stalemate: "Senior, eat the cabbage"

Hearing that, Liu Wanwan replied with a teasing tone, "What's with the 'senior'? How old are you?"

"Fourteen"

"That young?" the sixteen-year-old Liu Wanwan exclaimed, "Call me sister and let me hear it"

Feng Cen, a year older than her, perked up at the words, "Little sis, I'm three years older than you—let me hear you call me sister"

Two gazes fell on her at once; Mu Youyu sighed helplessly, "Ladies, let's just eat"

Liu Wanwan and Feng Cen covered their mouths and giggled

"Good girl, call again~"

"Keep going, sis will pamper you"

Mu Youyu: "……"

C Shi

Jiang Liangjin's first week at Lan Lin was pure agony—his new hair color paired with that unapproachable face drove half the school to give him a wide berth

He went to the Mu family's old residence several times, only to be turned away at the gate each time; the guards rotated, but every one was a stranger who politely told him to leave

He had people stake out the roads around the Mu estate in shifts for a whole week, capturing Mu Nian, Mu Xi, Song Lujing and others on film—but never her

Jiang Liangjin wasn't surprised; in the Mu family's eyes, he was nothing but a pathogen needing total isolation

Over these days, he kept feeling like he was just a clue away from a breakthrough, yet each inquiry only left him more helpless

People deliberately planting false clues kept popping up, some even laying reverse-tracking traps for his associates to sabotage his investigation

Song Huaixian later called him, advising him to stop wasting his thoughts

Jiang Liangjin gave no reply

Mu Yichi, tired of spreading fake news, pretended to be a good guy and messaged him, urging him to be patient

Song Yusui sent him a box containing several records and a handwritten note: "If you're really bored, listen to a few Chu Chu songs to lift your mood—don't stay so tense"

Jiang Liangjin: "……"

He had tried contacting Lin Ning, Mu Youyu's officially announced best friend, but after she deleted him over the summer, he hadn't seen her since

That day, Jiang Liangjin ran into Lin Ning at the gate of Nan Feng Middle School

She was standing by the road with a friend, laughing and holding several bags, looking in good spirits

Jiang Liangjin didn't hesitate, covering three steps in two strides to cut her off

Lin Ning's smile froze the instant she saw who it was, then quickly shifted to wariness: "What do you want? How did you know I'd be here?"

She'd been dodging him for days!

"I don't know," Jiang Liangjin said flatly, "I just happened to see you at the entrance"

Lin Ning clenched her bags, screaming inside to flee, but that would be too embarrassing

She stepped back half a step, bracing herself: "What do you want from me? I don't have your contact info"

"I do," Jiang Liangjin said, lowering his eyes slightly as he chose his words, "Is Youbao with you?"

The friend nearby stepped two steps back and started gossiping

"I—" Lin Ning instinctively denied, but the weight of his weary brown eyes made her swallow the lie and replace it with another: "She's not with me; we haven't been in touch for ages"

Jiang Liangjin keenly caught the guilt in her eyes: "Do you know where she went?"

"I don't know!" Lin Ning blurted quickly, "Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you—you know what you've done"

The more she spoke, the firmer she grew: "My baby doesn't want anything to do with you—you made her sick. What good am I to you? If you scare me off, you'll never find her"

Jiang Liangjin fell silent, then asked quietly, "What did I do? I didn't mean to scare you"

"Then what's with your look now?" Lin Ning pointed at his red hair, "You skipped the middle-school entrance exam, were absent the whole break, then suddenly showed up at school with dyed red hair—the first rumor blown up was that you beat someone up; anyone hearing that would think you're scary, a violent maniac"

Jiang Liangjin stood silent, truly unsure how to explain

Lin Ning retreated half a step, still silent, when Jiang Liangjin stepped forward: "I'm not a violent maniac—tell me, and I won't let her know it was you who said it"

Lin Ning felt uneasy at his demeanor, recalling the rumors, her voice shifting: "Violent maniacs don't even think they're violent… Don't come near me—are you going to hit me? I'm telling you, you might not even beat me! If you hit me, I'll tell Mu Xi"

The friends nearby were dumbfounded

Lin Ning saw Jiang Liangjin silent, assumed he was scheming again, and grew more wary: "Why aren't you speaking? Don't think you can bully me! I don't know you, and I never want to see you again!"

Having said that, she grabbed Ye Yin's hand and hurried into the school gate

Jiang Liangjin watched her disappearing into the school gates for a long moment before turning away

Soon after he left, Lin Ning poked her head out from the corner, confirmed he was truly gone, and breathed a sigh of relief: "Scared the life out of me"

After hearing so many rumors about Jiang Liangjin, Lin Ning truly feared he'd lash out at her over the slightest disagreement

As kids they'd sparred, and she couldn't beat him—that's why she usually hung out with Gu Xingnan and Yu Ci instead, holding hands with Mu Youyu

Just thinking about it made Lin Ning grit her teeth in frustration

Ye Yin tapped her chin and asked, "Isn't that the school bully Jiang Liangjin? You know him? He's actually pretty hot"

"Don't flatter yourself—he's just a lunatic," Lin Ning said, clutching her new bag, "This place is too dangerous; I'm taking a few days off tomorrow"

Ye Yin gasped, "No way—you just got back from leave, and you're asking for more?"

No way.

The next day, Lin Ning made up an excuse, took leave, and flew to A City.

At noon, Mu Youyu received a message from Lin Ning: '【Come out to meet me, I've arrived at your school!】'

Mu Youyu, who was playing with her phone, suddenly stood up and said, 'I'll go out for a bit.'

Liu Wanwan was still touching up her makeup, 'What's wrong?'

'My best friend is coming from C Shi to hang out, I'm going to the school gate to pick her up.'

'From C Shi?' Liu Wanwan perked up, folding her mirror, 'Is it a male or female best friend? Are they coming to hang out with you or to see you?'

'Female.'

Liu Wanwan also stood up, 'I'll go too, I'll go help you keep things in order.'

Mu Youyu resigned, 'Just picking up one person.'

'You don't understand; in Sheng Luo, even picking someone up at the school gate requires having some face.'

The two walked side by side toward the school gate; sunlight poured down from above, making people feel a bit lazy.

Liu Wanwan opened her parasol and tilted it toward Mu Youyu, 'If you get tanned, I won't care.'

'Don't worry, I don't get tan.'

When they reached the school gate, Lin Ning was already waiting there; after not seeing each other for several days, she had grown her hair out, a head of pink hair, her demeanor revealing a bright and flamboyant vibe.

She wore a loose jacket, carried a bulging backpack, put on sunglasses, lowered the brim of her hat, and looked around.

Upon seeing her best friend, Lin Ning immediately took off her sunglasses, hurried over, opened her arms for a bear hug, 'Bao bao! I've missed you to death!'

Mu Youyu was leaned back by her hold, she laughed and patted her back, 'I missed you too.'

'Hehe.' She let go, Lin Ning began to scrutinize her, 'Do you feel like you've lost weight? Is the food here not to your taste? Oh, my poor Bao bao!'

Mu Youyu soothed, 'Nothing like that, I've been eating well.'

Lin Ning was doubtful, 'Alright.'

Liu Wanwan gave a soft cough, and Lin Ning's gaze finally fell on her, 'Who is this?'

'Liu Wanwan, my desk mate and friend.' Mu Youyu turned to introduce, 'This is Lin Ning, my best friend, who came from C Shi.'

Liu Wanwan curled the corner of her mouth, extended her hand, 'Hello, little one from C Shi.'

Lin Ning took her hand, tone tinged with disbelief, 'You don't look much older than me, do you?'

Liu Wanwan raised an eyebrow, 'Then what about older sister?'

Lin Ning choked a little, 'That works too.'

They let go, and thus they were acquainted.

Lin Ning stayed in A City for two days; Mu Youyu took her around the vicinity, and Liu Wanwan and Feng Cen also joined for two meals.

On the first day, Lin Ning smoothly joined the Sheng Luo Middle School campus group, where she saw many rumors about her best friend, and even saw people discussing whether she got in through connections and money.

Seeing these shallow, one-sided discussions, Lin Ning only found them funny, thinking that if you knew this person's identity in C Shi, you probably wouldn't be able to speak.

To ensure Mu Youyu's safety, any post mentioning her real name is immediately deleted.

Everyone could only refer to her as 'the top of the grade' and 'the school beauty' while whispering.

After Lin Ning left, Mu Youyu's life returned to normal.

The last class of the afternoon was a study period; Liu Wanwan got thirsty, tapped the desk corner, 'Let's go, let's buy something to drink.'

Mu Youyu was stuck on a physics competition problem; hearing that, she put down her pen, happily closed her textbook, 'Let's go.'

The two walked toward the drink shop inside the campus.

During class, only three or four people remained at the front of the line.

Liu Wanwan was lowering her head to reply to a message, while Mu Youyu boredly observed the new product recommendations on the shop's menu board.

At that moment, several boys pushed forward from behind, speaking loudly; one of them shoved and shoved his way forward, his shoulder nearly bumping into Mu Youyu's back.

Liu Wanwan, quick-eyed and quick-handed, pulled Mu Youyu to her side, her gaze turning cold, 'Stand properly, line up.'

That boy hadn't expected to be called out by a girl to his face; he froze for a moment, then, seeing clearly who it was, he sheepishly stepped back half a step.

'Sorry, there are too many people, I couldn't stand steady.' He apologized with his mouth, but his eyes darted back and forth between Liu Wanwan and Mu Youyu, the smile on his face carrying a hint of frivolous scrutiny.

Mu Youyu was annoyed by his demeanor, furrowing her brows, 'What are you looking at? If you don't want your eyes, I'll chop them off.'

The boy's smile froze; his two companions also sensed the atmosphere was off, they pulled him, 'Let's go, let's go.'

The three walked to the back of the line; after walking away, a faint mutter came: 'What's with the attitude.'

Liu Wanwan turned her head to look at Mu Youyu, 'Sure, little treasure, you can still scold people.'

Mu Youyu nonchalantly adjusted her cuff, 'Still fine, you're not seeing this for the first time.'

Liu Wanwan chuckled, 'Alright, our Youbao is really promising.'

This nickname, Liu Wanwan only learned it after hearing Lin Ning use it; she thought it cute, and after getting the person's consent, she and Feng Cen also started using it.

After buying their drinks and walking back, Liu Wanwan suddenly said, 'By the way, have you heard of Tan Yuzhou? He's the genius of our sophomore department, scoring just a few points lower than Cen Cen on the entrance exam.'

'Teacher Tan's son?' Mu Youyu bit her straw, 'I've heard of him.'

Liu Wanwan gestured excitedly, 'Some say he's like a male lead who walked out of a manga, with his own BGM when he walks, an especially small face, that fox-like face, plus a scholarly aura; many girls camp at his school gate every day waiting for him.'

Mu Youyu smiled lightly, 'Have you gone to see him then?'

'I actually wanted to go see him, but he's chasing too many girls, I can't be bothered to squeeze in.'

'Then you're still quite principled.'

Liu Wanwan snorted, 'Of course, there are plenty of men in the world; I don't need to fixate on just one.'

Mu Youyu echoed, 'Yeah yeah yeah, where are we going now?'

'Hungry, let's go eat; it's only four o'clock, after we finish eating we'll have time for another dinner later.'

Mu Youyu had no objection, and she walked straight into the cafeteria with her; at this time the crowd hadn't peaked yet, only a few scattered people were at the counter.

Mu Youyu happened to see a boy pass by the window, wearing a clean shirt, his outline superior and exquisite, she lifted her chin, "Here, that's Tan Yuzhou."

"What a coincidence?" Liu Wanwan's steps unconsciously slowed a beat, she poked her head over there, and sincerely admired, "He's really good-looking."

Mu Youyu raised an eyebrow, "You said you weren't interested, right?"

"Indeed, he's pretty handsome," Liu Wanwan withdrew her gaze, "too bad he's not my type."

Mu Youyu had already prepared her tray, and she asked casually, "Then what do you like?"

Liu Wanwan walked to an empty table with her tray, "Tall, rich, handsome, with abs, quiet, able to fight, devoted, romantic, can cook."

"Your requirements are pretty specific."

"Yeah, I haven't found anyone I like yet, let me look slowly."

"We're still young, we need to study hard."

"Mm-hmm."

Feng Cen came over from the other side with his tray, just happening to hear the latter part.

Feng Cen set down his tray, "Better none than inferior."

Liu Wanwan picked up her chopsticks, "You're right, anyway I'm not in a hurry, I'll pick slowly, I'll eventually find a good one. If there really isn't any, then heaven has saved the best for me in the future."

Feng Cen curled his lips, "Okay."

After the meal, the group dispersed, chatting and laughing.

Mu Youyu returned to the classroom, reopened the unfinished physics problem, and picked up her pen again.

This time her thoughts were much clearer, she swish swish swish wrote, filling the answer area.