Chapter 676: In A City, that year 10

In A City, that year 10.

The first day of school classes were especially lax; teachers were busy handing out new textbooks and talking about semester precautions, and half a day passed.

During lunch break, Liu Wanwan pulled Mu Youyu and Yu Yu to the cafeteria, saying a new stall had opened and she wanted to try the food.

The three got their food and sat down, with Liu Wanwan in the middle, she opened the topic: "What are your plans for this semester?"

Yu Yu was very earnest: "Study hard."

"Nonsense, who isn't here to study hard?" Although she was a bit playful, it didn't affect her studying; Liu Wanwan turned to Mu Youyu: "And you?"

Mu Youyu was picking vegetables out of her bowl; hearing that, she thought and said, "I want to raise something."

"What to raise? A dog or a cat?"

"I'd like to raise both, but it seems a bit troublesome; let's do it later." Mu Youyu put the vegetables she had picked out into Liu Wanwan's bowl, "Let's just keep a potted flower."

Liu Wanwan lowered her head to look at the extra vegetables in her bowl, "... Fine."

After finishing her meal, Mu Youyu really went to the flower shop near the school.

The shop was filled with greenery and potted plants; the owner was watering a pot of pothos, and upon seeing a customer enter, he immediately put down the watering can and came forward.

"Student, what would you like to buy? For yourself or as a gift?"

"For myself." Mu Youyu walked around the shop, her gaze landing on a small pot of succulents in the corner.

That pot of succulents had thick leaves, with a faint purple hue along the edges, growing tightly packed together; its round, chubby appearance was especially endearing.

"Is this easy to care for?" Mu Youyu pointed at the pot of succulents and asked.

The owner smiled, "It's very easy to care for; succulents don't need much attention—water once a week is enough, and they'll survive with some sun."

Mu Youyu lifted it up to examine it, and the owner added, "Look how round and chubby it is—so cute."

Mu Youyu immediately decided to buy it: "This one."

The owner's wife efficiently packaged it for her, throwing in a bag of nutrient soil and a small packet of fertilizer, "If you have any problems, come ask me anytime."

Mu Youyu carried the pot of succulents back to school, found a sunny windowsill to place it on, and, following the owner's wife's instructions, gave it a little water.

The pot of succulents sat steadily on the windowsill for a week, its leaves becoming fuller than when she first bought it.

Mu Youyu would stop and glance at it twice each time she passed by, making sure it was alive before walking away reassured.

This week she had been in a pretty good mood, until Thursday's break, when she passed the water room and overheard a few girls chatting inside.

Mu Youyu hadn't intended to stop, was about to walk past, when she heard a somewhat sharp voice: "Have you guys noticed that Yu Yu's personality is a bit off? She never talks all day, like she's owed money by everyone."

Another chimed in: "Yeah, the last time I greeted her, she just nodded, didn't even smile, acting all aloof."

The original voice added: "I guess she was spoiled at home, thinks that because she knows Liu Wanwan, the whole world should revolve around her—really unbearable."

Mu Youyu stopped in her tracks, pushed the door open, and said in a flat tone: "What are you talking about?"

The tea room instantly fell silent.

The few girls who had been speaking looked at each other with varied expressions.

Mu Youyu didn't raise her volume, only looked at them: "Her personality is fine; how long have you known her? How many sentences have you spoken to her? And you come here to gossip about her?"

"I didn't mean it that way!" that girl wanted to defend herself.

"If that's not what you meant, then what did you mean?" Mu Youyu sneered, "You're quite good at labeling people."

The several people stared at each other; eventually the one who had spoken first, head lowered, said: "We were just chatting casually, no other intention."

Mu Youyu chuckled, "Then I'll also chat casually about you from now on, okay?"

No one dared to respond, and Mu Youyu boredly returned to the classroom.

Those few stood there only a moment, their faces flushed, and then left.

That afternoon's last self-study period, Liu Wanwan skipped class, while Mu Youyu was still doing exercises, so she didn't follow.

At the front of the classroom, Duan Nuo suddenly raised his voice: "Mu Youyu! Someone says they want to spar with you—will you accept the challenge?"

Someone wondered, "Just at the start of the next semester, someone's already come looking for a fight? Don't they know this Mu Sister's reputation outside?"

Mu Youyu lifted her head from the math Olympiad problem: "What?"

Yu Yu also lifted her eyes.

Duan Nuo jerked his chin toward the back door; there stood a girl with a ponytail, about half a head taller than Duan Nuo, posture straight, arms crossed, her expression full of arrogance.

"I've heard of you, heard you're good at fighting?" the ponytail girl said.

With many people watching, Mu Youyu felt embarrassed, so she got up and went to the classroom door: "Who told you that?"

"It's spreading all over the school." The ponytail girl stepped forward two paces, her aura exuberant, "I'm Qin Shao, a second-year, I've trained in sanda for two years, I want to compete with you."

Mu Youyu leaned against the wall, "Huh?"

Qin Shao matter-of-factly said, "Feng Cen said you're strong—I don't believe it."

Mu Youyu understood, shifted to a more comfortable stance, "Two years of sanda? That's indeed pretty impressive; I can't beat you, you win."

Qin Shao blinked, "You... you're just conceding?"

"Yeah, I concede." Mu Youyu spread her hands, "You're stronger than me—satisfied?"

Qin Shao's expression shifted from expectation to confusion, then to annoyance: "No! You can't just concede like that—you have to fight me!"

"Why?"

"Because you have to agree for it to count!"

Mu Youyu lowered her voice: "Then why don't you just declare yourself the winner? Anyway, no one knows we've fought."

Qin Shao grew anxious, "That wouldn't be the same! I want to beat you fair and square!"

"Oh."

"You!" Qin Shao choked with anger, clutching her fists, "Are you scared?"

Mu Youyu gave a half-hearted reply: "Yeah, whatever you say."

Qin Shao was left speechless by Mu Youyu's lukewarm attitude, stood there a few seconds, then let out a heavy "humph."

Mu Youyu looked at her serious little expression, secretly thinking this person was interesting, and casually asked: "Do you like Feng Cen?"

Qin Shao's footsteps paused, then he suddenly turned his head: "How do you know?"

"Guessed."

A suspicious blush rose on Qin Shao's face; he hemmed and hawed for a while, then whispered: "Don't go around talking nonsense."

Having said that, she could no longer stay, turned and hurriedly left the hallway.

Duan Nuo stood awkwardly to the side the whole time… He had originally wanted to watch a good show, but ended up only eating a melon.

She returned to her seat, feeling embarrassed.

The after-school bell rang.

Feng Cen came to Class 1 to find Mu Youyu, wearing a pair of ripped jeans with a big tear at the left knee and a few threads hanging from the edge.

She habitually sat in Liu Wanwan's seat, but a few seconds later the seat's owner returned to the classroom, and as soon as she entered she stared at those pants and kept shaking her head.

Feng Cen crossed his legs: "What do you mean?"

Liu Wanwan said bluntly: "Tsk, those pants of yours—you cut them yourself, right? Even a beggar would shake his head at them."

Feng Cen lowered his gaze to inspect his stylish ripped pants: "This is fashion; you don't get it."

"Is fashion just cutting holes in good pants?" Liu Wanwan clicked her tongue.

Mu Youyu laughed out loud.

Feng Cen immediately turned his head toward her, raising his chin to signal: "Youyou, say something fair—are these pants not super distinctive?"

Mu Youyu, uncharacteristically tactful, said: "Um… pretty breathable."

Feng Cen, now confident, said: "Did you hear that? This is called breathability."

"I heard." Liu Wanwan kindly gave a suggestion: "Don't wear these tomorrow; I'm afraid the teacher will think you're a low-income student and apply for financial aid for you."

Yu Yu heard it and curled the corner of her mouth.

Feng Cen was speechless: "Going back to the first sentence, beggars shake their heads at those pants—if you shook your head, does that make you a beggar? Wanwan, how can you insult yourself like that?"

Liu Wanwan: "……"

On the weekend, Mu Youyu felt like learning to ride an electric scooter, and Feng Cen volunteered to teach her.

Mu Youyu sat on the back seat of a white electric scooter, gripping Feng Cen's sleeve tightly with both hands.

Feng Cen sat in front, holding the handlebars properly: "This is the throttle; grip it with four fingers on top and thumb below—the harder you twist, the faster you go."

"I know, I know."

"Let me give you a demonstration first; sit tight."

Feng Cen twisted the throttle a bit, and the electric scooter lurched forward; Mu Youyu's body was thrown back by inertia, almost losing her grip.

She cried out, "Slow down!"

Feng Cen slowed down: "Is this speed still slow? I'm already going slow enough; any slower and I'd stall."

The two rode slowly along the community's internal road, reached a T-junction, and as Feng Cen was about to turn, a black car drove out from the right.

She slammed the brakes, and the electric scooter slid a short distance before stopping.

Mu Youyu was so frightened she shrank back, her voice changing pitch: "Watch where you're going!"

Feng Cen himself jumped: "I saw it! Didn't we just stop?"

She turned her head to look at Mu Youyu, quickly soothing: "Are you okay? Did you get scared?"

Mu Youyu took a deep breath: "I'm fine, just my heart feels like it's about to jump out."

"Don't be scared, don't be scared," Feng Cen tried to sound calm: "My sister's driving skills are super steady; just now was purely accidental."

Mu Youyu: "Look ahead!"

Feng Cen turned his head and saw that the electric scooter had somehow already slid to the edge of the curb; a little more forward and it would hit the utility pole.

She quickly turned the handlebars back: "We haven't hit it yet!"

Mu Youyu bounced twice in the back seat: "I'm not learning anymore; I want to get off."

"No way, I haven't finished teaching yet," Feng Cen said, laughing and urging: "Learning to ride always involves bumps; newborn calves aren't afraid of tigers—just practice more and you'll be fine."

Mu Youyu had already stepped off the scooter: "I'm not practicing anymore; I'm afraid I'll die before I even learn."

Feng Cen laughed, pushing the scooter as he walked back beside her: "Fine, fine, fine—next time we'll switch to a three-wheeler; it'll be stable."

Mu Youyu recalled that scene and found it funny: "You'd ride a three-wheeler?"

Feng Cen raised an eyebrow: "I won't ride it; I'll let you ride, and I can even find you a coach."

"No."

"Then I'll find you a steady one."

"Are you steady?"

Feng Cen thought for a moment: "I'm pretty steady, actually."

Mu Youyu let out a soft sigh: "Forget it, I'll just walk."

The two thus walked all the way back to the villa's gate.

The electric scooter was pushed into the courtyard by Feng Cen and parked in a corner, looking a bit cleaner than when they had left.

April 15, the weather in A City finally cleared up.

Mu Youyu woke up very early; outside the window the sky was already light, she reached for her phone and checked the time—six in the morning.

The screen was filled with a dense mass of unread messages—nothing but birthday greetings sent at the stroke of midnight, plus unclaimed transfer red packets, piled up to a full ninety-nine plus.

"……"

After replying to the elders, Mu Youyu began to reply to the remaining messages.

At the very top of the pinned messages was a note from Mu Xin sent at the stroke of midnight: 【My life has meaning because of you; happy birthday, and I also wish us fifteen years together】

【Dear sister, no matter what happens, home will always be your fallback, and your brother will always be your support; the gift has arrived】

Mu Youyu was the first to reply to his brother: 【Also wishing brother a happy birthday, my gift has also arrived~ I will miss brother!】

Mu Nian: 【Wishing little sister a happy birthday, continue to be a happy little child in this new year, with big brother here for everything】

Mu Nian's transfer was probably the largest, the amount as usual seeming to test the upper limit of the bank system.

Mu Youyu stared at the string of nines, thinking that big brother had probably transferred all of her pocket money for her next life at once.

She replied with an obedient nodding emoticon, saying: 【Thank you, brother, in this new year I'll strive to spend a bit more, so as not to let brother's money go moldy in the account】

Mu Xi still sent a long little essay, the last sentence full of indulgence: 【Hope you are always surrounded by love, brother will always be the treasure's support】

After reading through the whole segment, Mu Youyu felt warm inside, thought a bit, and replied: 【I like second brother the most】

Mu Xianqi: 【Happy birthday, brother's wallet and arms are always open for you】

Mu Xianyan: 【Little sister happy birthday, be happy every day, the gift is on the way】

Mu Yichen: 【Wishing little sister a happy fifteenth birthday, hope little sister continues to be the happiest self, nothing is more worth cherishing than your smile, I will also always watch you walk on the distant road】

Mu Yichi: 【Happy fifteenth birthday, treasure! Brother really misses you, let me give you a kiss quickly! Although I'm in the lab, my heart has already flown to your side!】

Song LuXiao: 【Treasure happy birthday! You've grown another year, but here you can always be a little child, call me anytime if you need anything】

Song Lujing: 【Dear little sister happy birthday, brother will come back to play with you when on vacation!】

Song Huaiyu: 【Happy birthday, in this new year, still need to put oneself first】

Song Huaixian: 【Treasure happy birthday!! Brother misses you so much he's lost weight! I'll come see you tonight!】

Song Yusui's message is the most extravagant: 【Treasure happy birthday!!!! Brother I specially arranged a drone performance, at eight o'clock tonight above your place, remember to watch!! Don't think brother is corny, this is called having love!!】

Lu Yuchu: 【Happy birthday, my little princess, hope all worries stay away from you】

Song Yan: 【Treasure, happy fifteenth birthday! Wait until I'm done with this busy spell and I'll go to A City to see you, remember to think of me!】

Jun Chenling: 【Dear little sister happy birthday, my gift and A Xie are sent together】

Qing An: 【Little sister happy birthday! Although I can't be present this time, brother's heart is forever with you!】

Lin Ning: 【Happy birthday, today you're the eldest, wait for me to fly over later to find you!】

"……"

Mu Youyu patiently finished replying to each one.

By noon, except for Lin Ning, Mu Nian and Mu Xi also came over to accompany her birthday.

Even Mu Yichen and Mu Yichi specially took leave to rush back to A City, just to accompany her birthday, personally singing her a birthday song.