Chapter 684: Extra: Mu Nian 4

Extra: Mu Nian 4

Zhou Shang glanced sideways at Mu Nian, who was looking down at his phone, with a hint of amusement: "Who are you chatting with? You're smiling so... kindly?"

Mu Nian put away his phone: "I've always laughed like this; your eyes have a problem."

"My eyes are very good."

Seeing him deliberately avoid the topic, Zhou Shang's curiosity grew: "Who, who? Is it Yan Yuejiu?"

Mu Nian couldn't be bothered to discuss this with him: "Did you check today's report?"

Zhou Shang Expression froze: "... Can't you avoid saying such a buzzkill in this kind of setting?"

"Then don't ask so much."

Zhou Shang sensibly shut his mouth.

A few students were still playing pool on the table; Mu Nian sat for a while, his phone vibrated again in his pocket, but he didn't pull it out immediately, waiting until Zhou Shang was dragged away to play pool before taking it out to look.

Yan Yuejiu posted a video; the thumbnail was the noodles she had just filmed, he put on his earphones and clicked in.

The video's background was noisy; she didn't know who she was talking to over there, when a male voice interjected: "Do you want this cake? I can pack it for you."

Yan Yuejiu said "No thanks," then picked up a chopstickful of the few remaining noodles, waved it at the camera, and said, "Come on, fans, eat first."

Mu Nian hovered his finger above the screen, returned to the typing page, and replied: {【Surprise】 Can't you finish it? }

Yan Yuejiu replied instantly: {【Who let me have a bird-sized stomach?】}

Mu Nian: {【Don't believe it】}

Yan Yuejiu: {【Alright, actually this is the second portion I ordered】}

Recalling the sudden male voice in the video, Mu Nian's eyes darkened slightly, he sat up straight, and asked: {【How many people are there with you?】}

Yan Yuejiu sent a smug Expression pack: {【Two people, and my cousin's grandson who is with me; he's rude and doesn't know how to address people.】}

Turns out it's the cousin's grandson; Mu Nian leaned back in his chair and typed casually: {【Give him a beating.】}

Yan Yuejiu sent a voice message, lowering her voice: "President Nian, using violence to solve problems isn't a good thing. Also, I'm returning to China next month; there's an embroidery exhibition inviting me domestically, so I'll stop by to see you on the way—do you have time?"

Mu Nian listened twice, confirmed the male voice wasn't in the background anymore, then replied: {【Yes, which date?】}

Yan Yuejiu: {【Around the 10th】}

Mu Nian: {【Alright, I'll pick you up then】}

The other party's text teased: {【President Nian, busy as ever, do you have time to pick me up?】}

Mu Nian: {【Make time】}

Yan Yuejiu: {【Niannian, you really know how to talk】}

Behind them, Zhou Shang clicked his tongue repeatedly: "Oh~ why are you going to pick her up when you never come to pick me up?"

Mu Nian only said: "You're really impolite, and you were sneaking a look."

This brother never swears; Zhou Shang has never heard him say any dirty words since childhood, nor does he fear what he might say, only saying: "Right, right, then what?"

Mu Nian's tone flat: "Then, did you check today's report?"

"... I was talking too much; I'm leaving now, bye."

In his third year of university, Mu Nian completed the four-year undergraduate curriculum, began preparing for graduate school entrance exams, and in his fourth year successfully passed the entrance and enrolled.

During his graduate studies, Mu Nian's free time basically revolved around company matters and family affairs.

As for company affairs, needless to say—meetings, signing documents, reviewing proposals, seeing clients, business trips, social engagements……

Family matters were actually more numerous, but Mu Nian delegated most of them to his subordinates; what he cared about most was his sister's affairs.

When his sister was in junior high, fearing she was young and naive and might suffer injustice at school, he specially sent people to smooth things up and down the school.

He also had a bodyguard follow her closely, but after a few days the bodyguard was driven away by the sister, and the bodyguard even said her hair was pulled out by herself……

Forget it, just let the sister have her way.

Whatever the sister said she wanted to go play or do, he would arrange everything in advance.

Later, the sister told him she wanted to study in A City.

As a successful older brother, Mu Nian still had no objections; he bought a house in A City, hired a nanny, and regularly visited her together with Mu Xi.

Each time he went, he would first check the security system there, then screen everyone in the villa, making sure there were no problems before feeling at ease leaving.

As for Jiang Liangjin's side, he didn't let anyone make things difficult for him; he merely allowed others to keep the sister's information concealed, and also allowed them to feed false information to Jiang Liangjin.

He knew his sister's nature, and believed that whatever she did was not wrong; only others could be at fault.

As long as it was something the sister brought up, he had never said 'no'.

At twenty-four, Mu Nian smoothly obtained his doctoral degree.

At the same time, Yan Yuejiu also received her master's graduation certificate, along with a handwritten comment from her advisor, which basically praised her exploration of modern applications of traditional crafts as innovative, suggesting she consider staying on to teach.

Yan Yuejiu spent a total of six years at that school, from bachelor's to master's, with a year off in between studying color matching and weaving under an elderly French artisan who was a friend of her grandmother.

Her grandmother was elderly, and she began at age fifteen to gradually take over the grandmother's nearly lost craft.

Now she has been listed in the national intangible cultural heritage register, and she herself has been granted the title of inheritor, making her the youngest among this batch.

She has her own studio both domestically and abroad.

Domestically there are exhibitions to hold, lectures to give, and some familiar clients specifically request her to design wedding dresses; she returns to China two or three times a year, staying less than a month each time before rushing back abroad to continue her studies.

Her advisor once commented: "You shouldn't be pursuing this degree; you should already be sitting on the judges' panel."

Yan Yuejiu then laughed and replied: "I'm just getting a certificate; this looks better."

Now she has obtained the certificate and plans to return to China to develop.

Yan Yuejiu then spent another week packing and shipping back to China all the fabric samples, design drafts, and finished garments accumulated over six years in her studio.

On the flight back to China, she slept the entire way.

On the day she landed, it was March in China; Yan Yuejiu wore a self-designed camel-colored cashmere short coat, her hair reaching shoulder length.

At the exit, the crowd was thick; she pushed her luggage forward and precisely locked onto that tall, outstanding figure in the crowd.

Mu Nian stood not far away, wearing a full-length dark gray coat, his face mostly covered by a mask, holding a bunch of narcissus, with no bodyguards around; seeing her come out, he walked over.

Yan Yuejiu also pushed her suitcase over and said, "How come it's just you? Didn't my sister come?"

Mu Nian spoke gently, "No, she's in A City."

Yan Yuejiu had also heard some things about Mu Youyu, but she didn't elaborate.

Mu Nian took the luggage from her hand, then handed over the flowers he was holding, "Ah Jiu, welcome back."

Both had outstanding bearing, and many eyes turned toward them.

Yan Yuejiu smiled as she took it, gave him a light hug, already eager to leave, and asked, "Niannian, I'm so tired—did you drive?"

"I did. Didn't Uncle Yan and the others come?"

"I didn't let them come."

"Then let me first take you to see your place?"

"Sure."

After getting in the car, Yan Yuejiu leaned against the seatback and slept a second nap; when she woke, the car had already stopped in front of an apartment building.

The car had likely been stopped for a while, and Mu Nian was playing on his phone in the driver's seat.

Yan Yuejiu's voice hoarse, she asked, "When did you arrive?"

Mu Nian didn't lie either, "An hour ago."

"Why didn't you call me?"

"Didn't want to."

Mu Nian got out of the car, went around to open the rear door, and handed her the keys: "You can stay here first; if you're not satisfied, we can change it. It's close to your studio and my company."

At first Yan Yuejiu didn't intend to let Mu Nian bother with her accommodation; she thought staying at the studio was fine, but later Mu Nian somehow said something to her grandmother, who then had her listen to Mu Nian's arrangements, and she agreed.

Yan Yuejiu looked around; the surroundings were elegant and tranquil, a standalone villa. "Really good, President Nian, you've gone to trouble."

"It's only proper."

"You're really nice; want to come up and have a look?"

"No, I still have work at the company."

Mu Nian went to the trunk to get her luggage for her, saying, "If you're free tonight, let's have a meal together."

"Free, I'll wait for you to pick me up, bye."

"See you tonight."

Yan Yuejiu watched his car drive out of the neighborhood, then dragged her suitcase upstairs.