Chapter 502: Everything you care about, I care about

The deputy minister hurriedly smiled along, saying a few polite words, "Sorry, I spoke out of turn."

They chatted a few more sentences, the deputy minister's phone rang, he glanced at the screen and apologetically said, "Sorry, I need to take this call."

Ruo Ya made a gesture indicating he could leave, and he quickly walked toward the side door.

She stared at his back, lost in thought, then turned to her sister and softened her tone: "Go have fun, be careful, I still have some things to do, I'm leaving first."

"Goodbye, Sister Ruo Ya."

Jiang Liangjin withdrew his gaze, stepped forward, and said, "That painting he just mentioned, I clearly recall it has never been made public."

Mu Youyu nodded, "Yes, I'm certain as well."

"Alright, I'll have someone look into it."

Ruo Ya didn't leave right away; instead, she walked to the banquet hall corridor and sent a message to Qing Wei.

Less than a minute after the message was sent, Qing Wei's reply arrived: 【Understood】

The music in the banquet hall changed to a new piece, shifting from slow classical to a slightly upbeat jazz.

After finishing the call, the deputy minister returned and scanned the crowd, but didn't see Ruo Ya's figure.

He hesitated a moment, stopped searching, casually picked up a glass whose owner he didn't know, and turned toward the other side window.

Someone approached from behind; he shifted his body slightly, making half a space.

The comer was a Black young man in black formal attire, with an ordinary face.

He stood beside the deputy minister and asked, "How's it going?"

The deputy minister glanced around, slightly shook his head; the young man understood it meant, "Too many people, no progress."

The young man warily scanned the surroundings, "Those above are pressing hard; you need to hurry, this is the final step."

He gave a slight nod, and the young man walked away.

The deputy minister's gaze shifted back; seeing Ruo Ya reappear in the hall's sightline, he immediately went over to talk.

Ruo Ya didn't try to drive him away either.

"Princess Mingxi truly shines tonight." The deputy minister subtly observed the surroundings, seeing that Mu Youyu and Jiang Liangjin had indeed left, he breathed a sigh of relief, "Princess Ruo Ya is so fortunate to have such a sister."

Ruo Ya's lips curved slightly as she accepted his polite remark, "Mingxi has always been well-behaved; I don't need to worry about her."

The deputy minister casually set down his glass, "I heard Princess Mingxi scored full marks on the Z Country college entrance exam—truly impressive; my own children's grades don't compare to hers."

Ruo Ya didn't respond verbally; she merely lifted her glass slightly, a gesture of acknowledgment.

The deputy minister didn't mind, "That said, Princess Mingxi holds princess status in both Y Country and M Country; where does she plan to develop in the future? She can't be running back and forth."

Ruo Ya put on a proper smile again, "This is Mingxi's own affair; we support her decision and won't interfere."

The deputy minister waved his hand, "I don't mean it that way; I'm just curious—after all, both countries' royal families granted her status, which is rare in history."

Ruo Ya only smiled without speaking; the deputy minister's expression remained normal, "Princess Ruo Ya, there's something I don't know whether I should say."

"If you don't know whether to say it, then don't."

The deputy minister choked a little, then laughed, "Princess Ruo Ya is still as straightforward as ever."

They exchanged a few more lines of trivial small talk; Ruo Ya then excused herself to greet other guests and turned to leave.

On the other side of the banquet hall, Mu Youyu and Jiang Liangjin were still standing near the edge.

A young man in a custom-made deep-blue noble outfit approached, his smile refined, "Princess Mingxi, I've long heard of you."

Mu Youyu didn't know him; she merely nodded politely.

He didn't mind, "I'm from the M Country Foreign Ministry; I've been abroad until recently, when I was transferred back. Today is the first time I've seen the princess in person—she's even more outstanding than in the news."

Jiang Liangjin shifted his body slightly, blocking half of the man's view.

The man noticed his movement, chuckled, "You must be Mr. Jiang, right? Long admired."

It's rare for people to address him like that; Jiang Liangjin gave a slight nod, saying nothing.

"Haha, your way of getting along is truly special." He laughed twice, not feeling embarrassed, and redirected his attention to Mu Youyu.

"Princess, I have a friend who especially likes your paintings; he asked me to inquire whether you have any recent works, and where they are—he wants to collect one."

"Why is everyone talking about her paintings?" Mu Youyu lifted her eyes, "Who is your friend?"

The man blinked, then laughed, "Someone in business; he said you wouldn't know the princess anyway."

Mu Youyu: "If you don't tell me, how would I know?"

Jiang Liangjin: "Exactly."

"Haha, his name is Si Si; you probably don't know him."

The two just smiled, the conversation remained sparse, and Ruo Ya kept watching this side.

He said a few more sentences; seeing the two weren't really engaging with him, he politely took his leave.

After he walked away, Jiang Liangjin finally spoke, "Is this actually a legitimate charity gala?"

"You noticed too?" Mu Youyu raised her eyebrows, "I thought I was the only one who found it odd."

Jiang Liangjin curled his lips in a faint smile and blurted out endearment: "Everything you care about, I care about."

"Got it." Mu Youyu regained her smile, "It should be over now; I'll let Sister Ruo Ya know, and then we'll leave."

"Okay."

Still, I don't know why Sister Ruo Ya invited her to this kind of event—what exactly is she supposed to do?

Not long after, in the corner of the banquet hall, Zhu Zhou stood behind a pillar, holding a cup of juice he hadn't drunk much of, his gaze moving across the crowd.

He was bundled up tightly, only his eyes showing; his demeanor looked sharper than usual, and that sickly frail feeling had faded considerably.

Shang You followed at his side, dressed similarly, asking, "Have you found it?"

Zhu Zhou didn't answer; his gaze locked onto a figure on the east side of the banquet hall, he handed the juice cup to the bodyguard, "You wait here."

Shang You grabbed his sleeve, "You're going alone?"

Zhu Zhou's expression remained unchanged, "Otherwise? You help me?"

Shang You loosened his grip, stepped back half a step, "Then you go on your own, I'm afraid of dying. You all protect the young master well."

The bodyguard pretending to be an ordinary person nearby: "Received."

Zhu Zhou, accustomed to it, strode toward that direction; as he passed by Ruo Ya, he gave a slight nod.

Ruo Ya didn't say much more, still chatting with the people around her.

Zhu Zhou continued forward, eventually stopping in front of the deputy minister.

That deputy minister saw him from afar; seeing him block his path, his expression unchanged, he politely asked, "Who are you?"

Zhu Zhou didn't respond, only raising his hand; the bodyguard beside him pulled out a credential from his pocket and waved it in front of him.

The deputy minister's face completely changed, then quickly suppressed it, "What is this?"

The bodyguard put the credential away, tone icy: "Someone wants to see you; come with me."

The deputy minister furtively glanced down at the crystal, confirming his appearance was still this, doubt rising on his face, "Did you get it wrong? I don't know you."

The bodyguard shifted slightly, making a gesturing invitation, "Mr. Lu Haisa, there are many people here; are you sure you want to cause a scene here?"