Chapter 543: Give Her a Little Lesson

Mu Youyu looked as if she had just remembered, "I recall, it was her after all!"

After saying that, she felt a bit guilty, lowering her lashes; actually, she didn't really remember.

Sometimes Lin Ning's voice messages were especially long, fifty to sixty seconds each, with dozens in a row.

Mu Youyu's usual routine was to transcribe the first message, see what it said, after a while pretend she had listened to the whole thing, then hold down the audio and repeat the words of her first message, humming and murmuring as she sent it back.

"Too much," "How could she do that," "What's it to her," etc. —she didn't even think about which line to use next; her mouth moved faster than her heart.

Lin Ning continued to complain: "You say studying is already so busy, how does she still have time to oppose me? And she's supposed to be a noble family's young lady—no idea where her upbringing went."

Mu Youyu felt indignant, "How could she be like that? So bad, truly impolite!"

She went along with Lin Ning's words for a few sentences, her eyes shifted, and she suddenly whispered, "Why don't we give her a little lesson?"

Lin Ning heard that, startled, and for a moment it seemed she saw the childhood best friend who feared nothing.

Back then, Mu Youyu was the same—just a flick of her eyes and she had a wicked idea.

Jun Chenling had been leaning back in his chair, lost in thought, but hearing this pulled his attention back; he turned his head and asked, "What kind of little lesson?"

The bit of frustration Lin Ning had felt earlier mostly dissipated; she moved closer, and when the four formed a small circle, she gave a soft cough.

Several attendants stood to the side, providing cover.

Mu Youyu said in a flat tone, "Do you know her situation?"

"Of course! She talks about it every day!"

Lin Ning began to introduce: "Her surname is Kedebuyue, her grandfather is a parliament member in Y Guo, her father holds an idle post in the foreign ministry with no real power. The family has been declining these years, relying solely on her grandfather's reputation."

"No real power yet so arrogant?" Mu Youyu blinked, "Isn't she afraid of offending people?"

Lin Ning spread her hands helplessly, "Maybe she thinks I'm a foreigner, so bullying me won't draw any support."

As she spoke, she leaned closer to her best friend, "Those few followers of hers all come from petty noble families, not even able to reach the threshold of a count's manor; together they think they're something special."

Jiang Liangjin listened from the side, feeling that the status of those few was far too low.

Jun Chenling felt the same.

Lin Ning, on the contrary, grew more enthusiastic the more she spoke, "What kind of little lesson are you talking about? I've been studying acting lately—I could play the victim authentically."

Mu Youyu was almost made to lose her composure by that remark, "What kind of lesson is that, making her sympathize with you?"

Lin Ning thought it over, realized it wouldn't work, moved closer again, and asked, "Then what do you have in mind?"

Mu Youyu put down her fork and gave Jiang Liangjin a glance.

Jiang Liangjin instantly understood, pulled up a document on her phone, and thoughtfully turned the screen so all three could see clearly.

It was a guest list, densely packed with the names and seats of everyone attending tonight, each name followed by a small line noting their background and main social connections.

Below that was a ranking of the evening's main donors.

Jun Chenling, who had done his homework beforehand, silently looked away.

Lin Ning sucked in a breath of cool air, astonished, "Where did you get this? This is Y Guo's largest charitable foundation!"

Mu Youyu nudged Jiang Liangjin's arm, Jiang Liangjin understood, and said, "Prepared beforehand—know yourself and know your opponent."

Lin Ning's eyes widened, "You're coming to a charity banquet and still doing a background check?"

Jiang Liangjin glanced at her, "It's not a background check; it's just to see who's around so we don't encounter any strange people."

Mu Youyu added for him, "Besides, see if there's anyone interesting."

"Fine, you two really are something." Lin Ning's gaze shifted between them, then returned to the list, "It's her—what does the small print beside her say?"

"It's just… how does she donate so little? She can't even match a tenth of her best friend's donation."

Jiang Liangjin enlarged that small line: "The family's business has been mediocre the past two years, seeking overseas investment partnerships; they've contacted several investors but haven't closed any deals."

Lin Ning's eyes lit up gradually, "So what she lacks most right now is money?"

Jiang Liangjin corrected, "More precisely, she lacks someone who can endorse her family's business."

In other words, they want not just money, but also a weighty backer.

He added, "Besides, when she sees you and Ling-ge standing together, she'll realize you happen to have exactly that kind of person nearby."

Mu Youyu continued along his line: "We don't need to do anything ourselves; when you go back to school and meet her, just act as if you don't know her, same as before."

Lin Ning looked bewildered, "Just like that? That's called a lesson?"

She inwardly sighed, the current best friend is far gentler than she used to be as a child.

Mu Youyu tucked the stray hair behind her ear, revealing a hint of mischief, "She'll give herself a lesson on her own."

Lin Ning didn't fully understand, but knowing Mu Youyu wouldn't harm her, she nodded obediently, "Okay, I'll listen to you, do whatever you say…… I'm off to the restroom first."

After she walked away, Jiang Liangjin turned his head and asked, "Should we have Ling-ge find someone to leak a bit of wind to her classmates?"

Mu Youyu shook her head, "No need to leak anything; she'll look it up herself and then scare herself."

Jiang Liangjin thought the same, a faint smile tugging at his lips, "Is your mood better now?"

Mu Youyu tilted her head slightly, speaking with a smile, "My mood's always been fine; it's Ningning who's unhappy, I'm thinking of a solution for her."

Jiang Liangjin's finger lightly brushed the back of her hand, "Mm, my Ah-Yu is best at thinking of others."

Jun Chenling offered no opinion.

The banquet seats gradually filled, the host on stage played the big screen, and background music began.

A lady in a burgundy dress walked from the crowd to stand before Jun Chenling, asking tentatively, "Miss Mu, Your Highness Xun Li, your seats are up front—would you like me to escort you there?"

Mu Youyu lifted her chin, "No, thank you."

Jun Chenling lifted his eyelids, politely replying, "No, this spot is fine."

The lady smiled, nodded, and turned to leave.

Mu Youyu's gaze wandered aimlessly through the crowd, finally settling on a figure in a dark-colored dress.

From her angle she could only see the person's three-dimensional mixed-race profile, which looked somewhat different in the warm lighting.

That person was lowering their head to speak with the person beside them, posture relaxed.

Jiang Liangjin noticed, and as his gaze shifted over, that person had already left—"What's wrong?"

Mu Youyu turned her head, "Nothing, I was mistaken."

Waiting for Lin Ning to return, Jun Chenling finally thought of a way to show off in front of his sister: "Why don't I get someone to beat them up, give them a lesson?"

His tone didn't sound like joking at all.

Lin Ning nearly choked on his own saliva, "You're a gangster?"