Chapter 597

Inside, Song LuXiao finally managed to get away and approach his sister's table, only to find the seat largely empty.

He glanced around, finally settling on the relatively quiet Song LuJing, and asked, "Where's my sister?"

Song LuJing casually replied, "Just went out for some fresh air."

"Alright." Song LuXiao didn't press further, turned and sat beside him.

As soon as he sat down, he felt several gazes falling on him from different directions.

He didn't look up; earlier he had already roughly surveyed the situation.

The standard of the international business banquet could be seen from the guests' attire and tone of conversation; faces from various countries intermingled, and several languages were woven together.

Near the main stage, several officials from M Guo's Energy Department were conversing with Mu Xianqi.

Their demeanor was not particularly stiff.

In the realm of technological cooperation, it has always been one of Mu Xianqi's most solid territories.

Before, when he was still in M Guo, he had already, through royal connections, secured several batches of priority mining rights for resources, and thereafter continuously expanded along that line.

Now, the several core partners in that region privately have deeper interactions with Mu Xianqi.

Those officials naturally also understood that today, Mu Xianqi was here to hold down the fort.

He wanted to tell them that even though most of his industry had moved domestically for development, within M Guo's circle he remained just as present in the international business world as before.

As for Mu Xi, several groups of people were already standing before him.

Some were there to discuss his concert plans, others to probe recent moves of the Mu Clan Conglomerate.

Regarding the concert, Mu Xi didn't flatly refuse each proposal, nor did he agree to any of them.

This left those executives looking at each other, unsure how to respond.

After all, he has always been the kind of presence in the music world that gives people headaches.

Young, talented, well‑connected, with many fans, great influence, and little desire for most worldly fame and profit.

He resembles Jiang Liangjin closely, yet there are some differences.

Mu Xin didn't stay long in any circle, basically always standing alongside Jun Chenling.

The positions of Song Yusui and Lu Yuchu had almost become the two busiest spots in the banquet hall.

After all, Lu Yuchu is the head of the Song Family Conglomerate among the four major conglomerates; he speaks little, and when he does, his words are decisive.

Song Yusui is laid‑back, but when it comes to business he always keeps the initiative, never letting anyone steer the topic into areas he doesn't want to engage.

The two stood side by side, their auras and styles vastly different, yet they meshed perfectly.

Song LuXiao withdrew his gaze, picked up the glass of red wine that had hardly been touched and was already mixed, and took a light sip.

Song LuJing was lowering his head, his left hand rapidly tapping the phone screen under the table.

Song LuXiao drawled, "How have you been lately?"

Song LuJing lifted his head, "Not bad."

Song LuXiao pushed the untouched fruit plate toward him, saying, "Eat a bit more, don't go hungry."

"Oh." Song LuJing picked up a fork, speared a piece of honeydew melon, and chewed absentmindedly.

He played with his phone a while longer, then lifted his chin toward the side door and said, "Brother, I feel like my sister has been gone a long time."

Song LuXiao had just arrived; he could know only so much, and lazily replied, "Why are you in a hurry?"

"There are so many mosquitoes outside, and my sister is dressed so lightly; even Jiang Liangjin didn't think to bring a jacket."

Song LuJing furrowed his brows, disagreeing, "Besides, which of our older brothers is as clingy as he is?"

Song LuXiao instantly replied, "You do."

"I'm clingy to my sister; he's clingy to my sister—can they be the same?"

"Song LuJing used to be able to cling, and he did, but now he's so busy he hasn't seen his sister in days."

He didn't hear his brother agree with him, and, dissatisfied, pointed to Mu Xin's spot, saying, "Look at Xinbao—when has he ever clung to anyone?"

Mu Xin happened to walk back from the rear, hearing his name, his gaze light and inquiring, "What are you saying?"

Song LuJing changed his expression, "Nothing much, we were just saying that Xinbao is so busy today he doesn't even know he's clinging to this older brother of mine."

Mu Xin: "……"

Song LuJing leaned in again, "Want me to go check on my sister?"

Mu Xin had already sat down beside him, looked up, "No need, someone is with her."

"I know someone is with her, but that person isn't me."

Song LuJing made a move to head outside, but Song LuXiao grabbed his sleeve and said, "Sit down."

"I just want to take a look, I won't disturb them." Song LuJing tried to struggle.

"If you go, you'll be disturbing them."

Song LuXiao didn't let go, his expression helpless, "If you're bored, go help Xiao Xi deal with those over there."

Song LuJing imagined the scene of Mu Xi being besieged, clicked his tongue, and said, "Xi Ge really has it rough."

"Then why don't you go help him share the burden?"

"No, I'm useless; going would just add to the chaos."

Song LuJing sat down again, pulled out his phone, the screen lit up showing the game interface, and said, "I might as well play my game."

"……" Song LuXiao ignored him, his gaze shifting back to Mu Xin, and asked, "How are things going on your side?"

Mu Xin replied calmly, "It's fine; there's a Y Guo project, and Song Zesi also told me he hopes I can go over there after August."

Jun Chenling, who had been following him all along, saw Mu Xianyan along the way and realized she hadn't been hanging around Ah Xin much lately.

His eyes flickered slightly, he said nothing, merely standing quietly beside Mu Xin.

"……"

Mu Xianyan had just come out from backstage, leaning against a pillar on the west side, staring blankly at a spot.

Mu Xianqi's voice came from far to near: "What are you looking at?"

Mu Xianyan said in a flat tone: "I'm watching to see when you'll come over to find me."

Mu Xianqi stepped forward, sweeping his gaze toward the direction she had just been looking, and said, "If you don't want to stay, you can go back first."

Mu Xianyan shook her head: "I'm fine, just a bit tired from standing too long."

Mu Xianqi gave a light chuckle, pressed down on her head, and said, "Or I could have someone open the upstairs lounge?"

"Forget it, it's not necessary."

For her, this is not a situation that needs to be avoided.

Mu Xianyan is fairly well-known in the music circle, but at international business banquets hosted jointly by the four major conglomerates, she has always been the low-key one.

She doesn't represent any company, nor does she need to maintain any connections on the scene; she is simply here as a member of the Mu family, Mu Xianqi's sister, and an adopted daughter of the Duke's Mansion.

This identity is sufficient for this occasion.

Mu Xianyan lowered her eyes and said a fragmentary remark: "Those people are about to leave."

Mu Xianqi understood.

"Whether they leave or not has nothing to do with you," Mu Xianqi comforted, "If you don't go, can't they still come find you on their own?"

Mu Xianyan's lips twitched slightly: "Haven't they already come looking for you several times on their own?"

"That was last time; this time it won't happen." Mu Xianqi said without any emotion, "I've already had someone give them a heads-up."

Mu Xianyan didn't respond further.

Mu Xianqi changed the topic, softening his voice: "You said before you wanted to go to M Guo with Ruo Ya for a while—are you still going?"

"Let's talk later; I haven't been in the mood lately."

Mu Xianqi didn't urge her further, just quietly stood with her.