Ye Mu turned his head to look at the person beside him. The newcomer was wearing a dark red evening gown, slightly bowing to him, revealing a fiery décolletage and a glimpse of her thigh through a high slit.
He withdrew his gaze and said with a smile, "Miss Yang, if you feel cold, you can return to the banquet hall first."
Yang Liu raised an eyebrow, stood up straight, and offered him the hot drink in her hand, saying casually, "A woman cannot fear the cold wind if she wants to attend such an occasion."
Ye Mu took the hot drink and placed it on the edge of the balcony next to his champagne.
"I, on the other hand, find the banquet hall quite warm. A lady like yourself should return to a warm place, not stay here with trembling fingers."
Yang Liu curled her fingers slightly, her smile fading a little. "I believe Young Master Ye will understand what I mean."
Ye Mu did not look at her. Yang Liu was the daughter of the Minister of the Highest Inspection Department of Earth Star. This minister had the responsibility to investigate all high-ranking officials on Earth Star.
Whether it was their lifestyle or their policy decisions, as long as this minister submitted a report, all members of the Inspection Department and the highest commander would closely monitor the investigated person, and finally make a decision to demote or dismiss the supervision based on the results.
This process often lasted a long time, one or two months, or even a year. Due to the special nature of the interstellar era, this process would be indefinitely extended.
Although this minister was not a wicked person, if someone truly convinced him that Ye Mu had a problem in some aspect, then at least for the upcoming election, Ye Mu would be directly disqualified.
This minister also had a quirk: he was very biased towards men and looked down upon women. Yang Liu was the only child left by his deceased first wife. After Minister Yang remarried and had two younger brothers, her position became very awkward.
Ye Mu lowered his eyes and looked at her. "Miss Yang, if you are talking about your two younger brothers, I am afraid I cannot help. Please, Miss Yang..."
Yang Liu suddenly became agitated, grabbing Ye Mu's arm with both hands. This was a very impolite act, but she couldn't care less; this was her best chance.
"Mr. Ye, you must understand what I'm saying. If you have ambitions for that position, why not form an alliance with me? You help me break free from my family's constraints, and I'll help you ascend to the position of the highest commander of Earth Star. This would benefit both of us."
Ye Mu frowned. Her grip was so tight that his arm even ached.
"Miss Yang, you are drunk." He took Yang Liu's hands and removed them from his arm.
Did this woman know what she was saying? If Ye Mu were to spread these words, she knew what awaited her.
He sneered, "Actually, there's a better idea. I've already heard what you said. Threatening you by telling your father all of this should be more beneficial to me than what you just proposed, shouldn't it?"
Yang Liu's pupils contracted, and then she smiled. "Mr. Ye, you are indeed as gentlemanly as the rumors say. I know you just want me to be more vigilant, but I wouldn't have come if I wasn't fully prepared. If you can form an alliance with me, I can give you much more than you imagine. I also know about your relationship with that Insect Race young prince. Don't worry, I won't have any improper thoughts. If you want to end this relationship, you can end it anytime."
Before coming here today, Yang Liu had thoroughly investigated everything about Ye Mu and that Insect Race young prince, so she naturally knew that their relationship was not ordinary. She was a smart woman, something even Ye Mu had to admit. Cooperating with her would at least be better than cooperating with her minister father or her two brothers.
Therefore, Yang Liu also knew that even if she were as beautiful as a celestial being, she probably wouldn't catch Ye Mu's eye. She wouldn't go up and say pointless things to annoy him. It was better to aim for a win-win situation. What she said earlier was not wrong. If she could form an alliance with Ye Mu, even if this marriage of convenience only lasted for a year or so, it would be enough for both of them to get what they wanted.
The collection of evidence regarding her father's bribery was in its final stages. As long as she could get Ye Mu's support, she could overthrow her father in the shortest possible time, and even stand out from the other heirs as someone most familiar with the position. Whether it was to hard-won the father's position or to regain absolute freedom to pursue her true dreams, it was better than being discarded as a pawn for a commercial marriage by her father in the future.
So, the reason she found Ye Mu to propose an alliance also included this. The candidate in front of her was infinitely better than those her father had found.
Yang Liu felt a bit more confident. "Mr. Ye, forming an alliance with me is your best choice right now."
Ye Mu suddenly smiled. Yang Liu's eyes widened. She had never seen any man smile so gently. He only smiled for a moment before stopping, sighing, "It would be unfair."
Yang Liu let out a soft sound, suppressing the joy on her face. "Mr. Ye, you don't need to worry, I won't feel wronged."
Ye Mu shook his head. "No, I mean Luo Luo would be wronged."
Yang Liu: "..."
Ye Mu's elegant and cold demeanor returned. "Therefore, I will not form an alliance with you, but I will consider cooperating with you."
Yang Liu was about to say something more when Ye Mu's expression suddenly changed, and he looked towards a small grove not far below the balcony. She followed his gaze but saw nothing. However, when she turned back, she saw that Ye Mu had already jumped directly from the small balcony.
After landing on the ground, he immediately ran towards the blind spot of her vision.
Yang Liu was speechless, muttering to herself that even if he didn't want to form an alliance with her, he didn't need to go to such lengths.
Ye Mu, however, couldn't care about what Yang Liu was thinking at the moment because he thought he had just seen Luo Qi's figure flash by. The sky was already dark, and there were many tree shadows over there. Luo Qi might still be on the insect planet. Countless reasons told Ye Mu that he must have misread, but as long as a single thought arose, he would pursue it without hesitation.
Soon, Ye Mu saw a figure wearing a scarf and a white jacket ahead. He walked forward with his hands in his pockets, but Ye Mu had already covered the distance in three or two steps and grabbed him.
Luo Qi turned around in surprise, his eyes a little red, his nose a little red, and his face a little red, looking pitiful and adorable. He seemed to have been frozen outside for a long time, radiating coldness all over. His voice, muffled by the scarf, was slurred, "Bastard."
Ye Mu's heart melted like water. He thought he was going to die from Luo Qi's cuteness.