Chapter 12: The Suspicious Minister Liu  

Lin Zhizhi did not really want to go, but before she could come up with a polite way to decline, the senior from the dance team who had just spoken interrupted her.  

The senior said: “Zhizhi, come with us. You were the only one missing from our last dance team party. Everyone was saying we should gather again with you next time.”

Lin Zhizhi recalled that during the last dance team party, she had taken leave and stayed home. Upon seeing the party announcement, she had directly messaged the team captain to request a leave of absence.  

Now, she had no choice but to agree. “Alright, Senior.”  

As they discussed how many cars to book, they walked toward the school gate.  

Seeing them debating whether three cars would be too crowded or four cars would be too spacious, Lin Zhizhi suggested: “I drove here today. Senior, why don’t you ride with me?”  

The senior nodded to Lin Zhizhi and smiled. “That’s great! This way we don’t have to worry about how many cars to book.”  

Lin Zhizhi gently shook Lu Yi’s arm, which she was holding. “Would you come with me to get the car?”  

Lu Yi nodded with a smile. “Sure, I’d love another chance to witness someone’s driving skills.”  

Lin Zhizhi pretended to be dissatisfied. “What do you mean? My driving skills are excellent — even racing is no problem for me.”  

They chatted and left together, arm in arm.  

---

That day, Lin Zhizhi was driving an ice crystal blue Porsche. The car’s sleek lines flowed smoothly, with a two-tone genuine leather interior in the uniquely luxurious Bordeaux Red.  

As Lu Yi got into the car, he marveled at the sight of Lin Zhizhi in the driver’s seat. “Looks like I’d better work harder to earn more money.”  

Lin Zhizhi was a bit puzzled, then teasingly laughed. “Why? Are you planning to keep me?”  

“You’ve got it backward. Right now, it looks like you’re the rich one.”  

“Haha, then I’ll keep you instead.”  

Lin Zhizhi drove the car to where the others were waiting.  

She rolled down the window and called out: “Senior, get in.”  

After the senior got in, Lin Zhizhi nodded to the remaining group before driving away.  

---

Zhongting Restaurant was known as one of the more expensive restaurants in the city. It was a popular venue where wealthy young people often held parties, birthday celebrations, and similar events. Most preferred to book a private room in the Zhongting Restaurant.  

Judging from this, the organizer of today’s party was either a second-generation rich kid or a group of student council officers pooling funds just to put on a show.  

They soon arrived at Zhongting Restaurant. Lin Zhizhi drove the car to the entrance of the courtyard. As soon as she got out, a valet came forward to park the car.  

The three of them followed the waiter toward their private room. As they reached the corner of the main hall, Lin Zhizhi casually glanced around the surroundings.

Suddenly, she spotted a slightly familiar, portly middle-aged man in a suit walking alongside a tall, thin man wearing a mask.  

Lin Zhizhi rummaged through her memory and suddenly remembered.  

Wasn’t that portly middle-aged man Section Chief Liu from the Marketing Department?

The same Section Chief Liu who had been overly friendly and eager to please during her last visit to the company?

No wonder he seemed so familiar.  

But who was the masked man beside him? Why was he wearing a mask for no apparent reason? It looked suspicious.  

The more Lin Zhizhi thought about it, the stranger it seemed. She quickly came up with an excuse to follow them.  

“You guys go to the private room first. I’m going to the restroom. I’ll catch up with you soon.”  

Lu Yi glanced at Lin Zhizhi and offered: “I’ll go with you.”  

Seeing that Section Chief Liu and the masked man were about to disappear from view, Lin Zhizhi hurriedly refused and quickened her pace to follow them.  

When it came to tailing someone, the fewer people involved, the better.  

---

From a distance, Lin Zhizhi watched as Section Chief Liu and the masked man entered a private room. She rushed forward, stopped by the door, and leaned close to listen — but heard nothing. The soundproofing was so effective that not a single noise leaked out.  

Lin Zhizhi lingered at the door for a moment, worried that the people inside might suddenly come out. She then backed away a few steps and hid at the corner to observe.  

After waiting for a few minutes with no movement inside, Lin Zhizhi started to worry that if she stayed too long, Lu Yi might come looking for her.

However, the thought of leaving empty-handed made her reluctant to give up.  

Gritting her teeth, she told herself that if Lu Yi asked, she could just joke about falling into the toilet.  

Just when Lin Zhizhi was about to give up on waiting and was contemplating ways to overhear the conversation inside, the door to the private room finally opened.

The masked man stepped out and headed toward the restroom.