The best minister

Chapter 1

On a sweltering summer night, a torrential downpour began, lightning ripped through layers of dark clouds, and rumbling thunder followed closely behind.

The Imperial Painting Academy, with its medieval church-style stained glass windows illuminating the bright lights inside, is where Zero Degree magazine will host a fashion charity gala tonight to commemorate its tenth anniversary.

Before the dinner, there was a talk session where guests either signed autographs and took photos in front of the display boards or socialized.

In such a setting, it would be awkward and out of place not to chat and laugh with familiar people.

Fortunately, Ji Mingshu never had this kind of trouble.

"Is Jiang Chun not coming tonight?"

"They probably won't come."

"That's true. If you spend millions to order a bunch of junk, you might be willing but unable to do charity for the time being."

Several gentle female voices rang out, sounding like expressions of concern and regret if one didn't listen carefully. The conversation ended abruptly, the young ladies exchanging glances and then smiling in unison.

Ji Mingshu, who was surrounded in the center, remained silent. Although she chuckled softly, it was not hard to tell that she was not interested and even somewhat absent-minded.

Seeing this, someone subtly changed the subject, "Mingshu, is that the dress you tried on in Paris the other day? It's beautiful."

“No, the one I tried a couple of days ago was just a prototype. This one was ordered during last year’s Fall/Winter Haute Couture Week,” Ji Mingshu replied.

Everyone has done haute couture, and having a few pieces isn't unusual, but formal gowns often cost millions and are not easy to wear repeatedly. Wearing one like Ji Mingshu would as an ordinary evening gown would be too extravagant.

None of them hid their admiration, and as usual, they echoed and praised her.

Ji Mingshu seemed unmoved, her expression indifferent. In the end, she did give them face, drinking a small glass of red wine and saying "enjoy" before leaving with Gu Kaiyang, the soon-to-be deputy editor-in-chief of *Zero Degree*.

As soon as Ji Mingshu left, the young ladies secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Ji Mingshu was clearly out of sorts tonight. He wasn't interested in telling Jiang Chun's jokes, and he didn't react when she complimented her dress. I don't know why he's so difficult to please.

"What are you thinking about? You still have time to listen to those plastic flowers flattering you? Hurry up and go keep an eye on the banquet hall for me. Tonight is your sister's big day. If that bitch Shi Qing dares to cause trouble in the banquet hall, you tear her to pieces!"

Gu Kaiyang smiled and nodded frequently to the guests as he walked towards the banquet hall. His voice, which had been lowered from his upturned lips, was also somewhat flattened.

Ji Mingshu raised an eyebrow, but before she could reply, a commotion suddenly broke out behind them, and the two of them turned around one after the other.

As soon as a big star arrived, the clicking of camera flashes at the entrance became rapid. Reporters who were conducting interviews quickly abandoned their subjects and rushed to the area around the display board at the end of the red carpet, crowding together in a dense swarm.

Gu Kaiyang squinted to make out, "It seems like Su Cheng has arrived. You keep an eye on this side for me, I'll go over there first."

She reacted quickly; she took a step before she could finish her sentence.

Ji Mingshu gazed at the bustling crowd outside, not paying much attention at first, but then suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar yet unfamiliar figure beside Su Cheng through the gap, and his back instantly stiffened.

As if sensing something, the figure standing beside Su Cheng also glanced in her direction, their gaze piercing through the crowd and bursts of white light, as if imbued with the coolness of a summer rainy night, cold and distant.

Fifteen minutes later, the red carpet photoshoot and interviews in front of the display board were all over, and the guests were led into the banquet hall and sat down in their pre-arranged seats.

The banquet hall's decor and design tonight were done by Ji Mingshu.

The hall was ablaze with light, and a live orchestra played Mozart's Symphony No. 40 in G minor. Each table was adorned with fresh, jade-white roses that had just been flown in that morning; the petals were plump and fresh, with a touch of warm pink at the edges. Waiters in vests and bow ties moved about the room, carrying trays in one hand, amidst the elegant ambiance and the lingering fragrance of clothes.

Extravagance and sensual pleasures are nothing more than this.

Gu Kaiyang's previous worries were somewhat unnecessary. Upon learning that Ji Mingshu was personally in charge of the banquet, those who had intended to cause trouble had long since given up on their plans. Until the group president took the stage to speak, there were no mishaps in the banquet hall.

After the president finished speaking, it was May, the editor-in-chief of "Zero Degrees," who took the stage.

May loves to talk about outdated inspirational quotes, probably as a tribute to the strategic brilliance of "The Devil Wears Prada" Miranda Kerr. This time, the quotes unexpectedly included a seismic shift within the magazine.

Everyone present was shrewd; when she mentioned the "new deputy editor-in-chief," everyone instinctively looked at Gu Kaiyang.

Gu Kaiyang, like a victorious little white swan, stood up with composure, his eyes and brows brimming with barely suppressed joy.

Some people only glanced at her before looking at Ji Mingshu sitting next to her, such as Su Cheng.

Su Cheng is 42 years old this year. She has won numerous Best Actress awards and has married three powerful men. She holds a pivotal position in the entertainment industry, the fashion industry, and the current social circles.

She tilted her head slightly, leaned closer to the man beside her, and teased him in a tone that suggested she was gossiping about a younger person: "Why aren't you with Mingshu? Did you two have a fight?"

The man looked up at Ji Mingshu not far away, his fingertips lightly tapping the rim of his cup, the frequency of which was surprisingly in sync with the ticking of the platinum watch on his wrist.

After a long while, he didn't reply. He seemed to be smiling, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

Su Cheng took it as a tacit agreement and then quietly taught him how to coax girls.

He nodded, his gaze remaining fixed on the spot.

Two years had passed, but Ji Mingshu was still the same as before. Even when she was cold and expressionless

……