Chapter 282 Illusion? There are always treacherous subjects trying to harm me.

"It's me." Minister Liu's voice had returned to its usual steady tone, but if one listened carefully, a hint of lingering amusement could still be detected.

"I'm aware of the situation. This old comrade... is indeed Comrade Elder Liu, a retired cadre."

"He... er, he is conducting a... well, a rather special type of family care activity, targeting his granddaughter, not any suspicious behavior."

"You two did very well, your vigilance is high, but you can stand down now. It was a misunderstanding."

After hearing their superior's explanation, the two agents looked at Elder Liu again, their expressions becoming extremely complicated and... peculiar.

Although they maintained their professional composure and didn't laugh out loud, the slight twitching of their lips and their flickering gazes were still caught by Elder Liu.

The man respectfully handed the phone back to Elder Liu and saluted: "Apologies, Elder Liu. It was our duty; we've disturbed you."

With that, the two turned around quickly and withdrew from the scene as silently as they had appeared, though their backs seemed to be trembling slightly.

Elder Liu took back the phone, hearing the low laughter from Minister Liu again, and said with a wry face: "Old Liu, I've really embarrassed myself to the extreme this time, becoming a huge joke in front of your subordinates!"

"Serves you right! Who told you to have nothing better to do than engage in such sneaky, underhanded behavior?"

Minister Liu continued to mock him without reservation, but after laughing, his tone became slightly more serious.

"However, Old Liu, this should also serve as a reminder to you: that young man your granddaughter is dating—Jiang Jing—is now a high-level key protection target of the state."

"Therefore, any suspicious signs appearing around him will invite the strictest scrutiny. It's no wonder today's incident happened."

Upon hearing this, Elder Liu's heart stirred, and he keenly captured the subtext in Minister Liu's words—this kid Jiang Jing had been flagged by the highest levels of leadership, and the level of importance placed on him was beyond imagination.

He immediately seized the opportunity and asked tentatively: "Oh? So highly regarded? It seems this child, Jiang Jing, is truly remarkable, huh? Even more so than we imagined..."

Minister Liu was no ordinary person; he immediately heard the Elder's intention to fish for information and cut him off directly.

He let out a harrumph, his tone carrying a hint of profound meaning: "Whether he's remarkable or not, don't you have any idea? Anyway, I've said enough. If those young people really make it work, then your Liu family has truly struck gold."

"But I suspect it's unlikely, after all, my precious disciple is following them like a shadow..."

Minister Liu's words were full of pride, as if he had strong confidence in his own disciple.

After speaking, without waiting for Elder Liu to retort, Minister Liu used the excuse of having official business, chatted a couple more sentences, and hung up the phone.

Elder Liu looked at the hung-up phone. Although he hadn't managed to extract more specific information, Minister Liu's words were tantamount to a disguised confirmation of Jiang Jing's immeasurable value and status.

"Hmph! How could your disciple compare to my precious granddaughter..." The Elder harrumphed haughtily.

He looked left and right, confirming that the two agents had already left and no one around seemed to be paying him any particular attention.

And so... he once again raised the binoculars he had just retrieved, adjusted the focus, and continued to relish peeping at the pair of young people chatting happily not far away...

For the sake of his granddaughter's happiness, what were these minor setbacks and a little loss of face!

Jiang Jing and Liu Ruyan walked side by side on the way back to the parking spot, the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant.

After spending the day together, both of them had gained a deeper understanding of each other.

The knowledge, taste, and unpretentious personality that Liu Ruyan displayed made Jiang Jing feel very comfortable.

And Jiang Jing's humor, easygoing nature, and the occasional display of steadiness and confidence also deeply attracted Liu Ruyan.

Just at this moment, Jiang Jing frowned slightly, his footsteps pausing imperceptibly.

His enhanced physical fitness endowed him with a keen perception far beyond that of ordinary people.

A vague feeling of being watched, like a faint electric current, pricked his nerves from time to time.

He turned his head seemingly casually, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding bustling crowd, the shop windows along the street, and even the windows of distant buildings.

However, everything he saw was a normal scene, with no suspicious people.

That feeling of being peeped at was elusive, making it difficult to pinpoint the source.

"What's wrong?" Liu Ruyan noticed his abnormality, tilted her head, and looked at him with a hint of curiosity in her beautiful eyes.

Jiang Jing withdrew his gaze, shook his head, and smiled self-deprecatingly: "It's nothing, maybe it's just my illusion; I keep feeling like someone is peeping at us."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruyan was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but let out a "pfft" of laughter.

She extended her slender fingers, gently covering her red lips, with a touch of teasing: "Oh my, does our Boss Jiang also have that fantasy of 'there are always treacherous subjects who want to harm me'?"

Being teased by her like this, Jiang Jing was also amused.

He raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on Liu Ruyan's beautiful face for a moment, and then he deliberately glanced back at Zhou Wanqin and Lin Hong, who were following a few steps behind.

He said in a "serious" tone: "Harm me? That's not quite it."

"I'm pondering that perhaps the men coming and going on this street, seeing me accompanied by such three radiant beauties chatting and laughing, find their envious and jealous gazes too intense—they're almost burning holes in me."

As soon as he said this, the effect was immediate.

Zhou Wanqin and Lin Hong, following behind, almost simultaneously gave him an annoyed eye-roll.

Zhou Wanqin's expression was cold, though her eyes betrayed a hint of helplessness; Lin Hong was more direct, curling her lips and silently mouthing the words "narcissist."

The two women secretly cursed in their hearts; this guy truly never forgot to drag them into it at any moment.

And Liu Ruyan's attention was indeed captured by the word "beauties," automatically ignoring the fact that Jiang Jing's words included the other two people.

Hearing such a straightforward compliment from Jiang Jing, the little pride belonging to the young miss in her heart instantly flared up.

She lifted her snow-white chin and puffed out her chest, like a proud white swan.

Her tone carried a bit of smugness: "Hmph, of course, at least you have some good taste."

Looking at her haughty appearance, the smile on Jiang Jing's face deepened.

The two looked at each other, both seeing relaxation and amusement in the other's eyes, and couldn't help but laugh together.

Today's first offline meeting was undoubtedly very successful.

In the evening, at the Liu Family Old Residence.

Liu Ruyan walked into the living room in a very good mood, even humming an off-key tune.

Seeing her grandfather, Elder Liu, sitting on the sofa in the living room holding a newspaper, appearing to be reading seriously, but with the corner of his eye darting towards the door from time to time.

Seeing his precious granddaughter return, Elder Liu, who had been "lying in wait" for a long time, immediately put down the newspaper he was pretending to read, picked up his teacup, and asked casually:

"Ruyan, you're back? How did you feel about meeting that kid Jiang Jing today?"