In the Mercedes-Benz.
"Yutong-jie, are we really not going to help that guy?"
"Don’t bother. He won’t die."
"......"
"Yutong-jie, can I tag along with you? I want to be under your wing." Li Xiaohui nuzzled up to Liu Yutong like a kitten, cooing, "Please, please, pretty please~"
Liu Yutong sighed helplessly. "I’m not some gangster or boss, alright? My company is a legitimate business."
"I know, I get it. A legitimate company." Li Xiaohui’s mind flashed back to the group of men in black uniforms—their aura was even more professional than the mobsters in movies, so "legitimate" it practically screamed authority.
"I just want to intern at your company. Even being a regular employee is fine... ahem, I mean, just a regular employee."
Liu Yutong: "......."
"You’re serious?"
Truth be told, even if Li Xiaohui hadn’t brought it up, Liu Yutong had already considered bringing her into the company. The girl’s background would be a huge asset for the company’s growth—though Liu Yutong didn’t want her to feel like she was being manipulated.
But with Li Xiaohui’s personality, she’d probably cheerfully help count the money even if someone sold her out. Overthinking wasn’t her style.
"Dead serious! Cross my heart!" Li Xiaohui nodded vigorously. "I’ll do anything as long as you take me in. And of course, I’ll follow the rules too."
She might as well have raised her hand and sworn to the heavens.
Already, she was daydreaming about the coolest scenario: raising her arm, a legion of black-suited underlings behind her. So. Damn. Awesome.
Hahahaha—
Nope, the more she imagined it, the more she drooled. She had to join.
Liu Yutong pretended to think for a moment before reluctantly nodding. "Fine. But before that, I’ll take you to see the company first. If you regret it after, you can still back out."
"Deal, Yutong-jie!" Li Xiaohui beamed.
Liu Yutong had clearly underestimated Li Xiaohui’s determination.
The moment they arrived at the company, the girl’s eyes sparkled. Staring at the gilded sign above the entrance—"Wanlong Hui"—she gasped in excitement. "So. Cool!"
Especially when she stepped into the office and saw the two framed company rules hanging on the wall. She nodded approvingly.
[Betray Wanlong Hui? Three stabs, six holes.]
[Be cautious. Be meticulous. Be bold. Know the law. Unify knowledge and action.]
"Now this is professionalism!"
"Yutong-jie, your company’s rules are something else—short, sharp, and straight to the point. I fully endorse them."
Her expression practically screamed: You really expect me to believe this is a ‘legitimate’ company? What kind of legit business hangs rules like these?
Of course, she wouldn’t say it outright. If Liu Yutong wanted to play dumb, she’d happily play along.
As long as she could be part of this "legitimate" company, she’d take it any way she could.
Just then, Ma Da happened to walk in and overheard Li Xiaohui’s praise. He immediately chimed in, "Xiaohui-mei, you’ve got great taste. Those company rules? My handiwork."
"Wow! You’re amazing!" Li Xiaohui gave him a thumbs-up. "Coming up with such brilliant rules—genius!"
Ma Da puffed up with pride. "Ah, just a little cleverness. Nothing worth mentioning."
"By the way, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Ma Da, currently in charge of the Enforcement Hall—basically, the HR department."
Ma Da knew Li Xiaohui wasn’t just anyone—the young miss had briefed him. That’s why he’d rushed over, bringing along some special items for a unique initiation ceremony.
As a man who understood the young miss’s intentions inside out, he knew exactly what she wanted.
"Brother Ma!" Li Xiaohui greeted him sweetly.
The head of HR—that was a position with real power, overseeing promotions and evaluations. She had to make a good impression.
Ma Da waved cheerfully. "Once you’re here, you’re family."
Then he turned to Liu Yutong. "Young Miss, no time like the present. Let’s start now."
Liu Yutong blinked. "Start what?"
Before she could ask, Ma Da signaled a few underlings, who swiftly set up an altar in the hall. A square table was brought out, adorned with a statue of Guan Yu and a gilded incense burner placed reverently in front.
Somehow, the entire office had gathered, each holding three incense sticks, lining up in neat rows before turning expectantly toward Liu Yutong.
Liu Yutong: "???"
What the hell? Since when did they start worshiping Guan Yu?
The whole scene gave her the vibe of being forcibly dragged onto Mount Liang—no turning back now.
Seeing the young miss frozen, Ma Da quickly handed Li Xiaohui three incense sticks. "Once you offer incense, you’re one of us. No backing out. But if you perform well, I’ll recommend you for promotion to hall master."
He expected her to hesitate—after all, this was a serious commitment.
But the moment Li Xiaohui heard "hall master," she snatched the incense without a second thought. "I’m in! But... can I make one tiny request?"
Ma Da: "What is it?"
Li Xiaohui fidgeted shyly. "Could you... call me ‘jie’? Just once! Just this once!"
She quickly added, afraid he’d refuse.
"Easy. After the ceremony," Ma Da agreed readily.
Li Xiaohui’s excitement skyrocketed. Following Ma Da’s instructions, she handed Liu Yutong three incense sticks. "Yutong-jie, let’s begin. Everyone’s waiting."
Her expression practically said: Yutong-jie, it’s getting cold—here, let me help you put on another layer.
Liu Yutong sighed inwardly at the girl’s naive enthusiasm. This one would probably help count the cash even if someone scammed her.
Suppressing her exasperation, she stepped forward, bowed three times to the Guan Yu statue, and planted the incense.
Immediately, the sixty-odd members followed suit in perfect unison.
Ceremony complete.
Liu Yutong turned to face the crowd, scanning the sea of Wanlong Hui’s core members.
"Since we’re all here, let me introduce our newest member—Li Xiaohui."
Hearing her name, Li Xiaohui hastily bowed. "Hello, everyone! I’m Li Xiaohui. Please take care of me!"
Ma Da, ever the man of his word, didn’t forget her request. "Everyone, greet Hui-jie!"
"Hui-jie!"
"Hui-jie!"
"Hui-jie!"
"........."
The chorus of voices boomed through the hall.
Li Xiaohui was so overwhelmed she could barely speak. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that on her very first day joining the "legitimate" society, she’d be called "jie"—even if just for now.
For the first time, joining a company felt thrillingly intense, especially under the collective gaze of the sea of black suits. Nervous? Sure. But mostly, she was electrified.
Because she’d finally made it into the real underworld!
Back in college, she’d just been fooling around. This—this was the big leagues.
In a word, so! incredibly! handsome!!!
