The Lakeside Resort Hotel, as the only five-star modern hotel in Bright Pearl City, is located on a small island in the city's famous inland lake and is one of the properties under Yu Corporation.
Apart from real estate development, Yu Corporation also owns some related hospitality businesses, though they haven't yet formed a significant scale.
Yu Mo chose to host a banquet in his family's hotel banquet hall to entertain all the core members of the Wanlong Society, a gesture meant to express goodwill.
Since he would need the Wanlong Society's support in the future, he wanted to treat them to a meal first, establish connections, and get closer to them.
The Wanlong Society currently has just over two hundred core members. Following the hotel's high-end banquet standards, each table costs 3,888 yuan. With twenty-five tables, the total expense would be around 90,000 yuan, and including alcohol and cigarettes—since he had prepared premium liquor—the cost would likely reach about 200,000 yuan.
Recently, Yu Mo had been riding high on success, especially after his uncle Yu Tianxiang pledged his support, solidifying Yu Mo's standing within the corporation.
When he first joined the corporation, he had been completely in the dark, inexperienced and constantly restricted. But now, with someone backing him, he spoke with much more confidence.
Executive Secretary Yu Chen was also very curious about how Young Master Yu Mo had managed to persuade General Manager Yu Tian to support him.
He knew quite a bit of inside information, including the fact that the general manager was close to the chairman's wife. Logically, the general manager should have supported the second young master, Yu Fei.
Yet, surprisingly, he had switched sides so quickly.
Not only that, but Yu Mo had also uncovered irregularities in the corporation's overseas investment accounts, almost certainly confirming that a director in charge of overseas investments had abused his authority for money laundering.
Of course, anyone with eyes could see that this director belonged to Madam Wang Simin's faction. However, there was no direct evidence linking her to the scheme, and the director had taken full responsibility for the matter.
Chairman Yu Jianhua still hadn't returned, whether because he was dissatisfied with the outcome or simply too engrossed in his vacation to come back.
Overall, though, the chairman seemed quite pleased with Yu Mo's performance.
The only concern was that the young master appeared to be growing increasingly close to the Wanlong Society.
As the chairman's eyes and ears within the corporation, Yu Chen had been keeping a close watch on Yu Mo.
After all, the young master was still inexperienced, and his actions might not always align with the corporation's best interests. Yu Chen needed to report back to the chairman promptly to prevent any mishaps.
Yu Mo suddenly asked, "Has my father contacted you recently?"
"The chairman is still on vacation abroad, but he's very satisfied with your recent performance," Yu Chen replied.
Yu Mo thought to himself—just as expected. Even though his father wasn't in the country, he was still monitoring every move within the corporation.
Just then, Yu Mo's phone rang.
After hanging up, he said to Yu Chen, "Let's go. The Maybach my father ordered has arrived. Let's take a look."
At the Yu family villa, Wang Simin stood in front of the garage, her face dark as she watched the brand-new luxury car being driven away by Yu Mo's people. She hadn't even gotten a chance to experience it herself.
Yu Mo's actions had clearly shown no respect for his stepmother.
"Madam, would you like me to arrange a car for you?" the butler asked cautiously.
Wang Simin didn't answer. Instead, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number, her refined features twisting slightly with anger.
"It's me. Move the plan forward."
After hanging up, she stared in the direction the car had gone, a resolute glint flashing in her eyes.
If she continued to wait passively, her position in the Yu family would only grow weaker. Even if Yu Mo was unlikely to become the corporation's successor, she couldn't let her stepson keep undermining her like this.
Moreover, she knew her husband would eventually settle accounts with her. Even though someone had taken the fall for her, her husband wasn't fooled.
So, before he returned, she had to seize power first!
......
Zhang Tao checked his phone and stood up, preparing to leave.
"Uncle Zhang, I have some business to attend to at the company, so I’ll head out first. If you ever need anything, just let me know."
Zhang Jianguo couldn’t help but ask, "Xiao Zhang, where are you off to?"
"The Lakeside Holiday Hotel," Zhang Tao replied.
Zhang Jianguo hesitated before saying, "Um, Xiao Zhang, could you give me a ride?"
Zhang Tao was taken aback. "Uncle Zhang, you’re going to the hotel too?"
He had heard Zhang Kai mention the place earlier on the phone and assumed the old man just wanted to check it out—after all, the hotel wasn’t exactly cheap.
If Zhang Kai was really treating guests there, he probably couldn’t afford it.
Zhang Jianguo quickly waved his hands. "No, no, what would I do at a fancy hotel like that? I’m going to the food street across from it. I found a job there, and I have to go every afternoon."
"You have a pension, don’t you...?" Zhang Tao immediately regretted his words. With Zhang Kai’s behavior, the old man’s pension was hardly enough to get by.
He quickly corrected himself, "Sure, I’ll give you a ride."
And so, Zhang Jianguo got into Zhang Tao’s car.
Before setting off, Zhang Tao also picked up three Wanlong Society core members who were making deliveries nearby, and the group headed straight for the Lakeside Holiday Hotel.
When they arrived, Zhang Tao parked in a spot along the food street across from the hotel.
The hotel entrance was already packed with black cars. Since the hotel was built on a small island in the lake, there was no underground parking. Latecomers from the Wanlong Society had to park across the lake—along the roadside spots near the food street.
This food street was more like a gathering place for open-air eateries, packed with food stalls and communal seating. At night, the place was bustling with people eating, drinking, and grilling skewers.
Of Bright Pearl City’s three major food streets, this was the only one dominated by street food stalls.
If you wanted to stroll and snack, you’d go to the food streets near the university district or the shopping plaza. But if you wanted to sit down with friends for drinks and skewers, this was the place to be.
Zhang Jianguo had found a job here as a cleaner. Since most customers came in the afternoon and evening, he only needed to work in the afternoons.
But the hours were long—often stretching past 2 or 3 a.m., since the place stayed busy late into the night with people coming for midnight snacks.
After parking, Zhang Tao greeted Zhang Jianguo and opened the trunk.
Then, right in front of the old man, he and the three other Wanlong Society members changed into their signature black suits, even sticking a few heat patches under their shirts.
To make quick costume changes easier, they often kept their uniforms neatly packed in their cars.
The suits were a symbol of their status—a matter of pride—so they always carried them.
Once suited up, Zhang Tao looked like a completely different person, and his colleagues also underwent a striking transformation.
But that wasn’t all. More and more Wanlong Society members arrived, repeating the same routine—parking, changing, and grooming themselves.
Before long, dozens of young men in black had gathered around the food street, and the numbers kept growing.
The scene left both passersby and diners at the food street utterly stunned.
What the heck? A sudden transformation into gangsters?
Better scram!
"Brother Tao!"
"Brother Tao!"
"..."
As one of the earliest core members and a veteran, Zhang Tao commanded respect. The newer core members naturally greeted him as he passed by, and he acknowledged each of them in turn.
"The young mistress is arriving soon. Everyone, gather up and get ready to line up. Oh, and make sure everyone’s appearance is presentable—pass the word along."
"Got it, Brother Tao."
"..."
Zhang Jianguo, who had been about to head in for work, froze at the sight.
Hold on—weren’t you guys supposed to be legit?
Trying to fool an old man, huh?
