At this moment.
Outside the lakeside resort hotel.
Yu Mo had already instructed his staff to prepare for the welcome. Every available hotel employee had been summoned to line up at the entrance in greeting.
"Sister Yutong, welcome, welcome."
"How did you like the ride in this car?"
Liu Yutong glanced back at the Maybach and gave a slight nod. "It was quite nice."
This was her first time riding in the same model of luxury car favored by one of the world's top billionaires. There was no denying it—such high-end vehicles were undeniably comfortable, far surpassing her own Mercedes.
The car had been specially arranged by Yu Mo, with a driver sent to pick her up. Even Yu Mo himself hadn’t ridden in it yet, making Liu Yutong the first to experience this million-dollar masterpiece fresh off the lot.
Upon hearing her response, Yu Mo did something astonishing.
"If you like it, then this car is yours. It just arrived today, and no one else has ridden in it besides you."
With that, he signaled the driver to hand over the keys.
Yu Chen: "???"
At this point, Yu Chen, the stunned executive secretary, finally snapped out of his daze.
Seriously, Young Master, aren’t you being a bit too generous?
This was a luxury car worth millions! And it was personally selected by the Chairman as his official vehicle—he’d even specified that it be used to pick him up upon his return. How could you just casually give it away like this?
Aren’t you afraid the Chairman will hold you accountable?
If not for the intimidating presence of so many men in black, Yu Chen would have stepped in to stop the young master from making such a reckless decision.
But given the circumstances, he simply didn’t dare.
Thinking quickly, Yu Chen pretended to sneeze, then coughed a few times, hoping to subtly remind Yu Mo.
Instead, Yu Mo just frowned in annoyance. "If you’re sick, go take some medicine. Don’t stand around causing trouble. If you infect Sister Yutong or any of the Dragon Society brothers, I won’t let you off easy!"
Yu Chen: "..."
Seeing that his hint had failed, Yu Chen hurriedly took half a step forward and whispered, "Young Master, I’m not sick. What I meant was, this car—"
Before he could finish, a burly man roughly yanked him aside.
"Instead of taking medicine like you were told, you’re getting closer on purpose? Trying to infect the young master? Disgusting!"
"Get lost!"
The man then slung an arm around Yu Mo’s shoulder. "Yu Mo, the young lady really didn’t misjudge you. You know how to repay kindness. With this kind of attitude, I’ve got your back from now on."
Without hesitation, he took the car keys, effectively settling the matter.
Yu Mo didn’t seem bothered. "It’s only right. My father would be happy about it too."
Yu Chen: "..."
Happy? More like furious! Just wait till the Chairman comes back and gives you a beating!
As the group’s executive secretary, Yu Chen usually held a high-ranking position—second only to the Chairman himself. This was the first time he’d been treated so roughly, forced to watch helplessly as the Chairman’s car was handed over to someone else.
He was furious, but only for a moment.
Looking around at the hundreds of intimidating men in black, what else could he do?
He had no choice but to accept it.
Couldn’t blame him for failing as a secretary—blame the young master for having such… socially connected friends.
"Young Master, it’s about time. Shouldn’t we invite Miss Liu and the others inside? It’s getting chilly out here."
Yu Mo quickly agreed. "Right, right, almost forgot."
He gestured politely.
"Miss Liu, after you."
"..."
And so, the large entourage followed Liu Yutong toward the banquet hall.
Just as they stepped into the hotel lobby—
A well-dressed manager, accompanied by a group of staff, hurriedly blocked their path.
"My deepest apologies, but the banquet hall has been reserved for a private event today. We cannot accommodate you." Sweat beaded on the manager’s forehead as he spoke.
Standing in front of hundreds of intimidating men in black and refusing them entry took immense courage.
But he had no choice. Orders from above demanded he turn them away—if he didn’t, he’d lose his job.
So, he had to brace himself and do it.
Yu Mo was stunned. "Are you blind? Can’t you see these are my honored guests?"
The manager forced out an explanation. "Young Master, these are orders from the higher-ups. I’m just following instructions."
Yu Mo’s eyes blazed with anger. "Who? Who gave the order? Bring them here—I’ll talk to them myself!"
Having this happen in front of the Dragon Society, especially in Liu Yutong’s presence, wasn’t just about losing face.
If this offended the Dragon Society, how could he ever rely on their manpower again?
The manager looked miserable. "Young Master, please don’t make this difficult for me. I’m just an employee—how could I defy orders from above?"
Yu Mo was about to argue further when Yu Xin stepped forward and said coldly, "Have you forgotten what I taught you?"
"Someone, drag this man away and interrogate him. Find out who’s behind this!"
The moment she spoke, three or four young men in black immediately stepped forward, seizing the manager without hesitation.
The manager’s face twisted in terror.
"What are you doing? What are you doing?"
"Are you kidnapping me in broad daylight?"
"Help!"
"Wah—"
"..."
And just like that, under the horrified gazes of the hotel staff and passing guests, the manager was dragged into a staff room on the first floor.
"Torture him!"
"Let this fool learn the consequences of crossing the Dragon Society!"
Two men pinned the manager to the ground and, despite his desperate pleas, yanked off his shoes.
"I won’t do it again—hahaha—I swear—hahaha—"
"Just let us go—hahaha—"
"..."
Before long, the manager was dragged back out like a lifeless dog—exhausted, weak, and hollow-eyed.
To onlookers, it seemed he had endured unspeakable torment.
The hotel staff and some nearby guests turned pale with fear.
"Good heavens, these gangsters are ruthless! Public torture? Look at him—he’s barely human anymore!"
"How brutal!"
After one of the men in black reported to Liu Yutong, the truth quickly came to light.
It turned out the hotel’s general manager had given the order—and a major upheaval was unfolding within the corporation.
Yu Mo’s stepmother had suddenly begun purging dissenters. Worse, she’d somehow produced a divorce agreement, claiming under marital asset laws that she was entitled to half of her husband Yu Jianhua’s shares.
Whether the agreement was real or not, many instinctively believed she had the right—especially since the terms of her marriage contract with Yu Jianhua had never been disclosed to outsiders.
With this document and her years of influence within the company, nearly half the shareholders had thrown their support behind her.
Then she promptly convened a shareholders' meeting and temporarily seized control of the group.
The general manager of the Lakeside Resort Hotel was aligned with her faction, so she immediately instructed him to refuse service to Yu Mo and his group.
First, it was meant to humiliate Yu Mo.
Second, it was also a warning to the meddlesome Wanlong Society—to put them in their place.
