The meeting location between Liu Yutong and Pan Xing was ultimately set at the Lakeside Resort Hotel, a suggestion made by Liu Yutong herself.
Originally, Pan Xing had chosen a private club for their meeting, but Liu Yutong changed the venue at the last minute. Pan Xing agreed without hesitation, unaware that his compliance would plunge him into a trap set by Liu Yutong, inadvertently sharing the risks with her.
Liu Yutong had deliberately leaked the news about the funds Wanlong Hui obtained from Dahai Investments. She had no intention of keeping it a secret. Her motives were twofold: first, to retaliate against the Zhao Family Father and Son for blocking her loan, and second, to drag Pan Xing into the mess by leveraging their meeting.
What would the Zhao Family Father and Son think when they learned the two had dined together?
First, they were swindled out of 60 million, and now the leaders of Wanlong Hui and Yilian She were seen sharing a meal—wasn’t the message clear enough?
This was also the outcome Pan Xing desired.
Liu Yutong speculated that the only plausible reason Pan Xing suddenly invited her to dinner was to propose a collaboration.
Based on the information she had gathered, the focus was likely on the development and operation rights for the area around the city center plaza—a massive project with an estimated investment of 5 billion.
Whether it was Yilian She, Donghai Alliance, or other factions, everyone was eyeing this lucrative opportunity, possibly already making preparations.
If Pan Xing could secure the development rights, even just half the shares, it would cement his status as a hero within Yilian She, solidifying his position.
Success would mean hope for Yilian She’s transformation.
Failure, however, would have severe consequences for him.
Liu Yutong had numerous informants within Yilian She, so she was well aware that some members wanted her to return and even pressured Pan Xing to step down.
Additionally, she suspected Pan Xing might have changed his attitude because he believed she lacked the ambition to swallow Yilian She whole.
But he was mistaken.
……
Several days later.
Lakeside Resort Hotel, banquet hall.
The entire floor had been reserved by Wanlong Hui.
The expansive banquet hall covered thousands of square meters and could be partitioned into six separate halls if needed, accommodating thousands of guests simultaneously.
In addition to Wanlong Hui’s entire staff, seats were reserved for suppliers, all of whom had received invitations and sent representatives.
The layout was roughly as follows: the ten tables closest to the main seating were for suppliers, followed by over twenty tables for Wanlong Hui’s core members.
Further back were the ordinary employees, dressed in various casual attire, filling more than two hundred tables.
With ten people per table, Wanlong Hui’s regular staff numbered nearly three thousand.
The supermarket and logistics departments accounted for the majority, close to two thousand, while restaurants and other departments had several hundred. The core members, just over two hundred, brought the total to nearly three thousand.
This didn’t even include part-time student workers—if counted, the number could double.
By now, the banquet hall buzzed with noise and excitement as most of the employees and suppliers had taken their seats.
Honestly, seeing over a thousand employees gathered in one place made some suppliers uneasy.
Only by witnessing the sheer scale firsthand could they truly grasp the magnitude of Wanlong Supermarket’s operations.
Wanlong Supermarket was already the largest retail chain in Bright Pearl City. Had they made a mistake by antagonizing such a major client over unpaid dues?
However, some suppliers remained unimpressed—specifically, those who had already been bribed. They wasted no time stirring the pot.
"What time is it? Is General Manager Yang even coming? Leaving us waiting like this is ridiculous!"
"Yeah, where are they? Is this intentional?"
"Why the rush? Big companies love putting on airs, don’t they?"
"Hey, you don’t think this is a setup, do you? What if they beat us up and still don’t pay?"
"I’ve got the same feeling. I heard Wanlong Supermarket is backed by some organization called Wanlong Hui—supposedly pretty shady."
"Shh… keep it down. You don’t want anyone hearing that."
"Who cares what kind of banquet this is? If they don’t pay today, I’m taking my goods back!"
"Take them back? Old Wang, you deal in perishables, right? Won’t your stock just rot in storage?"
"What else can I do? No payment means no goods."
"Should’ve known better than to offer such long credit terms just because their sales were high…"
As the suppliers grumbled, a flustered hotel bellboy rushed into the banquet hall and whispered something to the manager.
The manager’s face paled, and he immediately grabbed his walkie-talkie. "All remaining staff and security, assemble at the main entrance immediately! I repeat, main entrance now!"
Hearing the commotion, Wanlong Hui’s employees and suppliers alike crowded near the windows to look outside.
The moment they saw the scene below, the suppliers gasped. "Holy… what in the world—?"
Dozens of black cars rolled in formation along the lakeside road outside the hotel, escorting a central Maybach worth millions.
Once the vehicles stopped, a sea of men in black suits poured out, each adorned with a golden dragon emblem on their chests—the mark of Wanlong Hui’s core members.
As the black-clad figures lined up, a woman with an overwhelming presence stepped out of the Maybach.
"Who… who is that?" one supplier stammered.
"I think… that’s the big boss behind Wanlong Supermarket?" another answered uncertainly.
Witnessing this spectacle, many suppliers felt a chill down their spines. Had they made a grave mistake by pushing for payment?
Still, most reassured themselves—this was a society of laws. Surely nothing would happen to them in broad daylight.
Just then, someone glanced up at the sky.
Huh? Why had the clear sky suddenly darkened with ominous clouds?
Shortly after Wanlong Hui’s motorcade arrived, another fleet pulled in—a mix of Mercedes, BMWs, and a dozen other cars in various colors.
Though less imposing than Wanlong Hui’s procession, this group was not to be underestimated.
When the door of the lead Mercedes opened, a silver-haired man in a white suit emerged, followed by dozens of similarly dressed subordinates.
Their white attire starkly contrasted with Wanlong Hui’s black.
Street thugs who spotted them instantly recognized the group.
"That’s Pan Xing! Yilian She’s Pan Xing!"
"Why are Wanlong Hui and Yilian She arriving together?"
"Could there be some connection between them?"
"Holy shit! Boss Pan actually shook hands with that she-devil from the Dragon Union? What the hell is going on?"
"Why do you call her a she-devil?"
"Man, you must not know how shady the Dragon Union is. Let me tell you..."
"You think they’re teaming up?"
"Could be. I heard from the streets that they might be after that prime downtown land... If these two join forces to carve up the territory, the other gangs won’t even get scraps!"
"Quick! Report this to the boss now!"
Among the thugs were spies sent by rival gangs. The moment they saw the scene unfold, they immediately started relaying the news.
The forces of the Dragon Union and the Righteous League gathered downstairs.
Instead of tension, the two sides quickly formed orderly lines. Liu Yutong and Pan Xing walked side by side, chatting and laughing as they headed toward the hotel lobby.
Behind the two leaders trailed their men—one group in black, the other in white.
Notably, among Liu Yutong’s black-clad entourage, some were dragging dozens of briefcases.
Pan Xing had noticed the briefcases early on and was curious about their contents, but he didn’t ask.
By the time they entered the banquet hall, the lively chatter inside came to an abrupt silence.
