"Invite me over? Are you joking! Isn't Chief Liu and the others still outside? How... how can you people still..."
Zhao Weixiang couldn't understand it at all. Logically, the police should be making arrests, so how could they be letting the members of the Ten Thousand Dragons Society move about freely?
This doesn't make sense!
Could something unexpected have happened?
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"You assaulted people, smashed up the place, involved in organized crime and violence... how could you possibly be completely unscathed? Chief Liu saw your Ten Thousand Dragons Society with his own eyes..."
A man in black immediately cut him off: "Mr. Zhao, please watch your words. Our Ten Thousand Dragons Society is a legitimate company; we would never engage in such unlawful activities!"
Everyone in the private room: "???"
Wait, how can you say that with a straight face?
We all saw clearly what you just did.
And now you're telling us you're the good guys?
Zhao Weixiang opened his mouth, wanting to argue further, but found his throat blocked as if by something, unable to utter a single word.
He had put so much thought into setting up this scheme to bring down Liu Yutong and crush the Ten Thousand Dragons Society, and now the Ten Thousand Dragons Society was completely unharmed?
This is just too ridiculous!
If there were no officials present, if it weren't for this occasion, if these investors weren't here, then perhaps Liu Yutong might have been able to pull some strings and escape unscathed.
But with officials being embarrassed in front of so many investors, coupled with the authorities' zero-tolerance policy towards organized crime, once labeled as such, the consequences are almost always devastating.
That's why many underworld figures generally avoid gathering too many people to cause trouble openly. Even if they do, they choose nighttime or midnight.
The moment they see the police arriving, they scatter immediately.
Even if they're unlucky enough to get caught, it's usually just charged as a brawl, a few days in detention at most.
But what did Liu Yutong do?
She directly brought hundreds of people to storm someone else's hotel, smashing things, beating people, detaining people... and it was all witnessed by two officials. That changes the nature of it completely.
That's why Zhao Weixiang was so certain that Liu Yutong and the Ten Thousand Dragons Society were doomed this time.
But now, all his judgments, all his planning, had become a complete and utter joke.
So, the clown was himself all along.
The few investors were once again nervous and fearful.
Having been in the business world for years, this was the first time they'd encountered such a surreal scene. A group that was just using violence moments ago had now been completely whitewashed, even able to turn around and invite them to discuss cooperation?
Just how deep are the Ten Thousand Dragons Society's... connections?
Or rather... just how 'clean' are they?
Chu Hai and Ji Zhe, however, calmly stood up and straightened their clothes.
"Everyone, since Miss Liu has invited us, let's all go over together."
Who would have thought the calmest ones would be these two.
From their perspective, they had already experienced something similar once, so they weren't surprised.
When they stepped out of the private room, they were met with a jaw-dropping scene.
Not only were those men in black fine, they were actually assisting the police in escorting the small-time thugs from the East Sea Alliance downstairs.
The main reason was there were too many people to fit in the police cars, and the members of the Ten Thousand Dragons Society were particularly enthusiastic, eager to help, so they volunteered to help deliver the people to the police station.
But in the eyes of those investors, this scene looked all wrong.
There could only be one explanation: Collusion!
In the Emperor's private room.
Those underworld figures had already been handcuffed by the police, including Zhao Tianxing.
Liu Yutong, meanwhile, was chatting and laughing amiably with several men who looked like officials.
When she saw Ji Zhe and the others arrive, especially when she saw Zhao Weixiang, she actually took the initiative to greet him.
"Mr. Zhao, I believe this is our first meeting?"
Zhao Weixiang's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. He was excellent at maintaining appearances, looking quite enthusiastic.
"Miss Liu, I've long heard of your reputation. I'm finally fortunate enough to meet you today. I've long heard that the young lady of the Ten Thousand Dragons Society is both talented and beautiful. Seeing you today, the rumors are indeed true."
"You flatter me, Mr. Zhao."
Liu Yutong smiled slightly, her tone meaningful: "Mr. Zhao, it's strange. Although this is our first meeting, I feel as if I already know you quite well. You must have put a lot of thought into me and my Ten Thousand Dragons Society, haven't you?"
The smile on Zhao Weixiang's face froze for an instant before quickly returning to normal: "Miss Liu, you jest. I have nothing but admiration for you and the Ten Thousand Dragons Society. How could I have any other intentions?"
Liu Yutong: "Is that so? Then why were you so sure that I, Liu Yutong, would definitely fall here today, and that the Ten Thousand Dragons Society would definitely collapse? Could it be that you were the one stirring the pot behind the scenes?"
Zhao Weixiang: "Rumors, they must be rumors, spread by someone. Miss Liu and I have no grievances, this is our first meeting today. How could I possibly engage in such underhanded behavior? Someone must be trying to drive a wedge between us. Please don't believe it, Miss Liu!"
Even as he said this, cold sweat was already beginning to seep down his back.
It was laughable, really. This was the first time he had felt this way towards someone, especially a woman.
Perhaps it was because all his meticulous schemes had been dismantled by this young woman before him without him even realizing it.
He didn't even know when he himself had been exposed.
Liu Yutong nodded: "I see. So it really was a misunderstanding on my part."
"However, Bright Pearl City isn't that big, nor is it that small. We'll have plenty of opportunities to deal with each other in the future. We have a long road ahead, don't you agree, Mr. Zhao?"
That last sentence made the hairs on Zhao Weixiang's neck stand on end, but he still forced himself to remain calm, a smile on his face, repeatedly agreeing.
Liu Yutong no longer looked at him, turning instead to the several uneasy investors.
"Gentlemen, a minor misunderstanding occurred earlier. I hope it didn't startle you? It was my poor hospitality."
The investors were overwhelmed by the attention, quickly waving their hands.
"Not at all, not at all!"
"Miss Liu, you're too kind!"
"We're the ones intruding, intruding!"
"......"
Liu Yutong smiled slightly and turned to introduce them to a man who looked like an official beside her.
"Director Zhou, let me introduce you. These gentlemen are very important investors in our Ten Thousand Dragons group-buying project. They came specifically today to review the project's progress. They are all well-known investors with great confidence in Bright Pearl City's economic development."
The investment promotion official laughed heartily: "Miss Liu, I've already met these gentlemen. I didn't realize they were the distinguished guests you invited. What a coincidence!"
"Welcome once again, gentlemen. If you need any support or coordination, please don't hesitate to let me know!"
The three investors quickly nodded in response.
"Certainly, certainly."
"Thank you for your concern, Director Zhou."
"......."
Shortly after, the investment promotion official received a phone call, bid farewell to Liu Yutong and the others, and left first.
Liu Yutong turned to the investors once more. "I'm afraid you gentlemen haven't had a proper meal tonight. Please allow me to fulfill my duties as your host. Let me invite you to a restaurant under my management to try Bright Pearl City's signature dish, the small fish pot sticker, to help settle your nerves."
The three investors felt a sudden tightness in their chests, a vague premonition dawning on them: this meal probably wouldn't come cheap!
Just as they were wrestling with how much to offer or thinking of making a polite excuse to slip away later, Zhao Tianxing, who was being held by the police officers, suddenly began to struggle violently, demanding to speak to Liu Yutong alone.
When Liu Yutong approached him, she was met with his bloodshot eyes fixed on her with an intensity that seemed to want to skin her alive.
"Liu Yutong, I'll get out eventually. I still have money stashed overseas, a safety net I prepared for me and my son, Junjie..."
"You still have family, don't you? Once I'm out, I'll make sure every single one of them is dealt with, one by one. Hahaha..."
Suppressing the fury in her heart, Liu Yutong spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear. "Zhao Tianxing, you're laughing too soon. You failed to kill me twice, and now you're a prisoner, yet you still dare to threaten me?"
"Don't worry. As long as I'm around, you will never get out. And as for your foolish son, I'll make sure he's taken care of in advance..."
She deliberately left the sentence unfinished, referring to sending Zhao Junjie to a mental institution.
Then she turned and walked away, beginning a silent count in her mind.
Just as she reached ten, Zhao Tianxing suddenly erupted with a furious roar: "LIU YUTONG!!!!"
Liu Yutong instinctively turned her head.
She saw Zhao Tianxing, who had somehow retrieved a handgun from behind the sofa, now pointing it directly at her, his expression maniacal and twisted.
"You die first!!!!"
He jerked the trigger, but only heard a dry click.
No reaction?
In the moment he stood frozen, Liu Songxia beside him suddenly cried out in alarm, "He's going to shoot!"
The police officers had already drawn their service weapons and aimed at Zhao Tianxing the moment they saw him pull out the gun. Their initial intent was to try and talk him down.
But Liu Songxia's sudden shout triggered their instincts, and they reflexively squeezed their triggers....
"Bang! Bang! Bang!..."
