Zhu Silin's question was blunt, her tone clearly accusatory.
After all, Xue Chen was also a member of the Yunshan Association.
Upon hearing this, Liu Yutong's expression remained unreadable, only her eyes growing slightly colder, like the deep, still waters of a winter pond, calm yet exuding a faint chill.
Before she could speak, Yu Xin, standing beside her, let out a light, mocking laugh.
"Sister Zhu, that's not quite right."
"It was this young master Xue who came to our Pearl City to cause trouble first. Not only did he try to forcibly seize our business, but he also brought all these people intending to harm Sister Yutong. We were merely acting in self-defense. How does that translate to us looking down on the Yunshan Association?"
Just as Zhu Silin was about to retort, Zhou Muchen gently shook his head at her, stopping her.
"Miss Liu, we had a bit of an unpleasant encounter with President Yu last time in Lu City. Today, we came hoping to have a chat with you."
Liu Yutong's demeanor was indifferent. "There's nothing to chat about. If you refrain from causing trouble for me in the future, we can stay out of each other's way."
"Of course, if you still have designs on my Wanlong Association, we won't be easy to push around either!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the members of the Yilian Association in the room and outside the private dining room all took a step forward, their expressions hostile.
Zhou Muchen's face changed slightly. He had underestimated this woman's resolve.
He could tell she was genuinely willing to take action against them. The sharpness in her eyes was no bluff.
As the founder of the Yunshan Association, Zhou Muchen knew when to bend and when to stand firm, especially when facing overwhelming odds.
"This whole matter is a misunderstanding. We came here with sincere intentions. Could you release my brother now, and we can talk over the meal?"
Seeing him adopt a lower posture and speaking as such, and considering she genuinely didn't want to make enemies of these well-connected individuals, Liu Yutong waved her hand, signaling Scar to let Xue Chen go.
Xue Chen scrambled to his feet, feeling flustered. Instinctively, he wanted to utter threats, but seeing Scar's eager stance and the Yilian Association members in the room rolling up their sleeves, he forcefully swallowed his words.
A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him. He'd find an opportunity to settle the score later.
He no longer held any hope of using underworld figures to deal with Liu Yutong, Yu Xin, and the others.
He'd just have the police arrest them directly. After all, he had witnesses who could prove Liu Yutong damaged the production crew's equipment. With a little pressure from him, he could definitely make Liu Yutong and the others end up behind bars.
Then he could take his time dismantling the Wanlong Association.
Zhou Muchen casually gestured an invitation, and Liu Yutong subsequently took a seat with them.
However, after the dishes were served, Liu Yutong didn't initiate conversation or engage with them, merely eating her food unhurriedly.
It was Yu Xin who kept up a sporadic, rambling chatter with them, deliberately stringing them along.
Finally.
Zhou Muchen lost patience and took the initiative to address Liu Yutong again. "Miss Liu, let me be direct. Regarding your group-buying project, we can make a concession."
Liu Yutong remained calm. "My apologies, no concessions."
Zhou Muchen suppressed his anger, a vein faintly pulsing on his forehead. "Do you truly wish to make an enemy of our Yunshan Association?"
Liu Yutong raised her eyes, meeting Zhou Muchen's gaze directly. "Young Master Zhou, with all due respect, your Yunshan Association has power and influence, with plenty of avenues to make money. Why must you fixate on us? Could it be you genuinely think a few women are easy to bully?"
Zhou Muchen neither denied nor confirmed. "Since you ask, Miss Liu, let me pose a question first. What do you think is the most profitable business?"
Liu Yutong answered without hesitation. "Real estate. With your resources, raising billions for a real estate venture wouldn't be a problem, far more lucrative than our Wanhui Youxuan."
Zhou Muchen shook his head. "My father still has a chance for further promotion. I won't touch real estate."
Liu Yutong frowned slightly. "So, you set your sights on my Wanhui Youxuan?"
"If you insist on taking it, I can hand it over. But let me be blunt: I can create a new platform at any time and crush you with it."
"You're not wrong. You are indeed formidable in business management."
Zhou Muchen paused, then continued. "Precisely because we recognize your capabilities, Miss Liu, we approached you. We have the resources, you have the skill. We can achieve a win-win situation."
Liu Yutong shook her head firmly. "My apologies. As I said before, I don't like anyone telling me what to do. The Wanlong Association answers only to me. Nothing can change that!"
At that moment.
Zhu Silin, who had been watching Liu Yutong intently, spoke up.
"Miss Liu, Brother Chen has always believed you're more skilled in business than any of us. Coincidentally, I happen to disagree. My field is finance. Last year, I managed funds totaling around 100 million, with a final profit of 16 million."
"I wonder, given 100 million, how much could you earn?"
Liu Yutong: "Miss Zhu, your finance work involves mainly stock market investments?"
Zhu Silin nodded. "Correct. I also have overseas investment operations. I invested ten million US dollars last year, with a surplus also exceeding one million dollars."
Liu Yutong smiled faintly. "Miss Zhu is indeed impressive, earning over 20 million with less than 200 million in capital."
"If I were given 200 million in capital, I could probably turn it into around one billion."
Zhu Silin, who had initially been about to nod in acknowledgment, froze upon hearing this, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Her expression then turned visibly colder. She felt Liu Yutong was simply mocking her.
"Tenfold?"
"Miss Liu, I know you might have your methods in business, but financial investment isn't child's play, and it certainly doesn't rely on boasting. Turning 200 million into one billion in a year, a fivefold return? Do you have any idea what kind of return on investment that signifies? Hah!"
Zhou Muchen also couldn't help but frown slightly, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
He had originally admired Liu Yutong's boldness and ability, but hearing this made him wonder if the woman was being overly arrogant.
One billion?
Even the so-called 'Stock God' wouldn't dare claim he could make money this year, would he?
Liu Yutong saw their disbelief and the corners of her mouth lifted into a confident smile. "It seems you don't believe me. Then let me ask you all, do you think Lehman Brothers, the American investment bank, will go bankrupt and collapse?"
Zhu Silin was the first to jump in. "How could that be? Although there's significant volatility in foreign markets right now, Lehman is, after all, the fourth-largest investment bank in the US. There's no way it could collapse."
The others nodded in agreement.
Never mind that it was just some volatility—fluctuations are normal in stock investments. Even if real problems arose, the US government wouldn't sit idly by. Given Lehman Brothers' massive scale, its collapse would be disastrous, potentially affecting the entire world.
So they believed the US government would inevitably intervene.
Liu Yutong looked at Yu Xin. "Yu Xin, what do you think?"
Yu Xin said without hesitation, "Since you put it that way, Sister Yutong, I think Lehman Brothers will go bankrupt."
Liu Yutong nodded. "What Yu Xin said is my judgment. Since you all have doubts, let's make a bet first."
Zhou Muchen raised an eyebrow slightly. "Bet on what?"
Liu Yutong's tone shifted as she pointed at Xue Chen. "Let's bet that within three days, you will kick Xue Chen out of the Yunshan Club!"
Xue Chen was taken aback, his face completely bewildered. "How did this circle back to me again?"
"Liu Yutong, are you fucking targeting me on purpose?!"
