After a moment of silence in the private room,
Liu Yutong took an elegant sip of tea, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "It seems you two are quite relieved to have made the right choice in time."
Zhou Muchen cleared his throat and said seriously, "You jest, Miss Liu. Our Yunshan Society has always abided by the law. Naturally, we expelled a black sheep like Xue Chen at the first opportunity."
"We did lose this bet. Miss Liu, please provide your bank account number. We will raise the funds and transfer them to you as soon as possible."
However, Liu Yutong's next words left all three of them stunned.
"I don't want the money."
A faint smile curled at the corner of her lips. "Let's consider it a gesture of friendship. After all, it's better to resolve enmity than to create it. We don't have any deep-seated hatred, do we?"
Zhou Muchen and Lu Hong looked at each other, completely unprepared for Liu Yutong's move.
They had already braced themselves for a massive financial blow, and now she was casually saying she didn't want it?
That was a full six hundred million!
Just written off, just like that?
Was this woman so wealthy that six hundred million meant nothing to her?
Even Zhu Silin, who had been mostly quiet on the side, was so surprised her mouth fell open.
Liu Yutong was casually using six hundred million to curry favor and make friends? That was incredibly generous.
No wonder she could be the helm of the Wanlong Society. She truly had nerve and vision.
After his initial surprise, Zhou Muchen's expression turned solemn. "Miss Liu, we accept your goodwill. On behalf of the Yunshan Society, I, Zhou Muchen, acknowledge you as a friend. If you ever need help in the future, we won't refuse!"
Using six hundred million to befriend them—her sincerity was undeniable, even if it was technically their money.
Of course, if she had insisted on taking the six hundred million from them, they would have had to swallow the bitter pill, unable to truly oppose her, given her backer was Li Xiaohui.
Lu Hong also nodded in agreement. "That's right, Miss Liu. We are definitely friends now. If you ever need anything from me, Lu Hong, just say the word!"
Even the somewhat prideful Zhu Silin sincerely promised, "Miss Liu, we were rude before. Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, we are all friends from now on."
Seeing their sincere attitudes, the smile on Liu Yutong's face brightened a few degrees.
She personally picked up the teapot and poured a cup of hot tea for each of them. "Since we're all friends now, no more of this 'Miss Liu' business. Just call me Yutong. From now on, let's visit often, help each other out, and make money together."
Hearing Liu Yutong's last sentence, Zhou Muchen's eyes immediately lit up.
He was just about to say something more when the private room door was pushed open again, and a clear voice came through.
"Yutong-jie, I'm here. I need to tell you something..."
The newcomer was Li Xiaohui. Today she was wearing casual sportswear, not sporting her favorite purple wig but with her hair in a high ponytail, looking full of energy.
Before she could finish her sentence, she saw the three people sitting in the room and stopped mid-sentence.
A moment later.
"Well, well, well..."
Li Xiaohui put her hands on her hips, her eyes darting around the three of them before finally landing on Zhu Silin, and she laughed happily. "Silin-jie, what are you doing here too? Wait..."
She suddenly realized something and glared at Zhou Muchen and Lu Hong like a little tiger showing its claws. "You two aren't here to cause trouble for my Yutong-jie, are you? Is your skin itching for a beating again?!"
Zhou Muchen and Lu Hong reflexively jumped up from their chairs, hurriedly waving their hands. "Xiaohui, it's a misunderstanding. We came to befriend Miss Liu."
"That's right, to make friends!"
"Really?"
"Really, truer than gold!"
Hearing this, Li Xiaohui laughed and slapped Lu Hong on the back, making him stumble in fright. "Good, you know what's good for you!"
Then she looked at everyone, striking a pose as if she were taking charge.
"Since we're all friends now, perfect timing. I'm announcing something: starting today, Yutong-jie is the boss of our new circle."
She pointed at Zhou Muchen and Lu Hong and said to them, "From now on, you two are my Yutong-jie's little brothers, got it?!"
Zhou Muchen: "???"
Lu Hong: "!!!"
Both wore utterly bewildered expressions.
They were prominent young masters in the province, becoming someone's little brothers?
And for a girl younger than them?
"Xiaohui, this... we're a few years older than her. Wouldn't being little brothers be a bit inappropriate?" Zhou Muchen said, forcing himself to speak.
Li Xiaohui's big eyes widened. "What? Not convinced? Do you need me to help you 'loosen up your joints' again? I'm quite good at that now. Our company has a martial arts hall; perfect for taking you two for some proper training."
As she spoke, she was about to call for someone, ready to forcibly take the two away.
"Someone..."
Zhou Muchen and Lu Hong were terrified and quickly admitted defeat. "We're convinced! We're convinced!"
"We'll be little brothers, okay?! We'll do it!"
While they agreed on the surface, they felt deeply wronged inside.
To think they, the top young masters of Lucheng, who had dominated the province for so many years, were now forced to become someone's little brothers—and a young girl's little brothers at that.
Was this really okay?
But it seemed Li Xiaohui had already beaten them to it, recognizing Liu Yutong as her 'jie'.
Right now, what they wanted most was to go back and complain to Uncle Li—why on earth did he send Li Xiaohui to Mingzhu City for university?
Li Xiaohui already disliked them; during the New Year, she had even deliberately set dogs on them. She was especially spoiled and willful.
Now, she wasn't just spoiled and willful; she was downright violent.
They had personally witnessed Li Xiaohui's rallying power last night. With just one shout, over a hundred people appeared, nearly scaring them to death.
Also, they truly never expected Li Xiaohui would dare to get involved in the underworld scene.
Even they didn't dare get involved in that, at least not personally joining in.
If their families found out, the leather belts would probably be worn out from the beating.
But Li Xiaohui, fearless, had done just that, completely boarding Liu Yutong's "black car."
The most crucial thing was, now she was forcing them to get on board too.
They could be friends with Liu Yutong, they could make money together, but getting on that car was a whole different matter.
"Since you agreed, then call her 'Yutong-jie' for me to hear." Li Xiaohui crossed her arms, chin slightly raised, striking a pose that threatened a beating if they didn't comply.
Zhou Muchen and Lu Hong exchanged a glance, seeing on each other's faces a complex expression of humiliation mixed with fear, and fear mixed with a will to survive.
In the end, fear won. They called out softly.
"Yu... Yutong-jie."
"Yutong-jie."
"Didn't you eat? Louder!" Li Xiaohui frowned in dissatisfaction, raising her hand as if to knock their heads.
The two shuddered in fright and quickly shouted loudly, "Hello, Yutong-jie!"
After shouting, Zhou Muchen and Lu Hong both covered their faces simultaneously.
So embarrassing!
To think they, the esteemed top young masters of Lucheng, were forced to call a girl younger than them 'jie'.
If word of this got out, how could they ever show their faces again?!
