The two people were Bai Shisui's mother, Zhou Meizhen, and her uncle, Zhou Yan.
Just as they were wiping away their tears and discussing Bai Jingchen's condition, they saw Liu Yutong walking over.
Zhou Meizhen wiped her eyes and looked the unfamiliar yet elegant girl up and down. "And you... are?"
"Mom, this is Liu Yutong, my good friend," Bai Shisui introduced her, then turned to Liu Yutong. "Sister Yutong, these are my mother and my uncle."
Liu Yutong greeted them politely, "Mrs. Bai, Mr. Zhou, hello."
Zhou Meizhen's gaze lingered on the dark gold dragon-shaped badge on Liu Yutong's left chest for a few seconds before she replied, "Hello, hello!"
Zhou Yan chimed in, "Miss Liu is certainly young and promising. I heard from my brother-in-law earlier that you run a massive business back home and have even expanded overseas. We are incredibly grateful for your help and care during my brother-in-law's accident. The Zhou family cannot thank you enough!"
"You're too kind, Mr. Zhou. It's the least I could do," Liu Yutong replied.
Zhou Meizhen didn't seem to want to dwell on the topic and turned to ask Bai Shisui, "What did the doctor say? How is your father doing now?"
Bai Shisui repeated the doctor's diagnosis. As Zhou Meizhen listened, she started wiping away tears again. "What are we going to do? If something terrible happens to your father, how will the two of us manage such a massive family business..."
"Mom, don't say that. Dad will get better," Bai Shisui comforted her, fighting back her own tears.
Zhou Yan quickly added his own comfort from the side, "My brother-in-law is a good man, and heaven watches over good people. He's survived a lot; I'm sure he'll pull through this time too."
Then, he smoothly changed the subject. "But you have a point, sis. The Bai Group is a huge operation. If anything unexpected does happen to him, you and Shisui really need to think things through. But don't worry, with me here, I'll do everything in my power to manage the group and make sure nothing goes wrong."
Liu Yutong stood quietly to the side, taking in their conversation and expressions.
Zhou Meizhen's worry for her husband's condition seemed genuine, but her brother, Zhou Yan, clearly wanted to take over the management of the Bai Group. He probably didn't even realize how blatantly obvious his words sounded.
However, instead of finding her brother's words inappropriate, Zhou Meizhen nodded in agreement and said to her daughter, "Your uncle is right. In times like this, our own family is the most trustworthy. Shisui, you need to listen to your uncle more from now on. He's been with the company for so many years; he knows more than you do and has a wealth of experience."
Bai Shisui looked as if she wanted to say something, but seeing her mother's haggard face, she ultimately nodded. "I know, Mom."
Just then, Zhou Yan put on an expression as if he had just remembered something and suddenly asked Liu Yutong, "By the way, Miss Liu, I heard my brother-in-law mention that he wanted to transfer some shares to you? That can't be true, can it?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, there was a second of dead silence.
Zhou Meizhen's expression instantly changed, clearly becoming wary of Liu Yutong.
Liu Yutong's expression remained normal as she answered frankly, "Uncle Bai did have that intention. He said it was part of our partnership."
Zhou Meizhen said, "Thirty percent of the shares... Miss Liu, please don't blame me for speaking bluntly as your elder, but my husband's decision seems a bit hasty. The Bai Group is the lifeblood of both the Bai and Zhou families. We won't easily hand it over to an outsider."
"Mom!" Hearing this, Bai Shisui hurriedly interjected. "This was Dad's decision! Besides, Sister Yutong isn't an outsider. She's truly amazing. Dad said it himself—she's a benefactor who can help the Bai family!"
"Even if she is a benefactor, we can't just hand over shares like it's child's play, can we?" Zhou Meizhen retorted.
Zhou Yan stepped in to smooth things over. "Miss Liu, please don't misunderstand. My sister isn't questioning your abilities. It's just that a share transfer involves the very foundation of the group, and given my brother-in-law's current condition, shouldn't we wait until things are clearer before discussing this?"
Liu Yutong looked at the siblings before her and suddenly smiled.
The smile was faint, but it carried a condescending sense of pressure that inexplicably made Zhou Yan's heart flutter with panic.
"You worry too much, Mr. Zhou. I never intended to take shares in the Bai Group for nothing. You're right; it's too early to talk about this now. The most pressing matter is to catch the culprit who hurt Uncle Bai."
Zhou Meizhen strongly agreed with this. "You're absolutely right about that. The most important thing right now is catching the culprit. Everything else can be put on hold."
"Shisui, stay here and keep your mother company. I have some matters to attend to."
Liu Yutong didn't want to waste any more breath arguing with them. She politely said her goodbyes and turned to leave.
She hadn't gone far before the voices of Zhou Meizhen and her brother drifted faintly over to her.
"Shisui, don't blame your mother for speaking her mind. Your dad is lying in there, his fate uncertain. How can the two of us shoulder such a massive estate and such a huge group all on our own? You're still young and inexperienced. You don't know how complicated people's hearts can be."
"Mom, I know I don't have the capability, but Dad said Sister Yutong is..."
"Shisui, it's not that your uncle wants to burst your bubble, but these outsiders can talk a good game while calculating everything to their own advantage. All they see is profit. Why would they genuinely care about the Bai Group? For all we know, they could hollow out your father's life's work in just a few years."
"Your uncle is right. In this world, who else but your own family will truly look out for you? When your dad built this from scratch, our Zhou family contributed too. Your grandfather passed away early, and your uncle has been like a real brother to your dad. He's worked diligently in the company for over a decade. Which part of the business isn't he familiar with? At a time like this, if you don't rely on your uncle, on your own family, are you going to rely on an outsider?"
"Sis, don't say that. I'm just trying to help you and Shisui."
"But Shisui, your uncle still wants to speak to you from the bottom of his heart. The group might look glamorous right now, but who knows how many eyes are secretly eyeing it from the inside? Among those founding members who built the empire with your dad, how many are easy to deal with? Not to mention the fierce competitors circling outside. If you were to take over, could you keep them in line? I've been with the company for years, so I at least have some authority. I can help you hold down the fort and ensure a smooth transition. Once you've gained enough experience, it won't be too late for you to take the reins."
"But Dad said before that the group's management needs to be modernized, that we can't run it like a family business..."
"Silly child, those are just grand theories your dad liked to talk about. When it really comes down to it, blood ties are the most reliable. Think about it: if you hand the company over to an outsider, you wouldn't even know if they sold you out one day. Your uncle is your own flesh and blood. Would he harm you? Would anyone else in our Zhou family harm you? This is when you need help the most. If your own family doesn't step up, are we supposed to just watch as your dad's assets get carved up by others?"
"Shisui, have you been listening to some gossip? Do you have a problem with your uncle or the rest of the Zhou family?"
"Uncle admits that sometimes I'm a bit strict with my subordinates at work, but that's for the good of the company. Now that my brother-in-law has collapsed, I'm more anxious than anyone. We are family, we rise and fall together!"
"Uncle will help you stabilize the situation. When your dad wakes up in the future, or when you truly grow up and can take charge on your own, won't this company still belong to my sister and you? Could your uncle possibly seize it for himself? Am I that kind of person?"
"..."
Under the bombardment of sincere family cards played by her mother and uncle, Bai Shisui was visibly shaken, her inner defenses softening.
Perhaps at a critical moment like this, it would be better to listen to her mother and uncle's arrangements?
But if so, what about Sister Yutong's shares...
"Mom, Uncle, I didn't mean it that way. I just feel so much pressure, and besides, Sister Yutong has been really good to me..."
"Miss Liu is indeed a capable person, Mom can see that."
"But she is an outsider after all, and a young woman. She has her own business. She can help you for a while, but can she help you for a lifetime? The most crucial thing is that thirty percent of the shares."
"Suisui, it's not that Mom is stingy, but that's your dad's life's work. How can it be given away so casually? When your dad wakes up, we must have a good talk about this. Until then, company matters should be discussed behind closed doors by our own family."
"My sister is right. We will remember Miss Liu's kindness and repay her as we should, but business is business, and the two cannot be mixed."
"Suisui, the most important thing for you right now is to take good care of yourself and watch over your dad. Uncle will handle the company's affairs."
"I understand, Mom, Uncle. I'll have to trouble you both to take care of the company's affairs for now."
"That's right! We're family, there's no need to speak like strangers."
"Don't worry, Suisui. With Uncle here, the sky won't fall."
"..."
On the other side, at the corner of the corridor.
Liu Yutong quietly listened to the entire conversation of Bai Shisui's family and couldn't help but shake her head.
"This silly girl, if she continues to be emotionally blackmailed like this, the Bai Group will probably really change its surname to Zhou."
She could tell that Madam Bai was clearly the kind of woman deeply influenced by traditional family concepts, with a tendency to excessively support her younger brother.
Her concern for her husband's injuries was genuine, and her love for her daughter was real, but her desire to support her maiden family and promote her brother and other Zhou family relatives was also real.
Moreover, judging from the attitude of her brother Zhou Yan towards her, her status in her maiden family was probably comparable to an empress dowager holding supreme power in ancient times.
Long-term flattery from her maiden family, combined with her status as the eldest sister, naturally made her lean more towards them.
Otherwise, the Bai Group wouldn't have been stuffed with so many people from the Zhou family.
She could even guess another reason why Uncle Bai gave her the shares: he needed to use her hands to clear out this bunch of bloodsuckers.
It was also a way of paving the path for Bai Shisui in advance.
Although Uncle Bai only had one daughter, Suisui, and no sons, it absolutely didn't mean he could accept the Bai Group being renamed the Zhou Group. Couldn't a daughter be an heir?
Of course, these were just her guesses for now, but she felt she was pretty close to the mark. Even Uncle Bai's attack was likely connected to the Zhou family—though Madam Bai most probably didn't know about it.
As soon as Liu Yutong arrived downstairs, she said to Yun Cheng, "Immediately arrange for someone to look into Madam Bai's maiden family, especially her brother Zhou Yan, and other Zhou family members in the Bai Group or those with close ties to them. Focus on all their movements, financial transactions, and suspicious contacts in the last month—no, the last three months."
"Does the young lady suspect them?" Yun Cheng asked.
"It's not just suspicion, but also intuition. Earlier, Zhao Tianyi reported a clue to me: the person who picked up Zhao Weixiang at the airport when he entered the country was Chen Ming. This Chen Ming has marriage ties with the Zhou family. The Zhou family has plenty of motive to collude with the Snakehead Gang. For example, to stop the share transfer, or even take the opportunity to completely take over the Bai Group."
"Do you need me to notify the police?"
"Not for now. There isn't enough evidence. Let's go meet Zhao Weixiang first. As long as we catch him, we'll have everything."
Speaking of this, Liu Yutong suddenly remembered something else. "By the way, how is our application for a firearms license going?"
"It's been approved. With our status as special consultants to the San Francisco Police Department, we can legally equip and use designated defensive weapons while carrying out our investigation tasks. The guns have already been picked out. Do you want to go take a look, Miss?"
Liu Yutong nodded. "Let's go!"
...
A private shooting range in the suburbs of San Francisco.
Chu Yang stood at the shooting stall, playing with a Glock 17 pistol in his hand. He skillfully checked the firearm, loaded the magazine, and chambered a round, the whole process flowing smoothly like water.
The target in front of him was a silhouette target twenty-five meters away.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Five gunshots rang out, the empty casings clinking as they hit the ground, leaving a faint smell of gunpowder lingering in the air.
The target monitor showed that all five bullets had hit the bullseye, scoring ten rings each, with the bullet holes grouped tightly within the size of a fist.
"Beautiful!"
"Mr. Chu, your marksmanship is truly incredible. It's really hard to imagine how you trained your shooting skills in a place with strict gun control like the Dragon Kingdom," a local detective watching from the side couldn't help but praise.
Hearing the translation, Chu Yang ejected the magazine, checked the chamber, and casually replied, "I just play a lot of video games."
He didn't tell the truth about having served in the military, nor did he mention that his actual specialty wasn't handguns, but mid-to-long-range sniper rifles.
Today, a total of three plainclothes detectives accompanied Liu Yutong's team to the shooting range. The team leader was a white detective named Davis, and the other two were a Latino officer and a Black officer.
They were sent by the police department's special investigation unit to assist with the operation. On one hand, they provided law enforcement support; on the other hand, they were there to monitor whether this foreign consultant team was acting within legal boundaries.
Of course, this was also something Liu Yutong had actively requested.
With police personnel present to witness the entire process, the legality of their actions would be completely foolproof, and it would also prevent the other party from turning against them and denying everything if something went wrong later.
Detective Davis looked at Chu Yang's shooting score and walked over to Liu Yutong. "Miss Liu, your team is indeed professional. However, I must remind you once again: although you have a temporary firearms license now, the main purpose of this operation is investigation and evidence collection, not a firefight. If we determine the suspect's location, we will call for backup. You must absolutely not act on your own."
Liu Yutong had just changed into a black tactical suit, her long hair tied up in a neat high ponytail, making her look strikingly heroic. Holding a compact pistol in her hand, she aimed at the target and said, "Don't worry, Officer. We are all law-abiding citizens and a legitimate company!"
"That's for the best," Davis nodded, but he still couldn't help taking a few more glances at Liu Yutong.
This Eastern girl was too special. At such a young age, she possessed the composure of someone who had long held a position of power. Her facial features were even more exquisite than those of celebrities, and she had a pair of eyes that seemed capable of seeing through everything.
Moreover, every single one of her subordinates was an incredibly formidable and ruthless figure. They treated her with the utmost respect, and even the top brass at the police department were exceptionally polite to her.
Could someone like this really be a legitimate businessperson?
Davis couldn't help but recall the rumors circulating in San Francisco's underground world. This Miss Liu had a very resounding nickname: Black Phoenix. And then there were the Hell Giant, the Black and White Fiends, the Shadow Assassin...
Not to mention the catchphrase Miss Liu and her subordinates constantly repeated: "We are legitimate businesspeople, a proper company!"
Doesn't the saying go: the more you lack something, the more you emphasize it?
"Miss, try this one."
Chu Yang walked over and handed her a SIG Sauer P226. "The recoil is smoother, the accuracy is high, and it fits your hand perfectly."
Liu Yutong took the handgun, checked its condition using the method Chu Yang had taught her, and then raised it to aim.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three shots rang out: two hit the eight-ring, and one hit the bullseye.
"Not bad, Miss Liu!"
The young Officer Kevin praised, "Many people can't achieve a score like that with a P226."
Liu Yutong smiled. "I just got a little lucky."
Afterward, she tried out other firearms at the shooting range, purely for fun, wanting to experience them all.
Just as she was about done, she received a message from Jesse.
After reading the message, she looked up at everyone present.
"Everyone, get ready to move out."
"The operation begins now!"
