Everyone fell silent.
No one had expected that the Li Family would have a madwoman in their midst.
Some narrowed their eyes, seeing right through the little charade.
Among them was Lu Lutong.
Having survived the ruthless succession battle among the Lu Family's nine heirs, he was no fool—he instantly grasped the underlying scheme.
"Patriarch Li, what exactly do you mean by this?"
Li Chifen cut him off abruptly.
"So this is how it is. My apologies—I jumped to conclusions without verifying the facts. Brother Lu, rest assured, since this is the Li Family’s mistake, I’ll give you a satisfactory resolution. After the meeting concludes, I’ll personally offer my apologies."
Li Chifen’s words were carefully measured.
Addressing Lu Lutong as "Brother Lu" was a deliberate show of respect, especially coming from the current patriarch of the Li Family.He then admitted fault, acknowledging the Li Family’s responsibility and willingness to accept consequences.
Most crucially, his promise to "personally apologize" hinted at substantial concessions.
Lu Lutong paused only briefly before nodding.
"If that’s the case, I’ll have to honor Patriarch Li’s request. We’ll discuss this further afterward."
Internally, Lu Lutong felt somewhat appeased. Among noble families, could affection ever outweigh profit?
Though he pitied his daughter, $2f her death could secure his claim as family patriarch, he wouldn’t hesitate to push her into the grave himself.
Lu Xiangdai and Lu Xiangji exchanged silent glances. They couldn’t comprehend their father’s cold calculus but dared not oppose him.
Instead, they shot venomous looks at Luo Yao.
By now, their former admiration for her had curdled into hatred.
Given the chance, they’d make her suffer.
Meanwhile, Lin Ran’s eyes gleamed with menace.
These two were now marked men.
Daring to covet his woman? They were begging for death.Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on Novᴇ(l)Fɪre .ɴᴇt
But though Lin Ran was unhinged, he wasn’t reckless like Luo Yao.
In public, he’d stop at beating someone senseless—his true madness emerged only in the shadows.
Not that he couldn’t go further, but it was unnecessary.
Even Luo Yao hadn’t acted openly; she’d had Liu Meng dispose of Lu Xiangting discreetly.
Li Chifen exhaled in relief. Lu Lutong clearly knew when to yield.
Perhaps future dealings wouldn’t be impossible.
"Everyone, please be seated. Let’s continue," Li Chifen announced.
But few had the heart to proceed.
Who’d dare speak freely at a banquet where tongues might literally be cut out?
Yet at that moment, Lin Ran rose defiantly.
You tell me to sit? Watch this.
He jabbed a finger at Lu Xiangdai and his brother. "What the hell are you staring at? Need your eyes gouged out?"
Luo Yao blinked her lovely eyes, admiring Lin Ran’s growing audacity. He thrilled her more by the day.
The Lu Family seethed at being challenged by this pretty-faced nobody, but with Luo Yao backing him, they could only swallow their rage.
Li Chifen’s brow furrowed. Could this farce even continue?
"Mr. Lin, I must insist you sit down. You’re making this exceedingly difficult."
Lin Ran had realized Luo Yao’s true purpose—she’d never come for diplomacy, only chaos.
So he flipped the table with a crash.
"Difficult?"
"Then don’t bother."
Plates shattered. At least only one course had been served, minimizing the waste.
Li Chifen finally snapped. "Guards!"
Luo Yao’s eyes remained closed, her voice glacial. "Old dog, I’d advise against moving."
"I know why you invited me today—to collude with the three families and Samsung against my Luo Corporation. You think I fear you?"
Her eyes snapped open, radiating a bone-chilling aura.
"Imagine if the Wang and Lu Families learned your true colors. Would they still partner with a man who’d sell anything—even allies—for profit?"
The room froze. Every attendee gaped.
Li Chifen barely stifled a gasp. Years of iron-fisted rule had hardened his composure, but the subtext in Luo Yao’s words nearly broke him.
"What ‘true colors’? Slander won’t be tolerated!"
Luo Yao stood.
"Spare me your rehearsed denials. I’m leaving."
With that, she swept out with Lin Ran, boarding the unmarked Rolls-Royce where Wang Bao waited.
"A final warning: choose your alliances wisely. Blind loyalty is fatal."
The engine roared as Wang Bao floored the accelerator. The luxury car smashed through the newly repaired gates like a beast.
A dossier flew from the window.
"A gift for the old dog. Enjoy."
Li Chifen's mind had been on the verge of exploding ever since Luo Yao started speaking. When he saw the document envelope, he quickly went to retrieve it himself.
He knew it contained something Luo Yao had left for him.
Just then, Park Bo-gi approached Li Chifen.
"Patriarch Li, are you alright?"
Having suffered at Luo Yao's hands before, Park Bo-gi still carried some lingering fear of her. Though this was the Li Family's estate, it was still within Chinese borders—he didn’t dare make a move against Luo Yao.
That’s why he had been playing dead earlier.
If this were Korea, he would’ve already sent Luo Yao and everyone around her straight to the underworld.
Li Chifen waved him off. By now, he had completely lost the mood to continue hosting the banquet, so he handed the responsibility over to his son, Li Dan.
He himself quietly retreated to an empty corner, exchanging polite words before slipping away entirely.
Once inside a secluded room in the banquet hall, Li Chifen opened the documents—only to nearly faint at what he saw.
"That crazy girl, where did she get all this?"
He had been certain no one could possibly know about his dealings, yet somehow, Luo Yao had uncovered everything.
And with irrefutable evidence, no less.
Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to stay calm.
"It’s fine. There’s still a chance. If that lunatic didn’t expose it publicly, it means there’s room for negotiation."
He had hoped to make Luo Yao suffer today, but before the banquet even properly began, she had already unleashed her ultimate move and left.
Next time they met, she might be fully armed with god-tier equipment.
Difficult. Too difficult.
There were still many guests outside—he couldn’t just ignore them.
When Li Chifen returned to the banquet hall, he overheard Wang Dacong boasting.
"What exactly did Luo Yao mean? Who did the Li Family betray in their collaborations?"
Wang Dacong shrugged. "Who knows?"