Rainwater snaked down the glass curtain wall, distorting the city’s neon lights into blurred patches of color. Lin Mo stood on the steps of the Su Family Villa, the lingering warmth of the fine bone china cup the waiter had just handed him still clinging to his fingertips. He took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy oak doors.
"Watch the step," the butler remarked from behind him. It was meant to be a reminder, but it sounded more like a mockery.
Inside the grand hall, the crystal chandelier illuminated every person’s expression in exacting detail. Su Yuqing’s birthday banquet was nearing its end, yet a strange, stifling tension hung in the air. Lin Mo’s gaze swept across the room, lingering for a split second on Su Zhiyuan’s grim face before sliding past Chen Hao’s smug grin.
"Lin Mo, come here." Su Zhiyuan’s voice sliced through the final pretense of the banquet like a blade.
Every eye in the room turned toward him. Lin Mo felt his phone vibrate in his pocket—the system maintenance had finally ended. But he couldn't check it now.
"Father, whatever this is, let’s talk about it tomorrow," Su Yuqing said, hurrying over, her heels clicking a sharp, urgent rhythm against the marble floor.
"We will talk about it now." Su Zhiyuan pulled a USB drive from his suit jacket. "Everyone, please look at the big screen."
The projector flickered to life. The footage showed Lin Mo standing alone on a balcony late at night, speaking to thin air. There was no audio, but his lips were clearly moving.
"Explain this. What is it?" Su Zhiyuan’s voice was as cold as ice. "A private investigator has been tracking you for a week. You do this every night. Who are you reporting the Su Group’s trade secrets to?"
Lin Mo’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He could not reveal the existence of the system.
"And there’s this." Su Zhiyuan switched to the next video, showing Lin Mo in a coffee shop, using his phone to trade stocks. "Twenty million in profit in three days? A loser who didn't even finish college?"
Whispers erupted throughout the hall. Lin Mo felt countless gazes piercing him like needles.
"The most ridiculous part is this." Su Zhiyuan clicked on the final clip, showing Lin Mo buying a gift at a jewelry store. "The necklace you gave to Yuqing is identical to the one Chen Hao prepared. A coincidence? Or did someone tell you exactly what to buy?"
Chen Hao stepped forward at just the right moment, his face twisted in hypocritical sympathy. "Uncle Su, perhaps Lin Mo was simply being used. After all, who would actually trust a live-in son-in-law?"
Lin Mo’s fists tightened at his sides. The System Spirit’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind: "Host, I’m back. This is looking bad."
"Can you fix this?" Lin Mo asked under his breath, the words forced through gritted teeth.
"Technically, yes, but I need time to hack into their system and alter the footage. Right now—"
"Lin Mo!" Su Zhiyuan barked, interrupting his whisper. "Who are you talking to?"
Suddenly, Su Yuqing stepped in front of Lin Mo. "Father, enough! Those business intelligence reports... I gave them to him."
The hall erupted in an uproar.
"What?" Su Zhiyuan’s expression froze.
"I’ve been helping Lin Mo from the shadows," Su Yuqing said. Her voice was steady, though Lin Mo could see her back trembling slightly. "Those stock trades, those business decisions—they were all my ideas. I just… I didn't want to disappoint you, so I had him step forward."
Su Zhiyuan’s face turned from red to ash. "You’re lying!"
"Check my account records if you don't believe me," Su Yuqing said, lifting her chin. "Every transaction from last week matches the instructions I gave Lin Mo perfectly."
Lin Mo looked at her in shock. It was a bald-faced lie, but at this moment, it was his only lifeline.
"Why?" Su Zhiyuan’s voice wavered for the first time. "Why would you do this?"
Su Yuqing turned, looking Lin Mo straight in the eyes. "Because I believe in him."
The three words carried the weight of a mountain.
"Absurd!" Su Zhiyuan slammed his hand onto a table, sending a wine glass tipping over; the red wine bled across the surface like blood. "You would betray your own father for this loser?"
"He is not a loser!" Su Yuqing’s voice rose sharply. "He understands the essence of business better than anyone here! You only see his background, but you are blind to his talent!"
Chen Hao interjected with a sneer, "Miss Su, letting your emotions rule you will destroy the Su Group."
"Shut up!" Su Yuqing spun toward him. "This is a family matter. It is not your place to speak!"
Lin Mo looked at the woman standing up for him, a surge of emotion rising in his chest. He stepped forward and gently took Su Yuqing’s hand. "Enough, Yuqing. You don't have to do this."
"No," she said, gripping his hand back with surprising strength. "I am done with their hypocrisy and snobbery."
Su Zhiyuan’s expression turned savage. "Fine. Very well. Since you choose to stand on his side, don't blame me for being heartless." He turned to the guests. "As of today, Su Yuqing is removed from all positions within the Group. As for you," he glared at Lin Mo, "get out of the Su family."
"Father!" Su Yuqing cried out in disbelief.
"Host," the System Spirit’s voice turned serious. "I’ve detected that Chen Hao’s people are hacking into the Su Group’s servers. They are stealing the designs for next quarter’s new products."
Lin Mo’s eyes narrowed. He released Su Yuqing’s hand and strode toward Su Zhiyuan. "Chairman Su, before you kick me out, you should probably look at this."
He pulled his phone from his pocket, where the system had already pulled up a stream of code. "Someone is stealing the Su Group’s trade secrets in real-time. Right now, in this very banquet hall."
Su Zhiyuan took the phone suspiciously, his expression gradually turning livid. He jerked his head up to glare at Chen Hao. "You!"
Chen Hao’s smile stiffened. "Uncle Su, I don't know what he’s talking about—"
"Security!" Su Zhiyuan roared. "Seal all exits! Search everyone’s electronic devices!"
The banquet hall fell into chaos. Lin Mo took the opportunity to pull Su Yuqing aside. "Why did you say those things?"
Her eyes shimmered with a complex light under the chandeliers. "Because I saw the analysis reports on your computer. Those business models… they couldn't have been a coincidence."
Lin Mo felt a jolt. She had suspected him all along?
"I don't care how you did it," Su Yuqing said, her voice low but firm. "But I know you aren't a spy."
The System Spirit suddenly chirped in Lin Mo’s ear: "Host, Chen Hao is making a run for it!"
Lin Mo turned just in time to see Chen Hao’s assistant slipping toward a side door. Without hesitation, he gave chase.
"Stop him!" Chen Hao commanded, and two bodyguards lunged at Lin Mo.
Lin Mo felt the system interface unfold before his eyes as Combat Assist mode activated automatically. His body reacted almost by instinct—a side-step, an elbow strike, a roundhouse kick. The two bodyguards crumpled to the floor.
Gasps filled the hall. Even Lin Mo was stunned; he hadn't known he was capable of such agility.
"Host, that is the basic combat module," the System Spirit explained. "Unlocked from the last mission you completed."
Chen Hao had already vanished. Lin Mo turned to see Su Yuqing standing amidst the wreckage, her father looking at him with eyes that seemed like those of a stranger.
"Who exactly are you?" There was uncertainty in Su Zhiyuan’s voice for the first time.
Lin Mo took a deep breath. "I am just Lin Mo."
But the words felt hollow in that moment.
Su Yuqing walked between the two men. "Father, we need to talk. Alone."
Su Zhiyuan’s gaze flickered between his daughter and Lin Mo. Finally, he snorted, turned, and headed for the study. Su Yuqing gave Lin Mo a complicated look before following him.
Lin Mo stood alone in the empty hall, surrounded by overturned glasses and scattered food. His phone vibrated in his pocket. The system interface popped up:
"Emergency Mission: Prevent Chen Hao from leaking the stolen trade secrets. Reward: Unlock social network module."
Lin Mo looked out the window at the falling rain. He knew tonight was only the beginning. The real battle was just about to start.