"Don't call me Dad. Do you even deserve to?"
Su Zhiyuan's voice was like a sharp blade, stabbing deep into Lin Mo's chest. He kept his head lowered, stirring the mop in the bucket. Splashes of dirty water landed on his trousers, leaving dark stains.
"Yes, President Su."
Lin Mo's voice was soft, barely audible. He hunched over, continuing to mop the floor. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead onto the tiles, only to be wiped away by the mop a moment later.
"Useless trash," Su Zhiyuan spat out with a cold snort. He turned and strode away, his leather shoes leaving a trail of clear footprints across the floor Lin Mo had just cleaned.
Lin Mo stopped what he was doing and stared at the prints, his grip tightening around the mop handle until his knuckles turned white. He quickly forced himself to loosen his grip and resumed mopping.
He was the only one left in the living room. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, washing over him, yet he could not feel a shred of warmth.
"Lin Mo? So you're here."
A crisp voice came from behind him. Lin Mo turned to see Su Yuqing standing at the foot of the stairs. She was wearing a white dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, looking so beautiful that it was hard to stare directly at her.
"Yuqing," Lin Mo managed to squeeze out a smile.
Su Yuqing walked over, glanced at the floor, and frowned. "Why are you mopping again? Doesn't the house have a maid for that?"
"I... I wanted to help," Lin Mo said, looking down.
Su Yuqing sighed. "You don't have to do this. I know my father treats you poorly, but you don't have to—"
"It's fine," Lin Mo interrupted. "I'm used to it."
Su Yuqing started to say something else but stopped. She finally said, "There's a banquet tonight. My father wants you to come along."
"Me?" Lin Mo looked up, surprised.
"Yes," Su Yuqing nodded. "The Chen Family is hosting it. Many people from the business world will be there."
Lin Mo gave a bitter laugh. "What would I go there for? To be the punchline of a joke?"
"Lin Mo!" Su Yuqing frowned. "Can't you have a little backbone?"
"Backbone?" Lin Mo smiled self-deprecatingly. "What kind of backbone could I possibly have?"
Su Yuqing stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly turned away. "Suit yourself, then."
Watching her walk away, Lin Mo clenched his fists. He knew he was spineless, but what choice did he have? He was a son-in-law with nothing to his name; even the air he breathed felt like a mistake.
After finishing the mopping, Lin Mo returned to his room—a tiny bedroom tucked into the furthest corner of the villa, its window facing north, never seeing a ray of sunlight.
He lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Suddenly, his phone vibrated. He picked it up and saw messages in his university alumni group.
"I heard Lin Mo is working as a servant at the Su Family house?"
"Hahaha, isn't that right? Mopping floors and wiping tables every day."
"He was such a big shot in school, and now he's fallen to this."
"Who told him to be a toad lusting after a swan? He deserves it!"
Lin Mo closed the chat and threw the phone aside. He shut his eyes, a heavy tightness constricting his chest.
Suddenly, a piercing pain shot through his temples, as if someone had jammed needles into his brain. He clutched his head, curling up in agony.
"Host's emotional volatility detected at critical threshold. System activation in progress..."
A mechanical, feminine voice rang out in his mind.
"What?" Lin Mo opened his eyes, but the room was empty.
"God-level Business System bound successfully. Host: Lin Mo. Identity: Su Family son-in-law. Current Level: 1."
Lin Mo sat up, scanning his surroundings warily. "Who's talking?"
"I am the God-level Business System, a piece of high-tech hardware from the year 2157, designed to assist the host in achieving success in the business arena."
Lin Mo frowned. "System? What kind of nonsense is this? Am I hallucinating?"
"Not a hallucination," the voice suddenly turned chipper. "Oh, since we're meeting for the first time, shall we introduce ourselves?"
A semi-transparent blue light screen appeared before Lin Mo. A cartoon-style spirit was displayed on it, winking at him.
"I am the System Spirit, Xiaoshang. You can call me Xiaoshang." The little spirit spun around. "From today on, I am your business mentor!"
Lin Mo reached out to touch the screen, but his fingers passed right through. "What... what is actually going on here?"
"Simply put, you've been chosen." Xiaoshang spread its hands. "The system detected your latent business potential. It’s buried for now, but don't worry—with me around, I guarantee a comeback!"
Lin Mo gave a bitter laugh. "A comeback? I get mocked just for stepping out of the house, and you're talking about a comeback?"
"Don't be so gloomy!" Xiaoshang flew in front of Lin Mo. "Come on, look at your first task."
The text on the screen shifted:
【Newcomer Mission: Attend the Chen Family Banquet tonight】
Mission Description: As the first step on the path of business, the host needs to engage with business professionals and expand his network.
Reward: Basic Business Insight (Ability to see through simple business traps)
Penalty for Failure: System dormancy for one week
"The Chen Family banquet?" Lin Mo frowned. "Is that the one Yuqing mentioned?"
"Exactly!" Xiaoshang nodded. "Go, go! It's guaranteed to be worth it!"
Lin Mo hesitated. "But I..."
"Don't 'but' me!" Xiaoshang interrupted. "Do you want to be looked down upon your whole life? Do you want to be a servant for the Su Family forever?"
Lin Mo fell silent.
"Then go!" Xiaoshang waved its tiny fists. "If it's produced by the System, it's top-tier!"
Lin Mo took a deep breath. "Fine, I'll go."
"That's the spirit!" Xiaoshang spun happily. "Oh, by the way, the system has gifted you a suit. It's in the wardrobe."
Lin Mo opened the wardrobe and, sure enough, found a brand-new black suit. He pulled it out and held it up—it was exactly his size.
"This..."
"System perks!" Xiaoshang winked. "Go get ready, see you tonight!"
The screen vanished, and the room returned to silence. Lin Mo touched the fabric of the suit, feeling as though he were in a dream.
At 7:00 PM, Lin Mo stood before the mirror in his suit. He rarely wore formal attire, and he was surprised at how well it fit.
"Knock, knock."
"Come in," Lin Mo said.
The door opened, and Su Yuqing stood there. She wore a dark blue evening gown and looked stunning. She was visibly stunned when she saw Lin Mo's appearance.
"You... you decided to go?"
Lin Mo nodded. "Yes."
Su Yuqing looked him up and down. "Nice suit. Did you just buy it?"
"Something like that," Lin Mo replied vaguely.
Su Yuqing seemed to want to ask more, but simply said, "Let's go. My father is waiting."
Downstairs, Su Zhiyuan frowned deeply when he saw Lin Mo. "Why are you coming?"
"I asked him to," Su Yuqing said.
Su Zhiyuan snorted. "Embarrassing."
Lin Mo clenched his fists, but remembering the mission, he forced himself to let go.
"Let's move." Su Zhiyuan turned and walked out.
The atmosphere in the car was heavy. Su Yuqing sat in the passenger seat, while Lin Mo sat alone in the back.
"Chen Hao will be there tonight," Su Zhiyuan said suddenly. "He just secured the land rights in the East District. He's riding high right now."
Su Yuqing frowned. "Dad, are you trying to set us up again?"
"What's wrong with Chen Hao?" Su Zhiyuan retorted. "He's young, promising, and has a good family background—far better than some loser."
Lin Mo looked out the window, pretending not to hear.
"You don't need to meddle in my business," Su Yuqing said coldly.
Su Zhiyuan grunted and didn't speak again.
Half an hour later, the car pulled up in front of the Chen Family villa. The building was ablaze with lights, and the entrance was filled with luxury cars.
"Remember, don't embarrass me," Su Zhiyuan warned Lin Mo before they stepped out.
Lin Mo didn't answer, following them into the villa.
Inside the ballroom, glasses clinked, and the room was filled with fine silks and jewels. Lin Mo felt entirely out of place, like a sparrow that had accidentally wandered into a flock of peacocks.
"President Su is here!" someone announced.
Everyone turned to the entrance. Su Zhiyuan immediately put on his "business smile" and began exchanging pleasantries. Su Yuqing was surrounded by several socialites, leaving Lin Mo standing alone, ignored by everyone.
"Look who it is? The Su Family's live-in son-in-law!" A grating voice cut through the air.
Lin Mo turned to see a slick-haired young man walking toward him, followed by a few sycophants.
"Chen Hao." Lin Mo recognized him—the young master of the Chen Family and a business rival to the Su Family.
"Heard you're doing well at the Su house?" Chen Hao sneered. "Mopping floors and wiping tables every day?"
Laughter rippled through the surrounding crowd.
Lin Mo clenched his fists, but remembering the mission, he swallowed his anger. "Young Master Chen, you're joking."
"I'm not joking at all." Chen Hao leaned in, lowering his voice. "Does a piece of trash like you even deserve to stand here?"
Lin Mo looked him straight in the eye. "At least I don't need to rely on my family to be standing here."
Chen Hao's expression shifted. "You!"
"Chen Hao!" Su Yuqing walked over, stepping in front of Lin Mo. "What do you think you're doing?"
Chen Hao instantly put on a fake smile. "Yuqing, I was just having a chat with your husband."
"Not necessary," Su Yuqing said coldly. "We're leaving."
She pulled Lin Mo away, leaving Chen Hao with a darkened expression.
"Are you okay?" Su Yuqing asked once they reached a quiet corner.
Lin Mo shook his head. "I'm fine."
Su Yuqing looked at him. "Just now... you had quite a bit of backbone."
Lin Mo gave a bitter laugh. "Occasionally."
"Miss Su," a middle-aged man approached. "May I have a word?"
Su Yuqing nodded and turned to Lin Mo. "I'll be back shortly."
Lin Mo nodded, watching her leave. Suddenly, the light screen reappeared, and Xiaoshang popped out.
"Nicely done!" Xiaoshang gave a thumbs-up. "Mission half-completed!"
Lin Mo asked in a low voice, "What do I do now?"
"Go network!" Xiaoshang pointed to an elderly man drinking alone nearby. "See that old man? Go have a chat with him."
Lin Mo looked over. The man was white-haired and dressed plainly, standing out from the crowd.
"Who is he?"
"Go find out!" Xiaoshang winked mysteriously.
Lin Mo took a deep breath and walked over.
"Excuse me, may I sit here?" he asked politely.
The old man looked up, his sharp eyes sweeping over Lin Mo. "Help yourself."
Lin Mo sat down, unsure of what to say.
"You're not a businessman," the old man suddenly said.
Lin Mo was stunned. "How did you know?"
"Your eyes," the old man said, taking a sip of his wine. "Businessmen only see profit. You don't."
Lin Mo smiled bitterly. "You're right. I'm just... here with my family."
"Family?" The old man raised an eyebrow. "What is Su Zhiyuan to you?"
"My father-in-law."
The old man laughed. "Ah, so you're the famous live-in son-in-law."
Lin Mo hung his head. "Yes."
"Head up," the old man said, suddenly solemn. "A man can be poor, but he can't be without a backbone."
Lin Mo lifted his head, meeting the old man's gaze.
"My name is Zhou Hongru," the old man said. "I've done business my whole life and seen all kinds of people."
Lin Mo was startled. "You're the founder of the Zhou Group?"
Zhou Hongru nodded. "Retired now. Just an old man with time on his hands."
Lin Mo was filled with respect. "I've heard so much about you."
"Kid," Zhou Hongru stared at him. "Do you know why I'm willing to talk to you?"
Lin Mo shook his head.
"Because you have a certain quality," Zhou Hongru said. "A kind of... unwillingness to accept your fate."
Lin Mo's heart raced. "You..."
"Want to learn how to do business?" Zhou Hongru asked suddenly.
Lin Mo's eyes widened. "Me?"
"Yes, you." Zhou Hongru nodded. "I'm a good judge of character. You have potential."
Lin Mo thought of the system. Could this be the point of the mission?
"I... I would love to."
Zhou Hongru smiled. "Good. Come to my office tomorrow." He handed over a business card.
Lin Mo took it with both hands. "Thank you, Mr. Zhou."
"Don't thank me yet." Zhou Hongru stood up. "First, prove that you're worth my time."
After he left, Xiaoshang popped out again. "See! What did I tell you!"
Lin Mo stared at the business card, feeling like he was in a dream. "Is this... real?"
"Of course!" Xiaoshang said smugly. "Mission complete! Rewards distributed!"
A warm current flowed into Lin Mo's brain, and he felt the world around him grow sharper, clearer.
"This is..."
"Basic Business Insight!" Xiaoshang explained. "You can now see through simple business traps."
Lin Mo was about to speak when he heard a commotion. He turned and saw Chen Hao on the stage, holding a microphone.
"Everyone, I have some good news to announce," Chen Hao said with a smile. "Our Chen Group is about to enter a partnership with the Su Group to develop the East District!"
Lin Mo frowned, looking at Su Zhiyuan nearby, who looked stunned—clearly, he was unaware of this.
"This is a trap," Lin Mo suddenly said.
"Oh?" Xiaoshang asked curiously. "How do you know?"
"Instinct." Lin Mo stared at Chen Hao on the stage. "He's lying."
Sure enough, Chen Hao continued, "In light of this, my marriage to Miss Su will also be placed on the schedule!"
The room erupted. Su Yuqing's face went pale, and Su Zhiyuan looked utterly shocked.
"Bullshit!" Lin Mo stood up abruptly.
All eyes turned toward him.
"Lin Mo?" Su Yuqing looked at him in surprise.
Chen Hao sneered. "What? Does the son-in-law have an opinion?"
Lin Mo walked onto the stage and grabbed the microphone. "Chen Hao is lying. The Su Group has no partnership plans with the Chen Group, and there is certainly no marriage."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Chen Hao yelled in rage.
"I am Su Yuqing's husband," Lin Mo said, looking him straight in the eye. "The one legally recognized."
The crowd buzzed with whispers.
"Lin Mo!" Su Zhiyuan rushed up. "What are you doing!"
Lin Mo ignored him and continued to address the crowd. "Chen Hao's statements are entirely fabricated. Please do not be misled."
"Do you have proof?" Chen Hao challenged him.
Lin Mo suddenly smiled. "The land in the East District—the title has issues, doesn't it?"
Chen Hao's expression shifted. "You... what are you talking about?"
"The soil pollution incident from three years ago," Lin Mo continued. "The government has strictly prohibited building residential housing on that plot. Are you unaware of that?"
The room went into an uproar. Chen Hao's face turned ash-gray. "You... how do you..."
"So you wanted to drag the Su Group down with you," Lin Mo pressed on, "using a fake partnership to cover up the issues with the land, right?"
Chen Hao was speechless.
"Enough!" Su Zhiyuan grabbed Lin Mo. "Shut your mouth!"
He turned to the crowd. "Everyone, this is just a misunderstanding. We do have intentions for cooperation..."
"Dad!" Su Yuqing interrupted. "Is what Lin Mo said true?"
Su Zhiyuan was speechless.
Lin Mo looked at Su Yuqing. "I checked the documents. There are definitely issues with that land."
Su Yuqing looked at him, shocked. "You... how would you know about these things?"
Lin Mo didn't know how to explain, but fortunately, Zhou Hongru walked over at that moment.
"The young man is right," Zhou Hongru said in a booming voice. "There are indeed issues with that land. Chen Hao, you've got some nerve."
Chen Hao looked like a dead man. "Mr. Zhou, I..."
"Get out," Zhou Hongru said coldly. "Stop making a fool of yourself here."
Chen Hao fled in disgrace. The ballroom was in chaos, with everyone whispering.
"Lin Mo," Su Zhiyuan glared at him. "Come outside with me."
Outside the villa, Su Zhiyuan glared at Lin Mo. "Who told you to run your mouth?"
Lin Mo said calmly, "I just didn't want the Su Family to be cheated."
"What do you know about business!" Su Zhiyuan roared. "You're just a piece of trash!"
"He's not trash," Su Yuqing said, walking over. "He just saved the Su Family."
Su Zhiyuan was left speechless.
"Lin Mo," Su Yuqing looked at him, a strange light sparkling in her eyes. "Who are you, really?"
Lin Mo didn't know how to answer. At that moment, Xiaoshang's voice echoed in his mind:
"Congratulations to the host for completing your debut! Your business journey has officially begun!"
The night wind blew past. Lin Mo looked at Su Yuqing, and for the first time, he felt he could see respect in her eyes.
"I'm just..." he said softly, "not wanting to be trash anymore."
In the distance, Zhou Hongru stood in the shadows, watching the scene with a thoughtful expression.