The headquarters of Su Group blazed with light, the crystal chandelier in the top-floor banquet hall turning the entire space as bright as day. Lin Mo stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the rim of a champagne flute, the glass reflecting his slightly exhausted face. Three sleepless days and nights of data analysis had left faint dark circles under his eyes, yet those eyes shone brighter than ever before.
"Host, your adrenaline levels are rising." The System Spirit's voice echoed in his mind with a hint of banter. "Relax, tonight is your victory banquet after all."
Lin Mo took a sip of champagne, the sensation of bubbles bursting on the tip of his tongue making him frown slightly. He was not used to occasions like this—especially when everyone was sizing him up with probing gazes. Three days ago, he was still the Su Family's useless live-in son-in-law who "lived off women"; now, he had resolved a logistics crisis that even the Su Group's top executives had found completely helpless.
"Lin Mo."
A cool, detached female voice came from behind him. As he turned around, he almost bumped into the file Su Yuqing was handing him. She wore a dark green long dress today, which made her skin look like snow, yet the aloofness between her brows had not diminished in the slightest.
"What is this?" Lin Mo took the file, his fingertips brushing against the back of her hand by accident, causing both of them to instinctively recoil.
"The logistics department restructuring plan." Su Yuqing's voice was very low. "The Board of Directors has already passed your proposal, and Father asked me to hand this over to you."
Lin Mo opened the folder, the first page boldly stamped with the golden characters: "Project Leader: Lin Mo." He looked up at Su Yuqing, but she had already averted her gaze, her eyes falling upon the mingling crowd not far away.
"Thank you," he said softly.
Su Yuqing's eyelashes fluttered. "Don't get me wrong, this is strictly business." She paused for a moment, then added, "However... you really did a good job."
The sentence was so quiet it was almost inaudible, yet it made Lin Mo's heart skip a beat. Just as he wanted to respond, the doors of the banquet hall were suddenly pushed open, and a commotion interrupted their conversation.
"President Chen is here!"
"The Chen Group's young master actually came in person..."
The crowd automatically parted a path. Chen Hao, dressed in a well-tailored dark blue suit, walked toward them with a smile. A flash of sinister coldness crossed his gaze as he swept past Lin Mo, only to instantly turn as gentle as water when he shifted his attention to Su Yuqing.
"Yuqing, long time no see." Chen Hao naturally stepped to Su Yuqing's side, as if Lin Mo did not exist at all. "I heard the crisis at Su Logistics has been resolved? Truly, congratulations."
Su Yuqing gave a slight nod. "Thanks to Lin Mo."
Only then did Chen Hao act as if he had just noticed Lin Mo, raising his eyebrows in an exaggerated manner. "Oh? So it was Mr. Lin's contribution?" He raised his wine glass. "Then I must propose a toast to you."
Just as Lin Mo raised his hand, Chen Hao suddenly "accidentally" spilled an entire glass of red wine onto his white shirt. The deep red liquid quickly stained and spread, resembling an ugly wound.
"Oh dear, I'm terribly sorry." Chen Hao apologized verbally, but his eyes were filled with mockery. "My hand slipped."
The banquet hall instantly quieted down, everyone's gazes focusing on this awkward scene. Lin Mo could feel the derision in those stares—look, even if he made a contribution, a loser remains a loser after all.
"Host, intense hostility detected," the System Spirit's voice suddenly turned serious. "Shall I activate the 'Commercial Black Material Database'? This function was unlocked three hours ago."
Lin Mo looked down at his ruined shirt, his ears ringing with Chen Hao's hypocritical apology and Su Yuqing's hurried breathing. He clenched his fists at his sides, then loosened them, finally replying calmly in his mind: "Activate."
In an instant, a massive amount of information flooded into his consciousness. The Chen Group's financial fraud, illegal fund-raising, and insider trading over the past five years... Every single piece of information was enough to ruin Chen Hao completely. The corners of Lin Mo's mouth curved into an almost imperceptible smile.
"President Chen is too polite," he suddenly raised his voice, ensuring everyone in the room could hear. "Instead of an apology, why don't we talk about the thirty million in inflated profits your esteemed company reported last quarter? Or... perhaps you'd prefer to explain the matter of embezzling the 'Blue Sky Project' environmental protection fund?"
Chen Hao's smile froze on his face. "What, what are you talking nonsense about?"
"Do you need me to continue?" Lin Mo took a step forward, his voice dropping very low. "For example... your 'business meeting' last Tuesday in Room 1808 at the Hyatt Hotel?"
Chen Hao's face instantly turned pale. Of course he knew what Lin Mo was implying—that official from the securities regulatory commission he had bribed, along with all those shady transaction records.
"You... how could you..." Chen Hao's voice began to tremble.
"I just happened to know." Lin Mo shrugged, the red wine still dripping from his shirt, yet his posture at that moment resembled a general who had victory firmly in his grasp. "Do you need me to help you recall more details?"
The whispers in the banquet hall had turned into a distinct commotion. Fine beads of sweat broke out on Chen Hao's forehead, and he abruptly took a step back, knocking over the tray in a waiter's hand. The sound of breaking glass was particularly piercing in the silence.
"Let's go," Chen Hao growled low to his attendants, turning as if to leave.
"Wait." Su Yuqing suddenly spoke up, taking off her silk shawl and handing it to Lin Mo. "Wipe yourself off."
This simple action stunned everyone present. The eldest miss of the Su Family was actually defending that live-in son-in-law in full view of the public?
Chen Hao's gaze shifted back and forth between the two of them, finally locking onto Lin Mo's face. "This isn't over," he said through gritted teeth, storming out of the banquet hall without looking back.
Lin Mo took the shawl, which still retained the faint jasmine scent of Su Yuqing. He looked up at her and noticed the tips of her ears were faintly red.
"Thank you," he said sincerely.
Su Yuqing averted her gaze. "Don't overthink it, I just can't stand Chen Hao's face." She paused, her voice dropping lower. "However... where did you hear those things you just said?"
Just as Lin Mo was considering how to reply, the System Spirit suddenly issued a warning: "Attention, Su Zhiyuan is approaching, anger index rising."
Sure enough, Su Zhiyuan walked toward them with a gloomy expression, followed by several members of the Board of Directors.
"Lin Mo!" Su Zhiyuan's voice sounded like it was squeezed out from between his teeth. "Do you have any idea who you just offended? The Chen Group is our largest partner!"
Lin Mo responded neither servilely nor overbearingly: "Father-in-law, Chen Hao provoked me first. Besides, he really does have those skeletons in his closet—"
"Shut up!" Su Zhiyuan rudely interrupted him. "I don't care what your source of information is; in the business world, some things are better left unsaid! Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you solved a logistics crisis?"
Su Yuqing stepped forward. "Father, Lin Mo was just defending the Su Family's dignity—"
"You too!" Su Zhiyuan turned to his daughter. "I had you bring him here to give the Board of Directors an explanation, not for you to act like a loving couple with him in public!" He lowered his voice. "Don't forget our agreement."
Lin Mo sharply caught the split-second stiffness on Su Yuqing's face. What agreement?
"Alright, everyone," Su Zhiyuan suddenly raised his volume, a commercial smile plastered across his face. "Just a minor hiccup, let's not let it ruin everyone's mood. Let us continue celebrating the rebirth of Su Logistics!"
The crowd gradually returned to its bustling chatter, but Lin Mo could feel the gazes cast toward him.