Chapter 521: Mediator?

The next evening.

Liu Yutong arrived at the revolving restaurant on the top floor of the Xingyi Hotel, accompanied by Yun Cheng, assistant Su Mansu, and several core members of Wanlong Society responsible for her protection.

This restaurant was one of the most upscale establishments in South City, offering exceptional views. From here, one could overlook most of the city’s nightscape.

When she entered the private dining room, a man in his thirties with slicked-back hair and sharp eyes rose from the head seat.

This was none other than the currently celebrated richest man, Huang Yu.

This wasn’t Liu Yutong’s first time meeting him, yet seeing him again, she still sensed an air of dominance about him.

That fit his style.

As the leader of the retail industry, Huang Yu’s expansion tactics were inherently aggressive and radical.

The man never considered steady, step-by-step growth. Every move was a grand gesture, like a mountain crushing down.

For instance, a few years ago, he had spent over six billion in one go to swallow up the country’s third-largest home appliance chain.

After that, he had successively annexed regional giants like Zhongda Electronics and Wulian Electronics, and there were even rumors about acquiring Jinyang Electronics, listed on the A-share market.

It was worth noting that Jinyang Electronics currently had a market value of over forty billion.

Incidentally, Jinyang Electronics was the listed company controlled by Shen Hao’s family from the Yunshan Society.

Of course, those were just rumors, as no one believed the Huang could muster that much money to directly acquire a company worth hundreds of billions.

However, Huang Yu had indeed invested tens of billions in real estate and declared he would build his property empire into a leading enterprise like Guomei.

Unfortunately, his timing seemed less than ideal.

When Huang Yu saw Liu Yutong appear, a flicker of astonishment crossed his eyes. Beyond marveling at her youth, he also found this girl strangely familiar.

But he quickly composed himself, stepping forward with a smile and extending his hand: “President Liu, welcome, welcome!”

Liu Yutong also extended her slender hand with a smile: “President Huang, it’s been a while. Last year at the Finance University, I benefited greatly from hearing your many insightful views on the market. I never expected the honor of meeting you again so soon.”

Hearing her say this, Huang Yu’s memories gradually crystallized.

The girl before him was precisely the freshman who had been responsible for receiving him and Old Zhang and the others in Pearl City last year.

If he remembered correctly, this girl had once made outrageous comments, critiquing these tycoons.

Saying they were destined to be eliminated by the times, that his expansion would eventually lead to problems, even declaring that she might become their opponent in the future.

Naturally, he hadn’t taken it seriously at the time.

What could a freshman girl possibly accomplish? Just empty talk.

Yet how much time had passed since then?

One year, to be precise, not even a full year.

That student who had once served them dishes and poured wine now stood before him, this richest man, as an equal.

And he was the one who had invited her.

Yet before their meeting, he truly hadn’t connected Liu Yutong with that freshman from last year.

The reason he had extended the invitation was actually at someone else’s request.

Plus, after that meeting last year, he and Liu Yutong had had no further contact, so naturally he wasn’t that familiar with her.

“Liu… President Liu? Oh, I never expected it would be you!”

Huang Yu surveyed Liu Yutong again, unable to help but exclaim: “How much time has passed? You’ve changed so much. I still vaguely remember those sharp critiques of yours from back then—truly eye-opening.”

Liu Yutong laughed: “You’re too kind, President Huang. I was young and ignorant then, speaking without thinking. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Huang Yu waved his hand: “Oh, not at all, not at all.”

“President Liu, please, come in!”

“Please!”

Liu Yutong and Huang Yu took their seats in turn, chatting about old times from last year at the Finance University.

Of course, Huang Yu had initiated the topic.

They chatted for over ten minutes, neither mentioning the real business at hand.

Liu Yutong didn’t ask, and Huang Yu didn’t bring it up.

Watching Liu Yutong’s calm and unhurried demeanor, free of arrogance or impatience, Huang Yu couldn’t help but marvel again.

This girl could hold her ground far better than he had imagined. Such composure was completely unlike someone not yet twenty.

He had seen too many young entrepreneurs. Most struggled to control their emotions before him, more or less regarding him as an idol with excitement.

The title of “richest man” might be an empty honorific, but the wealth and influence it represented were real—enough to make many younger generations unconsciously feel inferior before him.

Once he had reined in his emotions, Huang Yu stopped beating around the bush and finally stated the purpose of today’s invitation.

“President Liu, to be frank, besides catching up on old times, I’ve also been asked by a friend to play mediator.”

Before Liu Yutong could guess who could persuade Huang Yu to act as mediator, the private room door opened again.

Vulture Master walked in with a dark expression.

“President Liu, I concede defeat this time.”

“I’ve been in South City for so many years, but this is the first time I’ve been forced into such a position. President Liu, truly impressive tactics!”

His tone carried little apology, more a sense of humiliation at having to bow before absolute power.

During this period, every venue under his name had been thoroughly inspected. Countless of his underlings had been arrested, and even his legitimate businesses had suffered successive problems—he didn’t dare open for operation at all.

The moment he opened his doors, inspections were guaranteed.

Even the connections he had previously greased were now useless, completely ineffective, and were even avoiding him.

Though he didn’t know how Liu Yutong, an outsider, had managed it, she had indeed used stronger connections to suppress him.

Left with no choice, he had sought out the richest man Huang Yu to mediate.

Liu Yutong truly hadn’t expected Vulture Master to fold so quickly. Whether it was because he couldn’t hold out any longer, or because Gu Yebai had been too ruthless and completely overwhelmed him.

However, if he thought he could reconcile this easily, that was out of the question.

Seeing Liu Yutong offer no response, Huang Yu spoke up again to mediate: “President Liu, you see, Old Vulture has recognized his mistake. As the saying goes, matters of the underworld are settled within the underworld; sometimes taking a step back can lead to a broader future.”

“How about this: I’ll have him compensate you with a sum of money and guarantee he’ll never provoke you again. Do me this favor, and let’s put this matter behind us. What do you say?”

Vulture Master immediately chimed in: “President Liu, name your price. As long as it’s within my ability, I’ll have no objections.”

Liu Yutong watched these two singing in harmony and roughly guessed they must have some profit-sharing relationship.

Most likely, the richest man Huang’s real estate investments had gotten mixed up with this Vulture Master.

One had money, the other had muscle—what a perfect partnership.

She guessed that Huang Yu must have encountered difficulties that led him to choose cooperation with such a person.

Otherwise, given Huang Yu’s status, why would he speak up for a gangster?

Of course, it was also possible they were relatives.

But regardless of their relationship, reconciliation wouldn’t be that simple.

Time ticked by, and the atmosphere in the private room grew subtle.

Yun Cheng and the others warily watched Vulture Master’s henchmen, while Vulture Master’s henchmen stared fixedly at Liu Yutong’s group.

After a moment.

Liu Yutong finally spoke, pointing at a bespectacled man behind Vulture Master: “First, have that guy crawl over here on his knees.”

Vulture Master’s eyebrows shot up violently, suppressing his anger as he said: “President Liu, what is the meaning of this? Is this your condition?!”

“Condition?”

“I think you’ve misunderstood something. Having him crawl over on his knees isn’t a condition—it’s to see how sincere you are.”

“Show me your sincerity first, then we can discuss conditions! Otherwise, get the hell out of here!”