Volume One, Chapter Seven: Now Even Cats and Dogs Can Join

Mu Shaozhou’s lips curved slightly, his tone as cold as if dusted with ice, and he turned to face Old Master Fu.

“Old Master Fu, your birthday banquet has truly become an event where any stray cat or dog can show up.”

Hearing his words, Yu Mo felt the familiar warmth in her heart vanish instantly. Her gentle, charming young man could never be so frigid and distant.

Fu Yanting’s dislike for the man before him deepened. With such words, wasn’t he making an enemy of President Xu? After all, the loss of Xu Corporation’s partnership wouldn’t affect his own family.

“And who are you, coming in here like some nobody, not even recognizing President Xu of Xu Corporation, and daring to speak this way? Get out of here at once!”

Mu Shaozhou did not move. He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, a hint of languor in his gaze.

“I don’t know him, indeed. Let me call someone and ask.”

With that, he took out his phone and dialed his assistant, Dai Ming.

“Have you heard of Xu Hong from Xu Corporation?”

On the other end, Dai Ming paused for two seconds. “No, sir. I’ll look into it right away.”

“Within fifteen minutes, bankrupt Xu Corporation.”

Mu Shaozhou ended the call.

The crowd hadn’t yet processed the meaning of his words.

Xie Mengqi, as if watching some ridiculous spectacle, opened her brightly painted lips and sneered, “Hey, who do you think you are, pretending here? You really think just one word from you could bring down Xu Corporation?”

It was pure fantasy. Everyone knew the Xu family’s business was built on solid foundations, strengthened over many years. It could never be destroyed so easily.

Fu Yanting laughed aloud, as if watching a fool. He tapped his temple. “You must have something wrong up here.”

Mu Shaozhou gave him a faint glance. The eyes beneath his mask were as dark as ink, his lips curled into a flawless arc that vanished in a heartbeat.

Yu Mo’s gaze faltered for a moment, following the curve of his lips.

Fu Yanting had already summoned the security guards, intending to drag out the lunatic before him.

Xie Mengqi hooked her arm around Xu Hong’s, lips curled, prepared to watch the scene unfold.

“Yanting!”

Old Master Fu gripped his cane tighter. Xu Hong was not someone they could afford to provoke, but the masked man before him was clearly no ordinary person either. They couldn’t afford to offend either side.

He hadn’t spoken further.

Two security guards approached, following Fu Yanting’s orders, and fixed their gaze on Mu Shaozhou.

Mu Shaozhou glanced at them, and they immediately shrank back in fear. Never had they felt such a fierce, commanding presence.

The two exchanged nervous glances, hesitating to act.

“What are you waiting for? Drag him out at once!” Fu Yanting grew furious at their hesitation. He, the young master of the Fu family, couldn’t even command two hotel security guards?

The guards edged forward a half-step.

Meanwhile, Xu Hong’s phone rang.

He irritably fished out his phone and hung up after a brief look. The next moment, it rang again.

With mounting impatience, he answered, “What is it? I don’t have time right now.”

His assistant’s voice trembled, nearly in tears. “President Xu, the company—the company…”

“What’s happened to the company?” Xu Hong demanded, nearly stamping his foot.

“The company has collapsed.” His assistant sounded frantic, the chaos echoing in the background.

Xu Hong refused to believe it. “Are you trying to get fired? What nonsense is this? How could the company collapse out of the blue?”

He had lived more than forty years and never imagined such a thing could happen.

His assistant persisted, “President Xu, it’s true! The company’s stock plummeted to rock bottom within three minutes! The phones are ringing nonstop. You need to come to the office at once. Make sure to cover your face when you arrive—there may be a crowd at the entrance, so please be careful!”

The call remained connected.

Xu Hong heard the tumult on the other end, the overlapping ring of desk phones and mobiles. While still on the call, his phone buzzed again.

He hung up, but calls kept coming—from managers, from executives in every department.

At last, he realized something was terribly wrong.

After answering several more calls, Xu Hong’s fat, short legs began to shake.

Could it really be that man’s doing?

How did he manage it—bringing Xu Corporation’s stock to rock bottom in three minutes?

Impossible!

Yet it had truly happened.

Who was this man, really?

Terrifying!

His squinting eyes turned toward Mu Shaozhou.

“Who—who are you?!”

On Mu Shaozhou’s side, he stood tall and still, the eyes beneath his mask faintly glimmering, his voice as steady as a mountain.

Just then, the manager of Yunlan Hotel hurried over, dismissing the two security guards. His voice quivered with nervousness.

“Your Highness, President Zhao will be down immediately.”

At the manager’s words, everyone in attendance was stunned.

Fu Yanting was the first to scoff. “If he’s Your Highness, then I’m the Emperor.” He pointed at the manager. “You must be paid to act for him. How much is your salary?”

The manager bowed slightly, heart pounding at Fu Yanting’s words. Was he trying to ruin the Fu family’s standing in this city?

“Young Master Fu, this truly is His Highness,” the manager replied. He had traveled with President Zhao to the imperial capital and had been fortunate enough to meet His Highness once. Though it was only a glance, he could never forget that feeling—fearful and awe-inspiring.

Lin Hua studied Mu Shaozhou again; the man certainly had remarkable presence. But whether he was truly the prince was hard to say—few had ever seen him in person.

“Brother Yanting, if he really is the prince, how could he be here alone without even a single bodyguard?”

Fu Yanting thought that made sense. The real prince would at least be accompanied by several bodyguards. He wouldn’t arrive alone like this.

At that moment, a middle-aged man appeared. His manner was flustered as he entered the banquet hall, and his eyes immediately found Mu Shaozhou.

He hurried over to Mu Shaozhou and bowed deeply with respect.

“Your Highness, your visit graces us beyond measure. If only you had notified us ahead of time, I could have arranged a proper welcome at Yunlan.”

“It’s nothing; I’m only here for a birthday celebration,” Mu Shaozhou replied calmly.

Zhao Ming wiped the cold sweat from his brow, afraid to show the slightest disrespect to the prince from the imperial capital.

As president of Yunlan Hotel, Zhao Ming was well-known. Both Fu Yanting and Xu Hong recognized him.

There were very few people who could command such courtesy from the president of a seven-star hotel in this city.

When the manager spoke, Xu Hong had doubted. But hearing it from Zhao Ming himself, he had no choice but to believe.

He had actually offended the prince.

“Gah!”

With a short gasp, Xu Hong collapsed.