From rejecting the beautiful female CEO to becoming extremely powerful

Lu Yunzhou put the black card back into his coat pocket and turned to look at Sun Ting and Tang Li.

"The money has been settled, but the betting isn't over yet. You two should apologize to Cheng Ye."

Cheng Ye stood up, holding onto the edge of the table. His left leg brace touched the chair leg, making a soft sound.

"Zhouzi, forget it. I'm used to their mouths by now."

"Once you get used to it, they'll keep talking?"

Lu Yunzhou turned his head to the side. "You'd better accept this apology today."

Sun Ting's smile froze.

She hugged her arms tightly, and her tone immediately changed.

"Lu Yunzhou, it's your business if you pay. When did we ever agree to apologize to Cheng Ye?"

Tang Li chimed in, "It was just a few casual words, everyone was joking. Why did you have to make such a big deal out of it?"

"You accepted the bet yourselves."

Lu Yunzhou picked up the empty wine glass on the table and twirled it around. "I made myself perfectly clear just now."

"Who recorded it?"

Sun Ting glanced at the crowd and asked, "What makes you think you can prove it?"

"I recorded it."

The male student sitting against the wall raised his phone. The voice wasn't loud, but it made everyone at the table stop what they were doing.

"I've been recording this since you started making the bet. Sun Ting, you said that as long as Lu Yunzhou paid off the debt, you and Tang Li would apologize to Cheng Ye. Tang Li, you agreed to that too."

Tang Li's fingers tightened around the bag strap, and she couldn't save face.

Bai Manning, standing next to Zhou Kai, immediately chimed in: "What can a recording prove? Who knows if it's been edited? Lu Yunzhou, what you did today was far too embarrassing."

Lu Yunzhou looked up at her.

"Who was it that blocked the door with the compensation agreement and forced everyone to record an apology video?"

Bai Manning's throat tightened.

"That was to maintain order at the gathering."

"And it is now."

Stop pretending to be a good guy!

Sun Ting raised her voice, "Isn't it just because the hotel gives you face? Just because you have a few stinking bucks, you think you can boss everyone around?"

He Qiming, who was standing to the side, touched his headset after hearing those words.

A few seconds later, the side door of the banquet hall was pushed open.

Four hotel guards in black uniforms walked in.

They didn't speak, and after entering, they split into two groups and guarded both sides of the corridor.

Zheng Kai was the first to stand up.

"What does Tianhao mean? We're here to eat, not as prisoners."

He raised his hand and pushed the nearest guard.

The guard sidestepped, grabbed his wrist, and pressed down on his shoulder.

Zheng Kai lost his balance, his knee hit the carpet, and his arms were tied behind his back.

"Let go of Brother Zheng!"

Zhou Hang grabbed the back of the chair and rammed into another guard.

The guard raised his elbow to deflect the attack, then pressed his palm against the back of his neck, forcing him against the table.

Zhou Hang struggled twice, his face pressed against the tablecloth, his wine glass was knocked over, and wine spilled all over his hands.

The remaining two guards stood watch at the door, not moving an inch.

Zheng Kai gritted his teeth and cursed, "He Qiming, you dare touch me? With a single word from Young Master Zhou, your hotel will be shut down tomorrow!"

He Qiming did not answer, but only turned his gaze to Lu Yunzhou.

Lu Yunzhou pulled out a chair and sat down, his tone calm.

"Young Master Zhou, what did you just say? Say it again."

Zhou Kai's face darkened.

Don't push your luck.

"You just said you wanted your father to shut down the Tianhao Hotel. You also said that whoever stands up for me will share the responsibility."

Lu Yunzhou picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Now that I've said this, I need to make sure everyone understands."

Zhou Kai's eyelid twitched.

"I just said it offhand."

"Mr. He, release him."

He Qiming nodded and gestured to the waiter to turn on the projector in the banquet hall.

The large screen on the wall lit up, first displaying a radio waveform, then Zhou Kai's voice came through.

"My dad is in charge of key projects in Nanhe District. If Tianhao continues to protect Lu Yunzhou, he'll be under investigation tomorrow. Sealing off the hotel is just a formality for my family."

As the sound faded, the screen froze on the image of Zhou Kai pointing at Lu Yunzhou.

The students at the table all lowered their heads.

Some people quietly turned off their phones, while others saved a new copy of the recording.

Zhou Kai stared at the screen, his wine glass hovering in mid-air.

"Your hotel actually dares to record guests' conversations?"

He Qiming continued, "After the Yunhai Hall implements VIP security, the audio recordings of the public areas and private rooms will be preserved. Mr. Zhou, the content just now has been archived by the hotel."

"Delete the save file!"

Zhou Kai pointed at him and asked, "Do you know who my father is?"

"Know."

He Qiming stepped aside, "That's why I'm asking you to clarify things first."

Lu Yunzhou put the teacup back on the table.

"Young Master Zhou, I'm giving you two choices today."

Zhou Kai looked up, his eyes filled with anger.

"You want to teach me how to do things?"

"First, admit something in front of the whole class."

Lu Yunzhou looked at Bai Manning, "In my sophomore year, Bai Manning bribed a student council member to falsify my attendance and disciplinary records, which almost affected my political background check. You need to tell this story yourself."

The color drained from Bai Manning's face, and she immediately retorted, "Lu Yunzhou, what right do you have to slander me?"

"The student union's computer lab has login records, and the person who collected the money also left chat logs."

Lu Yunzhou turned to Zhou Kai, "Second, take out the old files that Bai Manning has kept for many years and delete them on the spot. Delete them wherever they are stored—on her phone, in her email, or on cloud storage."

Zhou Kai stood up straight, supporting himself on the table.

"Who do you think you are, daring to order me around?"

"Can't do it?"

"Do you think you can keep me here just because you have Qiming protecting you?"

Lu Yunzhou glanced at the guards at the door.

"From the moment your father threatened to shut down Tianhao, you were no longer an ordinary guest. You can leave now, but only after you've finished these two things."

Bai Manning grabbed Zhou Kai's arm, her voice strained: "Zhou Kai, don't listen to him. He just wants to use the hotel's influence to humiliate us."

"I know."

Zhou Kai shook her off and pointed at Lu Yunzhou.

"You, surnamed Lu, really think you can do whatever you want just because you have a black card?"

Lu Yunzhou did not respond to his provocation.

"Mr. He, keep watch at the entrance. No one is allowed to leave until the conditions are met."

"clear."

Zhou Kai's chest heaved a few times, then he suddenly rushed around the corner of the table.

The guards were prepared.

One person grabbed his shoulder, and another person held his arm, pressing him against the edge of the table.

The dishes on the table were banged around, and Zhou Kai struggled to lift his head, his forehead pressed against the table.

"Let me go!"

"Young Master Zhou, don't rush."

Lu Yunzhou walked to his side, "Have a cup of tea to sober up first."

He Qiming glanced at the waiter.

Before long, a white porcelain teacup was brought to the table.

The tea was mixed with two kinds of strong liquor, and the pungent aroma made even the people next to them frown.

Zhou Kai turned his head to avoid it.

"I won't drink it!"

Lu Yunzhou reached out and pinched his chin, while the guard supported the back of his neck.

As the teacup touched his lips, Zhou Kai clenched his teeth, and Lu Yunzhou had his guards hold down his shoulders.

"Drink it."

As the tea entered his mouth, Zhou Kai choked and coughed repeatedly, the liquor dripping down his chin and onto his shirt collar.

He struggled and cursed, "Lu Yunzhou, you wait! My dad will never let you get away with this!"

Lu Yunzhou put down his teacup and took out a tissue to wipe the back of his hand.

"Go back and tell him that Tianhao is always welcome to inspect."