An hour later...

At the Peace Hotel in Shanghai.

This was a historic hotel that had stood since the wartime era. During the turbulent years of China's past, many influential figures had gathered here to discuss matters. Even now, in the new era, the tradition remained—a mark of respect for history.

No one knew who the current owner of the Peace Hotel was, but no one dared to cause trouble either. There was simply no need.

Liu Meng had arranged a meeting with the representatives of the three major families—all except the Samsungs.

Lu Youqi and Wang Xiaolin had already arrived and were seated in Private Room No. 1, their expressions grim. The two of them had been pushed to the brink by Liu Meng’s maneuvers. The moment she entered the room, their eyes immediately darted behind her.

But there were only two assistants, carrying a few documents.

"Where’s President Luo?"

Liu Meng strode straight to the head of the table and sat down without hesitation, a move that visibly angered the two tycoons.

"President Luo won’t be joining us today. I’m the one who called this meeting."

The two men exchanged glances.

"Hmph! Even Luo Yao would have to ask for our permission before sitting there. Who the hell do you think you are?"

Liu Meng tossed two stacks of documents onto the table.

"Save the bravado. Take a look at these acquisition proposals."

"Acquisition proposals?"

What the hell?

Confused, they picked up the documents. By the time they finished the first page, their eyes had widened in shock.

"What? You want to buy out all our businesses? This is outrageous! Since when did Luo Yao develop such an appetite?"

Wang Xiaolin, however, remained silent.

While the terms were far from favorable for him, he couldn’t deny that the proposal offered a way to cut his losses and survive. The only catch was the acquisition method—Luo Corporation demanded absolute control despite holding a minority stake.

Narrowing his eyes, Wang Xiaolin spotted the loophole.

Luo Corporation had always been known for its deep pockets, so why resort to such underhanded tactics instead of a straightforward buyout?

It could be Luo Yao’s shrewd business tactics—or it could mean Luo Corporation was strapped for cash.

"Tch." Wang Xiaolin sighed.

Even if Luo Corporation was financially strained, what could he do about it?

He had long wanted to take down Luo Corporation, especially in recent days. He believed Luo Yao was engaging in cutthroat competition—if that was the game, then no one would come out unscathed.

But guess what?

No matter how hard he and Lu Youqi dug, they couldn’t find a single scandal tied to Luo Corporation. Every operation was squeaky clean.

For a conglomerate of this scale—the world’s top financial empire—to maintain such integrity wasn’t just difficult; it was nearly impossible.

Lu Youqi had once suggested spreading false rumors, but before they could act, the plan backfired spectacularly.

Now, even if they tried again, it wouldn’t matter. Lies were still lies.

At best, it might tarnish Luo Yao’s reputation slightly, but it wouldn’t disqualify her from the bidding war.

Wang Xiaolin’s understanding of Luo Yao had deepened.

Liu Meng: "If you two aren’t interested, then so be it. We’ll keep playing hardball. But just remember—going head-to-head with Luo Corporation means risking total annihilation."

Lu Youqi finally snapped. His usual composed demeanor vanished, replaced by a furious glare.

"You little bitch, do you really think I’ll let you walk out of this hotel alive?"

Liu Meng clapped her hands mockingly. "Calm down, Patriarch Lu. Whether I leave here or not isn’t up to you."

At that moment, the hotel’s elite security team stormed in. Liu Meng leaned back lazily.

"This hotel isn’t yours to command."

Lu Youqi’s eyes bulged in disbelief.

"What? The owner here is… Luo Corporation?"

Liu Meng shook her head. "To be precise, it belongs to our young master, Lin Ran."

The two men fell silent for a long moment before finally speaking.

"Even so, we won’t agree."

Liu Meng didn’t argue.

"Agreement isn’t the point. Actually, today, I wanted to show you a little spectacle."

"What spectacle?"

"The downfall of the Li family."

Both men stared at her, unable to believe an assistant could be so audacious.

Even if they joined forces, they could only deal a minor blow to the Li family. Total annihilation?

"Hahaha! I’ve seen arrogance, but never like this."

Liu Meng shrugged. "Well, today’s your lucky day."

"Fine, fine. Let’s see how the Li family falls. How long do you need to pull it off?"

Liu Meng held up one finger. Lu Youqi frowned.

"A year? A month?"

Liu Meng shook her head.

Wang Xiaolin: "Don’t tell me it’s just one day?"

Again, Liu Meng shook her head. "One hour."

The two men were speechless…

"Haha, my apologies for being late!" Li Chifen strode in, head held high, nodding only at Liu Meng.

Lu Youqi and Wang Xiaolin could only gape at Li Chifen, then back at Liu Meng, utterly baffled by whatever game they were playing…

Meanwhile, upstairs, Luo Yao and Lin Ran gazed at the Bund’s skyline, awaiting the outcome.

"Yao Yao, is this hotel really mine? It’s such an iconic place."

The Peace Hotel wasn’t particularly large or luxurious, but its legacy was undeniable—a century-old institution, even designated as a cultural heritage site.

"It’s just a hotel. If you like it, keep it. If not, I’ll have it burned down."

Lin Ran sweatdropped. This woman was unbelievable.

A historic landmark, and she talked about torching it like it was nothing.

Was money really that trivial to her?

"That won’t be necessary. It may not be a five-star hotel, but it’s got character. And it’s a state-protected heritage site—how did you even manage this?"

"I traded a project for it. But that’s irrelevant. What matters is that you’re happy."

Even after all this time, Lin Ran was still moved by Luo Yao’s devotion.

This level of pampering was reserved for him alone.

He could only imagine how significant that "project" must have been.

"Ran, what do you think will happen to the Li family this time?"

Lin Ran thought back to his past life. Something felt off.

In that timeline, the Li family had also collapsed—but not this soon.

It had happened much later. Yet now, the process had accelerated.

Was this another ripple effect?

Well, it didn’t concern him.

"I’d say the Li family is about to become history."

Luo Yao blinked.

"Then shouldn’t we celebrate this historic moment?"