That very night, Lin Baojun handed over the house deed, telling Li Yaru to use it for a loan.
Actually, that “wealthy friend” was a story Li Yaru made up. Chen Shien’s Biaojou did work at Shenghui Bank, but he was only a branch project manager, with no authority to approve loans.
“Please, sis, please, just ask your Biaojou for me, see if he can think of something, or let me meet his boss, please…”
When Li Yaru played the pitiful act, few could resist. Her charming eyes and delicate voice clung to you like sticky candy. Chen Shien thought if she were a man, she’d jump through fire and water for her.
The usual roast shop had few customers now, and the afternoon sun outside was blinding.
“My Biaojou says this house can’t get a loan of one and a half million, at most nine hundred thousand, and not even the best rate. Plus, the approval process takes a week!”
“I know, that’s why I need your Biaojou to help arrange a meeting with his boss.”
“My Biaojou says his boss was parachuted in from Shenghui headquarters, has money and connections, and is on the rise—he’s strict and doesn’t do favors under the table.”
“…Do you want to see your best friend star in a Category III film at the cinema?” Li Yaru’s eyes glimmered with tears.
Chen Shien gave her a punch, then turned to call her Biaojou, who agreed to try to help.
Chen Shien hadn’t eaten all noon and waved for the boss to add a bowl of beef brisket noodles, eating heartily.
When it was time to pay, Li Yaru stepped back, showing a shy, innocent smile, blinking at her best friend as if to say, “You pay!”
“Come on, you’re so stingy… asking me for help and not even buying me lunch! Five bucks for a bowl of noodles!”
Li Yaru didn’t blush, replying openly, “If you have money, you live like you have money. If you don’t, you have to be frugal.”
Chen Shien looked at Li Yaru’s cheerful, joking face, and felt a mix of admiration and sadness. If it had been her, she probably couldn’t have lasted a day in such dire straits.
.
Getting a private meeting with the deputy branch manager of Shenghui Bank was a fantasy, but heaven always leaves a path.
Chen Shien’s Biaojou managed to get a work pass for tomorrow night’s Shenghui Bank appreciation banquet.
There was only one pass, so only Li Yaru could get inside. Whether she could find the deputy branch manager and get five minutes to talk would depend on luck.
At six that night, Li Yaru and Chen Shien met outside the hotel hosting the banquet.
“See? The one in the middle, right side, that’s Zhong Xiansheng.” Chen Shien pointed at a blurry face in a forty-person group photo, saying seriously, “About thirty years old, young, tall, doesn’t like to smile, expression is stern, strong presence, always wears a ring on his index finger, and tonight he’ll be in a black suit— got it?”
Li Yaru hesitated. “Do you have a clearer photo? This guy’s head is smaller than an ant’s, his nose and eyes are squished together— who could recognize him?”
“You’re still complaining? Do you know how hard this photo was to get? My Biaojou flipped through the entire bank yearbook to find it.”
Li Yaru looked a few more times, put the photo into her banquet purse, and nodded solemnly. “Okay, I’ve got it.”
After saying goodbye to Chen Shien, she touched up her lipstick, silently prayed for good luck, and walked step by step into the brightly lit Peninsula Hotel.
The red Chanel Dress she wore shimmered like gold in the lights.
She had sold all her luxury goods, leaving only this new Chanel Dress, still carrying a faint scent of camellia.
It was her banner of victory at eighteen, her lucky charm, her gorgeous, distant dream— she couldn’t bear to sell it.
Luckily she hadn’t, or she’d have had to rent a dress tonight.
The banquet hall was luxuriously decorated, tables covered with shark fin, abalone, and sea cucumber.
Li Yaru had no mind for these, took a glass of champagne for show, and began nervously scanning the guests.
About thirty years old, not an old man…
Tall…
Just these two ruled out most of the men.
Li Yaru’s gaze was scattered and frantic, her mind just as chaotic. Nearly fifteen minutes passed and she still hadn’t found Zhong Xiansheng.
She drifted around the hall like a lost soul, growing more and more discouraged. Several well-dressed men tried to invite her for a drink, but she politely sent them away.
Another fifteen minutes passed before the hall buzzed with excitement— a big shot had arrived.
Li Yaru perked up, standing on tiptoe to look.
The big shot was surrounded by people, but because he was so tall, half his head was still visible. His hair was meticulously combed, thick and black, exuding authority.
Li Yaru gripped her wine glass and circled to the back, finally finding a full view.
This man’s every gesture radiated extraordinary poise. His unsmiling expression made him seem cold and dignified.
About thirty years old— not too young, not too old… matches.
A flash of silver on his index finger, wearing a ring… matches.
Black suit… matches.
This must be Zhong Xiansheng?
Li Yaru tensed up, fairly sure, but something felt off. This man looked extremely unapproachable, his aura intimidating, even scarier than Biao-ge with the scar on his face…
This wasn’t the physical pressure of knives and guns, but a psychological dread.
Actually, this man wasn’t ugly—on the contrary, his features were striking and sharp.
Li Yaru hid in what she thought was a shadow, silently observing, and quietly planning how to approach.
Before she’d fully thought it through, she noticed the man seemed about to leave, and she panicked.
No way, leaving before the banquet even started? Damn it, this deputy branch manager isn’t very dedicated!
Zhuang Qiting had just finished a round of golf before coming, and was heading to the lounge to change shirts. As he turned, his sharp eyes caught a flash of red.
It was the skirt from his memory, and the graceful figure from his memory. Her legs, wrapped in black stockings, were straight and eye-catching.
He narrowed his deep eyes slightly and recognized her at once.
He’d been busy lately, so he hadn’t asked about her in a while. Last time, on a whim, he’d asked his assistant, who said she was busy with finals.
So young, only eighteen, just a freshman. He didn’t have the heart to act.
Besides, he had just joined the board of directors this past year, busy establishing his authority, with no time to spare. He figured he’d wait another year until she was older.
Anyway, the woman he wanted would be his sooner or later.
Zhuang Qiting withdrew his gaze indifferently and walked toward the banquet hall doors.
In that brief moment, Li Yaru sprang out like a startled animal, rushing in front of him before his bodyguards could even react.
The bodyguard tried to stop her, but retreated at his master’s signal.
Facing the man’s sharp, deep eyes, Li Yaru’s mind went blank. She stammered, “Zhong… Zhong Xiansheng, I… I’m Li Yaru.”
Zhuang Qiting said nothing, just looked at her.
Li Yaru felt her heart was about to leap out of her throat. “I have something very important to discuss with you. Could you spare five minutes of your time?”
Zhuang Qiting glanced at her coolly. “Sorry.”
That “sorry” left Li Yaru utterly disheartened. She’d been rejected, just as she expected.
Seeing him about to leave, she felt doomed— finished, she’d have to shoot that Category III film after all. In her desperation, she suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
“Five minutes, really just five minutes… Zhong Xiansheng…” Li Yaru looked at him pitifully, showing a look that neither men nor women could resist.
“Five minutes…”
The hall suddenly fell silent. Everyone watched, and the atmosphere turned subtle.
Zhuang Qiting’s face betrayed no emotion. He raised his hand, grasped her pale, delicate hand, and with a bit of force, pulled it away.
Li Yaru felt the burning heat of his touch, making her heart even more desolate. This man’s heart must be made of stone— even her best pitiful act didn’t work.
Zhuang Qiting checked his watch. “I don’t have time now. I’ll be free in an hour.”
“Yes, yes! Zhong Xiansheng, I’ll wait as long as it takes!” Li Yaru was instantly overjoyed, her eyes shining.
Zhuang Qiting saw she couldn’t hide her feelings at all— her thoughts written all over her face— making her seem even more like a little girl.
He smiled slightly and gently corrected her mistake, “But I’m not Zhong Xiansheng, Miss.”
The man’s deep, unreadable gaze swept over her, like a giant snake slowly slithering, giving Li Yaru the illusion he was about to swallow her whole.
“My surname is Zhuang. My name is Zhuang Qiting. Are you sure you’re looking for me?”