Chen Xiao strode in, and all eyes immediately fell on him. Qin Lan followed behind, her gait slightly unnatural.
Luo Baifeng squinted at Chen Xiao, his expression one of playful contempt. "So you're the new deputy manager of the marketing department?"
He'd already investigated Chen Xiao before coming here. So this was Luo Qingli's fiancé, the one he'd never met! Just a country bumpkin. Had Luo Qingli lost her mind? Actually getting a marriage license with this man? And she even put him in such an important position within the Luo Group... Wasn't that just handing him leverage on a silver platter?
He smirked darkly. "You claim you've already resolved the matter. Where's the money? Let me see it."
"Probably in his dreams! Hahaha, that's hilarious. All talk and no action."
"Him? Get the money back from the Zongheng Chamber of Commerce? If he can do that, I can become President of the United States."
"If he gets it back, I'll eat shit upside down."
The group of lackeys trailing Luo Baifeng sneered in unison. The Zongheng Chamber of Commerce was no easy mark, after all. This pretty boy spouting such nonsense was just making a fool of himself for their entertainment.
Luo Qingli's eyes filled with anger. "Chen Xiao, get out."
How could he just burst in here spouting such nonsense? Wasn't he just making things worse for her?
Luo Baifeng roared with laughter, cutting her off. "Qingli, since your 'capable man' here claims he's resolved the matter, let's give him a chance to perform. I'm curious to see how much money he brought back. A few bucks? Ten?"
Chen Xiao slapped a card down on the table. "The money's on the card. Transfer the twenty million yourself."
Everyone was stunned.
Did this guy really get the twenty million back?
Luo Baifeng suddenly sneered. "Well, well, Luo Qingli. To avoid taking responsibility, you dared to stage this little play, didn't you? Someone, bring me a card reader! I want to see for myself if this card really has twenty million!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a few lackeys scrambled to fetch a card reader and hurried back in. Smirks were plastered on everyone's faces, all of them waiting for the punchline.
The lackey swiping the card suddenly froze, his eyes widening. "Sec... Second Master, the card has six... six..."
Luo Baifeng scoffed, "Six hundred?"
The entire room erupted in laughter.
"No..." the lackey stammered.
Luo Baifeng pressed him. "Six thousand? Sixty thousand?"
"Sixty... sixty-eight million!" the lackey yelled, collapsing into his chair.
The raucous laughter died instantly.
The smile on Luo Baifeng's face froze solid. He rushed over to see for himself, and in the next second, he too was rooted to the spot. The balance on the card was, indeed, sixty-eight million!
Luo Baifeng gritted his teeth. "How do you have so much money on your card?"
"None of your damn business," Chen Xiao said. He transferred twenty million to the Luo Group's account, then calmly told Luo Qingli, "The rest is my personal property."
Luo Qingli was still in a daze and could only nod numbly. She then turned to Luo Baifeng. "Second Uncle, my man has already proven his capability. Shouldn't you back off now? If this continues, your face is going to be swollen from all the slapping."
Luo Baifeng's face turned shades of pale and green, as if he'd been soundly slapped. With a defiant snort, he said before leaving, "It's just luck! What's there to be so proud of? Your cousin and her boyfriend are returning to Yuncheng City tonight. Her boyfriend is a young master from the direct lineage of a major Jinling family—a man with an extraordinary background. Don't you dare be late. He's reserved a high-end private room at Zhang's Restaurant tonight. Remember to bring that cheap husband of yours along to see how the other half lives."
With that, he turned and stormed out with a sweep of his sleeves.
Chen Xiao met Luo Qingli's shocked and astonished gaze. "I've completed the first task you gave me. You'd better think of the other two quickly so I can get them over with."
With that, he turned and left.
Luo Qingli couldn't help but ask Qin Lan, "How did he do that?"
Qin Lan could only recount the gist of what had happened, naturally leaving out the part where she had thrown herself at him.
So that's how it was. Just brute force and some dumb luck... And here I was, thinking he actually had some real skill! Luo Qingli mused. Thinking about the smug look on Chen Xiao's face earlier, she felt an inexplicable flicker of annoyance.
Back in the marketing department office, the way everyone looked at Chen Xiao had changed. Their gazes now held a hint of awe. Even the previously arrogant Wang Chong didn't dare to meet his eye. After all, word that Chen Xiao had recovered the twenty-million final payment from the Zongheng Chamber of Commerce had already spread. Most of them had tried to collect debts from the Chamber before and knew it was a place that ate people whole. To be able to bring back twenty million and walk away unscathed was the work of no ordinary person.
Chen Xiao paid them no mind, simply returning to his desk and falling into a deep sleep. He had no idea how long he'd been out when a tug on his earlobe slowly woke him. Looking up, he saw Luo Qingli standing over him, her beautiful face fixed in a cold downward gaze.
So big... so round... Chen Xiao couldn't help but think, clicking his tongue in appreciation. From his low angle, her ample, perky chest blocked a good portion of her face from view. The sight was simply astonishing.
Hearing this, a blush crept up to her ears. She stomped on his foot in anger. "Are you going to sleep all day? Get up! The Luo Family is holding a family banquet at Zhang's Restaurant tonight. Grandpa specifically told me I have to bring you."
"A family banquet?" Chen Xiao curled his lip. "Not going."
Luo Qingli said coldly, "Don't forget our agreement. Your current identity is son-in-law of the Luo Family."
Only then did Chen Xiao reluctantly follow Luo Qingli to Zhang's Restaurant.
A faint, pleasant fragrance filled the car.
As she drove, Luo Qingli casually reminded him, "I heard my cousin has found a boyfriend from a major family in the provincial capital, Jinling. My second uncle and his family are gloating about it, so they'll probably use this as an opportunity to give us a hard time. Zhang's Restaurant is one of the Zhang Family's three major enterprises, on par with the Zongheng Chamber of Commerce. It's the most exclusive restaurant in Yuncheng City. Watch yourself later and don't embarrass me."
"Zhang's Restaurant? It's a Zhang Family business?" Chen Xiao muttered.
I wonder if that Supreme VIP Card Zhang Yaqing gave me will actually work for a free meal here.
About twenty minutes later, Luo Qingli parked the car. She led Chen Xiao into the elevator, reminding him once more to keep his mouth shut to avoid being targeted. Just as they stepped inside, a young man and woman appeared behind them.
Zhang Wudao's eyes lit up. "Sis! Was that Mr. Chen just now?"
Zhang Yaqing smiled and nodded. "It's definitely him. And isn't that Luo Qingli beside him? We have to treat him well this time and build a good relationship. Maybe there's a cure for Grandpa's chronic illness after all. We can't be neglectful toward such an honored guest. Tell the manager to open the Heaven-grade suite immediately. We must give Mr. Chen the utmost respect!"