Outside the Golden Dragon Bank storehouse.
Li Luo breathed easier as he watched the storehouse open up. Thank goodness for the Golden Dragon Bank’s comprehensive stores.
“Don’t worry,” Lu Qing’er said softly. “With these materials, the Suncreek Villa’s problem will soon be solved.”
Li Luo nodded gratefully. “Thank you so much, Qing’er.”
She smiled and was about to reply, when an angry shout interrupted. “Stop!”
A group of people were hurrying towards them, led by a middle-aged man with a face like thunder.
“Father!” Ning Zhao said smugly.
“That’s the vice president of the Golden Dragon Bank, Ning Que,” Lu Qing’er said in a low voice. She felt a prickle of fear as well. He was highly placed at the Golden Dragon Bank. She might be able to handle Ning junior, but Ning senior was a different kettle of fish.
With his appearance, the storehouse warden also gestured for the workers to stop their access.
“What do you two think you’re doing?! Is the storehouse to be casually opened for no good reason?!” Ning Que shouted.
Lu Qing’er lifted up the jade writ in her hand. “I have the writ,” she said defiantly. “I have permission.”
Ning Que barely glanced at it. “Qing’er,” he said icily, “does the President know you took it?”
Lu Qing’er’s hand froze.
Ning Que was sharp enough to see her hesitation. “Stealing the President’s jade writ is a violation of the bank’s rules. You are young and I can let this pass. Go away now. I’ll handle things here.”
Lu Qing’er clenched her fist in frustration. The father and son pair were a pain in the ass. All she wanted was some herbs that wouldn’t harm anybody, and still they wanted to stand in her way.
But Ning Que was too highly placed for her to override him simply with the jade writ, and she was starting to get nervous.
Li Luo’s need was urgent. People were dying.
Ning Que ignored Lu Qing’er, staring disdainfully at Li Luo. “Close the storehouse.”
The guards looked at each other, but they quickly moved to do as he bid. The giant doors started to rumble inwards.
Ning Zhao’s gloating smile was growing on his face. He had no beef against Li Luo, but Lu Qing’er going out on a limb to steal the jade writ for him made him boil with jealousy.
But just before the doors boomed shut against each other, there was a flurry as the guards all stood at attention. “Greetings, President.”
Lu Qing’er turned around to see Yu Hongxi in her usual, red skirt, striding over.
“President.” Ning Que quickly raised a hand in respect.
Yu Hongxi nodded at him, her eyes flicking about the gathering, taking in information with efficiency.
“What’s going on?” she asked casually.
“President,” Ning Que immediately said, “your girl, Qing’er, must have stolen your jade writ while you were not looking. She’s trying to open the vault.”
Lu Qing’er bit her tongue. Ning Que was one slimy bastard.
Li Luo sighed to himself. “President Yu,” he said, “this has nothing to do with Qing’er. I simply wanted to buy some herbs at twice the price, so I asked her for help. I had no idea things would get this complicated.”
It seemed rather obvious that Lu Qing’er had taken the writ without permission, and Li Luo could not allow her to take the fall. As a man, he had to protect her.
Lu Qing’er opened her mouth to deny this, but Yu Hongxi stopped her. “Vice President Ning, I let Qing’er take the writ. The Golden Dragon Bank believes that harmony breeds wealth. Someone is here with a high asking price. We have no reason to refuse.”
Li Luo and Lu Qing’er’s jaws dropped at the same time, astonished that she was not only not reprimanding them, but even taking their side.
Vice president Ning Que was equally stunned, and Ning Zhao could not help himself. “President, why would this-”
His father cut him off. “I see,” Ning Que said with a cold smile. “But, President, don’t you think that selling these herbs to House Luolan will invite more trouble in the future?”
Yu Hongxi’s decision to sell to Li Luo would definitely be noted by the powers trying to orchestrate the fall of the Suncreek Villa.
Yu Hongxi laughed lightly. “The Golden Dragon Bank has never cared about such things.
“We’re here to breed wealth, not trouble. If anyone interferes with our wealth-breeding, then someone’s going to start bleeding.
“I think that’s something that everyone understands.”
Ning Que had no further comment. He waved his people over and then left.
“Take out the herbs,” Yu Hongxi said to the storehouse manager, who hurriedly nodded.
Yu Hongxi wordlessly stretched out a hand to her daughter, who hurriedly put the jade writ in her hand.
Yu Hongxi’s other hand stretched out to pinch the cheek of a girl doing her best to appear cute, harmless, and adorable. “You’re getting quite bold, stealing something like that.
“Did someone put you up to it?”
“No! I just took it preemptively,” Lu Qing’er hurriedly said.
She smiled winsomely and hugged her mother. “Aw, Mom, you’re the best.”
Yu Hongxi had defended her against Vice President Ning Que and hadn’t chased Li Luo away.
She had definitely helped Li Luo out here.
Lu Qing’er was very happy.
Yu Hongxi’s eyes turned to Li Luo. “Many thanks to President Yu.”
She pondered him briefly. “If you hadn’t stood out to defend Qing’er, you would’ve been rolling down the entrance steps right about now.”
Li Luo hung his head embarrassedly. “This matter started because of me. I wouldn’t let Qing’er take the fall.”
“You’re responsible, I’ll give you that.” At least he was a decent type, like his father.
She looked over to where the guards were working busily to load up the herbs Li Luo needed.
“Li Luo.”
He quickly turned to her.
“Although these herbs are usually not particularly expensive, emergencies lead to extraordinary prices. I’m sure you understand,” she said mildly.
Li Luo nodded. Without these herbs, Tang Yun and the others would be dead at the Suncreek Villa’s headquarters in a pool of their own blood. The loss of reputation for the Suncreek Villa would be impossible to come back from, and House Luolan would fall with it.
Double the price was steep, but not as steep as the cliff edge they were on.
“You mean…”
Lu Qing’er tugged anxiously on her mother’s sleeve in a wordless plea.
Yu Hongxi ignored her. “The Golden Dragon Bank never loses in a deal,” she said slowly and with great meaning. “I want you to remember that you owe me a favor.
“I will eventually collect it.”
Li Luo was silent for a moment. “If it is within my power, I will do my best to do whatever you ask.”
Yu Hongxi nodded, satisfied.
“Remember that well.”