Chapter Sixty-Six: You Open It
When Xu Fei left Sun Yindi’s office, he saw the man with glasses standing at the other end of the corridor.
The man beckoned to Xu Fei.
“You called me?”
Xu Fei walked over.
There was a hint of jealousy in the man’s gaze.
“You know our Manager Sun?”
“Mm, you could say that.”
Xu Fei nodded.
“What do you mean, ‘could say that?’ Either you know her or you don’t.”
“Why are you asking?” Xu Fei glanced curiously at the man with glasses.
“No reason.” The man rolled his eyes at Xu Fei with clear annoyance.
“Excuse me, how do I get to the Credit Department?”
Seeing the man about to leave, Xu Fei called out to him.
“Why do you want to know?”
Xu Fei waved the loan application form in his hand.
The man impatiently reached out his hand. “Let me see it.”
“You?”
“I’m from the Credit Department.”
Xu Fei chuckled and handed him the form.
He glanced at Sun Yindi’s signature on the document.
His expression softened a little.
“So you came to get Manager Sun’s approval for a loan?”
“That’s right.”
“I thought you…”
Xu Fei grinned. “What did you think?”
“Nothing.”
The man with glasses gave Xu Fei a look. “Come with me.”
Xu Fei followed him downstairs.
They stopped before an office with a sign that read “Credit Department.”
“Sit here and wait.”
The man pointed to a long bench outside the door.
Xu Fei sat down.
The man went inside.
Not long after, he came out with the form.
“You can collect the money at the front desk.”
Xu Fei took back the form, now stamped with a bright red seal.
“Thanks. Hey, what’s your name?”
“Why do you want to know?”
Xu Fei smiled. “Well, we’ve met through a bit of friction—it’s only right we get to know each other. Maybe we’ll be friends.”
The man with glasses sized Xu Fei up and down. His previously stern face relaxed into a slight smile. “Alright, you seem like a decent guy. I’m Li Zhen. If you need anything, just say so.”
“I’m Xu Fei.”
Xu Fei reached out and shook Li Zhen’s hand.
After a few words of small talk, Xu Fei went to the front desk and withdrew twenty thousand yuan. He waved the cash at Li Zhen as he left.
Watching Xu Fei walk away, Li Zhen frowned.
He wondered to himself: What’s this guy’s connection to Manager Sun? Sun Yindi—how come I never knew she had that name?
With these thoughts, he headed upstairs to the manager’s office.
“Come in.”
Seeing Li Zhen, Sun Yindi lowered her head and continued writing. “What is it?”
“Nothing, nothing really. Just thought I’d sit for a bit.”
Sun Yindi glanced up. “Have a seat. There’s fresh tea over there.”
Li Zhen nodded and poured himself a cup.
“Are you free tonight?”
“No.”
She answered crisply.
“Why do you ask?”
Li Zhen smiled. “I wanted to invite you to a movie.”
Sun Yindi set down her pen and looked at him. “What are you really here for?”
“I… I just wanted to know if you’re free this evening.”
Sun Yindi looked at him and burst out laughing.
“Alright, are you here about that man who just came to see me?”
Li Zhen looked embarrassed and lowered his head.
“Oh, you…”
Sun Yindi thought for a moment. “He’s a friend of An Guohao’s younger brother.”
Hearing that name, Li Zhen stiffened.
He jerked his head up. “His friend?”
“Don’t get worked up. An Guowei hasn’t been in touch for ages. This time, his friend wanted a loan, so he asked him to come to me.”
“So, you’re busy tonight—does it have something to do with him?”
Sun Yindi nodded.
“I see…”
Li Zhen hesitated.
“Look at you. He just wants to thank me and invite me to dinner. What’s the big deal?”
“Is An Guowei coming too?”
“Of course.”
Li Zhen thought a moment. “Then I’ll come as well.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
“They didn’t invite you. Besides, what’s your role here?”
Li Zhen stood up. “I’m your boyfriend, aren’t I? Why shouldn’t I come?”
“Boyfriend? Does anyone else know about that?”
Sun Yindi asked with a smile.
“That’s because you told me not to mention it. You said to wait until we get married.”
Li Zhen sounded a bit aggrieved.
“Alright, it’s just a meal. An Guowei isn’t a stranger. I’ve already told you everything about me and his brother.”
Sun Yindi shook her head helplessly. “You’re just too petty. Go home and eat something yourself. I’ll be back early tonight.”
Li Zhen was eventually ushered out by Sun Yindi.
He was fuming.
That Xu Fei—from the moment he first saw him, he felt the man would bring him trouble. Now it turned out he was connected to the An family.
The more Li Zhen thought about it, the angrier he got.
He glanced back at the office, already hatching a plan.
…
Xu Fei, cash in hand, headed straight to Zhang Mingyang’s home.
When he arrived, Zhang Mingyang’s father was working in the yard.
“Sir, I brought you something.”
Xu Fei carried a jug of loose white liquor from the distillery.
It was a batch of premium Erguotou—a favorite of the old man’s, as Xu Fei had learned from Zhang Mingyang.
Xu Fei had long wanted to thank the old man for his help.
The old man smiled, set down his hoe, took the jug from the wall, and unscrewed the cap. A rich aroma of liquor wafted out.
“Ah, not bad at all. Our Donghai Distillery makes a fine spirit. They won the provincial gold medal—it’s not just empty fame!”
Xu Fei grinned and nodded.
“I’ll accept this Erguotou, but next time, Xiao Xu, don’t be so formal.”
Xu Fei replied, “Uncle Zhang, you don’t need to be formal with me either. If you ever run out, just let me know—I’ll get you as much as you want.”
The old man laughed, pointing at Xu Fei.
“Mingyang’s upstairs. Go find him.”
Xu Fei smiled and nodded. “Alright, I’ll let you get back to work.”
He set the jug by the door and went upstairs.
The old man had once been a high-ranking official, and this two-story house was a reward for his service.
In Donghai City, fewer than three people enjoyed such treatment.
Xu Fei reached the second floor.
“Third Brother!”
The door to Zhang Mingyang’s bedroom opened.
“Fourth, what brings you here?” he said as he stepped out and led Xu Fei to the small sitting room upstairs.
Zhang Mingyang poured tea for Xu Fei.
“Third Brother, guess why I came to see you?”
Seeing Xu Fei’s excitement, Zhang Mingyang frowned. “From your look, something good must have happened.”
Xu Fei nodded.
“You’re right, Third Brother—something truly worth celebrating!”
As he spoke, he placed a brown paper package on the tea table.
Zhang Mingyang glanced at it, curiosity in his eyes. “What’s this?”
Xu Fei smiled and gestured. “Open it, Third Brother.”