Chapter 37: Seize Them All for Me

“You? Just you?”

Lan Xiaoqi, still a newcomer and on her first day at work, hadn’t quite registered what was happening. Meanwhile, Wang Yun, standing nearby, looked Hong Yu up and down and gradually broke into a disdainful, mocking laugh.

Hong Yu was dressed plainly—his entire outfit from an online marketplace, so washed it had faded. Lin Shuyu had bought him a few decent suits, but he never bothered wearing them; poverty had become second nature to him, and the better he dressed, the more ill at ease he felt.

“Hmph! Another one straight off the farm, come to Fengzhou to look for work, I suppose?”

“Can you even read? Ever heard of the Four Great Banks of China? That’s the sort of place for bumpkins like you.”

“And as for us, we’re Morgan, an international bank. We don’t serve commoners. Really, there’s no point in talking to you. If you have any sense, you’ll leave now.”

Wang Yun spat out her words with contempt and turned to leave.

If it weren’t for the fact that she was still on the clock, her temper would have had her cursing Hong Yu out, telling him to get as far away as possible.

Take your damn money?

If you want to withdraw a paltry sum, there are plenty of ATMs outside—take your pick.

Does someone like him think he’ll ever set foot in a bank like Morgan, not in a lifetime, not for generations! He dreams of withdrawing money here?

“Sir, if it’s not too much trouble, I can help you. But there’s a small issue—transfers from other banks might take some time. Would you be able to wait?” Lan Xiaoqi, herself from the countryside, found Hong Yu’s manner and dress oddly familiar and comforting.

Though Wang Yun was a seasoned hand and it might seem disrespectful to take Hong Yu’s case, Lan Xiaoqi, still untainted by the world, couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

“Oh, is this some kind of solidarity between paupers?” Wang Yun scoffed. “With that attitude, you might as well stick to serving people like yourself. You’re certainly not fit for our distinguished Morgan clientele.”

“Hahaha! But honestly, not many paupers even dare set foot in Morgan in a year. Sure, your paycheck must feel nice, but I doubt you’ll be drawing it for much longer.”

Just as Wang Yun finished her sneering, a couple entered the bank, both dressed head to toe in designer labels.

The moment she saw them, Wang Yun’s demeanor changed completely, a bright, eager smile blossoming across her face.

“Mr. Qian, what brings you here today? I have a financial product you might be interested in…”

Qian Peng cut her off without a trace of courtesy. “No need for the chit-chat. I’m here to withdraw some cash, then I’m off to the Christie’s auction.”

While he spoke, his hand never left the arm of the woman beside him. Judging by their intimacy, the woman was almost certainly not his wife.

After all, married couples rarely behave so affectionately in public; this was more likely a girlfriend or a mistress.

“Christie’s auction?”

“Impressive as ever, Mr. Qian! Christie’s is world famous—only major players get to attend,” Wang Yun flattered him, not the least bit eager to help him withdraw cash. Building connections was far more important.

Qian Peng declared with pride, “Of course! I’m well-known in Fengzhou; as soon as Christie’s planned their auction, I was one of the first to get an invitation.”

“If even I weren’t qualified, there’d hardly be anyone in Fengzhou who could go,” he boasted, prompting his companion to tug discreetly at his sleeve.

The woman, with her jealous streak, seemed annoyed by Qian Peng’s bragging with Wang Yun. Women’s intuition is a powerful thing—she suspected that if Qian Peng so much as nodded, Wang Yun would shamelessly follow him to a hotel.

Though, in truth, she was much the same kind of woman herself…

Wang Yun, rather plain in looks, only managed some allure thanks to her professional uniform. Prompted by his companion, Qian Peng quickly put a stop to Wang Yun’s chatter.

“Enough,” he said. “I’m heading to the auction soon. Just get my money ready.”

“Of course, Mr. Qian, please wait a moment. As our esteemed client, I’ll handle it for you right away,” Wang Yun replied with a smile.

Despite her fawning, the truth was Qian Peng wasn’t even a VIP at Morgan. As an international bank, Morgan had strict standards for VIPs, even at the branch level.

In a rush, Wang Yun took Qian Peng’s documents and hurried to the registration counter.

By this time, it was Hong Yu’s turn at the counter. He was speaking with Lan Xiaoqi and filling out forms when Wang Yun arrived and shoved them aside.

“Yun-jie, we’re in the queue. Mr. Hong is just about to finish—” Lan Xiaoqi protested.

Wang Yun wasn’t about to be questioned by a newcomer. She waved her off. “Who do you think you are? A rookie dares talk back to me?”

“Get out of the way, both of you. Take your country bumpkin and wait over there. Once I’m done, you can do whatever you like.”

Lan Xiaoqi despised queue-jumpers, and Wang Yun’s snobbery stung her deeply. She decided to stand her ground.

“That’s against the rules! The bank has a policy—no cutting in line. If you don’t step aside, I’ll have to file a complaint,” Lan Xiaoqi said firmly.

“Complain about me? Go ahead and try!” Wang Yun exploded, shocked that the timid-seeming newcomer would dare challenge her authority on her very first day. It was outrageous, and she clearly needed to be taught a lesson.

“I’ll tell you what—whether or not you complain, I’ll be reporting you!” Wang Yun raged. “Do you know who Mr. Qian is, how much money he keeps at Morgan?”

“He’s a distinguished client, and you’d offend him over a country bumpkin? Are you trying to get yourself fired on your first day?”

Lan Xiaoqi trembled under Wang Yun’s tirade, already regretting her decision. She was just a poor girl from the countryside, no background to speak of, and landing a bank job was a stroke of luck. Her parents had even thrown a small celebration back home. To lose her job on the first day—

She dared not imagine her parents’ disappointment, or the gossip that would follow in the village.

Hong Yu put down his pen, anger flaring in his eyes. “Ever heard of first come, first served? Would it kill you to wait your turn?”

Wang Yun only laughed. “Oh, so the bumpkin wants to play at being educated?”

“First come, first served—I know all about it. But who are you, and who is Mr. Qian?”

“Do you know how much Mr. Qian deposits here every year? Over ten million! Can someone like you even earn a hundred thousand in your lifetime?”

“Get lost, go to whatever bank caters to your kind, don’t be an eyesore here.”

Wang Yun’s abuse continued. Qian Peng, pressed for time, strode over, frowning at the commotion. “What’s going on? I’m in a hurry.”

“Hm? Why is there a laborer here? Morgan’s an international bank—why are people like this allowed inside?” Qian Peng said, pulling his companion back a few steps, as if afraid Hong Yu’s rustic air might be contagious.

After all, as a company president, Qian Peng was used to dealing only with those of means, never with country bumpkins like Hong Yu.

“Sorry, Mr. Qian!” Wang Yun apologized hurriedly. “I’ll get rid of him at once. This was an accident—you’ll never see his kind here again.”

“Then hurry up!” Qian Peng snapped. “Get me eighty thousand in cash, and spare me the chatter. When my other funds come in, I’ll deposit two hundred thousand more. You can look forward to being praised when that happens.”

Wang Yun was overjoyed.

Bank tellers had performance quotas to meet; if Qian Peng withdrew eighty thousand and left, she’d have to work hard to make up the loss. But if he promised to deposit two hundred thousand later, her bonus next month would be substantial.

She quickly finished the registration, and as she passed Hong Yu, she sneered, “Well? Still here? Mr. Qian deals in millions. And you? I told you before—if you want to withdraw a few hundred, use the ATM. Are you deaf or… oh, I get it! You’re just here to enjoy our air conditioning, aren’t you?”

“Sigh, a pauper is a pauper. Enjoy it while you can—then get back to carrying bricks at the construction site.”

Several people entering the bank saw the scene and laughed.

As they gazed in envy at Qian Peng, he straightened with pride, his companion beaming beside him.

“Mr. Hong, don’t listen to her. Just tell me how much you want to withdraw. We’re ordinary people, no need to stoop to their level,” Lan Xiaoqi said gently, feeling a pang of sympathy.

They were both outsiders in the city, both from the countryside; of course she would stand by her own.

Hong Yu smiled. “Tell me, how much cash does the Morgan branch have in its vault right now?”

Lan Xiaoqi was taken aback. For a moment, she wondered if Hong Yu might be planning a robbery. But he hardly looked the part.

She thought for a while before replying, “Today’s my first day at Morgan, but I’ve read up on other banks. Usually, a big bank’s vault would have between ten and thirty million in cash…”

Hong Yu interrupted her. “Alright! No need to complicate things. However much you have—withdraw it all for me.”