“Principal Sheng, someone is looking for you outside~”

Sheng Xuan felt these people were too subservient to some while looking down on others, believing she was destined to never rise up, and their tone was always sarcastic when speaking to her. It must be Pan Yijun’s doing, trying to force her to transfer out of Pengcheng with this attitude.

But Sheng Xuan refused to leave. As long as she stayed in Pengcheng for even one day, Pan Yijun could only remain a deputy director. Unless Pan Yijun didn’t want to stay in the Credit Department!

Seeing it was already five in the afternoon, Sheng Xuan decided to pack up and leave work, since she hardly had any business to handle at the office anyway.

Watching Sheng Xuan’s departing figure, two clerks from the Credit Department huddled together:

“Principal Sheng sure can endure a lot.”

“She’s typically occupying a position without doing any work. I suspect she’s staying in Pengcheng just to irritate Principal Pan.”

“Can’t blame Principal Pan though. He already tolerated her as a parachuted leader, but she wanted to push him to the edge, forcing him to fight back…”

“Let’s see how long she can endure. Maybe Principal Pan will bypass her and get promoted directly?”

Bypassing the Credit Department Director would mean becoming Vice President. If he could become the Vice President of Pengcheng Industrial and Commercial Bank… wouldn’t Principal Pan be able to ignore Sheng Xuan completely?

Those discussions faintly drifted into Sheng Xuan’s ears. She adjusted her hair, thinking that while she wasn’t sure if Pan Yijun could climb up, those speaking ill of her behind her back certainly couldn’t advance.

Seeing a black Mercedes parked at the office entrance, Sheng Xuan smiled:

“Why didn’t you come up?”

Zhu Suizhou stood by the car, opening the door for Sheng Xuan: “I was worried about appearances. People at your workplace are gossipy, and since you don’t like being high-profile, I naturally want to respect your wishes.”

Coming in a Mercedes and calling it low-profile?

In cities like Beijing and Shanghai, private cars have become more common these past two years, but Mercedes like Zhu Suizhou’s were still rare. It was only in Pengcheng, the Special Economic Zone, where wealthy Hong Kong businessmen would drive Mercedes.

A Mercedes was prestigious enough to immediately showcase a company’s strength. While it might have been a bit early for Zhu Suizhou to drive a Mercedes, after he insisted on purchasing one against all advice, he enjoyed exceptional treatment whether seeking investments or handling government affairs – the money spent on this Mercedes was worth every penny!

Sheng Xuan didn’t argue with Zhu Suizhou. Women always needed to give men some face, and clever women understood this principle even better. So when Zhu Suizhou picked her up in his Mercedes after work, took her for Western food, and gave her expensive perfume brought from Hong Kong, Sheng Xuan played along with this romantic routine.

No woman would be unhappy dating such a man. However, Sheng Xuan was puzzled – shouldn’t Zhu Suizhou be in Shangdu right now? Wasn’t he in a hurry to build the shopping mall?

“Are you facing some troubles?”

Sheng Xuan was also a perfect, understanding, and considerate girlfriend; her performance had to be worth all the effort Zhu Suizhou was putting in.

Zhu Suizhou wiped his mouth. The steak didn’t suit his taste at all, but dining Western-style was a fashionable display of status, just like driving a Mercedes – it was necessary, so Zhu Suizhou had to learn to like these things.

After having the waiter clear the plates, Zhu Suizhou finally revealed his purpose: “Yes, I’ve encountered some problems. The land at Erqi Square in Shangdu has unclear property rights. Although we could forcefully continue with the project, it’s not good to make unnecessary enemies. The other party has proposed settlement terms, and after consideration, I think they’re acceptable.”

Sheng Xuan found it strange, “What are the terms? Is monetary compensation not enough?”

Zhu Suizhou shook his head, “Of course not, they don’t lack compensation money. They proposed converting that disputed land into a $500,000 investment stake, plus an additional $1.5 million in cash, totaling $2 million in shares… I came to Pengcheng to discuss the details. I disagree with the first condition, but I think the $1.5 million cash investment is acceptable. Now it’s just a matter of how many shares they want.”

“$1.5 million? At this month’s exchange rate, that’s 5.5 million yuan. Do you need this money?”

Zhu Suizhou had obtained a 20 million yuan loan from the bank, which Sheng Xuan had personally helped arrange.

To build the shopping mall in Shangdu, besides these 20 million, Zhu Suizhou had also secured 10 million from private capital. Adding Chaoyang Real Estate’s own 5 million yuan, Zhu Suizhou had 35 million at his disposal.

Sheng Xuan thought this should be enough for a shopping mall, but Zhu Suizhou still wanted more.

“Of course I need it. You work at a bank yourself – who would directly convert $1.5 million into yuan? I can deposit the $1.5 million in the bank and then get a 10 million yuan loan. Do you think that’s feasible?”

That was certainly feasible.

While Sheng Xuan might not understand other issues, she knew the banking business extremely well.

This was a foreign exchange. Foreign exchange could work wonders when used properly – $1.5 million could be very useful!

“Do you want me to help with the loan?”

Having helped Zhu Suizhou once before, with $1.5 million, Sheng Xuan could confidently help a second time – this loan would be very secure.

But Zhu Suizhou shook his head again, “No, having you arrange another loan would affect your work. I’ll get this loan from a bank in Shangdu. I’m telling you this because I want your opinion on whether I should accept this investment.”

Sheng Xuan grew more confused:

“Why ask for my opinion? You’ve always made business decisions on your own.”

Zhu Suizhou sighed, “This time is different. The person investing is Xia Xiaolan, and I’m worried you might be unhappy!”

Xia Xiaolan?!

Sheng Xuan felt the napkin around her neck was choking her.

“You said there were problems with the land, that it was a historical issue, supposedly ancestral property of returned overseas Chinese. Why did the investor become Xia Xiaolan?”

How could it be Xia Xiaolan?

Where would Xia Xiaolan get $1.5 million?

Qihang had indeed made money developing Jinsha Pool before. But Sheng Xuan believed Xia Xiaolan had converted that money into new land for Qihang’s new projects, and they were recently seeking loans from the Industrial and Commercial Bank – besides this, how could Xia Xiaolan have another $1.5 million?

Zhu Suizhou didn’t explain this question, as it wasn’t important.

Regardless of whose dollars they were, since they wanted the shares in Xia Xiaolan’s name, he could only negotiate with Xia Xiaolan.

“The situation is a bit complicated. In the end, I need to negotiate with Qihang’s boss. I remember you had some conflict with Qihang. If you strongly oppose this, I’ll have to consider your feelings and simply reject this matter without meeting Xia Xiaolan.”

Zhu Suizhou spoke earnestly.

Sheng Xuan felt the delicious steak she had just eaten suddenly become somewhat fishy, churning in her stomach as if trying to surge upward.

Reject it?

Zhu Suizhou made it sound simple.

If the shopping mall couldn’t be built successfully, how would Zhu Suizhou handle all the money he had borrowed?

Coming to Pengcheng, Zhu Suizhou had already made his decision.

She liked strong men, whether in politics or business, but strong men often had a common flaw – they liked making their own decisions and didn’t like listening to women’s advice!