Tycoon: From Rags to Riches

Chapter 104: Chapter 102: A Single Step Across 20 Years

Evening, at the Beichun Junlan Hotel.

Qian Zhengxing had brought his secretary, arriving well in advance to book a private room in the hotel restaurant and await the arrival of Gu Heng and Luo Xiwen.

If Qian Zhengxing’s attitude toward Gu Heng had previously been one of valuing and attempting to win him over, then as of today, it had transformed into one of respect and awe.

Back when Gu Heng’s deposits were only 100 million, if he had suddenly decided to pull his funds and move to another bank, the head office might have just reprimanded Qian Zhengxing for his incompetence. His annual performance review would have taken a hit, but it would have been a slap on the wrist at worst.

But with deposits reaching one billion, if Gu Heng were to pull out and switch banks now, it would be far more than a slap on the wrist. The head office would undoubtedly hold him accountable. At best, he would lose his position; at worst, the disciplinary department would get involved and launch a full retroactive investigation into his conduct.

The two scenarios were worlds apart.

Take the current situation for example. Forget Gu Heng himself—even Luo Xiwen, who had successfully latched onto a patron and transformed from a sparrow into a phoenix, now had to be treated with the utmost caution and seriousness.

A lover’s whisper could sway any man.

Even emperors of old couldn’t resist it, let alone someone as young as Gu Heng.

’I have to be prudent. I have to be thorough.’

TAP TAP TAP...

Just as Qian Zhengxing and his secretary, Zhou Shuhong, were craning their necks in anticipation, a flurry of footsteps approached from outside. Hearing the sound, they both immediately rose from their seats.

Two attendants pushed open the large, Chinese-style doors, and a moment later, a casually dressed Gu Heng and Luo Xiwen walked in.

Gu Heng wore a polo shirt and slacks, while Luo Xiwen was in a dress and a knit cardigan.

"Chairman Gu!"

"Brother Qian!"

"Xi Wen!"

"Governor Qian!"

...

In an instant, various greetings filled the private room.

"Brother Qian, we’re old friends."

Gu Heng spoke to Qian Zhengxing in a familiar tone, "Let’s talk while we eat. I’m starving."

"Serve the food!"

"Quick, tell the kitchen to start sending out the dishes!"

Seeing that Gu Heng’s attitude hadn’t changed, Qian Zhengxing felt a great sense of relief, and the smile on his face grew even brighter.

"Chairman Gu, a thousand words..."

"...could never express my gratitude to you!"

"Let me make you a promise right here and now. Whether I’m still posted in Ji Province in the future or not, if you ever need anything, I will move heaven and earth for you!"

After they were seated, Qian Zhengxing grasped Gu Heng’s hand tightly with both of his, his face a mask of sincerity. "And as for Xi Wen, I will do everything within my power to support her advancement!"

"Brother Qian, I believe you."

"Now that that’s out of the way, let’s not bring it up again today."

Gu Heng replied with a smile, "I’ve been pretty busy recently. I know I said I’d get together with you, President Wang, and Dean Jiang, but I just couldn’t find the time. Let’s have a few drinks today, just us. In a couple of days, I’ll reach out to President Wang and Dean Jiang, and we can all have a proper get-together."

"No problem."

"Whenever you give the word, Chairman Gu, I’m free."

Qian Zhengxing nodded repeatedly, adopting a very humble posture.

Sitting beside Gu Heng, Luo Xiwen watched Qian Zhengxing’s behavior, feeling a bit stunned and completely baffled by the conversation.

’Why is he so grateful?’

’Why is he talking about moving heaven and earth?’

’And how did I get dragged into all of this?’

Luo Xiwen was utterly bewildered, but with Gu Heng and Qian Zhengxing deep in conversation, she couldn’t interrupt. Subconsciously, she turned her gaze to Zhou Shuhong.

Normally, as Qian Zhengxing’s secretary, Zhou Shuhong held a high administrative rank—higher even than a typical branch manager. In the past, if Luo Xiwen had encountered her at the office, she would have had to stand aside and greet her with deference.

Now, however, Zhou Shuhong showed no hint of a superior’s demeanor. She seemed more like a friendly older sister, her eyes kind and her smile gentle. This only made the already bewildered Luo Xiwen feel even more lost.

"Xi Wen, you don’t know yet?"

Zhou Shuhong asked tentatively, seeing the baffled look on Luo Xiwen’s face.

"Know what...?"

Hearing this, Luo Xiwen’s expression grew even more confused.

"This morning, Chairman Gu..."

"...transferred one billion yuan into a current account at our bank."

Zhou Shuhong didn’t hide the matter from Luo Xiwen. As Gu Heng’s dedicated account manager, it was something she was supposed to know anyway.

In an instant, Zhou Shuhong’s words boomed in Luo Xiwen’s mind like a great temple bell, echoing over and over.

One billion!

’What did that even mean?’

It was no exaggeration to say that Gu Heng’s deposits alone could prop up an entire major branch in Beichun.

Courtyard mansions in Yanjing, sprawling luxury apartments in Zhonghai, luxury yachts in Peng City, antique art and calligraphy from auction houses, private islands in Southeast Asia...

Essentially, anything of value.

If Gu Heng wanted it, he could have it.

He could live like an immortal from the old poems, roaming the world at his whim, free from all earthly constraints.

Gu Heng could live such a celestial life every single day.

Moving up from Wealth Level A9 to A10 might seem like just a single step, but the lifestyle one could enjoy and the resources one could leverage were on completely different planes of existence.

"Xi Wen, you were with Chairman Gu yesterday. He didn’t mention any of this to you?"

Zhou Shuhong glanced at Gu Heng and Qian Zhengxing, who were still conversing. Her eyes flickered for a moment before she leaned in and asked Luo Xiwen again in a hushed voice.

"No."

Luo Xiwen shook her head and answered truthfully.

"Did anything... special happen yesterday?"

Zhou Shuhong continued probing, "Something that would have put Chairman Gu in an exceptionally good mood and made him look so favorably upon our bank."

"Um..."

Faced with Zhou Shuhong’s persistent questions, Luo Xiwen’s face inexplicably flushed red. She stammered for a long moment, unable to get a single word out.

At first, Zhou Shuhong was a little confused.

But she quickly put two and two together. She had assumed Gu Heng and Luo Xiwen were already intimately acquainted, but it now seemed that their relationship had only just begun the day before.

If that was the case, then everything suddenly made sense.

A flash of understanding lit up Zhou Shuhong’s eyes as she jumped to a spectacular conclusion.

Turning her head, she looked toward Qian Zhengxing.

Their eyes met for only a split second, but as partners who had worked together for years, a single glance was all it took for Qian Zhengxing to grasp her meaning.

"Xi Wen, how many years have you been with CMB now?"

Having finished his pleasantries with Gu Heng, Qian Zhengxing found the opportune moment and, with an incredibly smooth transition, turned to Luo Xiwen with a benevolent expression.

"It’ll be four years soon."

Luo Xiwen immediately sat up straight and answered Qian Zhengxing respectfully.

Even though she was now Gu Heng’s woman, and even though she knew he was a VIP client of CMB, the small-town mentality she had developed over the years in Xiaojing City couldn’t be shed overnight.

In her mind, Qian Zhengxing was still the imposing, powerful governor who commanded absolute respect and reverence.

"Xi Wen, four years."

"It’s not too long, but it’s not too short, either."

"Your performance, from your time at the local branch to your work in private banking, has been plain for all to see."

"Your colleagues and leaders have nothing but praise for you."

As he spoke, Qian Zhengxing took a previously prepared letter of appointment from his briefcase. "The organization has decided it’s time to give you some more responsibility. I wonder, are you prepared for that?"

Luo Xiwen was caught completely off guard. She subconsciously glanced at Gu Heng beside her.

He gave her a reassuring look and gently took her hand under the table. In that instant, she felt as if she had found her anchor.

"Governor Qian, I’m ready."

Luo Xiwen nodded solemnly in response to Qian Zhengxing.

"Luo Xiwen—"

"After review and deliberation by the branch’s leadership committee, and with the approval of the head office’s board of directors, you are hereby appointed as the Manager of the Strategic Clients Department for the China Merchants Bank Jisheng Branch. Your professional rank is adjusted to Level 25."

Qian Zhengxing’s expression was equally grave, his bearing once again radiating the authority of a top provincial executive. "Are you willing to accept this great responsibility?"

"I am willing!"

Luo Xiwen accepted the letter of appointment with both hands. Staring at the document, which bore the official seals of both the head office and the branch, she felt an inexplicable sense of surreality, as if in a dream.

From Level 10 to Level 25—a jump of fifteen levels.

Moreover, she had gone from a grassroots position straight into the branch’s senior management.

In a single step, she had achieved a goal that most people couldn’t reach even after twenty years of hard work.

A 27-year-old female bank executive with an annual salary in the millions.

With that kind of status, she was the very definition of a rich, beautiful, urban elite—a true winner at the game of life.

And yet, all of this was merely a ploy by CMB to curry favor with Gu Heng. They had done it all proactively, without him even having to ask.

Seniority?

Ability?

When money stood up to speak, everything else seemed pale and powerless.

Luo Xiwen gazed at the appointment letter for a moment before lifting her head to look at Gu Heng, her beautiful eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Gu Heng smiled at Luo Xiwen, then turned to Qian Zhengxing and said with mock displeasure, "Governor Qian, I understand giving Xi Wen more responsibility—her excellence is plain to see, after all. But she’s my dedicated account manager. You can’t just transfer her away from me."

"Rest assured!"

"Xi Wen will continue to serve you just as she did before!"

Qian Zhengxing said hurriedly, "Xi Wen is now the manager of the Strategic Clients Department, and you are one of our bank’s most strategic clients. It’s only fitting that she continues to serve you. It’s perfectly logical!"

"Good enough."

"In any case, Xi Wen is the only one I’ll work with."

Gu Heng’s smile returned, and he resumed his lighthearted conversation with Qian Zhengxing.

It had to be said, the timing of the whole affair was remarkably coincidental.

He had just completed the challenge and received the cash reward yesterday afternoon, grown intimate with Luo Xiwen that night, and then the money had arrived in his account this morning.

One thing had simply led to another, resulting in the current situation.

Gu Heng was quite satisfied with CMB’s methods of currying favor.

With the senior management position CMB had given her, he no longer had to rack his brains about what to do for Luo Xiwen.

After this matter was settled, the atmosphere in the private room became noticeably more pleasant.

Just then, the dishes began to arrive, and the four of them started to eat and chat...

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