Even though it was already 11 PM, Xia Xin quickly picked up the phone.
"Hello," she greeted warmly, completely unaware of what was to come.
"Director Xia, this is Lin Qiang. We met earlier today," Lin Qiang began.
"Oh, Lin Qiang... What can I do for you at this hour?" Xia Xin sounded puzzled.
"I know this might seem abrupt, but please bear with me. Do you and your husband have time tomorrow? There's something very important I need to discuss with you," Lin Qiang said seriously.
"Hmm?" Xia Xin was taken aback. Lin Qiang's request was indeed impolite, but knowing his capabilities, she figured there must be a reason behind this strange behavior. "Can you tell me what this is about? Why do you need my husband involved?"
"It's really inconvenient to discuss over the phone. Please understand, this is extremely important," Lin Qiang insisted firmly. "Please, you and your husband must spare half an hour."
Xia Xin was even more puzzled. She and Lin Qiang were not particularly close, and her husband had never met him. This insistence on a face-to-face meeting made her curious, worried, and even a bit annoyed.
Lin Qiang knew his actions were hasty but continued to persuade her, "Since I'm being so insistent, calling at this hour, there must be a reason. Please trust me."
"...Alright, I'll ask my husband," Xia Xin finally conceded after thinking it over. She put down the phone and discussed it with her husband.
Lin Qiang waited anxiously, feeling sweat start to form on his palms. If he couldn't get both Xia Xin and her husband to agree to a meeting, the impact of his message would be greatly diminished.
Moreover, this wasn't something to discuss over the phone, especially at this hour. They would be furious and rush to the school to confront Ling Lele, who might then retaliate against Lin Qiang. Given her personality, she might even falsely accuse him of inappropriate behavior, making his good intentions backfire.
This had to be discussed in person.
After a long pause, Xia Xin returned to the phone. "My husband has a meeting with senior bank officials tomorrow. After the meeting, he can skip the lunch and spare half an hour. Will meeting at the Café of the Weiting Hotel in Financial Street work for you?"
"That works perfectly."
"Alright then, around 11 AM. We'll see you at the hotel café."
"Thank you for trusting me. Sorry for the late call."
"It's alright. See you tomorrow."
"See you."
Lin Qiang put down the phone, his heart still racing. He could feel his pulse pounding in his chest.
Xia Xin's position wasn't particularly high, but at her age, she was already holding an important role in a core department of the branch. The reason was her husband, Ling Chen.
Ling Chen was the Director of the Financial Audit Department at the National Audit Office.
To those unfamiliar with the banking and financial sectors, this might seem like a high-level accounting role, but it was much more. Banks handle billions of yuan daily, with numerous bad debts, false accounts, and irregularities. The Audit Office's role is to oversee financial institutions, scrutinizing every transaction to uncover any misconduct. In recent years, auditing banks had become a top priority. Major bank executives dreaded seeing auditors, fearing they'd uncover bad debts or scrutinize banking decisions relentlessly.
Compared to the China Banking Regulatory Commission, the Audit Office's oversight was often more lethal.
As the head of the Financial Audit Department, Ling Chen had the power to decide the fate of banks. The audit results from his department could directly influence a bank's reserve requirements, loan limits, and more.
Thus, even though Xia Xin was just a deputy director of a department within the branch, she was untouchable within the United Bank. This was why she could take time off during work hours to transfer money for her daughter without anyone questioning it.
On the flip side, the stronger Xia Xin's position, the greater Lin Qiang's potential gain if he succeeded. However, if he failed, the consequences would be severe—potentially worse than being relegated to a distant suburb.
United Bank, a behemoth, had numerous subsidiary enterprises beyond its main banking business, including companies supplying POS machines, investment marketing agencies, and even printing companies for materials and forms...
Those who committed serious offenses were often transferred to such places, facing a lifetime of exile.
While switching jobs was an option, Lin Qiang couldn't consider it until his mortgage was paid off. But if he were transferred to one of those places, he'd never be able to repay his mortgage.
Lin Qiang clenched his fist, the cold fist under the gentle moonlight reminding him that he had no choice but to win. The heavens had given him this coincidence as an opportunity to turn the tables.
"What are you doing?" Zheng Shuai came out to the balcony to hang his laundry, wearing just his briefs. "Still thinking about that schoolgirl?"
Lin Qiang smiled wryly. He wished he could share this with Zheng Shuai, but he had to protect him. Knowing this situation could make Zheng Shuai a target for Xia Xin's wrath, so it was best he remained unaware.
"Yeah, such a good student doing this at night. I wonder what her parents would think."
"I really don't understand you," Zheng Shuai said, hanging up his freshly washed clothes. "You're not the type to indulge in such things, but tonight you called for a hostess, and then you sent her away yourself. Lin Qiang, what are you thinking?"
"A clean sweep," Lin Qiang smiled. "Taking down that dirty karaoke bar."
"Huh?" Zheng Shuai was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Brother, don't be so serious... We have enough problems of our own. Do you really want to play the hero?"
"All sorts of problems, all solved in one go." Lin Qiang punched Zheng Shuai's chest. "I'm playing two games at once. Winning either one is a win."
Seeing Lin Qiang's determination, Zheng Shuai stopped laughing and smiled appreciatively. Leaning on the balcony, he gazed at the crescent moon. "Lin Qiang, I know you. You always put so much pressure on yourself, taking everything on your shoulders. Even during exams, we copied off you..."
"Haha, that's why I had good grades and got scholarships," Lin Qiang laughed. "I'm playing a big game."
"Lin Qiang," Zheng Shuai turned, his expression serious. "I know you—if you win, everyone benefits; if you lose, you take it all on yourself."
"Not true."
"Don't forget, you have me and we are brothers. If there's trouble, you can count on me."
Lin Qiang pulled Zheng Shuai into a hug, grateful for having such a dependable brother. "Don't worry, if I'm going down, I'll take you with me."