Without the job that required him to work from morning to evening and without the cut-throat competition of office politics, not having to constantly guess the intentions of his superiors, and with an interest income of about 5,000 yuan entering his account every day, Chen Cheng truly enjoyed this kind of life.
However, because he had repaid Feng Biao's three thousand yuan yesterday, his interest income was slightly reduced.
[You have received 5,071.83 yuan]
[Current Funds: 106,508.48 yuan]
[Current Interest Rate: 5%]
But now, he was about to experience a qualitative leap.
Just this morning, he received a phone call from Tong Jialu, notifying him to go to the bank to sign the loan contract in the afternoon.
Although Chen Cheng had expected things to go smoothly, he did not expect them to proceed so swiftly.
On second thought, the Maybach from yesterday really did provide a lot of help.
Chen Cheng stepped out of the noodle shop with a brisk pace and said to Xiao Meier, "Sister Meier, when the IKEA delivery comes later, please sign for me. I have some errands to run."
Xiao Meier nodded with a smile, "Be careful on the road and stay safe."
"Got it!"
Chen Cheng, driving his car, even pressed the gas pedal with extra force as he headed straight for the bank.
When he arrived at the bank, it was exactly three o'clock in the afternoon.
He took out his phone and sent Tong Jialu a message: Manager Tong, I've arrived.
Not long after the message was sent, Tong Jialu came out from the staff entrance with a smile and said, "Mr. Chen, please come this way."
Chen Cheng followed her to the VIP customer room.
As soon as he sat down, Tong Jialu said, "Mr. Chen, after the review by our credit department, this time our bank can offer you a loan limit of 3 million yuan."
Chen Cheng raised his eyebrows upon hearing this.
He had expected that getting a 1 million yuan loan would be the upper limit, but 2 million more was certainly better than he could have hoped for.
Tong Jialu continued, "Since this is our first loan cooperation, the term of this loan is one year, with an interest rate of 4.78%. Would that be acceptable to you?"
After saying this, she passed the loan agreement over to Chen Cheng.
Chen Cheng picked up the agreement and skimmed through it rapidly.
A loan limit of 3 million yuan, a one-year term, and an interest rate of 4.78%, it was above his expectations and the conditions were quite reasonable.
"Manager Tong, I am very satisfied with these terms," Chen Cheng said with a smile, "I really appreciate your bank's support, and I believe our cooperation will be mutually beneficial."
"Our bank has always been optimistic about Mr. Chen's capabilities and potential, and this cooperation is also a token of our trust and expectations for you. We hope to work together and create a bright future."
Chen Cheng picked up the pen and signed his name on the loan agreement.
After signing, he handed the agreement back to Tong Jialu.
"Manager Tong, what do I need to do next?" asked Chen Cheng.
"You just need to wait for our loan disbursement notice," Tong Jialu replied. "We will process your loan application as quickly as possible to transfer the funds to your account in the shortest time."
"Thank you, I appreciate it very much," Chen Cheng thanked her again.
Tong Jialu stood up and extended her hand generously, "Thank you, Mr. Chen."
They shook hands, and Tong Jialu walked Chen Cheng to the bank entrance.
"Mr. Chen, I won't see you out."
"You stay," Chen Cheng responded.
"Eh, hasn't your driver arrived yet?" Tong Jialu looked along the roadside but didn't see the Maybach.
Chen Cheng tried to maintain a relaxed posture, "It's hard to park here, so I told him to stop at the previous intersection."
Tong Jialu was quite enthusiastic, "Then come back inside the bank and sit for a while, it's hot outside, I'll pour you a glass of water."
It was not a time for Chen Cheng to refuse, as he could not simply say he would walk to find his driver—that would give himself away.
"Alright, that would be a bother."
Chen Cheng reluctantly returned to the VIP customer room, where Tong Jialu thoughtfully brought him a bottle of Evian water, then sat down on the sofa opposite him.
With her long, beautiful legs crossed, Tong Jialu smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, I haven't properly thanked you for that matter before."
"Before?"
"You really are a nobleman with a short memory." Tong Jialu's voice lowered, "That bird."
Cheng Cheng waved his hand with a smile, "It was just a small favor, Manager Tong, you really don't have to worry about it."
However, he was quite curious about bird-keeping, a hobby that didn't seem to fit with the younger crowd, especially since it was the somewhat obscure Jiangnan red-whiskered bulbul.
"Manager Tong, may I ask you a question in private?"
Manager Tong Jialu nodded, "Go ahead and ask."
"Does Director Xia like to keep birds?" Chen Cheng asked. "When I just came in, I saw her picture on the Service Star wall, and she doesn't look very old either."
Manager Tong Jialu shrugged, "I just feed them every day, I'm not too clear on the specifics."
Tap tap tap.
The crisp sound of high heels echoed.
Manager Tong Jialu faced the door and saw someone coming in, quickly standing up.
"Director."
"Has Mr. Chen arrived?" A cool voice reached Chen Cheng's ears.
He turned his head and saw the person from the photo wall standing at the door.
Xia Yubing was about thirty-three, wearing a pair of gold-framed glasses.
If Xiao Meier's beauty was naturally voluptuous, then hers was a beauty that reached to her very bones.
A delicate, ethereal face with a touch of refinement, complemented by a pair of gently curving willow eyebrows.
Even though she wore the same grey suit as Tong Jialu and her figure wasn't clear, with just that face alone, she seemed to possess the kind of stunning beauty that could lead to all kinds of trouble.
The brown leather Cartier WJTA0002 watch on her fair arm made it clear to Chen Cheng that when it came to income, there was a significant difference between her and Manager Tong Jialu, who wore an Apple Watch.
"Director, this is Chen Cheng, Mr. Chen," introduced Manager Tong Jialu.
Xia Yubing stepped forward and extended her hand, "Mr. Chen, pleasure to meet you. I'm the Credit Department Director of Jingfa Bank, Xia Yubing."
Chen Cheng shook her hand, it was smooth and cool.
Her meticulously manicured nails, though just nude-colored, had a warmth like that of jade.
"Hello, Director Xia."
"Xiao Tong, send out the documents I've prepared on my desk," Xia Yubing said.
"Sure, Director."
Manager Tong Jialu left the VIP client room, and Xia Yubing sat down to Chen Cheng's right.
"Mr. Chen, thank you."
Chen Cheng was taken aback by this sudden expression of gratitude.
He replied with a smile, "Director Xia, I should be thanking you."
"I'm referring to the bird."
Chen Cheng's brow furrowed, pretending to be confused, "What?"
"The red-whiskered bulbul that Xiao Tong is feeding now isn't mine," Xia Yubing quickly clarified, "I checked the surveillance camera at the back door, and you brought a birdcage into the alleyway that day."
Chen Cheng laughed awkwardly, "Haha... you're making a fuss over this!"
"I want to ask, did Jin Baogen give you that Jiangnan red-whiskered bulbul?" Xia Yubing's eyes were locked on Chen Cheng's brow, her piercing gaze as if trying to see through his heart.
Chen Cheng realized the situation wasn't as simple as it appeared, "Jin Baogen? Who's that?"
Hearing such a response, Xia Yubing's furrowed brows relaxed, "Perhaps I was overthinking it."
She smiled and said, "Sorry to have bothered you, Mr. Chen."
"No worries at all," Chen Cheng waved his hands dismissively.
"I'll get back to my work then," said Xia Yubing as she stood up, "Excuse me."
Chen Cheng also walked towards the door; this was the perfect chance to sneak away, "My driver is here too."
"Alright then. Have a safe journey."
Chen Cheng hurriedly left Jingfa Bank, and as he reached the door, he didn't forget to stealthily glance at the surveillance cameras.
Something felt off to him.
The company he had obtained from the system's item shop for 3000 yuan only had a cash flow of less than 200,000 yuan.
Even if the loan amount was typically five times the cash flow, there was no way Chen Cheng's finances could qualify him for a 3-million-yuan loan from Jingfa Bank.
Linking this to Xia Yubing's question, he became more convinced that the extra 2 million yuan had something to do with that chirping sparrow.
At that thought, he quickly got into the car and dialed Jin Baogen's number.
"Mr. Jin, it's Xiao Cheng! Are you free right now? I'll bring the birdcage over to you."