Chapter 360: Chapter 356: 356: The Pawn's Self-Protection (Third Update)

The client manager at the city commercial bank did not reveal to Feng Jun which leader had said this.

However, he told Feng Jun, “I’ll treat you to drinks tonight, and we’ll talk over the table.”

Feng Jun really had no interest in freeloading off his meal—small fry earning money is not easy—so he said, “Why don’t you come to Baixing Town? I’ll treat you.”

The client manager firmly disagreed, saying, “Luohua Manor is too famous. If someone spots me there, I might even lose my job.”

Feng Jun, hearing him talk so seriously, didn’t press the matter any further, but his curiosity deepened.

That evening, he met with the other party. They met at a private and intimate family-style restaurant.

The client manager’s name was Li Liangquan, young in years, probably one or two years younger than Feng Jun. He was quite decisive and efficient. Although he was cautious in his daily activities, he was not out of his depth in these private situations. He promptly toasted Feng Jun thrice before explaining the situation.

Although Li Liangquan was a client manager, Feng Jun’s account held a significant sum of money, which even Director Luo from the bank paid close attention to.

Oftentimes, the actions of Manager Li were driven by nudges from Director Luo.

For instance, the initial matchmaking with the design firm for Feng Jun was Director Luo’s idea. While Li Liangquan, as a client manager, also had access to similar resources, with his age and experience, he couldn’t be involved in such matters.

Feng Jun listened to his words but didn’t take them too seriously; however, in this society, young people had fewer opportunities to take charge, which was normal enough.

Then, Li Liangquan mentioned that recently the bank did indeed have less liquid capital available, and interbank lending rates remained high, so retaining the funds of major clients was a current priority for the bank.

But as Feng Jun thought, the bank’s attitude towards major clients was to maintain good communication and interaction, not to offend major clients just to hold onto the funds—that’d be a suicidal approach.

However, Director Luo specifically called Li Liangquan over, instructing him to keep an eye on Feng Jun’s account to guard against any large-scale capital outflows.

At first, Li Liangquan didn’t overthink it. Orders were orders, and they just had to be carried out. He blurted, without reservation, that bank employees had seen similar things not just once or twice before.

Why didn’t some of the money that corrupt officials tried to smuggle out during their escape get transferred? Because before the dust settled, many banks had already been given a heads-up, and the money in certain accounts was… well, delayed.

Because things hadn’t been pinned down, or perhaps for fear of spooking the snake, only high-level insiders in the bank were aware of the relevant information. They couldn’t tip off those specifically handling the tasks and would just give some unexplained directives.

This was just one example; situations like this were not limited to just this one.

In short, Li Liangquan believed that Feng Jun might also have been involved in some unspeakable matters. Delaying the situation benefited the bank, so he just followed instructions.

However, after Feng Jun got angry, Li Liangquan mustered up the courage to approach Director Luo, seeking guidance on how to reply.

Director Luo’s response left Li Liangquan with growing suspicions, “Why don’t you just say you can’t find the leader? Delay him for the time being.”

Such a response wasn’t the standard strategy for handling exceptional circumstances. If the bank were just cooperating with external forces on some tasks, they wouldn’t let an employee bear too much responsibility—what if that incurred someone’s grudge?

There weren’t that many aspects where lapses could occur within the bank, but as insiders know… well, everyone understands.

So, system failures in work processes were the best option for passing the buck.

Delays caused by “technical reasons” would leave the parties wishing to vent unable to find someone responsible, something which required cooperation from all departments.

The specifics cannot be spelled out any further, but anyhow, Li Liangquan felt that Director Luo’s actions felt more like… personal behavior?

So when Feng Jun said, “Can you delay me for another ten days or half a month?” Manager Li decisively decided: I must tell him this wasn’t my problem.

But such words couldn’t be said within the bank, and it wasn’t easy to explain clearly, so he could only meet with Feng Jun face to face.

Feng Jun was stunned for a long while before finally asking, “If I really need to withdraw money, do I have to find him?”

“For funds of that scale, indeed he has to give the nod,” Li Liangquan replied straightforwardly, “You might as well go directly to him, honestly… bypass me, I don’t mind.”

It was that remark that truly earned Feng Jun’s trust.

Feng Jun wasn’t someone prone to suspicion, but he would always “suspect the worst” when evaluating others. Li Liangquan’s words, he listened to seriously, but whether to believe them was another matter.

Since finding Director Luo could resolve the issue, that made matters simpler, but… there was one more problem.

He asked, with a half-smile, “What if Director Luo tells me to go back to you? If it’s a game of hot potato… what then?”

This was a real issue and a difficult one to address.

After pondering for a moment, Li Liangquan spoke decisively, “I should not bear all the responsibility. I’m just a minor staff member; why should I… Just tell him that I directed you to please let Director Luo make all decisions.”

Feng Jun looked at him thoughtfully, “Aren’t you afraid to lose your job?”

“Working at the bank sounds impressive, but it doesn’t make much money,” Li Liangquan said with an indifferent smile, “Losing a job is better than offending a billionaire for no reason, don’t you think, President Feng?”

“Yes and no,” Feng Jun replied with a smile, “Offending a billionaire, how big of a deal is that? The key is, you offend him without even knowing why you did, that is the most infuriating part.”

“President Feng, that statement of yours is a bit of an act. Only people like you could say that,” Li Liangquan replied with a smile, “Offending a billionaire, a big deal? That’s an incredibly big deal!”

“Alright, cheers!” Feng Jun raised his glass, “You’ve gained my trust, and that’s always good news, isn’t it?”

“Cheers,” Li Liangquan also lifted his glass, speaking earnestly, “I will live up to President Feng’s trust.”

Feng Jun glanced at him and nodded casually, “Hmm, my trust… At this time, go sing for a while?”

“No,” Li Liangquan laughed and shook his head, “I’ve been preoccupied with this matter. Once it’s settled, I should go and be with my girlfriend.”

“Then you go ahead,” Feng Jun waved his hand, “I’m going to call up some friends for a bit more fun.”

In recent days, he had been staying at Luohua Manor and hadn’t been to the city. Although being the manor’s master felt pretty good, there were… no people around, within a four square kilometer area, including the construction team, there were no more than a hundred people—not even counting that crow.

Today, he had come to the city and wanted to let loose, having really been holding back for a very long time.

Not to mention the time he spent on the Mobile Phone Plane, just considering the Earth Plane, the last time he was with a woman was last year—and that was with Sister Hong.

Now it was April, and he was, after all, a young man in his prime, wasn’t he?

He contacted Zhang Wei and Li Qiang. Both of them had plans, and Feng Jing… didn’t answer his phone.

Eventually, he ended up at Manager Chang’s performer bar. Manager Chang was quite welcoming, making sure there were always at least three girls—alright, performers—at his side.

When he awoke, he found himself in a room at the Penglai Grand Hotel.

He racked his brain for memories of the previous night and remembered that Manager Chang had arranged two girls for him and said he could take them away, but in his dazed state, he had still refused, and then Manager Chang had called a taxi for him.

Some behaviors are truly ingrained deep in one’s heart and are not easily changed. He had decided to indulge himself but even when drunk, he had still held back.

“Destined to be alone,” he sighed softly, got out of bed, and went to wash up.

Today, he personally visited the City Commercial Bank and went straight to the offices, specifically asking to see Director Luo.

After verifying his identity, the relevant personnel dared not obstruct him, but since Director Luo was not in, he could only wait in the reception room.

An entire morning passed as he waited, and Feng Jun felt it was very likely that someone had privately informed Director Luo that he was here.

Considering this, his stubbornness kicked in, thinking you want to avoid me? Then, I’ll just keep waiting. Have the guts to never come back to work at the office.

At noon, he ordered a takeaway and had it delivered to the bank’s entrance. After collecting his meal, he sat in the reception room to eat—there was a water dispenser there anyway.

His presence gradually caught the attention of the passing staff, but everyone was very professional. At most, someone would come over and ask whom he was waiting for before turning away.

However, it was clear that more than one person realized he was there to trouble Director Luo.

Approaching three o’clock, Li Liangquan discreetly sent him a WeChat message.

“The person just went to the Bund Coffee House in Century Mansion for afternoon tea.”

Manager Li hadn’t met Feng Jun today, but word of Feng Jun’s actions had already quietly spread around the office.

With so many people in the office, Li Liangquan wasn’t afraid to pass on the message; who could make sure it was he who had let it out?

The truth was Director Luo was only average in popularity among the staff, so it wasn’t unlikely that someone was trying to sabotage him.

Feng Jun decided to trust Manager Li. Moreover, Century Mansion wasn’t far from there, just over a kilometer.

At this hour, Zhengyang was a bit congested, so he picked up a public bicycle and arrived at Century Mansion in five minutes.

The Bund Coffee House was easy to find, located on the second floor of the building.

After Feng Jun went upstairs, he handed a 200 yuan tip straight to the approaching receptionist, then pulled out his phone, swiped through a photo, and asked, “I’m looking for this person… Where are they?”

The young girl hesitated and asked softly, “What do you do?”

“I am…” Feng Jun hesitated, then gave her a slight smile and replied quietly, “I’m a police officer. Don’t tell anyone.”

He had grown accustomed to attracting attention from girls wherever he went, but since the young girl in front of him was skeptical despite the tip, he could only try to use his personal charm.

“You’re lying,” the young girl returned his smile sweetly, lowering her voice, “Why would a police officer tip me? Come on, what do you really do… are you a private detective?”

The girl scored a seventy in terms of looks, and her figure… maybe sixty-five. Feng Jun believed that, with her kind of reaction, he would have her wrapped around his finger in ten minutes at a bar.

But he had serious business to attend to now, so he could only return a slight smile, “It’s not good for a girl to be too clever, especially a beautiful one.”