Drama Queen Reborn as a Top Student!-Chapter 650 - 252

When the woman left, Cui Qi picked up the teacup and took a sip.

It turned out to be Sparrow Tongue Tea worth thousands in gold.

He thought to himself, Tianlu Bank truly is wealthy—serving such exquisite tea to guests without hesitation.

Walking through this place, everything he saw and heard made him realize he had only been a frog trapped in a well.

The background of Tianlu Bank lies in Siland, the international financial hub that serves as a global economic epicenter. With that kind of backing, Tianlu Bank has become unstoppable—Springzhou probably doesn’t have a single competitor left to challenge it.

He had long known of Xie Group’s downfall—it was once a dominant force in Springzhou. With Xie Group around, Tianlu Bank had little room to grow. Yet Xie Group is now but a withered flower of yesterday, and the once-invincible Xie Beichun is obediently sitting in prison.

Beyond the troublesome Xie Group, over the past six months, many other financial companies—big and small—have also suffered their demise. But compared to Springzhou’s sheer magnitude, they were like pebbles thrown into the vast ocean, unable to stir even the slightest ripple.

Before this, he had never imagined he’d have anything to do with Tianlu Bank.

But who could have expected the young heir of the Mei Fei family to suddenly appear at the auction house? Not only did he make an extravagant gesture by spending billions, but he also snatched the final showcase—the Purple Ganoderma—from the Leng family.

The Mei Fei family is a globally influential financial dynasty, much like Tianlu Bank. Both share connections to Siland. Unexpectedly, Amos’ presence provided a chance to set foot inside Tianlu Bank.

If he could establish ties with the fabled Chairman Lan...

Cui Qi’s shrewd eyes flickered as he calculated his moves.

He drank four cups of tea in a row, yet Lan Xiping never appeared.

Whether it was from drinking too much or sheer nerves, a swelling urge in his bladder left him fidgety and restless.

He stood up and paced back and forth.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the bustling city stretched endlessly before him.

At one glance, the view was almost dizzying.

Was this the scenery seen from great heights?

The woman pushed the door open and entered. "Apologies for keeping you waiting. Please follow me," she said.

Cui Qi immediately composed himself, signaling to his team with a subtle look before stepping forward.

The woman led them into a large conference room, where a long table stretched east to west, capable of seating thirty people.

Cui Qi cautiously took a seat, but footsteps from outside caught his attention.

Before his chair touched, he instantly sprang to his feet.

The woman faced the doorway and announced, "Secretary Qian, Minister Han."

Cui Qi turned his head and saw two men entering the room, both dressed impeccably in suits, exuding the aura of seasoned professionals.

With his discerning gaze, and based on the woman’s address, he identified the bespectacled and refined man leading the way as Secretary Qian—Lan Xiping’s chief secretary. The square-faced man following a step behind was evidently Minister Han.

He glanced further behind but saw no one else.

Lan Xiping wasn’t present.

A flicker of well-concealed disappointment swept across his eyes.

Of course, given Lan Xiping’s stature, why would he meet someone so insignificant like him?

To him, a two-billion-dollar deal was nothing more than a drop in the ocean.

"Secretary Qian, Minister Han, I’m Cui Qi, head of Lanqiao Auction," Cui Qi introduced himself.

Secretary Qian smiled faintly and gestured to the opposite seat, "Mr. Cui, please have a seat."

Cui Qi quickly waved his hand dismissively. "Secretary Qian, no need for the formalities—just call me by my name."

The woman poured tea for everyone.

Minister Han took a seat next to Secretary Qian, while another two individuals—a man carrying a laptop and a woman clutching a folder—entered the room shortly afterward.

Four participants on each side—perfectly balanced.

The entirety of the transaction was recorded.

Cui Qi, being familiar with dealings with banks, understood how difficult and convoluted their procedures could be.

He had anticipated Tianlu Bank to be no less stringent.

Yet to his surprise, the entire process was completed within just ten minutes.

He couldn’t help but marvel at Tianlu Bank’s efficiency.

But what stood out even more was the sheer display of strength behind it.

At the moment he signed the final document, his assistant placed a black box—one they had been carrying all along—on the table.

The assistant entered the password and opened it.

Inside a vacuum-sealed glass container was a luminous, extraordinarily vibrant purple Ganoderma.

In adherence to the rules, the transaction proceeded one-for-one—cash for goods.

Cui Qi marked the last signature, pushing the Purple Ganoderma toward the other side.

And just like that, the deal was done.

Secretary Qian and his team said nothing unnecessary and left straightaway.

Before Cui Qi could even speak, his assistant let out a long breath of relief and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. "Though Secretary Qian is quite agreeable, I still felt chills down my spine."

Cui Qi sneered softly, "Country bumpkin."

He lowered his gaze; yet wasn’t he experiencing the same feeling himself?

His steps felt unsteady as he got up and followed the woman out of the conference room.

Clearing his throat, he asked hesitantly, "Could I use the restroom?"

The woman offered a sweet smile and pointed him toward a direction.

Cui Qi strode quickly toward the restroom, feeling like he could no longer hold it in—his pace quickened by the urgency.

Just as he was about to enter, he suddenly heard voices inside. On instinct, he lightened his footsteps and stood hesitatingly at the entrance.

"Spending two billion on a piece of worthless grass—tsk—just like I thought, indulgent young masters throwing money around. No pampered young heir in all of Hua Country can squander wealth this flamboyantly," one voice scoffed, layered with ridicule.

Cui Qi immediately recognized it as Minister Han’s voice.

"Minister Han, please watch your words." A calmer voice with an edge of warning retorted.

It was the ever-calculating Secretary Qian.

Now Cui Qi found himself trapped—unable to enter or leave—torn in excruciating inner conflict.

"What’s Secretary Qian afraid of? Chairman isn’t here to hear us anyway. Would you go report me to him? I just think it’s a waste for Chairman to put you on this transaction—your talents are far above this. You’ve followed Chairman for so long; has he never considered transferring you to the market division? A secretary, at the end of the day, is only just a glorified errand-runner. Don’t squander your abilities," Minister Han rambled.

"If Minister Han expended as much thought on his work as he does on these comments, perhaps he wouldn’t have been reprimanded by the Chairman during this morning’s meeting," Secretary Qian countered without missing a beat.

Minister Han faltered, his eyes shifting quickly, but then he leaned closer and lowered his voice. "The Chairman has a woman—is that something you’re aware of?"

Secretary Qian’s sharp gaze darkened slightly as he glanced knowingly at him.

Unfazed, Han continued with an exaggerated expression of disbelief, "Last night, right before bed, I remembered some official business and called the Chairman. Guess what? I heard a woman’s voice on the other end."

Secretary Qian squinted slightly.

Han’s exaggerated expressions continued as he added, "But the most astonishing part, you know what it is? That woman actually called the Chairman ’Xiao Lan.’"

Secretary Qian’s lips curled faintly as he said coolly, "Han Chi, daring to discuss the Chairman’s private affairs—what exactly are you trying to do?"

Han Chi clicked his tongue, "Fine, I won’t bring it up anymore."

But then his gaze turned scheming again as he added, "I heard that there was a young girl at the gate earlier looking for the Chairman. She’s delicate and pitiful—a true sight for sore eyes. I thought she might be the Chairman’s confidante, so I had my assistant bring her inside."

Secretary Qian suddenly turned his head sharply, his piercing eyes locking onto him.