What should I do? I've emptied all my savings. Even with the prepayment for the task from Xia Shuangming, I only have 600,000 yuan. Adding the 100,000 yuan previously paid by Hua Renda, it makes exactly 700,000 yuan, but that still leaves a shortfall of 500,000 yuan from the total cost of the surgery.
Hua Xiaomo's hands clenched slightly as the words—that the surgery couldn't be performed without full payment—echoed continuously in her mind.
Hua Xiaomo went to the director's office, but the result was exactly as she had anticipated. Director Zhang was clearly too afraid of offending President Qi Longbing of the Qi Imperial Court. He politely rejected her proposal to make up the remaining payment later.
What should I do? Hesitating, Hua Xiaomo took out a business card from her pocket. It belonged to Long Shangxuan.
But the thought was instantly snuffed out. After all, her acquaintance with him was merely superficial; he had no reason to lend her money…
Other than Xiao You, she really didn't have any other friends left.
Alright, the one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it. I was the one who offended him; there's no need to involve anyone else. Hua Xiaomo pursed her lips slightly. She flipped open her phone, thinking of the number that had once called her, a call she had hung up on. How long ago was that? A week? Two weeks? She could hardly remember.
Hua Xiaomo's eyes narrowed slightly, already bracing herself for the worst.
After some effort, she found the number on her phone. The last four digits were all eights—clearly a VIP number reserved for the wealthy.
Looking at the string of digits, despair dimmed her amber eyes. With a flick of her hand, she dialed the number.
For a long while, the call went unanswered. Hua Xiaomo grew impatient and was on the verge of hanging up when, at the very last moment, someone answered.
"Hello..." A deep, magnetic voice came through the phone.
"President Qi... it's me, Hua Xiaomo." Biting her lip slightly, Hua Xiaomo barely knew how she had managed to make the call.
"Oh..." The person on the other end seemed to be contemplating something. He paused for a moment, then asked with a chuckle, "You're looking for me?"
"It's... about the surgery costs. There's still a shortfall of 500,000 yuan. President Qi, could you please grant me some time? Allow the surgery to go ahead, and I'll definitely make up the difference later." Hua Xiaomo said it all in one breath. Her breathing was slightly labored, and her palm, clutching the phone, grew hot.
"Heh..." Qi Longbing chuckled softly but said nothing more. His silence carried the eerie suggestion of a scheming devil.
Unable to discern his attitude over the phone, Hua Xiaomo took a deep breath and continued, "I'm sorry, President Qi. I was wrong before, and I offended you. You're a magnanimous person; won't you please overlook the offense of a student who hasn't even graduated yet?" By the time she finished her plea, her face was flushed red.
It's alright; bowing down isn't so bad. Wasn't she always quite adept at fawning and begging for pity?
To her surprise, Qi Longbing was not at all sympathetic. His indifferent words were edged with iciness. "Miss Hua, why is it that only now you think of apologizing? Isn't it a little too late?"
When he had kindly brought her that handbag, he hadn't received so much as a pleasant look. Qi Longbing was certainly not a masochist. This ignorant woman would have to swallow this snub, no matter what!
"I'm sorry..." Hua Xiaomo said, her face etched with embarrassment as she tried to sound brave.
Qi Longbing held the phone, his head tilted back comfortably against the Osaka chair. His thin lips curved into a sinister smile. "...How much is an apology worth?"
Hua Xiaomo couldn't find any words.
"Cops Aima Dynasty Club. Come and keep me company. If I'm sufficiently entertained, perhaps... your problem can be solved." Qi Longbing's voice was calm, his lips curled with an irreverent, flippant trace. His deep-sea blue eyes twinkled with a teasing, strange light.
Hua Xiaomo's delicate eyebrows knitted together slightly. She tightened her fist, hesitating. "President Qi, that place you mentioned... I don't know where it is."
"Where are you?"
Hua Xiaomo's expression was grim. But what else could she do now?
"...I'm at Xie He Hospital."
"Good. In ten minutes, Ms. Lin will drive to pick you up." As soon as he said this, the call ended. He quickly transferred to an internal line to issue instructions.
Qi Longbing stood up, walked to the liquor cabinet, and opened a bottle of Martell King's Gold. He poured some into a stemmed glass. Swirling the golden liquid gracefully, he leaned against the cabinet, his slightly long hair brushing his eyelids, creating an elegant arc.
Qi Longbing watched the translucent, golden liquid in the crystal stemmed glass, a slight contentment sweeping through him.
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door.
Glancing sideways, Qi Longbing saw an enchanting figure in a white dress leaning against the door. His voice held a trace of faint laziness. "You haven't left yet?"
"Ah Bing, I just came over to see you. There's no need to be so distant, right?" Her light voice was as pleasant as a warbler's song.
Pan Yutong stepped forward. Her bewitching figure looked exquisite in the fine silk satin dress. She deliberately fluffed her wine-red curls, showcasing her charm on her stunningly gorgeous face.
However, unbeknownst to her, a certain someone's aesthetic sense was growing tired of this type of beauty. Was this another Gong Fengjiao?
Pan Yutong watched the liquid swirling in his glass. The fragrant aroma of the cognac tantalized her senses, naturally inducing a heady, tipsy feeling.
"You seem to be in a pretty good mood today." Pan Yutong walked up and quickly grabbed a glass as well. However, as she reached for the Martell King's Gold, Qi Longbing unexpectedly covered the bottle with his hand.
"...You've acquired the Hua Clan. Such great news! Won't you offer me a drink?" Pan Yutong said with a smile, her voluptuous lips curving into a stunning arc.
Qi Longbing eyed her, an elegant yet devilish smile playing on his handsome face. "Fine, I'll treat you. Cops Aima Dynasty Club. Shall we go together?"
Pan Yutong's heart burst with joy. Had she finally seen daylight after such a long wait? Had she finally captured this playboy's heart?
"Ah Bing, it's been a year since we last met. Have you missed me?" Pan Yutong cooed, her voice tender and sweet.
A faint, almost imperceptible voice drifted through the air, "Missed you? What does 'miss' even mean... Have you done anything worth my missing?"
This sentence, devoid of any emotion and incredibly cold, doused Pan Yutong's enthusiasm like a bucket of ice water.
Pan Yutong's beautiful face instantly paled.
Qi Longbing put down his glass. His deep blue eyes, which had seemed full of gentle emotion, now revealed a sliver of cold detachment. "I have to go. Whether you come or not is up to you."
His tone hadn't changed, but his mood clearly had. Yet, the aura of a king emanated from him, undiminished.