Chapter 157

Chen Yang drove to the Industrial and Commercial Bank branch in Qingshui City. As soon as he entered the lobby, he saw a familiar figure—his high school class beauty Tang Miaomiao.

She, a woman in bank professional attire, had a friendly smile beneath her delicate makeup, and was standing attentively at the lobby's customer consultation desk, communicating with a client.

Seeing Chen Yang enter, Tang Miaomiao was momentarily stunned, then quickly turned to delight.

"Chen Yang, when did you come back?"

"It's been a while. Do you work here?"

Chen Yang glanced indifferently at the woman before him. Time seemed to flow back to those awkward school days; in his memory, Tang Miaomiao was always beautiful and captivating, the dream lover of most boys in the class.

In high school, Chen Yang was especially shy and introverted. During free time he would silently sit in a corner, not liking to interact with others, nor actively joining the class crowd. Meanwhile, Tang Miaomiao would always take the chance to ask about homework to pester Chen Yang.

At first, Chen Yang felt a bit at a loss. Over time, he realized he had grown accustomed to and even enjoyed the feeling of being needed. Whenever he saw Tang Miaomiao break into a bright smile after solving a tough problem, a warm, indescribable feeling welled up in his heart.

However, after the college entrance exam results came out, Chen Yang only got into Xingcheng University in Dongjiang Province, while Tang Miaomiao, whom he had tutored all along, was admitted to Capital University with the top score in the school.

After the graduation party ended, Tang Miaomiao told Chen Yang that she had deliberately approached him all along just to distract him, so she could be more certain of getting into her ideal university.

At that time, Chen Yang's worldview was shattered; he never expected a teenage girl to be so scheming. After that, he never contacted Tang Miaomiao again.

Four years without seeing each other, Tang Miaomiao has shed her youthful immaturity, gaining maturity and competence. Her well-fitted professional attire perfectly shows off her graceful figure, and her elegant, confident aura is impossible to ignore.

What baffles Chen Yang is that she painstakingly went to the capital to attend university, yet after graduating she didn't stay there to develop—this makes no sense!

"Chen Yang, what business do you need to handle?" Tang Miaomiao immediately dropped her customer and renewed her high school enthusiasm toward Chen Yang.

Chen Yang glanced at her work badge; her position was assistant to the lobby manager. Since it seemed unrelated to the business he needed to handle, he said, "I've already made an appointment with your account manager, so I won't disturb your work."

"No disturbance! I'll take you there." Tang Miaomiao, fearing Chen Yang would refuse, rushed ahead to the account manager's office door. As soon as she reached it, she shouted inside: "Manager, my classmate Chen Yang has arrived."

Chen Yang looked at her in surprise; this woman deliberately added "my classmate" before his name—what was she aiming for now?

At that moment, a woman in her thirties in professional attire quickly walked out of the account manager's office. She was finely dressed and pretty. Seeing Chen Yang, she respectfully bowed and said, "Mr. Chen, I am your account manager Lu Yan. For future business, you can just call to notify us; we offer dedicated on‑site service."

"It's fine, I don't come often either." Chen Yang also didn't want to keep going to the bank. The problem is, there's a jealous wife at home; if she smells another woman's scent, can he still have a good life?

Lu Yan did not dare to neglect him; she enthusiastically ushered Chen Yang into the office and carefully closed the door. She had just turned around when she saw Tang Miaomiao also hurrying in behind him.

Lu Yan's face showed a hint of embarrassment, but she quickly recovered her professional smile and politely, yet tactfully, said to Tang Miaomiao, "Xiao Tang, could you please go attend to your own work? Mr. Chen's business this time is very important and involves some sensitive and private information; as professionals we must fully respect the client's privacy."

Tang Miaomiao, however, wasn't buying it; she furrowed her brows and said unwillingly, "Sister Lu, Chen Yang and I are old classmates—what could possibly happen between us?"

As she spoke, she playfully cocked her head, her big eyes fixed on Chen Yang, and coquettishly said, "Old classmate, you wouldn't mind me staying here to accompany you while you handle your business, would you?"

Chen Yang said sternly, "Tang Miaomiao, just go attend to your work! Don't interfere with Manager Lu's work."

Tang Miaomiao's face flushed with embarrassment. She hadn't expected Chen Yang to be so dismissive; she stamped her foot in anger and turned to leave.

Lu Yan also hadn't expected Chen Yang to be so strictly business‑like; she apologized, "Mr. Chen, sorry for the trouble."

Chen Yang waved his hand and said, "No problem, let's get down to business. Today there are two items: first, transfer 21,800,000 to the account of Red Star Food Processing Factory (which hasn't yet completed its name change); second, transfer 20,000,000 to Manager Liu's Sunshine Real Estate Company."

Lu Yan only knew Chen Yang was handling a large‑value transfer; she didn't expect the amount to be so huge—transactions of tens of millions were routine. She then asked professionally, "Mr. Chen, what are these funds for?"

Chen Yang replied, "The money for Red Star Food Processing Factory is for investing in industrial land, new product equipment, and raw material imports. For Manager Liu, it's the first installment for constructing Clear River Building."

Lu Yan had already looked up Chen Yang's information; her question was merely out of professional duty. However, regarding Chen Yang's transfer business, she also had her own ideas.

"Mr. Chen, Red Star Food Processing Factory is a key state‑owned enterprise reform unit under municipal focus, with a certain interest‑subsidy quota. You can completely avoid using your personal account and take a loan directly from our bank."

"Is that… appropriate?" Chen Yang felt a bit tempted. After all, company money is company money and personal money is personal—there's a distinction. If he could use a loan to run the company, from an investment standpoint it would be the safest.

"Appropriate, very appropriate!" Lu Yan nodded vigorously, worried Chen Yang might hesitate, and added, "Our bank president also has high hopes for the future of Red Star Food Processing Factory."

Chen Yang thought for a moment, then said with some difficulty: "Our factory is about to build new workshops and cold storage; a loan of twenty million might not be enough!"

Lu Yan was hoping Chen Yang could borrow a bit more, and she quickly said: "Manager Chen, you can go back and make a budget first. When you have a concrete plan, let me know and I will personally come to serve you."

Chen Yang dared not let her come to his door, so he said: "I've been busy lately; I'll have the factory manager below get in touch with you directly."

Lu Yan said there was no problem. Her goal was just to get Chen Yang to take out a loan from the bank; who he discussed cooperation with didn't matter.

"Manager Chen, would you also like to take out a loan for the funding of the Qinghe Building construction? We guarantee to provide the most preferential service."

Chen Yang refused decisively this time: "No, I personally don't want to owe the bank money for now."