Chapter 358: The Wife Leads, the Husband Follows

The forest setting was indeed beautiful, and quite pleasant too—just a bit hot. Luckily, a breeze blew through every now and then, adding a touch of coolness to the otherwise sweltering weather.

Liu Tianxian had a strong wrist; her folding fan whooshed through the air.

Beyond household trivialities, the two chatted about everyday matters too—just idle talk.

Between lovers, even an ant on the ground could become a topic of conversation.

Liu Tianxian grew curious about an ant crawling across the table: "Where do you think this ant is trying to get to?"

"Let me ask it for you, ha." Fang Hong actually crouched down, staring at the crawling ant.

"How is it? Did you get an answer?" Liu Tianxian closed her folding fan and crouched down too.

"It said—none of your damn business!"

Having said that, Fang Hong burst out laughing, "Ha ha."

Liu Tianxian was speechless. She punched his arm twice in quick succession, then started giggling too, "Ge ge."

The two were simply bored, teasing each other for fun.

Just then, a middle-aged man walked over from not far away. This middle-aged man stepped onto the wooden staircase: "What are you two chatting about that's so funny? I heard your laughter from way off."

"Oh, Uncle, you're finally here! We weren't chatting about anything, just talking for fun." Liu Tianxian stood up, immediately looking more energetic.

Hearing the form of address, Fang Hong instantly figured out the man's identity. He hurriedly stood up and sized him up.

Liu Tianxian's uncle had an upright appearance, a sturdy build, and a belly under his short sleeves—at a glance, someone used to eating well, drinking well, and living a life of comfort.

He looked about forty, but was actually already fifty.

Northeasterners do look much burlier. Just like Liu Tianxian and Liu Xiaoli—if they didn't watch their figures, they'd look quite sturdy too. It's their natural build.

Fang Hong's natural build wasn't as good as Liu Tianxian's.

"Xixi, it's been so long—you've gotten even prettier." The uncle came across as very affable.

"Uncle, you're not bad either, getting more and more handsome!" Liu Tianxian smiled warmly: "Is Auntie doing well at home?"

"She's doing great—playing mahjong every day." When the uncle said this, he seemed to be gritting his teeth.

Liu Tianxian smiled, exchanged a glance with Fang Hong, then looped her arm through his and introduced him: "Uncle, look—this is my boyfriend, Fang Hong."

"Hello." Fang Hong greeted him.

"Hello, you need to eat more." The uncle studied him seriously; he looked a bit thin.

He had heard from his family long ago that Liu Tianxian had found a boyfriend and was planning to get married. He'd been curious about the fellow's background and looks.

Now it seemed, looks-wise he was definitely not a match for his niece—a bit too ordinary.

His niece was, after all, a top-tier beauty.

But Liu Tianxian liked him, so he wouldn't say anything—as long as his character wasn't bad.

"I will when I have time, it's just that work is too busy, I don't have much of it." Fang Hong didn't know what to say, feeling somewhat constrained.

The uncle nodded, said nothing, and already knew what the fellow did for a living.

"I think he looks fine, being too fat isn't healthy either." Liu Tianxian smoothed things over with a line, pulled out a chair, and gestured: "Uncle, let's sit down and talk."

The three sat down. Since there was only one wooden table, they ended up sitting quite close together.

"The scenery here isn't bad."

The uncle looked around the surroundings and said to Liu Tianxian: "Did you tell your mom that I'm coming to Beijing?"

"Not yet. He's discussing business with Godfather. We'll go back together for dinner later—she'll be happy to see you for sure." Liu Tianxian said.

Fang Hong glanced at her, guessing she had kept it from her mom. The way she spoke made it sound so casual, she could even glide over it lightly and make it seem perfectly normal.

Liu Tianxian was quite the smooth talker.

"Good then, it's been ages since I've had my sister's cooking. This time works out perfectly." The uncle seemed somewhat nostalgic.

Liu Tianxian picked up a cup, poured him some water, and said: "This time you're here, stay for a few more days. Stay at our place, let mom and me show you around everywhere."

The uncle took a sip of water and teased: "You still have time to keep me company? Not going to keep your boyfriend company?"

"He's busy from morning till night, even if I wanted to keep him company I couldn't. Besides, since you're here, of course I'll keep you company first." Liu Tianxian said.

The uncle smiled and said to Fang Hong: "You can't neglect my Xixi."

"You've got it wrong—in daily life I always listen to her. Wherever she says to go, I shamelessly tag along." Fang Hong replied.

"Other people have the husband leading and the wife following, but you two have the wife leading and the husband following." The uncle laughed.

"That proves he yields to me, spoils me—our relationship is great!" Liu Tianxian wore a happy smile, wrapped her arm around Fang Hong's neck, and rested her head on his shoulder for a moment.

Liu Tianxian was letting her uncle see how the two of them got along, so that when it came time to talk money, her uncle would feel at ease lending it to Fang Hong.

After all, with this kind of relationship in place, it was much easier to discuss business.

"That's good, get along well. I'm waiting to drink your wedding wine." The uncle said.

"Don't worry, we'll definitely let you have that drink." Liu Tianxian said with certainty.

The uncle smiled, looking very gratified. His niece wasn't young anymore either—it was time she got married!

The uncle and niece seemed to have a very good relationship; they probably kept in touch on their phones regularly.

Speaking of which, for a moment after that, neither knew how to continue. After all, Liu Tianxian had come with an agenda, and without a topic to lead with, she didn't know how to bring it up. She glanced at Fang Hong, but Fang Hong couldn't speak up either—right now, no matter how you looked at it, Fang Hong was an outsider.

"Right, you said on the phone you had something to discuss with me—what exactly is it?" It was the uncle who took the initiative to open the conversation.

Actually, he had also guessed his niece had something going on—otherwise she wouldn't have invited him to Beijing at this time of year, saying she missed him.

If it were really just a family get-together, it should be during a holiday.

"Oh, it's like this—Honghong is short on some funds for his business, and wanted to ask for your help." Liu Tianxian stated her purpose, looking at her uncle.

"Sure thing, how much do you need? Just say it." The uncle waved his hand grandly, appearing very open-hearted, as if he'd taken it entirely upon himself.

He was in that line of work anyway, and she was "family"—lending some money was no big deal.

"Seven billion!" Liu Tianxian said.

Fang Hong's eyes suddenly went wide. With a surprised expression, he turned his head to look at Liu Tianxian beside him. He clearly only needed five billion—how did it become seven billion the moment she opened her mouth, twenty billion more.

Liu Tianxian appeared very calm, placing her hand on Fang Hong's leg and patting it, telling him to stay composed.

"Seven billion?!" Her uncle was also very surprised.

He had thought it was just a few hundred million, a billion or so, no big deal, a wave of the hand, but he hadn't expected such a large number all at once.

"Uncle, did we make things difficult for you? Don't worry, we'll definitely pay it back." Liu Tianxian patted her chest.

"It's not that I'm worried you won't pay it back, it's just—"

Her uncle didn't know what to say. He'd spoken too big just now and couldn't take it back at the moment. He said: "This requires qualification certificates, cash flow statements. Did you bring the documents?"

Liu Tianxian looked at Fang Hong.

"Is an electronic version okay?" Fang Hong hadn't known her uncle was coming today and hadn't brought that stuff.

"That's fine, I'll just take a look." Her uncle said.

Fang Hong pulled up all kinds of asset certificates for Yutu Group — company cash flow, financial status, tax payment certificates, personal credit, and other documents.

Then he placed his phone in front of her uncle: "This is Yutu's, take a look. Just swipe the page like this."

As he spoke, he indicated that swiping the phone screen would show the next page.

Her uncle lowered his head and started looking.

"Give me your phone." Fang Hong stretched out his hand, asking Liu Tianxian to take out her phone.

Liu Tianxian felt her phone buzz, knew he had sent the documents, unlocked it and handed it to him.

That phone even had a kawaii case on it.

Fang Hong pulled up his email, opened the Chang'e documents he'd just sent, handed it over and said: "This is the proof for my other company. This is also the company that needs the loan."

Her uncle nodded. Both sides were looking at their own phones, fingers swiping across the screens.

There was quite a bit of information, and they were afraid of mixing things up, so two phones were better.

Liu Tianxian watched her uncle looking down at his phone, put her hand by her mouth, and whispered by Fang Hong's ear: "My uncle is with a bank over in Jiangcheng. Say a bit more so we have room to bargain."

Fang Hong looked at her and smiled; Liu Tianxian smiled along with him.

"You're making things a bit difficult for me here."

Her uncle glanced through casually, shook his head: "One company is in the red, the other is making money but has no real assets. The main issue is that everything valuable to you is data — intangible stuff."

"Oh, Uncle, you were looking so confident just now. This little bit of money has you stumped? We'll pay it back." Liu Tianxian said the same thing again, except this time with a coquettish tone.

"It's not that I'm afraid you won't pay it back. I don't handle credit business anymore now either, so I'd have to ask friends for help. You asking for this much all at once — honestly, it's really hard for me!" Her uncle looked a bit troubled.

Seven billion all at once — too exaggerated.

"Uncle."

Liu Tianxian's voice went all syrupy. She pulled a chair over, sat next to her uncle, and shook his arm coquettishly: "Just help us out, won't you?"

Hearing that voice, Fang Hong's bones went soft. Liu Tianxian rarely acted this coquettishly in front of him — for his sake, she was pulling out her signature move.

After all, who could resist Liu Tianxian acting coy?

He certainly couldn't resist. If Liu Tianxian acted this coquettishly in front of him, he'd definitely have to melt her right into his body.

"Sigh, you really love giving your uncle a hard time."

Her uncle also couldn't resist his niece's coquettish act. He looked at Fang Hong and said: "Do you personally have any fixed assets or anything like that?"

"He doesn't, but I do. Mine can be used as collateral." Liu Tianxian said immediately.

Her uncle's expression showed great surprise — no personal fixed assets? Was this guy living off his niece? Freeloading off his niece?

"His personal money is all with me. He's starting a business, so I told him to focus on his career and not buy things like houses and cars. Buying too much of that stuff is pointless — as long as you have a place to live and something to drive, that's enough." Liu Tianxian added, explaining on Fang Hong's behalf.

Hearing this, her uncle felt somewhat relieved, though still quite surprised. Such a big boss — who would believe it if they heard this?

At the same time, he was also a bit worried. No assets, pledging his niece's assets — if the business failed, it would essentially mean using his niece's assets to pay off the debt.

This man could just pat his butt and run off.

Honestly, he didn't dare lend money to this guy, not for any other reason than for his niece's sake.

(End of chapter)