Chapter 220: Vice President Ning Que

Outside the Golden Dragon Bank's reserve vault.

Li Luo looked at the opened storeroom and quietly let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the Golden Dragon Bank was massive and had a complete stockpile; otherwise, without these emergency detox herbs today, the poisoning incident at Xiyang House would have become far more troublesome.

Lü Qing'er glanced at Li Luo and gently reassured him: "Don't worry. As long as we have these detox herbs, we should be able to resolve Xiyang House's trouble."

Li Luo nodded and thanked her again: "I really owe you one this time."

Lü Qing'er pressed her lips into a smile. Just as she was about to speak, a sharp shout suddenly rang out: "Hold it!"

Lü Qing'er's slender brows furrowed. She turned her head and saw a group of people striding toward them, led by a middle-aged man with a cold, stern face and an extraordinary bearing.

"Father!" Ning Zhao was delighted to see the middle-aged man.

"That's the Golden Dragon Bank's vice president, Ning Que." Lü Qing'er whispered to Li Luo, though she felt a hint of trouble in her heart. After all, the man was a senior executive of the Golden Dragon Bank with extremely high seniority. She could handle Ning Zhao, but it would be very hard to handle his father.

With Ning Que's arrival, the elderly man in front of the reserve vault also waved his hand, signaling the people behind him to halt their actions.

"What are you doing? The reserve vault cannot be opened at will without good reason!" Ning Que strode forward and barked in a deep voice.

Lü Qing'er raised the president's jade talisman in her hand and said: "I have the jade talisman. Why can't I open it?"

Ning Que glanced at the jade talisman in Lü Qing'er's hand but, unlike Ning Zhao, did not show any fear. He merely said calmly: "Qing'er, does the president know you took the jade talisman?"

Lü Qing'er faltered slightly.

Ning Que was far too experienced not to notice Lü Qing'er's guilt. He immediately said: "Stealing the president's jade talisman without permission violates the Bank's rules. Qing'er, considering your youth and ignorance, return it quickly. I'll handle things here."

Lü Qing'er clenched her hands. The Ning father and son were truly annoying. She had only taken a few herbs that wouldn't really affect anything, yet they insisted on obstructing her.

But Ning Que held a high position in the Golden Dragon Bank. Even she could not use the president's jade talisman to suppress him, so for a moment, Lü Qing'er grew anxious.

After all, she knew that Li Luo urgently needed these detox herbs; otherwise, the consequences would be extremely severe.

Ning Que paid no more attention to Lü Qing'er. His gaze swept indifferently over Li Luo's expressionless face, and then he said: "Close the reserve vault."

The guards exchanged uncertain glances at his words, but ultimately did as he said and began closing the reserve vault.

Seeing this, Ning Zhao's expression didn't change, but a smile crept into his eyes. He had no real grudge against Li Luo, but Lü Qing'er had actually stolen the president's jade talisman for him—that was simply impossible not to envy.

However, just as the reserve vault was about to close, movement came from behind again, followed by a chorus of respectful voices: "Greetings, President."

Lü Qing'er looked over quickly and indeed saw Yu Yu Hongxi, dressed in a red gown, approaching rapidly with an entourage.

"President." Ning Que, seeing Yu Yu Hongxi, hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting.

Yu Yu Hongxi gave him a nod. Her gaze swept across the scene, pausing briefly on the reserve vault and on Li Luo.

"What's going on?" she asked unhurriedly.

Ning Que spoke first: "President, it's most likely that this girl Qing'er took advantage of your inattention, secretly took the president's jade talisman, and tried to open the reserve vault."

Lü Qing'er gritted her teeth inwardly. That old fox Ning Que was truly malicious.

Seeing this, Li Luo beside her sighed inwardly and spoke up at this moment: "President Yu, this has nothing to do with Qing'er. I wanted to purchase a batch of detox herbs at double the price, so I asked her for help. I didn't expect things to get this complicated."

Judging from Lü Qing'er's demeanor, the president's jade talisman had probably really been taken by her secretly. At this point, Li Luo naturally couldn't let her take the blame and get scolded, so he stepped forward. No matter whether Yu Yu Hongxi wanted to hit or scold him, as a man, he had to shoulder the responsibility.

Lü Qing'er was startled when Li Luo suddenly spoke up and was about to say something.

But Yu Yu Hongxi raised her hand to stop her. Her gaze lingered on Li Luo for a moment longer, then she said calmly: "Vice President Ning, the jade talisman wasn't stolen by Qing'er from me. I had previously indicated she could take it. The Golden Dragon Bank believes in harmony bringing wealth. Since someone is offering a high price to buy, we have no reason not to earn that money."

Li Luo and Lü Qing'er both froze, staring at Yu Yu Hongxi in stunned disbelief. Clearly, neither had expected her to not only refrain from punishment but to take the matter upon herself.

Vice President Ning Que was equally stunned. He said nothing, but Ning Zhao beside him was somewhat bewildered and couldn't help but start to speak: "President, how could this possibly involve you..."

Before he could finish, his father cut him off. Vice President Ning Que merely chuckled and said: "I see."

"But President, if you choose to sell these detox herbs to House Luolan Mansion at this time, won't it cause unnecessary complications?"

There was a hidden meaning in his words.

Xiyang House's current disaster was clearly being pushed by someone behind the scenes. If Yu Yu Hongxi chose to sell these essential detox herbs to Li Luo now, it would inevitably draw some attention.

Yu Yu Hongxi chuckled lightly at his words, her smile somewhat alluring: "When the Golden Dragon Bank does things, we never care about such things."

"We only generate wealth, not trouble. But if someone obstructs us from generating wealth, then they are forcing us to make trouble."

"I think others will understand this point as well."

Hearing Yu Yu Hongxi say this, Ning Que said no more. He cupped his hands toward her, then turned and left with a somewhat reluctant Ning Zhao.

"Bring out those reserve detox herbs." Yu Yu Hongxi's gaze turned to the steward of the reserve vault as she gave the order.

The steward hurriedly nodded in acknowledgment.

Yu Yu Hongxi walked toward Lü Qing'er and extended her hand. The latter quickly and obediently handed over the jade talisman.

Yu Yu Hongxi gave an exasperated look at her daughter, who was now putting on an obedient act, reached out and pinched her fair, tender cheek, saying: "You really have some nerve, daring to steal even this."

Then she asked casually: "Were you put up to this by someone?"

Lü Qing'er hurriedly replied: "No, I just took it out in advance, just in case."

She paused, then giggled, hugged Yu Yu Hongxi, and acted coquettishly: "Mother, thank you."

Yu Yu Hongxi clearly knew she had stolen the jade talisman, yet she didn't scold her. Instead, she shielded her from Vice President Ning Que's rebuke. Most importantly, she hadn't driven Li Luo away.

Her earlier actions had undoubtedly tacitly approved this assistance to Li Luo.

How could Lü Qing'er not be moved by this?

Yu Yu Hongxi snorted coldly, then turned her gaze to Li Luo beside her. Seeing her look, the latter quickly thanked her: "Thank you, President Yu, for your help."

Yu Yu Hongxi gazed at his face, paused for a few seconds, and said calmly: "If you hadn't stepped forward just now to take responsibility for Qing'er, you would have been thrown out by now."

Li Luo looked a bit embarrassed and said: "This started because of me. No matter what, I won't let Qing'er take the blame for me."

"At least you have some sense of responsibility." Yu Yu Hongxi's expression softened slightly. This kid was indeed worthy of being Li Taixuan's son; his character was at least dependable.

She looked into the reserve vault, where guards were continuously bringing out some herbs—precisely the ones Li Luo needed.

"Li Luo." Yu Yu Hongxi suddenly spoke.

Li Luo hurriedly responded.

"Although these detox herbs aren't usually that expensive, extraordinary times carry extraordinary value. You should be very clear on this." she said calmly.

Li Luo nodded without denying it. Without these detox herbs, if Tang Yun and the others were poisoned to death at Xiyang House headquarters, Xiyang House's reputation within the Material Refiner circle would be destroyed. That would be a devastating blow to Xiyang House.

And if the Xi Yang House is destroyed, it will also deal a severe blow to the House Luolan Mansion.

Therefore, at this moment, the value of these detoxifying herbs is extremely high; the so-called double price is truly negligible.

"What the Fish Director means is..." he looked at Yu Yu Hongxi.

Lü Qing'er also quickly tugged at Yu Yu Hongxi's sleeve, trying to urge her not to make Li Luo too uncomfortable.

Yu Yu Hongxi ignored her, fell silent for several breaths, then said with subtle meaning: "The Gold Dragon Treasure Bank never conducts unprofitable deals. So remember this—you owe me a favor."

"This favor must be repaid someday."

Li Luo met Yu Yu Hongxi's gaze, fell silent for a moment, then nodded seriously: "Within my power, if the Fish Director makes a request, I will do my utmost."

Yu Yu Hongxi finally nodded in satisfaction.

"Then I hope you remember what you've said today."