Chapter 951: A Twenty-Million-Dollar Check

Academy of Fine Arts, Zhao Qi’s Office!

An Congwen sat on the sofa smoking: “Zhou Andong doesn’t have time to attend the opening ceremony.”

Gu Zengquan said with great disappointment: “I looked up the news about Zhou Andong and his speech yesterday—it really moved me.”

An Congwen smiled: “His sister will be studying here for four years; there’s bound to be a chance to get him here.”

“Exactly!” Gu Zengquan nodded: “If we can’t persuade him, we’ll drag him here by force.”

“He should be arriving soon.” Zhao Qi checked the time and stood up: “Let’s go meet him at the gate.”

“Let’s go!” An Congwen and Gu Zengquan rose and followed Zhao Qi out of the office.

A twenty-million-dollar donation—if Zhou Andong hadn’t insisted on discretion, Zhao Qi would have hung banners, beaten drums, and gathered the entire campus to welcome him.

The three of them appearing together puzzled many teachers they passed.

With the opening just days away, especially the ceremony and military training, the teachers were swamped, and Zhao Qi, An Congwen, and Gu Zengquan were equally overwhelmed every day.

Why were they gathered now, all smiling, nodding to everyone they met? Was something good happening?

As the three reached the main gate, a BMW pulled up and stopped at the curb; Tang Bei got out.

She didn’t recognize Zhao Qi or Gu Zengquan, but she knew An Congwen.

“An… Dean!”

She had wanted to call him “Uncle An,” but immediately realized the setting was inappropriate and corrected herself in time.

An Congwen quickly introduced Zhao Qi and Gu Zengquan: “This is Tang Bei, General Manager of Dahrunfa.”

Dahrunfa?

Zhao Qi and Gu Zengquan froze—they knew Dahrunfa, had even shopped there—but how was this connected to the donation?

“Tang Zong!” An Congwen then introduced Tang Bei: “This is Dean Zhao Qi of the Academy of Fine Arts, and Vice Dean Gu Zengquan!”

“Dean Zhao, Vice Dean Gu, nice to meet you!” Tang Bei shook hands with both.

An Congwen noticed their confusion and smiled: “Dahrunfa is also owned by Zhou Andong.”

Zhao Qi and Gu Zengquan suddenly understood, and a sense of inevitability settled over them.

Only Zhou Andong could have built Dahrunfa.

Tang Bei smiled slightly: “Dean Zhao, if the Academy has any needs—say, ingredients or seasonings for the cafeteria—we can deliver directly and offer you our best price.”

Zhao Qi’s eyes lit up—he’d been to Dahrunfa and knew its prices were far lower than other stores.

If they gave him an even better deal on top of that, the annual savings would be substantial.

“Tang Zong, thank you so much!”

Zhao Qi hadn’t expected such an unexpected bonus today.

Then he thought of Zhou Aiqin—all these benefits came from that little girl; she must be protected at all costs.

By the way, that Song Zihui person must be moved to another dorm immediately.

“Tang Zong!” An Congwen said: “Let’s go to the office to talk.”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Zhao Qi gestured politely: “Tang Zong, this way, please.”

Even pure artists and educators like Zhao Qi and Gu Zengquan had to bow their heads before twenty million dollars.

The four returned to the office; the teachers who had seen them leave now understood—the three leaders had gone out to greet that woman.

Soon, Tang Bei’s identity became the topic of every teacher’s gossip, yet no one could guess who this woman was that the Dean and Vice Dean had gone to meet.

Without a donation ceremony, the process was simple: after a brief chat in the office, Tang Bei pulled out the twenty-million-dollar Citibank check and handed it to Zhao Qi.

Zhao Qi’s hands trembled; tears glistened in his eyes. This twenty million dollars would bring unimaginable changes to the Academy.

“Thank you!” Zhao Qi suddenly bowed deeply to Tang Bei.

Tang Bei quickly stepped aside—she knew Zhou Aiqin was studying here, and this donation was made because of her, so she had always been courteous.

Besides, she deeply respected artists like Zhao Qi; she could never accept such a bow so casually.

“Dean Zhao!” Tang Bei said: “You don’t need to thank me—you should thank our Chairman Zhou.”

“Here!” An Congwen picked up a camera he’d prepared: “Let me take a photo of you.”

Gu Zengquan snatched the camera: “Zhou Andong donated this twenty million because of you, An Congwen—let me take the photo.”

Zhao Qi suddenly grabbed the phone and quickly dialed the Finance Department Director Liu Wenyu’s office: “Liu, come to my office right away.”

After hearing the reply, Zhao Qi hung up and smiled: “We can keep this secret from everyone—but not Liu Wenyu. Let him take the photo.”

Soon, a knock came at the door; Zhao Qi called: “Come in!”

The door opened, and a fifty-year-old man with thinning hair entered.

Liu Wenyu had heard the three deans personally went to the gate to greet a woman and was curious about her identity.

He hadn’t expected Zhao Qi to call him in so suddenly.

As soon as he entered, Liu Wenyu’s eyes flicked over Tang Bei.

Young, elegant, beautiful—but he didn’t recognize her.

“Liu!” Gu Zengquan handed the camera to Liu Wenyu: “Here, take a photo for us.”

Liu Wenyu was utterly baffled—three leaders, making a big show of greeting a woman, then calling him in just to take a photo?

Though confused, he moved quickly, took the camera, listened to An Congwen’s explanation, and nodded.

“Got it.”

Zhao Qi and Tang Bei each held one corner of the check; An Congwen and Gu Zengquan stood on either side.

Liu Wenyu instantly recognized it as a check, but couldn’t make out the exact amount.

Suddenly it clicked—the woman was here to donate. But even so, why did all three leaders rush to the gate to greet her?

Not long ago, a Chinese businessman donated twenty million dollars—and none of the three showed up.

He’d heard someone got beaten up recently for pursuing a female student.

But he didn’t know the beaten man was that businessman—he’d thought of him as a great philanthropist.

“Click! Click! Click!”

Liu Wenyu took several photos: “Done!”

“Tang Zong!” Zhao Qi shook Tang Bei’s hand again: “Thank you!”

Then he handed the check to Liu Wenyu: “Take it—go to the Citibank representative office and cash it immediately.”

(At this time, Citibank in Jingcheng was only a representative office; only Shencheng and Shanghai had upgraded to branches.)

“Citibank?”

Liu Wenyu took the check, glanced at it, and his eyes bulged; his hand trembled, and the check fluttered to the floor.

He scrambled to pick it up, voice shaking: “T… two… twenty million… dollars?”