Chapter 603 - Settling the debt: The First Favor

On the highest floor of LG Club, shrouded by dim lightning, a butler entered and whispered something to the man who was skimming through his files.

"Have you confirmed?" the man asked. On his usual expressionless face was a hint of surprise.

"Yes, Master. As you have told me, I urged Mr. Cang to send the invitations to the VVIPs early. And as Master expected, Mr. Cang also sent an additional file to someone else. We followed his men and saw the files being delivered to IHZHI."

Lu Jin's eyes flashed. 

The anonymous person was most likely the person in IHZHI. 

Xiong Zhi.

"It is possible. The young miss of the Xiong family surprised us four years ago with her sky high contribution. It will not be a wonder if she became a VVIP because of that," Lu Jin muttered. He turned to his butler. "Did you manage to get your hands on the doc.u.ments?"

"Our people only took a glimpse of the first few doc.u.ments. Although we cannot confirm with the rest of the pages, they are about a VVIP position."

Lu Jin nodded. 

He understood it now. 

This anonymous person had not signed the papers officially, thus she remained anonymous. Once Xiong Zhi signed the papers, the curtain would be lifted up and she would be officially acknowledged as a new VVIP member.

If he had not set this bait, this person would likely not come out.

"Good. Prepare the contract. We will visit her tomorrow."

***

Early morning by next day, the couple were busy tackling their own company doc.u.ments. They were inside Xiong Zhi's office and was quietly working on their respective desks.

Only the sounds of flipping pages could be heard in the room. Sometimes, one of the two would walk to the floor-to-ceiling window and call their people for specific business matters. 

Despite the busy work, the couple was comfortable with each other's silent presence as they worked.

Suddenly, a knock on the door disturbed the comfortable working atmosphere.

"Chairwoman, a guest is asking to meet you. They are downstairs." 

It was the voice of the deputy secretary from Xiong Zhi's team of assistants. 

When Linfeng went on leave, the deputy secretary took charge of the team.

Linfeng opened the door and let the secretary come in.

The person bowed and reported the call she received from the receptionist downstairs.

"The guest has no appointment so the staff temporarily guided him to the lounge on the first floor."

"Did he say his name and what business he has with me?"

"Yes. His name is Liu Fung. He is one of the initial investors of ArtWorld. But he did not say the exact purpose of his visit. He directly asked for you. He said that you will know why he came."

Linfeng was surprised. 

What was an investor doing here?

He thought that it might because of a company project the investor might be interested in, but IHZHI was not looking for or lacking in investors at this time, nor were there any company situation that called for the investor's sudden visit.

On the other hand, after showing an expression of surprise, Xiong Zhi's face turned serious.

In the four years that passed and ever since the completion of ArtWorld, she had not forgotten her deal with Liu Fung. 

The more that she gathered experience in business world, the more that she realized how careless and reckless she had been to make a deal with Lui Fung and the man behind him, compromising herself with two favors.

(Author note: You can refer to this chapter 143-145)

However, Lui Fung had never approached her again, making Xiong Zhi feel at ease and dreadful for what might come at the same time. 

Xiong Zhi glanced at Linfeng hesitantly.

If Linfeng came to know about it, she would surely be scolded.

"Let him come in," Xiong Zhi said after a while.

The secretary added, "Chairwoman, according to the people downstairs, Mr. Liu is with another person. He said that he wishes to bring the person upstairs too."

Xiong Zhi stiffened. 

...Was that person Liu Fung's boss?

She clearly remembered that time back then. Liu Fung was definitely acting under the command of a mysterious person.

Xiong Zhi silently berated herself for the nth time for her carelessness when she was younger.

After brief consideration, she trusted that her top-notch security staff would not allow any dangerous thing to enter the building. Besides, she was with Linfeng. Meeting the two men was possible. 

The time to settle the debt had finally come.

Xiong Zhi nodded somberly. "It's alright. Lead them up here."

When the secretary was gone, Linfeng approached her.

"It looks like you have an idea of what business that man has with you." 

He could sense that Xiong Zhi expected this investor's arrival, but why was she making that serious face?

Xiong Zhi did not plan to hide it from him. 

"It's my foolishness. Before, when grandfather handed to me the ArtWorld proposal, I had done every possible way to rope in investors, otherwise, no one would invest at all."

"...Every possible way?"

"Yes. I made a deal with Liu Fung before. In exchange of investing in ArtWorld, I will be indebted to him with two favors."

Linfeng was with Xiong Zhi's side during those circ.u.mstances. He subtly helped her to secure some investors, but he did not know about these two favors.

He frowned. "That's not a wise move. What if Liu Fung asked from you the impossible?" 

Xiong Zhi looked at Linfeng embarrassedly. "I am very desperate and rather impulsive back then. Besides, Liu Fung was working under a boss who was more powerful than I am. If I didn't resort to extreme means, then I might have failed ArtWorld." 

Seeing the frown still not abating from the man's forehead, Xiong Zhi then assured Linfeng. "But right now, it's different. I've become the heiress of the Xiong family and I have IHZHI. Most especially, I have you, the sixth king who is the owner of SC. The boss behind Liu Fung should see all that. They will not be too brazen and ask for too much regarding the favors."

Linfeng was still worried.

What if they were dangerous people and asked Xiong Zhi to do something that might harm or implicate her?

Linfeng could not voice that out. In any case, it already happened. He could only do everything to shoulder this responsibility with her and protect her.

Linfeng sighed and patted her head. "Alright. But I will be beside you. You can't keep me out of it."

Xiong Zhi finally let out a smile. "Of course."

Thank goodness that Linfeng was by her side.

A knock sounded again. "Chairwoman, the guests are here."

"Let them in." 

Xiong Zhi was sitting on her office chair while Linfeng stood behind her and acted like his butler.

The door opened. 

Liu Fung entered first. 

"It has been long time, Miss Xiong Zhi," the man said with a playful smile. He was about to compliment the girl who grew up so elegantly and beautifully when he felt a chill on his back. 

The tall man standing beside the beautiful lady was giving him a cold stare.

Liu Fung swallowed down the words and stepped aside. 

"I would like you to meet the person I brought today..." 

On cue, a tall man with dark hair and dark eyes entered. 

Linfeng and Xiong Zhi both stiffened. 

"...Mr. Lu Jin," Liu Fung said with a flattering smile.

Lu Jin nodded at Xiong Zhi. Then he threw a cold glance at Linfeng.

He indifferently asked, "Where shall I sit?"

Xiong Zhi moistened her throat with a sip from her coffee, a bit speechless.

Lu Jin's appearance was unexpected.

It was Linfeng who answered Lu Jin.

"If you please." He gestured at the couches. "My Young Miss instructed me to prepare the couch for you. You can sit in any of the two."

It was obviously insincere.

Liu Fung frowned at the rude remark. However, he knew that this butler had debuted already and had made his own name. 

As a 'king', this butler even possessed a higher status and authority than him. 

Not to mention, there had been quiet rumors in the upper circle about this man and the beautiful lady's relationship...

Lu Jin did not mind Linfeng's rude tone. He sat on the couch gracefully. The air around him was a chilly, making the atmosphere colder and tenser than usual.

"What business do you have here?" Xiong Zhi finally spoke. Her mind ran for all the possible requests this man would ask from her.

A small Liu Fung brought a big shot Lu Jin here so respectfully. It was the same as declaring who was the boss behind Liu Fung.

Xiong Zhi inwardly cursed.

This was really a big mistake!

On the other hand, Linfeng was observing Lu Jin while various thoughts crossed his mind.

Lu Jin glanced at Liu Fung. 

The minion took the cue and handed down a phone and a file.

Lu Jin spoke. "Since you are being direct, I will be straightforward as well. Perhaps, you still remember this promise?"

Liu Fung played the recorded audio in the phone. 

Liu Fung's voice from four years ago sounded.

[Are you willing to give me anything I want?]

An immature yet cold voice of a young girl replied to him. [Yes]

Liu Fung's voice sounded again.

[Then. I would like you to owe me two favors. I will continue investing in ArtWorld. I have 5% interest for that whole month, and you owe me two favors. How about that?]

[Deal.]

--

Liu Fung ended the recording.

Linfeng give a sideways glance at the silent Xiong Zhi distractedly.

His Young Miss's voice four years ago was so cute. He suddenly wanted to get the original version for himself and delete all copies.

He coughed inwardly to redirect his thoughts.

His girlfriend was in trouble, yet he was thinking of other things!

Linfeng's face turned serious.

Now, what kind of favor would Lu Jin ask from them?