Chapter 14: Chapter 014: "I'll Take Care of You"
Scene 1: Predators' Banquet
At a private dining room across town, Qiao Jinquan's greasy fingers swirled Maotai in his glass. Across the table, a bespectacled man with a protruding belly leaned in:
"Old Qiao, that new girl at your branch—Li Xintian—heard she's a stunner. Haven't made your move yet?"
Qiao smirked, unlocking his Huawei to display surveillance-camera stills of Li in her fitted uniform. "Patience. Hunting requires finesse."
The glasses-man whistled. "Tits like cantaloupes! How much longer?"
"Two months." Qiao's thumb stroked the screen. "Gave her a five-million deposit quota. When she fails..."
"Brilliant!" Glasses-man's sausage fingers drummed the table. "Even our factory couldn't scrape that cash!"
Scene 2: The Bait and Switch
Back at CCB, Qiao's leer froze as Li entered his office—followed by a towering figure in a Brioni suit.
Eye of Insight Activated
Qiao Jinquan - Disposition: Hostility (Level 9)
"Manager Qiao, this is Lu Yuan." Li's voice held newfound confidence. "He's depositing five million to meet my quota."
Qiao's Rolex-clad wrist trembled. "F-five million?!"
Scene 3: Power Play
Lu Yuan leaned against the mahogany desk, watching Qiao's forced smile crack. "Just helping a friend. No need for... unnecessary pressures."
The subtext hung like swordplay:
Qiao's "quota" scheme exposed
Li's liberation from predatory hierarchy
Scene 4: The Proposition
Outside, winter wind whipped Li's hair across flushed cheeks. Lu Yuan's AMG idled like a waiting beast.
"That creep wants you as his plaything." Lu's breath fogged the air. "Quit."
Li's laugh bordered on hysterical. "This job cost my parents three years' savings in bribes!"
"Then let me—" Lu caught her gloved hand, "—take care of you."