Chapter 38: If You Want to Try, Then Try

"Mr. Hong… Mr. Hong, are you playing a joke on me?" Lan Xiaoqi was momentarily stunned, then grew a little angry. She hadn't expected that, after receiving Hong Yu so warmly, she would be made the object of such mockery. This was truly a case of offering her heart to the bright moon, only to have the moon shine on a ditch.

Hong Yu replied earnestly, "I'm not playing with you, nor am I deceiving you. I've withdrawn all the cash from your bank. Please make the necessary arrangements quickly..."

He hadn't even finished speaking when a few people standing nearby burst out laughing.

"How confident and shameless must you be? Judging by his appearance, I wouldn't believe he even has five hundred yuan on him!"

"He must be here to cause trouble, or else he's a lunatic."

"I think he was just provoked earlier. Should we call the police?"

Qian Peng sneered from the side, "Wang Yun, is this the sort of customer your Morgan Bank entertains? I think this guy is a bit unhinged. What if he comes back with a knife to rob us?"

"Listen, don't say I didn't warn you. If you don't have security throw him out, I'll have to consider switching banks."

Wang Yun grew anxious at once. "Director Qian, I assure you this is an isolated incident. I'll handle it right away. Please wait a moment."

With that, Wang Yun hurried over to Hong Yu. By now, Hong Yu had left the registration desk and was walking toward the counter with Lan Xiaoqi.

In truth, Lan Xiaoqi was a little confused herself. When she reached the counter, she finally came to her senses and said, "Mr. Hong, please don't joke about things like this. If you're having some difficulty, you can talk to me. Maybe I can help."

"Talk, talk, talk! You're a newcomer—why are you wasting so many words on this country bumpkin?" Wang Yun interjected sharply, then pointed toward the main entrance of Morgan Bank. "I'll give you three seconds. If you don't leave, I'll call security."

"No need to count. I'll leave as soon as I've withdrawn my money," Hong Yu replied airily, infuriating Wang Yun even further.

Just as Wang Yun was about to summon security, Hong Yu reached into the pocket of his worn-out trousers and pulled out a card.

The card was silver with a golden border, and on its surface, a lifelike tulip was exquisitely engraved. The onlookers fell silent at the sight.

"What... what kind of card is that?"

"I've never seen one before. Did he buy it somewhere to trick us?"

"Impossible. It has Morgan's logo, and the craftsmanship is so fine. Tell me, where could you buy something like that?"

Wang Yun stared, then cursed, "Damn it! Are you trying to scare us? You think you can fool me with a fancy card? Security! Where's security? Get over here, now!"

As security was called, the entire Morgan Bank was thrown into commotion. An old employee, who had worked at the branch since its founding, put down his teacup and came out to watch.

The moment he saw the gold-and-silver tulip card in Hong Yu’s hand, he rushed over in a panic. "Honored sir, how... how do you possess that card?"

Hong Yu frowned. "Why so many questions? Isn't this the card that requires no identity verification?"

When Elder Gong had someone deliver the bank card to him, he'd already explained all of this.

"Yes, yes, it's all my fault. Honored guest, please follow me to the Supreme VIP lounge." The old employee bowed repeatedly, and at Hong Yu's rebuke, cold sweat broke out on his back.

Wang Yun quickly blocked him. "Are you out of your mind? Letting this country bumpkin go to the Supreme VIP lounge? Isn't that room always kept locked?"

"I've worked at Morgan Bank for three years and never seen a single customer enter that room. Even with a black card, you only get to the VIP lounge!"

The old employee stamped his foot in anger. "If you want to quit, just say so! Don't spout nonsense in front of an honored guest!"

He continued, "Compared to this card, a black card is nothing! This is the Gold-and-Silver Tulip Card. Since Morgan Bank was founded, fewer than fifty have ever been issued! It has unlimited withdrawal privileges!"

What?

Fewer than fifty issued since the bank's founding? Unlimited withdrawals?

Just what kind of card was this?

After this impromptu lesson, no one in the bank dared to make a sound. The silence was awkward and oppressive.

"Impossible! How could a country bumpkin have such a prestigious bank card?"

"I'm the president, a well-known figure in Fengzhou, and even my card is two tiers below a black card—just a gold card. How could this bumpkin possibly qualify?"

Qian Peng wasn't ignorant. He'd banked with Morgan for two years. He'd never seen the Gold-and-Silver Tulip Card, but he knew about the black card.

Even Fengzhou's richest man couldn't get a black card from Morgan Bank, yet this country bumpkin had a card that was a level above that.

According to that bank employee, there were fewer than fifty such cards in the world. At most, three or four people in all of China would have one.

Damn!

Who was this country bumpkin really?

"This can't be real. Either you're mistaken or... that card is stolen!"

"Damn it. At first, I only wanted security to throw you out. Now, I think we should call the police."

"Don’t move. I’m calling the police right now. How dare you steal a card like that—you’re ready to spend your life in prison?"

"No wonder you wanted to withdraw all the bank's cash. So, it was stolen."

Wang Yun was now driven to desperation.

She had already offended Hong Yu gravely. If he really was the owner of the card, not only would she lose her job, she would probably be blacklisted by the entire banking system.

In that case, her years of hard work would be wasted, and she'd be in serious trouble.

So now she could only gamble. She simply refused to believe that someone wearing a shabby outfit from an online discount store could be the owner of a Gold-and-Silver Tulip Card.

To be fair, she had seen very wealthy people dress shabbily, and there were plenty of news stories about rich people buying luxury cars in slippers.

But to own a Gold-and-Silver Tulip Card required more than mere wealth. People of such status would never walk around dressed like that, even if they enjoyed comfort or had such a quirk—they would consider the effect on their family’s reputation.

"That must be it," Qian Peng nodded in agreement. He shared Wang Yun’s thoughts.

Now he was in no hurry to leave. With such an intriguing scene unfolding, why not stay and watch? At least he'd have an amusing story to tell at the auction later.

"Wang Yun, be careful. If he really is some kind of big shot, you’ll be the one in trouble." Qian Peng grinned maliciously. "How about this? Just run the card. It should show the name and balance, right?"

The old employee recognized Qian Peng. Initially, he wanted to stop this, because openly doubting a customer was a serious offense. But Hong Yu didn’t look wealthy, and though the Gold-and-Silver Tulip Card required no identity check, if it was stolen, there would be endless trouble.

With Qian Peng backing her up, Wang Yun stood straighter and smiled. "Director Qian is right. The truth will out. If you don't want to end up in prison, you'd better leave now, country bumpkin, or else—"

Hong Yu suddenly cut her off with a scolding, "If you want to check, then check. Enough with the nonsense!"