Return of the Celestial King

Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Zheng Lin

Liu Ping looked like he wanted to say something, but held back.

When he saw that Qin Tuo didn’t say anything, he decided to keep quiet as well.

After all, Qin Tuo was the one who collected the debt, and Liu Ping was too embarrassed to take credit for it.

Just then, a colleague next to them spoke up, trying to curry favor:

"Boss, they went to the Qian Group to collect on a debt today."

What?

Wang Lei immediately burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. He laughed so hard tears streamed down his face.

"Haha! Qin Tuo, you’ve got the worst luck, kid! Of all the debts, you had to pick the hardest one to collect!"

The others couldn’t help but join in, laughing mockingly.

Everyone knew that Qin Tuo hadn’t been beaten up by the people from the Qian Group, but not a single one of them believed he had actually collected the debt.

A hint of mockery flashed in Qin Tuo’s eyes. He looked at Wang Lei as if he were watching a clown.

Wang Lei stopped laughing and said coldly,

"Qin Tuo, don’t think I’m deliberately giving you a hard time. You just have terrible luck!"

With that, he called someone over.

"Go to HR and tell them to fire Qin Tuo and Liu Ping."

Nearby, Han Zilin’s face instantly went pale. She couldn’t stop herself from wanting to speak up for Qin Tuo.

"Right away, Boss!"

The man had a gloating expression on his face and was about to scamper off.

However, Qin Tuo suddenly spoke up with a cold laugh.

"Aren’t you even going to ask if I collected the debt?"

"What? Collected it?"

Wang Lei looked as if he’d just heard the funniest joke.

The next moment, the entire room erupted in roaring laughter.

Wang Lei clutched his stomach, laughing as he said,

"Qin Tuo, you’re a real comedian, you know that? If that debt could have been collected, do you really think it would’ve been your turn?"

The group of salespeople all nodded in agreement.

"Exactly! Is this kid still half-asleep? He must be dreaming."

"Heh, that’s hilarious. He actually said he collected the debt from the Qian Group. That’s the best joke I’ve heard all year."

Seeing everyone mocking Qin Tuo, both Han Zilin and Liu Ping’s eyes filled with indignation.

Only after everyone had finished laughing did Qin Tuo, unhurried and with a grin, ask,

"You really don’t believe me? What if I actually did collect the debt? What then?"

Wang Lei didn’t look worried in the slightest. On the contrary, he declared smugly,

"If you managed to collect that debt, I’ll drink the entire rest of that water jug in the office. How about it?"

Then, Wang Lei’s tone shifted, and he added coldly,

"But if you didn’t collect it, you’ll get the hell out of this company. And before you leave, you’re going to shine my shoes. Do you dare take that bet?"

Qin Tuo nodded without hesitation.

"Fine. I’ll take that bet. Just don’t regret it."

"Oh, regret? Listen to this kid, he says it like it’s true!"

The group of salespeople mocked Qin Tuo relentlessly while sucking up to Wang Lei.

Wang Lei put on a show of mock confusion, spreading his hands.

"Well then, where’s the money from the debt you collected? Where is it? Take it out and let me see!"

Qin Tuo retorted,

"Why don’t you check the company’s accounts?"

Seeing Qin Tuo’s confident demeanor, Wang Lei was momentarily stunned.

’This kid looks so sure of himself. Could he have actually collected the debt?’

’Impossible. Absolutely impossible!’

Wang Lei mentally shook his head, dismissing the thought.

’A debt this difficult... there’s no way Qin Tuo has the ability to collect it!’

Wang Lei sneered,

"Kid, it looks like you won’t give up until you’re faced with the bitter end. Fine, I’ll crush all your hopes today."

With that, he took out his phone in front of everyone and called the finance department.

To make sure Qin Tuo would be humiliated, he deliberately put the call on speaker and turned the volume all the way up.

"Hello? This is Sales Manager Wang Lei. Could you please check the company’s incoming funds for today?"

There was a pause on the other end before the person from Finance replied,

"Ten minutes ago, the company account received a debt payment totaling two million, five hundred thousand. The remitting party was the Qian Group."

What!

Wang Lei was so shocked he almost dropped his phone.

The group of colleagues were all dumbfounded.

’This kid actually managed to collect the debt?’

’Did hell freeze over?!’

Amidst the crowd, only Liu Ping was struggling to hold back his laughter, and it was taking a great deal of effort.

Seeing Qin Tuo’s smile, Wang Lei’s expression twisted with resentment.

Unwilling to accept it, he asked,

"What’s going on? Didn’t the Qian Group owe the company two million? Why is it two and a half million? Could it be this money isn’t the debt payment, but for something else?"

As he said this, his eyes lit up with an idea.

The group of colleagues instantly had a collective realization.

"Haha, I was almost fooled by this kid. So it wasn’t the debt payment at all, just a transfer for something else."

"The way this guy talked, I really thought he had pulled it off!"

One by one, the colleagues’ expressions returned to looks of utter disdain.

When the person from Finance didn’t reply immediately, Wang Lei became even more certain of his guess.

Just as he was gloating, the person from Finance finally spoke up.

"There’s no mistake. There’s a note attached to the transaction. It’s the debt repayment from the Qian Group. The extra five hundred thousand... is for the accrued interest."

Silence.

The entire sales department was dead silent.

Everyone wondered if they were hearing things.

’This kid... not only did he collect on a dead account, but he even got five hundred thousand in interest?’

"Th-th-this..."

Every single salesperson was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Brother Tu, you’re incredible! I’m in total awe!"

Han Zilin’s face was beaming with pride and excitement.

Beside them, Zhou Kexin pouted, seeming to mutter something under her breath.

Wang Lei was completely stupefied, showing no reaction at all.

Just then, Qin Tuo pointed with a wide grin at the nearby water jug.

"Manager Wang, are you planning to chug it all at once, or sip it slowly?"

All the color drained from Wang Lei’s face.

...

「Downtown, in a high-end coffee shop.」

The tall and handsome Zheng Lin, dressed in designer casual wear, waited quietly, his heart filled with joyful anticipation.

He was the eldest son of the Zheng Family and one of the most famous scions of the super-rich in all of Ming City.

Soon, Chen Man Ni appeared in the doorway.

Upon seeing Chen Man Ni, Zheng Lin waved at her excitedly.

"Manni, over here!"

Chen Man Ni glanced over and walked toward him, her expression blank.

After sitting down, she immediately asked,

"Zheng Lin, why did you ask me here today?"

Zheng Lin replied with a smile,

"It’s nothing, really. I just wanted a chance for us to grow closer."

Chen Man Ni looked at the man she had known since childhood and shook her head helplessly.

’How could she not know what his intentions were?’

’However, her heart already belonged to someone else.’

Chen Man Ni said seriously,

"Zheng Lin, I’ve already told you, there’s someone I like. Please stop pestering me."

Zheng Lin didn’t seem offended in the slightest. He simply nodded and smiled.

"I know, Manni. In fact, the reason I asked you here today is to talk about this person you like."