Chapter Four: Fortunate Assistance

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"Feifei, I heard the North family has run into a cash flow problem lately. You... are you all right?" Lin Yue asked haltingly, as if she had something else she wanted to say.

Duan Fei's heart sank. A cash flow problem with the North family?

How could she not know about it?

Could it be...

aimed at her?

Suppressing her doubts, Duan Fei said, "I'm fine. Just a small matter. I can handle it." For now, she needed to steady Lin Yue. As for the money, she had to verify it at once.

After ending the call, Duan Fei narrowed her apricot-colored eyes, a flash of coldness glinting in their depths.

Heh. Interesting. Someone was clearly trying to take her down.

At that moment, Duan Fei's mind was consumed by the project's funding problem, like an ant on a hot pan.

If the North family really had a problem, wouldn't her project be doomed?

No. She had to find a way, and fast.

Without delay, Duan Fei rushed to Ever Prosper Bank and found the branch manager, Li Hua.

"Manager Li, regarding our company's loan application for the project..." Duan Fei got straight to the point, her tone anxious.

"Miss Duan, I am very sorry, but after our assessment, the risk level of your company's project is too high. We cannot approve your loan application." Li Hua adjusted his glasses with a fake smile, his tone official and cold.

"Manager Li, you've seen our project's feasibility report too. The returns are very substantial. How can the risk be too high?" Duan Fei argued, a barely perceptible tremor in her voice.

"Miss Duan, this is the assessment result. We are simply following procedure." Li Hua's tone was indifferent, leaving no room for discussion.

Duan Fei took a deep breath and tried hard to suppress the irritation rising in her chest.

"Manager Li, could you reconsider? We can add more collateral." Around them, people cast strange looks her way—some sympathetic, some mocking—and Duan Fei only felt her face burn.

"I'm sorry, Miss Duan." Li Hua was unmoved.

It felt as though a lump were lodged in Duan Fei's chest, unable to rise or fall, while a tide of frustration crashed over her.

Damn it!

Was everything really going to fall apart at the last moment?

Leaving the bank, Duan Fei looked up at the leaden sky and felt as if even the heavens were against her.

No. She could not give up.

And Wang Qiang...

She had to speak to him.

Clenching her teeth, Duan Fei called Wang Qiang.

On the other end, his voice carried a trace of impatience. "Hello? Duan Fei, what is it?"

"President Wang, regarding our cooperative project..." Before Duan Fei could finish, Wang Qiang cut her off brusquely. "Duan Fei, I've thought it over. Your project is too risky. I've decided to withdraw my investment."

"What?" Duan Fei was struck as if by a bucket of ice water. "President Wang, didn't we already settle this? How can you suddenly pull out?"

"Times change," Wang Qiang said lightly. "You know the market isn't good right now. I have to be responsible for my company."

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Duan Fei forced down her anger. "President Wang, we've worked together for so long. You can't..."

"Miss Duan, business is a battlefield. Surely you don't even need me to explain that?" Wang Qiang's tone carried a hint of ridicule. "I suggest you look elsewhere."

Beep, beep, beep...

The call ended. Duan Fei's hand trembled slightly around her phone.

How could this be?

Wang Qiang had clearly been optimistic about the project before. Why had he changed his mind so suddenly?

Could it be...

Duan Fei suddenly recalled the cold reception she had encountered at the bank. Could someone be stirring things up behind the scenes?

She felt as though she had fallen into a dead end, and a suffocating sense of helplessness surrounded her.

Sinking into a chair, she felt strength drain from her entire body.

Was she truly going to abandon this project?

All of it was fully within North Mo's sight.

Seated in his office, he watched the surveillance feed of Duan Fei looking lost and dejected, his brow faintly furrowing.

This woman really was...

"Go find out what happened to Duan Fei's project," North Mo ordered his assistant.

The assistant took his leave at once, and North Mo's gaze returned to the screen.

Duan Fei was still trying everything she could. She made calls, sent emails, rushed from place to place, like a tireless bee.

Watching her bustle about, North Mo felt an unfamiliar emotion stir within him.

He realized that the way Duan Fei worked so hard possessed a unique kind of charm.

The employees nearby noticed North Mo's attention and grew curious.

What was wrong with the CEO today?

Why had he been staring at the surveillance screen all this time?

And who was the woman on it?

North Mo paid no mind to the murmurs around him. He picked up his phone and dialed a number. "Help me get in touch with Manager Li at Ever Prosper Bank..."

Duan Fei rubbed her sore eyes, feeling utterly exhausted in body and mind.

She had contacted everyone who might possibly help, but the result was always the same. No one was willing to extend a hand at a time like this.

Just as Duan Fei was on the brink of despair, her phone rang.

"Hello, Miss Duan. This is Li from Ever Prosper Bank. Regarding your previous loan application, after reevaluation, we have decided..."

"Wait," Duan Fei interrupted, "are you sure you didn't call the wrong number?"

"Of course not, Miss Duan. We have reevaluated your company's project and believe the risk is controllable. Your loan application has been approved." Manager Li sounded very certain.

Duan Fei froze.

This...

What was going on?

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Happiness had come so abruptly that she could hardly react.

Could it be that heaven had finally opened its eyes?

Those who had been waiting to laugh at her were now utterly stunned.

Especially Li Hua, who looked completely bewildered. He had clearly rejected Duan Fei's loan application himself, so why had it suddenly been approved from above?

Suppressing her doubts, Duan Fei asked in disbelief, "Manager Li, are you certain?"

"Absolutely certain, Miss Duan. Please come as soon as possible to complete the relevant procedures." Manager Li's tone was warm and enthusiastic, utterly different from before.

Duan Fei ended the call, drew a deep breath, and felt power flood back through her entire body.

It was done!

She had actually pulled it off!

To express her gratitude, Duan Fei specially invited Li Hua to dinner.

"Manager Li, I really must thank you this time. If it weren't for you, my project would truly have been finished." Duan Fei lifted her glass, her tone sincere.

Li Hua was flattered and quickly raised his own glass in return. "Miss Duan, you're too kind. This is what we should do." Yet inwardly he was baffled; he had done nothing at all...

At that moment, a familiar figure appeared at the restaurant entrance—North Mo.

He walked straight over to Duan Fei and sat down beside her.

Duan Fei paused. "What are you doing here?"

North Mo smiled faintly. "I heard you were treating, so I came to join the meal."

Seeing North Mo, Li Hua was so shocked he could scarcely speak.

The CEO of the North Group was actually dining with Duan Fei?

This relationship...

Throughout the meal, North Mo quietly attended to Duan Fei, helping her with food and pouring her water.

A faint ripple stirred in Duan Fei's heart, and an atmosphere of subtle intimacy began to spread between them.

Those around them kept stealing glances. The atmosphere between these two somehow felt a little...

off?

Duan Fei's project was back on track, and everything proceeded in orderly fashion.

Meanwhile, North Mo began preparing his plan to open up a new market.

"CEO, the information on the new market is ready." Secretary Su Yao handed the documents to North Mo.

North Mo skimmed through them, his brows knitting slightly. "How is the local situation?"

"Not very optimistic," Su Yao said gravely. "I heard there are local strongmen there. They won't be easy to deal with."

North Mo gave a cold laugh. "Local strongmen? Hah..."

He picked up his coat. "Let's go. Time to meet them."