stonecrandall Chapter 25: This distance is like a chasm
Chapter 25: This distance is like a chasm
Time quickly passed and it was afternoon.
While Yu Chen was discussing technical details with several engineers in Hua Xiangyang's lab, he received a message from Zhang Tianhua's secretary.
"Mr. Yu, people from Huaya Bank are coming to the company this afternoon for a pre-loan inspection, which may involve an assessment of technology upgrades. General Manager Zhang said that if it's convenient for you, you could join us for a brief meeting."
Hua Ya Bank?
Yu Chen's eyes flickered slightly; wasn't that the bank where Zhuang Xu worked?
"Okay, time and place?"
"3:30, Conference Room 2."
Yu Chen glanced at the time; it was 3:10.
He said goodbye to Hua Xiangyang and left the lab.
When I arrived at the door of the second conference room, I could already hear people talking inside.
Yu Chen pushed open the door and saw Zhang Tianhua, the financial director, and a familiar figure in a bank uniform sitting on one side of the long table.
Zhuang Xu.
He looked more mature than when we last met; his bank uniform was neatly pressed, his hair was combed meticulously, and he was looking down at a document, his profile appearing somewhat tense.
Hearing the door open, Zhuang Xu looked up.
Eyes facing each other.
Zhuang Xu's eyes visibly froze for a moment, then quickly regained their professional composure, but Yu Chen still caught that fleeting complex emotion.
Surprise, confusion, and perhaps a hint of something else...
Conflict?
That's ridiculous. They've never even met.
"Mr. Yu is here," Zhang Tianhua greeted with a smile. "Perfect timing, let me introduce you. This is Manager Zhuang from Huaya Bank, who is in charge of the post-loan management of our company's working capital loan."
"Manager Zhuang, this is our company's technical consultant, Engineer Yu Chen, who is currently leading an important technology upgrade project."
Zhuang Xu stood up and extended his hand, his tone in a standard banking professional's voice: "Mr. Yu, hello."
Yu Chen shook hands with him, her grip firm but not too tight: "Manager Zhuang, it's a pleasure to meet you."
The two hands separated as soon as they touched.
"Engineer Yu is a key technical member of our company. His leading research and development of new technologies is a major boon to our future competitiveness and repayment ability," Zhang Tianhua introduced enthusiastically. "Manager Zhuang's visit this time is a good opportunity to learn more about it."
Zhuang Xu nodded, sat down again, and opened his notebook: "Thank you for the introduction, Mr. Zhang. Our bank is indeed very interested in Shuangyuan's technological upgrade."
"This is mainly a routine pre-loan inspection. We need to understand your company's recent operating conditions, the use of funds, and... the progress and expected benefits of major projects like the one Mr. Yu is in charge of."
His questions were very professional and detailed, ranging from capacity utilization to accounts receivable cycles, and from R&D investment to market expectations.
Yu Chen answered the part about the technology project concisely, emphasizing its potential to reduce costs and increase efficiency, as well as its ability to enhance product competitiveness.
Zhuang Xu listened attentively, taking notes continuously, and occasionally asking a question or two about technical details, showing that he had indeed done his homework.
The entire meeting was conducted in a businesslike, professional, and distant atmosphere.
But Yu Chen could sense that Zhuang Xu's gaze would occasionally fall on him, carrying a sense of scrutiny and evaluation.
That wasn't the look a bank manager gives a corporate technician; it was more like looking at a "competitor" who needed to be re-evaluated.
The second male lead is indeed seriously ill.
Halfway through the meeting, Zhuang Xu's phone vibrated.
He glanced at it, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, and then said to Zhang Tianhua, "Mr. Zhang, I'm sorry, I need to go out and take an urgent call from the bank."
"Please go ahead."
Zhuang Xu got up and left the meeting room.
At the corner of the corridor, he answered the phone, lowering his voice: "Mr. Li."
On the other end of the phone was his direct supervisor, the general manager of the corporate department of Huaya Bank's Suzhou branch: "Xiao Zhuang, how's the situation with Shuangyuan?"
"I'm looking into it. The operating data is normal. They have a new technology project that sounds promising..." Zhuang Xu reported truthfully.
"Alright, that's all just talk." General Manager Li interrupted him. "I have something to tell you. We just received news from head office that Sheng Xianmin of Shengyuan Group personally spoke to the head office leadership, saying that Shuangyuan is a key enterprise they support, especially in the new technology field, and asking our branch to handle this as a special case and provide convenience in the loan process."
Zhuang Xu's heart sank: "Chairman Sheng personally made the request?"
"Yes. So your trip is mainly just a formality. Fill out the forms, sign the documents, don't dig too deep." Mr. Li's tone was suggestive. "Shuangyuan is now Shengyuan's darling, and I heard that new technology is highly valued. Our bank also wants to maintain a good relationship with Shengyuan, understand?"
"...Understood." Zhuang Xu's voice was somewhat hoarse.
"Just keep that in mind. Make the report sound impressive, highlighting the positive aspects of their technological upgrades. That's all."
The phone hangs up.
Zhuang Xu stood in the empty corridor, holding his phone, motionless for a long time.
Sheng Xianmin personally made the arrangements... all for Shuangyuan.
Or rather, for that new technology, for... Yu Chen?
He recalled the undisguised importance Zhang Tianhua showed when introducing Yu Chen in the conference room, and Yu Chen's calm and confident demeanor when discussing technology.
A profound sense of powerlessness and disillusionment suddenly gripped him.
He worked hard for so many years, got into a good university, entered a prestigious bank, worked diligently, and worked his way up to account manager. He thought he could finally gain a foothold in Shanghai and finally... treat some people and things equally.
But what about Yu Chen?
In just a few months, a deliveryman not only became Shuangyuan's technical consultant and developed a patent that shook the industry, but now even the chairman of Shengyuan Group personally speaks up for him and paves the way for his success.
This world is sometimes truly unreasonable.
Zhuang Xu took a deep breath, straightened his tie, tried to suppress his chaotic emotions, put on a professional and calm face, and walked back to the conference room.
In the latter half of the meeting, Zhuang Xu's questions became noticeably milder, consisting more of confirmation and record-keeping, with no further in-depth questioning.
Zhang Tianhua and the CFO both noticed the change and exchanged a knowing glance.
Yu Chen remained calm throughout.
He noticed Zhuang Xu's changes, but he wasn't surprised.
When your value is high enough, many obstacles will naturally give way to you.
Or, it could be moved away by a higher power.
This is realistic and fair.
After the meeting concluded, Zhuang Xu organized the materials and took his leave.
Zhang Tianhua warmly escorted him to the elevator.
Yu Chen did not follow them out. He stood by the conference room window, watching Zhuang Xu walk alone towards the bank's official car downstairs.
His back was straight, yet it exuded an indescribable loneliness and stubbornness.
The moment he stepped out the door, Zhuang Xu couldn't help but glance back at the conference room upstairs.
He couldn't see the person inside through the glass curtain wall, but the blurry figure and the resentment and bitterness surging in his heart were crystal clear.
---
Yu Chen looked away, took out his phone, and sent a message to Nie Xiguang: "Are you free tonight? There's a new dessert shop that opened near the bridge, I heard their double-skin milk is pretty good."
The reply came quickly: "Yes!!! (๑´ㅂ`๑)"
Yu Chen smiled and put away his phone.
Zhuang Xu's arrival and departure were like a gentle breeze that rippled across the lake, but quickly returned to calm.