Lingering On and On

Chapter 4: So He's Long Chase

After about ten minutes of walking, Tong Yuling reached the road across from the Felice Eurasian Bank Building.

Unlike the surrounding tall and row upon row of skyscrapers, it was a building shaped like a seagull. The two wings in the front hall were just like a giant bird spreading its wings to fly towards the sky, looking really magnificent. The whole building was around ten stories high, and its exterior was made of a combination of aluminum and glass.

It was said that the design was provided by Long Hao, the second son of Long Xiaotian, the founder of the Felice Eurasian Bank. The design concept was not only solemn and generous but also had a unique modern style. It had caused a stir in the whole city back then. Being able to design such a grand and one-of-a-kind building at just 15 years old, he was truly a genius.

Tong Yuling let out a sincere sigh, crossed the road, and slowly walked into the building.

"Hello, miss! How can I help you?" The receptionist greeted Tong Yuling with a smile.

Tong Yuling couldn't help but smile back at her. "I'm here to see Manager Zhang from the Finance Department."

"The Finance Department is on the fifth floor. Please take the elevator over there, miss!" The receptionist, who was well-trained, pointed out the way in a kind and friendly manner.

After thanking the receptionist, Tong Yuling walked towards the elevator and soon arrived on the fifth floor.

"Hello, I'm the daughter of Tong Kaijian, an employee in the Finance Department!" Tong Yuling told the front desk clerk her identity.

The front desk clerk immediately replied politely, "Miss Tong is here to see Uncle Tong? He seems to be out today!"

"I know. I'm not here to see my dad but... to see your Manager Zhang."

"To see Manager Zhang?" The front desk clerk was startled and then picked up the phone and dialed the internal line. "Manager Zhang, the daughter of Tong Kaijian in our department wants to see you."

There was a moment of silence on the other end before the voice said, "Let her in."

The front desk clerk hung up the phone, took Tong Yuling to Manager Zhang's office, and then left by herself.

Looking at the man who was still busy with his work at his desk, Tong Yuling hesitated for a moment before saying politely, "Hello, Manager Zhang!"

Manager Zhang looked up. He had a refined and handsome middle-aged male face, and his voice was gentle too. "You're Tong Kaijian's daughter? What's the matter?"

Tong Yuling thought for a moment and then got straight to the point. She told him the reason, the process of her father embezzling public funds, and her request. After that, she didn't dare to breathe loudly and just waited quietly for his response.

Manager Zhang looked at her with a complicated look in his eyes. After a while, he said in a deep voice, "Your father's behavior is no small matter. We can't tolerate it."

Tong Yuling had expected this result, so she said the words of pleading that she had prepared in advance. "Manager Zhang has worked with my father for a long time and should know what kind of person he is. He's always been law-abiding. This time, he made a mistake because of a momentary lapse of judgment. We're confessing to the company and don't dare to shirk our responsibilities. We want to make up for our mistakes. I promise you that we'll return the money to the bank as soon as possible and will also pay additional interest."

"Miss Tong, I understand your sincerity and also know what kind of person Tong Kaijian is. If it were other matters, I could help you. But for this matter, I'm afraid I can't make the decision because embezzling public funds is a very serious issue, regardless of the amount." Manager Zhang looked helpless.

"Then... who can make the decision?"

"Our president!"

"Is the president referring to Long Chase?"

Manager Zhang was a bit startled when Tong Yuling called Long Chase by name directly, but then he nodded.

"Could Manager Zhang take me to see him? His father is a philanthropist. I think he should also understand our situation."

Unfortunately, Manager Zhang refused right away. "I'm sorry. Our president doesn't meet outsiders casually. Miss Tong, for your father's matter, we really have to handle it according to the rules."

When Tong Yuling heard that it had to be handled according to the rules, she was so worried that she almost cried. She quickly continued to plead, "Manager Zhang, my father is old and can't bear the hardship of going to prison. Please take me to see Long Chase. Please!"

Her beautiful face showed worry and sadness, looking really pitiful at that moment. For some reason, Manager Zhang was touched. "Well, I'll call Assistant Gao and let him know." With his slender fingers, he dialed the internal line to the top floor. "Hello, Assistant Gao. This is Manager Zhang from the Finance Department. Is the president in?"

"The president hasn't returned to the company yet. What's the matter?" The voice on the other end of the phone was very serious.

Manager Zhang thought for a moment and carefully told Assistant Gao what Tong Yuling had just said to him. He was also kind enough to plead on her behalf. "Tong Kaijian is usually an honest and law-abiding person. There are understandable reasons for him to make such a big mistake this time. Miss Tong is also very sincere and hopes to meet our president."

"The president is busy!" came the reply, rejecting it flatly.

"I also know that the president has a lot on his plate and can't handle such a small matter. However... the matter of embezzling public funds can be either a big or a small issue. And that client will bring a friend to apply for a loan in two days. If we don't handle this matter in advance, I'm worried that it will cause trouble for the operation of other departments." Manager Zhang knew how to bring up the overall situation. "Assistant Gao, how about... you meet her?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end, and then the instruction came, "Let her come up."

"Okay, okay!" Manager Zhang hung up the phone and happily told Tong Yuling, "Miss Tong, although you can't see the president, it's the same if you explain the situation to our Assistant Gao. He's the special assistant to our president and has the power to make decisions on many things."

"Thank you, Manager Zhang. Thank you very much for your help!" Tong Yuling was extremely grateful.

"Don't mention it. I'll ask someone to take you up!" Manager Zhang got up, walked out of the office with Tong Yuling, and told a junior assistant to take Tong Yuling to the tenth floor.

Gao Zhijie gave people a different impression. Looking at the young man in front of her who was meticulous and expressionless, Tong Yuling's already nervous heart became even more uneasy. After a while, she finally got the courage to tell him her purpose again.

Gao Zhijie stared at her for a while and then said seriously, "Your father made a mistake and should bear the consequences. The crime of embezzling public funds is not a light one!"

"I understand. But please consider that it's my father's first offense and that he's an employee of the company. Give him a chance. We're very sincere. Otherwise, we wouldn't have come to admit our mistake at the first opportunity." Tong Yuling showed her sincere and earnest attitude again.

"Who doesn't know how to admit mistakes? If every employee were like your father, how could our bank develop? We can't even manage our internal staff well. How can we explain it to the public?" Gao Zhijie snorted coldly.

This made Tong Yuling a bit shocked, and she quickly said, "Yes, it's related to the reputation of your bank, so it shouldn't be made public!"

"Are you threatening me? Are you going to take revenge if we pursue this matter?"

"Uh, I... I don't mean that. We didn't think about any revenge at all. I think it would be best if we could solve this matter peacefully. It's good for both sides. Right? Besides, we promise not to tell anyone about this matter. When it comes to repayment, we'll follow the private agreement."

"I'm sorry, but we can't tolerate such an employee. Please leave!" After thinking about it, Gao Zhijie made his decision.

"Mr. Gao, I beg you. Please just do a good deed and agree to our request. Okay?"

"We're not a charity. Besides, you're not really poor people in need of help. Your father broke the law and should be punished by the law." Gao Zhijie's attitude remained cold.

Just then, an employee rushed in and whispered something in Gao Zhijie's ear.

Gao Zhijie's expression changed a bit. He immediately got up and told Tong Yuling to leave. "Miss Tong, please leave. Don't interfere with our work!"

"No, I'll wait for your president to come back! I think he'll listen to my explanation and agree to my request!"

Her stubbornness and confidence made Gao Zhijie sneer. He then told the employee, "I don't want to see her still here when I come back!"

Looking at his figure about to leave, Tong Yuling was really worried. In a moment of desperation, she said, "Hey, you can't drive me away. I know Long Hao. I'm a friend of Long Hao!"

Sure enough, Gao Zhijie turned back immediately, looking at her with an inquiring look, staring at her thoughtfully.

Tong Yuling tried her best to calm down the panic in her heart and continued, "You know Long Hao, right? The second son of your big boss and also the younger brother of your president!"

For the sake of her elderly father who could avoid a lawsuit, for the sake of not making her mother sad after suffering for most of her life, and for the sake of the happy life that the family had managed to build with difficulty, Tong Yuling lied without hesitation.

As she hoped, Gao Zhijie didn't drive her away but didn't say anything either. He just stared at her quietly for a while and then left with the employee.

Tong Yuling let out a long sigh of relief and leaned on the soft leather sofa, thinking hard about what to do next and how to be more persuasive when she saw Long Chase.

After some time, when Tong Yuling came out of her thoughts, Gao Zhijie appeared again.

"Mr. Gao, may I ask when your president will be back?" Tong Yuling couldn't wait to ask.

Gao Zhijie just looked at her without saying a word. Hearing familiar footsteps, he immediately turned around and said respectfully, "Mr. Long, you're back?"

Long Chase was back?! Tong Yuling was happy at first, but when she saw clearly who it was, she was shocked. It was him, the man she had mistaken for assaulting someone this morning. So, he... he was Long Chase? Long Chase who had always been low-key and mysterious?! Oh my god!

"Mr. Long, this miss is the daughter of Tong Kaijian, an employee in the Finance Department. Tong Kaijian embezzled public funds, and she's here to plead on his behalf. She also said she's a friend of the second young master!" Gao Zhijie reported to Long Chase.

Long Chase wasn't really paying attention at first, but when he heard the last sentence, he couldn't help but look at Tong Yuling. When he saw her, he was also stunned.

Looking at his cold face that was colder than the wind and the sharp light in his black eyes, Tong Yuling's face turned pale. It seemed that she should go back early and find the best lawyer to fight for her father. Thinking of this, Tong Yuling tightened her handbag and quickly walked past them.

"Aren't you going to see me?" Unexpectedly, Long Chase said in a deep voice.

Gao Zhijie was surprised and immediately called out to Tong Yuling, "Miss Tong, our president has agreed to see you."

Although Tong Yuling stopped walking, she didn't turn around.

"Miss Tong—" Gao Zhijie called out again.

At this time, Long Chase was walking towards his office. Before entering the office, he said, "Bring her in!"