Chapter 63: Journey to Guanzhong

Chen Churan froze, her beautiful eyes widening in disbelief.

She parted her lips, taking a long while to find her voice again.

"You... you want my entire cash flow? Are you out of your mind?"

Cheng Ziqiu, however, acted as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

He shrugged, slipping back into his nonchalant demeanor.

"President Chen, you can't put it that way. This is called an investment! High risk comes with high rewards! Besides, that hundred million in my hands is worth far more than sitting in yours."

"Worth more? How so? Are you planning to go buy lottery tickets with it?"

Chen Churan rolled her eyes in exasperation, though deep down, her confusion only deepened.

What on earth was going on inside this Cheng Ziqiu's head?

"Ziqiu, you... you must be joking, right?"

Cheng Ziqiu's frivolous smile vanished, replaced by an expression of utter seriousness.

"President Chen, do I look like I'm joking? One hundred million—I'll take it. I'm going to use it to help you make a comeback."

Chen Churan's heart hammered against her ribs.

She felt as though she were sitting at a high-stakes gambling table, and Cheng Ziqiu was the master gambler controlling the entire game.

"How do you plan to do that? With one hundred million, how can you possibly help me?"

Cheng Ziqiu smiled mysteriously, pressing his index finger against his lips to signal silence.

"That's a heavenly secret that cannot be divulged, President Chen. You just need to trust me. I guarantee that this hundred million will turn into a sharp weapon that will have you counting money until your hands cramp!"

He paused, a flicker of cunning dancing in his eyes.

"Of course, the prerequisite is that you trust me completely."

Chen Churan was left even more baffled by his mysterious act.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, looking at his absolute self-assurance, she found herself blindly choosing to trust him.

Perhaps it was simply that having reached the end of her rope, she was willing to roll the dice one last time.

"Fine."

Chen Churan sighed, a sliver of anticipation mingling with her doubt.

"I'll trust you for once. But at least tell me, what do you need me to do?"

Cheng Ziqiu snapped his fingers as if everything were entirely within his grasp.

"Simple. Help me book a train ticket to Guanzhong. Oh, and make sure it's the fastest one!"

"Guanzhong?"

Chen Churan grew even more bewildered, her pretty eyebrows knitting tightly together.

"What are you going to Guanzhong for? There's nothing out there in the boondocks except for the Loess Plateau!"

Ignoring her skepticism, Cheng Ziqiu continued unbothered,

"As for the exact address, I'll let you know once I arrive in Guanzhong. In short, get the ticket and some necessary equipment ready for me as soon as possible."

"Oh, and prepare a million in cash for me as well. I'll need it on the road."

One million in cash?

Chen Churan nearly choked on her own breath.

She only had one hundred million left on her books, and before the money had even warmed up in her account, this brat was about to squander a million of it?

At this rate of financial destruction, he was burning through cash faster than she could shop for luxury goods!

"Cheng Ziqiu, do you take me for a money printing machine? A million in cash—do you think it's just paper? You can't just snap your fingers and summon it!"

Chen Churan felt her temples throb violently.

Cheng Ziqiu merely waved a hand dismissively, completely unconcerned.

"Oh, President Chen, that's just small change. Once we return from Guanzhong, what will a paltry sum like this even matter? It won't even be a drop in the ocean!"

"You..."

Chen Churan was too angry for words, the finger she pointed at Cheng Ziqiu trembling slightly.

She genuinely wanted to hurl the entire stack of documents on the desk straight into this guy's face!

"Cheng Ziqiu, are you... planning to run away with the money?"

Cheng Ziqiu exaggeratedly clutched his chest, putting on a deeply wounded expression.

"President Chen, saying something like that breaks my heart! Am I, Cheng Ziqiu, that kind of person? I am the man destined to lead you to the pinnacle of success! Going to Guanzhong is naturally for..."

He deliberately dragged out his tone, thoroughly whetting Chen Churan's appetite.

"Treasure hunting!"

"T-Treasure hunting?"

Chen Churan felt her brain struggling to process the information.

What era was this, and he was still talking about treasure hunting?

Had this guy lost his mind from reading too many grave-robbing novels?

Cheng Ziqiu acted as though he hadn't noticed her expression, which was on the verge of exploding.

He pulled out his phone, expertly flipping through recent flight schedules while humming a cheerful little tune.

"I say, Big Boss Chen, could you be a little quicker? My time is extremely precious, you know."

Cheng Ziqiu looked up, staring at the still-petrified Chen Churan, and couldn't help urging her on.

"Tomorrow's flight, first class, got it?"

Chen Churan finally snapped back to reality, taking a deep breath as she desperately fought down the impulse to smash her phone against Cheng Ziqiu's face.

"Cheng Ziqiu, you had better give me a clear explanation—what on earth are you going to do with that one million?"

"And treasure hunting? Do you take me for a three-year-old child?"

Putting down his phone, Cheng Ziqiu leaned in close to Chen Churan with a conspiratorial air.

"President Chen, that's where you're lacking insight. That place called Guanzhong is a blessed land of geomancy, brimming with treasures everywhere!"

"As for me, I did a little divination, and a great opportunity is about to arise there!"

He pinched his fingers together with affected solemnity, then let out a theatrical, profound sigh.

"Too bad heavenly secrets cannot be revealed too much, or I'll incur divine retribution. In any case, if you follow me, I guarantee you'll make a fortune!"

Chen Churan was almost laughing with fury at his charlatan act.

She had finally figured it out: this Cheng Ziqiu was either a lunatic or a con artist!

"Cheng Ziqiu, if you dare to trick me, I swear I'll make you pay dearly!"

Chen Churan said through gritted teeth.

Cheng Ziqiu burst into laughter, patting Chen Churan on the shoulder.

"Rest assured, President Chen, I, Cheng Ziqiu, am renowned for my honesty and trustworthiness!"

"When I get back, just wait to count money until your hands cramp!"

With that, he rose gracefully, leaving Chen Churan standing alone, ruffled and bewildered in the wind.

...

The next day.

The morning sun filtered through a thin layer of mist, spilling over Shaanxi International Airport.

With a bulging black backpack slung over his shoulders, Cheng Ziqiu strolled leisurely through the surging crowd.

Pulling out his phone, Cheng Ziqiu checked the time and muttered under his breath,

"That wealthy lady boss is truly a stingy one; she didn't even arrange a private car to pick me up and drop me off. And she dragged her feet over a million in cash, forcing me to hail a cab myself."

Upon exiting the terminal, Cheng Ziqiu flagged down a taxi and directly gave the driver a destination.

"Qinling Mountains."

The driver, a middle-aged man with a heavy Shaanxi accent, glanced at Cheng Ziqiu a few times through the rearview mirror.

"Young man, where in the Qinling Mountains are you headed? The Qinling range is massive; you've got to give me a specific spot, don't you?"

Cheng Ziqiu smiled with deliberate mystery.

"Driver, just drive deep into the mountains; I'll tell you when we get there."

The driver gave him a suspicious look.

This young man was acting all secretive—wasn't he heading into the mountains for illegal poaching?

Yet judging by his outfit, he didn't quite look the part. Instead, he looked more like...

"Alright then, hold on tight!"

Stepping hard on the gas pedal, the taxi sped away into the distance.

...

"Young man, are you heading into the Qinling Mountains for tourism?"

The driver peered through the rearview mirror, looking Cheng Ziqiu up and down.

"There are plenty of bugs in the mountains this time of year; did you bring any mosquito repellent? Deep in the Qinling range, it's nothing but wild, desolate mountains—the roads aren't easy to walk."

Cheng Ziqiu smiled mysteriously, shaking his head with an affected air of profundity.

"I'm not here for tourism, driver. I'm going treasure hunting!"