Reborn with Consumption System-Chapter 524 - 239: Remedial Measures_3

What could be negotiated was merely the trust management fees.

Once Huang Xing said not to nitpick over the fees, the conversation became easier.

Han Lie wasn’t too demanding either; he offered SPD Bank 1.5%.

The regulatory measures and access protocols were already set by established rules and experiences; they just needed to wait for Liu Minghao to approve the contract.

By noon, everything was smoothly settled.

It was then time for lunch. Tang Xintian had originally wanted to invite Han Lie out to eat, to foster their connection in private, but after much thought, she didn’t dare to suggest it.

What if Teacher Han preferred boys? If I press my warm face against a cold shoulder, how embarrassing would that be?

So, in the end, they went to the cafeteria.

SPD Bank’s cafeteria had decent food, but it was just too crowded and chaotic.

Tang Xintian was the belle of the bank, the most famous and dazzling woman around. Goodness, she was eyed so much that people even counted how many sips of soup she took.

"Section Chief Tang is really popular," Han Lie said with a smile.

Tang Xintian couldn’t tell if he was complimenting or teasing her, but her spirits lifted.

Great! So you’ve finally decided to chat with me, huh? Sister’s an expert in psychology; just wait and see how I crack your shell!

She suppressed her excitement and smiled gently.

"Teacher Han, when it’s not work time, don’t call me Section Chief Tang or Miss Tang, alright? I’ll call you Han Lie, and you can call me Tangtang, OK?"

Tsk, tsk, Tangtang! Well, the name does sound a tad too sweet... Han Lie thought.

He nodded openly, "Sure, then I’ll call you Sister Tangtang."

Just the phrase "Sister Tangtang" activated every cell in her body.

She’d been frustrated all morning; the young man had been impervious, showing no response to any of her probing.

Actually, she wasn’t after anything specific. Had Han Lie been cooperative throughout, she might have already established a normal professional partnership with him, with a certain rapport, but limited to work.

However, Han Lie always maintained his distance, which only piqued her curiosity and competitive spirit bit by bit.

After all, human interactions have always been about finding the right approach for the specific person.

Some people like closeness and being clingy—for instance, a flirtatious woman. For such a person, you melt her with warmth and play along with her coquettishness.

Others prefer space, like Tang Xintian; you give them room and wait for them to make a move.

No single strategy works for everyone; the purpose of learning strategies is to master the core principles behind them. If one can’t adapt them to different contexts, they’ll be doomed in slightly more sophisticated situations.

For a woman like Tang Xintian, if you mess up once and she sees through your facade, you won’t get a second chance.

That’s why Brother Lie was so cautious.

Only now, feeling somewhat certain, did he give her the space to perform.

Tang Xintian’s eyes glinted with shrewd intelligence, which was hidden behind her black-framed glasses, but it didn’t at all affect the sense of intimacy and warmth she conveyed through her tone and pitch.

"Han Lie, are you satisfied with Wang Mengjun? That girl is good in every aspect, patient and meticulous, but her personality is a bit lukewarm. If you find her unsuitable, I’ll take you to the private banking division to choose again. I’m not exaggerating—our private banking customer service staff really are as beautiful as a field of flowers; our department’s young guys always find excuses to go there..."

Good, this is the right flavor, Han Lie thought. A truly wise girl has such a distinct way of probing. Subtle, sharp, heading straight for a man’s greatest weakness.

Tang Xintian looked at Han Lie expectantly, feeling her performance was absolutely perfect. In their casual conversation, she had laid three traps. Any answer he gave would expose his thought patterns, confirming her assessment.

Han Lie looked up, his eyes seemingly cold, yet possibly with a hint of a smile.

Then, with just a few words, he shattered her again—

"Oh? Does Xiao Bai also like going there?"

w(ﾟДﾟ)w!!! How the hell did you manage to bring it back to that?! How much do you actually like Xiao Bai?!

Tang Xintian was dumbfounded, feeling like a complete fool.

I’m so stupid, really. I knew full well he likes men, yet I still thought of using beautiful women to test him... It’s over. Uncle Huang, I think I’ve seriously offended our important guest. What do I do? If all else fails... Become his confidante?!

Tang Xintian racked her brain, hastily trying to come up with a way to salvage the situation.

*****

My cold is quite strange. I don’t get a fever, just a runny nose for a bit each day, but the discomfort passes quickly. For the past three years, illness has prevented me from getting vaccinated, so now I’m even more reluctant to go out...