The scene from yesterday at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel entrance once again crashed into his mind.
He had desperately clutched Bank Manager Xu Lei's sleeve, almost pleading humbly, "Bank Manager Xu, please give us half a month's extension, just half a month!"
Xu Lei, however, coldly pulled his hand back, not even sparing him a glance.
But when he turned around and saw Jiang Cheng, that arrogant Bank Manager instantly plastered on a fawning smile, his waist bent like a broken willow.
At that time, he only thought Jiang Cheng was a junior with some connections, and didn't think much of it. But now, combining it with the "ten million donation" incident, a cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.
What kind of person was Xu Lei?
An old fox in the Modu financial circle; even many entrepreneurs with assets over a hundred million had to be polite to him.
But his respectful demeanor towards Jiang Cheng was not at all the attitude one would show a "junior." It was clearly reverence for a truly powerful figure.
"Dad, what's wrong? Why do you look so terrible?" Huang Yiyi saw his expression change drastically and quickly tugged his arm, her voice filled with worry.
Huang Zonglei suddenly snapped back to reality, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty. He lowered his voice, his tone full of disbelief: "Yesterday, when I was begging Xu Lei for a loan at the hotel entrance, I happened to run into Jiang Cheng. A person like Xu Lei, who usually looks down on everyone, actually bowed and scraped in front of Jiang Cheng the whole time, not even daring to breathe loudly. I didn't pay attention then, but now I understand… your classmate's background and power are beyond our imagination. He's probably much more formidable than those old-money entrepreneurs!"
Before he finished speaking, he saw Huang Yiyi's face instantly turn several shades paler. She bit her lip and abruptly turned her face away, the redness that had been on her ear tips completely fading, leaving only a pallor.
She knew Jiang Cheng was excellent, knew he was rich, but she had never imagined the gap between them would be so vast.
Before, she dared to openly chase after him, calling out "Jiang Cheng," wearing her affection on her sleeve.
Even knowing there were other girls around him, she never truly backed down.
But now that her family was in trouble, it was as if all her confidence had been drained. Seeing Jiang Cheng again, even the courage to go up and say hello was halved.
Now Huang Yiyi finally understood why those down-and-out boys on TV didn't dare to approach the girls they liked.
This kind of disparity was truly so bitter.
But even so, that bright, shining affection in her heart was rooted deep, impossible to pull out.
On one side was the inferiority from their disparate family backgrounds, on the other was her undeniable feelings. The two emotions intertwined like a tangled mess, constricting her chest and making even breathing feel labored.
The air was silent for a few seconds, as the wind swirled fallen leaves along the roadside.
Huang Yiyi's hand, clutching the corner of her clothes, loosened slightly, then clenched tightly again. Her voice held a hint of hesitation.
Yet, it carried a sense of determination: "Dad, since Jiang Cheng is so capable… why don't I go ask him for help?"
Huang Zonglei's heart sank abruptly. He looked up at his daughter.
She lowered her gaze, her ear tips flushed, her eyelashes trembling violently. Although her words were spoken with great courage, her eyes held an unconcealable embarrassment.
It was the pride of a young girl unwilling to show weakness before her beloved, and even more so, the humility brought by their differing family circumstances.
He instantly understood his daughter's thoughts.
After all, he had been young once too.
It was truly a teenage blush; this plea for "help" would require her to set aside her inner pride.
Huang Zonglei's heart felt like a spilled spice bottle.
His pride was shattered to pieces in the face of reality. These past few days, he had exhausted every connection he had, begged everyone he knew, yet hadn't secured even a single penny of a loan.
Jiang Cheng might now be his only "shortcut."
Although asking his daughter to beg the person she liked was more painful than a slap to his face.
But what other options did he have?
Huang Zonglei let out a heavy sigh, his voice hoarse as if abraded by sandpaper: "Yiyi, I'm sorry."
Hearing these three words, Huang Yiyi suddenly looked up, her eyes full of shock.
This apology was like a needle, instantly piercing the tangled knot of grievances in her heart.
She suddenly remembered a few nights ago, when she saw her father staring blankly at the ledger in the living room, the gray hairs at his temples significantly more than last year.
She remembered how he always lowered his posture when answering calls, even his tone carrying a hint of flattery.
She remembered him rubbing his back, clearly exhausted, yet still smiling and telling her, "Everything's fine at home."
Her father was already far more distressed and bore far more burdens than she did.
Just now, she had only been preoccupied with her pride, only weighing the gap between her and Jiang Cheng, forgetting that her father was already suffocating under the pressure of life.
Her nose stung, and tears instantly welled up. Huang Yiyi hastily turned her face away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, her voice choked with tears but feigning composure.
"Dad, what are you saying… I'm the one who should be sorry."
Huang Zonglei looked at his daughter's feigned strong profile, his heart aching intensely, yet he could only reach out and pat her shoulder, a thousand words