Chapter 115: Wonderful Moments Before Departure

Old Madam Zhu was the living matriarch of the entire Zhu Family, its current helmsman.

Thus, upon hearing Ye Ziqiu’s words, she immediately offered the astronomical price of three hundred million. That’s right, a staggering three hundred million straight out of the gate.

After all, the few successful transactions for Elder Pan’s paintings in the past had capped out at just over two hundred million; none had ever reached three hundred million. Yet now, the incredibly wealthy Old Madam Zhu was practically throwing money at Lin Jian and Ye Ziqiu! Even though Ye Ziqiu controlled a multi-billion dollar conglomerate, she couldn’t casually fork over three hundred million with such ease.

"Old Madam Zhu, it’s a pleasure doing business with you." Ye Ziqiu didn’t hesitate for a second. She immediately stood up, as three hundred million had already exceeded both her and Lin Jian’s expectations.

At the same time, Ye Ziqiu felt a twinge of envy, marveling at how this bad boy Lin Jian had just gone out for a stroll the other night and returned with three hundred million.

"A pleasure." Old Madam Zhu smiled and nodded.

As if suddenly remembering something, Ye Ziqiu quickly added, "Mr. Lin needs to open a private account in Xiangdao, which we will need your help with. After that, you can simply wire the funds directly to the Xiangdao Bank account!"

"That can be arranged. However, Mr. Lin will need to provide identification," the man in the tuxedo readily agreed.

Lin Jian took out his ID card. The man in the tuxedo took it and snapped a picture with his phone. Next, Old Madam Zhu’s female assistant pulled out a thick stack of documents. They had clearly come prepared; now that a deal had been struck, numerous legal papers had to be signed. Fortunately, Ye Ziqiu knew the ropes. Fully slipping into the role of an assistant, she began cross-checking the contract terms with the other party’s female assistant.

"Has Mr. Lin ever been to Xiangdao?" Old Madam Zhu asked, looking at Lin Jian curiously.

Lin Jian shook his head. "I’ve never been."

Old Madam Zhu nodded and said nothing more.

The contract signing process between the two assistants was lengthy, as Ye Ziqiu meticulously reviewed every single clause. It took two full hours before Ye Ziqiu confirmed that everything was in order. Following that, Lin Jian and the butler both signed the contracts. Naturally, the Xiangdao Bank account had been opened, and the three hundred million had been transferred. Lin Jian would only need to take his ID card and this stack of contracts to the HSBC Bank in Xiangdao to withdraw the money.

Although Lin Jian knew nothing about such capital operations, he refrained from questioning Ye Ziqiu right there.

Once they left Imperial Treasure Studio, before he even had the chance to ask, Ye Ziqiu explained, "The reason I had them deposit the money into a bank in Xiangdao is to make it easier to transfer out later.

"Also, this is a three-hundred-million cash transaction. Any domestic bank would subject it to strict scrutiny, which would become a huge hassle down the line."

"Then... I wouldn’t be able to get the money back from Xiangdao, would I? I want to spend it domestically. How am I supposed to do that?" Lin Jian asked with an odd expression.

"Listen to me." Ye Ziqiu shot him a glare. "I’ll help you apply for an HSBC diamond black card. With this card, you can travel the globe.

"The diamond black card can also be used domestically without being subjected to scrutiny. However, your annual spending records will be entered into the Continent’s banking regulatory system. So, the more you spend, the more personal income tax you’ll have to pay."

"There’s income tax?" Lin Jian was dumbfounded.

Ye Ziqiu gave him a weird look and said, "Don’t expect me to help you evade taxes or anything like that. I’m helping you get the diamond black card simply because I don’t want the relevant departments scrutinizing the source of your funds. Sometimes, their investigations can drag on for months or even years, during which your money would be frozen.

"However, you still have to pay your rightful share of personal income tax.

"Of course, the benefit of the diamond black card is that no one will know how much money is actually in your bank account; they can only determine your annual income tax based on your spending.

"For example, you have three hundred million. If you don’t touch that money for a year, you won’t have to pay any income tax. But if you spend millions or tens of millions within the year, then I’m sorry, but at the end of the year, the banking regulatory department will issue you a tax clearance list."

"Alright, I get it. I didn’t say I wouldn’t pay taxes. Paying taxes legally is a citizen’s duty and responsibility, right?" Lin Jian chuckled. Paying a little tax was fine; it didn’t matter.

"Yeah. I advise you to find a trustworthy financial assistant in the future. It’ll only cost you a few hundred thousand a year, and they will handle all your financial issues.

"Also, you should open an account with the Swiss Bank. It will make it much more convenient for you to expand overseas in the future, just in case your business goes international."

"Why don’t you be my financial assistant?" Lin Jian said with a cheeky grin. "I’ll give you all the money I earn as your salary."

"Shoo, no way."

Ye Ziqiu felt a surge of happiness. Although it was impossible for her to be Lin Jian’s financial assistant, his words were incredibly sweet to her ears.

"Your flight is tomorrow, right? What time?"

"Five o’clock tomorrow morning. You have to see me off!"

"Then..." Lin Jian wanted to ask when she would be back, but though he opened his mouth, the question wouldn’t come out.

Ye Ziqiu herself didn’t know when she would return, so she couldn’t make him any promises.

At noon, the two of them found a Sichuan restaurant and enjoyed an authentic meal, then spent the entire afternoon shopping at the mall. Lin Jian originally wanted to use the Sapphire to craft a pair of rings, but Ye Ziqiu felt that they shouldn’t just go to a cheap, random workshop. Instead, they needed to find a professional designer to create a custom couple’s design and have them handcrafted! Otherwise, taking such precious jewelry to a small workshop would be an absolute travesty.

Lin Jian thought she was right, so he suggested she take it abroad to find a designer. However, Ye Ziqiu replied that he should wait for her return—and she promised she would return.

In the evening, the couple bought some food and drinks and went home to cook together. Although neither of them possessed great culinary skills, the meal was thankfully far from inedible. Neither of them drank any alcohol. The moment they finished eating, they bounded straight to Ye Ziqiu’s bed and turned off the lights!

They didn’t want to waste a single second, desiring only to stick together and talk about life. Naturally, while "talking about life," there was no shortage of kissing, hugging, and rounding the bases!

Lin Jian was addicted to this, and how could Ye Ziqiu not be? Once that addiction was sparked, it was impossible to extricate oneself.

Fortunately, Ye Ziqiu wasn’t as impulsive as she had been the night before. Last night, driven by the despair and pressure from her family, she had desperately needed an emotional release. Today, however, after spending a whole day wrapped in sweet affection with her lover, a sliver of rationality remained in her mind. Even if her lover lost his cool, she was prepared to snuff out his flames.

"Lin Jian, your nose is bleeding again..."

In the pitch-black room, one couldn’t even see their hand in front of their face. After tossing and turning in bed for who knows how long, Ye Ziqiu finally noticed that Lin Jian’s nose had started bleeding.

"No shit! I’m already like this, and you’re still fiercely guarding the final base! At a moment like this, any man’s nose would bleed, unless you take my—"

"Ah... don’t..."

In the dead of the night, bashful squeals, shrieks, and joyful giggles continuously echoed.

It was an exquisitely wonderful night!