Super Zoo

Suming returned to the office building at the zoo and saw a red Mazda6 parked by the roadside not far away. He trudged up the stairs and had just entered the office when he noticed Mrs. Tong chatting with a young woman, dressed in professional attire with curly hair.

"Director, you're back! Comrade Luo Sha is here to see you," Mrs. Tong stood up and nodded with a smile to Luo Sha, "I'll leave you two to talk then, I'll excuse myself."

Luo Sha also stood up, giving Mrs. Tong a very friendly smile: "Thank you, then I won't keep you busy."

No wonder they say Luo Sha has a naturally alluring aura. She didn't have to do anything enticing, and her outfit wasn't revealing, but the simple act of rising from her chair perfectly accentuated the curves of her body, causing Suming's heart to skip a beat.

After Mrs. Tong left, Luo Sha walked over with a confident stretch of her hand, her smile tender but not fawning: "Hello, old classmate!"

"Hello, hello, what brought you here?" Suming hardly dared to hold her hand for long, and after a brief handshake, he let go and hurriedly took a seat behind his desk, "Please, have a seat."

"Being a leader really changes one's demeanor," said Luo Sha as she smoothed her skirt and sat down in front of Suming, her eyes twinkling as she laughed, "What? An old classmate can't come to visit if there's nothing important?"

"Of course you can come by. But if it's just for a visit, there's no need to wear your work clothes," Suming said, gesturing toward her chest.

"Stop it, you're being naughty," Luo Sha shrunk back, pretending to glare at Suming with feigned annoyance.

"Sister, I'm talking about your name tag," Suming replied. It seemed like Luo Sha clearly knew what he meant but was teasing him on purpose.

"Alright, enough joking around," Luo Sha chuckled softly, "The thing is, since you've opened a card with our bank, they've noticed your recent substantial deposits and expenditures, so they've upgraded you to a Peony Platinum Card."

"Oh, I see, it's VIP service," nodded Suming. So that was the deal. In the past year, his bank account had gone from just a few thousand to transactions in the hundreds of thousands and even millions. Recently, there was even a transaction of forty million—an amount that indeed classified him as a significant customer.

"Yes," Luo Sha nodded, "I happen to be in charge of VIP clients and I've come specifically to assist you."

Suming wasn't sure if it was intentional or if he was overthinking it, but the phrase 'specifically to assist you' sounded oddly peculiar. Especially since Luo Sha mentioned it with not a hint of impropriety, the more earnest she appeared, the more unbearable it got, almost to the point where he wished he could immediately take up her offer to assist.

Suming realized then that this woman was nothing less than a reincarnated siren—he clearly couldn't get involved.
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To change the subject, he asked out of curiosity, "Is it something like the legendary Centurion Card, where you can enjoy countless services?"

The Centurion Black Card, issued by Express Company, is a black credit card featuring the portrait of a Roman warrior, known as the 'Centurion.' It is universally acknowledged as the 'king of cards,' targeted at the elite class with no spending limits. Its holders have access to the most exclusive membership privileges, rights, and services in the world.

There was a story about a cardholder who left luggage on a train, and Express Company actually got in touch with the railway company to make the train stop mid-journey so the cardholder could retrieve the luggage.

It's said that if a Centurion cardholder wishes to reach the heavens or explore the seas—as long as it is within human capability—Express Company will do its best to accommodate.

These types of cards are now also issued domestically, with the Industrial and Commercial Bank being one of the three banks qualified to issue them.

Luo Sha didn't answer directly but asked mysteriously in return, "The criteria for the Centurion Card are quite high. Among our classmates, you're the most successful—so how much are you worth now?"

Had this question come from another woman, it would have seemed materialistic, but when Luo Sha asked, it didn't feel that way at all. It was simply a girl's curiosity, and no man could resist satisfying it.

I sure as hell can resist! Suming pinched himself and replied sternly, "Why are you asking that? Are you snooping around my private affairs? A man's wallet is like a woman's age—both are secrets."

"Stingy, I was just asking," Luo Sha was not offended and said, "Getting the Centurion Card isn't easy. You can't even apply for it without an annual deposit of over one hundred million Huaxia currency or being a wealthy person listed on the Hurun Report, or at least a provincial political consultative conference member."

Suming grinned, realizing he still had a long way to go.

"But the Peony Platinum Card isn't bad either; it comes with many special services," Luo Sha said. "Like free transfers, priority boarding, all pretty useful."

Special services? What a joke, Suming thought to himself with a roll of his eyes. "Alright, I get it. If you're free at noon, call up some classmates, and I'll ask Nangong to join us for lunch. It's nice for old friends to catch up."

"All you think about is Nangong. Even talking to me for a bit seems to bother you, doesn't it?" Luo Sha feigned annoyance, then quickly said, "Who said I'm free? You're now considered a major client at our branch. Every year, newly joined major clients are invited to events, and I came today especially to deliver your invitation."

"What event?" Suming was curious.

"Next week, the Yangtze River fishing season opens. Every year at this time, Huayin County holds a culinary cultural exchange event, where chefs from different places will show off their skills, and well-known restaurants will also send people to purchase fresh seafood."

Huayin County is one of Yangchuan City's subordinate counties, right next to the Yangtze River with a flourishing fishing industry, just a few kilometres' drive from Yangchuan City.

Suming was somewhat disappointed: "Isn't that just another food festival? They hold food festivals several times a year in the city, including Taiwan specials, Xiangjiang delicacies, foreign foods, all just gimmicks. The taste is no better than the usual food stalls, and the prices are ridiculously high."

"This isn't the kind of food festival you're talking about. The chefs who attend Huayin County's culinary event are true masters in the culinary world. Plus, every year there's a 'Fish King' or a 'Softshell Turtle King,' along with a small auction that's quite lively. Ordinary folks can't attend without an invitation," Luo Sha said with wide eyes, shaking her head.

"Well, that might be worth taking a look," Suming nodded, taking the invitation card Luo Sha handed him and stuffing it into the drawer, then looked up at her.

Luo Sha chuckled, "Alright, now that business is done, I know you're busy, so I won't linger for a meal. There's still a ton of work to do back at the office. We'll catch up another time."

Leaving a business card, she waved, "Bye, old classmate. If you have any banking business in the future, just call me." With that, she turned, leaving a whiff of perfume behind as she clicked away in her high heels out of the office.

"What great sales talent!" Suming picked up the business card, glanced at it, and casually tossed it into a pile of business cards in the drawer.

While Luo Sha was visiting Suming, in Jiangjin City, the capital of the province, at Hong's Restaurant, the only daughter of the owner, Hong Bo, Hong Feifei, was also heading to the kitchen with plenty on her mind.