Volume One, Chapter Nine: The Imperial Capital Bank Dragon-Emblem Black Card

The sales agent looked Chen Hao up and down, then sneered, "Sir, are you here to crack a joke? The cheapest unit at Dingsheng Garden costs several million. Two hundred thousand isn't even a fraction of the down payment. Have you no self-awareness?"

Another agent chimed in, "Exactly! If you want to daydream, wait until nighttime! You're wasting our time. Get out of here and stop making a fool of yourself."

Chen Hao was speechless. The arrogance of these people was infuriating.

The agent continued, "Let me suggest a place for you."

"What place?" Chen Hao asked, curious.

The agent offered a look of contempt, "The Bay New District. They have hundreds of villas and large luxury flats. The villas there only cost a few hundred thousand—perfect for someone like you."

The other agent added with a cold laugh, "True, the Bay New District has a beautiful environment and fresh air; it’s a 'paradise' tailored just for you. Oh, and there’s a CBD center there with full amenities and convenient transport. It’s perfect for a 'low-key tycoon' such as yourself."

Chen Hao had heard of the Bay New District but didn't know the specifics. Right now, he just wanted to reclaim his dignity in front of the Zhao family.

"I want to buy the best villa you have here."

"Hahaha..."

The group burst into mocking laughter. One of the agents, struggling to hold back her giggles, said, "Fine, I'll tell you: our best villa is the Jingding No. 1. It costs five hundred million. Are you paying by card or cash?"

Zhao Haizhou laughed until he doubled over. "Can you afford it? Keep dreaming!"

Zhao Yali gave a cold, dismissive glance at Chen Hao and mocked, "A toad wishing for swan meat. If you don't have a mirror, haven't you ever seen your own reflection in a puddle? Look at how pathetic you are."

Chen Hao smirked and produced a black card. "Swipe the card."

The agent’s expression shifted instantly. She took the card with trembling hands, her eyes filled with doubt. Several other agents crowded around to inspect it.

"Idiot, trying to pass off a foot-massage parlor VIP card as a bank card. How shameless."

As she spoke, the agent threw the card onto the floor, and another stepped on it. The first agent shouted at the security guards, "Come here! Throw this con artist out!"

A few guards rushed over. Chen Hao looked at the agents and asked, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

One agent pointed at him, cursing, "You broke loser, your whole outfit isn't even worth three hundred yuan, and you want to buy the Jingding No. 1? In your dreams!"

"What’s all this noise?"

A middle-aged man approached. The agent immediately complained, "Manager, some idiot brought a foot-massage VIP card and claimed he wanted to buy our Jingding No. 1 villa."

The manager paused, then spotted the black card on the floor. He quickly bent down to retrieve it and examined it closely.

"Are you the manager here?" Chen Hao asked.

The manager glanced at Chen Hao and nodded. "I am. May I ask your surname, sir?"

"Chen. Chen Hao." Chen Hao’s tone turned serious. "I came here to buy a house, and your staff called me a broke loser, claimed I couldn't afford anything, threw my bank card on the floor, stepped on it, and tried to have security throw me out. Is this how Dingsheng Garden treats its guests?"

The manager’s face paled, and he apologized profusely. Then, he turned to the agents and began slapping them across the face.

"Smack! Smack! Smack!" The heavy blows left the arrogant agents with swollen faces.

The manager roared, "Dingsheng Garden is a business; every visitor is a guest! How dare you behave like this?"

He turned back to Chen Hao, bowing with a look of awe. "Mr. Chen, please calm your anger. We will certainly provide you with a satisfactory resolution."

"Are you certain this isn't a foot-massage VIP card?" Chen Hao asked.

The manager nodded frantically. "Absolutely not. I have had the honor of seeing this card before. This is the Imperial Capital Bank Dragon-Pattern Black Card, with fewer than ten in circulation worldwide. Anyone holding this card is undoubtedly a top-tier billionaire."

Chen Hao smiled faintly. "At least you have some sense."

The manager turned to the agents. "Who threw Mr. Chen’s card on the floor?"

One agent stepped forward, trembling. Before she could speak, the manager delivered a crisp, loud slap to her face.

"Who stepped on Mr. Chen’s card?"

Another agent turned deathly pale. She raised her foot, trembling, and whispered, "It... it was me."

The manager’s eyes blazed with fury. "Lick it clean."

The agent was ashen-faced. With trembling hands, she picked up the card and, in total humiliation, licked it clean.

"Forget it," Chen Hao said. "Her mouth is too dirty; it’s only getting dirtier."

The manager snatched the card, wiped it clean on the agent’s clothes, and handed it back to Chen Hao respectfully. "Mr. Chen, please forgive their insolence. Dingsheng Garden will serve you with our highest standards. Any unit you choose is yours."

"I want the Jingding No. 1 villa," Chen Hao said.

The manager beamed. "Since you hold the Dragon-Pattern Black Card, we will offer you a twenty percent discount. The total price of five hundred million becomes four hundred million. We will process the paperwork immediately; I won't let you wait a single minute."

"No need for the discount. Swipe it. The PIN is six zeros." Chen Hao handed over the card.

The manager processed the payment, and the POS machine chirped, "Transaction successful."

He returned the card respectfully. "Mr. Chen, we will finalize the remaining formalities for you shortly. The Jingding No. 1 is officially yours. You can move in immediately, and our property management team will provide you with the finest service."

Chen Hao put the card back in his pocket. "I don't really have time to live there. I just bought it on a whim. I’ll come by to experience the service when I'm free."

"For a tycoon like you, a small Jingding villa is nothing," the manager replied obsequiously. "Please, sir, do provide us with your valuable feedback on our services."

Chen Hao looked at the stunned Zhao family and Zhou Chengzhong. "Manager, is the Zhou family of Jingzhou, with assets over a hundred million, considered very powerful?"

The manager glanced at Zhou Chengzhong with disdain. "Mr. Chen, I’ve never heard of the Zhou family in Jingzhou. A mere hundred million? In Jingzhou, they aren't even bottom-tier... actually, they don't even make the list."

Chen Hao chuckled, glancing at Zhou Chengzhong with indifference. "I see. Yet the young master of the Zhou family was just acting so arrogant, claiming he was here to buy a house at Dingsheng Garden. It seems he doesn't know the rules of Jingzhou."

Zhou Chengzhong’s face turned livid. Overwhelmed with shame, he lowered his head.