Chapter 41: He Gives Me a Different Feeling

Wearing a mask, Lisa regained her confidence, standing tall and proud once more.

After all, there were no familiar faces around, and she had her mask on.

As she walked from her seat to the car just a few dozen meters away, she even considered pretending not to know Cheng Daqi, keeping her distance from the Asian mechanic.

Finally seated in the car, Lisa threw down her mask with a resentful glare at Cheng Daqi.

The jerk was still nonchalantly staring at his phone as if nothing had happened.

The car slowly made its way to the bank, and Lisa felt like she was playing the role of a chauffeur.

The world's most unfortunate chauffeur.

Not only unpaid but also treating the passenger to a meal.

Not only treating the passenger to a meal but also playing matchmaker and providing free endorsements.

But offering free help was her own choice, and treating to a meal was just coincidental.

Lisa pondered over it but couldn't find any reason to be angry.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, but backing down made her even angrier.

"Chan, can you apologize to me?"

"Huh?"

???

A woman's heart is as changeable as the clouds. Despite living two lifetimes, Cheng Daqi couldn't comprehend Lisa's thoughts.

Wasn't it just about tricking her into eating raw beef at the restaurant?

But Cheng Daqi knew that encountering someone like Lisa, who helped without expecting anything in return, was already fortunate, let alone her going out of her way to connect him to her network, directly introducing him to her friend at the bank.

Not dwelling on Lisa's changing attitude, Cheng Daqi promptly apologized with sincerity.

"Lisa, America isn't my homeland, and here I am practically a stranger. Meeting someone like you, who is genuinely kind and sincere, is my luck. Regardless of whether you help or not, in my eyes, you're the most beautiful and genuine person I've met in America. I genuinely thought the steak tartare tasted unique, so I recommended it to you, not expecting you to dislike it. I'm sorry, my friend."

Ding, Persuasion Level 1 activated, increasing communication efficiency and persuasion success rate.

Ding, Persuasion skill upgraded to Level 2.

Gratitude doesn't need to be lengthy; Cheng Daqi's sincerity was his signature move.

You made me apologize, and when I did, it was full of emotion. How could you not be moved?

Moreover, the system timely provided assistance.

Of course, Lisa was moved. She felt she had set her expectations too high for Cheng Daqi.

This poor undocumented immigrant had never been to such an expensive restaurant before. Even if he took away three cases of water, it was just to avoid waste.

In retrospect, Cheng Daqi only said the steak tartare had a unique flavor, not that it tasted great. It was her misunderstanding that led to high expectations.

She even felt she had been too harsh on Cheng Daqi.

"Chan, I was just kidding—"

"No, Lisa, I wasn't joking. It's already October, and the streets of St. Louis are cold and deserted at night. You said our relationship is that of strangers, but to me, it feels as warm as friendship."

All emotional output, no logic.

Cheng Daqi had no ulterior motives towards Lisa. He just wanted to make a friend.

Taking advantage of his disadvantaged position, he showed vulnerability, evoking Lisa's protective instincts as a woman.

Hmm, he didn't know if this strategy would work on American blonde girls, but he decided to give it a try.

"Chan, I was a bit too rude today. What you did at the restaurant wasn't excessive; it was even reasonable."

Sometimes Cheng Daqi also felt guilty.

Making friends with a strategy, fooling someone like Lisa who genuinely helped him.

He could only make up for it later.

After all, his current situation was really dire, and he had to seize every opportunity available.

Lisa and her family's connections had tremendous potential value.

"Lisa, you care too much about my feelings. We're friends, aren't we? How could there be any grudges over such trivial matters between friends?"

Ding,

With the upgraded skill, the chances of triggering it were higher, so Cheng Daqi chose to turn off the annoying skill prompt tone.

"System, disable the skill effect prompt for Persuasion."

Holding the steering wheel tightly, Lisa felt her perspective had narrowed.

Morrie & Cronin Bank was an old bank founded during the Gold Rush era.

Its business was concentrated on the West Coast of America.

As a local medium-sized bank, lacking the ability to compete directly with large banks, its business was very down-to-earth.

For example, providing financial services to undocumented immigrants.

Lisa took Cheng Daqi deep into the Morrie & Cronin Bank branch in St. Louis, directly to her friend's office.

"He's my old classmate, and we get along well. His name is Slayton."

As Lisa knocked on the door, she introduced Cheng Daqi to Slayton. Soon, the door to the office opened.

"Lisa, look at you, still as charming as ever. Long time no see."

A bearded, burly man smiled and hugged Lisa.

"Ryan, your beard is still as disgusting as ever, haha."

Lisa affectionately called out Slayton's name while ruthlessly teasing him.

She did have a good relationship with Slayton.

"Who's this?"

The big-bearded manager looked at Cheng Daqi behind Lisa and tentatively spoke.

"Yes, he's a friend I met during an event, Chan, from China, but his status isn't okay right now, so he needs some help."

Lisa turned sideways and introduced Cheng Daqi to Slayton.

The big-bearded man glanced at Cheng Daqi with a scrutinizing gaze, said nothing more, and ushered them into the office.

"The contract is ready; you can double-check it. If everything's okay, I can submit the application directly in the system, and it'll be processed soon."

That's the power of connections, easily giving wings to the process.

Cheng Daqi didn't mind Slayton's gaze.

If it were him, he wouldn't have a good impression either if his classmate got involved with an unknown undocumented immigrant, let alone a non-white one.

As long as things got done.

After quickly confirming the key terms of the contract, Lisa said, "No problem, we can sign now."

"Okay, Lisa, you come with me to submit the application, and Chan, you wait here for a while."

Slayton picked up the contract, apologized with a hint of regret to Cheng Daqi.

"No problem, Mr. Slayton, thank you for your help."

Cheng Daqi sincerely thanked him without asking further questions.

It was evident that Lisa's old classmate wasn't too trusting of Lisa's choice. He probably wanted to have a private chat with Lisa before finalizing the contract.

But Cheng Daqi was prepared. He had just continuously output emotional persuasion in the car, and Lisa's favorability was already quite high. He wasn't worried about any mishaps.

Walking down the bank's corridor, watching Lisa's profile, Slayton asked with concern, "Lisa, how did you get involved with such an unknown undocumented immigrant? My God, he's even Asian!"

In Slayton's mind, an undocumented immigrant equaled a criminal.

This undocumented immigrant wasn't even white.

Since elementary school, Lisa had been an extraordinary figure in his eyes.

Now, seeing his goddess handling business with an unknown Asian, his feelings were extremely complicated.

Lisa pondered for a moment and replied, "Ryan, Chan is a very sincere person. He has his own ideals and capabilities, and he gives me a different feeling."

He has ideals.

He has capabilities.

He gives me a different feeling.

Yes, we don't have much fate, but how dare you choose a yellow-haired person over me!

In the mind of a white supremacist like Slayton, Asian equals yellow-haired.

He smiled lightly but felt like his heart had turned to ashes.