Chapter 4 The Bet

On the other hand, Ethan’s expression darkened when he realized that Zayn had the audacity to ignore him. If one were to ask Ethan who was the biggest eyesore in the entire world, it was certainly Zayn. Four years ago, had it not been for that good-for-nothing Zayn who appeared out of nowhere, he would have had a relationship with Faye!

“Hello, sir. May I ask which type of service you are seeking?”

Zayn looked around the room upon entering the bank, and a teller with a pretty face had walked over to him. With a single glance of his shabby clothing, she could tell that Zayn was a poor man. The smile on her face was just humoring him, but Zayn did not mind. He said, “I’m here to withdraw some money.”

“Ah, you can queue up over there,” she lazily replied, pointing at the long line.

It happened to be the weekend, so many people had come to withdraw money. Long queues were forming at the few available kiosks.

Zayn smiled and said, “From what I can tell, there’s no need for a VIP customer to queue up, right?”

The teller was stunned by Zayn’s words. In that instant, her attitude changed tremendously. “That’s right, a VIP customer doesn’t need to queue up. Are you a VIP customer?”

It was not an easy feat to become this particular bank’s VIP customer. One could only qualify to apply with more than 1.5 million dollars in one’s savings account. The man before her may have been wearing disheveled attire, yet he was a VIP customer. Modern rich people were truly skilled at playing the fool.

Just as the teller was preparing to take Zayne to the VIP exclusive channel, a snigger was heard coming from the side. “Hah-hah, what’s wrong with your eyes? Does a man dressed like that look like he could have 1.5 million dollars? If he’s a VIP customer then I’m the wealthiest man in the world.”

It was Ethan again. His interest had piqued as soon as he entered the bank and heard what Zayn said.

The teller’s expression abruptly changed. She spoke with a vicious attitude, “Sir, this is a bank, not a circus. Will you please stop joking?”

Zayn said with a frown, “Who’s joking with you? I really am a VIP customer and I’m a VVIP as well.”

Zayn’s claim made Ethan and his two goons laugh even more raucously. In fact, everyone else in the lobby also joined in the mockery after hearing his words. They felt that Zayn must be mentally retarded and delusional.

The teller’s expression grew even more unpleasant as she lost her patience. “Sir, please stop being a nuisance and don’t disrupt our work anymore. Otherwise, don’t blame us for taking strict measures.”

Two burly security guards walked over and pinned Zayn in between them, glaring at him with hostility.

Zayn was starting to get ticked off and said, “I genuinely am a VVIP customer here. Your position is low, so your opinion doesn’t count. Send your manager to meet me.”

It went without saying, Ethan felt invigorated when he saw Zayn being forced to yield. He stepped forward and said in an eccentric tone, “Hey, why are all of you judging a book by its cover, huh? It’s true that his outfit looks a little rough, his clothes are dirtier than a dishcloth, and he came here on an electric scooter. Nevertheless, he might be a super-wealthy tycoon who chose to live a life of poverty on purpose, hah-hah-hah! He claims that he’s a VVIP customer, so he must have a VIP card, right? Let’s have him give us a look.”

“You’re right. I do have a VIP card.” Zayn smiled and took it from his pocket. It was completely black and had an especially fine design. One could tell that it was made of a different material than an ordinary bank card. It did not have the bank’s logo printed on it but golden lines that formed a simple dragon symbol. The word ‘Larson’ was engraved under the symbol.

Everyone was stunned for a moment upon seeing the black card because they did not think that Zayn truly had something to show. It did not make sense at all. Since when was the VIP card so commonplace?

Ethan was stunned for a moment since he had not expected Zayn would actually display his VIP card. Then, he quickly noticed that something was off. The VIP card was different from the one he had.

“Hah-hah, you’re killing me with laughter, Zayn! You’re such a moron. You just forged a fake card and still have the courage to claim that it’s a VIP card?” Ethan took out a shimmering bank card from his wallet with a disdainful expression. He loudly slapped it on the countertop in front of Zayn, saying arrogantly, “Look at it closely, you imbecile. This is the VIP card of this bank, and every card is given a specific serial number so it can’t be forged elsewhere! You think that everybody else is as idiotic as you just because you’re an idiot? Pretty lady, you’re a staff member here. Can you tell everyone if this man’s card is a VIP card?”

The teller was of a low rank, so she could not recognize the black card in Zayn’s hand either. She said derisively, “It’s certainly not a VIP card. Our bank’s VIP card is not of such poor quality!”

Zayn was not infuriated by Ethan, of course. His black card was one of a kind and it was a symbol of one’s prestigious identity. Naturally, a wannabe like Ethan would not be able to recognize it. However, he suddenly came up with an idea as he watched Ethan’s showboating behavior. He smiled and said, “It’s true that my card here is not an ordinary VIP card. It’s the exclusive black card. It’s to be expected that a man of your status would not recognize it.”

“That’s funny. You’re so stupid claiming it’s a black card! Never mind that this bank doesn’t even issue black cards, if there was, would you have the slightest chance of having one? Who are you but a useless son-in-law who married into his wife’s family? You’re a piece of trash who needs his woman to support even your meal allowance!” Ethan yelled while pointing at Zayn’s nose.

Instead of getting angry, Zayn chuckled and replied, “Ethan, I recommend that you don't speak about what you don't know. That way, you won’t embarrass yourself. Your status is not high enough. Just because you haven’t seen it before doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.”

Ethan felt rage building in him when he saw the worthless Zayn was still capable of laughing. “Alright, you’re stubborn, aren’t you? Here, if you can prove that your card is indeed a black card, I shall kneel down to you right now and call you ‘daddy’ three times! If you can’t, then you shall kneel down to me and address me as ‘uncle’. Moreover, you have to get a divorce from Faye. Do you dare to take the bet?”

His arms were crossed as he stared coldly at Zayn. He was certain that Zayn would not have the courage to accept the wager.

Zayn had a strange expression on his face. “Forget about all your bets. There’s no need for that.”

Ethan assumed that Zayn was terrified, so he burst out laughing. “Hah-hah-hah, why? Are you scared now? Are you chickening out? You seemed so full of yourself earlier. Go ahead and try it again so I can see!”

The rest of the crowd was also watching Zayn making a fool of himself.

Zayn said, “Who says that I'm terrified? A person of integrity can stand severe tests. I’m only afraid that you’re going to back out.”

“I’d back out? That’s the biggest joke ever!” Ethan waved his huge hand and knocked his fingers against the table. “I, Ethan Capel, am declaring this publicly today. If you can prove that your card is a VVIP card, I will kneel to you instantly and address you as ‘my daddy’ thrice! I will never back out!”

He spoke with determination and stared at Zayn intensely.

Zayn snickered. “You said it yourself.”

“Stop jabbering. I’d like to see how you’re going to prove this to me.” Ethan sneered. He was certain that he would win.