C27 The Most Perfect Lie! Who Said That This Was a Fake Check?(1)

The CEO's office fell into an eerie silence.

Liang Shaan, Liang Feng, and Zhu Gaihua simultaneously fixed their gaze on the cashier's check resting on the table, their expressions frozen in shock.

Their eyes widened and they gasped at the sight of the amount written on the check.

Five hundred million!

The staggering sum took them all aback.

Even Bai Wenling was momentarily stunned, particularly when she caught sight of the payer's name on the check, causing her pupils to constrict.

Hsu Hongfei!

The chairman of Quanzhou's largest calligraphy and painting enterprise, Picturesque Company!

He possessed a singular talent in the arts, with an uncanny ability to commit any painting to memory at a glance and replicate it flawlessly.

Moreover, his keen judgment of character was legendary; he could discern an employee's loyalty with just one look.

It was this knack that ensured Picturesque Company never suffered a betrayal, fostering a culture of unwavering loyalty and unity that cemented its esteemed status in Quanzhou.

What on earth had Su Hao done that morning to secure a cashier's check worth half a billion, especially one signed by Hsu Hongfei himself?

After a prolonged silence, Liang Shaan, Bai Wenling's uncle, finally spoke up.

"Su Hao, is this check for real?"

Skepticism tinged his voice.

He was well aware of Su Hao's reputation.

A life of indulgence in food, drink, gambling, and vice, Su Hao was the epitome of a wastrel.

Without the protection of the Su family's name, Su Hao's recent antics would have surely led to his downfall.

It was precisely because of his knowledge of Su Hao's character and notoriety that he harbored doubts about the legitimacy of the check.

Liang Feng and Zhu Gan Hua also eyed Su Hao with suspicion, their looks heavy with mistrust.

"Uncle, I recall you majored in economics at University 211 and even achieved considerable success," Su Hao said, not directly addressing the question but instead fixing his uncle with a slight smile. "You should be quite familiar with what a cashier's check looks like and whether it's genuine or not."

A flush of embarrassment crept over Liang Shaan's face as he replied awkwardly, "Well... of course, I know. It's just that the counterfeit checks nowadays are so sophisticated, some can't be detected by manual inspection."

As he spoke, he quickly turned to Liang Feng and urged, "Little Feng, doesn't your son work in the finance department at Picturesque Company? Snap a photo of this check and have him verify if it's legitimate!"

Liang Feng hesitated briefly before pulling out his phone to photograph the check. He then sent it to his son via WeChat with a voice message, "Son, this is the check your cousin Su Hao brought back. Could you check if it matches your chairman's signature?"

A voice reply came through shortly after.

"Dad, how can you trust Su Hao? Given his history of deceit and shady behavior, that check is probably a fake. Don't let him swindle you!"

The office sank into an uneasy quiet following his words.

Bai Wenling's brow furrowed, visibly upset by the son's remarks.

Su Hao, meanwhile, remained stoically calm, seemingly unaffected by the comments.

"Son, I've told you time and again not to view your cousin Su Hao through a biased lens," Liang Feng said, his face flushed with embarrassment as he played the stern parent in his voice message.

"Examine the check closely and determine its authenticity."

Silence followed the message.

Three minutes later, the phone vibrated with two incoming voice messages.

"Dad, the check is a counterfeit. Due to a rise in forgery, our company discreetly changed our check designs yesterday. The chairman now uses the new style exclusively. The check you photographed is an outdated version, clearly a forgery."

"Even if the handwriting looks identical to the chairman's, there are many skilled forgers out there. It's possible Su Hao paid someone to write on the check. That man is more trouble than he's worth. You'd be better off keeping your distance. Don't expect any favors from him. He's nothing but a discarded member of the Su family, harsh as it sounds, just refuse swept out by the Su's. A reject like that—what good do you think he can do for you?"

The chilling tone of these messages sent the office temperature plummeting.

Bai Wenling's expression darkened, a hint of chill passing through her eyes as she asked pointedly, "Uncle, don't you think our cousin's education could use some improvement?"

Liang Feng's face twisted with embarrassment, realizing his son must have assumed Su Hao wasn't around, hence the blunt talk.

Meanwhile, Zhu Ganhua and Liang Shaan were focused on something else entirely. They eyed Su Hao, gesturing towards the check with narrowed eyes, "Su Hao, care to explain?"

"What's there to explain?" Su Hao responded coolly.

"If this check is proven to be a forgery, legal repercussions will follow swiftly. What exactly are you playing at?" Liang Shaan's gaze hardened, his irritation palpable.

He was fortunate to have been cautious, having Liang Feng's son do a little digging. Otherwise, presenting that counterfeit check at the bank would have landed someone straight in jail, with no hope of redemption.

Su Hao cracked a smile, "Who's to say the check is fake?"

"Still playing tough when you're backed into a corner? Didn't you hear what your cousin just said?" Liang Shaan glared at Su Hao, his face growing darker.

"Cousin?" Su Hao feigned surprise, then feigned realization, "Oh, that voice was his? I mistook it for some idiot babbling while swimming in a sewage pit!"

With a sharp "Pah!" Liang Feng slammed his hand on the table, his face icing over, "Su Hao, don't push your luck. Who do you think you are, trying to deceive us with a fake check? Do you take us for fools? I'm warning you, if you don't clear this up, you're going to regret it today."

His words tore any pretense of civility to shreds. Already loathing Su Hao, Liang Feng's fury was now fully ignited by the mock check and the mockery aimed at his son.

"Enough, Feng. You're the elder here. Is it worth getting this worked up over a junior?" Liang Shaan intervened, attempting to diffuse the tension that filled the office.

Liang Feng let out a cold snort, his expression rigid with lingering anger. Liang Shaan, observing this, gave a wry smile and said, "Su Hao, you're not in the right here. The company is facing crises from all sides, and we're already on edge. To come here with a bogus check and toy with us—isn't that just mocking us?"

"Who says it's a bogus check?" Su Hao remained unfazed.

"Still being damn obstinate, huh?" Liang Feng, barely having cooled off, flared up again at Su Hao's response.

"Do I really need to take this check and confirm it with Hsu Hongfei in person before you're satisfied, just to shred your reputation to pieces?"

"That won't be necessary," Su Hao replied with a faint smile, pointing to the back of the check. "Hsu Hongfei's direct line for check verification is right here. If you want to confirm, just give him a call."

Liang Feng was taken aback, and so were Liang Shaan and Zhu Qianhua. They all knew the check was a fake, and yet Su Hao was daring them to verify it? What kind of fool did he take them for?

Bai Wenling, however, narrowed her eyes and reached for the phone, dialing the number on the back of the check. After a few rings, someone answered.

"Hello, I'm Hsu Hongfei," came a calm, composed voice.

At the sound of Hsu Hongfei's voice, Liang Shaan and the others perked up with renewed interest.

Bai Wenling glanced at Su Hao and spoke into the phone, "Hello, Director Hsu. This is Bai Wenling, CEO of Butterfly Loving Flower Company."

"Ah, Miss Bai, that explains the delightful voice that's eased my weariness considerably," Hsu Hongfei expressed his surprise, followed by a genteel chuckle. "I was just about to call you, Miss Bai, but it seems you've beaten me to it. We must be quite in sync!"

"Director Hsu, you're a man of culture and wit; I can hardly compare," Bai Wenling replied with an elegant smile, stealing a glance at Su Hao's unruffled demeanor. After a brief pause, she inquired, "Director Hsu, I'm calling to inquire about something. Did you issue a named check to my fiancé, Su Hao?"

As the words were spoken, the office fell into a profound hush.

Everyone's ears perked up in anticipation of Hsu Hongfei's reply.

The silence lingered briefly, only to be shattered by Hsu Hongfei's voice.

"Yes, the check may be from an older series of our company's, but it's still valid for bank withdrawals. Mr. Su, you possess an exceptional eye for detail and a remarkable talent for appraisal. Today, you discerned the genuine 'Autumn Wind Silk Fan Picture' by Tang Bohu at the antique market. Being an avid art collector, I was eager to acquire it, and upon learning that Mr. Su was interested in selling, I immediately purchased it for 500 million."

With those words, the office was enveloped in a deafening silence, where one could almost hear a pin drop.

Liang Shaan and the others stared at Su Hao, thunderstruck, their faces frozen in disbelief.

Could that five hundred million named check actually be real?