Chapter 277: Mission Impossible
Chapter 277: Mission Impossible
Upon hearing that Lu Jiaxin intended to stay at a hotel, Aunt Mei suggested, "Young Miss, Grandma has been in high spirits these past few days. Why don't you stay here?"
Lu Jiaxin explained, "This time, I'm here to transport some items my parents gave me. Once this matter is settled, I need to return to the mainland."
"Young Miss is returning to the mainland again?"
Lu Jiaxin indicated that she had more matters to attend to on the mainland, but she didn't elaborate on the specifics.
Aunt Mei didn't press the issue further.
As the departing car drove away, Ame blurted out, "Aunt Mei, I think Young Miss moved out to enjoy some alone time with Young Master Nie."
Hong Kong was more liberal compared to the mainland, and cohabitation between unmarried couples was relatively common. However, prominent families still preferred their daughters to maintain a spotless reputation.
Aunt Mei refuted, "Nonsense! Young Miss isn't even eighteen yet!"
After Lu Jiaxin moved her belongings into the hotel suite, she took Gu Wenfeng and Xiao Xiao to stroll through Harbour City. Feng Qinglei had just received a new batch of exquisite ingredients, so Nie Zhan finished work and came to pick her up for a French dinner.
Feng Qinglei thoughtfully sent over a bottle of red wine for them.
Nie Zhan was about to decline when Lu Jiaxin noticed it was an '82 Lafite. She smiled and said, "I've never tasted red wine before. I'd like to give it a try."
In her previous life, the '82 Lafite had become exorbitantly expensive, and while she had seen it, she couldn't afford to drink it. Now that she had the opportunity, she naturally wanted to indulge in this luxury.
As soon as the bottle was opened, a rich aroma wafted into their noses. Lu Jiaxin took a small sip and savored the smooth, natural flavor. It was indeed delightful.
Nie Zhan, concerned, said, "If you can't handle it, don't force yourself."
Lu Jiaxin assured him that she would only drink this small glass and that the rest could be stored at the restaurant for their next visit. "Mr. Feng, can you keep it here for us?"
"Of course. If you like it, I'll send you two more bottles later."
Lu Jiaxin shook her head. "No need. I don't drink at home. Mr. Feng, do you use Lafite for your red wine braised beef here?"
Feng Qinglei smiled and replied, "We use a different type of red wine for that dish, but it's also excellent. If you're interested, I can open a bottle for you to taste."
Lu Jiaxin politely declined. While there were claims in her previous life that red wine had anti-aging, beauty-enhancing, and digestive health benefits, it was still alcohol, no matter how prettily it was described. It was only because the '82 Lafite had gained such high acclaim that she wanted to sample it and see if it lived up to the hype. The taste was indeed wonderful, but it wasn't as miraculous as people made it out to be.
Nie Zhan found his presence irritating and asked him to leave. "If you have nothing better to do, why don't you go check on our food? I'm starving."
Feng Qinglei smiled and walked away.
The dishes were served promptly, and they were all Lu Jiaxin's favorites. As they ate and chatted, Nie Zhan asked, "Are you planning to use the money from pawning those items for stock trading?"
Lu Jiaxin nodded in confirmation.
Nie Zhan didn't want her to risk losing that money, so he said, "Jiaxin, if you trust me, give me that money, and I'll help you invest it."
While she had absolute faith in his money-making abilities, Lu Jiaxin still refused. "Not for now. When I have extra money in the future, and you have a good project, I'll consider investing then."
He recalled that in September, the Island Country, along with four other countries, including America, had jointly signed an agreement at the New York Plaza Hotel, later known as the Plaza Accord. She remembered it being signed in the latter half of September, but she couldn't recall the exact date, and she had been racking her brains trying to figure it out these past few days.
Nie Zhan was a little helpless. Many people in Hong Kong sought his guidance on investment projects, and this was the first time he had proactively offered and been turned down.
Changing the subject, Lu Jiaxin said, "Nie Zhan, there's something strange going on. Auntie has been ill for over a year now, and He Zhuliang's couple has bribed Hong Gu and the two maids."
Upon hearing about Aunt Mei's situation, Nie Zhan speculated, "Given the circumstances, the He family should have discovered something amiss long ago."
Something was clearly off about Gu Xiuxiu's situation as well.
Nie Zhan inquired, "Do they usually come to visit Mrs. Gu?"
"He Zhuliang only visited Aunt Mei once, during the Chinese New Year. I asked Aunt Mei about it, and she said they only had dinner together on New Year's Eve, and the rest of the time, they ate separately. Although He Zhuliang and his wife didn't come, He Mingzhu would visit from time to time."
He Zhuliang and his wife had five children—three sons and two daughters. Of the five, only He Mingzhu would occasionally visit Gu Xiuxiu. He Yanyan would only show up to pick a fight and was rarely seen otherwise.
Nie Zhan said, "Do you suspect that He Mingzhu already knows something?"
Lu Jiaxin nodded. "Even if she's not certain, she must have her suspicions. What's strange is that He Zhuliang and his wife haven't made any moves."
Previously, when Gu Xiuxiu had bought houses for Lu Jiaxin and Hai Fan, the He family had found out very quickly, which proved that they had been keeping a close eye on Aunt Mei's assets.
Nie Zhan pondered for a moment before saying, "Is it possible that Hong Gu and Ame haven't truly been bought by He Zhuliang and his wife? As for He Mingzhu, perhaps she's holding back out of consideration for old times' sake, or maybe she's just getting forgetful in her old age."
Lu Jiaxin shared similar suspicions. Earlier, she had wondered how Aunt Mei could have emerged victorious from the power struggle within the He family and secured ten percent of the He Corporation's shares. Clearly, she was a formidable woman. So, why would she tolerate Hong Gu's betrayal? If Hong Gu's betrayal was meant to lull He Zhuliang and his wife into a false sense of security, and the other servants were actually loyal to Aunt Mei, then it would all make sense.
As the saying goes, the richer the family, the more intrigue and conflict. Every member of the He family, including Aunt Mei, was full of cunning and schemes! It was a good thing that Lu Jiaxin had maintained her distance from the He family after arriving in Hong Kong; otherwise, who knows what fate might have befallen her.
Nie Zhan said, "Jiaxin, I don't think you need to worry about Mrs. Gu. After she found out about her illness, she immediately brought you and Gu Haifan over, and she must have made other arrangements as well."
Lu Jiaxin hadn't thought too deeply about it. "If Aunt Mei has made other arrangements, that would be for the best. If not, we'll still need to take care of her and make sure she doesn't end up in a retirement home."
Nie Zhan noticed Lu Jiaxin's aversion to the idea of a retirement home. "Jiaxin, as long as the retirement home they choose has comprehensive facilities and good service, it can be a very good option."
"Aunt Mei doesn't want to go to a retirement home," Lu Jiaxin insisted. "She wants to spend the rest of her life in the Gu residence. Since it's her wish, it's best to respect her decision and let her live out her days as she desires."
Nie Zhan nodded. "Let's go play tennis on Saturday."
He had already planned out his work for the week and didn't want to disrupt his schedule for personal reasons. Saturday was his leisure time, which he could arrange as he pleased.
"Okay," Lu Jiaxin agreed.
The next day, while Nie Zhan went to work, Lu Jiaxin went shopping in Central. She mostly window-shopped and only occasionally made purchases, browsing through high-end and luxury brand stores.
Because she was accompanied by her bodyguard, the salespeople were attentive and courteous, even if she only browsed without buying. They knew she was a potential customer, and if she didn't purchase anything today, there was always the next time.
By the time Lu Jiaxin returned to the hotel at 5 p.m., her feet were sore. She immediately called for a female masseuse to give her a massage. With Xiao Xiao in the room, Lu Jiaxin didn't hold back and fell asleep during the massage.
When she woke up, it was already almost 8 p.m. Qian Xiaoxiao said, "Mr. Nie called at 6 p.m. and said that he had to deal with something at the company, so he won't be able to accompany you for dinner tonight."
Even the president had to work overtime—what a tough job.
Lu Jiaxin asked, "Did Nie Jingwen call?"
Qian Xiaoxiao nodded. "Yes, he did. He said he has already arranged for someone to be there tomorrow at 9 a.m. at the bank. Sister Jiaxin, remember to inform Mr. Nie about this later."
"Okay," Lu Jiaxin replied.
(End of Chapter)
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