Chapter 439: Love Lies Elsewhere
Chapter 439: Love Lies Elsewhere
Su Heyuan had always considered himself exceptional and believed that he could marry any woman he desired. However, after facing rejection twice, he felt ashamed and disheartened, and didn't want to confide in anyone. But seeing Lu Jiaxin's expression, he worried that she might think him irresponsible with his feelings, and that would be a great loss if it created distance between them.
Lu Jiaxin wasn't one to pry, but seeing his conflicted expression, she said, "If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. Marriages are made by fate, and your true destiny hasn't arrived yet."
Su Heyuan gave her a bitter smile. "Ye Xin has no scruples when it comes to money, and Bai Jingshu already loves someone else. I have no idea when my true love will appear."
Lu Jiaxin was astonished. "Miss Bai has a lover?"
Su Heyuan nodded. "She had a boyfriend whom she dated for many years, but they separated due to unknown reasons. Though they're apart, she still pines for him."
"How do you know?" Lu Jiaxin asked.
Since he'd already said this much, Su Heyuan decided to continue. "Once, while we were out shopping, she saw a wind chime and became lost in thought. Her eyes reflected both longing and sadness. So, I asked someone to investigate, and that's how I found out."
Having experienced love himself, he could easily read the emotions in her eyes. Afterward, he had inquired about her and learned that she had a long-term boyfriend.
Lu Jiaxin asked, "If they've been dating for many years, then your families must know about it. Why didn't they get married?"
Su Heyuan replied glumly, "The man accidentally injured his sister's husband and was sentenced to six years in prison. A family like the Bai family would never accept a son-in-law with a criminal record."
After a moment of silence, Lu Jiaxin asked, "Knowing that she loves someone else, are you still willing to marry her?"
"She's virtuous and considerate, and she takes good care of my father," Su Heyuan explained. "I thought to myself that everyone has a past. But I didn't expect that he and my father would be incompatible, so there's no other way."
Lu Jiaxin frowned. "But He Ming said that you calculated her and my birthdays to check our compatibility. I can understand you doing that for her and your father, but why calculate ours?"
Su Heyuan laughed. "You're my lucky star. I've invited you to meet so many times, but something always came up, and we never managed to meet. I thought that perhaps the two of you might be incompatible, so I asked a master to calculate it for me."
Lu Jiaxin was speechless in response to his explanation.
She shook her head in confusion. "You've only been in Hong Kong for four years, yet you've become so superstitious. The locals here aren't like that."
Su Heyuan thought that Lu Jiaxin's social circle was too limited. "You haven't interacted much with the wealthy. They're extremely superstitious. They invite masters to choose auspicious dates for project commencements, ask for blessings when business is slow, and consult masters to determine if a potential bride will bring prosperity to her husband. If she's deemed auspicious, even someone from a slum can marry into a wealthy family."
Lu Jiaxin felt that this was a load of nonsense. "According to what you said, the Second Young Master Nie's wife wouldn't have been able to marry into the family. She would have been rejected."
Su Heyuan clarified, "The Second Young Master Nie already loved Kang Huijuan, and she was carrying his child. If they were forced to separate, it would have been a loss of virtue..."
Lu Jiaxin's head was spinning from all this information, and she quickly interrupted. "Let's eat. I'm hungry."
After the meal, Lu Jiaxin said she was tired from her journey and needed to rest. After seeing her guests out, she called Nie Zhan.
Nie Zhan was delighted to hear from her. "Jiaxin, when did you get back?"
"I arrived home at four in the afternoon," Lu Jiaxin said. "I called your company and heard that you were busy, so I didn't want to disturb you. Are you done with work now?"
"I just finished dinner," Nie Zhan replied. "I'll come over as soon as I'm done eating."
After hanging up, Lu Jiaxin went for a walk outside. After strolling for more than half an hour, she picked up a pair of scissors and headed to the garden.
The roses and monthly flowers were in full bloom, their vibrant colors creating a stunning display. Lu Jiaxin carefully snipped a few blossoms, arranging them into a delicate bouquet as she returned to the living room.
In her past life, she had specifically taken up flower arrangement classes, and now she skillfully trimmed and arranged the ten roses into a delicate bouquet within a plum blossom porcelain vase—a beautiful combination.
Hearing the sound of a car, Lu Jiaxin knew it was Nie Zhan and put down her scissors to greet him. As she reached the door, she saw him striding towards her, holding a large bouquet of King Blue roses.
Lu Jiaxin took the extravagant bouquet with a smile. "My backyard garden is already filled with vibrant colors. You don't need to buy me flowers for a while."
Nie Zhan returned her smile. "Do you like them?"
"I do."
"Then it's not a waste."
Lu Jiaxin placed the King Blue roses in a Yuan Qinghua porcelain vase and asked the butler to take it to her room. Then, the couple strolled into the backyard garden.
Nie Zhan interlaced his fingers with hers as they walked. "Wait until September or October; I'll take a week off and go hiking with you on Mount Tai to see the beautiful scenery you've been telling me about."
Although the photos hadn't been developed yet, Lu Jiaxin had described the breathtaking view from the peak of Mount Tai over the phone, and it had captivated his imagination. He used to be an avid adventurer, even partaking in extreme sports, but his busy work schedule had left him with little time for travel lately.
The sunrise from the peak of Mount Tai was truly a sight to behold, and Lu Jiaxin couldn't help but smile as she spoke of it. "Let's go during the Mid-Autumn Festival. I'll take a few days off to accompany you."
Schools would be closed for the festival, and with a few extra days off, it would be the perfect opportunity.
Nie Zhan was surprised, feeling as if the sun had risen in the west. "You'll take time off to accompany me hiking?"
Lu Jiaxin smiled at his astonished expression. "It's been a while since we traveled together. It's rare for you to have free time, so of course, I'll join you. But before we go, we should plan it out and make sure the weather is clear. We won't be able to climb if it rains."
Nie Zhan felt incredibly blessed to have such an understanding girlfriend.
Lu Jiaxin brought up the topic of the Wangsheng Bank's purchase of the prime real estate. "I heard you disagreed with the decision and even had a dispute with your eldest brother over it?"
Nie Zhan immediately guessed, "Was it Su Heyuan who told you?"
"Yes," Lu Jiaxin replied. "Is your brother planning to develop a real estate project on that large plot of land?"
Seeing him nod, Lu Jiaxin asked curiously, "With the real estate market booming, buying land and developing properties seems like a good opportunity. Why are you against it?"
Nie Zhan paused their walk and considered his response before speaking. "There are many internal issues within the bank that need addressing. I don't think it's wise to invest such a large sum in real estate without first resolving those problems. If there's a significant market shock, the bank will be affected."
Tilting her head, Lu Jiaxin asked, "What kind of market shock do you foresee?"
"The stock market is a bit overheated right now, and it worries me," Nie Zhan explained. "If there's a stock market crash, many people will be unable to repay their loans, and the bank will be burdened with even more non-performing loans."
He continued, offering advice to Lu Jiaxin, "Before every stock market crash, there's a frenzy of everyone investing in the stock market. We're already seeing signs of that. You should reduce your stock holdings, and it's best to close your position on the Nikkei index."
He knew that Lu Jiaxin's portfolio consisted of blue-chip stocks, so even in the event of a market crash, she wouldn't suffer significant losses, and the stocks would eventually recover. However, the amount invested in the Nikkei index was substantial, so it would be safer to close that position.
Lu Jiaxin's face lit up with a brilliant smile. "There shouldn't be any issues for now, but if the market continues to heat up, I'll ask my manager to sell some stocks. As for the Nikkei index, my contract ends in September, so I'll close the position then and won't renew it."
Nie Zhan gently caressed Lu Jiaxin's smooth hair, his voice filled with emotion. "If only my brother could be more like you. I've talked to him several times, urging him to deal with the non-performing loans first, but he refuses to listen. He's determined to spend over a billion on that plot of land."
(End of Chapter)
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