Chapter 85: A Handsome Man
Chapter 85: A Handsome Man
Honey-glazed char siu, a stone bass prepared with a delicate broth, and a seasonal vegetable dish were served.
Lu Jiaxin took a bite of the fish first, savoring the tender and smooth texture while retaining the fresh and fragrant flavor. She had tasted this dish at this hotel in her previous life, and it didn't taste nearly as good as it did now. She attributed it to two reasons: first, the chef's skills were probably not as refined back then, and second, the fish was likely farmed instead of wild-caught as it was now.
After a delightful meal, Lu Jiaxin felt cheerful and wanted to go for a stroll. Unfortunately, Gu Wenfeng stopped her, concerned that the strong winds outside could cause her illness to relapse, leading to a fever.
Reluctantly, Lu Jiaxin had to abandon her plan, considering her health. As they exited the restaurant, they spotted a group of men in black suits surrounding a young man approaching their direction.
The sight of the young man caused Lu Jiaxin's eyes to widen in surprise. He had deep, dark eyes like black crystals, a well-proportioned face, and a tall, slender build. Dressed in a sleek gray suit, he exuded both elegance and handsomeness. Wherever he went, he would undoubtedly be the center of attention.
Gu Wenfeng waved his hand in front of Lu Jiaxin's eyes, snapping her out of her daze, and said with a smile, "Don't stare. They're already gone."
Lu Jiaxin regained her composure and excitedly said, "Brother Gu, let's go find the manager and inquire about that young master's identity."
What a stroke of luck!
Gu Wenfeng paused, leading her to a corner, and said earnestly, "Miss Lu, that young man clearly comes from a wealthy or influential background, and he's not a suitable match for you."
He actually thought that she was interested in that handsome man and wanted to get close to him. This was truly an unexpected assumption. Lu Jiaxin found it amusing and said, "Brother Gu, I'm only fifteen, still three years away from adulthood."
Who wouldn't admire a handsome man? But admiring someone doesn't mean anything more than that. Her current focus was on making money and getting into university; everything else held no interest for her.
Gu Wenfeng studied her expression and, feeling a bit embarrassed, said, "The way you were looking at him earlier made me think you had taken a liking to him."
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "When you come across such a handsome man, you can't help but take a second look. It would be a shame not to."
Gu Wenfeng felt that perhaps he was getting old and couldn't keep up with the younger generation's way of thinking. To ease the awkwardness, he said, "I'll send you back to your room first, and then I'll go and make some inquiries."
Since he had misunderstood her earlier, Lu Jiaxin figured that she might as well ask him to find out more about the young man's identity, as she intended to sell her paintings to him.
In Gu Wenfeng's eyes, Lu Jiaxin seemed like a fragile porcelain doll.
Back in the room, Gu Wenfeng followed Lu Jiaxin inside and, after closing the door, lowered his voice and asked, "Miss Lu, do you want to sell your painting to that young man we saw earlier?"
Lu Jiaxin nodded, "That handsome young man. His clothes and watch are quite expensive. People like him tend to be generous with their spending."
However, Gu Wenfeng felt that the young man they saw earlier wouldn't be interested in buying the painting, and even if he did, he wouldn't offer a high price. As for the reason, he believed that someone like that young man wouldn't usually appreciate antiques passed down from their ancestors.
Lu Jiaxin cleared her throat and said, "Children growing up in Hong Kong are influenced by Western culture, and they may consider some of our ancestral traditions as backward. But this definitely doesn't include antiques, paintings, and such. Brother Gu, in turbulent times, antiques thrive, and the wealthy understand this principle better than us."
"Then why do you think he would be willing to pay a high price for your painting?"
Lu Jiaxin asked a question in return, "Brother Gu, what do you think a person in a high position of power with vast assets would pursue?"
Gu Wenfeng didn't guess and instead asked, "What do you think?"
"Longevity. Throughout history, emperors have been the most obsessed with seeking longevity. Our painting has a very auspicious implication, and buying it as a gift for an elder in the family would be most appropriate."
Gu Wenfeng asked curiously, "Did your mother teach you all this as well?"
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "No, I figured this out from reading books. And this is also the reason why my mother insisted that I must get into university. She believes that reading widely broadens one's horizons and will prevent me from being bullied in the future."
Gu Wenfeng agreed, "Not only will you not be bullied, but with knowledge and education, you can become a useful person and contribute to the country."
Lu Jiaxin smiled but didn't respond.
After closing the door, Lu Jiaxin took out a tape recorder and a book that went with it. It wasn't just for show; she started studying diligently. She was fluent in French and could communicate effortlessly. Although she could speak English and manage basic communication, she struggled with more specialized vocabulary or faster speech. So, she had been studying diligently for the past few months.
After an hour, Lu Jiaxin felt a bit tired and stood up to stretch her limbs. Glancing at her watch, she noticed it was already past eight, and she wondered when Brother Gu would return.
After a 15-minute break, Lu Jiaxin resumed her studies, focusing on math problems. The original owner of this body had studied liberal arts, so math was her biggest challenge.
Lu Jiaxin muttered to herself, "Starting from scratch is so difficult. I'll have to hire a tutor when I get back to the city."
She wasn't worried about language or subjects like politics, history, and geography, but math was a different story. In her previous life, she hadn't been great at math, and even with intense effort, she had only managed to score 109 points on the college entrance exam. It had been over a decade since she last touched math, and her memory of it was fuzzy. However, to achieve excellent results and get into a good university, she knew she had to improve her math skills.
It was almost nine o'clock when Gu Wenfeng returned. He entered the room, poured himself a glass of water, and drank it before speaking, "The young man we saw earlier is called Nie Zhan, the grandson of Hong Kong tycoon Nie Shiheng. He's here to discuss a project with the government."
Lu Jiaxin thought about it and felt puzzled. In her previous life, she hadn't heard of any billionaire with the surname Nie in Hong Kong. Well, maybe she just hadn't come across it; "He doesn't look very old, yet he's representing the company in negotiations with the government."
Although she didn't know the specifics of the project, the fact that he was working with the government indicated that it was likely a large-scale venture. This gave her a glimpse of Nie Zhan's capabilities.
Gu Wenfeng said, "He's only 24 years old and already has a master's degree from Harvard Business School. He's extremely capable. This project is about opening a new branch in Pengcheng, and it's said that he played a pivotal role in making it happen."
Lu Jiaxin felt that Nie Zhan had a forward-thinking vision. By coming to the mainland to open a bank, he would undoubtedly reap enormous profits as long as he didn't withdraw prematurely.
Gu Wenfeng said, "Miss Lu, there was a kidnapping incident involving the Nie family in the past, so they always travel with a large number of bodyguards. We can't approach them rashly, or we might be misunderstood."
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "We don't need to approach him directly. As long as we connect with his secretary, it should be fine. We're here to sell paintings and make friends."
"Won't it be a problem to negotiate directly with the secretary?"
"Rest assured! Anyone who can be a secretary to a young master like that must be earning a high salary. They won't risk their reputation and job over a single painting."
(End of Chapter)
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