Chapter 46 – The Mysterious Backer
Bai Xia followed Stella to the next floor, entering a private room. Inside, the man sat on a sofa, exuding an elegance that seemed to dominate the entire space. His sharp, sword-like eyebrows and piercing eyes gave him an air of precision and authority, while his tailored suit accentuated his commanding presence. Even sitting still, he radiated a quiet power.
"Miss Bai Xia, please have a seat," he said calmly. Bai Xia took a seat opposite him, her expression composed, though inside she wished she had brought a camera to capture his features for later admiration.
"I heard you called for me," Bai Xia spoke in a calm, collected voice.
"Yes," the man replied smoothly. "Your dad is the owner of Bai Construction, right?"
Bai Xia's gaze sharpened for a brief second before returning to normal. He noticed it. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"My name is Fu Jian," he continued. "I'd like to do some business with him. I want to build an entire university campus in Beijing, and I want him to handle it."
Bai Xia raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Why come to me instead of going straight to my father?"
"Because I want something from you," he said, his voice steady yet faintly tinged with something unspoken.
"And what could that be?" she asked cautiously.
"I… I want us to be friends." Though he kept a straight face, a subtle pink tinted his ears.
"Mr. Fu, I'm still a high school student and can't have any inappropriate relationships," Bai Xia replied, her tone teasing yet polite.
He panicked slightly internally. "You misunderstand. I just want to be friends."
Bai Xia's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "Why?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
The man was silent for a moment before speaking. "Because you have a good eye for jade." His words stumbled out awkwardly, and he cursed himself silently for his poor phrasing.
Bai Xia, however, saw right through him. Though only seventeen, her soul carried the wisdom of a fifty-year-old. This man had a cold, composed exterior, but he was straightforward and undeniably young. She found herself quietly admiring his features.
"Do you have a phone, Fu Jian?" she asked, her tone casual.
"Yes, I do." He retrieved a sleek Nokia from his pocket, and they exchanged numbers.
"Mr. Fu, you can reach me on this line. It's my personal line," she said. Fu Jian nodded.
She noted his wealth—150 million spent on jade, the ambition to build a university campus—he was undeniably from a prominent family. Connections like his could be invaluable.
"Is it okay if I ask you for something?" she ventured.
"Yes, go ahead," he replied.
"I believe you might have some government connections. I'd like to register a company and brand, and I want it done fast."
Fu Jian studied her carefully before replying, "I'll do it on one condition."
"Name your price," Bai Xia said coolly.
"Have dinner with me," he answered, maintaining a composed face. "Don't misunderstand—I just want to get to know you better."
Bai Xia nodded thoughtfully. "Okay. I'll bid farewell to my family and come back. My assistant will talk with you about the company."
---
Outside, Bai Xia told her mother and sister she had some matters to attend to. They took a back door to avoid the media. A sleek black Ferrari waited outside, its low body and weighty, aerodynamic design cutting a striking silhouette in 1995 China. They entered the car silently, the driver focused ahead.
After driving for a while, Fu Jian suddenly began coughing violently. Bai Xia turned to him; his face was flushed as if he were choking. Instinctively, she handed him a white handkerchief from her bag. He pressed it to his mouth, coughing until the cloth became soaked with blood.
Fear gripped her momentarily—had he been poisoned? The car stopped by the roadside. The driver quickly searched for medicine, poured it out, and gave it to Fu Jian, who swallowed it. Slowly, the coughing and bleeding subsided.
Bai Xia's hands remained on him—one supporting his back, the other pressing gently to his forehead. The pose looked intimate, and Fu Jian felt a strange discomfort. Bai Xia, however, saw nothing inappropriate; her upbringing allowed such closeness in moments of need.
Once he was stable, Fu jian noticed the blood-soaked handkerchief. Embarrassment flickered in his chest. "I'll wash this and return it to you later," he offered.
She shook her head faintly. "Why did you cough up so much blood just now? Are you sick?"
"I have a heart disease," he admitted quietly. "Since childhood… I wasn't supposed to live past thirty, but it seems fate isn't letting me reach twenty-five."
Bai Xia felt a pang of sympathy. She couldn't let a potential backer die—what about her company and her father's project? She had to act.
"If I told you I have a medicine that could cure you, would you believe me?" she asked.
"No… don't joke with me," Fu Jian responded skeptically.
"I'm serious. My sister was critically ill; she only took one pill, and she recovered."
Fu Jian's eyes narrowed, suspicion evident. "Why would you give me such a miraculous medicine?"
"Because I like your handsome face," Bai Xia said lightly. "It would be a shame if someone as good-looking as you died young."
He couldn't decide whether to laugh or scowl. He had tried countless treatments without success, and yet she claimed one pill could heal him. Still, he indulged her.
"Then I'll wait for your magical medicine," he said. Bai Xia understood he didn't believe her, but she would bide her time until he saw her as his lifesaver—then the benefits would be undeniable.
---
Fu Jian dropped Bai Xia at home. They spoke briefly before she left the car and entered the villa. As soon as she disappeared from sight, he stared at the blood-soaked handkerchief in his hand, a strange thought lingering in his mind.
"Bai Xia… you don't even remember me .....