Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire-Chapter 207 - 196 Changing Minds

Chapter 207: Chapter 196 Changing Minds

Chapter 207 -196 Changing Minds

Nie Zhan had a chat with Lu Jiaxin last time and got stuck after just two sentences. This time, he learned his lesson and talked only about finance and real estate.

Lu Jiaxin, who was preparing to major in finance at university, naturally found this topic interesting and would ask a couple of questions whenever there were parts she didn’t understand.

Finance and real estate in Hong Kong are the most profitable sectors, and Su Heyuan listened very attentively too.

When the dishes were served, Lu Jiaxin found the four dishes she had chosen to be even more delicious than any she had tasted in her previous life. After pondering for a bit, she realized the reason, it wasn’t just that the chef’s skills were good. More importantly, the ingredients were high-end and fresh.

They all had a good meal and a pleasant conversation, and all three of them had smiling faces after finishing. When Su Heyuan went to pay the bill, he found that it had already been charged to Nie Zhan’s account.

Outside, Nie Zhan said, “Miss Lu, let me give you a ride back!”

Lu Jiaxin politely declined, indicating that it would be fine for Su Heyuan to give her a lift.

Thinking of how happy she seemed during the meal, Nie Zhan said, “Miss Lu, if you want to come here for a meal next time, just let me know, and I’ll have a friend reserve a good seat for you.”

During their last conversation, he realized that she was quite averse to him, so being able to talk to him for so long today was already a big improvement. He needed to take it slow, not rush things, lest he scare her off and she stopped paying attention to him.

This time, Lu Jiaxin didn’t refuse but smiled, thanked him, and left.

As Nie Zhan watched the car drive away and was about to leave himself, he turned and saw his friend Feng Qinglei: “How long have you been here?”

William punched him playfully and teased, “I’ve been at the counter since you entered the restaurant, but you were so focused on that pretty girl, you didn’t even notice when I greeted you.”

Nie Zhan ignored the teasing and walked towards his car.

Following him, Feng Qinglei joked as they went, “Really taken a liking to that young girl? She looks like she’s not even of age yet. Nie Zhan, is that your thing now?”

Whether at school or back in Hong Kong, there was no shortage of girls chasing after him. Among these girls were many well-bred and beautiful young women, yet he didn’t fancy a single one of them. His high standards led many to suspect he preferred men, and Feng himself was one of those suspected.

Nie Zhan simply said, “She’s very pretty and very special.”

Seeing his reaction, Feng Qinglei cautioned him, “The girl’s appearance is alright, but she’s too immature. When it comes to girlfriends, you should go for ones with curves and a womanly charm — those are exciting.”

The girlfriends Feng Qinglei chose were all hot-bodied spicy girls, but their relationships were fleeting. Still, in Hong Kong, many rich playboys changed women like they changed clothes; he was just one among them, and not even one who stood out.

Nie Zhan expressed his disdain, “Yeah, really thrilling, thrilling enough to bring other men into your home and make your head green.”

He meant no criticism of those women; after all, Feng Qinglei himself was not exactly an innocent man either, regarding them all with a casual, non-committal attitude.

Feng Qinglei retorted, “If you don’t have fun while you’re young, you can’t when you’re married with kids. If everyone were like you, how boring life would be!”

Nie Zhan didn’t engage with him further, opened his car door, and sat down. To his surprise, Feng Qinglei also got into the car and squeezed in next to him, asking, “Ah Zhan, are you serious about this?”

“Do you think I’m like you, that feelings are something to be played with?”

Feng Qinglei didn’t understand how a passionate person like the second young lady of the Nie Family could have such a staid son, “What’s the girl’s name and which family’s young lady is she?”

Nie Zhan didn’t hide it from him since his interest was piqued, and a simple inquiry would reveal it anyway, “She’s the granddaughter of Old Madam He’s sister and was brought over from the mainland last month.”

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Feng Qing Lei said in disbelief, “This girl just came over from the mainland? Her eloquence and dining etiquette are no worse than those of the wealthy young ladies!”

“The mainland isn’t just filled with poor people, her father is an official, and her family’s conditions are very affluent,” Nie Zhan said. He hadn’t looked into Lu Jiaxin’s background, but her ability to speak English and understand French as well as Western dining etiquette was very good, not something a girl from a poor family could have.

Feng Qing Lei thought that made sense and joked, “If your suitors found out you’ve fallen for a mainland girl, they might think you’ve lost your vision.”

Nie Zhan said, “It’s enough that you know about it; don’t spread the word. Otherwise, it could affect her.”

“I definitely won’t say anything. But when you win her over and start dating, if you get caught by the paparazzi and it gets published, everyone in Hong Kong will know.”

Nie Zhan didn’t even look at him, “I don’t need you to worry about that. You just make sure not to get caught by the paparazzi again, or your mother will start nagging.”

Thinking of his mother who was nagging him about marriage every day, Feng Qing Lei felt a headache coming on.

Meanwhile, Su Heyuan was also asking Lu Jiaxin, “How did you get to know Nie Zhan?”

“I sold my painting to him; you should know that, right?”

Su Heyuan knew about it because Su Hongying had mentioned it, “I know! But it seems to me that Nie Zhan has taken a liking to you, he’s so attentive. Surely he didn’t take a fancy to you back in Yangcheng City, did he?”

Now Lu Jiaxin was lively and endearing; it was normal for Nie Zhan to like her. But a year ago, when she looked like a refugee, if Nie Zhan could have liked her in that state, there would have been something off about him.

Lu Jiaxin shook her head and said, “We didn’t meet in Yangcheng City; we only met after I came to Hong Kong. I’m also surprised, why is he so enthusiastic about me? Hong Kong is full of beauties; a young master like him could have any type he wants, why would he be interested in a ‘bean sprout’ like me?”

Su Heyuan laughed and said, “Who talks about themselves like that?”

Lu Jiaxin wasn’t being self-deprecating; she was simply telling the truth, “I haven’t fully grown yet. Compared to those fair-skinned and beautiful young ladies, I am just a bean sprout.”

Su Heyuan laughed heartily and said, “People have different tastes. Some like the charming and seductive types, some prefer the hot-bodied, and some like those with outstanding temperament. You’re pure and charming, and Nie Zhan probably likes this type of girl.”

“Are you suggesting that I’m not pretty?”

Su Heyuan shook his head and said, “It’s not that you aren’t pretty. Just like you said, you’re currently an underdeveloped bean sprout. Wait another two years until you’ve grown a bit more, and if you enter TVB’s beauty contest, you could probably win the title of Miss Hong Kong.”

That was too much of an exaggeration.

Lu Jiaxin asked with a smile, “What type do you like?”

Su Heyuan said frankly, “I’m rather conventional. I want to marry a fair-skinned beauty from a wealthy family that can help with my business. It’s not just me; many men think the same way. Even those from wealthy and noble families mostly marry young ladies from similar backgrounds.”

Lu Jiaxin wasn’t surprised. Su Heyuan was very career-oriented, and using marriage to pave the way for his business was something he would do. As long as he treated his wife well after marriage, a business alliance wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Su Heyuan said, “People in Hong Kong look down on us from the mainland, always calling us ‘mainland boys and girls.’ The Nie Family, being as wealthy as they are, has an even stronger concept of family status.”

“Jiaxin, the Nie Family is even more competitive than the Su family. For Nie Zhan to eventually take over the Nie Family, finding a wife who can assist him is the easiest way.”

Lu Jiaxin didn’t know much about Nie Zhan, and what she knew about the Nie Family was from gossip magazines, which might not be true, “I have only two things on my mind right now, getting into a university and making money.”

With that said, Su Heyuan felt relieved.