Chapter 114 – The Man Who Came With Hidden Intentions
Bai Xia turned to see a young man in his twenties standing at the entrance of the antique shop. The first thing anyone would notice about him was his appearance. He was undeniably handsome, with sharp yet gentle facial features, straight brows, a tall nose bridge, and eyes that carried an easy smile. His pale skin made him look even more refined, almost like a noble young master raised in privilege. His black hair was neatly styled, and every movement he made was calm and confident, the kind of confidence that came from a powerful background rather than personal struggle.
The moment his eyes landed on Fu Jian, surprise flashed across his face.
"Fu Jian, I didn't know you're getting married. You didn't inform me."
Fu Jian's dark gaze, which had been cold and distant just seconds ago, softened instantly. The sharp edge around his eyes faded as if a switch had been flipped. His lips curved slightly.
"Nie Lin, when did you get back? It's been ages."
The two men walked toward each other without hesitation and pulled each other into a strong bro hug. Their shoulders collided firmly, showing the depth of familiarity between them. It was clear that their relationship was not superficial. There was real history between them — rivalry, loyalty, and trust built over years.
Fu Jian turned back to Bai Xia.
"This is my fiancée, Bai Xia," he said as he walked over and stood beside her naturally.
Bai Xia remained calm and composed. She stretched out her hand politely.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Nie."
The young man smiled slightly as he looked at her.
"The pleasure is mine. I actually came back this time because of you."
Before his hand could touch Bai Xia's hand, Fu Jian suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist firmly. His eyes deepened as he stared straight into Nie Lin's eyes.
"Fu Jian, don't misunderstand," Nie Lin said immediately. "I dare not covet your things."
His words were calm, but the tension in the air became thicker.
"Then what do you mean?" Fu Jian eyed him suspiciously, his grip tightening unconsciously.
Nie Lin sighed helplessly.
"Well, you see… you know my father is the governor. Seeing Miss Bai's great achievement in the tech sector, he didn't want her to get married to an outsider and get taken away. So he asked me to woo her."
Fu Jian's grip on his hand tightened visibly.
A dangerous chill ran through the air.
"But—but I never ever wanted to even give it a try," Nie Lin added quickly. "Miss Bai is way out of my league. I just want to do business with her."
Only then did Fu Jian finally loosen his grip and release him.
"This is your sister-in-law, so be responsible and don't trouble her," Fu Jian said as he placed a firm hand over Bai Xia's shoulder.
His gesture was possessive and protective.
Nie Lin exhaled deeply as if he had escaped a huge disaster.
"Sister-in-law," Nie Lin said sincerely, "Fu Jian, I think I came up with something good this time, but I still can't finish it. It's really bugging me. I was originally going to come to you, bro, but since sister-in-law is here too, you can both take a look. I promise there will be benefits."
As he said that, he gave them a very pleasing and hopeful smile.
Bai Xia looked at him, then her gaze shifted to the tea cup on the display. Her eyes flickered subtly.
Nie Lin caught her gaze immediately. Without hesitation, he turned to the boss.
"Pack that tea cup."
The boss did not dare delay even for a second and personally prepared the package with shaking hands. Once it was done, Nie Lin took it and presented it to Bai Xia.
"Sister-in-law, please accept my humble gift."
Bai Xia took it with a gentle smile.
"Thank you, Nie Lin, but you have to hurry. It's getting late and I have to go home soon."
"No worries, sister-in-law."
Soon, they left together and headed toward Fu Jian's company.
As Bai Xia entered the towering company building, a complex emotion surged in her heart. For the first time, she truly felt a trace of jealousy. She had always believed she had achieved a lot in this life — her company, her power, her influence — yet standing here now, she realized that Fu Jian and her were still light years apart.
The building was extravagant, towering, and powerful, filled with invisible pressure.
The security guards paid more attention to her now than to anyone else — even more than Fu Jian. This immediately earned them Fu Jian's calm praise.
"Good work."
Their expressions lit up with pride.
Many employees were secretly looking at Bai Xia. Some were sizing her up carefully, others looked fearful, while several women looked at her with unconcealed envy and resentment.
Soon, they arrived in Fu Jian's office.
Even his office couldn't compare with her own.
"Fu Jian, your office is really nice. You put in a lot of work," Bai Xia said frankly.
Nie Lin responded before Fu Jian could even open his mouth.
"This is nothing. You should see Brother Fu's personal company in the capital. It's top-notch compared to this one."
Bai Xia looked at Fu Jian. He nodded calmly.
Fu Jian slightly straightened his posture, clearly expecting at least a little praise.
Instead, he heard a soft scoff.
"Hmph. Show off."
Fu Jian: "..."
A trace of helplessness flashed across his face.
The three of them settled down in the small living area inside Fu Jian's office. Bai Xia sat next to Fu Jian naturally, while Nie Lin took the seat opposite them. The atmosphere was quiet but not awkward — more like a gathering of powerful people measuring each other silently.
Nie Lin coughed lightly.
"Brother Fu, sister-in-law… this is the thing I made."
He took out a tightly rolled blueprint and handed it over.
Bai Xia was the first to grab it.
She slowly opened it.
The moment her eyes landed on the contents, her pupils shrank suddenly.
Her breath stilled for a split second.
The blueprint was complex. Even at a glance, it was clear that the design was not something an ordinary person could come up with. The lines were dense yet precise, the structure extremely detailed. It was a project that would require enormous capital, manpower, and technical strength to even attempt.
Her fingers slowly moved across the surface of the paper.
Her eyes widened.
For the first time in a long while, Bai Xia felt genuine shock.
Nie Lin watched her reaction carefully, his heart unconsciously lifting.
Fu Jian noticed the change in Bai Xia's expression as well. His gaze darkened slightly.
"Can it be done?" he asked calmly.
Bai Xia didn't answer immediately. Her eyes moved across the blueprint again and again, scanning every line carefully. Her mind raced rapidly. With her previous-life experience and current knowledge, she quickly understood the true value hidden inside this blueprint.
If it succeeded…
The impact would be terrifying.
Slowly, she closed the blueprint.
Her gaze lifted.
"It can't be completed with your current resources," she said honestly.
Nie Lin's shoulders drooped instantly.
"But," Bai Xia continued, "if it's handled properly, it can change an entire industry."
Nie Lin's eyes widened instantly.
"Really?!"
Fu Jian's gaze sharpened instantly.
Bai Xia slowly nodded.
"But the risks are huge. One wrong step, and everything will be wasted."
Nie Lin clenched his fists tightly, excitement and tension mixing together.
"That's exactly why I came back."
Fu Jian leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping slowly against the armrest. His gaze moved between Bai Xia and the blueprint.
"Then it seems," he said calmly, "that this matter has just become interesting."
Bai Xia lowered her eyes slightly, her lips curving into a faint, thoughtful smile.
Outside the towering window, the sky was already darkening. City lights flickered to life one by one. Inside the office, three people sat quietly, while unseen currents of ambition, power, and future destiny began to stir silently.