Chapter 41

The relationship between Li Xu and Caroline Kennedy is quite interesting. They met three years ago at a party in the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

At that time, Caroline was already 19 years old, the apple of the Kennedy family's eye, and a much-pursued princess. Although her father had been assassinated, she still grew up healthily under her mother's care.

However, girls raised in such an environment tend to be somewhat haughty. Simply put, if you chase her and flatter her, she might not even give you a glance, but if you ignore her, she might just come up to you.

Li Xu was just like that.

It wasn't that he had any particular interest in Caroline, but at that time, he had already accumulated a certain amount of capital and was considering how to further expand it. He wasn't enthusiastic about these parties, so after meeting Caroline, he just glanced at her a few times and then went back to his own thoughts, not expecting her to come up to him.

Then, as mentioned before, once a woman's curiosity is piqued, it's hard to calm down.

Moreover, Li Xu responded appropriately and had notable achievements. Caroline didn't play video games, but she was very interested in Rubik's cubes. After a few conversations, they started chatting more often, and they even met a few times and became pen pals.

At this point, Li Xu's mindset began to change. Caroline was very beautiful, and her气质 also stood out, making her perfect for... his experiments.

Yes, the pick-up techniques his father taught him, such as playing hard to get, being moderately considerate, and piquing her interest in a certain topic before cutting it off to make her fall into his trap.

To be honest, he didn't do it very well. It was his first time, so being awkward was inevitable. But it was precisely this awkwardness that made Caroline find him very sincere and cute, which in turn promoted their relationship, and they went out a few times.

Furthermore, Li Xu, who had honed his skills in outsmarting his family, took Caroline on a few small adventures, which made her even more impressed.

Thus, at the end of 1977, they met again in San Francisco. Li Xu invited Caroline out, and they went to a bar for a drink—according to U.S. law, one must be 21 to drink in public.

Then, as they chatted, the conversation turned to her father, which she brought up herself. Her mood became very low, and Li Xu comforted her, leading to a kiss.

Naturally, they ended up in a hotel, and Li Xu gave his first time to Caroline, which felt quite good.

Afterward, the confused Caroline only then realized to ask his age—indeed, they had known each other for half a year and exchanged several letters, but only after they had been intimate did she realize she had forgotten to ask Li Xu's age.

Well, it's not entirely her fault. Who would have thought that Li Xu, who was already tall and well-built at under 16, could pass for 20? Plus, his manners and achievements made it hard to believe he was still a kid.

So, it was awkward. In the U.S., the legal age for sexual activity varies by state. Some states, like New York, require 16, while others, like California, require 18.

It's easy to imagine how stunned Caroline was when she found out Li Xu was just a few months shy of 16. Even more stunned was the fact that she was five years older than him, and even the "Romeo and Juliet" law wouldn't apply.

Of course, Li Xu wouldn't really sue Caroline. They were from such close families; why would they let a small matter like this ruin their relationship? But he couldn't help but tease her about it, especially since her reaction upon learning his exact age was so cute.

Her usual reserve completely disappeared. Her mouth dropped open, her eyes widened in disbelief, and she almost fell off the bed, making a lasting impression.

Although Caroline was initially angry at feeling deceived—people tend to shift blame when faced with problems—she soon became more curious. The things Li Xu did were ordinary for others but extraordinary for him.

Moreover, under his grandfather's suggestion, Li Xu wrote to her frequently and formally, and Caroline eventually responded. After a few exchanges, their relationship was mended.

However, in their letters, they were both formal, discussing news, anecdotes, and more serious topics. But whenever they met in person, they couldn't help but engage in verbal sparring, revealing their multifaceted personalities.

But, Jacqueline had raised her daughter well. Despite lacking a bit of quick wit, her speech and demeanor were top-notch, which is why his grandfather thought she was a good match.

In comparison, John F. Kennedy Jr. was much less impressive.

"You know, I often have to attend... well, outdoor camp activities, so it's likely that you'll graduate before I do," John said with a smile, but the depression in his eyes was evident.

"Don't joke, John. I'm not starting school until the second half of this year, and even if I graduate in four years, it will be 1984. By then, you should have graduated," Li Xu teased in response.

"I hope so," John didn't seem very optimistic. "I hope I don't fall too far behind in my studies..."

"Indeed, but I believe you can handle it, right?" Li Xu encouraged.

This is a common issue for children raised under the shadow of a strong single mother, especially boys. Lack of confidence, indecisiveness, and dependency are inevitable.

Yes, although Jacqueline remarried the Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis after Kennedy's death, it was for self-preservation. Onassis merely accepted their existence and never considered being their father. In a sense, Jacqueline can be seen as a single mother.

Single mothers are often filled with a sense of crisis, and with the cloud of Kennedy's death hanging over them, the simplest way to protect their children is to mold them into their ideal image.

Unfortunately, if education were that simple, there wouldn't be so many problems in the world.

Jacqueline sent John to the "Camp Courage" on Drake Island in the UK at the age of 11 to learn sailing, canoeing, and mountaineering. He would undergo similar training every few years, just in different locations.

This had some effect. From Li Xu's perspective, John could be very decisive and capable when he was serious, but the key was whether he could enter that serious state.

Moreover, once he stopped working, he would become depressed, always worrying that he hadn't done well, and his temper could flare up suddenly, leaving him even more dejected afterward.

If he had a normal father, whether strict or lenient, there would be someone to play the good cop and the bad cop. But he didn't. His father was assassinated, his stepfather was distant, and although he had two uncles, they were often traveling between Greece and the U.S., making it hard for them to fully replace the father figure.

As mentioned earlier, even with parents present, children raised in strong families can either be rebellious, like George Bush, or compliant, like Jeb Bush.

Only someone like Li Xu, a reborn soul, could control his emotions and not let them dictate his actions, and could勉强 stand up to his family.

So, in public, John was the charming young Kennedy, but in private, when he was alone with Li Xu, he became a chatterbox, never stopping.

Mostly complaints, self-doubt, and seeking comfort and encouragement.

Li Xu, in his past life, was a very qualified emotional dumping ground, and even more so in this life. His discretion made John trust him deeply, and their relationship was close, especially when it came to matters involving Caroline.

"Believe in yourself, John. You can do it," Li Xu patted his shoulder and paused before adding, "If you want some advice, I think you should consider living in a completely new environment after graduation."

"Oh?" John didn't quite understand.

"Go to Japan, Singapore, or India—places completely different from North America and Europe. Find a job and live there for two years. I believe you'll gain a new perspective on things," Li Xu said earnestly.

John muttered a few times, then suddenly perked up, finally shaking off his depression and smiling. "You're right, Eddie. I should try a new environment. Thank you."

"I just made a suggestion," Li Xu shrugged and added in his mind: Anyway, it's your choice a few years from now.

"Alright, I can start preparing now. Where do you think I should go? Japan? You went to elementary school there... wait, maybe India is a good choice," John started rambling.

Li Xu, knowing his character, shrugged and half-heartedly agreed, then suddenly heard him ask, "Honestly, Eddie, do you really want to... you know, with Caroline?"

"What, can't you accept a younger man as your sister's husband?" Li Xu joked.

"I never thought you were younger than me, Eddie. I'm serious," John looked at him intently.

Li Xu smacked his lips. "Alright, to be honest, it's almost impossible, even though my grandfather hopes so. But I know we're not a good match, and Caroline knows it too, even though we get along well..."

He raised his hands in a gesture of regret.

John didn't press for confirmation, just looked at him with a complex expression, then turned to Caroline, who was about to go to the garden with her companions.

He seemed somewhat disappointed but also relieved.

At that moment, a middle-aged man in a tuxedo approached, bowing slightly. "Young Master, your father requests your presence in the study."

"Thank you, Mr. Strauss," Li Xu nodded to his father's butler, said goodbye to John, and left with the butler.

Despite John F. Kennedy Jr.'s many flaws, he was a good friend, so the plane crash 20 years later... we'll see.

For now, he can be certain that the likelihood of an accident is at least 90%. The Kennedy family has already paid a price, and Edward Kennedy has secured his position. As long as John doesn't make a fatal mistake by running for president, there shouldn't be a problem.