Chapter 53

Wang Chuanpu's smile froze, which was quite normal. After all, he was a man in his fifties with a significant status on the island. He had already lowered himself to act as a go-between, and now the other party actually wanted him to vouch for something?! You want me to vouch for you just because you're playing around with two women?!

"Let's not talk about that," Li Xu suddenly changed the subject, "I'll be heading back to the United States in a couple of days. I've already handed over the specific matters to Mr. Mars and Mr. Johnson. I believe the upcoming negotiations will go smoothly."

Wang Chuanpu was taken aback for a moment, then became overjoyed. He certainly knew what the other party meant: "Really?"

"Of course," Li Xu nodded, "After all, I'm just here to supervise on behalf of my grandfather, and I have my own matters to attend to. For one, my investment company has already been established, and for another, I should have received a response from my Harvard application."

"Truly... truly regrettable. You could have stayed a few more days; we are very hospitable," Wang Chuanpu said somewhat incoherently.

"Don't worry, I have a good impression of the Zhushishi project. If everything goes well, both my father and I will invest," Li Xu said with a smile. "So, I will definitely come here often in the future, and I might impose on you from time to time."

"No problem, no problem, I'm just afraid you won't come," Wang Chuanpu, who had already received a positive response, was naturally very pleased and spoke with great confidence. "As long as I can help, just let me know!"

Li Xu smiled modestly and gave Wang Chuanpu a meaningful look. "I also welcome you, Brother Chuanpu, to visit the United States when you have the chance. I can at least show you around."

Wang Chuanpu, who was still elated, suddenly became serious, his expression uncertain. After a moment, he asked in a low voice, "Mr. Li, are you serious?"

He didn't call him "Xu" but used "Mr. Li," which clearly showed that he understood what was being said.

"You help me, I help you. Mutual assistance makes everything more pleasant, doesn't it?" Li Xu replied with a smile.

Wang Chuanpu was silent for several minutes, seemingly calculating the credibility of Li Xu's words. Li Xu didn't say anything more, just sipped his coffee slowly.

"If that's the case, I, Wang Chuanpu, am grateful," the other party finally said with a solemn tone. "In the future, as long as I can help, Mr. Li, just let me know."

Although this sentence was only different in the form of address, it was clearly more sincere. Li Xu immediately smiled and raised his coffee cup, lightly tapping it against the other party's teacup.

His words might have seemed vague, but the meaning was clear: if Wang Chuanpu ever found himself in a situation where he had to leave Taiwan, Li Xu could provide some assistance.

These arms dealers, or arms brokers, couldn't possibly have not profited from those transactions. The U.S. Air Force paid a 745,000 USD kickback for each F-16, which was already a well-known fact in the U.S. arms industry.

However, Taiwan was different from the United States. If a powerful official wanted to take action, as long as the backing was strong enough and the evidence was solid, there would be no problem.

In fact, the reason Li Xu had an impression of Wang Chuanpu was because he had read about the Lafayette frigate procurement scandal eight years later, and one of the key figures in that case was Wang Chuanpu.

The case itself was nothing more than corruption, and it was hard to say whether he was a scapegoat or deeply involved. However, he first fled to the United States, then to the United Kingdom, and finally enjoyed a comfortable retirement, which showed that he had considerable skills.

Initially, Li Xu didn't plan to have much interaction with Wang Chuanpu. He wasn't involved in the arms business and was just using Northrop to make Taiwan owe him a huge favor.

However, after a few interactions, he developed some goodwill towards the man. After all, in the Lafayette case, so many people died, yet he managed to escape with money and enjoy a comfortable retirement, which showed that he had some talent in dealing with people.

Later, when he brought so many influential figures to accompany him and publicly presented the two women, it gave Li Xu some ideas.

It wasn't because of the two women. Wang Chuanpu's actions, though abrupt and unconventional, were actually helpful to Li Xu.

Simply put, he didn't expect their desire for new fighter jets to be so intense. Even if the two women were just actresses, they were famous ones. If the news spread and caused a scandal, Taiwan's already limited face would be even more damaged.

Well, in Li Xu's previous life, not only had third-generation fighters been in service, but fourth-generation fighters were already in use, and fifth-generation fighters were on the agenda. He naturally couldn't understand how much countries and regions in this era craved third-generation or even 2.5-generation fighters.

This was like how, even though he had visited nuclear shelters and received nuclear training, he had never experienced the specific sense of urgency that people in the 1960s and 1970s felt about the possibility of a nuclear war breaking out tomorrow.

If the timing was off, it was better to be underdone than overdone. After all, his butterfly effect in some matters was not significant, so the 8.17 Communique would still be issued, and the United States would inevitably abandon Taiwan on the surface again.

Although the technical support would not be lacking, the resentment of the Taiwanese would not be less. If Li Xu overdid it this time, they might vent their resentment on her.

On the contrary, if he didn't overdo it and instead made the other party feel that they could have gained more but had to give up due to certain things—like for the two women—they would feel they had a great deal.

Of course, when Northrop had to withdraw, they would only complain to him, and he could even pretend to speak up for them, further improving his image.

In any case, he would be coming here frequently for a long time, so it was necessary to maintain a good relationship. Having a reliable local contact, like Wang Chuanpu, would be even better.

So, Li Xu decided to show goodwill at this moment. As an arms broker who could smoothly escape from the Lafayette case, Wang Chuanpu must have a keen sense and his own channels.

However, more channels were always better, and Li Xu's background was strong enough that he didn't have to worry about the other party not taking the bait.

After lunch, the afternoon negotiations were more顺利... but not really! Although Wang Chuanpu had passed the message, they were eager to lower the price and gain an advantage. Meanwhile, the Northrop team, having received Li Xu's hint to hand over power, began to negotiate seriously, resulting in even more intense arguments with little progress.

However, it was still a good start, as both sides could feel that the other was genuinely interested in negotiating.

For Li Xu, after staying on this island for half a month, it was time to go back. He had many things to handle, and, oh, he also had to take two women with him.

"Tomorrow we'll leave, first to Tokyo, then to San Francisco, and we'll stay in San Francisco for a while. If you need to pack, do it quickly," Li Xu said to the two women three days after their first meeting.

After the first day, Lin Fengjiao had taken the initiative to speak to him, asking if she and Lin Qingxia could go home to visit. Li Xu didn't think twice and allowed it, but emphasized that they must return to the Chiang Kai-shek Hotel by night and not bring any reporters.

So, for the past two days, they were not around during the day and only returned around 8 or 9 PM at night. Naturally, they didn't do certain things—well, mainly because Li Xu didn't want to. As he had said before, eating also requires a proper method.

With the departure approaching, Li Xu asked them this question, not really expecting an answer. Lin Fengjiao could still say a few words, but Lin Qingxia was completely silent.

"Qiong, this is yours," he then handed a file to Lin Fengjiao.

"Call me Fengjiao, Mr. Li... Mr. Li," Lin Fengjiao replied with a lowered head.

"You haven't called me Edward or Xu either," Li Xu shrugged.

Lin Fengjiao was speechless and could only start flipping through the file. She seemed very compliant, answering all questions, and seemed to have accepted her fate, but she had maintained a distance by using "Mr. Li" all these days.

"This is..." After flipping through it, Lin Fengjiao was surprised and looked at Li Xu with disbelief.

"A buyout contract. From now on, you are a free person," Li Xu shrugged. "Don't worry, the 'Spring Again' production team, directed by Li Xing, has paid double the breach of contract fee, which is enough for him to find a more suitable actress."

He then handed another file to Lin Qingxia, "This is yours."

Lin Qingxia blinked and opened it. Even though she was prepared, she still couldn't help but gasp.

"Ms. Qiong Yao is quite generous, almost selling your contract at a discount," Li Xu said, inwardly scoffing.

That woman must have sensed something, as the News Bureau had personally come to request it. If she didn't have this sensitivity, she wouldn't have eventually replaced the wealthy and influential Lin Wanzhen and successfully transitioned from a mistress to a wife.

"Alright, I have nothing else to say, so I'll leave. See you tomorrow," Li Xu said, pointing at the time and giving Deng Lijun, who was accompanying them, a look.

"Fengjiao, Qingxia, good night," Deng Lijun said, standing up with a slightly flushed face.

"Wait... wait!" Just as Li Xu was about to leave with Deng Lijun, Lin Qingxia, who had been in a daze, finally called out.

She quickly walked to Li Xu, trying to stand steady but still looking at him with some fear.

"What is it, Brigitte?" Li Xu asked with a smile.

"Mr. Li... Mr. Li..." Lin Qingxia bit her lip, hesitated for a long time, and finally asked, "Mr. Li, can you let me go?"

"Let you go?" Li Xu blinked and then laughed, "Of course... no!"

Lin Qingxia was momentarily stunned. Lin Fengjiao quickly pulled her arm, but this time she shook it off and called out uncontrollably, "Why?!"

"It's very simple," Li Xu said with a "do I need to explain" expression, "Your government has already given you to me. Why should I let you go? Wouldn't that be a loss of face for your government?"

"We are people, not objects!" Lin Qingxia immediately raised her voice, tears welling up in her eyes.

Li Xu shrugged, "Sometimes, people think they are not objects, but they are; and sometimes, people think they are objects, but they are not."

Then he smiled lightly, "Well, let's not talk about such philosophical topics. I actually like you both a lot. I've seen your movies, so... what's wrong with liking someone and possessing them?"

Lin Qingxia looked at him in a daze. After a while, she straightened her chest and said in a trembling but firm voice, "Even if you get my body, you won't get my heart."

Li Xu looked at her with a puzzled expression, "Why do I need your heart? Having your body is enough for me."