Chapter 96 — Confessions
Bai Xia didn't speak for a long time. Her lips parted once, twice, then closed again. She was torn. She couldn't tell him James had killed her in her past life. How could she even begin to explain something like that?
After a long silence, she finally whispered, "He hurt me."
Fu Jian had already guessed that much, but he needed details—needed to understand what had made her break down yesterday.
"What did he do to you?" he asked quietly.
"He… took something from me."
That was true. He had taken her life.
Fu Jian's eyes darkened. From the way she cried last night, the terror in her voice, the way she screamed don't touch me… he could imagine only one thing.
"Bai Xia," he breathed, jaw tightening, "I won't be like him."
She immediately knew what he was thinking and hurried to correct him. "He didn't rape me."
Fu Jian froze.
"He was my best friend," she continued, eyes lowering. "He started developing feelings for me… and when I refused him, he tried to force himself on me. I never told anyone before. You're the first."
It was half a lie—James had indeed liked her in her past life. When she rejected him, he and Shang Shan plotted her death. The memory made her stomach twist with cold fury.
Fu Jian let out a shaky breath, half relieved, half furious. "Is he a foreigner?"
"Yes."
"I've never seen him with you."
"Oh." Bai Xia had nearly forgotten how much time she spent with Fu Jian back in junior high. "I met him after you graduated. He was always… secretive. I guess he thought I was just some naïve little girl he could control."
As she spoke, a flood of past-life memories hit her one by one. She would get her revenge. James wasn't even in China at this time—she would wait. Revenge tasted better cold.
"My love…" Fu Jian gently touched her cheek. "I'm not like him. I'm different."
"I know," she murmured. Then her expression suddenly shifted. She lightly hit his chest. "But you lied to me. You told me you didn't have siblings!"
"That—" Fu Jian choked on his words. "Mei Mei is my cousin. But she's like a sister to me. She's… a bit loose in the head, talks a lot, but she's harmless. She didn't recognize you yesterday. I'll tell her to apologize."
"She already did," Bai Xia said. "I'm talking about you. You told me you're an ordinary businessman. I didn't believe it before, but I didn't care. Now I do. And your family… tell me about them too."
Fu Jian's heart warmed. Before, she hadn't shown interest in his background at all. But now she wanted to know him—not just the surface, but him.
"I'm from the Fu family in the capital," he said simply. "I think you can guess the rest."
Bai Xia had already suspected as much. What she wanted was something more personal.
"So what about you? Any childhood sweethearts? Crushes? Anything like that?"
Fu Jian stiffened.
"I don't have any of that. Only you. You're my childhood sweetheart."
"Am I your first girlfriend?" she asked bluntly.
Fu Jian swallowed. "…Well, I did have a few before, but—"
"A few?!"
"I'm not in contact with them anymore!" he panicked. "I dated so people wouldn't assume I was homosexual—there were rumors, my mum was on my neck. And it wasn't in China, it was in the States! They're nothing compared to you, my love."
"You better not be in contact with them," she muttered.
Then she sat up and looked him dead in the eyes.
She might have had boyfriends in her past life… but in this life, she was untouched. She had never loved a man. Never slept with one. But she was willing—with him.
"Fu Jian," she said seriously, "you're my first relationship. If you ever get tired of me, just tell me. Because if you cheat on me…"
Her eyes turned cold.
"…I'll kill you and your mistress."
Fu Jian felt literal cold sweat trickle down his spine.
His wife was terrifying.
"W-wife… please calm down. I will never cheat on you. Or leave you. If I ever do, may I be struck by lightning."
"You'll be struck by more than lightning."
"Yes! Anything you say!"
"I'm not joking, Fu Jian."
"I'm not joking either. I promise you."
He tried to sit up, but pain shot through his arm and he hissed.
Bai Xia quickly helped him back down. "Why are you trying to get up? You're hurt!"
"It doesn't hurt," he lied. "I'm just… a little thirsty."
"Why didn't you say so?"
She helped him sit up, poured him a cup of water, and held it to his lips. When he finished, she remained beside him.
He caught her hand gently.
"Bai Xia… do you want to marry me?"
She blinked. "Is this your proposal?"
Fu Jian choked. He had only wanted to ask—but now it really did sound like a proposal.
"U-um… I'll do something better."
"Why do you want to marry me?" she asked softly.
Because I love you, he wanted to say. But that word felt dangerous—too heavy. Too fast. And he didn't want to scare her away.
"It's because I don't want to be without you."
"Why?"
"Because you mean a lot to me."
"Why?" She wasn't letting him off.
"Well… it's because I—"
"You what?"
"I… I… you know what I mean!"
"I want to hear it from you."
He closed his eyes in defeat. Then opened them.
"It's because I… love you."
His voice trembled. He braced himself for rejection.
But Bai Xia smiled.
"Okay. I'll marry you."
Fu Jian's heart stopped. "Does this mean you love me too?"
"I wouldn't say love," she said calmly. "But I like you enough to marry you."
A little disappointed, but satisfied enough, he nodded. If they got married, he would have plenty of time to make her fall in love with him completely.
"But how are you going to talk to my parents?" Bai Xia asked honestly. She might have the soul of a mature woman, but to her parents, she was still a 17-year-old girl. She might look older, yet she was 17. And she'd be 18 in almost a month.
"I'll ask my grandpa to handle it. But… my love, my arm hurts a little."
"It hurts? Should I call the doctor?"
"No, no, it's just… maybe you could do something to make it feel better?"
"What is it?" She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Well… if you could give me a little kiss—"
"I knew it! You never change. Why don't I squeeze your arm instead?"
She reached toward his injured arm threateningly.
Fu Jian grabbed her hands instantly. "I'm sorry, wife! Just a little kiss, please—"
He didn't get to finish.
The door swung open.
Grandpa Fu, Bai Sung, Chu Sun, and Madam Fu walked in together.
Their eyes landed immediately on Bai Xia and Fu Jian—hands intertwined.
Bai Xia instinctively pulled away, stepping back…
But it was too late.
They had already seen everything.