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At the foot of the mountain, early this morning, Shi Ying drove Old Zhao to visit Zhou Rong’s homestay.
After a morning of negotiations, they had provisionally agreed on the pricing and distribution commission for their wines. As newcomers entering late into the game, they inevitably had to make more concessions than the wineries already partnered with the homestay.
On these terms, Shi Ying and Old Zhao readily agreed.
However, during lunch with Zhou Rong, when discussing how to distribute the products, besides placing their wines in the homestay’s restaurant, Shi Ying proposed putting two of their sparkling wines—currently entered in a competition—inside the guest rooms. This would provide an additional opportunity to promote and showcase their product.
Regarding this request, Zhou Rong presented two conditions.
Firstly, their wine labels needed to be redesigned to match the aesthetic style of the homestay’s interior decor. Secondly, since the homestay had never placed alcohol in guest rooms before, Chixia Winery would need to pay a substantial entry fee if they wanted to sell their products there.
By this point in the negotiations, Old Zhao was losing his patience. In his mind, this young girl Zhou Rong clearly knew that Chixia Winery was cash-strapped and was deliberately making things difficult. Sensing the tension rising, Shi Ying kicked Old Zhao’s leg repeatedly under the table as a warning. Old Zhao finally caught on, downed a gulp of tea, and excused himself to smoke outside, using the time to cool off.
When Old Zhao returned, Shi Ying offered a compromise solution acceptable to both parties.
Chixia Winery would replace the entry fee by offering welcome drinks and complimentary gifts. All guests checking in that day would receive two free glasses of sparkling wine and some fruit desserts provided by the winery. Guests staying over five days could purchase up to two bottles of Chixia’s low-alcohol wines at cost price upon departure.
After leaving the restaurant, Shi Ying and Zhou Rong lingered downstairs exchanging pleasantries. Old Zhao, annoyed by their prolonged conversation, climbed into his Subaru first.
Since today was about business, appearances mattered; Shi Ying hadn’t driven his beat-up car but instead used Old Zhao’s vehicle.
Shi Ying had driven them here earlier, so now Old Zhao impatiently sat in the driver’s seat. Through the windshield, he watched Zhou Rong tilt her head back, chatting and laughing casually with Shi Ying. The sight irritated him.
Finally, the two parted ways. Shi Ying opened the driver-side door for Zhou Rong, who promptly closed it after getting in. Old Zhao immediately honked furiously at Shi Ying.
Closing the deal was good news.
Shi Ying quickly walked over. Seeing Old Zhao already seated in the driver’s seat, he still politely asked, “Should I drive?”
Old Zhao clicked his teeth, feeling irritable. “What were you two blabbering about? Didn’t we settle everything? What else is there to say to Miss Zhou? Hurry up and get in—I’ve been waiting forever for you to drive.”
Shi Ying glanced at him indifferently, obeyed without comment, buckled his seatbelt, and started scrolling through WeChat, ignoring Old Zhao completely.
Old Zhao kept glancing sideways at Shi Ying, hoping he’d explain himself. Just as they were about to exit the homestay complex, he couldn’t hold back any longer and snapped, “You’re quite generous with my money, aren’t you? Is this what you told me before we came? Didn’t you say that if we just gave a little ground, we could get our wine inside?”
“Do you even know how many customers they have daily? One glass per person—that’s going to cost me a fortune! Do you think my wine grows on trees? You’re practically asking me to bankrupt myself!”
Shi Ying didn’t look up—he was messaging Cheng Simin on his phone.
He normally finished work at six, but worried Cheng Simin might be hungry while sick, he planned to leave half an hour early and head toward the city center. Cheng Simin hadn’t messaged him all morning, which suggested she still wasn’t feeling well.
The result of their kiss yesterday was Cheng Simin treating him like a dog.
Shi Ying’s hand had been around her neck, and beneath his fingertips, Cheng Simin’s body felt like tenderized meat—her spine moved entirely according to his pressure.
But forced intimacy against her will wasn’t something he could do. Eventually, gritting his teeth, he withdrew his hand from under her, then pressed two fingers against her forehead to forcefully separate her wet lips from his own.
How much force did he use? By the time he left Cheng Simin’s place, there were still two white handprints on her forehead.
But such minor awkwardness didn’t stop him from worrying about her. Before losing control yesterday, Cheng Simin had confided many heartfelt words to him—words only he knew, spoken directly to him.
“Still feverish?”
“Do you need to go to the hospital?”
These two messages were sent an hour ago.
“I’ll finish work early and pick you up, okay?”
This one was sent just now.
Cheng Simin hadn’t replied yet, so Shi Ying finally turned his attention back to Old Zhao. “That’s how marketing works—you spend money to make money. At this stage, what does the winery have left to lose? More foot traffic benefits us. Foreign wineries regularly host wine tastings for free publicity. Why do you think they do it? Even if only one out of ten people becomes a long-term customer, opening new channels is already half the battle.”
With that, Shi Ying shot a serious glance at Old Zhao. “And why are you calling it a loss for you? Doesn’t my father have ten tons of wine stored at your place? Use that stock for free drinks.”
Changing the subject, Shi Ying smiled innocently. “Unless… you never intended to honor that deal with me. Was it fraud from the start?”
In just a few sentences, Shi Ying made Old Zhao feel uneasy. Staring straight ahead, Old Zhao stiffened his neck and said, “I definitely didn’t deceive you! The issue is, didn’t I convert your wine into shares for you?”
Shi Ying nodded calmly, reciting like scripture. “Yes, equity plus capital injection—but no monthly salary. Even worse than slavery.”
Old Zhao ran his hand through his semi-long hair, his attitude softening again. “Ah, Xiao Shi, don’t be so formal with me. Don’t I also have no salary right now? Once the company starts turning a profit, we’ll split it then!”
“All right, I didn’t say no.” His phone vibrated—Cheng Simin had replied. Shi Ying smiled warmly and said, “Let’s test this placement for two months. If we’re not profitable by then, we can reassess.”
“It’s not burning anymore, no need to take me to the hospital!”
“Thanks for taking care of me yesterday. How much did the medicine and fruits cost? Let me transfer the money to you.”
Cheng Simin’s tone was polite, but Shi Ying’s smile faded slightly.
“It wasn’t much. No need to pay me.”
“I was supposed to eat dinner at your place anyway—it’s mutual help.”
“Do you want anything specific tonight? Fever takes a lot out of you. How about I buy a chicken and make soup for you?”
Before Shi Ying could send the message, Cheng Simin had already transferred the money. “I checked the prices online for the medicine and fruits. Here’s what I owe you based on that.”
“Oh, and I wanted to mention—I might be busy recently, so I won’t cook dinner. Let me return your money. Maybe next time I’ll invite you over for a meal.”
“Next time” meant indefinitely—a rule of urban etiquette. Shi Ying wasn’t dumb; he understood perfectly.
After sending two transfers, Cheng Simin sighed in relief and dragged her weak body to the kitchen for water.
She dropped lemon slices and a tea bag into a cup, brewed herself some hot tea, and let the warm drink ease her discomfort. Just as she relaxed, her phone buzzed again.
Thinking the conversation was over, she didn’t expect Shi Ying to respond as though oblivious to her hints. “Okay, then I’ll cook, and you eat?”
“Or do you have a favorite restaurant? Let’s go out together.”
“No matter what happens, people still need to eat, right?”
Cheng Simin’s headache returned. After rubbing her temples for a while, she typed angrily, “No, really. I’m dieting. Liquid fasting.”
“Why are you dieting?”
“You’re not fat. Your figure is great—you can eat more.”
“I think you’re eating too little. Gaining weight would actually be healthier. A strong body doesn’t get sick easily.”
Hearing the word “figure” from Shi Ying, Cheng Simin blushed and flared up defensively. “What nonsense are you spouting? My figure isn’t good at all! Don’t lie to my face.”
Realizing she’d fallen into Shi Ying’s trap, Cheng Simin quickly tried to salvage the situation. “Besides, we’re just neighbors. Why talk about figures or anything strange? Whether I eat or not, how much I eat—it has nothing to do with you! Don’t overstep, Shi Ying!”
Shi Ying had just gotten out of Old Zhao’s car. Seeing Cheng Simin’s two transfers earlier had already unsettled him, and now being scolded for no reason ignited a spark of anger. Glancing at her messages, he smirked and fired back sarcastically.
“Oh? Cheng Simin, are we really just neighbors? I’m hurt. I took care of you all night yesterday and thought we were friends.”
Seeing Cheng Simin typing furiously but failing to send a coherent response, Shi Ying pushed further, unleashing a barrage of teasing messages.
“And am I lying?”
“Did you forget I covered you with a blanket and helped you dress?”
“Later, you hugged me.”
“Then you kissed me.”
“Your arms were like Nezha’s magical bracelets—I couldn’t break free no matter how hard I tried.”
“Cheng Simin, don’t you owe me an explanation for forcing yourself on me?”
“You kissed me for over three minutes—you sucked my tongue raw!”
“Isn’t that behavior a one-sided crime?”
“Speak.”
“Speak.”
“Cheng Simin, SPEAK!”
“Fine, stubborn until the end, huh?”
“If there’s no evidence, you won’t admit it?”
“Let me send you a picture—see how ruined my tongue is!”
“Have you checked for Helicobacter pylori recently? Don’t infect me!”
Having vented enough, Shi Ying tapped Cheng Simin’s profile and found her posts gone. She’d blocked him.
He sneered twice: childish. Blocking WeChat didn’t mean she could escape—there were still secondhand trading apps, phone numbers, and even doorstep deliveries. Checking his watch—it wasn’t even 2 PM yet—he decided to clock out early.
Did Cheng Simin think he was a middle schooler, easily dismissed with a breakup letter? She wished.
Back in the office, Shi Ying finalized the contract draft and sent it to Zhou Rong’s legal team. He began working on detailed plans. By 5:30 PM, he printed the initial draft, handed it to Old Zhao for feedback, and started organizing materials for the competition wines.
For the first time in two months, Shi Ying left the office before sunset.
Seeing Shi Ying leave early irritated Old Zhao, who called after him, “Why are you leaving so early today? No overtime tonight? Remember that camp bed you asked me to buy? It just arrived. Isn’t your rental noisy? I’ll fix you a room as employee housing.”
Saving him the commute, Shi Ying could even keep an eye on the winery overnight.
Old Zhao slept soundly and desperately needed a free security guard.
The evening sun was gentle, but it didn’t warm Shi Ying’s face. His narrow eyes radiated icy disdain, a stark contrast to his demeanor days earlier when he willingly stayed overnight at the winery. “My rental isn’t noisy at all. My neighbors and I get along wonderfully. They often invite me over for dinner.”
“The meals are incredible—eight-course feasts, mouthwatering delicacies, unforgettable flavors.”
“I love going home. If it weren’t for needing me here, I’d work remotely 24/7.”
Old Zhao’s expression soured. Shi Ying stopped bantering and waved his briefcase dismissively. “Overtime, overtime! I’ll handle it at home. I’ll try to finalize the label designs this week.”
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