Chapter 46: Much Gentler Than Wild Cats

Cheng Simin pursed her lips, her gaze falling on the stack of documents placed on the entryway shelf.

When she returned home yesterday, she had carefully gone through the contents and requirements of the documents.

Although Cheng Simin studied C programming in college, graphic design wasn’t her primary expertise. However, as a diligent overachiever, during her internship at the company, she had taken on the role of e-commerce graphic designer for her team.

Using software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Dreamweaver was second nature to her. She was more than capable of handling the small project for the winery.

But to avoid entangling herself further with Shi Ying through an employer-employee relationship, she initially decided to decline gracefully, letting him find someone else and giving the opportunity to someone who needed it more.

Taking shortcuts to earn money wasn’t her style. Rather than relying on Shi Ying, she preferred to work hard—carrying drinks, sorting packages, or sweating it out in jobs that didn’t require much thought.

“Shi Ying, here’s the thing—I think you should…” Cheng Simin nibbled her fingers, struggling to phrase her refusal, when Shi Ying abruptly cut off her rambling monologue.

“The winery has allocated up to 20,000 yuan for original design fees. We’ve already approached a few cheap designers on Taobao, but their proposals were rejected. Now, I can offer you the full amount. But the design absolutely cannot be sloppy. For the first draft, provide at least three options. If they’re accepted, there will be other series later that I can assign to you.”

After finishing, Shi Ying seemed to notice that Cheng Simin hadn’t completed her sentence. After a brief pause, he asked, “What were you saying earlier? Did we go through a tunnel? The signal’s bad in the mountains.”

What could Cheng Simin say now? Her noble intentions evaporated the moment Shi Ying mentioned the price. Forget high-mindedness—this was 20,000 yuan! Enough for her to live comfortably for another year. With only a dozen thousand in assets, she might have turned down a few hundred, but faced with this sum, she had no choice.

Relying on others to make money? So what? Who in this world doesn’t rely on someone? Shi Ying was just making an introduction; the labor would still be hers alone.

Money for goods, goods for money—it was a clean transaction. No need to avoid complications.

Enough pretending. She needed this money more than anyone else.

Changing her mind, Cheng Simin closed her notebook, forcing a bright smile into the phone. Her eyes curved, and her voice sweetened by several degrees. “Hmm, what I meant to say, Shi Ying, is that you absolutely must give this job to me.”

“Don’t even think about giving it to someone else—I wouldn’t feel reassured.”

Mainly, she wouldn’t feel reassured if someone else got their hands on such a fortune. Jealousy would twist her beyond recognition.

“I’m very confident in my hand-drawn work. Cheap designers probably just scavenge from paid image libraries and modify them recklessly. I’m different—I have my own private library of drawings.”

Thank heavens for her decades of doodling in notebooks and honing her skills whenever she could at work. Now, finally, her efforts would pay off.

It seemed dreams worked in reverse! Cheng Simin was about to hit an effortless stroke of luck—unexpected windfall wealth.

“Oh.” On the other end, Shi Ying struggled to maintain a poker face, though a hint of amusement still crept into the corners of his mouth.

Soon, having successfully landed this big fish, Cheng Simin heard a thunderclap on a clear day.

Shi Ying informed her that the project deadline was less than forty hours away. By tomorrow evening at the latest, he wanted to see the first draft.

“But I don’t even know what your wine looks like yet, what ingredients are used, or what its flavor profile is.” Cheng Simin had a template in mind—ethnic style, maximalism, vibrant colors—but those details required knowledge of the actual product’s selling points.

“Today, the winery is hosting two wine-tasting sessions. The afternoon session ends at 5:30 at the latest.”

As Shi Ying spoke, he steered the red Xiali and parked it next to Lao Zhao’s Subaru.

On the first day of the holiday, Shi Ying hadn’t rested. Today, thirty potential clients invited by Chixia Winery were all restaurant owners specializing in folk cuisine from the provincial capital. Fifteen at a time, they were brought in two groups by chartered buses from over a hundred kilometers away.

Outdoor barbecues, indoor winemaking explanations, and activities for parents and children, including pruning grapevines in preparation for winter and adopting a vine with a colorful nameplate for free harvesting the following year—all culminated in promotional sales.

This month alone, using this method, Shi Ying had successfully secured two alcohol supply contracts for Chixia Winery.

So early this morning, he came to the winery to prepare.

Pulling up the handbrake, Shi Ying switched the phone to his other hand, bringing the receiver closer to his ear. Since they were discussing work, his words were sharp, like a finely honed blade.

“Or, after I finish here, I’ll come back to pick you up. You can tour the winery, have dinner, and let Lao Zhao share his insights on winemaking.”

“You wouldn’t understand his stuff anyway. If you need anything, ask him directly.”

Hearing no immediate agreement from Cheng Simin, Shi Ying’s gaze dropped, his fingers brushing the passenger seat where Cheng Simin had sat yesterday.

Suddenly, a soft, glutinous sensation like osmanthus cake appeared on his tongue, and his tone softened.

“It’s wild rabbit breeding season. Lao Zhao caught a few nests and raised them in cages. The little wild rabbits are adorable, palm-sized. You can bring some celery and carrots to feed them. They’re much gentler than ordinary wild cats.”

No child could resist the allure of feeding rabbits on a “farm.” Shi Ying’s success in securing appointments with potential clients was largely due to these fluffy little animals.

This epiphany came after being fed by stray cats behind the dumpster.

The instigator, naturally, lit up at the mention of feeding animals at the winery and was about to agree when she suddenly remembered a prior engagement.

“But yesterday, I promised Jin Gang that I’d take Beibei to the small square to play with him this evening…”

“Who?” Shi Ying stepped out of the car and looked up, his eyes meeting Lao Zhao’s on the terrace, who was yelling into the phone.

Since Chixia Winery began hosting weekly wine-tasting events, Shi Ying had been responsible for all event materials. Trusses, backdrops, inflatable arches, and red carpets were rented daily from advertising companies. Barbecue ingredients and refreshments for negotiations were purchased by Shi Ying from wholesale markets.

Aside from leading clients on tours of the winery, Lao Zhao’s sole task was to buy small appliances for raffles after successful orders from Xinhua Department Store.

He didn’t even need to go himself because the electronics salesperson at Banshan Xinhua was his cousin’s son.

A flat-screen TV, two mini-fridges, three oil-filled heaters, five electric griddles, and several hair dryers—not every item was given away at each event, but these prizes had to be displayed on-site for show.

Last week, a customer who ordered a batch of dry reds won the big-screen TV. Since then, Shi Ying had been urging Lao Zhao to replenish the prizes.

Lao Zhao, stingy by nature, hated spending money. Whenever the topic of purchasing arose, his attitude became flippant, always delaying with excuses like not rushing because he’d already arranged delivery with his nephew.

But this morning, despite waiting until past 9:30, the delivery staff from Xinhua Electronics still hadn’t arrived.

When he called his irresponsible nephew, the nephew immediately complained, “Uncle, stop nagging me! The delivery driver took leave today because of family matters, and there are so many customer complaints. I’m swamped! Don’t bother me! Can I deliver the TV tomorrow?”

“Besides, you haven’t paid yet. Even close relatives keep accounts. Why do you keep putting things on credit? It’s not my store!”

“So what if I put things on credit? Why don’t you admit the sample units you sent me were defective? And why charge me full price when sample units are discounted? Who’s pocketing the extra money?”

“Tomorrow, tomorrow! Can you handle your event without it today? Shame on your ancestors! Tell me, would your father have been better off not having you!”

Lao Zhao was arguing loudly with his nephew, his voice clanging like a gong in Shi Ying’s right ear, giving him a headache. Meanwhile, in his left ear, Cheng Simin’s voice sounded much sweeter as she patiently explained, “Don’t you know Jin Gang? He’s Grandma Qi’s grandson.”

“Huh? Whose grandson?” The cacophony from the right channel mixed with the conversation on the left.

Hearing Shi Ying’s confusion, Cheng Simin burst out laughing. “Apartment 1202, diagonally across from you. That hunchbacked grandma with short white hair.”

It was the intellectually disabled elderly woman and her foul-mouthed grandson from Huanghe Garden’s 12th floor. Turns out, they were grandmother and grandson. Beyond Cheng Simin, Shi Ying only had vague impressions of his neighbors. He’d never paid much attention before.

He cared little for strangers with whom he had no vested interest.

Their names, biographies, personalities, or current lives and moods were burdensome trivia to him. His default mode was self-preservation. In this regard, Cheng Simin was fundamentally different.

Cheng Simin seemed to be a natural social creature, effortlessly building useless connections, even when there was no exchange value, she enjoyed it nonetheless.

“Do you have a good relationship with them? And Apartment 1204?” Shi Ying asked casually.

“Not bad. Mainly, yesterday Jin Gang got beaten by Grandma Qi because of me. You should’ve seen the bump on his head—it was huge. I felt terrible, so I promised to follow through. How about I design a few drafts based on my ideas first? I’ll send you the initial drafts early tomorrow morning, then I’ll come over to hear your feedback. It’ll be quicker this way. Twice the result with half the effort.”

“Otherwise, you’ll have to pick me up again. Running back and forth is tiring. You’ll be exhausted after two events!”

“Mm.” Shi Ying lowered his eyelids, his tone regaining its usual brisk clarity. “I’ll focus on my tasks for now. We’ll talk later.”

“Alright, bye.”

After hanging up, Cheng Simin began sketching on her iPad with her drawing pen.

Eight hours passed in deep concentration. She barely drank any water, munching on an apple for lunch. She completed all three drafts of the first submission and paused to stretch her sore wrists.

The sun, which had risen in the east, had now sunk toward the balcony.

The weather in Banshan was clear today, with thin clouds. The autumn twilight carried a cool hue, its beams filtering through the colorful towels Cheng Simin had hung to dry, casting a muted sapphire glow on the walls indoors.

The kitchen window hadn’t been fully closed, allowing cooking fumes from the downstairs neighbor to seep through the cracks. Detecting the faint, unpleasant smell, Cheng Simin glanced at the clock—it was almost six!

She needed to get ready to take Beibei to the small square. As for dinner, she’d grab something from the skewer stall.

Just as Cheng Simin stood up to close the kitchen window, Jin Gang knocked on the door.

She peeked through the peephole and opened the security door, only to find not just Jin Gang but also Zhou Yan, whom she hadn’t seen in a while.

Seeing her, Zhou Yan shouted in her loud voice, leaving no room for argument. “Girl, hurry and change. I’ll take Jin Gang downstairs to wait for you. Just meet us in the underground parking lot. My car’s parked opposite the elevator.”

“Hurry up! The first fifteen minutes are free!”