Su Xiaoqi was destined to be disappointed.
Seeing that Zhao Ye could no longer make any sound, and fearing he might feel burdened, she patted his shoulder to comfort him: "It's okay. As long as you can make a sound, it means there's hope for your recovery. Take your time, don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Su Xiaoqi's voice was gentle, and her face was beautiful, like a blooming peach blossom, reflecting in Zhao Ye's heart. His heart pounded violently, as if scalded by boiling water, both hot and comforting. He felt the warmth of Su Xiaoqi's palm on his shoulder, yearning to lean closer, yearning to embrace her.
But his wish was soon dashed. Shen Yun, who had been standing by his side, sensed his thoughts and turned around, pulling Su Xiaoqi behind him. "I'll accompany my wife tomorrow. You must be busy, so please head back," Shen Yun said, summoning Li Shushao to see them out.
After they left, Shen Yun noticed Su Xiaoqi was still thinking about Zhao Ye and immediately brought up the matter of buckwheat tea to divert her attention. Although Su Xiaoqi was intelligent, she was not as calculating as Shen Yun and was soon led to shift her focus.
Su Xiaoqi said, "You're right. Although buckwheat tea can be profitable, it's actually quite troublesome due to the complex production process. It wouldn't be a bad idea for a specialized tea family to take it over. And you're right, I have more ways to make money than just this one."
Shen Yun embraced her and said, half-jokingly, "My dear, it would be best if you maintained some distance from Zhao Ye from now on." Su Xiaoqi was completely absorbed in thoughts of business, and Shen Yun's voice was not loud, so she didn't quite understand. She asked blankly, "What, what did you just say?"
"Nothing. I'll accompany my wife from now on. If there's anything you can't handle, just leave it to me," Shen Yun whispered softly into her ear. Shen Yun was too close; as he leaned in, half of his body rested on Su Xiaoqi. However, Su Xiaoqi didn't feel his weight. Instead, his body heat slowly transferred to her, chilling from the cold wind, making her tremble with warmth.
Shen Yun's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and he finally opened his arms to hold her. Su Xiaoqi struggled slightly, but Shen Yun lightly dismissed her: "Be careful not to catch a cold." Well, he didn't have any ulterior motives, only concern for her well-being. What else could she say? Su Xiaoqi tugged at the corner of her mouth and had no choice but to let him be.
The next day, at Drunken Wind Tower.
In a private room overlooking the river, Su Xiaoqi met Meng Qiulei, the young master of the Meng family. He was a young man in his twenties, with fair skin, dressed in a dark blue brocade coat and a matching cloak. When he was led in by Xiao Sanzi, he hadn't expected a woman to be inside, let alone the proprietor they intended to poach. He froze at the entrance.
"Young Master Meng, I've heard great things about you," Su Xiaoqi said, standing up with a calm and collected demeanor. Meng Qiulei, having been in business and experienced many ups and downs, was momentarily confused but managed to compose himself. He relaxed his brows, a smile appearing on his ordinary face: "And you are?"
"My surname is Su."
"Proprietor Su." Meng Qiulei immediately understood her identity, having done his research when he targeted Su Xiaoqi's buckwheat tea business. He knew she was the owner of the "天下粮仓" (Tian Xia Liang Cang) and the person leading the buckwheat tea venture he intended to steal. He glanced at Xiao Sanzi, who had led him in, and then glared at the small steward who had liaised with Xiao Sanzi, his expression becoming incredibly complex. Had he been caught red-handed by the principal while trying to poach her employees?
Despite his embarrassment, he pretended nothing was amiss and asked, "Did Proprietor Su summon me?" Meng Qiulei sensed something amiss in Su Xiaoqi's question. She pointed to Shen Yun, who was sitting by the window, and said, "Perhaps my husband wishes to meet Young Master Meng."
Meng Qiulei then noticed the man sitting by the window. He wore a thin, moon-white coat, stood tall and straight, with chiseled features. His deep, dark eyes seemed to possess a piercing gaze, seeing through his every hidden thought. His heart tightened, and he immediately recognized the man's identity. He bowed and cupped his fists, saying, "It is an honor to meet you, Shen Jieyuan. This is my fortune."
Shen Yun nodded faintly, accepting the responsibility Su Xiaoqi had passed on. He then rose, walked to Su Xiaoqi's side, and sat down, gesturing for Meng Qiulei to be seated. "Ah, well, is there some misunderstanding? I can explain," Meng Qiulei, known for his shrewdness in business and his keen sense of timing, quickly realized what he should say. Their presence here meant they knew about his family's attempt to bribe her staff. Any denial would be useless, so he chuckled and claimed there was a misunderstanding.
Seeing the reverence on Meng Qiulei's face when he saw Shen Yun, Su Xiaoqi knew Shen Yun, that formidable presence, had served his purpose. She no longer beat around the bush and asked directly, "Young Master Meng, why don't you tell us what misunderstanding there is?"
"A misunderstanding, hehe, it's entirely a misunderstanding. But it is my fortune to meet Shen Jieyuan and Proprietor Su today. Why don't we sample Drunken Wind Tower's signature dishes today? My treat."
Shen Yun said, "Young Master Meng is too kind. Since you insist, I shall not refuse." Meng Qiulei breathed a sigh of relief, understanding that they were willing to talk. However, he was unsure how the conversation would proceed. He had acted in bad faith, and if they hadn't known, he could have feigned ignorance. But since they did know, and they seemed not to be easily dealt with, Meng Qiulei, prioritizing self-interest and avoiding trouble, quickly adjusted his stance. He humbled himself and began to entertain them, saying, "Drunken Wind Tower has two unique offerings: one is wine, and the other is dishes. Come, Shen Jieyuan and Proprietor Su, you can try their Drunken Flower Shade, their wine specialty. As for the dishes, ah, waiter, why haven't our signature sliced fish with stones been served yet?"
"Ah, Young Master Meng, please wait a moment," a waiter called out from outside, then hurried downstairs. Meng Qiulei turned back to Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi with a polite smile and explained, "Business is good, and everyone is busy."
"Indeed, being able to prepare dishes others cannot, and brew wines other restaurants cannot, business will naturally be prosperous, and wealth will flow in. It's like our buckwheat tea, and your family's Pu'er," Su Xiaoqi said.
Meng Qiulei's heart skipped a beat. "Ah, they've finally gotten to the point. It seems I can't dodge this. I'll just laugh it off," he said, then praised, "Proprietor Su's buckwheat tea is truly delicious. Even my father and mother have praised it."
"So, you wanted to find the production method to take home and please your elders?" Su Xiaoqi chuckled. She was beautiful, and when she smiled, her peach blossom eyes curved slightly, like stars. However, the lack of genuine warmth in her eyes made Meng Qiulei realize she was mocking him. Meng Qiulei stopped struggling and slapped his thigh, saying frankly, "Alas... Proprietor Su, this is my fault..."