Zeng Yu sat in the backseat of a Mercedes Maybach S600, staring out the window absentmindedly.
The car’s ABC anti-roll system combined with the MBC Magic Carpet Ride system made it so smooth that he barely felt any bumps. Zeng Yu liked this car—not because it was the only Mercedes customized in blue silicon-calcite just for him, nor because of the half-aniline leather seats that were soft and comfortable, but because of the quietness it provided.
Zeng Yu liked quiet because it gave him space to think—about business, and about himself.
“Sir, we’re here.” The driver reminded him as the car stopped. The restaurant staff at the entrance opened the car door, and Zeng Yu stepped out, carrying a box with two bottles of wine. Besides work, Zeng Yu’s only hobby was drinking wine, though he only drank wine in moderation, as he feared subconsciously that drinking too much might make him miss something.
“Reservation under Louis.”
“This way, please.” The waiter took the wine box and led him inside. Zeng Yu had been to this Spanish restaurant once before and vaguely remembered the ham and paella were pretty good. Upon reaching the second floor, the waiter opened the door for him.
“Zeng Yu is here!” Louis’s hearty laughter greeted him as he stood up with open arms. He was dressed in a suit similar to Colin Firth’s from Kingsman, with a bit of a rogue vibe as he welcomed Zeng Yu.
“White pants, fuchsia T-shirt, still as flashy as ever.” Cheng Ye, nicknamed “Young Master,” stood up, grinning. He was in investments and had been trying to persuade Zeng Yu to join the field. Wang Zheng’s opinion of Cheng Ye was that he had some talent, but tended to exaggerate.
“Only a man of maturity can pull off such colors.” Zeng Yu calmly retorted.
Ah Wen, who worked in finance, and Xiao Dong, who was in engineering, also greeted Zeng Yu.
Louis clapped his hands, giving Zeng Yu a half-smile. “Everything’s ready, and everyone’s here. If you regret it now, it’s not too late.”
Zeng Yu glanced at the ten decanters on the table and replied calmly, “With such a big setup, how could I disappoint everyone? Losing is just a bottle of whiskey, but if I win, I’ll score national distribution for two brands. Are you really sure you want to gamble with me?”
Louis shrugged with a smirk. “Alright, since our ‘God of Wine’ is so insistent, let’s get started. Don’t worry, if you win, I’ll personally take care of securing the national distribution rights for both brands.”
Zeng Yu had been an agent for foreign wine brands for three years and had become quite the wine connoisseur. In the circle, people had nicknamed him “God of Wine.” The rules were simple: each of the five people present brought two bottles of wine. Once all ten bottles were opened and decanted, Louis would number them, and Zeng Yu would be given a glass of each to taste. If he correctly identified six out of the ten wines, he would win.
If Zeng Yu lost, he would owe Louis a bottle of Port Ellen 34 Years Old whiskey; if Louis lost, he would help Zeng Yu secure distribution for the two French wine brands.
Louis, always trying to challenge Zeng Yu, had set up this wine-tasting event to make things difficult. He was confident Zeng Yu would lose since this would be the first time Zeng Yu had tried such a challenge, even though Zeng Yu had seen the list of wines beforehand. Ten bottles were a lot to differentiate, and with only two white wines, the challenge was even harder.
Louis opened Zeng Yu’s wine box and gasped in surprise. “Wow, you’re really serious about winning this!” Everyone gathered around as Louis lifted one of the bottles for all to see.
“From France, Henri Jayer’s Cros Parantoux, vintage 1993.” As Louis announced the wine, the group exchanged knowing smiles.
Cheng Ye laughed. “Now I’m even less optimistic about Louis. I can almost taste the Wagyu beef calling my name.”
Louis shrugged indifferently. “Come on, my friend, give me a little faith, or I’ll start doubting our friendship.”
Cheng Ye teased, “I’m more interested in whether I get to eat that Wagyu you’ll owe me.”
Louis fired back, “Don’t get your hopes up. Prepare for some fresh Black Sea caviar instead.”
Ah Wen and Xiao Dong just smiled, not saying anything. They had placed their bets, and if Louis won, they would each owe him a bottle of whiskey.
In the world of wine, there’s a division between the New World and the Old World. France, Italy, and Spain—countries that started producing wine early—are considered the Old World, with France being the most famous. France has two major wine regions: Bordeaux and Burgundy. In Burgundy, three legendary winemakers stand out, and Henri Jayer was one of them. His Cros Parantoux was his most representative wine, but with extremely limited production, only a few hundred bottles were made each year. Now that Henri Jayer had passed away, his wines had become even harder to find. This kind of legendary wine wasn’t something money could easily buy; Zeng Yu had gone to great lengths to secure this bottle.
After the brief astonishment, Louis handed the wine back to Zeng Yu. A wine of this caliber was rare, and the one who brought it had the honor of opening it.
Louis poured all ten bottles into decanters, while the others sat back, sipping tea and chatting idly.
When Louis returned, he handed Zeng Yu a wine list, smiling smugly. “Even the slyest fox can’t outsmart a prepared hunter. This time, I’ve got you!”
Zeng Yu glanced at the list, showing a faint smile. “You’ve really gone all out, but let’s see who’s really the hunter here.” Although the challenge was more difficult than he had anticipated, Zeng Yu wasn’t afraid. He felt confident that he could give it a shot.
Zeng Yu had thought no one would bring Italian wine, as it had such a distinct and strong flavor that it would be easy to identify. However, Louis had brought two Italian wines, making the challenge even harder. Louis wasn’t just a seasoned hunter—he was more like a cunning fox. The ten wines today could be categorized into five pairs, each pair being very similar.
There were two wines from Bordeaux: Lafite and Mouton, two Italian wines, and two from Burgundy: Romanee-Conti’s Richebourg and the Cros Parantoux Zeng Yu had brought. There was also one American and one Australian wine, both made from the same grape variety.
Finally, there were two white wines, both from Burgundy, made from grapes grown in the same vineyard, Montrachet. The only difference was the winemaker.
Louis crossed his legs, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. “Well? Why don’t you wait outside for a bit while I number the wines? If you win, there’s an extra prize for you.” He raised his eyebrows playfully.
“Sure.” Zeng Yu left the private room and sat in the lounge area.
“Want a cigarette?” Ah Wen came over, offering him one.
Zeng Yu shook his head. “Smoking dulls the senses.”
“Do you think you’ve got this?” Xiao Dong asked as he joined them.
“Not really. I’ll just do my best. Win or lose, it’s all for fun. Even if I lose, it’s just a bit of teasing from you guys for a while.” Zeng Yu was calm. He enjoyed the process, and after three years in the business world, he had learned not to care too much about winning or losing.
It took a full twenty minutes before the private room door opened. Louis spread his arms wide, like a magician about to perform a trick. “God of Wine, please enter!”
The table was set with water, white bread, and ham on one end, and a row of wine glasses, each with a numbered tag, on the other. Zeng Yu sat down in front of the glasses. The room grew silent as Louis handed him a sheet of paper and a pen.
Zeng Yu closed his eyes for a moment to calm himself. After a while, he opened them, feeling ready. “Shall we begin?”
Louis nodded. “Of course!”
The two glasses of white wine looked identical, with no difference in color. Zeng Yu didn’t start drinking right away. He glanced at the bottles and had a sudden inspiration. He sniffed both glasses of white wine, then took a whiff of the other wines.
——These two are Bordeaux’s Mouton and Lafite, these two are Burgundy wines, these two are the American and Australian wines, and these two are the Italian wines.
In his mind, Zeng Yu had already grouped the eight red wines. He then took a sip of the two white wines and made notes on the paper.
Next, he moved on to the red wines, starting with what he believed to be the Bordeaux wines, followed by the Burgundy, Australian, American, and finally, the Italian wines. Zeng Yu took his time, sipping slowly, rinsing his mouth with water after each taste, and using white bread to absorb the tannins.
“All done.” Zeng Yu handed the paper with his answers to Louis, who started comparing them with his own list. Everyone’s attention was on him.
Zeng Yu watched Louis’s expression carefully, and from his reaction, he already knew the result. Smiling, Zeng Yu said, “The moment of truth has arrived.”
Louis looked up, astonished. “You got eight out of ten right. You win. Amazing!”
“Wow! That’s incredible!” The room erupted in applause, everyone congratulating Zeng Yu.
Louis hugged Zeng Yu with a grin, raising his hand as if declaring a boxing champion. “You truly deserve the title of ‘God of Wine’! How did you do it?”
Not just Louis, but everyone else looked at Zeng Yu curiously.
Zeng Yu smiled. “Honestly, I wasn’t entirely confident. I didn’t rely solely on taste; some of it was deduction. I’ve only tasted a portion of these wines before. I started by grouping them by scent. It’s not difficult to categorize red wines. Bordeaux wines are blends, with Lafite and Mouton containing over 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the heavy oak flavor is easy to identify. Richebourg and my Cros Parantoux both come from Burgundy, and I love Burgundy wines. Their brick-red color is distinctive. Burgundy wines only use Pinot Noir, and its unique aroma is unmistakable. The Australian and American wines both use Syrah grapes, so they were also relatively easy to classify. As for the Italian wines, their flavors are so strong, there’s no mistaking them.”
Louis, still a bit skeptical, asked, “But how did you know which wine was which? If you guessed wrong, you’d be off by two bottles.”
Zeng Yu explained, “I started with the two white wines—well played, by the way—since both came from the same vineyard, and I hadn’t tried either before. It was tough. But I noticed that one bottle said ‘1 Cru’ and the other ‘Grand Cru,’ which, in Burgundy, means premier cru and grand cru. Burgundy’s white wines only use Chardonnay, and the grapes from Montrachet have a distinctive pickled plum scent. Normally, the grand cru wine would taste richer and better than the premier cru, so even though I didn’t know them, it wasn’t hard to tell which one tasted better. After that, I moved on to the Bordeaux wines. The first red wine I ever tasted was from Bordeaux. In the Medoc classification of 1855, there are only five first growth chateaux, and both Mouton and Lafite are among them. Of these five, Mouton’s flavor is the boldest, with a rich aroma and a slight soy sauce scent, making it easy to distinguish. Once I identified Mouton, I knew the other was Lafite.”
Louis’s face lit up with understanding, and Zeng Yu continued with a smile, “Next were Cros Parantoux and Romanee-Conti’s Richebourg. I brought the Cros Parantoux, and it’s a legendary wine from a legendary winemaker. As excellent as Richebourg is, it’s still overshadowed by Henri Jayer’s Cros Parantoux. Plus, I’m familiar with Henri Jayer’s style, so I couldn’t possibly mistake this wine. By that point, I had already won.”
“Wow! Incredible!” Louis exclaimed, clapping his hands. Cheng Ye, Ah Wen, and Xiao Dong joined in, applauding with enthusiasm. The atmosphere in the room became lively once again. Zeng Yu calmly looked around, and the group quickly quieted down, eager to hear more.
“As for the Australian and American wines, I wasn’t entirely sure, but I had tasted that Australian wine before and vaguely remembered its flavor. Getting those two right involved some luck. The two I got wrong were probably the Italian wines. They tasted so similar, and by the end, my palate was already overwhelmed, so I had to guess.”
Louis raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I admit defeat. You truly are the God of Wine.”
Zeng Yu didn’t gloat. He smiled modestly, picking up a slice of ham and popping it into his mouth. “No matter how much you flatter me, I’m not reducing your wager.”
Louis shrugged. “No big deal. I’ll handle the distribution rights as promised.” Then, with a sly grin, he added, “I did say earlier that if you won, there’d be a special prize.”
“A special prize?” Zeng Yu looked puzzled.
Louis smirked. “But first, we have to blindfold you before we can give it to you.”
Zeng Yu raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “You’re not planning to run away, are you?”
Louis scoffed. “Have I ever bailed on a bet?”
“Yeah, remember that time you bet on a horse race and said you’d streak if you lost? Still waiting on that.” Zeng Yu exposed him mercilessly.
Louis looked shocked. “What? I don’t recall anything like that. You must be mistaken!” As soon as he finished speaking, a blindfold was placed over Zeng Yu’s eyes. Trusting Louis, Zeng Yu didn’t resist. Then he heard the sound of footsteps and a door opening, followed by silence.
“Louis, you didn’t really bail on me, did you?” Zeng Yu leaned back in his chair, feeling a little tipsy. He wanted to eat something to sober up, but being blindfolded, he couldn’t see anything.
The sound of high heels approached, causing Zeng Yu to sit up straight, ears perked. That familiar sound stirred memories buried deep within him. It had been three years, eight months, and six days since he last heard it.
She had left behind a promise to meet again in three years and disappeared without a trace. Zeng Yu’s heart began to race, and he stood up abruptly, forgetting he was still blindfolded. He tripped on the chair and stumbled forward. The high-heeled footsteps quickened, and then a pair of soft hands steadied him.
That familiar scent—it was something Zeng Yu could never forget as long as he lived.
“I was going to keep you blindfolded and let you guess who I am, but I guess that’s unnecessary now.” A gentle, tearful voice whispered in his ear. Zeng Yu felt a cold hand holding his as he stood frozen, allowing the person in front of him to remove his blindfold.
The sunlight filtered through sheer curtains, glaringly bright. After blinking several times, Zeng Yu finally confirmed what he had feared—
She was back. Standing right in front of him, still with that same smile, those bright, watery black eyes, and the graceful elegance she always had.
During the three years Jiang Nan had been gone, Zeng Yu had dreamed countless times of their reunion. Each time the setting was different, but every time, Zeng Yu would wake up with the memory vividly clear and feel the sting of disappointment. Over the years, Jiang Nan had left no trace, and Zeng Yu waited anxiously, day after day. In the last eight months and six days, Zeng Yu had even begun to suspect that something had happened to Jiang Nan, that maybe she had left him for good. The last text message Jiang Nan had sent seemed like a lie, something to keep him going.
But now, there she was, with short hair, wearing a white qipao with yellow floral patterns, tears glistening in her eyes.
Their reunion was so sudden, and Zeng Yu felt no joy. He felt as though he had been fooled. Even though tears streamed down his face, his mind made a difficult decision.
“I’m back!” Jiang Nan smiled, tilting her head slightly, arms open, waiting for a warm embrace. Seeing Zeng Yu crying made Jiang Nan feel like all the suffering she had endured was worth it.
Zeng Yu didn’t say a word. After taking a deep breath and wiping his tears with a tissue, he turned and walked toward the door of the private room.
“Zeng Yu, it’s me, Jiang Nan.”
Hearing her panicked voice from behind, Zeng Yu didn’t turn around. “I know it’s you. A liar.” With that, he continued walking out.
When he reached the door, Jiang Nan shouted, “If you don’t forgive me, I’ll jump out of the window!”
Zeng Yu stopped in his tracks, hesitated for a moment, then replied firmly, “It’s only the second floor. You’d have a hard time killing yourself.” With that, he closed the door behind him.
Standing at the door, he didn’t leave. He strained to listen to what was happening inside.
I can’t just leave like this, can I? Zeng Yu thought bitterly as he heard the sound of the window opening. He panicked and rushed back inside, eyes locked on the open window, running to it and looking out.
Below was a courtyard with rocks and trees, where tables and chairs were set up. Zeng Yu had once had drinks there.
Seeing the empty courtyard, Zeng Yu felt fooled again. He turned around to see Jiang Nan stepping out from behind the curtains, her face pleading, hands clasped together. “Please don’t go. Just give me a chance to explain.”
Zeng Yu glared at her. “You’ve tricked me again! I won’t be fooled anymore.”
With that, he resolutely headed for the door. Jiang Nan tried to grab him but hesitated and withdrew her hand, her eyes full of regret. “I won’t give up!” she called out, but Zeng Yu didn’t respond.
When Zeng Yu made it downstairs, Louis and the others were chatting over tea. Seeing Zeng Yu alone, Louis greeted him in surprise. “What happened? Why are you alone? Where’s Jiang Nan?”
Zeng Yu’s face darkened. “Whose idea was this?”
Louis smiled apologetically. “Han Jie gave me a bottle of 1945 Romanee-Conti. You know I couldn’t resist. Besides, I meant no harm.”
Zeng Yu didn’t reply, and the other three stood up, awkward smiles on their faces. It was clear they had all been in on the setup, except for—
“Great!” Zeng Yu spat out the word, striding toward the exit. The group wanted to call after him but couldn’t find the words.
A moment later, Jiang Nan appeared, her graceful figure and striking presence turning heads.
Her eyes were only on Zeng Yu’s departing figure. It wasn’t until he drove away that she finally looked at the others and nodded slightly. “Thank you.”
Just then, Han Jie arrived, rushing in and asking, “Where did that brat go?”
Jiang Nan smiled slightly. “Brother, you entertain our friends. I’m heading back.” With that, she too left.
It had been nearly four years since they last met, and now Jiang Nan was back, but Zeng Yu had not forgiven her.
Sitting in the car, Zeng Yu struggled to control his emotions, leaning his head back in silence. Memories flashed through his mind—memories that were deeply ingrained, every detail etched into his soul. He hadn’t forgotten a single moment and didn’t dare to, as these memories had been the driving force behind his progress over the past few years. During this time, Zeng Yu had gone from being an agent for the small wine brand “Sophie” to becoming a well-known distributor in the country. All of this was because of Jiang Nan.
So, should I just give it all back to her? Zeng Yu thought to himself.
In Zeng Yu’s world, there were two kinds of friends: those for appearances and those who were true friends. Friends for appearances could turn into true friends, but the probability was low because the former were only maintained through benefits, while the latter might be someone you never meet in your lifetime.
Zeng Yu suddenly realized that the car was listed under the company’s name, and for the first time, he felt uncomfortable sitting in it.
“Liu, take me to Wang Zheng’s place.” Zeng Yu made up his mind.
The driver, Liu, responded calmly, “Alright.”
Zeng Yu leaned back, closing his eyes as the car drove smoothly. He seemed to drift off to sleep.
“Sir, we’re here.” Liu, the driver, was the only employee who insisted on addressing Zeng Yu as “Sir,” something Zeng Yu appreciated. Compared to the overused “President Zeng,” “Sir” felt like a breath of fresh air.
“You can head back. I’ll call you later.” Zeng Yu got out of the car.
Standing at the gate, Zeng Yu rang the doorbell, and the door quickly opened. He walked along a cobblestone path through the courtyard, where Wang Zheng, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, wearing flip-flops, stood on the steps rubbing his eyes. “Why are you here so early? You know I’m a night owl.”
Zeng Yu ignored him and walked straight into the house, slipping on the slippers that Ye Xiyan had prepared for him. He sat on the sofa and slowly said, “There was a bit of an incident at lunch, so I came here to mooch a meal.” The kitchen door opened, and Ye Xiyan poked her head out. “Hang tight, it’ll be ready soon.”
“Why are you cooking? Where’s the housekeeper?” Zeng Yu asked.
Wang Zheng laughed. “I’m used to eating Yezi’s cooking, you know that.”
Zeng Yu shook his head with a wry smile. “You’re really enjoying this life of being pampered like a pig, aren’t you?”
“Except for holidays, you hardly ever come by. Now you show up out of the blue—spill it, what’s the real reason?” Wang Zheng deftly changed the subject.
Zeng Yu eyed Wang Zheng’s small belly, sighing. In just three years, this once handsome guy had been transformed into a middle-aged uncle by time.
“What are you staring at? A peaceful life is the true way.” Wang Zheng noticed Zeng Yu’s gaze and grumbled.
Zeng Yu pretended not to hear, satisfied that he had successfully changed Wang Zheng’s focus. “Got any wine?”
“Of course, though you only drink foreign wine now after all these years as a distributor.” Wang Zheng chuckled and quickly returned from the study holding a bottle of whiskey. “Annan recommended this Port Ellen, but I can’t pronounce the name.”
“Port Ellen 34 Years Old,” Zeng Yu corrected, his heart twinging. It was the same whiskey that had been the bet at today’s wine tasting. Little did he know, not only would he win the wager, but he’d also run into Jiang Nan. Undoubtedly, Jiang Nan was behind the whole setup, and the wine that Louis had been bribed with was likely provided by her.
Zeng Yu felt a sharp pain in his chest, his vision blurring as a thought crossed his mind: Did my love for Jiang Nan include elements of gratitude and repayment? Why didn’t I even give her a chance to explain? Is it because my pride feels wounded from being deceived?
Zeng Yu took the bottle, opened it, and poured himself a glass.
Seeing this, Wang Zheng quickly grabbed the glass from him. “What are you doing? Something’s off with you.”
Wang Zheng added ice to an empty glass and poured Zeng Yu’s drink into it before handing it back.
Zeng Yu remained silent, quietly taking the glass. The chill from the ice seeped through the glass into his hand, clearing his head slightly. He took a slow sip and set the glass down. “It’s nothing. I just feel a bit tired and plan to take a break.”
“Yeah, you’ve been all work and no play these past few years. It’s about time you took a rest. By the way, Annan is opening a bar. Interested in investing?” Wang Zheng mentioned Annan, a bartender Zeng Yu knew. He had once tasted a cocktail Annan made and considered him one of the best bartenders in the country.
“Why don’t you invest yourself?” Zeng Yu asked, curious.
Wang Zheng laughed. “I enjoy drinking, but you’re the one who really clicks with Annan. You know how he is. Even if I wanted to invest, he wouldn’t accept it. So, I didn’t even ask. You’re the best person to talk to.”
Zeng Yu frowned. “You’ve already expressed interest in investing, but he turned you down, didn’t he?”
Wang Zheng looked shocked. “Can’t we just have a normal conversation?”
At that moment, Ye Xiyan appeared and knocked Wang Zheng on the head. “Your ego got the better of you, huh? Put the wine down and eat. Zeng Yu, you should cut back on the drinking, too.”
Wang Zheng protested, “We’re just getting started.”
“You go ahead and drink. I’m done.” Zeng Yu downed his glass, then set it down.
“You guys eat first. I’m going upstairs to check on the baby. I’ll have the housekeeper come down and eat.” Ye Xiyan left with that, heading upstairs.
Zeng Yu thought about stopping her, but Wang Zheng just laughed. “Let her be. Ever since the baby was born, I’ve barely had a presence in this house.”
The meal was a simple four dishes and a soup. Wang Zheng picked up his chopsticks, smiling wryly. “At home, except during holidays, I’m not allowed to drink, and if I want to smoke, I have to go out to the balcony.”
Zeng Yu laughed. “Not even seven years in and you’re already complaining?”
Wang Zheng shook his head. “It’s not about the seven-year itch. I’m just a little jealous of the baby.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Zeng Yu stuffed his mouth with food, too lazy to respond.
After getting married, Wang Zheng lived comfortably, mainly relying on rental income. But the guy wasn’t one to sit still, so after making a bit of money, he had Ye Xiyan ask A Hong for help in opening a KTV, which turned out to be a profitable business.
Then, when Ye Xiyan got pregnant, Wang Zheng handed over the business to A Hong and focused on taking care of his wife. But after the baby was born, Wang Zheng found himself with nothing to do, and all of Ye Xiyan’s attention was on the baby, which made him feel left out. So, he spent his days napping at home and his nights out drinking, something Ye Xiyan didn’t mind much.
After finishing his meal, Zeng Yu returned to the living room, where the housekeeper served him tea. Zeng Yu thanked her and pulled out his phone to call Annan.
Zeng Yu had met Annan through business. By chance, he had once had a drink at a bar where Annan worked and had been so impressed by the cocktail that he kept coming back for more.
Annan was a pure soul, passionate about whiskey, dedicating nearly all his time and energy to it.
“It’s me, Zeng Yu. Wang Zheng said you’re opening a bar?” Zeng Yu wanted to confirm the situation.
Annan calmly replied on the phone, “I’m working on it. I just want to open a small place and showcase everything I’ve learned over the years to people who truly appreciate it.”
“I’ve always thought it was a waste for someone like you to work for others. How about this: I’ll put up the money, you run the place, and you take 60% of the shares.” Zeng Yu proposed straightforwardly.
Annan was silent for a moment before answering, “That’s not fair. I can’t take advantage of you like that.”
“Investing in your bar is a hands-off deal for me. I just sit back and collect money. How is that taking advantage? You tell me, what investment opportunity is better for someone like me than putting money into your bar?”
“Zeng Yu, come on. If someone like you doesn’t have much money, then I’m basically a beggar.”
“I’m serious. Jiang Yu Company isn’t really mine. I’m just managing it. Now the real owner is back, so it’s time for me to step aside.” Zeng Yu’s voice was a bit heavy.
Annan let out an “Ah” before saying, “Let me think about it. I’ll give you a call once I’ve locked in a location for the bar.”
“If you’re looking for a place, talk to Wang Zheng. He’s got plenty of properties,” Zeng Yu suggested.
Just then, Wang Zheng came over and snatched the phone. “Annan, we’re all friends. Give me a chance to be your landlord.”
After some idle chit-chat, Zeng Yu took back the phone. “Let’s drink tonight. Send me a message when you find a spot.”
With that, Zeng Yu headed for the door. Wang Zheng sensed something was off, and it wasn’t until Zeng Yu’s car had already driven away that he realized. He slapped his thigh in frustration. “He got away with dodging the subject again.”
Zeng Yu went to the office, heading straight for the legal department.
The legal team was working at their desks when a middle-aged woman looked up and saw Zeng Yu. She immediately stood up. “President Zeng, anything I can help with?”
“Yes. Draft a share transfer agreement for Jiang Yu Company. Transfer all the shares under my name to Jiang Nan’s.”
“Oh, got it. I’ll get right on it.” The legal staff’s expression was a bit conflicted.
Zeng Yu returned to his office and turned on his computer. The desktop wallpaper was Jiang Nan’s smiling face. He stared at it blankly for a while, feeling as if his heart was being pricked with needles. With a sigh, he raised his hand to close the laptop, but just then, his phone rang.
Seeing the number, Zeng Yu frowned but answered the call anyway. Yuan Lei’s voice came through the line. “Are you out of your mind? Jiang Nan came back to find you, and you ran away?”
“You’re still as nosy as ever. You’d better stay out of this,” Zeng Yu replied bluntly, then hung up in anger.
On the other end, Yuan Lei stared at her phone in disbelief. “Did he just hang up on me?”
Across from her, Jiang Nan smiled and stood up. “What’s wrong with him hanging up on you?”
Yuan Lei was even more upset. “Hey, I was standing up for you, and this is how you repay me? Doesn’t your conscience hurt?” Jiang Nan didn’t respond, simply leaving the room.
Back at Jiang Yu Company, Jiang Nan stood at the entrance for a long time, hesitating to take the final step.
She knew a lot about what had happened at Jiang Yu Company. In the first year after she left, Sophie’s sales had reached 20,000 bottles, and the brand had become unstoppable. When Sophie’s production could no longer meet demand, Zeng Yu had launched a new brand. Initially, he had to beg and plead to secure distribution rights, but now, many brands were actively seeking to partner with them.
Currently, Jiang Yu Company held distribution rights for eleven wine brands and four whiskey brands, eight of which were national distributors. In the first half of the year alone, Jiang Yu Company’s net profit had reached 28 million yuan.
Over the past few years, Zeng Yu had taken less than three months’ worth of vacation days. That means he’d averaged less than a month of time off per year. For Zeng Yu, the only real vacation he got was during the ten or so days of Chinese New Year.
Jiang Nan had meticulously planned her return to Zeng Yu’s life, considering every detail—except for how proud Zeng Yu had become.
Back when they weren’t yet lovers, Jiang Nan had noticed Zeng Yu’s hidden pride beneath his calm exterior. But after becoming lovers, she had overlooked this. Now, after being rejected, Jiang Nan was suddenly reminded—if she were in Zeng Yu’s shoes, how could she return to the way things were with a lover who had disappeared for several years?
Sigh, I really oversimplified things. Jiang Nan gently pushed open the door, and the receptionist stood up with a smile. “Hello, how can I help you?”
Jiang Nan froze for a moment, then smiled faintly, thinking: Of course. I’ve been gone for years. How could anyone here still remember me?
Just as she was about to explain, Li Geng came out from inside. When he saw Jiang Nan, his bag dropped to the floor. “President Jiang, you’re back.” He hurried over, extending his hand in excitement.
Jiang Nan shook his hand with a smile. “You’ve all done a great job these past years.”
Li Geng beamed with pride. “Yes, but the real credit goes to President Zeng. We’re just his foot soldiers. Oh, are you here to see President Zeng? He was just in his office. I’ll take you there.”
Jiang Nan waved him off. “I’ll go by myself. You go ahead and do your work.”
“Alright, then. I’ll get back to it.” Li Geng picked up his bag and left, glancing back several times as he walked away.
Jiang Nan made her way to Zeng Yu’s office, following the path from her memory. She stood outside the office door, taking a moment to steady her racing heart. Certain that Zeng Yu would hear her out, she reached for the door.
The door opened, but Zeng Yu wasn’t inside. Jiang Nan smiled bitterly. Could it be that she and Zeng Yu really had no fate?
She took a step back and accidentally caught sight of the nameplate on the office next door. She froze. The office that had once been hers still had the same nameplate—General Manager’s Office.
She walked over, raising her hand to open the door. A voice suddenly called out behind her, “Ma’am, I suggest you don’t open that door.”
Jiang Nan turned around. It was a young man who had spoken.
“No one is allowed to enter this office, not even the cleaning staff. Only President Zeng can go inside, and he even does the cleaning himself,” the young man explained before hurrying off.
Jiang Nan’s heart was in turmoil. She instinctively pushed the door open, and when she glanced inside, she was stunned.
Everything was exactly as she had left it. The only difference was the bookshelf behind the desk, which was now filled with books about wine.
The desk was spotless, the computer was the same, and even the pens in the holder hadn’t changed.
The pink mousepad and black mouse were still there, and the chair still had the Minion cushion she had bought online.
Why? Did this office remain untouched for four years? Jiang Nan carefully inspected every detail, her body trembling. She gripped the edge of the desk, tilting her head back to hold back her tears, but she couldn’t suppress them.
This office held the warmest memories of their time together. As Jiang Nan wiped her tears and took in every familiar sight, she felt like she had returned to the past.
“Nothing has changed here. What are you trying to tell me?” Jiang Nan murmured to herself.
Suddenly, a stern voice rang out behind her. “Who let you in? What’s going on with the front desk? How could they let someone in like this?”
Startled, Jiang Nan turned around to see a middle-aged woman glaring at her.
But as the woman got a better look at Jiang Nan’s face, her expression changed to one of surprise. “Are you Jiang Nan?”
Jiang Nan nodded. “Yes, it’s me.”
The woman seemed to understand. “If it’s you, there’s no problem. President Zeng isn’t here, but he left a document for you with me. He said you’d be coming.”
Jiang Nan felt something was off. “And you are?”
The woman smiled. “I’m the head of the legal department at Jiang Yu Company.”
“Where’s Zeng Yu?” Jiang Nan asked.
The woman hesitated before replying, “President Zeng left about half an hour ago. Once you see the document he left, you’ll understand.”
Jiang Nan’s suspicions deepened, and she followed the woman into an office, where she was handed a document.
Back when Jiang Nan left, she had transferred all her shares to Zeng Yu. Now, Zeng Yu had returned them all to her. “Coward. Petty jerk,” Jiang Nan muttered, feeling frustrated.
The legal representative continued to explain the situation professionally, “These are the documents President Zeng left… company stamps, car keys… Also, President Zeng said you should wait for the finance team. They’re out on an errand and haven’t returned yet. He’s made everything clear, and all the accounts are in order.”
Jiang Nan nodded and sat down, staring blankly at the documents in front of her. She pulled out her phone and called Han Jie. “It’s me. I need you to come to Jiang Yu Company. It’s urgent. Don’t ask questions, just hurry, or I’ll tell Uncle.”
After hanging up, Jiang Nan muttered to herself, “One misstep, and I’m behind. I should’ve skipped Yuan Lei and come straight here.”
Han Jie had been drinking and chatting with Louis when he got the call. Apologizing, he said, “Sorry, Jiang Nan just called and asked me to go right away. If I don’t, she’ll lose it, and I’ll end up suffering.”
Louis teased, “Han Jie, is she your sister or your ancestor?”
Han Jie, who usually acted tough, nodded with resignation. “Yeah, she’s practically my living ancestor.”
By the time Han Jie arrived at the company, Jiang Nan was sitting in her old office, lost in thought.
“Hey, sis, what’s the mission?” Han Jie asked cautiously.
“Zeng Yu is gone,” Jiang Nan said, her eyes blank as she looked up at him.
Hearing this, Han Jie rolled up his sleeves. “No problem. I’ll go get him back. That kid is really asking for it.”
Jiang Nan shot him a look. “And you think you can? Can you outfight him or outtalk him?”
Han Jie didn’t dare argue and awkwardly lowered his arms.
Jiang Nan sighed. “If Zeng Yu wants to disappear, you won’t be able to find him. I called you here for one thing: Zeng Yu transferred all the shares to me, but I haven’t signed the agreement, so the company is still his. I need you to temporarily manage the company. Just follow the established procedures and don’t stir up any trouble. When people come to you, just stamp the documents. Don’t interfere with any of the actual operations.”
“I’ve got a question. What does ‘follow the established procedures’ mean?” Han Jie asked.
Jiang Nan angrily retorted, “Look it up! All you do is hang out with those celebrities. No wonder Uncle always worries when he talks about you.”
Jiang Nan then took Han Jie to the finance office and pointed to him. “I’m leaving the company stamps with Han Jie. I’ll be busy and won’t have time to come to the office. If the finance department needs anything stamped, go to Han Jie. Everyone, please be patient. Don’t let him mess with any of the company’s operations. He’ll only cause trouble.”
“Hey, I’m your brother,” Han Jie complained.
Jiang Nan shot him a glare. “Even if you were my dad, I wouldn’t let you touch this company. It’s Zeng Yu’s blood, sweat, and tears.”
