Tonight’s Japanese meal was at Sakurajima. There was a lot of sashimi. Suhao tried a portion and didn’t dare to eat more. She still ate shrimp and seaweed and similar things. The taste was very good. Shenhe looked at the sashimi, thinking luckily he had only ordered one portion. He drank it with barley tea while eating. Seeing this, Suhao even reached over and poured him some tea.
“Good, good, you’re really nice.” Shenhe picked it up and took a sip, pushing the glutinous rice cake to Suhao.
Suhao took it, ate one piece. Inside was matcha, a bit bitter, but outside soft and sticky, very delicious. Shenhe’s eyes glanced at the next few tables. They were all couples, some sitting together, linking arms, leaning on shoulders, feeding each other. He stiffened a little and swallowed the salmon.
He looked at Suhao across from him. The light was dim, her features soft, yet too calm, rarely showing obvious shyness.
Or perhaps, from the time they had met until now, she had rarely been shy.
Shenhe thought of this and felt that maybe he wasn’t doing well.
He picked up his phone, about to type.
Then he received two WeChat messages from Zhouyang.
He stared at them carefully.
His gaze landed on the words Liangjiu.
Liangzhu is a decadent wine produced by Huang Liang Winery. He had always wanted to try it, and now finally he had the chance.
Wine, huh.
He saw Zhouyang’s next sentence and hesitated, looking at Suhao.
Wine, huh.
This thing is a bit complicated.
Shenhe cleared his throat and then typed.
Shenhe: Okay, send me the address, we’ll go after dinner.
A second later, he typed again.
Shenhe: Brother Zhouyang, a question, how can you make a woman shy?
Zhouyang: Share the address.
Zhouyang: This question? Haha, guess.
Shenhe: …You won’t tell? You’re stingy.
Zhouyang: Come drink, I’ll tell you later.
Shenhe: Okay.
Putting down his phone, Shenhe looked at Suhao. Suhao was also looking at her phone. Liaoyun had sent her some photos, all old photos from more than ten years ago, very vintage. Especially the one where her hair was down, clipped by a hairpin near her ear, eyes squinting as she smiled, silly and innocent.
That smile, now, she might not even be able to reproduce.
She looked for a while, suddenly remembered, this was the photo from the first time she saw Zhouyang. At that time, Liaoyun was taking the photo.
A silver sedan drove along a dirt road and stopped behind the rice field. Zhouyang wore a black hoodie and jeans, full of smiles in his eyes, looking over here. His fingers rested on the car roof, obviously holding a cigarette.
At that time, Zhouyang was in his second year of high school.
“Good.”
Suhao was stunned, raised her eyes, and looked at Shenhe across: “Hey.”
“Hahaha, why do you look a bit blank?” Shenhe laughed, saying: “Shall we go to the winery later?”
“Winery?”
“Yes, Brother Liyi’s winery from last time.”
Liyi.
A man with a crew cut.
Suhao hesitated, glanced at the time. “Wouldn’t it be too late?”
“No, this is still early. I just want to see some wine, try a little, then I’ll have the driver send you back.” Shenhe encouraged me. Suhao looked at him, her eyes slightly bright, and didn’t want to dampen his mood, so she nodded: “Okay.”
Shenhe smiled, fed her some sushi, and picked up the menu.
They went to pay first. Suhao ate the remaining sushi in front of her. Shenhe also finished paying. Suhao wiped the soy sauce from her lips, picked up her small bag, stood, and followed Shenhe.
When they came, it was still early. Now night has fallen. All the lights were on, bustling and bright. Suhao thought of the photos Liaoyun sent and took her phone, snapping several photos of iconic buildings to send to Liaoyun.
Including Feijie.
Feijie’s short videos in the past two years were very good.
Liaoyun often played on that app.
And a few other internet giants, as well as two real estate companies.
Liaoyun: Wow, they really are all rooted in Licheng. Makes me want to go there too.
Liaoyun: The building of Changsheng Company is so tall. Really seventy-two floors?
Suhao looked at the building, which seemed almost lost in the clouds, and couldn’t tell. They got into the car. Shenhe started it, saw her staring at the building, and smiled: “Not seventy-two floors, only fifty-three, exaggerated.”
“Oh.” Suhao nodded, replying to Liaoyun.
The car drove out of the main road toward Liyi’s winery. Liyi’s winery was remote, in the suburbs, and very large. The winery did not sell to the public, only used to entertain business friends and circle friends. Therefore, all the collection was of fine wines. At night, the winery near the mountain faintly smelled of wine, very elegant.
The entrance was a fenced courtyard.
A yellow sign hung there.
It said “Wine.”
After parking, Suhao stepped down onto the wooden floor. The air had a fresh sweetness. Shenhe locked the car and walked around to lead Suhao into the courtyard.
Not far away, many cars were parked. Before entering, they could hear faint laughter. In this quiet place, it sounded very loud. Shenhe whispered to Suhao: “Watch your step.”
Suhao smile, nodded, and stepped on the flagstones. They finally climbed the steps. Light spilled out of the house. It wasn’t very bright, warm orange.
In the middle, a large booth had four men and two women. One man in a black shirt, wearing glasses, elegant rogue style, sat next to a very beautiful woman. Both leaned forward talking. Another man in a black top and jeans, hands on knees, fingers holding a cigarette, also had a woman next to him. Then there were Zhouyang and Liyi. Zhouyang held cards between his fingers, a cigarette in his mouth, flicked the cards lazily, charming, and seemed to smile at the man in black: “Cigarette lit, why not smoke? Scared?”
The man raised an eyebrow, snorted coldly: “What am I afraid of?”
“Then smoke.”
“Zhouyang.” Jiangyu glanced at Yunlü beside him. Yunlü blinked, said nothing. But Jiangyu did not dare to move.
Zhouyang laughed: “Admit it, stop being stubborn.”
Xudian kicked the table, glanced at Zhouyang, sneered: “You…”
Suddenly, Xudian slightly turned head: “Suhao?”
The name was called very clearly.
The peach-blossom eyes behind glasses swept across Suhao’s face. She was stunned and instinctively nodded: “Hello.”
Gentle and pleasant voice went straight to Zhouyang.
The cards in hand snapped shut. Zhouyang calmly pressed down the cigarette, blew a smoke ring, then turned back, scanning Shenhe and Suhao: “Here? Come over.”
Shenhe picked up a nearby cigarette and distributed them one by one. A group of handsome men couldn’t help but laugh.
Liyi asked: “Isn’t this a gift cigarette?”
Shenhe cleared his throat, looked at Suhao: “Not yet, just offering you guys, okay?”
“Okay, then take your own.” Xudian pierced him.
Shenhe: “…”
A minute later, Shenhe introduced Suhao to them. Suhao learned that the glasses man was Xudian, the woman next to him was Mengying, his wife. Suhao realized this was the movie queen. She had also seen the twins and recalled the story Liaoyun mentioned. She lightly glanced at Xudian’s overly handsome face. Mengying smiled, and Suhao quickly returned it.
The man in black was Jiangyu, next to him was his wife. She didn’t look married, very pretty and cute, waved at Suhao.
She had a classical name, Yunlü.
The sofas consisted of six double sofas. Each couple had one, Zhouyang and Liyi each had one. Both were arrogant. Shenhe arranged for Suhao to sit with him. She didn’t refuse. Zhouyang played cards, glanced at Suhao, asked: “Work these two days, how’s it?”
Suhao answered softly: “Okay.”
“Nothing else to say?” Zhouyang played a king, lazily tilted his head, eyes scanning her neck and her off-shoulder dress, thin collarbone, skin whiter than the cards.
Suhao was stunned. She looked at his narrow eyes and vaguely felt he knew her current difficulties at work.
Suhao shook her head, smiled: “No.”
“Oh, okay. Our Suhao is really capable.” Zhouyang saw she wanted to handle it herself, laughed, kicked Liyi: “Your turn, why just look and not play?”
Liyi glanced at him meaningfully and then played.
Shenhe asked: “Only you three play?”
There was also Yunlü, who seemed to be the landlord, beaten by the two. Shenhe wanted to join. Zhouyang defeated the last king, Yunlü. Then he picked up the dice cup, put it on the table, acting like a boss: “Then, let’s play dice. Aliang, go get Liangzhu.”
Nearby waiter nodded and went to the cellar.
Shenhe tapped the table: “Playing dice?”
Zhouyang looked at him: “Play?”
“Play, Brother Zhouyang, you underestimate my tolerance for alcohol.”
“Really? Let’s see.”
Then, he pointed at Suhao: “You don’t play.”
Xudian pointed at Mengying: “You don’t play.”
Jiangyu pointed at Yunlü: “You don’t play.”
Liyi leaned back smoking: “You playing solitaire?”
He glanced at Zhouyang. Zhouyang played dice cup, and didn’t look at Liyi. Suhao didn’t drink much and wouldn’t play. She softly told Shenhe: “Take it easy, have work tomorrow, right?”
That tone, same as telling someone to drink water, is soft and gentle. Zhouyang paused flicking dice, tugged his collar, picked up a cigarette, lit it, and smoked. Then Liangjiu arrived. Dice rolled, people called points from Zhouyang.
Next was Liyi, points called high.
Liyi didn’t follow his call, called differently. Down the line, Shenhe’s turn. His next was Zhouyang. Shenhe called a number, no count left, others couldn’t call, so he called higher than Zhouyang.
Zhouyang didn’t look at others, flipped the cup: “Open you.”
No points.
Shenhe had to drink, stunned: “Brother Zhouyang, you’re so cunning!”
Zhouyang leaned on his knee, fingers holding cigarette, looked at him, smiling: “Giving you wine, didn’t you want it?”
“Want, losing to you makes me not want as much.” Shenhe huffed, finally drank. Strong aroma. He looked at Suhao: “What if I get drunk?”
Suhao had watched one round and knew how to play, but lost interest. She held her phone: “I’ll send you home.”
Zhouyang rolled dice, smiled casually: “He has a driver, you can’t drive, how send?”
He glanced at Suhao, she shrugged. Zhouyang looked away, put a cigarette in mouth, bit but didn’t inhale.
Shenhe smiled satisfied: “Good, I’m not afraid to get drunk.”
Not finished speaking, Zhouyang called points: “Eight fives.”
Liyi quickly got the number, glanced at Zhouyang, and edited the phone.
Liyi: You’re eager tonight.
Beep beep, Zhouyang didn’t pick up, focused on the dice cup. Shenhe instinctively felt it, many called him.
Liangjiu was so drunk, he couldn’t taste it.
Later, he got somewhat drunk.
Suhao saw this, quickly got up, went over, poured water. Black skirt brushed Zhouyang’s arm, he glanced down.
Cup placed in front of Shenhe, Suhao softly: “Drink some water, too much wine is bad.”
Shenhe rubbed his forehead, nodded, sipped.
Slightly comfortable.
Suddenly, Zhouyang pushed the dice cup, leaned back, legs crossed, tilted head at Shenhe and standing Suhao, narrow eyes squinting, smiled: “Drunk?”
Shenhe half-opened eyes, leaned sofa arm, after a while: “I can still drink.”
A little unwilling to lose.
Because tonight he never won against Zhouyang.
Zhouyang smiled: “Not drinking with you, I’ll call the driver, send you home.”
He picked up the phone, called the driver, to send Shenhe to Licheng mansion. Soon the driver came, helped Shenhe. Suhao picked up her bag, followed. Zhouyang’s voice sounded behind: “Suhao.”
Suhao stopped, turned.
The man bent down, stubbed out a cigarette, grabbed car keys: “I’ll send you.”
Suhao paused, smiled: “You also need a substitute driver, can’t drive. Also, I promised Shenhe I’d send him home, I must do it.”
Then she turned to leave.
Zhouyang stood, stunned for a moment.
Seconds later, faint sigh behind, he recovered, smiled, sat down, clicked tongue: “Forgot I also drank.”
“Really?” Liyi lightly responded.
Late at night, Shenhe was drunk, and the driver had to hold him tight. Suhao behind, somewhat protecting, walked inattentively. A woman clicked heels, bumped Suhao’s shoulder, stumbled, and shoe stuck in a stone gap.
Woman impatient: “How do you walk?”
Voice cute.
Extremely familiar.
Suhao, stunned, turned. Met Lixiu’s eyes. She saw Suhao, snorted, then saw Shenhe, squinted, face angry but rotated, finally pointed at Suhao: “You pay for my shoe.”
Suhao looked down.
Red high heels stuck, heels seemed broken.
Shenhe is urgent to go home. Suhao nodded: “Okay, I’ll pay.”
“WeChat open, add me.” Lixiu pulled off the shoe, scanned the QR code, gave it to Suhao, she glanced at the shoe, and had to scan it.
Driver asked: “Done?”
Suhao: “Done, done.”
Suhao closed WeChat, followed. Driver brought the car, parked it. Shenhe seemed thin, actually muscular, the driver sweating, and put him in the back seat. Shenhe dazed, leaned through the window, eyes closed, and looked like a child.
Clear features.
Young master’s aura retracted, and looked simpler.
Suhao sat, used tissue to wipe sweat from the temple.
Driver wiped sweat, sat, and started the car. Saw Suhao wiping, said: “Hard work, Miss Su.”
Suho smiled: “Not hard.”
Driver glanced at Suhao, drove out. In the Wen family’s eyes, Shen Shaoye was always a child.
He had a strong, capable sister, a genius brother, and a smooth life. No one expected him to date.
Seeing him with Suhao seemed like small matters.
Moreover, Suhao is a year younger, meticulous, clearly experienced. Mentally, there are still some differences.
Car drove to Shen’s family apartment, a quiet area, opposite to Suhao’s home. Shenhe was drunk, mostly humming. Suhao glanced, once or twice he slid to her shoulder.
Suhao gently pushed him back.
He hummed again.
Outside apartment.
Driver got out, opened the door, and held Shenhe. Suhao helped. Together got him out. Driver slightly staggered. Suhao quickly closed the doors, and the driver nodded: “Miss Su, wait here, I’ll send him upstairs, then you.”
“No need, I’ll send her.” Black Porsche suddenly arrived, a deep male voice.
At night, it seemed casual.
Both turned, saw Zhouyang in the back seat, arm resting, fingers holding cigarette, lazy expression.
When did he come?
Zhouyang leaned to the window, fist under chin, smiled at Suhao: “Old driver so hard, still make him run? Road rough, I send you, also return a scenic route.”
“Want to cook hangover soup upstairs?” Zhouyang’s tone is playful.
Before Suhao answered, the driver said: “No trouble Miss Su, maid will arrange, better return early.”
Simple words, Suhao sensed Zhouyang spoke with emotion, unclear what.
She intended to take her taxi, saw the driver sweating, turned back, and said goodbye.
Shenhe asleep.
Suhao looked, smiled, walked around the car, opened the door, and the Porsche smelled of wine. Sat, closed door.
Zhouyang flicked ash, raised the window, and instructed the driver. Suhao looked at the phone, nearly twelve.
“Late?” a deep voice beside.
Suhao put the phone down: “Mm.”
He leaned back, and didn’t smoke. Seconds later, I opened the booth, stubbed out a cigarette.
Suhao saw a neck vein protrude.
Looks like the alcohol effect is strong. Zhouyang turned, caught her gaze, lightly fell on her white shoulder, suddenly smiled: “Looking what?”
Suhao saw teasing in his eyes.
Familiar feeling arose.
She frowned, seconds later asked: “Bad mood?”
Zhouyang looked back, rubbed forehead.
“Guess?”
Suhao: “Not my business, won’t guess.”
Zhouyang: “…”
He tugged collar hard, looked slightly annoyed.
Author note: He came, he came. This chapter also has 100 red envelopes, and Zhouyang is ready to act. I plan to sing for him: Cold icy rain smacks face randomly…
Swollen-face Zhouyang cleared throat: Wish I’D 【Today Zhouyang Likes Suhao?】 The little cutie is soon single.