Volume 1 Chapter 16: Little Uncle, Teach Me?
Dongye Wellness Mansion is located at the foot of the Dongye Mountain Golf Course, close to the wetland park.
The mansion consists of six villas, each with its own private courtyard and a team of professional doctors.
Those who can afford to buy villas here for wellness purposes are either wealthy or influential.
Song Jingcheng has been staying here during his recuperation.
Shen He’s car wasn’t even qualified to enter the mansion, so she parked it in the nearby wetland park’s open-air parking lot.
Carrying a small bamboo basket, she walked to the entrance of the mansion and was just wondering how to get in when she heard a car horn behind her.
“Miss Shen?” Ma Kai happened to be returning to the mansion and was surprised to see Shen He. “Are you here to see Mr. Song? Does Mr. Song know you’re coming today?”
Meeting Ma Kai’s scrutinizing gaze, Shen He calmly replied, “Little Uncle doesn’t know. I decided to come on a whim.”
She lifted the small bamboo basket and explained, “My grandmother came from the countryside and brought me some wild matsutake mushrooms. I heard from Mu Tingyun that Little Uncle loves these, and I was worried they wouldn’t stay fresh overnight, so I came directly.”
Hearing this, Ma Kai’s expression softened slightly. “That’s very thoughtful of you, Miss Shen. Mr. Song mentioned just the other day that with all the rain lately, he’d like to have some fresh mushroom soup.”
“Get in the car. Mr. Song is staying at Villa No. 6, which is quite far from here.” Ma Kai personally got out of the car and opened the rear door for Shen He.
As Shen He got in, she noticed Ma Kai holding a bronze incense burner and was somewhat surprised. “Does Little Uncle have a fondness for incense?”
“This is calming incense. Mr. Song just moved here yesterday and forgot to bring the incense burner.” Ma Kai had returned to the Song residence specifically to fetch the incense burner for Song Jingcheng.
If he needed calming incense to sleep, it seemed Song Jingcheng’s condition was truly serious.
Upon arriving at Villa No. 6, Ma Kai opened the uniquely designed wooden gate to the front yard.
As soon as Shen He entered the house, she noticed hidden surveillance cameras installed in the darker corners of the yard.
Carrying her small basket, she followed Ma Kai obediently into the main hall. Ma Kai turned back and told her, “Mr. Song is meeting with a guest in the tea room. Miss Shen, please wait patiently.”
“Alright.”
Ma Kai took the incense burner upstairs and soon came back down, heading to the adjacent tea room.
It was Shen He’s first time here, so she didn’t dare wander around. Instead, she sat quietly and properly on the large living room sofa to wait.
After just two or three minutes, Ma Kai reappeared. “Miss Shen, Mr. Song asks you to come to the tea room.”
Shen He picked up her small woven basket and followed Ma Kai to the tea room.
The tea room was hidden behind a Chinese-style screen, with a hollowed-out center featuring a panda embroidery crafted in the Shu embroidery style.
Shen He glanced at the two adorable and earnest-looking pandas before following Ma Kai into the tea room.
As soon as she entered, Shen He’s attention was drawn to Song Jingcheng, seated in the master’s chair.
He sat in the host’s position, dressed in a black Chinese-style suit, with a string of bodhi beads symbolizing health and peace around his wrist, offering Shen He only a side profile.
Song Jingcheng was slightly bowing his head, listening to the man across from him speak. He appeared attentive, but Shen He sensed a hint of distraction.
Clearly, the guest had been speaking eloquently and tirelessly, yet he hadn’t managed to capture Song Jingcheng’s interest.
Shen He tightened her grip on the basket handle, hesitated for a moment, and then softly called out, “Mr. Song.”
The tea room suddenly fell silent.
The guest was silent, looking up at Shen He alongside Song Jingcheng.
Only now did Shen He clearly see the guest's face.
Should she say it? Quite coincidentally, this guest turned out to be Boss Cheng, whom she had briefly encountered at the high-speed rail station earlier in the day.
Recalling Boss Cheng's act of buying wild matsutake mushrooms from her grandmother to gift someone, Shen He couldn't help but feel amused.
After all the twists and turns, those matsutake mushrooms had ended up in Song Jingcheng's hands.
Cheng Taoguang also recognized Shen He.
A girl with Shen He's appearance was unforgettable. Cheng Taoguang wasn't obsessed with women, but he appreciated beauty.
Recognizing Shen He, Boss Cheng was somewhat surprised. "Young lady, do you know Mr. Song?"
Upon hearing this, Song Jingcheng's dark eyes, as cold as frost-covered trees after snowfall, swept between Shen He and Boss Cheng, finally settling on Shen He's face.
"You've met?" he was asking Shen He.
Boss Cheng restrained himself from interrupting, his eyes shining brightly as he stared at Shen He.
Shen He didn't conceal anything, speaking truthfully: "This Boss Cheng traveled to Qingshi on the same high-speed rail as my grandmother today. Thanks to him, my grandmother also had the chance to taste imported chocolate."
Hearing this, Boss Cheng paused, and his gaze toward Shen He now held more gratitude.
Nodding, Song Jingcheng looked at the bamboo basket in Shen He's hand and asked her, "What's in the basket?"
Shen He placed the bamboo basket on the table, lifted the soft covering cloth, revealing the matsutake mushrooms.
Boss Cheng immediately recognized the wild matsutake mushrooms in the basket as those from Grandma Su's backpack. No wonder Auntie refused to sell them to him—they were meant to be gifted to Mr. Song.
And she had said the matsutake mushrooms could only be eaten by beautiful women.
Mr. Song wasn't a beautiful woman either.
Seeing Song Jingcheng staring at the matsutake mushrooms, Shen He said, "Recently, the rainy weather has caused wild mushrooms in the mountains to emerge. These are wild matsutake mushrooms my grandmother picked early this morning in the mountains, still fresh."
"I thought Mr. Song might like them, so I brought two for you."
After a pause, Shen He added, "Also, thank you for your rescue." She referred to Song Jingcheng taking her to the hospital yesterday morning.
Hearing her repeatedly call him "Mr. Song," Song Jingcheng found it quite novel.
This little girl used to respectfully call him "little uncle" whenever she saw him.
Why had she become "Mr. Song" today?
"Quite large, good quality." Song Jingcheng said to Ma Kai, "Ma Uncle, take the matsutake mushrooms to the kitchen and ask Sister Qin to stew them in chicken soup."
"Alright."
Ma Kai took the bamboo basket and left.
Shen He considered that she should also leave, but then heard Song Jingcheng ask, "Shen He, do you know how to brew tea?"
Shen Hes hesitated for two seconds before saying, "I know a little."
Nodding, Song Jingcheng moved the tea set before Shen He.
Shen He actually didn't understand tea art at all, but it didn't matter—tea just needed to be brewed properly.
She mimicked the steps she remembered from Sister Mu's tea brewing, following the same process to brew a pot of Da Hong Pao.
While conversing with Cheng Taoguang, Song Jingcheng occasionally glanced at Shen He from the side.
Seeing Shen He perform the steps vigorously but without any real understanding, he raised an eyebrow, restraining himself from commenting.
Boss Cheng also noticed Shen He didn't understand tea art, but seeing Mr. Song didn't say anything, he also restrained himself.
After several cups of tea, Boss Cheng saw Song Jingcheng remained unresponsive and felt powerless.
Soon, it was time to end the conversation. Despite his reluctance, Boss Cheng dared not linger longer.
He slowly pulled back the chair and stood up to bid farewell. "Mr. Song, thank you for taking the time to listen to my rambling amidst your busy schedule. It's getting late, so I won't disturb you any further."
Song Jingcheng nodded slightly. "Take care."
Boss Cheng picked up his briefcase and was about to leave when he heard Song Jingcheng say, "Your research project doesn't fall within our company's investment scope, but I happen to have a friend who is currently investing in this area."
"If Boss Cheng doesn't mind the trouble, you can leave a copy of your materials. I'll have my friend review them."
Upon hearing this, Boss Cheng was overjoyed. He quickly took out the prepared materials and respectfully placed them on the tea table with both hands.
"Mr. Song, regardless of whether this succeeds or not, you are my benefactor."
Song Jingcheng waved his hand dismissively. After Ma Kai escorted the guest out, he stared at the overly dark tea in front of Shen He and kindly reminded her, "The Mu family has many rules. You still need to put in more effort to reach this level."
After speaking, Song Jingcheng used a tongs to pick up a teacup and rolled it in hot water.
Even such a simple action, performed by him, became pleasing to watch.
Knowing that Song Jingcheng was being considerate of her, Shen He wasn't annoyed. She watched his tea pouring movements and suddenly tilted her head, saying, "Then, little uncle, teach me?"
Song Jingcheng paused momentarily in his cup-turning motion.
He put down the cup, wiped his hands with a cloth, and abruptly said, "Shen He, don't test me."
Shen He's expression subtly changed.