Chapter 102 Today's meal wasn't a waste after all.

Before the morning light had completely dispelled the warmth and tranquility of the bedroom, Shangqiu Zhu's biological clock awoke before her consciousness.

I instinctively wanted to pull myself closer in my arms, but instead I found myself embracing an empty, slightly cool space.

A faint frown unconsciously appeared between his brows.

I opened my eyes, and sure enough, the seat beside me was empty.

A few strands of soft, long hair were wrapped around the velvet pillow.

He was already used to waking up to find her still curled up beside him, breathing lightly and sleeping peacefully. He would often have to call her name softly several times before she would reluctantly hum and snuggle deeper into his arms, complaining in a muffled nasal voice that she wanted to sleep for another five minutes.

Even getting up felt a little reluctant to leave.

Shangqiu Zhu propped himself up and scanned the room, but she was nowhere to be seen.

That sense of emptiness was even more pronounced.

He got up and quickly put on his clothes.

As he went downstairs, he didn't stop and walked straight to the left.

A strange intuition drew him in.

The workshop's heavy oak door was ajar. Even before getting quite close, you could hear faint sounds coming from inside, including a clear female voice mixed with a gentle, low English explanation.

Approaching Shangqiu bamboo.

The morning sunlight streamed through the huge glass windows, illuminating the workshop and filling the air with the rich aroma of wine and oak.

Yan Shuang stood with her back to the doorway in front of the massive array of oak barrels.

The dark canvas apron she wore, slightly oversized for her, was tied tightly at the back, making her waist appear even more slender. For ease of movement, she casually tied her soft, long hair into a loose bun at the back of her head, with a few unruly strands escaping and playfully falling down her fair neck.

Calvin said something, and she immediately nodded, took the instrument he handed her, and stared intently at the scale.

Just as Shangqiu Zhu's hand touched the doorknob, she heard Calvin's voice: "...Miss Yan, let me do this stirring. It requires some skill and it's easy to splash on yourself."

“It’s alright, Mr. Calvin, I’d like to do it myself.”

She shook her head, her voice unusually firm, her gaze never leaving the wine in the barrel. "Last night, when he drank that Bordeaux, he paused a little longer. I noticed he preferred a more delicate tannin, with a dark berry finish. I want to try and see if I can recreate something similar."

Calvin seemed somewhat surprised, then his tone became even more appreciative: "Your observation is very insightful. Mr. Shang certainly prefers that style. However, achieving that balance requires a very precise blend of grape varieties and strict control of the fermentation temperature, especially during the malolactic fermentation stage, where the temperature difference must not exceed 0.5 degrees Celsius, otherwise it will affect the activity of the lactic acid bacteria, and thus..."

The terminology he used became increasingly technical, and the procedures became increasingly complex.

Through the crack in the door, Shangqiu Zhu could clearly see that Yan Shuang's originally energetic face gradually slumped as Calvin explained.

He could almost clearly read the confusion and distress she was feeling at that moment.

So, it turns out you can't just throw the grapes in?

What acids, bacteria, and containers still need to be controlled?

Watching her face change from full of fighting spirit to dejected in an instant, he couldn't help but smile.

Calvin paused and asked gently, "Isn't this a bit too complicated? Leave it to me..."

"No!"

Yan Shuang shook her head, her bright eyes regaining their fighting spirit. As if encouraging herself, she said with unusual determination, "It's alright, Mr. Calvin. Please continue. I'll take it one step at a time. I'll learn eventually."

Shangqiu Zhu felt as if something had gently bumped into his heart.

He looked at her now, with pure enthusiasm and effort.

She makes you want to pat her head and hold her in your arms.

Calvin laughed, his voice becoming even gentler: "Of course, Mr. Shang will certainly appreciate your kind intentions."

He paused, then asked casually, "Is this a surprise you're preparing for Mr. Shang?"

After a brief silence, Yan Shuang softly hummed in agreement, a hint of shyness at having her thoughts guessed. She quickly added, lowering her voice even further, yet it slipped clearly through the crack in the door: "His birthday is next week. You must keep it a secret for me."

She turned her face slightly to the side, her eyes bright and gentle.

Shangqiu Zhu slowly lowered his hand from the doorknob.

He stood still, without taking another step forward.

He watched as she turned back to the fermentation tank and, following Calvin's instructions, began to operate it with the clumsiness and extreme caution of a beginner.

Shangqiu Zhu quietly took a step back, leaving the area filled with the aroma of wine, and returned to the study in the main building.

The winery’s recent operational and financial statements were neatly laid out on his desk.

He turned on his computer, processed some backlogged emails, and annotated several contracts that required his review.

As the sunlight gradually rises, time flows slowly amidst the turning of pages and the tapping of keyboards.

However, his efficiency was not high.

Just as he was lost in thought about a contract, a series of light and slightly hurried footsteps approached from afar, breaking the tranquility of the study area.

Immediately afterwards, a clear, slightly breathless female voice pierced through the heavy door, calling out loudly:

"Shangqiu bamboo!"

Shangqiu Zhu looked up from the documents almost immediately, the cold scrutiny of a business elite vanishing from his brows in an instant.

Outside the door, Yan Shuang's voice echoed not far away.

"Shangqiu bamboo! Big iceberg! Are you deaf or mute? — Please answer if you hear me!"

Imagining her peeking out from the doors of several rooms like a headless little bee, a clear smile appeared in his eyes.

Just as she was about to utter an even more outrageous name, the study door was suddenly pulled open from the inside.

Shangqiu Zhu's tall figure appeared at the door. He leaned leisurely against the door frame, looking down at Yan Shuang, who was standing outside the door with one hand raised as if she was about to call for help again.

Yan Shuang was shocked to find him right behind the door. She patted her chest, still shaken, and glared at him. "You were actually in there! Why didn't you say anything when you could hear me?"

Shangqiu Zhu reached out and naturally put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer, and readily let out a soft "Squeak".

Yan Shuang: "..."

Shangqiu Zhu raised her eyebrows slightly, the smile in her eyes completely undisguised. "I heard it, I heard it from the very first sound."

Yan Shuang snorted in dissatisfaction, grabbed the hand that was wrapped around her waist, and pulled it outward forcefully.

"Come on, don't just stand there, come with me to pick grapes."

As she pulled him toward the vineyard, she turned back to look him up and down, admiring his superior height and upright figure, as if she were making the most of him.

“You eat so much and grow so tall, but I haven’t seen you contribute anything. Calvin said that the sun shines on the top the most.”

Shangqiu Zhu grasped her soft hand in return, his fingertips naturally weaving into hers, their fingers interlocking.

“Okay,” he replied, his voice filled with indulgent laughter.