Perhaps it was because Cheng Zhiwen was in the room, or perhaps it was because they had discussed an exciting business deal before bed, but she didn't sleep long and woke up again after only two hours.
Outside the window, the sky was a hazy gray, while everything inside the room was dim and lifeless.
Shen Qing sat up and saw Cheng Zhiwen lying on the sofa with her eyes closed, only covered by her suit jacket.
Although it was already the third month of the lunar calendar, it was still chilly and not warm. Shen Qing thought for a moment and then covered him with a thin blanket from the bed.
As she bent down to place the blanket on him, he suddenly opened his eyes, grabbed her neck with his left hand, and quickly placed his right hand on the gun holster at his lower back.
Suddenly grabbed by the neck, Shen Qing coughed violently.
Upon recognizing her, Cheng Zhiwen immediately let go of her hand.
I sat up and gently patted her back, the blanket slipping off her and onto the floor.
"Sorry, I thought someone was attacking me."
"Cough cough..." Shen Qing coughed until her face turned red. "Are you often ambushed? Why are you so alert?"
He didn't say anything, but sat down next to me and asked, "Why are you up so early?"
Shen Qing picked up the blanket and sat down next to him: "I was thinking, if I really plan to open a factory in Europe, should I first make the first batch of down jacket samples, get the orders and deposits, and then plan to open a factory in Europe?"
Cheng Zhiwen nodded: "That's correct in theory."
Shen Qing understood and said, "Then I will go back to Jiangzhou at dawn, transport the amber raw materials here to be drawn into threads, and then bring the drawn threads back to Jiangzhou. After the spinning machine is repaired, I will weave them into fabric."
The subsequent chemical treatment of the down-proof lining will all be carried out in Jiangzhou. Once the lining is finished, the sample of the down jacket will be ready immediately. At that time, I'll trouble you to introduce me to a foreign businessman in Shanghai; I'll personally go and present the sample garment.”
Cheng Zhiwen frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "Actually, there's no need to meet those so-called foreign businessmen. We can take the samples and go to Europe to meet the clients ourselves."
Shen Qing asked in surprise, "You're going to Europe so soon?"
"There's no need to let those foreign merchants take the lion's share of the profits."
Shen Qing nodded: "That's true."
Having clarified the future of her down jacket business, she felt much happier at that moment.
The confusion and helplessness of the past two months vanished in an instant.
She looked at Cheng Zhiwen gratefully. Although she didn't say anything, she knew very well that it would be difficult to sever ties with him if she wanted to survive.
During the period when she severed ties with him, nothing she did went smoothly, and she was almost kidnapped by bandits.
If she got along well with him, everything she did went smoothly.
Cheng Zhiwen was practically her business god, blessing her with business success.
She wished she could worship him, so she lit three incense sticks for him right now and bowed three times.
Shen Qing found it increasingly amusing, and two delicate dimples appeared at the corners of her lips.
"What are you secretly gloating about?" Cheng Zhiwen suddenly spoke up. "Were you secretly cursing me in your heart again?"
Shen Qing quickly waved his hand: "No, no, I am truly grateful to you. You are my benefactor. Although we have other grudges, you have indeed helped me a lot in business."
Cheng Zhiwen's mind flashed back to the scene of her dancing with ducks at the duck farm, with the ducks spraying droppings on her face.
He burst out laughing.
Now it was Shen Qing's turn to be confused.
But his smile is not a bad thing.
Her mood improved, and she stood up and walked briskly back to the bedside.
She snuggled back into bed and began to dream about going to Europe.
Besides doing business, I also want to shop.
I want to buy sanitary napkins, bras, coffee, pajamas, slippers, perfume, and cosmetics—I want to buy so many things…
But the prerequisite for all of this is that the sample of the down jacket must be successfully made.
Thinking of this, she dared not waste any more time lying in bed, so she got out of bed and began packing her belongings.
With both hands wrapped in gauze, she dared not make any big movements, clumsily trying to pry open the suitcase.
Cheng Zhiwen came over and helped her open her suitcase: "Do you need anything?"
"I want to go back to Jiangzhou."
He asked in surprise, "So early? Why not rest a little longer?"
"We can't waste any more time. We need to finish making the sample of the down jacket as soon as possible. I'll go back to Jiangzhou now and come back tomorrow with the amber raw materials."
Hearing her say she would come again tomorrow, he smiled and said, "Okay."
After helping her pack all her valuables into a box, Cheng Zhiwen led Shen Qing to the bathroom, filled the tub with water and toothpaste, and helped her brush her teeth.
He gently stroked her lips with a hot towel, swallowed hard, and turned his face away with restraint...
As dawn broke, the Astor House Hotel came alive. On the streets of Huangpu, rickshaws crisscrossed the wide, flat roads.
It seemed like an ordinary morning, but Shen Qing felt that everything had changed.
The hotel delivered breakfast, which consisted of sandwiches and milk. Cheng Zhiwen asked them to bring over some porridge instead.
He sat on the sofa with Shen Qing and fed Shen Qing porridge.
I peeled two eggs, cut them in half with a knife, and put them in the porridge.
"Eat more protein. It's only two or three hours from Shanghai to Jiangzhou. If you get hungry along the way, just bear with it. When you get to the Gao family, the maid will serve you a meal. Don't get off the carriage unnecessarily along the way."
Shen Qing nodded.
After the last incident with the bandits, she dared not get off the carriage halfway through the journey. Even when going to other places, she would try to take the county roads and rarely take the main roads.
The main road is fast, but it has too many dangerous factors.
Neither she nor Lao Xu had any martial arts skills, and if they encountered bandits again, it was hard to say whether they would survive.
Recalling the incident with bandits on her way to Tianjin, Shen Qing still felt lingering fear, and she also thought of the two men who saved her.
"By the way, was the person who saved me last time one of your men?"
Cheng Zhiwen glanced at her, and after a moment said, "I knew you were going to Tianjin alone, so I secretly sent someone to follow you, just in case something happened to you."
"So he's one of yours?"
"...Just a bodyguard."
Shen Qing recalled seeing a black-clad figure flash past the carriage a few days ago, and immediately guessed that Old Xu was in contact with these people.
So when Lao Xu learned that she was going to Tianjin, he informed Cheng Zhiwen in advance, and Cheng Zhiwen sent people to follow them.
They are being protected, but also being watched...
This feeling left Shen Qing somewhat conflicted.
As a modern person, she has extremely high requirements for privacy. Knowing that someone is secretly watching and protecting her at all times makes her feel a little uncomfortable.
Seeing that Cheng Zhiwen didn't seem too keen on talking about these things, she wisely refrained from pressing the matter further.
Cheng Zhiwen has too many secrets and trigger points. She is afraid that if she accidentally touches one of them, he will change his attitude again.
After breakfast, Cheng Zhiwen put on her hat, picked up Shen Qing's suitcase, and saw her out of the restaurant.
He pulled his hat down very low, seemingly trying to conceal his identity.
Shen Qing noticed, but didn't say anything. She got into the carriage, leaned out the window, and waved to him.
He stood under the car window, looking up at her without saying a word, his gaze lingering on Shen Qing's slender, white neck.
He pinched there, leaving a deep red mark.
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