Chapter 101 "I am here".
That night, Yan Shuang thought they would go home together.
However, the black sedan drove in the opposite direction from the villa, passing through the gradually quieting streets and heading towards the hills on the edge of the city.
"Where are we going...?" Yan Shuang looked at the increasingly sparse lights outside the window, somewhat puzzled.
"Wake up." Shangqiu Zhu said succinctly.
The car drove silently along a secluded mountain road, and finally, two rows of huge, century-old oak trees came into view.
The vehicle accurately recognized the license plate, and the heavy wrought iron gate slid open silently.
Suddenly, everything became clear.
An arched lounge stretches out as far as the eye can see, with Romanesque stone arcades extending forward, covered with lush ivy.
Even at night, you can feel the sense of history that it has accumulated.
All around was quiet, except for the rustling of the evening wind through the ancient oak trees and vines, and the faint chirping of unknown insects in the distance.
Shangqiu Zhu led her inside.
The high-ceilinged hall features an entire side wall that has been transformed into a massive, temperature-controlled glass wine cellar, housing thousands upon thousands of bottles of wine.
As he walked to a wine tasting area, he slightly raised his hand, as if he wanted to press the call button.
Seeing this, Yan Shuang leaned forward and stopped him.
"No, it's so late, it's not good to disturb other people's sleep."
As she spoke, she looked at the vast wall of wine, appearing eager to try it out.
What kind of wine would you like to drink? I'll go get it for you.
Shangqiu Zhu grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her back to his side.
“Yan Shuang,” he looked at her with amusement, “now, it’s my turn to apologize to you.”
He looked into her somewhat bewildered eyes, pulled her into his arms, and spoke in a solemn yet gentle tone.
"How can you expect the person you're apologizing to get the drink themselves?"
Yan Shuang blinked, her lips curling up slightly involuntarily, but her voice still carried a hint of dissatisfaction, as if she were deliberately picking a fight.
"Oh... then your apology was a bit too casual. When I wanted to apologize to you, I... I thought about it for a long time."
She recalled how conflicted she had been, even considering cooking a feast to ease the tension in their relationship.
Hearing the muffled, slightly complaining voice coming from her arms, Shangqiu Zhu felt as if her heart had been gently scratched by the softest feather.
He tightened his arms around her.
"You've been thinking about it for a long time?" he repeated her words.
"Mmm..." Yan Shuang nodded gently in his arms.
"Then tell me," he said, lowering his head, "how do you want me to apologize? Hmm?"
He paused, then added, his tone utterly indulgent: "You tell me, and I'll do it."
Yan Shuang's cheeks felt slightly warm.
She deliberately looked away, "...I wouldn't dare trouble Mr. Shang."
Shangqiu Zhu's smile deepened. "It's alright, just say it."
Yan Shuang raised her head and met his deep, captivating eyes.
A mischievous thought welled up inside her. She blinked, suddenly seized by a playful impulse, and deliberately dragged out her words, pointing to the dome of the wine cellar, saying in a half-serious, half-joking tone, "Then... I want the stars in the sky."
After she finished speaking, she found it both funny and absurd, "Is that okay?"
Upon hearing this, Shangqiu Zhu's expression remained completely unchanged.
He paused for a moment, as if he were seriously assessing the feasibility.
"It's a bit technically difficult and may take some time."
His serious demeanor, as if he were about to call NASA for a quote, made Yan Shuang unable to hold back.
The slight intention to deliberately make things difficult vanished instantly.
“Never mind,” she waved her hand with a smile, her eyes curving into crescents. “I was just kidding… I didn’t want that.”
She didn't really want the stars; she just wanted to see him make things difficult for her.
Shangqiu Zhu lowered his head, looked at her smiling eyes, and pulled her back into his arms.
"Then think of one, anything I can give you."
Yan Shuang gently shook her head in his arms, "No need."
What you've given me is more than enough.
Yan Shuang deftly slipped out of his embrace, took two steps back, and created some distance between them.
Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at the vast, temperature-controlled wine cabinet, and with a smile, she stretched out her hand and drew a large circle with an air of grandeur.
"Then I want to try all the wines here!"
Every word was clear and joyful.
He stood there leisurely, his hands casually in his trouser pockets, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"good."
That evening, Shangqiu Zhu took Yan Shuang's hand and patiently stood in front of the rows of wine cabinets, selecting fine wines from different regions and vintages according to her preferences and tastes.
He personally sobered her up and poured her just the right amount.
Yan Shuang leaned against him, sipping each glass of wine he had carefully selected, listening to his deep voice briefly introduce the characteristics of the terroir, grape variety, and vintage.
"When did you buy this place?" she asked casually.
Shangqiu Zhu took the empty cup from her hand and poured her a little more.
"University."
"So early?" she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, then thought about it and realized it was quite normal. "When you bought this place back then, did you have some special plan in mind?"
She actually wanted to get a glimpse into his investment acumen and strategic thinking, which he had displayed since his youth.
He paused, then gave a reason: "I seemed to be in a good mood at the time, and Du Yunchuan was encouraging me, so I bought it."
Yan Shuang: "..."
She was momentarily speechless, then couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "Although...although you are indeed very rich, I always thought you were different from others, that every decision you made was meticulously calculated, with strategic value and profound meaning..."
Shangqiu Zhu looked down at her surprised expression, as if to say, "Your persona has collapsed," and a faint smile flickered in his eyes.
He kissed her. "Do you like it here?"
Upon hearing this question, Yan Shuang answered almost without hesitation, "I like it!"
How could I not like it? This tranquil estate, the vast wine cellar like a starry sea, and him.
Everything was as beautiful as a dream I didn't want to wake up from.
Shangqiu Zhu received the answer he expected, yet it still pleased him, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly in satisfaction.
"That'll do."
You like it.
Therefore, it has value.
That's enough.
The world is full of prosperity and countless investments, which may bring about growth in numbers or consolidation of status.
But nothing could be more worthwhile than the pure joy she felt at that moment.
If she likes it, then all of this should be hers.
He began to consider how to handle the procedures to give the winery to her, whether to transfer the ownership directly or to set up a trust fund for her to manage.
Perhaps the latter is safer, to avoid her finding it troublesome.
These chaotic thoughts raced through his mind, but he showed no emotion on his face.
He simply took her hand again with remarkable ease, strode forward, and led her to choose the next bottle of wine.
Calvin, the manor's old butler, suddenly woke up in the early hours of the morning.
Out of habit and a sense of responsibility that he had developed over the years, he subconsciously glanced at the log records of the access control system on the bedside table.
The screen clearly displays the exclusive access authorization for General Manager Shang.
The boss is here? At this hour?
Calvin was instantly wide awake, a sense of surprise rising in his heart.
The gentleman rarely comes at this time, especially without any prior warning.
Calvin immediately stood up, quickly put on his uniform jacket, and strode through the quiet corridor connecting the servants' quarters and the main house. Just as he was about to reach the entrance to the main hall, he suddenly stopped.
What he saw was not the tall, solitary figure of Shangqiu Zhu returning alone.
Instead... his boss, the always aloof and distant Mr. Shang, was carrying someone in his arms, walking steadily toward the bedroom area.
Calvin's gaze fell on the person in his arms.
It was a young woman who was quietly leaning against Mr. Shang's chest. She was completely wrapped in his suit jacket, with only her fair profile showing. Her eyelashes were closed, and she was fast asleep, with an unnatural flush on her cheeks.
That slender arm softly wrapped around the man's shoulder.
Calvin quickly recovered from his brief shock, took a few quick steps forward, stopped a few steps away from Shangqiu Zhu, bowed slightly, and said in a very low voice, "Sir, is there anything I can do for you?"
"Prepare some hangover soup." Shang Qiuzhu paused, then added, "Something mild."
“Yes, sir.” Calvin immediately bowed and swiped his access card to open the heavy solid wood door to the master bedroom, stepping aside to let Shangqiu Zhu in.
Shangqiu Zhu placed the limp, drunk woman in his arms onto the large bed. Yan Shuang's cheeks were flushed, and her usually bright eyes were now misty as she stared at him.
Calvin quickly brought over some hangover soup. Shangqiu Zhu sat by the bed and half-pulled her into his arms. "Drink some, or you'll have a headache tomorrow."
Yan Shuang smelled the bitter aroma of the herbs emanating from the bowl and immediately turned her face away in disgust. "I'm not drunk, I don't need to drink this..."
She raised her hand and waved it, almost knocking over the porcelain bowl in his hand.
"Stop fooling around," Shangqiu Zhu steadied the bowl and patiently brought the spoon to her lips. "Just a few sips."
She struggled to sit up, and somehow managed to pull herself up from his arms, swaying as she tried to get out of bed.
Shangqiu Zhu quickly put down his bowl, leaned over to support her swaying shoulders, and frowned slightly: "Where are you going?"
"I...I'm going to take a shower..." Yan Shuang's eyes were unfocused, and she felt sticky and uncomfortable all over. She walked unsteadily toward the bedroom door.
With a long stride, he reached behind her in a few steps, stretched out his arm, and easily pulled the drunkard, who was almost touching the doorknob, back into his arms.
Shangqiu Zhu lowered her head. "You can't even walk straight, and you still say you're not drunk?"
"Let me go... It's hot... I feel uncomfortable..."
Confined in his firm, warm embrace, Yan Shuang felt even more unbearably hot and began to struggle, whimpering.
"It's cold outside, go back and lie down." Shang Qiuzhu's arm was firmly around her, preventing her from running around.
"No! I want to wash!" She struggled in his arms with her hands and feet, but her strength was weak and threatening. She rubbed helplessly against his chest, which seemed more like a teasing.
"Yan Shuang," Shang Qiuzhu's voice deepened, carrying a clear warning, as he held her restless body even tighter in his arms, "If you move again, I won't be polite."
Upon hearing this, she tilted her head back and glared at him with her misty eyes, trying to express her anger.
"Let go...you're so annoying..."
Shangqiu Zhu pinched her soft cheek and sighed, "Am I annoying again?"
Trying to reason with a drunkard is truly the most futile thing in the world.
He didn't want to waste any more words.
The hand that had been pinching her cheek slid down to the back of her neck, and with a little force, steadied her thrashing head.
Then he bent down.
At first, it was just a light peck with a hint of punishment, but her lips were incredibly soft, with a hint of wine and the sweet scent of gardenias, making him unwilling to stop once he touched them.
Yan Shuang let out a sob, her weak protest immediately swallowed up, leaving only the increasingly intimate sounds echoing in the quiet bedroom doorway.
His hot breath, the gentle prying and sucking of his lips and tongue, all sent shivers down her spine, making her weak all over. She could only lean against him and respond to him obediently.
The delicate kisses fell like raindrops, from the corners of the lips to the tip of the tongue, lingering and tender.
At some point, that simple kiss of comfort and restraint changed its nature.
His kisses moved downwards.
The air warmed up rapidly, and the only sounds in the quiet bedroom were their increasingly heavy breathing and the sound of water.
Yan Shuang's eyes were glazed over, her whole body seemed to be on fire, and she let him do whatever he wanted. Soft moans escaped from her lips, more intoxicating than the finest wine.
“Shangqiu Zhu…” she murmured his name, trembling.
"Mmm." Shangqiu Zhu raised his head, his eyes filled with an intense, unyielding desire. He gazed deeply into her shimmering eyes, his voice hoarse and barely audible: "I'm here."
The clothes had been removed at some point and were scattered on the carpet.
She called his name again and again, pleading with him to be gentler and slower.
He felt the tension in her body and gently comforted her, waiting for her to adjust.
Yan Shuang felt as if she were being swept up by an indescribable wave, and could only cling to him tightly, rising and falling with his rhythm.
He kissed her lips again, swallowing her sobs and moans.
Fine beads of sweat seeped from the skin, breaths mingled, and heartbeats resonated.
The night was long, the room was enchanting, and springtime was in full bloom.
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