Si Yiyan stood by the window with a glass of red wine. April was approaching and the weather was turning warm. In the yard, the Chinese and Japanese roses were in full bloom. The dazzling blossoms covered the entire yard, the two different flower varieties so intertwined that one could not tell which was which.
Wen Xinya came to his side. It was the perfect angle to view the glorious blossoms in the yard. “Beautiful?”
Si Yiyan answered with an “mmm”. Gently swirling his wine glass, the dark red liquid rippled seductively. “Romanée-Conti. Do you want some?”
Romanée-Conti was the only red wine that Wen Xinya liked.
“Alright!” Wen Xinya stood in front of him and took over his glass, before placing it atop the wine cabinet nearby. She went on tiptoe and reached out her fair arms to circle Si Yiyan’s neck. Pulling his head downward, she presented her plump, red lips.
Si Yiyan was rather shocked, before recomposing himself with a smile. He wrapped his arms around her waist and met her lips. “My dear, do taste it more carefully. I will test you on this later.”
Wen Xinya was the absolute dominant instigator of that kiss.
Her soft little tongue actively slipped between his lips, which still held traces of Romanée-Conti. The rich wine had an exquisitely balanced taste and a texture that felt as smooth as velvet, while at the same time possessing a somewhat sacred quality.
The kiss was not very deep nor passionate. Wen Xinya moved backward and gazed at Si Yiyan’s elegant face. Her smiled deepened. “As expected, the taste is quite good. Using this method to taste wine gives one another level of appreciation.”
Si Yiyan continued to hold her by the waist. “Did you manage to discern the year of this Romanée-Conti?”
He had already said he would test her, and it was no joke.
If she couldn’t answer, then she would have to continue tasting until she could.
Initially feeling smug from teasing Si Yiyan, Wen Xinya now felt rather deflated. She looked at him reluctantly. “Do I really need to guess?”
Although she liked Romanée-Conti very much, it didn’t mean she was so good that she could tell the year just by tasting it.
Si Yiyan was clearly trying to make things difficult for her!
She had just been teasing him a little, just a bit of petty revenge.
Si Yiyan lifted the glass of red wine off the wine cabinet and tasted it with an elegant flourish. “Let me see if your wine tasting abilities have improved.”
Whether it was comparable to the man she was teasing.
Wen Xinya couldn’t help glaring at him. There were traces of a smile on his face, but his eyes glinted with intimidation. He was not going to let her off so easily. So, she pondered a couple of moments before answering. “It tastes very refined with hints of rose and musk. It has a very smooth texture, not at all harsh. It should be from the year 1952.”
Si Yiyan shook his head. “It looks like you need to taste it again more carefully.”
With that, he took a sip of wine and lifted her chin before lowering his head to kiss her on the lips.
The dark red, aromatic liquid seeped between their lips and spread throughout her mouth. Playing upon her tongue, the sublime taste was intoxicating.
Wen Xinya’s mind was in a complete haze from that delectable kiss. She could barely remember that she was supposed to concentrate on discerning the year of the wine.
A short while later, Si Yiyan finally released her. He ran his tongue gently across her lips to lick up some leftover traces of wine. In a voice even richer than that dark red liquid, he asked, “Take another guess?”
Wen Xinya’s eyes sparkled softly as she racked her brains. “The grape varietal used is the pinot noir, which was favored by the nobility and churches in the past. As a result, it holds an intensely sacred aura, as well as the delicate fragrance of a rose just before it is about to wilt. One can almost lose himself in this wine. It should be from the year 1977.”
She smacked her lips, savoring the lingering taste of the wine that Si Yiyan had left between her lips.
Si Yiyan chuckled. “You have guessed the grape varietal correctly. But the year is still wrong. You have made some progress, but you still need to work harder.”
With that, Si Yiyan bent over to kiss her again.
Over and over again he did this, and the more Wen Xinya guessed, the more confused she became. In the end, she was more or less just throwing out random years and descriptions, hoping to muddle her way through.
Wen Xinya’s tender lips were all swollen from Si Yiyan’s plunder. She stamped her foot in frustration. “Aiya, I can’t guess. I refuse to guess anymore. I refuse!”
Si Yiyan did not wish to continue making things difficult for her. He thrust the wine glass into her hands. “This wine is from the year 1945. That year, the Romanée-Conti vineyard suffered a rare fire disaster, causing wine production to plunge. They only produced 600 bottles that year, the lowest ever production level in Romanée-Conti’s history. Wine from that year ages especially well and holds a near-perfect taste and finish.”
Wen Xinya glared at him unhappily. She had thrown out most of the years that Romanée-Conti produced wine but just missed out on this particular year. As the number of bottles produced that year was so low and it had been such a long time since it was nearly impossible now to get wine from that year.
Si Yiyan leaned casually against the wine cabinet. He gazed at her in mild amusement. “There has been a flurry of activity from Genesis Investment Company and T-K Group the past two days. It looks they are about to launch their all-out offensive strategy against Lanxin Company and NBJ and invade the health supplements market of Country Z. Have you thought of a plan to counterattack?”
An all-out offensive attack would not be just some minor skirmish. Only one party would make it out alive.
He had witnessed the growth of Lanxin Company over the year, but it would still be rather difficult for the firm to pit themselves against T-K Group.
Wen Xinya replied calmly, “I have three trump cards for the counterattack.”
Si Yiyan raised his eyebrows.
Wen Xinya lifted one fair finger. “First, the Zhishan Club!”
She had been part of the Zhishan Club for seven years and was now a core member. She was Teacher Zhou Huiyan’s most capable subordinate and held a position of high prestige and authority within the club. It was just that she seldom exercised her authority.
As Si Yiyan watched, Wen Xinya lifted a second finger. “Second, Lanxin Investment Corporation!”
Lanxin Investment Corporation was a top-tier global investment company. If T-K Group wished to go against Lanxin Company and NBJ, she would besiege the three companies held under T-K Group in the stock market.
Si Yiyan smiled.
Wen Xinya deftly lifted a third finger. “Third, Lanxin Company itself.”
Technology, quality, innovation, and sales were the key aspects in a competition. T-K Group looked down on Lanxin Company, but she would have them realize just how overly-arrogant they were.
“Those are three very substantial trump cards. “Si Yiyan smiled again. He had expected her to seek his help. Never did he imagine that she actually possessed such great foresight, and held such a thorough plan for a counterattack.
Wen Xinya smirked. “I am not afraid of them coming at us with all their might. I am afraid of them not coming at all. Lanxin Company has already sharpened its knives, all ready to slaughter our prey.”
