Chapter 011: Found the Condom Wen Ni Dropped—It’s Over

Wen Ni pressed her lips together, smiling as she asked, “Are you the gardener here? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

The other man quickly replied, “No, actually…”

His face flushed slightly.

He murmured, “Though, I suppose you could say I am.”

Feigning interest, Wen Ni asked, “What do you mean by that?”

He spoke softly, “My name is Zeng Weiyin. I’m a young actor in the pear garden at the back, but since both my father and grandfather are gardeners, the old madam found out and had me tend to the branches in the garden when I’m not performing. She pays me double.”

Wen Ni nodded, “I see.”

Holding the crabapple branch in her hand, she asked curiously, “If I put this branch in a vase, is there any way to make the blossoms last longer?”

Zeng Weiyin promptly replied, “You can put a bit of cola in the vase.”

Wen Ni was momentarily stunned.

She laughed, “Cola?”

Zeng Weiyin nodded immediately, his eyes smiling as he looked at Wen Ni, his voice much gentler. “Yes, a little cola will help keep the flowers blooming longer. Not just for this, but for cut flowers in general.”

Wen Ni suddenly understood.

She thanked him, “Thank you.”

Zeng Weiyin pointed to the flower branch in her hand, “Would you like me to help you with it?”

Wen Ni replied, “No need, I’ll do it myself.”

With that, Wen Ni turned around.

She walked away without glancing sideways.

Her peripheral vision swept over the fake mountain behind the corridor eaves; there was no one there anymore.

Wen Ni pressed her lips together.

She carried the two flower branches up to the sixth floor.

In the afternoon.

Zhou Mingfan came up, under the pretense of inspecting Wen Ni’s work.

He made a round through the temporary office, then walked over to Wen Ni.

Zhou Mingfan stood beside her.

Watching Wen Ni’s nimble hands as she worked the warp and weft, the various threads seemed to come alive under her touch.

Without realizing it, Zhou Mingfan had watched for over half an hour.

Wen Ni put down her tools to rest.

She turned to look at Zhou Mingfan, “Have you seen enough yet?”

Zhou Mingfan snapped back to attention.

He said, “I need to talk to you.”

Wen Ni frowned.

Zhou Mingfan sat in a nearby chair, his fingers gently stroking the finished silk tapestry on the shelf. He said, “Wen Ni, I heard my father wants to give you four hundred million to persuade you to leave.”

Wen Ni remained silent.

She gazed at Zhou Mingfan quietly.

In truth, although Zhou Mingfan and Zhou Linchuan looked identical, Wen Ni had never confused the two since childhood.

Wen Ni thought.

Even if she hadn’t accidentally overheard Zhou Mingfan’s phone call, she would have eventually realized, after spending so much time together, that it was Zhou Mingfan who had survived.

Wen Ni withdrew her gaze.

Zhou Mingfan said, “That day I had a bit to drink, my mind was muddled. I didn’t mean to disrespect you. I just felt you and Mingfan seemed so loving, that you shouldn’t betray him so soon.”

Wen Ni stared into Zhou Mingfan’s eyes.

She called him by the false name, “Zhou Linchuan, what if I told you that Zhou Mingfan betrayed me long ago?”

Zhou Mingfan frowned, “Did you misunderstand something?”

Wen Ni smiled.

She said nothing.

Feigning depth.

Zhou Mingfan pressed on, “Or have you discovered something? Wen Ni, if you have no evidence, you’d better not speak carelessly.”

Wen Ni didn’t want to see Zhou Mingfan for a second longer, “What do you want, really? If you’re here to bark, I suggest you leave early. This isn’t a shelter for stray dogs.”

Zhou Mingfan’s face darkened.

He said, “Wen Ni, you never used to speak so harshly.”

After a moment of silence.

Zhou Mingfan finally said, “I don’t think you should accept four hundred million. Wen Ni, that’s Mingfan’s entire fortune. Besides you, his family includes his parents and brother. At most, you should only take one hundred million.”

Wen Ni shrugged.

She replied helplessly, “That was promised by Dad in front of Uncle. I can’t break the agreement unilaterally. Why don’t you go talk to your dad and uncle, tell them yourself?”

Zhou Mingfan: “……”

He thought of the money he’d spent half his life saving, about to be swept away by Wen Ni, and felt a pang of heartache.

Their eyes met.

Zhou Mingfan was the first to look away, “Wen Ni, you’re too greedy. You risk ending up with nothing.”

Wen Ni: “I’ll wait and see.”

Zhou Mingfan: “You just won’t give up until you hit a wall.”

Wen Ni: “Even if I crash into the wall and shatter, perhaps it’s not the wall that breaks.”

Zhou Mingfan: “……”

He stared at Wen Ni for a long moment, then snorted heavily, “Wen Ni, this pattern doesn’t match the design. Start over.”

With that, Zhou Mingfan took a piece of silk tapestry and threw it directly at Wen Ni’s face, “Grandfather said, this cooperation is not to be underestimated. You have one month left. Don’t try to fob me off with such shoddy goods.”

Wen Ni removed the tapestry from her face.

She looked straight at Zhou Mingfan, “The way you are now, you really are the epitome of a petty man suddenly in power—just as they say, a toad dressed in gold, with a sanctimonious air, sitting in the hall of honor.”

Zhou Mingfan’s expression changed abruptly.

Wen Ni stood up.

She smoothed and laid out the tapestry.

As she gently stroked it, she said, “Zhou Linchuan, you’re not suited at all for the silk tapestry business. You don’t know how to respect it.”

Zhou Mingfan: “……” Completely baffled.

Having failed to achieve his aim, he left angrily.

As soon as Zhou Mingfan left, Wen Ni picked up scissors and stabbed a hole right in the middle of the silk tapestry.

She muttered to herself, “Then there’s no need to do it.”

After dinner.

Wen Ni accompanied the old madam for a walk.

Before long.

The old madam complained she was tired and had someone escort her back.

Wen Ni was left alone.

“What a coincidence, we meet again.”

Zeng Weiyin appeared behind Wen Ni, dressed differently than he had in the morning.

He said to Wen Ni, “Did you put cola in?”

Wen Ni shook her head, “There’s no cola at home. I’ll buy some tomorrow.”

Upon hearing this.

Zeng Weiyin smiled, “Cola? I have plenty. If you don’t mind, come with me and I’ll give you two bottles?”

Wen Ni hesitated, “Is that really appropriate?”

Zeng Weiyin’s voice was gentle, “What’s inappropriate about it? We’re both upright, and there are plenty of colleagues in the pear garden—so many eyes to witness, they can vouch for our innocence.”

Wen Ni nodded.

She agreed.

Then followed Zeng Weiyin to the pear garden.

She brought back a bottle of cola.

Wen Ni poured it all into the vase. She poked the crabapple flowers and said, “I’ve given you so much help. If you still don’t bloom, you might as well die.”

After watering the flowers.

Wen Ni was about to go downstairs.

As she turned, something small fell from her pocket.

Wen Ni didn’t notice at all.

She walked straight into the elevator.

Shen Xue Ning emerged from the shadows, hurried over, and picked it up from the ground.

She held it in her palm.

Glanced at it.

Joy sparked in her heart.