Chapter 31 — Thank you.

Jian Yan eyed He Xiu unhappily, asking him with an unsightly complexion, "What science is this theory of yours based off of?"

He Xiu promptly answered, "There's no scientific basis. I'm speaking nonsense. How about we change spots?"

Jian Yan said, "No need. Even if we change spots, the vapor will still float to my side." Fortunately, she had brought extra clothes; otherwise, she would have smelled like hotpot when she went to work later. That would be terrible.

Thinking of this, Jian Yan opened her mouth to speak only to be cut off by He Xiu signaling the waiter.

"A bottle of , Pessac-Leognan please," He Xiu ordered, glancing at Jian Yan from the corners of his eyes to see if she had any resistance. Seeing shock but not indignation, he picked up a pair of chopsticks and began dropping the ingredients in the pot.

Watching He Xiu silently for a moment, Jian Yan frowned slightly. She asked, "Wine?"

"Mn." He Xiu didn't pause as he continued to prepare the meal. "The key to pairing wine with hotpot is not to concentrate on the meat, but on the sauce. Hotpot tends to be fairly mild in flavor, so the sauce adds to the taste. Normally, a white wine like Riesling is paired with Chinese food, but past experience has taught me that lighter wines with a nice fruity flavor like a younger Côte du Rhone or Beaujolais rounds out the more acidic sauces. I plan on serving this alongside a more savory sesame sauce, however, so the 'wild white,' one strongly aged, is better."

"Oh." Jian Yan didn't know how to respond to the impromptu wine lesson. "Does it taste like Chardonnay? I've had that before, a Chablis one I think. Lin Zhen ordered a bottle to go with the oysters that we went out to eat celebrating my first award."

"Chablis ?" He Xiu set down the chopsticks and began adjusting the temperature. "A cla.s.sic young, white burgundy. Chief Lin must know her wine pretty well. Chablis goes particularly well with oysters; the young, unoaked , brewed in a cool climate, complements light and delicate food perfectly. "

Jian Yan blinked. It was just wine. Ke—ke— Coughing, she changed the topic. "Should we be consuming alcohol when we have work later?" She glanced askance at the cream white bottle of liquor in the ice bucket. The waiter had stealthily delivered it a moment ago as he had not wanted to interrupt He Xiu.

He Xiu started. Mentally cursing at himself, he stated, "We can take the day off to recover. My apologies; I had forgotten about further engagements later today."

"Is it okay to just take a holiday so last minute?"

"Since I am the director, making such last minute accommodations should be no problem." He glanced to the side and placed a wine gla.s.s in front of each of them.

Looking at his guilty expression, Jian Yan suspiciously replied, "Alright&h.e.l.lip;" Trailing off, she saw He Xiu's eyes light up. A blink of an eye later, the light disappeared. "Right, I might quit two days from now."

He Xiu was slightly stunned. Hand grasping the bottle, he poured the wine into gla.s.ses, his movements slightly unsteady. "I was wrong; a moment ago, I was only speaking nonsense. You don't need to quit, okay?"

Jian Yan laughed and said, "Chief Lin only gave me a month vacation, and previously, Zhou Wen Wen and I had agreed that I would leave after Christmas."

He Xiu slightly pursed his lips. He wasn't afraid that there would be one less employee at Fantasy Wardrobe because Jian Yan left. Instead, he was afraid that if she left, he would have less opportunities to interact with her.

He pondered for a moment before saying to her, "Hui Hui is leaving for C City after Lunar New Year. How about you stay until then and leave with her."

"Mn&h.e.l.lip; it's not like I can't do that." It was just that if it was like this, her new project might be started even later than intended.

He Xiu continued to argue. "A holiday bonus is also given during Lunar New Year. You'll also receive one."

Jian Yan raised a brow slightly. "The benefits are that good?" She was still a probationary employee.

"Mn." He Xiu nodded. She would because he said she would.

"Well, okay then. It's only a few more days anyway."

He Xiu's heart relaxed a little upon seeing her agree. He took a sip of his wine, smiled at her, and asked, "What else do you want to eat? I'll buy it for you."

"Oh, nothing for the time being. Ask again after we finish eating this."

"Mn." He Xiu raised his chopsticks and picked up a few pieces. He didn't care what it was and just placed it into his bowl. Currently, he was thinking that time was running out. He had to develop a closer relations.h.i.+p with Jian Yan before she quit. "Oh, that's right, are you free the day after tomorrow?"

"The day after tomorrow?" Jian Yan thought for a moment. "January 1st?"

"Mn."

"I think I have the early s.h.i.+ft."

"Then do you have time after you finish work? I want to take you somewhere."

Jian Yan was slightly curious. "Where?"

He Xiu smiled at her. "Confidential for the time being."

Jian Yan narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you trying to plan something bad?"

He Xiu laughed in spite of himself and replied, "Absolutely not. Trust me."

Jian Yan thought this over and agreed. "Sure."

The corners of He Xiu's lips rose slightly, clearly a bit happy. "Then after you finish work, wait for me outside the department store. I'll give you a ride there."

"Okay." She agreed before seemingly recalling something. She asked He Xiu, "Oh, that's right. Tomorrow night is New Year's Eve. Are many brands going to sell lucky bags?"

He Xiu said, "Lucky bags will be sold after the department store opens up in the morning on January 1st, but many clients will be lining up outside all night."

"Mn, I know this. So will we be working overtime that night?"

"You don't need to, but I might stay at the company all night."

Jian Yan looked at him with sympathy. "So tragic?"

He Xiu chuckled. "It's like this every year. I've already become used to it."

Jian Yan wanted to say, You, as the general manager, have no need to attend to everything personally. But despite being on the verge of saying what was on her mind, she once again swallowed it back down. He Xiu was sensitive about his position in the He Family. She was afraid that she might carelessly say something that would make him feel sad.

"This saute beef with cayenne pepper is very delicious. You should try it too." Jian Yan picked up some of the beef with her chopsticks and placed it in He Xiu's bowl.

He Xiu raised his eyes to look at her and smiled, saying, "Thank you."

"&h.e.l.lip;No need." Jian Yan buried her head, secretly annoyed at herself in her heart. Unexpectedly, she had been a little careless and had become lost in his enchanting eyes.

Digging into her meal, she took a sip of wine every few mouthfuls. Mn&h.e.l.lip; as always, He Xiu's tastes are excellent. Though, with how much she could normally eat in addition to the fact that she loved hotpot&h.e.l.lip;maybe she shouldn't be drinking wine so steadily. With He Xiu's burning gaze on her, however, this slipped her mind.