Ch. 461Yukinoshita's Correction Method
Chapter Summary: “Yukinoshita’s Correction Method”
Key Plot Points and Events
- Yukino Yukinoshita finishes drafting an agreement and worries that she has overlooked important details. Dong Yunshan suggests testing it through a simulated business conversation rather than continuing to overwork herself.
- Their first attempt fails because Dong keeps touching her while speaking, prompting Yukino to insist on proper professional boundaries and move him across the coffee table.
- The simulation is interrupted when Yukino appears wearing only a bath towel after bathing. Both become distracted by each other’s appearance, exposing the difficulty they have maintaining professionalism around one another.
- They change into formal workplace clothing. Dong helps Yukino arrange her hair with the wooden hairpin he made for her and adds non-prescription gold-rimmed glasses, creating a polished, capable businesswoman’s appearance.
- Dong presents Cloud Snow Tea’s Series A expansion plan: opening twenty stores in three months through a combination of flagship stores and controlled regional expansion.
- Yukino challenges his strategy, warning that rapid growth could weaken the brand, reduce branch profitability, scatter resources, and create operational confusion.
- Dong responds with safeguards: independent R&D funding for flagship stores, clear location and product standards for branches, separate evaluation systems, and independent brand audits.
- The conversation turns to Cloud Snow Tea’s equity structure and the role of Dong’s existing partner. Dong proposes bringing in an independent third-party investor to improve governance and supervise the company.
- Dong becomes distracted by Yukino’s professional appearance and accidentally phrases his proposal in a suggestive way, mentioning her black stockings. Yukino realizes that his enthusiasm is partly motivated by attraction and throws a document at him.
- Yukino attempts to “correct” Dong’s fantasies by stepping on his leg with her stocking-covered foot. However, his reaction reveals that the punishment only excites him further.
- She forces him to answer the equity-structure concerns. Dong gives a focused explanation involving independent operations, auditable finances, a standardized board, and prepared legal documents.
- Satisfied with his answer, Yukino withdraws her foot, but resumes the teasing punishment when Dong becomes distracted again.
Character Developments
- Yukino Yukinoshita demonstrates strong professional judgment, recognizing weaknesses in Dong’s expansion strategy and identifying the risks in his wording during negotiations. She becomes increasingly assertive in controlling the simulation and correcting his behavior.
- Dong Yunshan proves capable and articulate in business discussions, offering a coherent expansion and governance plan. However, his attraction to Yukino repeatedly undermines his concentration, revealing a playful and openly flirtatious side.
- Yukino’s confidence grows as she shifts from preparing the agreement to actively testing Dong’s responses. She becomes both his business adviser and disciplinarian.
- Dong shows that he respects Yukino’s expertise, even while joking and provoking her. His honest admission that he cannot think clearly around her highlights the intimacy between them.
Significant Themes
- Professionalism versus personal attraction: The chapter repeatedly contrasts the formal business simulation with the couple’s physical attraction and flirtation.
- Preparation versus flexibility: Yukino wants every possibility covered in advance, while Dong argues that the existing agreement is sufficient and should be tested practically.
- Business growth and responsible governance: Cloud Snow Tea’s expansion raises concerns about preserving brand identity, profitability, accountability, and operational independence.
- Control and correction: Yukino tries to discipline Dong and restore his focus, but her chosen methods unintentionally deepen their flirtatious dynamic.
- Intimacy within collaboration: Their romantic relationship is woven into their professional partnership, with mutual trust and teasing accompanying serious strategic discussion.
Character Interactions
- Yukino physically stops Dong from touching her during the initial simulation and insists that they behave like real business partners.
- Dong helps style Yukino’s hair and chooses glasses to complete her professional appearance, showing care and admiration.
- Yukino challenges Dong with sharp questions about expansion risks and equity structure, while Dong responds with increasingly detailed business reasoning.
- Their conversation repeatedly breaks down into mutual staring, teasing, touching, and embarrassment.
- Yukino bites Dong and later steps on his leg as a supposed “correction,” while Dong’s enthusiastic reactions make her realize that her punishment is ineffective.
- The chapter ends with Yukino amused and exasperated by how strongly Dong responds to her, even as she acknowledges that his business answer has finally become focused and satisfactory.