No Need to Be So Ruthless

Wen Shuang fidgeted uneasily until four in the afternoon, then darted up to the deserted rooftop and dialed the number Fang Su had given him.

It took a long while before someone answered. The other person's voice was lazy, as though he had just woken up drunk, and he gave a simple, "Hello."

Wen Shuang briefly introduced himself and mentioned Fang Su. The other side fell silent for several seconds before reacting. "Hiss... I got drunk at a lunch gathering and nearly forgot."

Not daring to disturb him, Wen Shuang said, "Then please get some rest. If there's an opportunity in the next few days..."

"Don't. Come now." The man laughed. "I'm leaving the country tomorrow and won't be around for the next month." He then gave him a restaurant address. After exchanging a few polite words, they hung up.

They arranged to meet at five thirty, just as Wen Shuang got off work at five. He returned to the office looking positively radiant. Some people were like that—even when they went unnoticed, they still shone. Once they carried a bit of joy, they could brighten the scenery around them by several degrees. As Cao Nanyu passed by outside, he could not help stopping to look at him for a few seconds.

He did not know whether he had misjudged him. That young man, who looked so harmless and pure, increasingly seemed like a mystery.

Wen Shuang greeted the colleagues around him. It was impolite for a newcomer to be the first to leave the office on his first day, but he could not worry about that now.

"Hey, Wen Shuang, print this document for me," someone said in a commanding tone.

Wen Shuang glanced at the person and said softly, "Sorry, I have something to do right now. If it isn't urgent, please wait until tomorrow. If it is, please do it yourself first." With that, he pulled open the door and vanished in a flash.

Zhao Jiaqing frowned. Thinking of how Fang Su had smiled so brightly at that newcomer during the day, he unconsciously clenched his fists.

Wen Shuang took a taxi to the restaurant. The person Fang Su had introduced had already arrived, and not only that, he had already made a mess of half the table. He was a young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight. The moment the door opened, he looked over with extreme alertness, yet his movements remained utterly relaxed. His gaze matched his temperament—somewhat loose and careless—but in an instant, he had thoroughly assessed Wen Shuang. The lazy drawl from the phone immediately became vivid. "Sorry, I was really hungry, so I started eating first." Though he said that, there was not the slightest real apology in it.

Wen Shuang was not angry. The person Fang Su had found was certainly no ordinary man. He had come to ask for help; never mind missing out on a hot meal, even getting a few dirty looks would have been perfectly normal. "Please, continue eating. Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity."

Wen Shuang's humble attitude always made a good first impression. The other man nodded in modest satisfaction and lifted his chin toward the seat opposite him. Only then did Wen Shuang sit down.

A waiter came in, and Wen Shuang ordered a glass of plain water. The man across from him continued cutting his steak. After a moment, he asked, "I used to have a lover. When he debuted, Fang Su helped him get some resources. I owe her a favor, so let's be direct. What is the purpose of your visit?"

Wen Shuang's answer was startling. "I want you to consider investing in New Orchid Liquor."

The man abruptly raised his head, his gaze turning cold. "Did I hear that right?"

Wen Shuang was not reckless. He knew what he was doing, so he went straight to the point. "I know that New Orchid is currently at the end of its rope. The slightest blow could make it disappear from this area altogether. But I know very well that New Orchid has advantages other wineries absolutely do not possess. The domestic market for wine has not yet fully opened up. Most of what is brought in are famous foreign wines, but three years ago, the government issued a clear announcement that it would support domestic winemaking projects and build its own brands."

The man gave a soft snort. "What kind of brand is New Orchid?"

"You may not know this." Wen Shuang lowered his head slightly, an unassuming determination washing over him. "New Orchid's sales volume and repurchase rate used to be one to one."

The man raised his brows slightly. That figure truly exceeded his expectations.

Yu Feng came from a poor background. No matter how large his business grew, he was still insignificant before certain century-old established brands. When Yu Feng had been framed by the original owner, New Orchid Liquor had only gained a modest reputation and had not yet reached the point of showing its full edge. Naturally, Lei Wenxu did not know these internal figures.

In the general market, especially within the domestic large-scale winemaking industry, maintaining a ratio of three to one was already considered excellent. Lei Wenxu had met Yu Feng. That man would not fabricate data, so the value behind a one-to-one ratio was extremely high.

"Yu Feng has his own winemaking technology," Wen Shuang continued. "Previously, first, his connections were not broad enough, and second, he was suppressed by his competitors, which was why he had never managed to rise. Since the domestic wine market is bound to open up eventually, why not give it a try?"

Lei Wenxu took a sip of tea and stared at Wen Shuang for a long while. "Compile solid data and precise sales and repurchase figures. Bring me that evidence."

One of the key reasons Lei Wenxu had been able to eliminate his two older brothers and inherit the family business at such a young age was that he never overestimated himself or looked down on anyone, even if they were as insignificant as fleas.

"Okay!" Wen Shuang stood and gave a deep bow. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity!"

"Oh? Look who it is."

The private room door was pushed open at once, and a mocking voice rang out. Li Junshan stared coldly at Wen Shuang.

Wen Shuang: "!!!" Danger!

No, he was seriously unwilling to accept the appearance of this landmine!

Li Junshan had mocked Wen Shuang relentlessly at the banquet that night, only for his punch to land on cotton, leaving him thoroughly unsatisfied. He had never expected this "bastard" to deliver himself right to his door. He and Lei Wenxu were childhood friends. Earlier, Lei Wenxu had said he was meeting someone unimportant and would send them away after a few words. Who would have thought that when Li Junshan wandered back from the restroom, he would hear an exceptionally familiar voice? Peering through the crack in the door, he saw that it really was Wen Shuang!

He had heard every word of their conversation. That was precisely why he could not help laughing.

Li Junshan truly laughed out loud. He even exaggeratedly wiped away nonexistent tears from the corners of his eyes with his fingertips. "Wen Shuang, what kind of stunt are you pulling? Isn't Yu Feng where he is today all thanks to you?"

Li Junshan knew the inside story.

Lei Wenxu frowned upon hearing this and immediately understood. "He's the one who falsified the accounts and framed Yu Feng?"

"Who else?" Li Junshan leaned against the table, lit a cigarette, and exhaled gently, blowing smoke straight into Wen Shuang's face.

Wen Shuang had already been rendered speechless by this damn unexpected situation. Whatever Li Junshan said now, he would accept it, afraid that this man would retaliate recklessly and ruin everything.

Sure enough, Li Junshan spoke up. "Wenxu, forget working with this one. With your brains, you won't get swallowed whole, but getting yourself covered in filth would still be bad luck, wouldn't it?"

Lei Wenxu agreed completely. He spoke to Wen Shuang coldly. "Please leave. I'll explain it to Fang Su."

Wen Shuang clenched and released his fists, then looked at Li Junshan and said word by word, "Mr. Li, don't you think that's a little too ruthless...?"

"Ruthless?" Li Junshan narrowed his eyes and looked at Wen Shuang with interest through the haze of smoke. "Then tell me, how exactly have I been ruthless?"

Wen Shuang's face was ashen. "Your ruthlessness is thanks to your disciplined lifestyle."

Li Junshan dismissed the flattery with a snort. "You know?"

"Yes." Wen Shuang nodded. "You have to smoke, drink, and get into fights every day to maintain this kind of vigor."

Li Junshan, who had just taken a drag of his cigarette: "?"

Do you think you're funny?

The corner of Lei Wenxu's eye twitched lightly.

"Get out!" Li Junshan pointed at the door.

Wen Shuang took a deep breath. Knowing it was hopeless, he turned to leave. Yet just as he reached the door, Li Junshan called him back. "Wait."

Wen Shuang turned around and saw the man open a bottle of red wine, smiling with ill intent.