So, was it my fault?

Shen Zhiyi checked into the hotel her client had booked. She had taken a morning flight and arrived at noon.

The client needed more than a tea table; she also wanted other woodcarvings. After eating the meal arranged by the hotel, Shen Zhiyi headed out that afternoon to meet her.

The client was a woman who greeted Shen Zhiyi warmly the moment they met. Her surname was Yao, and she was a well-known timber mill owner in the area.

It was a family business passed down through generations. Boss Yao took them around for a tour. Besides the timber mill, she also owned a plantation with all kinds of flowers and timber trees.

Shen Zhiyi grew somewhat interested. Her eyes especially lit up when the rosewood and golden-thread nanmu were brought out.

The timber looked at least twenty or thirty years old. Part of the rosewood was charred, which Boss Yao explained was from a lightning strike. Its shape was rather distinctive.

Boss Yao had heard of Shen Zhiyi through a friend. Ever since that friend received the tea table Shen Zhiyi had made, they had been showing it off every day.

The photos had tempted her, too. As a timber mill owner, she certainly had no shortage of wood, but she could never quite find anything she was satisfied with.

She happened to acquire these two pieces of timber and thought she would hire someone to make her a tea table as well. What businessperson didn't drink tea?

Besides, her old tea table was already too worn and needed replacing.

Shen Zhiyi ran her hand over the area, roughly understanding what style Boss Yao wanted: she wanted to preserve those marks. After taking out paper and a pen to discuss the details, Shen Zhiyi would go back and draw up a rough design. If there were no issues, she could start work tomorrow.

She spoke very little; Boss Yao did most of the talking. Boss Yao didn't mind her temperament at all, though her first impression of Shen Zhiyi had been that a girl like this didn't look capable of lifting those machines.

Shen Zhiyi wore a simple short-sleeved shirt and loose casual trousers. Her hair was long, casually tied in a ponytail.

She exuded a cool, distant air. There was no smile on her face, not even any emotion in her eyes. She didn't look like someone easy to get along with.

Early the next morning, however, Boss Yao received her design sketches. She had cleverly preserved the charred areas while largely retaining the timber's overall shape.

Boss Yao wanted something resembling winding waterways for floating wine cups. Her father loved drinking tea and tending flowers and plants, so the tea table needed to accommodate both flowing water and greenery.

The other table needed carvings of the Golden Toad, the Black Tortoise, and lotus flowers. Shen Zhiyi had laid everything out clearly in her drawings.

At the site, Shen Zhiyi changed into her work clothes and waited. Woodworking involved flying wood shavings and operating all kinds of machinery.

When Shen Zhiyi saw her arrive, she greeted her and began speaking.

"Boss Yao, if you have any concerns, please raise them now. Once I start, I won't be able to make changes."

Boss Yao was very pleased with the drawings, but asked her not to start just yet. Another friend would be arriving shortly, and there would still be time to begin then.

Shen Zhiyi had no objections, of course. The boss was paying, after all. She nodded, then thought for a moment and decided to work on the woodcarvings first.

Boss Yao wanted her to carve the flowers she had, as a way of preserving them. Although the wooden panels didn't require large pieces of timber, they did require a great deal of patience.

"Zhiyi, come have some water first. There's no rush. Make yourself comfortable here, and don't feel you have to hurry with the work. Apart from these two tea tables, the other things aren't something you can finish all at once.

"We have beautiful mountains and clear waters here. It's a good place for sightseeing, too, so go have a look around when you're free. If you don't know your way around, take my assistant. He's a local, so he definitely won't let anyone rip you off."

Most people liked good-looking people, and Boss Yao was no exception. Shen Zhiyi was beautiful. Apart from being quiet and rarely smiling, she had a rather languid manner about her. But she was meticulous when it came to professional matters, and Boss Yao could tell from the way she carried herself that she had real skill.

She had initially worried that the two pieces of timber might be ruined, but now she could put her mind at ease. Once reassured, she wanted to encourage Shen Zhiyi to enjoy herself. She had specifically booked her hotel for a month.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Boss Yao. I don't like going out. I'm quite happy sitting here."

Only then did Boss Yao notice that she had pulled up a stool from somewhere and was leaning back lazily, her eyes unfocused as she stared into space.

Boss Yao hadn't expected her to be so frank. She said nothing and had her assistant leave some water beside her. There were still matters at the mill for her to handle, so she went to deal with them first. Work could begin once her friend arrived.

An hour later, Boss Yao entered the courtyard with someone.

Boss Yao had specifically prepared this courtyard for her to work in, since the job would take quite some time.

"Zhiyi, my friend's here. This is Chi Ye, Mr. Chi. Let me introduce you."

Shen Zhiyi lazily raised her head and met Chi Ye's gaze, which held the hint of a smile. She stood and greeted him.

"Hello, Mr. Chi."

Chi Ye felt as though he might grind his back teeth to pieces. After all the trouble of going to the old man and asking around, he had finally found out where Shen Zhiyi had gone.

He had contacted Boss Yao as soon as he landed, only to walk in and find her sitting there comfortably, showing neither delight nor guilt at seeing him.

"Miss Shen, there's no need to be so formal. We already know each other!" he said through gritted teeth. Shen Zhiyi sat back down on the stool. Boss Yao glanced between them, only then realizing they knew each other. No wonder Chi Ye had approached her.

Chi Ye's visit had been sudden. Boss Yao knew quite a bit about this rising star in business. Since everyone already knew each other, she wouldn't need to make any further introductions.

"Well then, Zhiyi, Mr. Chi will stay here. I have other things to attend to. Just follow the designs for the tea tables. There's no need for any changes.

"Mr. Chi, if you need anything, call my assistant directly. Someone will bring lunch over at noon."

After Boss Yao left, Shen Zhiyi took a sip of water and began adjusting her clothes. Chi Ye still hadn't given up on working with her, and she still had no intention of agreeing. His face was dark, as if it were her fault.

She sneered inwardly. She had refused from the very beginning. Chi Ye was trying to force her into it; he was being far too unreasonable.

"Shen Zhiyi, don't you have anything to say?" Chi Ye blocked her path. He wanted her to explain why she had suddenly left without a word, leaving him unable to find her.

Fucking idiot, Shen Zhiyi thought.

Hearing that, Chi Ye clenched his fists. "Did you just insult me?"

She looked at Chi Ye, her eyes plainly saying, Wasn't that obvious?

She-how could she be so self-righteous? What gave her the right?

"Shen Zhiyi, we do know each other, at least. If you'd told me, would I be this angry now? Do you know how hard it was for me to come find you? I caught a flight first thing this morning."

"So, was it my fault, Mr. Chi? I refused from the very beginning. There was no need for you to come looking for me. I think you've misunderstood something. You chose to take that flight yourself. Don't push the blame onto someone else.

"Going on a normal business trip isn't a reason for you to blame me. Don't take your spoiled young master's temper out on other people whenever you please.

"If you're upset about the money you spent on yesterday's meal, I can pay you back every last cent. Do you have any other questions?"