Chapter 10 – Turning the Page

"'Mouton,' from Bordeaux, France, with a rich fruit aroma and a full, mellow taste; the lingering finish... It fits your requirements perfectly!"
The red wine in the tray was already breathing. Through the decanter, the wine appeared clear and luminous, and the faint aroma wafting from it indeed carried a delicate hint of fruitwood...
Coupled with the girl's bright voice and thorough introduction, it was hard not to want to taste it immediately!
"Thank you..."
Chen Kai nodded with genuine interest and satisfaction. "Mm, Momo's introductions are always spot-on. Where is she?"
"Oh, she had something to take care of, so she asked me to bring it over for you. I'll pour it for you!"
Lin Xiaowen smiled as she knelt by the marble coffee table, arranging two wine glasses...
"Mr. Chen, please enjoy. The fruit platter will be brought over shortly..."
"Thank you..."
As Lin Xiaowen slid the second glass toward Cheng Yishu, she paused, mouth opened as if to speak, but Cheng Yishu beat her to it—
"Why is it you again, haunting me like a ghost? Does your place not have any other waiters? Or did you see it was me and come up with another scheme to swindle money?" Cheng Yishu frowned in clear distaste at her...
In truth, the moment Lin Xiaowen began her wine introduction, Cheng Yishu recognized her voice!
Meanwhile, Lin Xiaowen, engrossed in speaking with Chen Kai, completely overlooked Cheng Yishu sitting beside them!
"I was about to say the same, why is it you again? Ordering such expensive wine—are you planning to skip out on the bill again? And the money? You’re here to pay me back today, aren’t you?" Lin Xiaowen suddenly stood, looking down at him from above, delivering a sharp retort.
Before bed last night, Lin Xiaowen had, as usual, 'sent her regards' to Cheng Yishu in her mind—
"What kind of celebrity is he, just a scammer. Promised to pay me back, then vanished. Should have never let him go..."
And sure enough, today she caught him!
It proves that constantly reminding yourself about those who owe you money really does work!
"Money? You have the nerve to mention it! What about the loss of my phone? Don’t tell me your nonsense is worth 2800. Even if it is, it can’t buy my phone back..." Cheng Yishu shot back.
"Heh, you mangy mutt, can’t keep your word, eh? Should’ve made you walk out of my house stark naked so anyone could watch, anyone could snap a photo..."
Lin Xiaowen grew more agitated, her tone rising in anger. Men’s words truly were nothing but lies!
"If you can restore my phone, I’ll give you 2800... no, I’ll give you 3000. How about that!"
Cheng Yishu stood as well, so now Lin Xiaowen had to look up at him!

The situation shifted quickly!
Chen Kai, utterly confused, looked up at the two of them, tense and ready to clash, and spoke slowly,
"You two know each other?"
"No!"
"No!"
The two adversaries suddenly united in denial, responding in perfect unison as they turned to Chen Kai...
Both Cheng Yishu and Lin Xiaowen were momentarily stunned, then exchanged looks of mutual disgust, simultaneously scoffing and turning away from each other...
"Interesting!"
Chen Kai murmured with a smile, then stood and pulled Cheng Yishu’s arm, speaking earnestly,
"You should be gentler with girls!"
"Girls?"
Cheng Yishu’s eyes widened as if he’d seen a ghost, dropping onto the sofa with a mocking laugh,
"Have you ever met a girl whose voice is louder than a trumpet, who’s braver than any man? In the middle of the night, she dared to carry a grown man home..."
"Cheng Yishu!"
Lin Xiaowen shot him a look that could flay him alive, gritting her teeth,
"I must’ve been possessed to take care of such a drunken lout, and now I have to listen to you talk like this..."
"Miss, miss... please calm down!" Chen Kai hadn’t expected to get involved so quickly, and it sounded like a real headache!
"I think I’ve got the gist of it—there’s definitely some misunderstanding here. Let’s speak quietly, alright? Look... Yishu is a public figure. If word gets out, it’ll really hurt his reputation and image..."
"Who cares about his reputation? Let it get out! Let all those blind fans see what kind of person their idol really is..."
"Please don’t..."
Chen Kai, still smiling, glanced around at the sparse diners, then gently pulled Lin Xiaowen to sit, speaking seriously,
"Yishu is a quality artist, there’s no doubt about it. We shouldn’t let a little misunderstanding negate all his positive image! You said he was drunk, and you brought him home to care for him—that proves you’re a kind-hearted girl. For that, I thank you. This glass of wine is for you, from me and from Stardust."
Chen Kai, who rarely played by the rules, downed the glass in one go under Cheng Yishu’s baffled gaze, then solemnly showed the empty glass to Lin Xiaowen!

Not only Cheng Yishu, but Lin Xiaowen was utterly bewildered!
What did that mean?
"If you’re willing to accept our gratitude, please..."
Chen Kai’s expression remained serious. Glancing at Lin Xiaowen’s name tag, he continued,
"Miss Xiaowen, please finish this glass of wine. Once you do, we’ll be friends, helping each other from now on—I look forward to your guidance!"
His tone was bold, his face solemn beyond measure, and Lin Xiaowen, as if under a spell, actually raised Cheng Yishu’s glass of wine...
Chen Kai’s gaze seemed to gently guide her... Only when the dry taste of red wine hit her palate did Lin Xiaowen realize the glass was already empty and in her stomach!
"Straightforward! Haha..."
Chen Kai laughed heartily, turning to Cheng Yishu, "See, making a friend is much easier than making an enemy! Right, Xiaowen?"
Lin Xiaowen’s cheeks were flushed—perhaps from the wine. She had no interest in wine, so why had she... lost her senses just now?
"Who wants to be friends with him!" Lin Xiaowen muttered under her breath, shooting Cheng Yishu a glare!
Cheng Yishu responded with a mocking look and turned away as well!
"Haha, it’s alright, it’s alright! So..." Chen Kai cleared his throat and continued softly,
"Xiaowen, when you took care of Yishu that night, did you... accidentally take any photos, or did he leave anything at your place without you noticing..." Chen Kai’s smile was obvious, but his eyes lacked warmth, nearly drilling into Lin Xiaowen!
Cheng Yishu paused, beginning to understand—Chen Kai’s earlier actions had merely been... groundwork?
Lin Xiaowen was also taken aback, then abruptly stood, her gaze icy as she looked at Chen Kai,
"Rest assured, I didn’t know this Mr. Cheng was a celebrity at the time, so you don’t need to worry about me holding any evidence to blackmail you later. And while I’m poor, I know my place—I’m not fit to be friends with people like you!"
Before turning to leave, Lin Xiaowen glanced back at Cheng Yishu, her voice still cold, but something in it made Cheng Yishu feel a twinge of pain,
"Let’s leave that matter behind us—we never met, we owe each other nothing!"