Chapter 366: Chapter 226: Balsamic Vinegar in the Red Wine_2

“She’s always like this, full of enthusiasm at first, but who knows how long she can keep it up.”

Despite what Wen Shulin said, her tone was filled with indulgence.

After touring the house, the two returned to the living room where Su Liya had already tidied up the coffee table, arranging wine glasses, snacks, and fruit.

And the milk she was going to drink later.

Sitting on the living room carpet, she asked eagerly, “So, is it time for you to drink wine?”

Wen Shulin got up with a smile, walked to the wine rack, and scrutinized the collection of wines carefully.

Her eyes swept over row upon row of neatly placed wine bottles, finally resting on a bottle of red wine with a simple and elegant label.

“Let’s start with this Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Rouge.”

Wen Shulin took out the wine, walked back with a beaming smile, and sat down beside Xiao Meier.

Xiao Meier looked at the bottle of wine, completely different from the one in the revolving restaurant, “What ‘Domaine’? Why isn’t there a single Chinese character on it?”

Wen Shulin smiled and began to share the story of the wine:

“Leroy is one of the top wineries in Burgundy, known as the ‘Burgundy Queen.'”

“Their wine production is extremely low, and it is rarely seen even at auctions.”

“Although this Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Rouge is just the entry-level red wine of the winery, its quality is equally remarkable.”

“It is made of 100% Pinot Noir grapes, coming from the winery’s small vineyards spread across several villages in Burgundy.”

While speaking, Wen Shulin skilfully opened the cork and handed it to Xiao Meier to smell.

“This scent, it really seems different from the one earlier!”

“Its aroma is very complex, with scents of black cherries, raspberries, violets, spices, earth, and minerals. The taste is full-bodied with rich layers, the tannins are delicate and elegant, and it has a lingering aftertaste.”

As Wen Shulin introduced it, she slowly poured the wine into the decanter, the deep red liquid shimmering under the light with a captivating glow.

Xiao Meier had only seen the sophistication of rich people drinking red wine on TV.

Wen Shulin, of course, was wealthy.

But her casual and unconstrained actions were void of the pretentiousness seen on TV; it was as if opening a bottle of red wine worth thousands was as simple as opening a bottle of iced red tea.

“Sister Lin, you know so much!” Xiao Meier said admiringly, “If only I knew half as much as you.”

“It’s not difficult, we can share more if you have time in the future.”

“Yeah! I want to learn a bit of everything now, especially after going to the beauty salon with you last time, I realized I don’t understand so much.”

Wen Shulin thought for a moment, “Why don’t you enroll in a class?”

“Enroll in a class?”

“There are courses specifically for etiquette, physical grace, wine knowledge, flower arranging, tea ceremony, and so on.”

Wen Shulin said patiently, “Didn’t you say you wanted to improve yourself? I think this is a very good way.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Meier’s eyes lit up.

Chen Cheng’s business was growing bigger and she needed to become more elegant and proper to better stand by his side.

Although Chen Cheng had never made such a request, Xiao Meier knew that to stand firmly by Chen Cheng’s side, she must continuously improve herself and stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

“Really? That would be wonderful!”

Xiao Meier said excitedly, “Sister Lin, could you recommend one for me? I would like to enroll in a reliable one.”

“No problem.”

Wen Shulin agreed immediately, “I have a friend who runs a training institution with strong teaching resources and a good reputation. I’ll send you the contact information later.”

“Thank you, Sister Lin, you are really too kind!”

Xiao Meier grasped Wen Shulin’s hand excitedly, her gratitude was evident.

Wen Shulin patted her hand and smiled, “No need to thank me, we’re friends, it’s the least I can do.”

Chen Cheng, standing on the side, listened to their conversation with mixed emotions.

He knew very well that Xiao Meier’s desire for change was, for the most part, because of him.

“Mr. Chen, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Wen Shulin noticed Chen Cheng’s silence and asked.

“I’m fine.”

Chen Cheng came back to his senses, forced a smile, and said, “I was just thinking about some work stuff.”

“Work can wait until tomorrow, relax and enjoy tonight.” Wen Shulin said, and poured the decanted wine into three glasses.

“Come, let’s drink.”

She raised her glass, gestured to Xiao Meier and Chen Cheng, then took a light sip, savoring it.

“Mmm…”

Wen Shulin closed her eyes, relishing the rich aromas and layers in her mouth, her face revealing a blissful expression, “Indeed, it’s a fine wine!”

Xiao Meier also eagerly picked up her glass, imitating Wen Shulin, took a light sip.

“Wow! Delicious!”

Xiao Meier’s eyes lit up, unable to hold back her admiration, “This wine tastes sweet and has a fruity aroma, it’s really good!”

Wen Shulin watched her candid expression, smiled, and shook her head, saying:

“This wine is not just simple sweetness, try tasting it again closely, see if you can discern any other flavors?”

Hearing this, Xiao Meier took another serious taste. This time, she didn’t swallow in haste but let the liquid linger in her mouth for a while, savoring it carefully.

“Mmm…”

Xiao Meier closed her eyes, earnestly savoring. After a while, she opened her eyes and said with some uncertainty, “I think I also tasted a bit… of chocolate flavor?”

“That’s right!”

Wen Shulin smiled and nodded, “This wine indeed has a hint of the bittersweet taste of dark chocolate in its aftertaste, which is also one of its major characteristics.”

“Wow, Sister Lin, you are really incredible! How do you know everything?” Xiao Meier looked at Wen Shulin with an admiring face.

“I learned it too.”

Wen Shulin spoke frankly, swirling the wine in her glass, looking at the rich body of the wine, and then at Xiao Meier, as if she saw her own past self.

“Then I definitely need to study hard!” Xiao Meier was full of spirit, “and strive to be like Sister Lin one day!”

Wen Shulin smiled, “Come on, let’s drink our wine.”

“Okay, drink up.”

Xiao Meier also picked up her wine glass, clinked it with Wen Shulin’s, and downed it in one go.

Wen Shulin watched her straightforward manner and couldn’t help but laugh out, “Xiao Er, drink slowly. This wine has a strong kick!”

“No worries, I can hold my liquor!”

Xiao Meier spoke candidly, “Xiao Cheng knows!”

Chen Cheng sipped lightly and nodded, “Sister Xiao Er is somewhat formidable.”

“Really?”

Wen Shulin had only seen Xiao Meier drink clear liquor, but only a small sip.

“Sister Lin, you better believe it! When I first came to Beijing, I just opened my noodle shop. Being so unfamiliar with everything, I had to drink quite a bit with the local gentlemen in the alleys to attract business!”

Xiao Meier got excited and began to narrate endlessly about her experiences making her way in Beijing back in the day:

“One time, I drank with Xiao Cheng’s grandfather, that is, Mr. Zhai, drinking ‘Knockout Donkey.'”

“Just a couple of small dishes, but each of us drank a whole bottle!”

As Xiao Meier spoke, she proudly lifted her chin, as if she were some martial arts master who had just won a splendid victory.

Wen Shulin watched her lively expression and couldn’t help but be amused.

Even though Xiao Meier’s personality was straightforward and outspoken, but she wasn’t crude in the least; on the contrary, she possessed a natural charisma that made people just want to be close to her.

“I had no idea, Xiao Er that you had such an impressive past!” Wen Shulin said with a smile.

She then realized something and looked at the two, “So you two have known each other for a long time?”

Both of them nodded in confirmation.

After hearing this, Wen Shulin suddenly felt a surge of bitterness in her heart, and a tinge of envy flashed in her eyes.

She lowered her gaze, hiding her complex emotions.

So they had known each other for a long time, and they even shared such common memories.

No wonder Jin Baogen had given her such a preemptive warning that day.

And herself?

Before all this, she knew nothing about Chen Cheng.

Thinking of her confession today, Wen Shulin suddenly felt like an outsider, as if she had never truly known this man she deeply loved.

“Sister Lin, what’s wrong?”

Xiao Meier saw Wen Shulin suddenly fall silent and asked with concern.

Wen Shulin lifted her head, barely squeezing out a smile, “Xiao Er, I’m actually quite envious of you.”

“Envious of me? What’s there to be envious about?”

“Of having such a shared past with Mr. Chen.”

Xiao Meier naturally took Chen Cheng’s hand, her face full of happiness.

While Wen Shulin saw this and felt a slight stir of jealousy.

But she knew she couldn’t let Xiao Meier see anything amiss in her.

Yet, she couldn’t control her own emotions.

So she downed the wine in her glass in one gulp.

Only, at this moment, the taste of the wine after it went down was as strong as vinegar.

Wen Shulin poured some more for herself and Xiao Meier, “Xiao Er, how did you meet Mr. Chen?”

Xiao Meier, brimming with smiles, looked at Chen Cheng with tender eyes, “I and Xiao Cheng, that was a very long time ago…”