Chapter 27

At 8 o'clock in the evening, someone knocked on the door. "Shiming, it's me," Meng Jining's voice called out.

Hearing Meng Jining's voice, Fu Mingshi put down his phone unhurriedly and went to open the door. He was wearing a black shirt, his brows were prominent, his features aloof. His gaze fell on Meng Jining, those deep dark eyes didn't have any ripples, as if Meng Jining was just an irrelevant person.

He had a slender figure and outstanding temperament. When he was pretending to be a college student, he was an eye-catching campus hunk. Now standing inside the luxurious presidential suite, that mature elite man's charm spread out silently. Looking at Fu Mingshi like this, Meng Jining suddenly felt that he didn't know this man at all.

"This is for you?" He held up the wine gift box, the corners of his lips pressed tight.

"Zhen Bao really enjoyed this autumn tour, this is just a little something from me." Sweeping his eyes to the adjacent guest room, Fu Mingshi moved to the side and welcomed Meng Jining in.

Meng Jining had already been humiliated enough by him. He returned the gift box to Fu Mingshi while sinking his face, "This is a student activity, you are too polite. I still have things to do, I'll get going first."

After speaking, he directly put the gift box down on the floor and turned to leave.

Being able to reject this gift meant that he also had some backbone. Fu Mingshi stepped out of the door and calmly called out to him.

Meng Jining stopped but kept looking ahead without turning back.

The college student's shoulders were tense as if facing a formidable enemy. Fu Mingshi smiled silently. Then he said in a low voice, "It was nice meeting you. I have three suggestions. First, Zhen Bao sees you as a friend, don't look down on her. Second, a gentleman loves beauty the proper way. Third, find a girl who genuinely likes you, dating will be much more wonderful."

He didn't want to nitpick with a college student. By doing this, he just hoped Meng Jining would stop in time and not disturb Zhen Bao anymore. Zhen Bao still hadn't noticed Meng Jining's intentions yet. If Meng Jining kept trying to steal her away, once Zhen Bao found out, she might withdraw from the student association she actually really enjoyed to avoid embarrassment.

Fu Mingshi didn't want Zhen Bao to be put in a difficult spot.

"I'm going to apply to study abroad in my third year," Meng Jining said to him with the rash pride of the youth.

Fu Mingshi raised his brows, watching Meng Jining's quickly retreating back. He smiled and shook his head.

But this wine...

He had bought it already, it would be a waste not to drink it. She hated waste the most.

Fu Mingshi laughed. He picked up the gift box and went back to his room. Five minutes later, he put on a coat, carried a hiking backpack and knocked on her door.

Zhen Bao had just finished showering and was blow drying her hair in the master bathroom, the buzzing drowned out the knocking. Feng Yue was watching TV. Hearing the knock, she immediately got up from the sofa, tidied her hair, and went to open the door in her slippers. Seeing Fu Mingshi dressed like that, Feng Yue smiled. "Going out again? Zhen Bao is drying her hair, come in and sit first."

It was only 8pm, still early.

Fu Mingshi lightly hmm-ed and walked right in.

There were some snacks on the coffee table. Fu Mingshi glanced at the sofa and went to the separate living room to wait for Zhen Bao.

He kept people at arm's length. Feng Yue had to swallow back the small talk she had prepared. To diffuse the awkwardness, she went to the master bedroom door and called out loudly, "Zhen Bao, Shiming is here looking for you, hurry up."

As soon as Zhen Bao heard, she immediately turned off the hair dryer, got dressed, tidied her hair, and came out to see him.

Hearing movement, Fu Mingshi came out. His gaze lingered on her flushed, charming face for a few seconds before moving to her damp hair.

"Did something happen?" Zhen Bao walked to his side and asked, full of confusion. With Feng Yue right there, Fu Mingshi reached out and stroked Zhen Bao's hair by her ear nonchalantly. He smiled and looked into her eyes, "The night view here is great. I wanted to take you out for a stroll. It's windy outside, dry your hair first."

His tone was gentle, his actions intimate. Zhen Bao reflexively turned to look at Feng Yue and saw Feng Yue was also watching them. Zhen Bao hurried back to the master bedroom to blow dry her hair.

Fu Mingshi continued waiting in the living room.

Feng Yue stared at the LCD screen across from her while scenes of Fu Mingshi touching Zhen Bao's hair kept flashing through her mind. It was just a very ordinary, small gesture, yet it looked even more romantic than idol dramas when done by Fu Mingshi and Zhen Bao. It made people yearn for romance, yearn to be treated like that too.

She bit her lip and grabbed her phone to message Meng Jining.

Meng Jining had just returned to his room not long ago and was lying in bed spacing out.

Zhen Bao was pretty, Zhen Bao was dainty and sweet. Zhen Bao's thoughtfulness and smile when taking care of small animals made him impulsively want to get close to her. He developed greed and only wanted her to be his girlfriend, not even caring that she already had a boyfriend. But tonight, Fu Mingshi had figuratively slapped him in the face with that bottle of red wine, suddenly waking him from his greed.

What Fu Mingshi said was right. Not only did he look down on Fu Mingshi's family background, he looked down on Zhen Bao too.

The Zhen Bao he liked wasn't the kind of vain, money-worshipping girl. Now that he thought about it, at lunch earlier, he treated her to a luxury hotel feast, yet Zhen Bao barely said a word. She just picked whatever dish was in front of her, extremely polite. At dinner, Fu Mingshi treated them to farmhouse fare, Zhen Bao seemed to be smiling the whole time and transferred her dishes several times.

Fu Mingshi was clearly very wealthy yet always kept a low profile. It must have been because Zhen Bao liked simplicity right?

After figuring it out, Meng Jining patted his own face in self-mockery.

Pursuing Zhen Bao was probably the most muddled thing he had done in his life.

He should be grateful to Fu Mingshi for teaching him a lesson at this age. He almost became one of those privileged second generation rich kids he had always looked down on, relying on his own money and not putting others in his eyes.

His phone dinged with a WeChat message. Meng Jining heaved a long sigh and sat up to look.

Feng Yue: Shiming said the night view here is great and wants to take us out for a stroll. Want to join? Otherwise it'll just be them two showing affection, I'll be too awkward by myself.

Staring at those lines, Meng Jining inexplicably laughed. He was foolish, but there was someone more foolish than him.

If he had to rank the people Fu Mingshi disliked most in the hotel right now, he would be second. Only Feng Yue could be first. Unless Fu Mingshi drank that entire bottle of red wine and got drunk, he would never suggest bringing Feng Yue along.

Meng Jining smiled and typed: I'm tired from today, I'm going to sleep. Have fun you two.

Seeing the reply, Feng Yue lowered her head. After reading it, she replied bitterly: Alright, goodnight.

Five minutes later, Zhen Bao finished blow drying her hair and came out. Fu Mingshi stroked her hair again and frowned, "Still a bit damp, let's go downstairs to buy you a hat."

Feng Yue silently tsked. A boutique in a high-end hotel generally didn't sell cheap things.

About to leave, Zhen Bao looked at her classmate on the sofa and politely asked, "Is Feng Yue coming? Let's all go together."

Fu Mingshi pressed his lips thinly.

Feng Yue stared at the TV and laughed without moving an inch, "There are plenty of streetlights outside already, I won't intrude on your candlelight!"

She wasn't an idiot. She wouldn't foolishly go watch them show off their wealth and affection.

Zhen Bao guessed Feng Yue probably wouldn't go. Getting a definite reply, she obediently followed Fu Mingshi and left. Downstairs, Fu Mingshi really picked out a hat for her, a cream-colored knit hat with a bow on the left side that covered both ears.

"Really cute," Fu Mingshi said in her ear as he helped her put it on, watching her in the mirror.

Their eyes met in the reflection. Zhen Bao's face turned red.

With the warmth taken care of, Fu Mingshi held her hand and left the hotel.

Outside was a European-style small town. The buildings on both sides were small villas, brightly lit. Tourists were inside dining or leisurely strolling outside, some stopped to take photos. The night wind was slightly chilly, lights shimmered on the water surface, the starry sky overhead was magnificent. The Milky Way in the middle was like the most dazzling pearl necklace, with no visible beginning or end.

The latitude in the capital was higher than City C. Standing on the ground, the sky looked closer.

Zhen Bao liked such a nightscape. "Let's sit here." She was drawn in by the night sky while Fu Mingshi had picked a nice secluded spot.

He sat down first, Zhen Bao followed suit.

"Do you like red wine?" Fu Mingshi asked, head tilted towards her.

Zhen Bao shook her head, "The taste is a bit strange."

Fu Mingshi smiled, "It takes some getting used to at first. You'll like it after." As he spoke, a bottle of red wine magically appeared in front of her.

Only then did Zhen Bao realize his intention of bringing a hiking backpack. Seeing Fu Mingshi take out two wine glasses, Zhen Bao could only help hold them while he opened the wine.

"That's enough." The wine wasn't very strong, but Zhen Bao didn't like drinking and didn't want him to pour too much.

Fu Mingshi filled it one-third. Then he poured some for himself.

Zhen Bao was a bit thirsty and took a sip first.

"How is it compared to this afternoon's?" Fu Mingshi asked softly.

Zhen Bao mulled over the taste and said regretfully, "About the same."

The taste was about the same so the price must also be four digits. Meng Jining and Fu Mingshi both had money. If it were her, with several thousand yuan, she definitely wouldn't bear to buy a bottle of wine. Saving bit by bit, it would be enough for a year's tuition.

Fu Mingshi just smiled without telling her the price.

Chatting while drinking, Zhen Bao was thirsty after her shower without drinking any water. She now drank the red wine like water. After one glass she still felt like having more. Fu Mingshi poured her another one-third glass which she soon finished. Finally Zhen Bao felt she had enough, her whole body felt warm.

Zhen Bao covered her face to check the temperature.

"Tipsy?" Fu Mingshi asked in a low voice.

Zhen Bao couldn't say for sure. She had never drank before and didn't know what being drunk felt like. On TV, drunk people would sway dizzily and have blurred vision. Zhen Bao turned her head, Fu Mingshi's handsome face next to her was clearly visible.

"What are you looking at?" Her eyes were watery, reflecting the lights in the distance. Fu Mingshi couldn't look away. He slowly put the wine glass down to one side.

Zhen Bao had just found the answer to his question. She laughed and looked ahead, "Not drunk."

Zhen Bao had just turned her head around when her chin was suddenly grabbed and she was forced to face forward again. Before she could see who it was, Feng Ming Shi's lips, tasting of red wine, were on hers. The night breeze blew by as his cool lips seemed to meet her fiery ones.

Zhen Bao closed her eyes.

Feng Ming Shi gathered her into his embrace, bending down to kiss her and trapping her against his chest and arms.

The mellow sweetness of the red wine passed between their lips and teeth, and the hidden kick beneath its low alcohol content rose up, along with his hormones. Zhen Bao didn't know if she was drunk or if his ardent passion had left her dizzy, but she was as soft as a tuft of cotton, resting obediently in the crook of his arm and letting him do as he pleased.

She must be drunk, but Feng Ming Shi was still in control of his senses. He wanted to pretend to be drunk, wanted to take advantage of the liquor to steal a taste, but he couldn't do it.

She trusted him so much.

"Feng Bao..." he murmured in her ear, his voice low and hoarse.

Head bowed, Zhen Bao rested on his arm and opened her eyes to see a sky full of glittering stars, each one like a twinkling diamond. The diamonds were beautiful, but Zhen Bao felt cold, so cold she curled further into his embrace, pressing her flushed face against his chest where she could feel his warmth even through his clothes.

Feng Ming Shi picked up her knit cap which had fallen off at some point and put it back on her head.

"Come on up." After tidying up the wine bottles and glasses, Feng Ming Shi hoisted up her backpack and crouched down in front of her.

Zhen Bao was too sleepy to keep her eyes open. Obediently, she climbed onto his back, resting her head on his shoulder, and breathed softly.

Feng Ming Shi smiled as he carried her piggyback style. The path was deserted, with only the starry sky for company.