Chapter 270: His meticulousness Chapter 270: His meticulousness The autumn rain that had persisted until five o’clock finally stopped, leaving the courtyard scattered with yellowing leaves, drenched everywhere.

Hurrying before dusk, Aunt Xu, who had been busy all afternoon, finally managed to get dinner ready on time.

Aunt Xu wiped her hands on her apron, about to go upstairs to call everyone down, when Wen Zhi happened to be coming down the stairs.

Aunt Xu then said, “Miss Wen, dinner is ready. Mr. Nian is still in the study, do you think you could go ask Mr. Nian?”

Wen Zhi promptly responded, “Of course, I’ll go call him now.”

She turned around and went back upstairs.

A few minutes later, she stood outside the upstairs communal study room.

She raised her hand to knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Nian Xun’s voice came from inside, and only after getting permission, did Wen Zhi push the door open and enter.

Nian Xun disliked dim lighting, so the study was particularly well-lit.

Wen Zhi looked up to see towering bookshelves under which sat a high-backed chair, where Nian Xun now sat, flipping through books. Behind him were dark green flannel curtains, which contrasted with the dark red carpet underfoot.

“Did your good friend leave?” Nian Xun turned a page, glanced at the doorway to see only Wen Zhi, and asked casually without looking up.

Wen Zhi walked in, her footsteps muffled by the sound-absorbent carpet: “Meng Fan said she had to return to Bai City tonight; she can only come to keep me company next time.”

Nian Xun turned another page, his head tilting slightly to one side: “Aren’t you two close? It’s rare to see you, why not stay for a few more days for you.”

This remark sounded very impersonal.

But it was in line with Nian Xun’s personality.

Wen Zhi roughly knew Nian Xun’s situation, he had shallow family ties and hardly any friends. Apart from discussing business or attending various meetings, he was mostly a loner.

She took the opportunity to argue: “It’s not necessary to change her original plans just because we don’t get to see each other often; there will be plenty of chances to meet next time.”

“Not happy again?” Nian Xun looked up at Wen Zhi once more, who now stood a short distance away.

Wen Zhi was maintaining a straight face, standing still, neither advancing nor retreating.

Nian Xun said, “If I’ve made you unhappy, you shouldn’t take it too much to heart. I mean that.”

He wasn’t as cold as usual, which took Wen Zhi by surprise.

Look, there was a smile lingering at his brows and eyes, quite different from his usual sharpness, making him appear much gentler. Wen Zhi thought to herself, ‘So he can speak nicely after all.’

She accepted Nian Xun’s good intentions and said, “I came to ask you to come down for dinner.”

Nian Xun was slightly startled, then bent the corners of his lips in a smile.

With a ‘snap’, he closed the thick book, stood up to put it back on the shelf, and then walked towards Wen Zhi.

“Let’s go,” he said.

Wen Zhi could have gone out first, leading the way, but this time, she deliberately lingered a step behind him.

Neither spoke as they descended the stairs, and after sitting down at the dining table, Nian Xun quickly noticed Wen Zhi took out a bottle of wine from seemingly nowhere.

Nian Xun raised an eyebrow: “Where did that come from?”

Wen Zhi feigned composure: “I ordered it by phone from outside.”

Nian Xun’s gaze fell on the label of the bottle: “Remy Martin Louis XIII, you even managed to order this wine, quite an expense.”

Wen Zhi: “It wasn’t too expensive; anyway, it was just…”

Nian Xun gave her a sidelong glance: “Charging it to my account?”

Wen Zhi didn’t continue, and with a sheepish smile, came over to pour Nian Xun a glass of wine. The wine was rich in color, the aroma…not exactly strong. Nian Xun took a light sniff of the odd fragrance, frowning slightly.

Having seen countless fine wines, he recognized at a glance that the bottle Wen Zhi brought out tonight was one of the branded cognacs, Remy Martin Louis XIII.

Though it smelled off, to spare Wen Zhi’s feelings, he still took a sip. As the spicy liquid hit the back of his throat, Nian Xun’s frown deepened, his expression grew unpleasant.

Wen Zhi leaned in and asked, “How’s the taste?”

Nian Xun: “Not great, it’s like counterfeit.”

“…” It wasn’t like counterfeit; it was counterfeit.

Wen Zhi’s eyes darted around, and Nian Xun suddenly looked at her askance: “Did you add something you shouldn’t have?”

“No, no way, absolutely not,” Wen Zhi quickly denied.

Nian Xun didn’t really believe Wen Zhi would add anything, but what he feared more than her adding something, indeed happened.

Wen Zhi sat back down opposite, poured herself a glass, and grinned: “This sixty yuan was well spent.”

With a ‘clang’, the glass was thrust back onto the table.

Wen Zhi jumped, nearly spilling the wine from her hand.

She steadied herself, and when she looked back up, she saw that Nian Xun’s complexion had changed.

“Sixty?” Nian Xun seemed incredulous.