The alarm rang at four. Shuishui wanted to turn off the alarm, but she realized that Mu Ziyu was hugging her again. She pushed Mu Ziyu away forcefully, turned off the alarm, and walked out of bed quietly. Although Mu Ziyu would not do anything reckless, he liked to hug people when he slept. Shuishui was conflicted because she did not like it.
She dreamed of being in a volcano. Just thinking about it made her afraid.
It was also winter. Even though they had turned on the heater, it was not enough to give her a good night's rest.
She changed out of her pajamas, put on her swimsuit, and put on a jacket before going outside. The pool was not very far from the lodge anyway. Mu Ziyu had slept so late last night, so she thought that he must be very tired. In a few hours, he would be driving again back to the capital.
She had just gotten out of the hot spring when Mu Ziyu appeared. She shrank back and slowly walked away.
Mu Ziyu quickly walked towards her and grabbed Shuishui. "You want to run away?"
"No. Why would I want to run? I was going there because I just felt that the water temperature is warmer over there," Shuishui said very guiltily.
Mu Ziyu dipped into the hot spring. He slowly walked towards Shuishui. Because Shuishui was one meter away, he pulled Shuishui towards him. "You went out here by yourself?"
"I just wanted you to sleep a little longer, all right?" She blinked her eyes and smiled.
While dipping in the hot spring, she dipped her hands and patted her cheeks. The warm water was very comforting in the morning.
She hugged Mu Ziyu's neck and said, "You're quite fun too. We can't soak in the hot spring for too long this morning. We need to go back, check out, and return to the capital. Traffic flow should be very light early in the morning, right?"
"We won't get stuck in traffic. Don't worry. You don't have to think so much." He moved his neck. Although he didn't really like coming to such a place, he was happy to have visited the resort with Shuishui. He suddenly realized that they were not able to go to the firefly cave. There was nothing to see during the day, so it would be useless to go. He had actually forgotten about it. They missed the chance. After soaking in the hot spring, he took a shower and changed his clothes. Then, they checked out of the hotel and left at five thirty. On the way, they bought breakfast. Shuishui only ate a little and directly fell asleep.
Mu Ziyu drove quietly. The road was quiet, and there were no obstructions. It was supposed to be a four-hour journey, but it only took them more than three hours. They soon arrived at the capital. Mu Ziyu dropped Shuishui off at Uncle Jiang's office. He left soon after he dropped her off.
When Shuishui arrived at the office, Jiang Yuan was already there. She remembered that they were going to sign the contracts that morning. Shuishui had obtained the shares of the company after she had decided to invest in it. She could be considered a shareholder of the game developing company and a shareholder. Jiang Yuan did not ask where Shuishui went the previous day. Instead, he prepared the documents and brought the lawyer and Shuishui along. Ye Mu had processed the documents very quickly. He was grateful that Shuishui had decided to invest in his company. Shuishui was young, but her decision to invest had helped him in his most difficult time. "Shuishui—can I call you that?" he asked her.
Shuishui nodded. "Yes. We are already partners now. There's no need to be so distant." Ye Mu was a good person, aside from being a very capable one. What mattered to Shuishui was that he knew how to repay kindness.
Shuishui looked at him. He seemed to have dressed up well for that day. He was actually a handsome young man.
"Actually, Big Brother Ye, you're quite good-looking. Tidy up properly and find a woman who will stand behind you," Shuishui said as she she smiled at Ye Mu.
Ye Mu's face turned red, but it suddenly changed. He sighed and said, "Forget it. I can't even keep it up. Also, being betrayed is a painful experience. Maybe I'm not meant to fall in love. If I do, I won't be able to distinguish between right and wrong. But we'll see what will happen in the future."
Jiang Yuan sympathized with Ye Mu, because he somehow knew what Ye Mu had experienced. "I know about it, but don't be discouraged. In the future, I will introduce you to a few good women."
"Thank you, Director Jiang. Actually, it doesn't matter if I don't fall in love. I'll wait until I'm in my thirties. If I become successful in my career, then I'll consider it." His experience in the past made him terrified of women. He felt that they were simply evil and selfish. He knew not all women were the same, but he still couldn't let go of his past grudges.
Shuishui didn't ask about his experience. Everyone had a weak point in their hearts, and Ye Mu's experience was a huge setback.
After chatting for a while and having lunch together, they left. Shuishui told Ye Mu that she hoped he would keep it a secret that she was a shareholder. She told him she would only appear if she needed to. Ye Mu agreed. They said goodbye and parted ways.
Jiang Yuan felt that Shuishui's request was reasonable. She simply wanted to keep a low profile.
"Sure, that will be beneficial for you." Uncle Jiang nodded in agreement.
Shuishui actually had her own considerations. "I'm not sure myself, but I feel like this is something I should do while I'm young."
"En, although you're not sure, your decision will be beneficial to you in the future. A tall tree attracts the wind. Moreover, Ye Mu has offended so many people. Your decision to invest in his company will easily attract the attention of many, so it's better to be careful." The reason why Jiang Yuan accompanied Shuishui was to hide Shuishui's identity. If someone had seen them together and later heard that Ye Mu had found an investor, people would assume that it was Jiang Yuan and not Shuishui. People also wouldn't suspect Shuishui of being the investor because she was young. Jiang Yuan wanted to protect Shuishui. Naturally, he decided to use himself as a shield. He did not care what they would say, and they would not dare to make a move on him. He was not the type who socialized anyway.
When Shuishui returned, she reread the contract. She felt a little nervous when she saw all her assets. Although her father had set aside a bit of money for her for when she grew older, she believed it was different to have and earn her own money. She knew it would give her a sense of accomplishment. For her, it was like finishing a research study. That sense of accomplishment could not be described in words. She was not really interested in earning money, but she wanted to gain independence. However, she also wanted to earn her own money to ease the pressure on her father. At least he would not have to worry about her too much in the future.
Shuishui helped Secretary Huang tidy up the bookshelves and produce the forms.
That afternoon, when the others were about to get off work, the interior designer arrived. He was to discuss the plans with Shuishui and Jiang Yuan.
Shuishui took out the layout and directly stated her requirements. She was very particular about the details, so they talked for a long time. "The wall must be extra thick, with an added padding or layer, because persistent and thick smoke from the barbecue grill will damage it. Also, I want to build a larger oil smoke machine in these two places. It's a long tube style, similar to the Korean style. I don't know how the lighting is installed. It will depend on how you design it. Just ensure that the environment will be suitable for a barbecue restaurant."
She could only state her requirements because she was not a designer herself. She tried her best to relay her ideas to the designer.
"That's fine. We can make two grills. It would be a bit difficult to make three. But seeing the layout, ventilation on the first floor would be enough for two grills," said the designer. He looked at the diagram on the second floor. "What are we going to do on the second floor?"
"Simple and convenient rooms and staff quarters. Please come up with a design that would maximize the space. One room should accommodate eight people. Also, maximize the space in designing the bathroom and small kitchen." Shuishui had projected the need for eight employees. There would be two chefs, three assistants, and three servers. Of course, there was also the need for a cashier. It was not going to be a big barbecue restaurant, so she felt that eight employees would suffice.
Moreover, not all of the workers would be willing to live in the staff dormitory. Some would want to stay in their homes if they lived nearby. She considered the comfort of the employees. If the living environment was good, wouldn't they be able to attract more people? Safety was also an important issue. She had decided on it. She said, "Divide it into three rooms, with two bathrooms and a small kitchen. That's it."
The designer nodded. "All right. We can do something about that."
"The color palette to be used should be simple. As for the first floor, it's up to you. You can decide on the colors. Just don't use bold colors," Shuishui said.
The designer listed down Shuishui's requests and said, "I understand. We should be able to produce the design in about a week. I'll have to trouble you to take a look at it then."
"En, sure." Shuishui nodded. She was not in a hurry. Such designs took time to make and produce. If she wanted a good design, she would have to wait for the designer to finish at his own pace.
That night, she returned home with Jiang Yuan. When they arrived, Jiang Yuan began to lecture Jiang Li. "Look at you. You go out and play all day long. Learn from Shuishui. Don't think about playing all day long. These few days alone, Shuishui has already done a lot of things. Tomorrow, you'll accompany Shuishui to the office. You can't go on like that."
Jiang Li looked at Shuishui pitifully, hoping that Shuishui could defend him.
Shuishui was embarrassed. There was nothing she could do. Those past few days, she had indeed accomplished a lot. "Actually, it has been a great learning experience for me. The office environment can be quite fun sometimes," Shuishui said.
Jiang Li didn't want to go. Going to his father's office meant being watched and supervised all day long.
Jiang Li pleaded with Jiang Yuan. "Dad, I'll go another day. I haven't had enough fun yet. I won't have the chance to enjoy myself next semester."
Initially, when he saw Jiang Li's pitiful look, Jiang Yuan's heart softened a little. However, he remembered that Shuishui was only sixteen years old, but she had already accomplished a lot. She had invested in a game developing company and persuaded him to invest in the opening of a barbecue shop with her. If he hadn't been persuaded, he might not have invested in the place. He was convinced by Shuishui's business proposal, where she had clearly carried out a thorough investigation and projection of the business. He was greatly impressed. He found it commendable that Shuishui had a mind of her own and had goals she wanted to pursue. He had been observing Shuishui. She was practical, realistic, and confident. Once, he casually told Shuishui, "You're a confident child, but to others this may be interpreted as conceit."
Shuishui had replied in a mature manner. She said, "My confidence stems from my attitude. I'm serious about learning. I just want to learn. If I can't learn how to do things, then my confidence must be merely conceit."
Jiang Yuan looked at his son. He was fourteen years old. He was neither too old nor too young, but he had expected him to be more mature. Jiang Li entered school at an earlier age and had socialized with others at a young age. Although he had a playful and carefree personality, he was never rebellious towards his parents like other children were. That actually made him feel contented.
"You might not be able to concentrate on your studies next semester. You can enjoy after your middle school exams. I don't care if you go out and play all day after that. But now, you have to listen to me. It's time for you to grow up. Don't let us worry. You said that you don't know what you want to be in the future, and that you haven't chosen a field you want to study yet. Come to the office, spend time there, and study with Shuishui. Maybe you will find something that interests you." Jiang Yuan believed that a child's interest had to be cultivated from a young age.
Jiang Li looked at Shuishui. Jiang Li had seen Shuishui accompanying his father Qian An to the office. He pitied Sister Qian because he felt that she was obligated to go to the office. She was also leaving soon. Jiang Li had a good impression of Shuishui in his heart. He had a deeper impression of her when he accidentally overheard her conversation with his father. He felt very awkward about it, but a few days had passed since then. He knew that he had no reason to feel awkward. He and Shuishui were still young, and the future was uncertain. He knew Sister Qian had a boyfriend now, so he forced himself not to think about it. He was no longer against going to the office with Qian Shuishui. Instead, he was looking forward to it. Suddenly, he felt that his emotions were unpredictable.
Jiang Li agreed, and Jiang Yuan patted his cheeks and smiled. "Let's go eat. You guys go help."
Jiang Yuan slowly stood up and went to the wine cabinet to get a bottle of red wine. He felt that it would be good to end the night with wine.
The dishes were soon served on the table, and everyone gathered to eat. Auntie Jiang picked up some food for Shuishui. "It must have been hard at the office. Actually, the food served in the cafeteria there is not very delicious. It's still better to eat at home. Today, I asked the helper to cook your favorite braised pork and sweet and sour pork ribs. Eat more."
"Thank you, Auntie." Shuishui was excited and ate happily. She was grateful for her stay with the Jiang family, and Uncle Jiang and Auntie Jiang treated her like on of their own children. She wanted to give them gifts as a token of her gratitude.
After a while, after she was full. She drank a bowl of hot soup, which warmed her little body.
"The day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Shuishui, put on the new clothes that I bought for you and join me for the celebration, okay?" Her children did not like going out with her. She would always end up going out alone. They no longer found it enjoyable. Since Shuishui was there with them, Auntie Jiang thought of bringing Shuishui along instead. She felt that it would be easy to tell others that Shuishui was her niece and was like a daughter to her.
Jiang Li shook his head and winked at Shuishui, as if telling her not to agree to his mother's request. The New Year's Eve celebration was too boring for them. He could not let Sister Qian go through it.
Qian Shuishui did not understand what he meant. 'Does he want me to refuse?' she thought.
Auntie Jiang looked at her son. "What are you doing? Drink your soup. Aiya, Shuishui, on New Year's Eve, just accompany me. After that, many people will come to our house to give their greetings. You don't have to walk around much."
"If you need me, I naturally won't refuse," Shuishui answered. She felt that there should be no problem in joining Auntie Jiang. She saw Auntie Jiang's pleading gaze, which was why she agreed. Jiang Li gave Shuishui a look that seemed to say "You're dead meat."