Chapter 46 The Scent of Tea Trees

"Unnie, are you writing an essay to someone?"

Finishing her afternoon training session, Kim Minjeong looked at Yoo Jimin, whose vest was already soaked through in patches.

Her graceful curves were tightly hugged by the white vest, prompting Kim Minjeong to instinctively glance down at herself for comparison before letting out a sigh of defeat.

Without even bothering to take a shower and change clothes, she sat cross-legged on the floor, editing a long text message in a KakaoTalk chat room.

"An essay?"

Yoo Jimin was startled for a moment. Realizing what was meant, she wrinkled her nose in feigned annoyance and raised a fist at Kim Minjeong, her tone carrying a hint of a threat.

"In your eyes, am I really such a sentimental person?"

"I just think you're quite emotional, so writing a long essay fits you."

The corner of Yoo Jimin's mouth twitched slightly to the left. She let out a muffled hum and turned the chat interface toward Kim Minjeong.

"I'm merely recording my thoughts in fragments."

On Yoo Jimin's phone screen, the account she was having a one-sided conversation with was named "Another Cup of Milk Tea."

Since she clearly remembered that Yoo Jimin's own ID was "Rebellious Milk Tea," and connecting it to the current scene, Kim Minjeong arrived at a certain conclusion.

Was Yoo Jimin actually sending messages to her own secret alternative account, just to record some dull musings that nobody would care to read?

"In March 2023, Peninsula Real Estate was hit by a scandal involving delayed payments to suppliers."

"Amid the downturn in the overall housing market, Peninsula Real Estate's stock price immediately hit its lower limit, and the prices of its real estate projects subsequently dropped to historic lows."

"After external capital injection revived the company, Peninsula Real Estate bought back its shares and recently stabilized its stock price. The properties purchased independently by Peninsula Finance and other affiliated companies are also continuously appreciating in value."

"Where on earth did that external capital injection come from?"

"Unnie, I can really tell lately that you've become interested in business."

Kim Minjeong curled her lips, stood up, and left Yoo Jimin alone in the practice room. Before stepping out, she didn't forget to turn back and add a reminder:

"Remember to take a shower on time. You're someone who sweats easily; it won't be good if you catch a cold later."

Cared for by Kim Minjeong, Yoo Jimin, still absorbed in sending her message, nodded and gave a perfunctory, drawn-out response: "Got it..."

Actually, after standing out in the cold wind a few nights ago, she had already caught a mild cold.

Speaking of which, Yoo Jimin suddenly remembered that the hoodie she was currently wearing was the one she had borrowed from Hsia Xing that very night.

At that time, she had called Hsia Xing back and made him wait with her for a taxi.

Because taxis were extremely hard to hail at that late hour, and unable to bear the biting late-autumn chill, she had grabbed the hem of Hsia Xing's hoodie.

"I'm cold."

"I can tell, hiss..."

Feling a sudden gust of cold wind slip into her hoodie, Hsia Xing lowered his gaze to see Yoo Jimin's rather small hand clutching his garment, her fingers inadvertently brushing against the muscles of his waist, ice-cold.

"Lend it to me to wear."

Her tone lacked the polite courtesy usually expected when borrowing something; instead, it carried a matter-of-fact composure.

"No."

"You're even stingy with a hoodie? What are we going to do about our collaboration then? Achoo..."

"My family uses tea-tree-scented laundry detergent. Remember not to wash it with any other scent."

The grey hoodie was shoved into Yoo Jimin's hands. The moment she slipped it on, it retained the previous owner's body temperature, making it wonderfully warm.

Yoo Jimin tucked her hands inside the sleeves and glanced sideways at the man who remained entirely unfazed in the cold wind.

Isn't he just a bit too meticulous about details? Does he really have a girlfriend?

The wallpaper of Shin Yuna she had previously glimpsed on his phone screen flashed through her mind, and Yoo Jimin vaguely felt the probability of that assumption skyrocketing.

"Hiss... a bit cold."

Since practice had ended, the company—currently cutting down on electricity expenses—would automatically shut off the power and heating in practice rooms without scheduled lessons.

In the unheated practice room, Yoo Jimin once again felt a chill creeping over her.

Casually slipping on the grey hoodie she had brought along, the oversized garment gave her the distinct feeling of wearing her boyfriend's clothes.

It was undeniably handsome. Hsia Xing's taste in clothes... or rather, his girlfriend's taste in clothes was truly quite good.

Yet, whenever she remembered that this combination had been chosen by his girlfriend, a very strange sensation began to spread in Yoo Jimin's heart.

Back then, she had genuinely been freezing—yes, that was at least the primary reason—which was why she had asked Hsia Xing for his jacket.

But now, she found herself somewhat reluctant to wear this hoodie.

She wanted to take it off, yet it felt too cold.

Besides... that tea-tree laundry detergent was simply too hard to find. She had searched online everywhere without finding anything similar, and the supermarket downstairs didn't carry that particular scent either.

Should she just... not wash it?

-----------------

"Xingcan, it's been a real pleasure getting to know you."

Accompanied by Hsia Xing, Zhang Zhiqiang got into the commercial vehicle heading for the hotel.

Before parting ways, he leaned in closer, patting Hsia Xing's arm while closing the physical distance between them.

Hsia Xing immediately understood and leaned down to listen to Zhang Zhiqiang's whisper.

"Peninsula Food still looks too big to fail on the surface. But whether it's the supply chain or internal management, there are quite a few problems."

"It needs someone to carry out reforms. Judging from our interaction today, I think you're the right person for the job."

"But to reform, you need weapons and ammunition in your hands. Whenever you need anything, just give me a call."

"Of course, I'm just speaking casually. See you later!"

A business card was pressed into Hsia Xing's hand. Watching the commercial vehicle slowly pull away, Hsia Xing slipped the card into his suit pocket.

Standing quietly behind him, Myoui Mina also watched the vehicle depart.

She turned her gaze sideways to observe the young man standing in a daze under the setting sun, and gently poked his arm with her finger.

"How did the meetings go today?"

"Did you also feel like they were targeting me today? It felt a bit like they were vetting me."

As Hsia Xing recalled the afternoon meeting and turned his face to look at Myoui Mina in return, she quickly averted her gaze, pretending to look down at her watch.

She always usually maintained a very mature aura, even showing the poised, commanding demeanor of an older career woman handling a younger man during their very first meeting.

Yet, it seemed that as they grew increasingly familiar with one another, Hsia Xing was gradually discovering her much more girlish side.

"Throughout the entire meeting, despite it supposedly being about procurement coordination, Zhang Zhiqiang and his team kept asking about other areas of our company's business."

"They kept probing for my personal ideas, too, leaving the entire procurement department ignored off to the side."

Hsia Xing stepped closer to Myoui Mina and voiced his suspicion: "Did you introduce them to me?"

"Huh?"

Her gaze didn't know whether to look up or down, forcing her to expose her fair neck as she turned her head to the other side.

"No, how could I possibly know them?"

"Oh, I was just asking casually."

Hsia Xing was about to say something further when his phone rang.

Shin Yuna's vibrant, enthusiastic voice came through the receiver:

"My car is almost here. Get ready to come downstairs."