At twenty-seven, Shen Shiyu is in his third year running his family’s multinational business. He never shows mercy at the negotiating table. He flies to Bordeaux to acquire a prestigious winery that has been in business for more than a century.
At twenty-four, Li Yan is the youngest son of the Valmont family. He has two names: Léon in French, and Li Yan, the Chinese name his mother gave him. He grew up among the vineyards with his grandfather. Mild-mannered and seemingly without a sharp edge, he still refuses to back down an inch when it comes to something he believes in.
They dislike each other from the moment they meet. Shen Shiyu thinks he’s a spoiled heir in name only, while Li Yan finds him impossibly cold.
But there’s no avoiding working together. During their three-month transition period, they go from clashing at every turn to gradually seeing the sides of each other hidden beneath the surface. Shen Shiyu discovers that Li Yan is no pretty face: he works on the accounts late into the night and would rather take a loss than leave anything unclear. Li Yan discovers that Shen Shiyu may be sharp-tongued, but he always steps in to shield him from trouble when no one is looking.
Their feelings take root quietly, but neither of them says a word.
Then the obstacles arrive. The Shen family wants a marriage alliance for business, and the Valmont family has already arranged a suitable match for Li Yan. Each of them shoulders the burden in silence, each thinking they’re doing what’s best for the other.
One never speaks, and the other keeps waiting. By the time the truth finally comes to light, what stands between them is no longer just distance. It’s the promises they’ve each made and the families they each carry on their backs.
This isn’t a story about who’s right or wrong. It’s a story about how they both waited too long to speak.
Theme: A love where both choose each other
