Chapter 228: Winemaker

"Sister, tell me the truth—do you have a chance with Jiang Hai?" Lying on Cindy Clive's large bed, Kama Clive looked at her sister, who was sitting at a desk, gazing at a gold coin. Kama spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction.

"What do you mean by 'chance'?" Cindy Clive responded, a fleeting trace of discomfort crossing her face. She then carefully placed the gold coin Jiang Hai had given her today into her treasure box.

Although the gold coin wasn't particularly valuable, it was the first gift Jiang Hai had given her, so she intended to keep it safe.

The two sisters had enjoyed two meals at Jiang Hai's house that day—lunch and dinner. Due to the presence of many policemen nearby, as Jiang Hai was still being watched, he didn't keep them there too late. After dinner, around 6 PM, he sent them back home. If it had been any later, for their safety, Jiang Hai might have insisted they stay overnight at the manor.

"Sister, you treat me like a child! I'm eighteen already, about to graduate from high school and enter college..." Kama Clive looked at her sister with a mocking expression, as she spoke.

Hearing her sister's words, Cindy Clive couldn't help but realize that Kama had grown up without her noticing. At least, according to the law, she was now old enough to make her own decisions and talk to men like Jiang Hai.

"Well, I can't say there's a 'chance' with Jiang Hai, but I also can't say there's none," Cindy Clive admitted as she gently turned to face her sister. "I do have a good impression of him. Once you get to know him, you'll see that he's genuinely a great person."

"I see," Kama Clive replied, thoughtfully analyzing the situation. "I agree. He seems like a good person. He's a bit innocent-looking, tall, well-built. Though he's not particularly handsome, he has a certain masculinity. And, most importantly, he's wealthy."

As Kama spoke, Cindy's face flushed slightly, and she said quietly, "I can also sense that he... he seems to care about me a lot. But maybe we're both being cautious, so we haven't figured things out completely."

"I knew it! You two are just like this... But really, do you think Jiang Hai is perfect? He's got those ten girls living in his manor—let's set aside Darlene and Marian for a moment. They're his adopted daughters, and it's clear he treats them well. But what about the others? Do you think they have no connection with him?" Kama Clive leaned forward, her tone serious. To her, those girls, especially Afra and the others, were her biggest rivals.

"Well, Afra and the others had tough lives. They were rescued along with Darlene and Marian, but unlike Darlene and Marian, they had been in the water for a long time..." Cindy Clive paused before continuing, "The reason I'm not worried is because of Jiang Hai's personality. You might not know this, but he has certain standards. He might be willing to play around, but if he wants to get married, he'd never choose those girls who worked in that profession."

Cindy smiled as she spoke. As much as she was concerned about Jiang Hai, she was also very particular about the girls around him. She didn't worry about Afra and the others because she knew Jiang Hai's preferences. Jiang Hai, no longer a naive young man in his teens, had no illusions about women who were overly familiar with him. He didn't require his partner to be a virgin, but he did want someone clean and untainted.

"I see... So, you really believe those girls didn't work in that line before?" Kama Clive replied skeptically.

"Do you know something I don't?" Cindy Clive asked with a teasing smile.

"Of course! I'm a pro at noticing these things. You can tell if a girl hasn't 'opened up' yet," Kama Clive said mischievously, but when she saw Cindy turn away, embarrassed, she waved her fist in frustration. "You're so difficult, you know that?"

"Our teacher once said that in the far East, there's a saying: you can see someone's face, but not their heart. I think you should be careful, so I've taken some precautions and arranged a spy for you today!" Kama Clive leaned in closer with a mischievous grin.

"Spy?" Cindy Clive was surprised. When did her sister become so cunning?

"Yes, a spy!" Kama Clive laughed, clearly proud of herself.

The conversation drifted off as the night passed. By 9 AM the next day, two men appeared at Jiang Hai's manor.

Upon meeting them, Jiang Hai's first impression was positive. After shaking hands, he warmly invited them to sit down. "Hello, make yourselves at home, please!"

As they settled into their seats, Jiang Hai went to prepare coffee for them. The two men seemed flattered by his hospitality, and as they accepted the coffee respectfully, they couldn't help but observe Jiang Hai, who, in turn, scrutinized them.

One of the men was older, around 60, with silver-white hair and a slightly wrinkled face. His most striking feature was a very prominent nose—one that Jiang Hai had never seen before in such a large size. The second man, much younger and middle-aged, had blond hair and a serious, almost fierce demeanor, looking more like a soldier than a winemaker.

These two were the men Kama Clive had referred to as her "eyes."

"This must be Mr. Gerard. You look younger than I imagined from the voice on the phone. Based on Miss Kama Clive's introduction, you must be French," Jiang Hai said, smiling as he took a sip of tea.

The older man nodded. "Let me introduce myself first. I'm Dulles-Gerald, though I'm actually a French-American. My grandfather was French, but my family moved to the U.S. when my father was young. I spent some of my youth in France. This is O'Connor Murphy, my assistant, a master of white wine brewing."

Jiang Hai had already gathered some information about them. According to Kama Clive, Dulles-Gerald was a renowned wine master, skilled in every step of wine production. He had received numerous accolades throughout his career and had made a name for himself in the Burgundy region of France, winning 27 gold medals in prestigious competitions. He was well-known in Bordeaux.

Their connection with the Clive family dated back to when Kama Clive's father had studied cooking in France. Dulles-Gerald and Kama's father had bonded over French cuisine and winemaking, forming a lasting friendship. Later, when Kama's father moved to South America and eventually settled in Boston, Dulles-Gerald had also relocated there after his retirement. The reason he was leaving now was due to his recent financial struggles and the allure of Jiang Hai's beautiful estate, which also offered a pleasant environment for vacationing.

O'Connor Murphy, originally from Germany, was an expert in white wine brewing. After working with Dulles-Gerald, he had become his trusted assistant. When he learned his mentor was leaving, he joined him on the journey to Jiang Hai's manor.

Jiang Hai felt satisfied with both men. Gerard's experience and expertise, coupled with Murphy's diligence and knowledge, gave Jiang Hai confidence that his estate's wine would undoubtedly succeed.

He couldn't wait for the wine to be produced and sold successfully!