The Sterling-Li "wine-tasting" trip was, in fact, a thinly veiled hostage negotiation. Eleanor had chartered a private vineyard tour, complete with a sommelier who doubled as a marriage counselor and a photographer "coincidentally" skilled in engagement shoots.
Sophia arrived in a neon pantsuit (Eleanor's "casual chic" directive), her hair a vertical ponytail now accessorized with grapevine clips. Yanchen, in a bespoke suit the color of repressed rage, greeted her with a nod. "Mother's tracking our location. You?"
Sophia tapped her earring. "GPS-enabled. Mom's betting we'll 'stumble upon' a chapel."
**Live Chat (Covertly Streamed by the Sommelier):**
[THIS IS THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD.]
[I'D WATCH THEM FILE TAXES.]
[ISABELLA'S STREAMING A MELTDOWN RN.]
The sommelier, a man named Pierre with a suspiciously perfect French accent, poured a 1945 Château Mouton Rothschild. "Notes of rebellion… hints of *matrimonial destiny*."
Sophia sipped, then spat into a spittoon with the grace of a cobra. "Tastes like manipulation."
Yanchen smirked. "Mother says you're… *spirited*. A challenge."
"Tell Mother I'll challenge her to a duel. Swords or stock portfolios—her choice."
**Isabella's Meltdown (Sponsored by Rage)**
Across town, Isabella's "intimate" Q&A stream devolved into chaos.
Fan: *"How do you feel about Sophia and Yanchen's vineyard date?"*
Isabella's eye twitched. "I… prioritize *authentic* connections over… *corporate collabs*."
Fan: *"But didn't you date Lucian for a merger?"*
The stream ended abruptly.
**Back at the Vineyard**
Eleanor and Mrs. Li watched via drone feed, their headsets synced to Pierre's mic. "Kiss her!" Mrs. Li hissed.
"*Patience*," Eleanor murmured. "Let the Cabernet work."
Sophia, sensing parental interference, grabbed Yanchen's arm. "Play along. *Now.*"
They stumbled into a barrel room, Sophia's ponytail snagging on a fermentation tank. "*Act enchanted!*" she hissed.
Yanchen leaned in, his whisper a threat. "If you ruin my suit, I'll donate your hair to science."
**Live Chat:**
[THIS IS BETTER THAN NETFLIX.]
[THE SEXUAL TENSION COULD POWER A CITY.]
[IS THAT A WEDDING ARCH IN THE BACKGROUND?!]
The grand finale? A "spontaneous" fireworks display spelling *LI + STERLING* in the sky. Sophia responded by "accidentally" setting a grape press on fire.
"Oops," she deadpanned as firefighters swarmed. "*Symbolic*, right?"
**Epilogue: The Aftermath**
Eleanor's text: *"Progress?"*
Sophia: *"Burned down their vineyard. You're welcome."*
Yanchen's text: *"Mother wants a second date."*
Sophia: *"Tell her I'm arson-curious."*
Alexander, reviewing the footage: "My girl's a *natural*!"
Isabella, inhaling a tub of ice cream: "I'll show them *arson*."
---
**Next Chapter Teaser:**
The vineyard fire goes viral. Isabella launches a pyrotechnics line. Lucian invests in fireproof suits. And the sommelier gets his own spin-off: *Sips & Schemes*.