Chapter 120 : Side Story 4 — Blind date
After looking at the house, Xu Nianshen began figuring out when they could move in. Sometimes Lin Yuejiu noticed him constantly staring at photos of the new place and would curiously ask, “Why do you keep looking at pictures of the house?”
“Because I like looking at them,” he replied.
“You really like this house?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he said, especially imagining living there with her.
Lin Yuejiu beamed with pride. “Looks like my taste is really good.”
“Absolutely. My girlfriend has the best taste,” Xu Nianshen said, planting a kiss on her lips.
Lin Yuejiu giggled and pushed him away. “Hurry downstairs, Uncle and Aunt are waiting for dinner.”
“All right,” Xu Nianshen said, taking her hand as they headed down.
At the dinner table, Xu Nianshen’s father asked, “Yuejiu, are you free this weekend?”
“This weekend?” Lin Yuejiu paused, then answered, “Yes, I’m free.”
“Nothing scheduled at the association either?”
“No, the teacher lets me manage my own time.”
“I see…” Xu’s father nodded thoughtfully.
Lin Yuejiu tilted her head. “Uncle Xu, is there something you want to ask me?”
Xu’s father looked a bit embarrassed, so Xu’s mother spoke for him. “Your uncle’s friends are hosting a banquet this weekend. I heard you’re very skilled with the violin, so they’d like to hear you play.”
“Actually, they want to hear you perform a duet with Nianshen. He’ll definitely agree, but they weren’t sure if you’d be available. Since both of you are well-known now, one of you alone would be fine, but together they were afraid they couldn’t afford to invite you. So they asked me to check.”
Lin Yuejiu smiled. “I’m free. I can do it.”
“That’s great,” Xu’s father said, smiling.
During dinner, Xu Nianshen’s brother spoke up. Looking at his quiet brother, he teased, “Dad, how can you be so sure Nianshen will agree? What if he doesn’t? You know, he’s always had his own ideas.”
“Yuejiu agreed already. If I can get Yuejiu, then Nianshen will play,” Xu’s father shrugged.
Xu Nianshen glanced at him calmly, almost casually. “By the way, Dad, my brother is 27 this year, right?”
Xu’s father raised an eyebrow, glaring at him silently, clearly asking what he meant.
Xu Nianshen ignored the look. “27 and still single?”
Xu’s mother smacked her forehead. “Exactly! Xu, you’re 27 and don’t even have a girlfriend. Look at your brother—he already has someone. And you? 27 years old and still nothing. Pathetic, right, dear?”
She turned to Xu’s father, who nodded. “Usually people worry about the younger ones, not the older ones. But in our family, it’s the opposite.”
Xu’s brother poked at his rice with his chopsticks. “That’s because Yuejiu grew up with Nianshen. They’re childhood sweethearts with a deep bond. Isn’t it natural for them to be together? I don’t have that.”
Xu’s mother asked, “Then why didn’t you try to find your own childhood sweetheart?”
Xu’s brother was instantly at a loss for words.
“Forget it. You might not even find one. So I’ll find someone for you—you’ll go on a blind date,” she decided.
His protests were immediate. “Mom…”
“Calling me mom won’t help—you’re set up for this date.”
“…”
Lin Yuejiu quietly finished her meal, secretly wishing her future brother-in-law good luck.
Xu Nianshen smirked, satisfied with the outcome. After dinner, he gave Xu a completely innocent-looking smile as he got up.
Xu’s brother stared. “This guy is way too petty. I just got teased a little and he gifts me with… this?! What a vicious man!”
Later, Xu’s mother immediately gathered photos and profiles of wealthy young ladies and even brought Lin Yuejiu over to help pick.
Lin Yuejiu politely declined. “I’m not very good at judging people.”
Xu’s mother pulled Lin Yuejiu over to sit beside her. “Oh, don’t worry. We’re all women here. Whatever they have, you have too. And they don’t even have boyfriends—you already have one!”
Lin Yuejiu could only sigh and sit down, looking at the photos with Xu’s mother.
“Auntie, do you know what type of girl Xu Ge likes? That way we might find someone faster.”
“He hasn’t told me.”
“Do you have any preferences?”
“Me? Of course I hope he finds a daughter-in-law like you,” Xu’s mother said.
Lin Yuejiu froze. “…Huh? That doesn’t sound right.”
Xu’s mother quickly realized her wording. “Of course I don’t mean a second you! I just mean someone with a similar personality, someone as likable as you.”
Lin Yuejiu nodded. “How about looks?”
“Looks? Doesn’t matter. Our family is already quite good-looking; we don’t need another pretty one.”
“That works. Sounds good,” Lin Yuejiu said, pointing at the photos she was flipping through.
“Okay, let’s have him meet this girl first. If he’s interested, great; if not, we move on to the next one.”
“Mm.”
When Xu Ge was informed that a candidate had been chosen for a blind date, he completely lost it. “Mom, I don’t want to go on a blind date!”
“You’re 27 and still not dating? I’m not saying you have to marry immediately. I just want you to meet someone, see if you get along. If you like her, you can get to know her; if not, move on. There are plenty of girls—surely there’s one you’ll like.”
“Wait! Plenty of girls? I thought there was only one for me?!”
“Those are just backups. I’m worried you might not like the first one,” his mother said.
“Mom…”
“All right, it’s decided. I’ve already talked to her family; they agreed. That’s it, end of story.”
Xu Ge slumped in his office chair, staring at the ceiling in utter despair.
The secretary knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
The secretary placed some files on the desk and cautiously asked, “Mr. Xu, are you being forced into a blind date?”
“…Were you eavesdropping?” Xu Ge asked.
“I was about to come in anyway. Your door wasn’t fully closed, so I overheard.”
Xu Ge waved him off. “Mm.”
“I have a good solution since you clearly don’t want this date,” the secretary said.
“What solution?”
“Two options: one, you find someone to pretend to be your girlfriend and scare off the girl; two, you and the girl pretend to be together, fool the parents, just for show.”
Xu Ge’s eyes lit up. “Good idea. Double your salary this month.”
The secretary smiled faintly, quietly proud of his contribution.
When Xu Ge returned home, Lin Yuejiu happened to be in the living room and asked how the blind date went. Xu Ge looked at her and suddenly smiled.
Lin Yuejiu leaned back instinctively. “…That smile is suspicious.”
The next day, at the restaurant for the blind date, Xu Ge held Lin Yuejiu’s hand and told the girl, “Sorry, I actually have a girlfriend. I just haven’t had the courage to tell my parents.”
The girl looked shocked and was about to respond when a familiar male voice interrupted, “Excuse me.”
All three turned to see Xu Nianshen calmly walking over. Lin Yuejiu instinctively released Xu Ge’s hand, and Xu Nianshen took hers instead. “Sorry, this is my girlfriend.”
“I have something to do. I’ll leave now. Oh, and I’m his brother—this is his sister-in-law. Goodbye.”
Xu Nianshen walked away with Lin Yuejiu.
Xu Ge sat there, speechless. “…!”
