Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Boss, Lin Zhi As soon as these words fell, Ye Qiuju was startled. "Have you thought this through?" Although Lin Meiyan had mentioned before that she wanted her help finding a match, she had noticed the relationship between Yanyan and President Yu lately. She kept feeling like maybe old flames would rekindle. So, she hadn't really taken the matchmaking matter to heart. "I've thought it through." Lin Meiyan raised her eyes, her almond-shaped eyes now filled with resolve. "Rather than staying in this ambiguous state, it's better to make a clean break." If this continued, she was afraid she would betray the version of herself who had chosen to leave. Ye Qiuju looked at her for a long while before murmuring, "As long as you won't regret it." Lin Meiyan didn't answer that question. She had never been a clever person—not before, and not now. Seeing that her spirits were low, Ye Qiuju took the initiative to list her strengths. "Your circumstances are good now. You have a house, a skill, an income, and a daughter. These are all your advantages." "If I really do find you a match, these candidates will definitely be better than the ones from before." Lin Meiyan paused, and it took her a moment before she said, "I want a Zhaozhui." Ye Qiuju's head shot up. "What did you say?" "I want a Zhaozhui." This was something Lin Meiyan had thought about for a long time. "My father only has my sister and me. My sister married out, and now she's almost completely cut off from us." "That means my father only has me as his daughter." "In that situation, if I marry out, then no one will be left to look after the Lin family." "So what I want is a Zhaozhui." She looked up into Ye Qiuju's eyes. "Auntie, the Lin family's lineage needs to be carried on." So, there was no way she could have a relationship with Yu Jianghai. What she wanted was a Zhaozhui, and Yu Jianghai was the precious jewel of the Yu family. At this, Ye Qiuju was rendered speechless. To a certain extent, she felt that what Lin Meiyan said was right. She had inherited the Lin family's house and her father's culinary skills. If she married out, it would essentially be a betrayal to her father. Because once Lin Meiyan married out and became someone else's daughter-in-law, the children she bore would carry another family's surname. Then she would have no connection to the Lin family at all. Ye Qiuju said, "Let me think about this. This is too big a matter." "I want to discuss it with your uncle." Lin Meiyan nodded. That night, Ye Qiuju couldn't sleep, so she told Gu Kaihua about it. When Gu Kaihua heard it, he sat up with a rustle. "Yanyan wants a Zhaozhui?" "Yes, that's what she's thinking." Gu Kaihua let out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair, feeling like his brain was about to grow a wrinkle. After a long moment, he spoke honestly. "From my brother-in-law's perspective, I support Yanyan's decision to have a Zhaozhui." "The Lin family only has her left now. If she marries out, then there'll be nothing left." "From that angle, a Zhaozhui is actually the better option." "Just treat Yanyan like a son—bring in a wife to help share the burden. That works well too." Ye Qiuju hummed in agreement. "That's what I was thinking too." "But—" she murmured, "if Yanyan has a Zhaozhui, then there's no possibility between her and President Yu anymore." Yu Jianghai had a large family and vast business, and as the boss of Jianghai Dicai, how could he possibly agree to a Ruzhui? "In that case, Yanyan and President Yu will be completely done with each other." Gu Kaihua was silent for a moment, then pinched his throbbing, aching temples. "That's probably her intention." Otherwise, she wouldn't have agreed to the matchmaking. The two exchanged a look, both seeing the helplessness in the other's eyes. Still, they decided to respect Lin Meiyan's personal wishes. Ye Qiuju quickly went to find a matchmaker to help make introductions. But as soon as she mentioned a Zhaozhui, the matchmakers who had been enthusiastically offering introductions immediately lost their spirit. "Your Meiyan isn't some fairy, you know. At her age, with a child in tow, and she wants a Zhaozhui? Isn't that a joke?" "There are plenty of vagrants under the overpass—go ask how many of them would be willing to come as a Ruzhui." Those words were truly harsh, and they made Ye Qiuju so angry she nearly toppled over. She planted her hands on her hips and launched into a tirade. "Pah! If you can't talk properly, crawl back into your mother's belly and gestate for another ten years. Don't let your mother push out your placenta while keeping the brain inside to come out as crap." Those words were so convoluted that even the matchmaker had to think for a while before she realized she was being insulted. She was furious too, but by the time she chased after her, Ye Qiuju was already gone. With no outlet for her anger, she had no choice but to let it go. After leaving the matchmaker's house, Ye Qiuju ran through her options in her mind and headed to the Wu family's place at Simenkou. The Wu family was considered one of the better-off households in the area. They had also watched Lin Meiyan grow up. As soon as she heard about the matchmaking, Auntie Wu perked up immediately. "I've been wanting to introduce someone to her for a while now, but she never agreed." "This time she's agreed." Ye Qiuju hummed in acknowledgment and briefly explained the situation. Auntie Wu shook her head after hearing this. "That won't do. The matter of Meiyan wanting a Zhaozhui—you can't bring it up, and neither can I. Let them discuss it themselves at the matchmaking table." Ye Qiuju frowned. "If the matchmaker brings up the Zhaozhui matter, this match will definitely fall through. But if they meet face-to-face at the table and talk about it themselves, there's still room to turn things around, whether it goes well or not." "So we keep it a secret for now?" "Keep it a secret." Auntie Wu began rummaging through her mental list of eligible young men. "I know one who stayed on at Jiangda after graduation, working in the logistics office. A steady iron rice bowl job, and he's decent-looking too. Only catch is, he has a son." "Why don't you ask Meiyan if she'd like to meet him?" Actually, Ye Qiuju frowned the moment she heard those conditions. Without even realizing it, she had subconsciously compared this prospective match to Yu Jianghai. Compared to Yu Jianghai, these conditions fell far short. Auntie Wu saw she wasn't speaking and knew she hadn't taken a liking to him. She took Ye Qiuju's hand and sighed. "Qiuju, let me speak frankly between us. Meiyan is beautiful, and she has Linji and knows how to make money—but don't forget, she had a daughter out of wedlock. That still sets her apart from an unmarried young woman." This wasn't her belittling Lin Meiyan, just stating a fact. Ye Qiuju paused, then let out a soft sigh. "Then let's go with this one for now." "You go contact the man's side first and get a photo, so our Meiyan can take a look." Auntie Wu gave a cheerful "ai" and agreed readily. That evening, Ye Qiuju told Lin Meiyan about the matchmaking prospect. Lin Meiyan wasn't in high spirits—she was tidying things up. Upon hearing this, she gave a low "mm" in acknowledgment. "Let's see the photo tomorrow first." Ye Qiuju nodded. "Don't worry. I've filtered this match for you—he definitely won't be some ugly duckling." Lin Meiyan smiled with her lips pressed together, her expression gentle and her voice soft. "Auntie, I trust you." Early the next morning. The mung bean soup barrel had just been set up at the entrance of Linji when Auntie Wu came hurrying over with quick, short steps. Since she was playing matchmaker—and for Lin Meiyan, no less—she had specially changed into a clean dacron shirt today, slicked her hair back neatly, and carried an old leather bag under her arm. Anyone could tell she'd come on serious business. Gu Kaihua was squatting by the door peeling garlic. Seeing her getup, he immediately stood up to greet her. "Auntie Wu's here?" Auntie Wu gave an "ai" and smiled warmly. "Where's Meiyan?" "Out back slicing the braised dishes." Gu Kaihua turned and called inside. "Yanyan, Auntie Wu's here." At that call, Ye Qiuju poked her head out from the back kitchen first. "Come in, come in, hurry." Auntie Wu nodded. As she entered, she reached out and patted Qiaoqiao's little head. "Qiaoqiao, do you recognize me?" Qiaoqiao was squatting on a small stool, drawing grids on the ground with a little stick. Only after her head was patted did she look up and call out crisply, "Grandma Wu." "Eh." Auntie Wu smiled even more happily. Lin Meiyan came out wiping her hands. Today she wore a light gray short-sleeved top with black trousers, her hair loosely pinned back with a clip, making her face look all the more fair, clean, and gentle. The moment Auntie Wu saw her, her eyes brightened. She praised, "Meiyan just gets prettier and prettier." She had to admit—some people were simply blessed by heaven, and the Lin Meiyan before her was likely among the best of them. Lin Meiyan finished wiping her hands dry, walked over, and called out, "Auntie Wu." Auntie Wu immediately patted the seat beside her. "Come, sit down and let's talk." Ye Qiuju untied her apron and sat down as well. Once they were seated, Gu Kaihua stopped wiping the tables. He stood off to the side with his rag, looking like he was ready to listen in. Auntie Wu glanced at him and scolded with a laugh, "Old Gu, are you matchmaking for Meiyan yourself?" Gu Kaihua said with complete confidence, "I'm just helping to keep an eye on things." "Keep an eye on what?" Ye Qiuju looked at him with some disdain. "With your eyesight, you can't even tell garlic from scallions." Gu Kaihua, "..." Listening to them bicker, Lin Meiyan actually felt calmer than she had the night before. Seeing the atmosphere lighten, Auntie Wu opened her old leather bag and carefully took out a photograph. It was one of those common black-and-white one-inch photos, square-shaped, which she had tucked between the pages of an old book, pressed perfectly flat. "Take a look at him first." Auntie Wu handed the photo over. "Your match is named He Wenbin, thirty-four years old, a graduate of Jiangda. He stayed on afterward and works in the logistics office at Jiangda, managing a few people under him." "His family conditions are pretty good too—both parents are still alive, and he currently lives in Jiangda Jiashuyuan." At that point. Ye Qiuju and Gu Kaihua exchanged a glance, both feeling that this match had good credentials. Young, highly educated, and with a respectable job. They couldn't help but take the matter a bit more seriously. "With such good conditions, why is he out matchmaking at this age?" Ye Qiuju couldn't help asking. Auntie Wu let out an "ai." "His previous wife passed away, leaving behind a six-year-old son, who's currently being looked after by the grandparents." She rarely offered praise, adding, "This one looks proper, and his temperament seems steady—not the type to loaf around." Lin Meiyan looked down at the photograph. The man in it wore a white shirt, his hair neatly combed. His features weren't particularly striking, but they were indeed clean-cut. In the photo, the man had a pair of black-framed glasses perched on his nose, giving him a scholarly air. Gu Kaihua leaned in to take a look as well, offering her assessment first. "He doesn't look bad, I'll give him that." Ye Qiuju nodded. "He's passable, really." —Though neither of them said it, he was no match for Yu Jianghai. Qiaoqiao had been crouching by the door drawing hopscotch squares, but when she heard the word "photo," she quietly shuffled over. She was short and had to strain to see, so she gripped the edge of the table and stood on her tiptoes. Lin Meiyan casually pressed the photo down a little lower so she could see it too. Qiaoqiao stared at the photo for a moment, then said in a small voice, "This uncle looks like a teacher." Auntie Wu chuckled. "What makes you say that?" Qiaoqiao gestured earnestly. "He looks like he'd make you sit up straight." Just like Teacher Li at the kindergarten. Only his presence was a bit sharper and more imposing. At that, everyone around the table burst into laughter. Gu Kaihua looked more carefully. "She's right, you know. With those glasses on, he really does look like one." Lin Meiyan curved her lips slightly, though the smile was faint. She set the photo back on the table and asked softly, "Auntie Wu, does he know about my situation?" "He does." Auntie Wu nodded immediately. "He knows you have a daughter, and he knows you run your own shop now." "I made a point of telling him that Linji is the old family brand your father left behind, and that you're someone who knows how to manage a household and isn't afraid of hard work." She paused there, then added, "He said he doesn't mind." Ye Qiuju chimed in from the side. "If he's willing to meet knowing all that, at least he's not the type to bolt the moment he hears." Lin Meiyan gave a soft "mm." Auntie Wu studied her expression—calm, giving nothing away about whether she was satisfied—and continued, "One more thing: He Wenbin is a university graduate. He's better with words and conduct than most." "He works in the logistics office at Jiangda now. He handles supplies and various campus arrangements. When it's busy, it's busy, but when it's slow, he has time for family." Gu Kaihua felt herself relax a little at that. At least he wasn't some idle drifter or a smooth talker with nothing to back it up. Lin Meiyan didn't rush to respond. Instead, she turned and pulled a small notebook from behind the counter. It was small, its cover worn white, the corners slightly curled. Gu Kaihua blinked in surprise. "Yanyan, you keep records for a blind date?" Lin Meiyan's expression was calm. "Not records." "Then what?" "Notes on people." She said it with complete seriousness, even pulling a pencil from behind her ear and writing a few characters in the notebook. He Wenbin, thirty-four, university graduate, Jiangda logistics office, widowed, one son. Qiaoqiao was leaning on the table watching, eyes bright. "Mom, is this your blind-date notebook?" Lin Meiyan's pen paused. Auntie Wu burst out laughing. "Oh my, that's a good name for it." Ye Qiuju couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Who meets someone and writes them down in a notebook first thing?" Lin Meiyan capped the pencil, her voice soft. "Writing it down keeps things clear." "So I don't mix anyone up later." At that, Auntie Wu was momentarily taken aback, then couldn't help but look at her a few more times. She'd always thought Lin Meiyan was simply pretty, skilled with her hands, and soft-tempered. Now she realized—this girl was sharp. For her, a blind date wasn't about a fluttering heart or girlish dreams. It was about choosing. Choosing a path forward for herself and her child. Auntie Wu snapped back to the moment and asked, "So... are you going to meet him?" Lin Meiyan looked down at the photo, then at the few characters in her notebook. After a moment, she said quietly, "I'll meet him." Auntie Wu slapped her thigh in delight. "Then I'll go give him the answer right away." She paused, then probed, "How about three days from now?" "His unit is only free that morning, and he can squeeze out time at noon." Lin Meiyan nodded. "That works." Auntie Wu brightened immediately, brimming with a sense of accomplishment, and rattled off, "I'll set the place at Jiangda Jiaogong Shitang." "Second floor, by the window—quiet, respectable, and the crowd there is all university people." "If the conversation goes well, Wenbin can even give you a tour of the campus." "I'll drop you off first, then go fetch him." Ye Qiuju responded from the side, "Sounds good." Gu Kaihua couldn't help asking, "Is his son coming?" "No." Auntie Wu shook her head. "First meeting—what would a kid be doing there?" Then, as if something occurred to her, she turned specifically to Lin Meiyan and instructed, "Meiyan, don't wear your work clothes that day." "With your looks, once you tidy up a bit, you'll knock people off their feet." Lin Meiyan felt a little awkward at the comment and gave a low "mm" in response. Auntie Wu left, satisfied now that things were settled. The moment she was gone, Gu Kaihua immediately picked up the photograph again for another look. "I can't help but think this fellow looks a bit shrewd." Ye Qiuju snatched the photo away. "Take a few less looks, why don't you?" "You haven't even met him yet, and you can already tell whether he's shrewd or not?" Gu Kaihua muttered under his breath, "Aren't I just trying to vet him for Yanyan's sake?" Lin Meiyan didn't respond to that. She simply tucked the photograph back into the book and slipped it into her notebook. Qiaoqiao watched her string of movements and asked softly, "Mommy, do you like that uncle?" Lin Meiyan paused. "I haven't met him yet, so I can't say whether I like him or not." "Then why are you still going?" "Because I have to go take a look." Qiaoqiao nodded, half understanding. She didn't really want her mommy to go see another uncle. But she also knew that her mommy was sad inside. If going to take a look could make her mommy a little happier, then maybe it wasn't so bad after all. So she thought it over and said seriously, "Then Mommy should go take a look." "But if that uncle isn't good, then don't want him." Qiaoqiao thought to herself, as long as he wasn't that scumbag, meeting him wouldn't hurt. Anyway, her mommy wouldn't agree in the end. Because there wasn't a single man in the world who would allow himself to be a Ruzhui. Let alone a man with good conditions, like He Wenbin. Gu Kaihua chuckled from the side. "Oho, our Qiaoqiao sure knows how to pick." Qiaoqiao puffed out her chest. "I'm helping Mommy look." Lin Meiyan reached out and pinched her little cheek, saying nothing. Over the next two days, Linji opened for business as usual. But for Lin Meiyan, it seemed like there was suddenly one more important matter in her days. During the day, she sliced braised meats, greeted customers, checked accounts, and kept the books, so busy her feet barely touched the ground. But at night, once things quieted down, her gaze would involuntarily drift to that little notebook. Tucked inside the notebook was a black-and-white photograph. The man in it had neat, even features and a calm, composed expression. He was completely different from Yu Jianghai. That man, even without saying a word, stood there cold and stern, aloof and sharp—one look and you wouldn't dare get close. But He Wenbin looked steady. How to put it? He was a bit like a cup of lukewarm water. Plain, mild, and gentle—seemingly more suited for everyday life. Just then, Ye Qiuju came upstairs carrying the brewed Chinese medicine and happened to see her looking at the photograph. She leaned against the doorframe and asked, "Having regrets?" Lin Meiyan closed the notebook and shook her head. "No." "Then what are you looking at?" Lin Meiyan paused for a long while before speaking softly. "I was just thinking about what an ordinary person's life should really look like." She and Qiaoqiao had never really lived an ordinary life. A mother, a father, a child—forming a complete family. Ye Qiuju didn't respond to that, because she couldn't say either. For someone like her, finding a person with decent conditions, getting married, having children, and living smoothly—that was an ordinary life. But for Lin Meiyan, the word "ordinary" was harder than for anyone else. Before they knew it, the third day arrived. Early that morning, Ye Qiuju had turned the wardrobe upside down. "This one won't do—the color's too dark." "This one won't work either—it looks like you're going to a meeting." "And this one—the collar's all washed out. What are you going to wear that out for?" Lin Meiyan stood nearby, wooden comb still in hand, caught between laughter and tears from all the fussing. "Auntie, it's just meeting someone." "What do you mean, 'just meeting someone'?" Ye Qiuju glared at her. "This is your first proper blind date." "You should at least dress decently." Gu Kaihua sat outside, wolfing down Reganmian with sesame paste smeared all over his mouth. He poked his head in at the sound of that. "Right—don't let them think our family's shabby." After much picking and choosing, they finally settled on a moon-white dress. It was one Lin Meiyan had made years ago—the style wasn't novel, but it was clean and the waist was well fitted. Lin Meiyan didn't pin up her hair either. She simply tied it loosely at the back of her head, revealing a stretch of fair, slender neck, like a white swan. She hadn't done much to her face either—just washed it clean and applied a bit of face cream. But just standing there like that, she was striking enough. Gu Kaihua took one look, froze for a moment, then grinned wide. "Just like your mother when she was young." The moment the words left his mouth, he froze again himself. The room fell silent for a beat. Ye Qiuju was the first to react, jabbing him with her elbow. "If you can't talk, then shut up." Gu Kaihua rubbed his nose sheepishly. Lin Meiyan didn't say anything—she just bent down to pick up the little notebook from the table. She'd brought it along today too. Gu Kaihua saw it and laughed again. "You're really bringing that?" Lin Meiyan was perfectly calm. "Better to bring it." "At least I'll know what was said, so I can keep track." Ye Qiuju couldn't help but laugh. "This isn't a blind date—this is you going to audit accounts." Qiaoqiao sat on the edge of the bed, little feet swinging back and forth, staring at Lin Meiyan for a long time. Finally, she said in her crisp, clear voice, "Mommy looks so pretty today." Lin Meiyan walked over, bent down, and kissed her on the cheek. "Then Mommy will go meet the uncle in the photo, okay?" Qiaoqiao pursed her lips and thought for a moment before reluctantly nodding. "Alright then." "Mommy, go ahead." "If Mom doesn't like it, come back early." "Mm." "And don't let anyone fool you." Lin Meiyan was amused by her, patted her head, and said, "Okay." Seeing her smile, Qiaoqiao's eyes curved in response, but that hint of a smile didn't last long. Because the sound of a car pulling up soon came from outside—a sharp screech that was hard to miss. Gu Kaihua glanced toward the door and let out a surprised "Huh? Isn't that Secretary Shen's car?" The smile on Lin Meiyan's face faltered slightly. Before she could say anything, Secretary Shen had already gotten out of the car, carrying a brown paper package. He was in even more of a hurry than last time—by the time he came through the door, even his collar was slightly askew. "Youth Lin." He called out as soon as he entered. But after that single call, he froze, because today's Lin Meiyan looked very different from usual. She stood by the counter, her moon-white dress making her look fresh and neat, her hair combed tidily, a small bag in her hand. She didn't look like she was heading to the kitchen to work. She looked like... she was going out on business. Secretary Shen didn't react at first. "You're—" Gu Kaihua was about to say something, but a look from Ye Qiuju made him hold his tongue. They were all in agreement to keep it a secret! They weren't going to tell anyone that Lin Meiyan was going on a blind date today. Their plan was sound enough, but unfortunately Auntie Wu happened to walk in through the door just then. The moment she saw the scene inside, she raised her voice and called out, "Meiyan, are you ready? It's about time—we need to head to Jiangda Jiaogong Shitang." The moment those words landed. Gu Kaihua and the others froze on the spot, wishing they could clamp a hand over Auntie Wu's mouth. Only Lin Meiyan glanced at Secretary Shen, then gave a soft "Mm" in response. "Auntie Wu, I'm ready." Secretary Shen looked from one person to another, growing more curious by the second. Jiangda Jiaogong Shitang? All ready? What was this about? He turned to look at Auntie Wu, then back at Lin Meiyan, and couldn't help asking, "Youth Lin... are you going to..." Auntie Wu glanced at Secretary Shen, assuming he was another suitor of Lin Meiyan's, and immediately grew wary. She said bluntly, "A blind date." "What else would it be?" At that, the entire Linji fell silent. Gu Kaihua and Ye Qiuju inwardly cursed—this was bad. Lin Meiyan, too, felt a bit awkward. She kept her eyes lowered and said nothing, which counted as tacit confirmation. Only Secretary Shen nearly fumbled the brown paper package in his hands. A blind date? Youth Lin was going on a blind date? His boss had just sent him over with the second round of medicine, and now Youth Lin was about to go meet someone else? Secretary Shen's world was collapsing. His expression shifted through a series of changes. Seeing that Lin Meiyan didn't deny it, his world really was falling apart. It took him a long moment to force out a smile. "Th-then... what a coincidence." Gu Kaihua watched his utterly devastated expression and felt a twinge of sympathy. He asked, "Secretary Shen, what brings you here today?" "Delivering medicine." Secretary Shen snapped back to himself and immediately thrust the brown paper package forward. "Dr. Yue said that after you finish the last batch, you should continue with this one." "Same as before—three doses, three times a day." He said this to Lin Meiyan, but his eyes couldn't help drifting to her moon-white dress. It was over. Youth Lin had agreed to a blind date. What about his boss? Lin Meiyan didn't take the medicine. She thought for a moment, then said, "Secretary Shen, I think I'm just about fully recovered." Secretary Shen's heart was racing with panic, but he still had to keep up appearances as he set the medicine on the counter. "Youth Lin, you need to keep taking this for it to work." Lin Meiyan still didn't take it. At that, Secretary Shen gave up completely. He shoved the medicine into the cabinet instead. "Just do me a favor—if I can't deliver this medicine, I'm afraid I'll get scolded again." Lin Meiyan said nothing. But Gu Kaihua piled on from the side, "The one Auntie Wu introduced has pretty good credentials—he stayed on to work at Jiangda, a university graduate, and he's the director in charge of the logistics office." Secretary Shen felt like several knives had just been stabbed into his chest. Stayed on at Jiangda. A director, no less. He squeezed out a smile. "Is... is that so?" Ye Qiuju watched from the side and suddenly felt like laughing. Last time Secretary Shen came to deliver medicine, she'd only thought he was efficient at his job. This time, the more she looked, the more he seemed like a frantic quail running around in circles. Still, she shot Gu Kaihua a glare, signaling him to stop talking. Gu Kaihua dropped the subject. Secretary Shen took a deep breath. "Then I won't disturb you any longer." "Remember to take your medicine." With that, he practically fled out of Linji. The moment he was outside, he jogged to his car, slammed the door shut, and wiped a hand across his face, muttering, "It's over, it's over, it's over." What kind of mess was this? His boss was still locked in a struggle with the Yu family, and meanwhile Youth Lin was already heading off to a blind date. If he didn't get this news to his boss right away, he might as well resign as secretary. With that thought, Secretary Shen floored the gas pedal, and the car shot off with a whoosh. Meanwhile, over at the faculty dormitory building of Jiangda, the Yu family was unusually lively today. Mother Yu had gotten up early to tidy the entire house, even replacing the crocheted sofa cover in the living room with a new one. Yu Qingya stood off to the side with her arms crossed, watching for a moment before she couldn't help but say, "Mom, isn't this a bit much?" "It's just a meal." Mother Yu lowered her voice. "You wouldn't understand." "Your brother is how old now? It took forever for your father to soften up, and your brother finally agreed to come home for a meal." It had been years since Yu Jianghai last came home. Yu Qingya pursed her lips. "But you can't keep it from him." Keep what from him? She refused to say anything more. "Keep what? If I told him the truth, would he ever agree to come back and have a family meal with us?" A stern voice came from the study doorway. Father Yu stood there in a plain white cotton shirt, black-framed glasses perched on his nose, his whole demeanor as rigid and proper as a block of old wood. "He's not in a hurry, but we are. He'll be thirty-two right after the new year—does he think he's still young?" "Besides, what's wrong with that girl from the Zhou family?" "We know her family through and through, and our two families have been close for generations." "She's accomplished in her own right too—finished her master's in the States before coming back. She has both education and refinement." "What more could Jiang Hai possibly want?" Yu Qingya didn't dare say a word. Mother Yu let out a soft sigh. Deep down, she knew Zhou Mingwei's credentials were genuinely impressive. The Zhou family lived in the Jiangda Jiashuyuan area. Father Zhou was Father Yu's colleague, and Mother Zhou worked at the hospital. The two families' children had grown up running around the same courtyard. Later, Zhou Mingwei went abroad to study in the United States and had just returned last year. She was beautiful, with a generous personality, and countless people had their eyes on her. If it weren't for the deep connection with the Yu family, someone with her qualifications wouldn't even need to be set up on blind dates. But the problem was, Yu Jianghai didn't want it. That was the real issue. Before long, footsteps sounded from outside. Mother Yu immediately stood up. "That should be Jiang Hai back." She shushed them. "Don't let it slip!" This was directed at Yu Qingya. Yu Qingya stayed silent. She glanced at Zhou Mingwei, who remained composed, a faint smile playing on her lips. She was confident in herself. In all of Jiangda Jiashuyuan, no one had better qualifications than her—those who did weren't as accomplished, and those who were more accomplished didn't exist. One could say that in all of Jiangda Jiashuyuan, only she was worthy of the successful Yu Jianghai. Zhou Mingwei's gaze turned toward the door. Sure enough, the door opened and Yu Jianghai walked in. He wasn't wearing a suit today—just a simple black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing sharply defined wrists. He looked cold and imposing. Mother Yu greeted him warmly. "Jiang Hai, you're finally back! The whole family has been waiting for you." Ever since the family had returned to Jiangcheng, Yu Jianghai had moved out of the Yu household. In fact, it had been quite a while since he'd last set foot in the house. Yu Jianghai nodded and called out "Mom," then walked from the doorway into the living room. Zhou Mingwei was sitting on the sofa drinking tea. Hearing the commotion, she turned to look, then smiled. "Jiang Hai ge." She said it naturally, with the familiarity of someone who had grown up alongside him. Yu Jianghai paused mid-step, his gaze sweeping over her face. His expression was indifferent. "You're back?" Zhou Mingwei nodded. "Came back last month." "I'd wanted to visit Uncle and Auntie sooner, but I just couldn't find the time." Yu Jianghai didn't respond further. He simply placed his car keys on the table and walked over toward Father Yu. Zhou Mingwei caught sight of the Mercedes keys. Her brow twitched slightly—it seemed her parents had understated things. Jiang Hai ge was even more successful than the rumors suggested. Others might not recognize it, but she certainly knew those Mercedes keys. In all of Jiangcheng, even the entire country, this was likely one of a kind. Yu Jianghai reached Father Yu's side. "What did you need me for?" Father Yu's face darkened at his tone. "Can't you see for yourself?" "Mingwei came here specially today. Take her to the faculty cafeteria for a meal and have a chat while you're at it." Father and son clashed the moment they met. Yu Jianghai stood there without moving, his expression cold. The living room fell silent for two seconds. Zhou Mingwei sensed the tension in the air. She set down her teacup and stood up, smiling as she tried to smooth things over. "Uncle Yu, there's no need to be so formal." "Jiang Hai ge and I already know each other. We could just sit and chat here." But Father Yu wouldn't budge. "Young people should act like young people." "Go out for a walk—it's better than sitting at home." Only then did Yu Jianghai speak, his tone flat as he refused. "No need." Those two words sent the atmosphere in the living room into a deep freeze. Mother Yu grew anxious and quickly tried to mediate. "Jiang Hai, you child, Mingwei rarely comes by—" "Mom." Yu Jianghai cut her off. His voice wasn't loud, but it was heavy. "I'm not going." "Why not?" Father Yu slammed his palm on the coffee table, rattling even the glass cups. "Is Mingwei not good enough for you in some way?" "Education, family background, temperament, looks—any one of these is something you'd have to search high and low for!" "How old are you now? Thirty-four by nominal age, thirty-five next year, and in two more years you'll be pushing forty!" "Do you think you're still young? How much longer are you going to drag this out?" Yu Jianghai didn't speak. He just stood there, his face cold as if covered in a layer of frost. Zhou Mingwei had been wearing a smile, but now she was starting to feel uneasy. No matter how gracious she was, she couldn't withstand being pushed back and forth like this to her face. Fortunately, she was a woman of the world and didn't let her expression change on the spot. She simply looked at Yu Jianghai. "Brother Jianghai, is this a bad time for me?" Yu Jianghai finally glanced at her, but instead of answering her question, he cut straight to the point. "You're wonderful." "But we're not right for each other." The words were spoken softly, yet they instantly froze everyone in the room in place. Father Yu's face turned ashen. Mother Yu was stunned as well. Even Yu Qingya didn't dare make a sound. The smile at the corner of Zhou Mingwei's lips slowly faded. She was a smart woman. When the other party had put it that bluntly, staying any longer would only become awkward. She stood up, picked up her handbag, and maintained the last shred of dignity on her face. "Uncle Yu, Auntie Yu, I just remembered there's something I need to take care of at work." "I won't disturb you any longer today." Mother Yu hurriedly tried to stop her. "Mingwei—" Zhou Mingwei smiled. "It's alright." With that, she glanced at Yu Jianghai. There was no resentment in that look—more than anything, it held understanding. "Thank you, Brother Jianghai. I'm already very happy that you could acknowledge how outstanding I am." For someone like Yu Jianghai to acknowledge her excellence meant she truly was excellent. After leaving those words, Zhou Mingwei turned and walked away. The moment the door closed, the air in the living room sank completely. Father Yu stared at Yu Jianghai, his chest heaving violently. "Look at yourself now—what kind of state is this?" "The girl came over properly and respectfully, and you just chased her off like that?" Yu Jianghai's expression didn't move. "I don't want to waste her time." "Then you'd rather waste your own?" Father Yu's hands were trembling with anger. "You're doing this for a—" He stopped mid-sentence, swallowing the words back. No one in the Yu family would voluntarily speak that name. But everyone knew who it was about. Yu Jianghai stood there for a long moment before speaking in a low voice. "Dad, don't meddle in my affairs anymore." "How can I not meddle?" Father Yu grew even angrier. "You're my son." "All these years, you haven't married, haven't come home, haven't been willing to take a single step forward—am I supposed to just watch you waste your whole life?" Yu Jianghai didn't respond to that. Mother Yu, seeing that father and son were about to clash again, was just about to say something when a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the door. Secretary Shen didn't even bother to knock. He stood at the doorway, breathless. "Boss." Father Yu's face darkened. He turned to look and frowned. "Xiao Shen, where are your manners?" Secretary Shen knew he was being presumptuous, but wasn't this an absolute emergency? He stood at the door, glancing between Father Yu and Yu Jianghai, wanting to call his boss out. But the moment Yu Jianghai moved, Father Yu grabbed his wrist and barked, "Don't you leave. Until today's matter is settled, no one is going anywhere." Yu Jianghai turned back, meeting his father's gaze with calm composure, his voice cold. "Dad, are you going to stop me?" Five years ago, he had stopped him once. Five years later, was he going to stop him again? Meeting his son's piercing gaze, Father Yu felt as if he'd been burned. He redirected his anger at Secretary Shen. "Xiao Shen, you tell him." Secretary Shen had been made the scapegoat. But he had no choice but to speak, because if they delayed any longer, Youth Lin might already be married while his boss was still in the dark. Secretary Shen took a deep breath, summoning the courage of someone burning their bridges. He squeezed his eyes shut, steeled his resolve, and said, "Boss, Youth Lin went on a blind date."