10

Xiao Jian's jianbing (Chinese crepe) skills had returned to their former level. He watched with a smug grin as more and more customers returned, his heart pounding with joy. Now he had business again, and his parents had arranged a blind date for him this weekend. If it went well, he'd have a wife! How could he not be ecstatic? And what about Li Muqing? Sigh, since she wasn't pursuing the matter, were they, who had benefited from the arrangement, going to be foolish enough to pay for it? So, Xiao Jian had been smiling even in his dreams these past few days! His roommates even thought he'd gone mad, and were nearly driven insane themselves—his dark, dirty face, always sporting a foolish smile, would drive anyone crazy.

The weekend was fast approaching, and Xiao Jian, wanting to make a good impression, deliberately didn't go to sell pancakes on Friday. He was afraid of smelling of cooking oil on his clothes, and if the other person disliked him, he would lose face. On Friday night, Xiao Jian borrowed an expensive PUMA casual outfit from his fellow villager. He carefully put the clothes away, took a nice shower that night, and went to bed early.

Xiao Jian tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. It was his first blind date, and he was extremely nervous. What if the other person didn't like him? What if he didn't like the other person? What if the other person was fat and didn't have Li Muqing's slim waist... Oh my god! Why am I thinking about him again! Xiao Jian decided to stop thinking about it and pulled the covers over his head to meet with Morpheus.

The next day, Xiao Jian got up very early. While his roommates were still asleep, he secretly went to the bathroom to change his clothes. After washing up, he looked in the mirror: "Xiao Jian, you can do it! Keep it up!"

After saying that, he strode out the door.

The weather is clear! It seems even the heavens are on his side. As Xiao Jian walked, he looked at the cloudless sky, feeling both nervous and excited.

The date was to meet at a Pizza Hut not far from the school. Xiao Jian had never eaten pizza before, but since the other party had already chosen the location, he couldn't refuse, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go.

Because he was afraid his roommates would see that he had washed his face, Xiao Jian arrived at Pizza Hut early. Sitting down, he began to carefully recall the scene when his neighbor, Aunt Zhang, called him that day. Aunt Zhang told him that the other person was gentle and virtuous, and was also a college student in the same city as him, a year younger than him, and a sophomore. Aunt Zhang specifically emphasized that the most important point was that the girl was very patriotic.

Xiao Jian didn't know why this was considered a strength, but thinking about his female classmates—one day she'd have a bag bought in Japan, the next day she'd wear jewelry bought in Korea—it all seemed like they desperately wanted to become foreigners. He wondered why these fashionable girls liked things that looked expensive and completely impractical. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how good his canvas bag was; it was big and practical, and hadn't broken in years! Thinking about it, he realized that perhaps nowadays, patriotism could be considered something to boast about.

As Xiao Jian was thinking, someone sat down opposite him. Xiao Jian looked closely and saw that it was a girl.

"Hello, my name is Xining," the girl said.

“You… hello, I’m Xiao Jian…” Xiao Jian looked closely at the girl sitting opposite him, and he suddenly realized why Aunt Zhang insisted on emphasizing that this girl named Xining was very patriotic—she looked too “patriotic”!

"Let me be frank. From now on, you'll give me 300 yuan a month for living expenses, and you'll have to give me gifts on my birthday and some holidays. We'll also have to see each other at least once a month, which is when you pay me. So, after I graduate, I'll marry you right away. How about that? You've got a great deal." The girl got straight to the point.

"Wait...wait, we're just friends now, you...you won't..." Xiao Jian broke out in a cold sweat after hearing the girl's words. He thought to himself: My goodness! If I marry a wife like this, not only will my life be ruined, but my children's lives will also be bleak—he didn't want a child who looked too patriotic. Not at all!

"You mean, you don't want to start as just friends with me, and you want to have a physical relationship with me right now? Oh dear, how can you be so direct? I'm not ready yet. Maybe next time! I'll definitely be ready before I come back to you next time. How about next time we..." The girl named Xining had just finished speaking when Xiao Jian couldn't sit still anymore. He felt his legs go weak and his limbs were powerless. It seemed that he was really frightened by this patriotic girl. At this moment, an angelic voice appeared behind Xiao Jian's ear.

"Hey! Isn't this Xiao Heizi? On a date? And who is this?" Li Muqing appeared in front of Xiao Jian, dressed in a seemingly casual yet tasteful outfit.

Xiao Jian had never thought Li Muqing looked so beautiful. Beneath her messy yet stylish hair were incredibly captivating eyes, a high nose bridge, and a sexy little mouth. Her skin was fair, her neck slender, and her body slim, yet she didn't give off a sickly vibe, but rather a healthy, radiant beauty! Great, his savior had arrived!

"Li Muqing!!" Xiao Jian was so excited he was almost crying.

“Jian…” Li Muqing was an extremely intelligent person. He immediately understood the situation. He had only glanced at the girl sitting opposite Xiao Jian and marveled at how she could have lived to such an old age, which could be considered one of the ten wonders of the world. So, he deliberately sat down next to Xiao Jian, put his arms around Xiao Jian’s, and called him affectionately.

Xiao Jian was initially startled by Li Muqing's appearance, but after seeing her secretly wink at him, he belatedly realized what was happening. He quickly hugged her, pretending to be very affectionate, and said, "Qing~~"

"Firm~~~"

"Sunny~~~"

"What...what are you doing? It's disgusting!" Xining said with disgust and contempt.

"Disgusting?" Li Muqing glanced at Xining, a chill running down his spine... He forced himself to suppress his discomfort and said with a smile, "There's something even more disgusting!" With that, his lips touched Xiao Jian's lips.

Xiao Jian was completely dumbfounded! This was clearly just a charade to appease a woman, and although his acting was a bit clumsy, there was no need for Li Muqing to stick her tongue into his mouth to prove they were really a couple... My goodness! This... in public, they were passionately kissing like this! If anyone they knew saw this, then... then he wouldn't want to live anymore!!

Lost in thought, Xining grabbed her bag and ran outside, screaming, "You two perverts!!!"

Just as Li Muqing left Xiao Jian's lips, Xiao Jian thought he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. However, another voice made his relaxed mood tense up again.

"What...what were you doing just now?" Zhao Yezhi asked, glaring angrily at Xiao Jian.