Linda got out of the taxi at the restaurant; his own car was still waiting for him in the underground parking garage.

As soon as he got home, he was met with Grandma Lin's expectant gaze: "Xiao Da, how was your blind date today?"

"Not very good."

Lin Da's slightly tired voice came from outside. He casually hung his coat on the coat rack by the door and helped Grandma Lin into the living room.

"No need to help me, I'm perfectly healthy!"

Grandma Lin brushed aside Lin Da's hand that was helping her up, and strode back to her original spot on the sofa to sit down.

"That can't be! You graduated from a prestigious university, you're well-educated and reasonable, why wouldn't it work? Xiao Da, tell me honestly, is it because the girl didn't like you?"

Linda sat down next to Grandma Lin and said gently, "Grandma, marriage is something that can't be forced. It depends on fate. Right now, your grandson's time hasn't come yet, so you don't need to be too anxious."

"It's not that I'm in a hurry, it's just that when I see Xiao Chan and Si Yuan, Jia Jia and Zhi Yuan by your side, they're all happily married and sweet together, while you're still all alone. It makes me feel a little uneasy!"

Although he is in relatively good health, his age is a factor, and he can't fool anyone. How long he can live is still unknown. Xiao Da had a weak relationship with his parents when he was young, and apart from a few friends, he has always been alone.

She felt so sorry for him!

Grandma Lin patted Lin Da's well-defined hand, her tone filled with emotion, her gaze passing over Lin Da as she reminisced about the past: "It feels like just yesterday you were a skinny little baby who only knew how to eat, drink, and poop, and today you've grown into a tall and strong man. Time really flies!"

Linda paused for a moment, then said, "Grandma, isn't this a good thing?"

"It's nice, but the house feels a bit lonely!"

After her initial sadness subsided, Grandma Lin began to subtly probe Lin Da's intentions.

Linda: "..."

——

After this farcical blind date, Lin Da simply gave up. He was quick to agree to any blind date his grandmother arranged for him, but he was slow and uncooperative in practice.

Grandma Lin is worried. Her grandson has always been well-behaved and obedient since he was a child, but now he has become stubborn and won't listen to her at all.

"Xiao Da is going through his rebellious phase!"

Grandma Chi slapped her thigh in affirmation, forgetting all about square dancing, and pulled Grandma Lin to sit down in a pavilion to chat.

"Yeah?"

Grandma Lin was a little uncertain: "I keep hearing those parents say that their children have entered their rebellious phase. Isn't that a problem that only high school students have? Our Xiaoda is almost 30!"

"What's the big deal? Look at those 'mama's boys' and 'giant babies' online... they're just saying kids never grow up! Maybe your Xiaoda is like that too. Sigh, I've watched him grow up. He used to be so well-behaved, hardworking, and capable. How come he's started being disobedient now that he's of marriageable age?"

Perhaps this is the complex thought process behind every parent's actions.

If a child is too obedient, they're thought to lack initiative; if a child is too independent, they're thought to be disobedient. It all boils down to this: "Why are other people's children so easy to manage and so outstanding!"

However, Grandma Chi's puzzlement didn't last long before she realized what was going on and comforted Grandma Lin: "Donghua, don't worry. I think that Lin Da is a shrewd guy. These days, excellent men don't have to worry about finding a partner. Just wait and see. Don't get overwhelmed by the choices and not know which one to pick."

"Pah, pah, pah—impossible! He's got too many choices. I bet he'll still be a bachelor even when I'm buried!"

While Grandma Lin was ranting about Lin Da to Grandma Chi, An Wenjing pulled Qu Dudu to squat behind a bush not far from the pavilion.

"The one holding the palm-leaf fan is Grandma Linda, and the one opposite her who keeps nodding is the grandma of Linda's friend."

An Wenjing told Qu Dudu the information she had found out.

Qu Dudu: "Did you hear that? Grandma Lin is complaining to that grandma about Lin Da not finding a partner!"

An Wenjing interrupted her: "Oh, I don't want to hear any of that. Just tell me how to get close to Grandma Lin!"

How did An Wenjing find out about Grandma Lin? She secretly looked through Lin Da's information while her father was out of the office and learned about Lin Da's home address and family relationships.

Not only did I rent a place in the neighborhood, but I also spent my days wandering around it. I even joined the square dancing crowd, which allowed me to gather a lot of insider information.

Qu Dudu looked at An Wenjing with newfound respect: "You're amazing! You weren't even this serious during the college entrance exam, were you?"

"What do you know, you're just a single dog? When you meet a good man, you should make your move as soon as possible. Officer An often tells me that if he hadn't been shameless and made his move early, it's uncertain whether I'd still be here today!"

When An's mother was young, she was a renowned beauty in the area. She came from a wealthy family and was gentle and quiet. Countless young men pursued her. An Zhenming, who was a junior police officer at the time, met An's mother, who was being harassed, while on duty and immediately fell in love with her.

Later, he did indeed win the heart of his beloved by being shameless and striking first. After their marriage, An's father treated An's mother with the same devotion for more than a decade, and the couple's relationship was as solid as a rock.

"Okay, okay, you're a single dog, you understand!"

Qu Dudu was too ashamed to even look at this guy.

Her previous assessment of An Wenjing was: "She seems so carefree, but if you actually believe her, you're doomed. You'll be completely fooled by her."

I never imagined that this guy was such a hopeless romantic; he couldn't resist a handsome guy he saw on the street.

Sooner or later, I'll be swindled out of everything!

"How do you suggest we approach Grandma Lin?"

Qu Dudu crunched the lollipop in her mouth: "Didn't you move to live across from the Lin family's house? You're already neighbors with Grandma Lin, getting close to her is a piece of cake!"

"But I'm afraid Grandma Lin won't like me then!"

Qu Dudu looked An Wenjing up and down and finally concluded: "That's right, your appearance is too flamboyant and seductive. It's a world apart from the kind of peaceful and prosperous look that aunties and grandmas like!"

"Qu—du—du—Have you thought about how you want to die?"

An Wenjing threatened with her eyes and fist.

Qu Dudu: "Although you look too glamorous and not the kind of look that grandmothers like, Grandma Lin is currently worried that Lin Da isn't looking for a partner. Isn't this your chance? It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat. Let's win Lin Da over first. Then Grandma Lin won't think you look too glamorous. She'll just think that if her granddaughter-in-law wasn't so good-looking, she wouldn't have won over her grandson!"

Qu Dudu finished speaking in one breath, her throat almost burning, and only then did An Wenjing put her fist away.

Seeing that An Wenjing had lowered her fist, Qu Dudu immediately perked up again: "What grandma would like a little girl who throws punches all the time? An Wenjing, you need to change your temper, understand?"

An Wenjing immediately shot Qu Dudu a sharp glare, and Qu Dudu instantly fell silent.