Chapter 29 If you're in a hurry to get married, you can find...

Li Jin, with bachelor's and master's degrees from top-tier 985 universities, parents both working in the government sector, above-average looks, and a respectable job, is indeed top-tier among ordinary people, even if you don't compare him to those born with a silver spoon in their mouths. Many people introduce him to potential partners, and over time, it's easy for him to become arrogant, thinking that one day he too will be like those high-ranking leaders and entrepreneurs he encounters at work, either wielding great power or possessing immense wealth. Why can't he choose a concubine?

In fact, he wasn't initially satisfied with Jin Zhao's conditions. She was the eldest daughter, her mother had passed away, she had a younger brother sixteen years her junior, and she was a university professor. Li Jin's stereotype of university professors was that they were old, boring, and plain-looking.

If the woman's appearance is average, then at least the father-in-law needs to be capable; if the family background is average, then he wants to find a young and beautiful woman in her twenties, full of youthful energy. But Jin Zhao seems to fall short of both.

So he did initially show deference, delaying and arriving late, but all that negligence vanished upon meeting Jin Zhao in person. It's no exaggeration to say that within minutes, he had already decided which elementary school their future child would attend.

He wanted to get straight to the point, but Jin Zhao's reaction was somewhat lukewarm. Like a peacock spreading its tail feathers, he couldn't wait to showcase his connections and social resources in order to win the woman's admiration and respect.

He happened to have gone back to Suida today and met up with some college classmates to attend Meng Yanxi's donation ceremony. Perhaps the atmosphere was too exciting, because even though his seat was far back and he couldn't see Meng Yanxi's face clearly even with his phone zoomed in, it didn't stop him from feeling that one day he could be like Meng Yanxi, rising to great heights and returning home in glory.

So his mouth was faster than his brain; before he could even think things through, he was already spouting nonsense, bragging about Meng Yanxi.

But that was due to men's stubborn pride and blind self-confidence. Li Jin was not stupid; in fact, he was smarter than most people. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to get into university so early.

The other party's question, "How about comparing with me?" immediately made his heart skip a beat, and alarm bells went off.

The man in front of me sat casually on the sofa, wearing a dark shirt, somewhere between dark blue and black, the brand of which was indistinguishable, but the tailoring and fabric were visibly exquisite. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his well-defined and powerful forearms, with prominent veins. His features were exquisitely beautiful, especially his captivating eyes, which were dark and deep, concealing any sharpness.

The man in front of her was indeed good-looking, but based on Li Jin's experience in judging people, he was not just good-looking; perhaps his good looks were his least noteworthy advantage.

For such a person to be so arrogant, immediately challenging Meng Yanxi to a beauty contest, either he knows Meng Yanxi, or... Li Jin thought of a terrifying possibility, his scalp tingled, and cold sweat almost broke out on his forehead.

The fear of death made him unable to look the other person in the eye, so he turned to look at Jin Zhao.

He has a knack for judging people. For example, he can see that Meng Yanxi is unfathomable, and he can also see that Jin Zhao has a good personality and instinctively leaves room for others in his words and actions.

Li Jin: "I haven't had a chance to ask who this is yet...?"

He was right; compared to Meng Yanxi's ruthless decisiveness, Jin Zhao kindly offered him a way out.

"Lu Jingyue." After a brief silence, Jin Zhao forced himself to tell a white lie to avoid the other party dying of shame on the spot.

The rain outside was heavy, and Meng Yanxi's gaze was cold. Jin Zhao's hand was still in the position of supporting her forehead, using the opportunity to cover her face, trying to bury her head in the sand and block his view.

Li Jin got her way out and decided to quit while she was ahead. She casually mentioned she had something to do and would contact him again, then slipped away unscathed.

The first thing I did when I went out was to take out my phone, open the official WeChat account of Suiyi University, and look at today's news. When I saw the photo of Meng Yanxi and the president, my heart finally stopped pounding.

After Li Jin ran away, only Jin Zhao and Meng Yanxi remained in the coffee shop, along with a table in a distant corner.

The foreign songs stopped; I don't know if the playlist ended or the speakers malfunctioned, leaving behind a quiet that was infiltrated by the sound of rain, and even the air felt damp and cold.

"Tell me, who am I?" Meng Yanxi asked, enunciating each word clearly.

Jin Zhao turned his head with difficulty, met his gaze, and was immediately frozen by the icy look in his eyes, then cowardly looked away.

"Meng Yanxi," she whispered.

The man chuckled and said, "I thought that after all these years, you'd been treating me like a substitute for Lu Jingyue."

Jin Zhao hurriedly replied, "No."

She gently raised her eyes and sincerely explained to him, "I'm sorry, I didn't think it through. I just felt that he might not be able to accept the truth. He's not that important to me anyway, so there's no need to make things too awkward."

Meng Yanxi: "Who's embarrassed?"

"It's him. But there's no need to be so ruthless; leave some room for maneuver."

"Leave a way out for others, so you can meet again in the future?" Meng Yanxi glanced at her sideways, a cold smile playing on her lips. "You still want to see this kind of person again?"

Jin Zhao: "..."

She smelled a faint scent of alcohol on him, and based on his alcohol tolerance, Jin Zhao guessed that he was probably drunk.

No wonder he did something so unusual today.

He impersonated her boss, went on a blind date with her, and even physically assaulted her date on the spot.

"You've been drinking?" Her gaze was tolerant, almost indulgent. "I'll get you a glass of honey water..."

Before she could finish speaking, Meng Yanxi suddenly gave a mocking laugh, got up, and left.

Jin Zhao instinctively chased after him, only to be politely reminded by the waiter that he hadn't paid the bill yet. Jin Zhao was extremely embarrassed and quickly turned back to pay.

As she turned around, she casually called out, "Meng Yanxi, wait a minute."

She kindly saved her blind date's life, but in the end, she had to pay the bill. It's true that good deeds don't always bring good rewards.

When she finished paying the bill and turned around, Meng Yanxi was gone, and the coffee shop was empty.

Jin Zhao stood there, and for a moment, she seemed to have forgotten where she was and what she was supposed to do.

The only table of guests in the corner had also left, and the waiter came forward to clean up. The sound of ceramic and metal colliding was very soft, falling into the patter of rain.

Jin Zhao stood alone for a while, then stepped outside.

The rain outside began to fall heavily, and raindrops splashed on the ground, creating a white mist. On the steps by the door, Meng Yanxi stood under the awning, one hand in her pocket, leaning against the wall. Hearing footsteps, she turned to look at her.

Like a star suddenly entering the dark night sky, Jin Zhao's eyes lit up instantly.

"You didn't leave?"

She asked, her voice very soft, barely concealing her surprise.

Meng Yanxi looked at her quietly, and after two seconds, her gaze fell on her hands: "Where's your book?"

Jin Zhao was startled, and it took him a beat to react. His ears burned, and he quickly ran back to the shop.

The three textbooks she had just received today were still on the table. Because they didn't fit in her bag, she had been holding them in her hand, and after sitting down, she placed them beside her. Fortunately, Meng Yanxi's mind was still as sharp as it was nine years ago, and she reminded her in time, otherwise she would have left the books there.

When she came out again, a black Maybach was already parked at the entrance.

Jin Zhao subconsciously looked across the street and saw that the car that was parked there was gone.

Raindrops pounded into the lake, creating ripples. It was hard to tell whether the lake was moving, the rain was moving, or perhaps, one's heart was moving.

Zhuang Yu got out of the car with an umbrella, went around to the back seat, and opened the car door.

"Get in the car." Meng Yanxi turned her head slightly.

Jin Zhao subconsciously declined: "No, it's not necessary. I live quite far away, I can go back by myself."

Meng Yanxi didn't speak, her dark, peach-blossom eyes, damp with the rain, staring straight at her.

"You still have a second half?" he asked, not without sarcasm.

"What about the second half?" Jin Zhao was confused, but then realized he was referring to the blind date and asked her if she had made plans with other people afterwards.

Jin Zhao's face flushed, and she quickly said, "No, there's only one, and the person didn't want to come in the first place."

The man was a full head taller than her, and when he looked down at her, his gaze followed the corner of her eye.

"I didn't say I didn't believe you, so there's no need to whine."

He got into the car first, leaving Jin Zhao standing there looking completely bewildered.

When did she start acting cute?

Meng Yanxi sat in the car, looking at her with an urging expression. Jin Zhao had no choice but to obediently follow.

It wasn't until the car drove away that Jin Zhao belatedly realized that Meng Yanxi must have misunderstood that "other person".

She was referring to Li Jin, implying that Li Jin hadn't originally intended to come. Meng Yanxi, however, seemed to think she was referring to herself and addressed herself as "that person."

She wanted to explain the misunderstanding, but Meng Yanxi asked, "Where are you staying?"

Jin Zhao had no choice but to give the place name first: "Lanshan Garden".

This interruption meant the opportunity to explain had already been missed.

Lanshan Garden is in the south, almost on the outskirts of the city. It takes more than half an hour to drive there from the inner ring expressway. So at first, Jin Zhao didn't want to trouble him.

Lu Xi and Yun Sheng are both in the city center, and it takes him more than an hour to go back and forth. Today it's raining, and if he drives slowly and gets stuck in traffic, it could take two hours.

His time should be extremely valuable right now.

She wanted to say something to apologize, but felt that since the person was already in the car, anything she said would seem insincere. However, she really didn't know what else to say.

What are you talking about? Are you asking why you sent the dress back to him after he left?

Meng Yanxi wouldn't lack a dress from her; what he truly needed was someone who so blatantly trampled on his good intentions. This also explains the unfriendly emotions he occasionally displayed towards her after their reunion.

For example, last time I left her at the entrance of Luxi and let her walk for half an hour; and now, after asking for the name of the place, I ignored her and closed my eyes to sleep.

The raindrops pattered dully on the car roof, and the faint smell of alcohol in the air mingled with the scent of cold mountain pine mist, suddenly adding a bewildering allure to the previously distant atmosphere.

I haven't seen him in so many years, and he's still as handsome as ever. No, he's even more handsome now.

His features were more defined and sharper than when he was a boy, and his nose seemed higher. His eyebrows were thick, and his lips were thin, yet looked soft. Jin Zhao's gaze couldn't help but fall on his lips.

Time seemed to have been stolen away in that instant. When she came to her senses, she looked away in a slightly flustered manner.

It was a bit chilly on a rainy day, but perhaps because he had been drinking, he had unbuttoned the top three buttons of his shirt. As he propped his elbows up, from her angle, she could see the taut, strong muscles on his chest.

He had great muscle definition even when he was young. She still remembers him wearing a T-shirt, the wind blowing, the fabric clinging to his body, revealing his abs. Now, his muscles are not only better looking than they were back then, but also more sexy.

Perhaps he has matured, or perhaps she has matured; she now appreciates his beauty, no longer possessing the innocent heart she had in her youth.

She stared at the back of his hand, its veins bulging, at his exceptionally long fingers, and a description from some kind of literature brazenly intruded into her mind. Her heart pounded, and blood rushed uncontrollably to her cheeks.

She quickly turned her head, took a deep breath, stared at the rain outside the window, and tried to calm herself down.

Soothing English songs played in the carriage, and amidst the sound of rain, Amy Sky's deep, magnetic voice rang out.

And like a rose.

in amber's dawn

Waiting for the dew (waiting for the dew)

I long for you.

And like a river.

in twilight's hush

It is still blue (with a sense of melancholy).

I long for you.

...

Thirty-five minutes later, the car stopped at the entrance of Lanshan Garden, and Meng Yanxi, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them at the same time.

I don't know if the rain stopped or if it's because we're too far from the city, but it wasn't raining here. The roads were wet, and the clouds were thick, so even though it was only 5 o'clock, the light was dim and it looked like it was about to get dark.

His timely awakening eased Jin Zhao's embarrassment; she had been debating whether to quietly get out of the car or wake him up first.

It seems impolite to wake up a drunk person, but after someone has taken her a long way, she leaves without a word, repeating the same mistake as before. This is not only impolite but also undignified.

"I've arrived." Jin Zhao turned to say goodbye. "Thank you for today."

Meng Yanxi simply opened his eyes, still maintaining the position of supporting his elbow with one hand. The carriage was dimly lit, and his gaze was dark as he quietly watched her without saying a word.

Jin Zhao assumed he was still half asleep, smiled, and said to him, "Goodbye."

Pushing open the car door, Meng Yanxi finally spoke from behind: "Don't go on blind dates with this kind of person again."

She turned her head.

“If you’re in a hurry to get married,” Meng Yanxi sat up straight and slowly tugged at her collar, “you can come to me.”

The car door switch under his fingertips suddenly felt hot to the touch, and Jin Zhao's fingers trembled slightly, his eyes widening unconsciously.

The rain just now seemed to have washed over her eyes as well, leaving them wet and glistening.

Their eyes met, and time seemed to pause for a moment; it was as if their breathing also paused.

She heard Meng Yanxi remain silent for a few seconds before slowly continuing, "I can introduce you to someone even better."

It felt like the sudden weightlessness of an airplane encountering turbulence and plummeting downwards, but it wasn't exactly disheartening; it was just a bit unexpected. On second thought, it wasn't so surprising after all.

Meng Yanxi looked at her, playing with her phone by turning it up and down with one hand, appearing somewhat nonchalant.

Jin Zhao's gaze was unconsciously drawn to the phone he was spinning. She stared at his hand and said softly, "Thank you, but it's okay."

After her unsuccessful attempt, she never wanted to go on blind dates again.

*

Lanshan Garden is an old high-rise residential area, one of the earliest high-rise buildings constructed. Compared to the truly old neighborhoods of the last century, this type of community lacks the close-knit neighborly relations and lively atmosphere. Compared to newly built communities, it lacks the comprehensive and standardized property management. As a result, when someone was openly fighting downstairs, not a single person called the police.

Some people saw it from afar and avoided it by taking a detour.

In fact, Jin Zhao's first reaction was also to take a detour.

The UK isn't known for its safety, and to make matters worse, she was unlucky enough to be robbed shortly after arriving there, a young girl giving a statement at the police station in the middle of the night. For her, self-preservation was more important than a sense of justice for those in need.

In those years, her first reaction to any conflict was to run away.

The problem is, these people were fighting right outside her building entrance today.

Three men and two women blocked her way back. She recognized three of them—Wu Nian, her half-brother Wu Guo, and her sister Wu Fei.

I had never seen the other two men before. They were wearing tight T-shirts and jeans, were slightly overweight, and had dark skin. One of them was bald, and the other had long hair and tattoos on his arms.

Wu Nian stood by with her arms crossed, watching them beat Wu Guo. Wu Fei watched helplessly as her brother was beaten, wanting to help but too afraid to, crying out, "Stop hitting him! Stop hitting him! We came here to give you money out of kindness!"

Wu Nian sneered: "Stop pretending to be a green tea b*tch in front of me. How many times have you harmed me over the years? Do you really think I'm a pushover that you can bully?"

She was standing on a cell phone, and as she spoke, she kicked it hard. The phone flew off and crashed heavily onto the step, shattering on the spot with a "crack".

That's Wu Fei's phone.

Wu Guo is Wu Fei's older brother, born of the same parents. Jin Zhao met him twice after returning to China because she shared an apartment with Wu Nian. Tall and thin, with delicate and fair features, he has the kind of looks that girls find attractive. He studied at a prestigious university and is now a landscape designer with a respectable job.

Wu Fei is another example; she also studied at a prestigious overseas university and is now a senior executive in the company.

The existence of this brother and sister seems to serve to highlight how unlucky and miserable Wu Nian's life is. What's most infuriating is that these two, for reasons unknown, have been coming to see Wu Nian from time to time lately.

Jin Zhaozhen wasn't surprised at all that Wu Nian would hit them. But he shouldn't have hit them so hard.

Wu Guo was beaten so badly that he was powerless to fight back. He lay on the ground, his blood mixed with the wet rain, and his glasses shattered in the blood.

Jin Zhao stepped forward and pulled Wu Nian away, saying, "Stop fighting. Let's talk this out. This could lead to someone's death."

Upon hearing the words "someone died," Wu Nian's eyes flashed rapidly. She unconsciously swallowed, but remained silent.

Not far away, the bald man suddenly grabbed Wu Guo by the collar, dragged him to the steps in front of the building entrance, grabbed his hair, and was about to bang his head against the steps.

"Ah—" Wu Fei screamed.

Jin Zhao was also startled and blurted out, "No—"

But they didn't listen to her. Fortunately, Wu Fei rushed over in time, grabbed the shirtless bald man, and bit him hard. The man was in pain, threw Wu Fei to the ground, and slapped her hard across the face.

"Smack—"

Wu Fei was thrown into the rain, and her delicate dress was immediately covered in mud.

The man didn't let her go; he followed her and picked her up again.

Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, Jin Zhao shakily pulled out his phone, turned around and walked away quickly.

"You want to call the police?" Wu Nian, with her sharp eyes, grabbed her.

Her voice immediately attracted the attention of the long-haired man, who suddenly turned to look at Jin Zhao, his murky, narrow eyes staring at her coldly as if she were prey.

The long-haired man strode towards her.

Jin Zhao stepped back, holding his phone.

"Get out of the way, she's my friend." Wu Nian immediately stepped in front of her.

The long-haired man stopped, his eyes still fixed on Jin Zhao. Suddenly, he reached over Wu Nian and snatched Jin Zhao's phone.

Jin Zhao staggered, his phone was snatched, and the brand-new English and American poetry textbook in his arms fell to the ground with a "thud".

"What are you doing? Give it back to her!" Wu Nian scolded.

The man looked at Jin Zhao and smiled, "Okay."

As he spoke, he threw the phone at her face.

Imaki instinctively covered his face.

The expected pain didn't come; instead, she was pulled into an embrace even faster, her face slamming against the man's strong chest, the scent of cold mountain pine mist irresistibly filling her nostrils.

Meng Yanxi caught the phone that was thrown at her steadily. With her other arm around Jin Zhao, her eyes were so cold they could kill.

"Another busybody."

The long-haired man looked at Meng Yanxi, who was even more handsome and clean-cut than Wu Guo, and thought she was just another pretty boy who was all looks and no substance. He spat out a disdainful snort and wiped his mouth with his fist.

The next second, Meng Yanxi threw him hard to the ground with an over-the-shoulder throw, causing him to let out a painful howl.

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Author's Note: Don't rush, at least read the next chapter before commenting... This plot is definitely not the typical hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress scenario you're used to seeing; I'm not that cheesy! All the characters in this story have their own multifaceted personalities and growth, especially Wu Nian. She's a supporting female character with a complete storyline, and her life is full of ups and downs... This is just from the female lead's perspective; we don't yet know what kind of secret deal she has with her half-siblings... Her most recent life-changing moment is in chapter 64. If you can't wait, you can read the next chapter first and then immediately go to chapter 64, but that's only part of her dramatic journey, not the end.

The song quoted is "I Long for You".