Chapter 1: Blind Date Encounter
"Buzz—buzz—buzz—"
The phone was bouncing wildly on the table, the words "Mother" (Mother) written in blood-red on the screen like a death warrant. Yu Ling slapped it over for the nth time, trying to silence it physically.
Three seconds.
"Lingling!!!" A high-pitched female voice pierced through the partition, causing Yu Ling to shudder. Yes, Mother had mastered the art of a lion's roar.
"Mom..." Yu Ling just opened her mouth, her breath still catching.
"Have you finished get off work yet? Don't talk to me about the project! This time, your Aunt Wang patted her chest and guaranteed it - local! Owns a house! Works at the company! Honest and steady! I saw the photo, he looks very energetic!" Mom spoke as fast as a machine gun:
"Tonight at 7 o'clock, 'Meeting Time' Cafe, third seat by the window! If you dare stand me up again, I'll buy standing tickets and come over tomorrow to escort you personally!"
"Mom, I just..."
"What's so good about just now? I'm already 25! Back home, that's labeled 'unsalable,' understand? The neighbors are spitting at me like crazy! I've sent you the address! Dare you turn off your phone? I'll have your dad stop you at the office!"
"Beep...beep...beep..." The busy tone was merciless, as if mocking her dying struggle.
Yu Ling slumped into her chair, the densely packed spreadsheets blurring into a blur before her. Twenty-five? Turning thirty? She felt like a lamb to be slaughtered in her hometown's intelligence network, the pressure to get married from her aunts and uncles hanging like a sword over her head.
"Fuck!" She grabbed a handful of her hair in frustration and opened WeChat. Below the address, a glaring red envelope popped up: "Taxi fare! Don't skimp! Be good!"
Ransom! She blankly clicked on the taxi app.
"Okay, just think of it as... working overtime in a different place." She muttered, dragging her leaden legs towards the bathroom.
At 7:00 p.m., at the "Meet Time" cafe.
I opened the door, and the aroma of coffee mingled with jazz music drifted in. The lights were ambiguous. Third seat by the window, target locked.
A man's silhouette stood facing the door, his figure erect, like a painting in the neon light. He wore a dark gray sweater and a light-colored shirt collar, looking clean and crisp. A glass of water sat on the table, and in his hand... huh? Principles of Economics? Bringing a textbook to a blind date? A refreshing sight!
Yu Ling took a deep breath, relaxed her stiff facial muscles, and walked over.
"Hello, are you Mr. Zhao Chen?" His voice was trying to be steady.
The man looked up at the sound.
The light fell on his face. Yu Ling's heart skipped a beat.
She wasn't the type with thick eyebrows and large eyes. Her features were rather slender, with slightly raised corners. Her pupils were a gentle light brown, like settled amber. At that moment, that amber held a polite smile, a hint of understanding, as if seeing through her forced embarrassment.
"It's me, Miss Yu Ling?" He stood up, his voice clear and gentle, a soothing one. He naturally pulled out the chair opposite.
"Please sit down. It's cold outside, would you like something hot?" He gestured to the cup the waiter had just put down. "I took the liberty of ordering a hot latte with some syrup. I hope that's okay. If not, we can change it."
Yu Ling's pupils trembled: "...Thank you, just in time."
She gripped the warm cup, the warmth and rich, sweet aroma of coffee seeping into her nostrils, and her tense nerves strangely relaxed. How did he know?! Even her closest friends might not remember this habit!
"That's good." Zhao Chen sat down, calmly closed the hardcover book, and placed it on the corner of the table. He crossed his hands on the table, his posture relaxed. "Miss Yu is always punctual."
"Call me Yu Ling." She took a sip of coffee, a warm feeling flowing down her face. "Mr. Zhao just arrived?"
"A few minutes earlier than you." He smiled, a smile spreading from his eyes, without any aggression. "I'm afraid it would be impolite to be late. Besides..." He glanced around, "It would be safer to familiarize yourself with the 'battlefield' in advance."
"Battlefield?" Yu Ling almost laughed out loud. "Very insightful! We're both wanderers in this world?"
"Sympathy is more appropriate." Zhao Chen nodded, a trace of empathy and fatigue flashing across his amber eyes:
"My family's pushing me hard, right? My mom's phone has evolved to the point where it can accurately predict my bladder capacity." He made an exaggerated and helpless expression.
"Puff!" Yu Ling couldn't help but say, "This is incredible! They definitely have a 'National Marriage Urging Alliance' and they share common strategies!"
"Absolutely!" Zhao Chen agreed deeply and picked up the water cup:
"Since graduation, blind dates have been my second career. Civil servants, entrepreneurs, elite returnees... and," he paused delicately:
"More like... um... performance art. As for the process, it's hard to describe. Some are nice, but lack any feeling. Some are just there to check in, and the air is frozen."
Frankly! Yu Ling instantly found common ground: "Same here! Checking my household registration, giving me advice, and even asking me if I can stay at home full-time to take care of three children..." She complained about her outrageous experience.
Zhao Chen listened quietly, his eyes focused. Only when he heard the word "three children" did the corner of his mouth twitch slightly, revealing his genuine surprise.
"It seems the 'battlefield' we've been through is rich in species diversity." He waited for her to finish, then chuckled and concluded, "So, sitting here today, I feel like the air has cleared up, and the PM2.5 levels have dropped dramatically."
Yu Ling was amused by him, and her nervousness melted away. Chatting with him was like sinking into a bean bag—comfortable!
He listened and responded with perfect discretion. He possessed a quiet strength, like the autumn afternoon sun—not scorching, but warm.
The waiter brought the dessert. Zhao Chen used a small fork to gently remove the mint leaves from the tiramisu and pushed it towards Yu Ling. "This tiramisu here doesn't taste too alcoholic. Want to try it?"
Yu Ling's heart skipped a beat! She hated the smell of strong alcohol, and she hated mint leaves! Once was a fluke, but twice?! She looked up at him. He was bending over, stirring his cold American coffee. His profile was gentle, his movements so natural, as if it were a given.
Suppressing her suspicion, she took a sip. It was delicate, slightly bitter, and perfectly balanced. The sweetness melted on her tongue, and the last bit of ice in her heart cracked.
The topic jumped from the newly opened internet-famous bookstore to brain-burning suspense films, and then to the silly daily life in the office.
Zhao Chen's conversation was insightful but not pretentious, and his dry humor hit Yu Ling right on the funny side. Time flew by amidst jazz music and comfortable chat.
There was only brown residue left at the bottom of Ling's cup. Zhao Chen put down the coffee cup and tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, as if pressing a switch.
He raised his head, his amber eyes staring at her, his gentleness faded away, leaving only the seriousness of a deep pool.
"Yu Ling," he called her name, his voice low and clear, "After chatting for so long, I feel like we're particularly compatible. At least, this is a thousand times more comfortable than the 'battlefield' before, right?"
Yu Ling nodded subconsciously, her heart skipping a beat for unknown reason.
"So," he leaned forward slightly, and a clean, crisp scent of cedar mixed with sunlight became clear, with a reassuring aggression.
"Instead of running around in the blind date market, dealing with the endless bombardment at home, and then most likely ending up with more awkward terminally ill patients... why don't we..." He paused, then spoke each word clearly and calmly, dropping the bombshell:
"Why don't we just get married?"
"Pfft—cough cough cough!" Yu Ling choked on a mouthful of coffee and began coughing uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. "Get…married?!" her voice cracked. "Mr. Zhao, w-what the hell are you talking about?!"
Zhao Chen was not surprised by her reaction at all. He calmly handed over the tissue, his eyes still frank and gentle, even with a hint of "I knew it" smile.
"Yes. A flash marriage." He repeated, as calmly as if he were saying "another cup of coffee":
"I know it sounds crazy. But Yu Ling, think about our situation."
He leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed, but his eyes were as sharp as a scalpel:
"Pain point one: family pressure. The core pain point! The pressure to get married is overwhelming, and every failure doesn't bring relief, but only a worsening storm of anxiety! A vicious cycle!"
Yu Ling clenched her tissue tightly, unable to refute. It was too real!
"Pain point two: time cost. Every blind date involves hours of preparation, travel, and awkward conversation. It's a complete waste of time! What else can we do with our time and energy?"
Yu Ling nodded frantically. "I really like this!"
"Three: Reality fit." He slowed his voice, speaking with convincing sincerity:
"Although we've only known each other for a short time, the chat just now made us both feel comfortable and relaxed. This is like winning the lottery in the blind date market!"
He locked eyes with her. "As for a deeper understanding and emotional cultivation... can't that be done after marriage? Isn't marriage itself the most direct and efficient way to cultivate understanding?"
Yu Ling was pinned to the spot by his twisted logic… oh no, his fantastic logic! Does it seem to make sense?
Zhao Chen caught the hesitation in her eyes and leaned forward again, folding his hands, his eyes focused, with an unquestionable sense of commitment:
"Yu Ling, this isn't impulsive. It's based on a rational analysis of the dilemma and my initial assessment of you—you're sincere, independent, and thoughtful. And..." His lips curved ever so slightly.
"The criticism is precise and harmless. This is the foundation of living together... no, living together!"
He throws out the core:
"Sign the agreement. It's valid for one year."
"For this year, we'll pretend to be a real couple, living together, teaming up to fool both sets of parents, and completely shutting down those urging us to get married! During this time, we won't interfere with each other's personal space or careers, and we'll split finances or create a joint slush fund. After a year, if we're still getting along, we'll continue. If not, we'll part ways peacefully, terminate the agreement, and see you again, owing nothing to each other!"
He pulled out his phone, pulled up a document, and pushed it in front of her. The title was cold:
Mutual Aid Marriage Agreement (One-Year). The terms are clear: property, privacy, liability, dissolution conditions... and even include "friendly mutual aid clauses (such as helping each other deal with peculiar relatives)."
"It's a first draft. Feel free to read it and make changes." His tone was full of respect. "It's just a suggestion. You have plenty of time to think about it. You don't have to make a decision right away."
The light outlined his clear jawline. He leaned forward slightly, his posture relaxed but with silent strength.
Those amber eyes met her doubtful gaze calmly, without dodging, only with the calmness of seeing through everything and the certainty that "this wave is stable".
Yu Ling's mind was like a nest of screaming chickens. A flash marriage? An agreement? Cohabitation? Each word sent fireworks blasting across her life's blueprint.
Reason screams "Ridiculous! Run!", while the soul that is forced into despair by the pressure of marriage is shouting "A way out! Freedom!".
She looked down at the agreement that looked like a business contract. It promised financial independence, privacy protection, clear responsibilities, and a clear path to retreat.
"Why me?" She raised her head, her voice tense, her eyes like searchlights:
"Mr. Zhao, with your conditions... it shouldn't be difficult to find a 'white, rich and beautiful' woman of equal status, right?" She glanced meaningfully at the book "Principles of Economics" on the corner of the table.
Zhao Chen wasn't surprised at all. He picked up the cold American coffee, shook it, and let his eyes fall on the liquid, with just the right amount of self-deprecation.
"A good match?" He chuckled, his voice cold. "In the dating market, 'a good match' often equates to equal family background, available connections, or a blank check with the promise of 'potential stock' written on it."
He raised his eyes, his gaze clear, "I don't have any of these. I'm just an ordinary office worker who works nine to five, has a mortgage, a fixed salary, and is driven crazy by pressure to get married."
The tone was flat, but it had a profound impact on Yu Ling's heart.
"And you," he returned his gaze to her with pure admiration:
"You're very genuine. You're annoyed by work, worried about family, and you'll complain and feel tired, but there's a light in your eyes and a sense of energy. You don't look at me with an 'assessment' lens, and you don't dig into my 'background' or 'potential'. Chatting with you is a pleasure."
He paused, as if searching for words, "It's like a ray of unburdened sunshine suddenly appearing on a cloudy day."
Yu Ling's heart skipped a beat at the words "unburdened sunshine".
"More importantly," he leaned forward, lowering his voice and speaking from the heart:
"I need a 'comrade-in-arms'. Someone who's also troubled by pressure to get married, who also wants to break free from that pressure, and who's rational and independent. We need sincere cooperation based on trust, not an exchange of interests. Yu Ling, you're the most suitable person. We can each get what we need, solve each other's problems, and give each other a chance to get to know each other again and make new choices. It's fair, efficient, and saves time and effort!"
Everyone gets what they need. Problem-solving. Fairness. Efficiency.
The cold words blazed a golden path through Ling's chaotic mind! What did she need most? Freedom from stress! Freedom to breathe! Control! Love? That thing, put aside for now!
One year. A nominal husband. A human shield. A written guarantee of freedom. A tailor-made solution?
"Then... live together?" She spoke with difficulty, her heart pounding.
"It's a must. The acting must be complete." Zhao Chen nodded and said frankly:
"The agreement clearly states: separate bedrooms, private space is sacred and inviolable. Public area hygiene, cooking, etc., can be shared or discussed. I rented a small two-bedroom apartment near the company, the environment is okay, and the transportation is convenient. If you don't mind, you can move in and the rent savings can be put into the small treasury." It's so pragmatic that it's outrageous.
Renting? A small two-bedroom apartment? Sharing housework? These details instantly dispel the fear of "flash marriage and cohabitation," making it seem feasible?
Yu Ling fell silent. Her fingertips unconsciously scratched at her phone case. The saxophone played languidly in the air. Outside the window, neon lights streamed across Zhao Chen's serene profile. His eyes were gentle and open, as he waited patiently, without rushing or pressure.
Time slips away every second.
Yu Ling took a long, deep breath. The cold air stung her lungs and brought her a sense of hopelessness.
She raised her head and met Zhao Chen's gaze. Deep within that gentle anticipation, there seemed to be a subtle, almost unnoticeable, certainty of victory.
"Agreement..." Her voice was a little hoarse, but very clear. "I'll take it back and review it. Some parts... need to be changed."
A flash of light flashed across Zhao Chen's eyes, like a meteor! His smile deepened, revealing a sense of relief and genuine joy.
"Of course!" He picked up his phone in seconds and operated it. "I'll send you the electronic version on WeChat. You can change it as you like and call me anytime." The WeChat QR code popped up, and his movements were smooth and seamless.
Yu Ling scanned the QR code. Ding! Her friend accepted. The document swooshed into the conversation.
"Also," Zhao Chen put away his phone, his posture more relaxed, as if he had just signed a big deal:
"Now that we've reached a preliminary agreement, as a token of our sincerity and for the sake of a harmonious and happy future 'living together'... Tomorrow is Saturday... I wonder if Miss Yu... oh, my future roommate, would do me the honor of being here?"
"Roommate?" Yu Ling was stunned.
"I want to invite you," he said, smiling cleanly and harmlessly under the warm yellow light.
"Would you like to come and get to know me? And try my cooking? The home-cooked food is just barely edible." His tone was as casual as asking "Have you eaten?"
Yu Ling was completely confused.
First blind date, flash marriage agreement?
The agreement hasn't even been signed yet, and you're already inviting me to your home?!
This rocket speed?!
She looked at the handsome face that said "I'm super reliable," read the cold agreement on WeChat, and felt the lonely courage that erupted after being forced into a corner...
Chaotic thoughts clashed together, and finally one voice, "clang," prevailed: Go! Let's see what this "ordinary employee's" den looks like! Check it out!
"Okay." She heard her own calm voice, "See you tomorrow."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
