Chapter 126: The Blind Date Dinner
Chapter 126: The Blind Date Dinner
Night fell, and the city lights were dazzling. It was another night of extravagant indulgence.
A ride-hailing car stopped in front of Heping Restaurant. Li Zian and Yu Meilin got out of the car.
“Meilin, who is this friend you invited? What’s their name? It’ll be easier to greet them later when we meet.” Li Zian thought Meilin would talk about her friend on the way here, but she didn’t mention it even as they reached the restaurant entrance. He had to ask himself.
Yu Meilin smiled. “No rush, I’ll introduce you when we meet.” She glanced at her wristwatch and added, “They should be here by now.”
She was being mysterious. Since she didn’t say, Li Zian felt it wasn’t right to press further. He said, “Maybe we should go inside and wait.”
“When will Chuntao come?” Yu Meilin asked.
Li Zian’s mind uncontrollably flashed a few images, and he felt a bit guilty inside, but his expression remained calm. “I told her, and she agreed. When she’ll arrive, I don’t know. Probably around now.”
“Then let’s go in and wait,” Yu Meilin said.
Li Zian nodded and walked toward the restaurant entrance.
Just then, a taxi stopped by the roadside. The door opened, and a young woman stepped out. She wore a red spaghetti strap dress and black high heels, with a slim waist, long legs, and a delicate small bag slung over her shoulder. She was a striking sight the moment she appeared.
Mu Chuntao had arrived.
Li Zian wanted to greet her, but he was afraid his true feelings would show and give him away. He swallowed the greeting words back down.
Yu Meilin walked forward with a smile. “Chuntao, Zian and I were just talking about you, and here you are. What a coincidence.”
Mu Chuntao opened her arms and hugged Yu Meilin warmly, her voice sweet. “Sister Meilin, I missed you so much.”
Yu Meilin hugged her back. “I missed you too.”
Li Zian was left aside. Watching Yu Meilin and Mu Chuntao embrace, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Wasn’t the phoniness a bit too strong?
The fake sisters separated. Mu Chuntao glanced at Li Zian and greeted him. “Brother Zian, good evening.”
Li Zian also greeted her earnestly. “Good evening, Chuntao.”
“Let’s go inside,” Yu Meilin said, walking over and linking her arm with Li Zian’s.
Li Zian’s arm stiffened slightly. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Mu Chuntao and saw her lips twitch slightly.
But he couldn’t push Yu Meilin’s hand away. After all, she had the certificate; she could legally hold his arm. Mu Chuntao could only watch. Not only did she dare not stop it, she didn’t dare show her true feelings.
Who made the other the legal wife?
You could secretly drive the car, but facing the owner, you didn’t dare even touch the door, let alone grab the gearshift.
“Sister Meilin, didn’t you say there was another friend? Haven’t they arrived yet?” Mu Chuntao found a topic to distract herself.
“They should be here soon. Let’s go in first,” Yu Meilin said.
“Who is that friend? Do I know them?” Mu Chuntao asked again.
“You don’t know them, but I think you’ll get along very well,” Yu Meilin said with a smile.
Li Zian thought Yu Meilin would tell Mu Chuntao who the friend was, but she was still keeping it a secret even from Mu Chuntao. Who was this mysterious friend? His curiosity grew heavier, but he couldn’t be bothered to ask. If someone deliberately created mystery, and you insisted on prying, wouldn’t that be annoying?
The three entered the hall. A young man stood up from a sofa, smoothed his suit jacket, and greeted with a smile, “Meilin.”
Li Zian turned to look. The young man was about his height, with a slicked-back undercut hairstyle that was very distinctive. His face wasn’t bad either, with delicate features—quite a handsome man.
But compared to him, he was still lacking a bit.
The young man walked toward the three, a faint smile always on his face, giving an impression of elegance and grace.
This young man was clearly the “friend” Yu Meilin mentioned. But until he spoke, Li Zian had thought the mysterious “friend” was a woman. He didn’t expect it to be a man. Seeing the young man’s graceful smile, he suddenly remembered someone Yu Meilin had once mentioned—Qin Song.
That day, when Yu Meilin invited Mu Long and Mu Chuntao to dinner at home, she mentioned in front of Mu Long that she wanted to introduce a boyfriend to Mu Chuntao. He had forgotten about this person and this matter. Now, suddenly remembering, he felt very awkward.
“Husband, let me introduce you. This is Qin Song,” Yu Meilin said.
So it was Qin Song.
Suppressing the urge to turn and leave, Li Zian forced a faint smile on his face. “Hello, Mr. Qin.”
Yu Meilin said, “This is my husband, Li Zian.”
“Mr. Li, I’ve long heard Meilin talk about you. I’ve been wanting to meet you. Pleased to meet you,” Qin Song said, extending his hand.
Li Zian shook hands with Qin Song and said politely, “Nice to meet you.”
There wasn’t a trace of a smile on Mu Chuntao’s face. She had also heard the name Qin Song that day when Yu Meilin mentioned setting her up. But she never expected Yu Meilin would bring Li Zian along to introduce her to a match!
“Qin Song, this is my good friend, Mu Chuntao,” Yu Meilin said with a smile.
Qin Song looked at Mu Chuntao with a smile, deliberately maintaining an elegant and graceful demeanor, but he couldn’t hide the excitement and admiration deep inside. It showed in his eyes—the way he looked at Mu Chuntao held a slight sparkle.
This was completely normal because Mu Chuntao was too beautiful. Her love for sports gave her a figure that could make any man’s heart race. The fat on her body was just right, with a bit of an athlete’s muscular tone, yet she had a Peach Blossom Face, delicate and touching like Lin Daiyu from Dream of the Red Chamber, evoking pity and affection.
For a man not to be moved by such a beauty, had he perhaps worked in the Eastern Depot or Western Depot?
Qin Song kept his composure perfectly. After gazing at Mu Chuntao for two seconds, he stepped forward, smiling, and extended his hand to her. “Miss Mu, hello. It’s my honor to meet you.”
Li Zian inwardly scoffed.
So the sucking up starts now.
Mu Chuntao reached out and shook Qin Song’s hand, saying flatly, “Thank you. Hello, Mr. Qin.”
Yu Meilin said with a smile, “I booked a private room. Let’s go in.”
She linked her arm with Li Zian’s.
Qin Song intentionally or unintentionally walked beside Mu Chuntao, neither too close nor too far—just right.
Li Zian thought to himself, This guy is probably a veteran in romance. He’s got the vibe perfectly under control. If he were as handsome as me, wouldn’t that be something?
Why he thought this, he didn’t know himself.
“Sister Meilin, you invited Mr. Qin. Why didn’t you call me?” Mu Chuntao couldn’t help but say it.
Yu Meilin smiled. “I wanted to give you a surprise. You look very happy, which means my little goal was achieved, right?”
Mu Chuntao pressed her lips into a smile.
Achieved your sister!
Qin Song said with a smile, “I didn’t know Miss Mu was coming either. This really is a surprise. I can’t believe how beautiful Miss Mu is. After seeing you, I don’t even know what to say.”
Li Zian sighed inwardly. What a bootlicker.
But he had to admit, for a first meeting, that sentence helped Yu Meilin, the matchmaker, save face, praised Mu Chuntao’s beauty, and expressed his own admiration all at once. This guy sucked up with skill.
If Li Zian had to suck up himself, he truly couldn’t reach this level.
Mu Chuntao just smiled faintly. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Yu Meilin’s arm linked with Li Zian’s, a hint of jealousy flashing in her eyes.
Sister is really not happy!
My man is being held by you, and you’re setting me up with someone!
If you piss sister off, tonight I’ll come to your house to deliver Taozi!
They entered the private room, and Yu Meilin ordered the dishes.
Qin Song said with a smile, “I usually don’t drink, but today I’m just too happy. How about we have some drinks? What do you think?”
Mu Chuntao didn’t even glance at him. She was looking at a fork in front of her. Half of Li Zian’s body was reflected on its shiny handle.
Even his reflection in the fork looked so handsome.
She was truly hopeless.
Yu Meilin said, “Sure. Anyway, none of us drove. We can take a taxi back later. Husband, what do you think we should drink?”
Li Zian said, “You decide.”
Yu Meilin smiled. “You’re the man. You decide.”
Li Zian waved to a waiter.
The waiter walked over and bowed slightly. “Sir, how may I help you?”
Li Zian said, “Do you have vodka?”
“Yes.”
“Then bring a bottle of the highest proof,” Li Zian said.
“Okay, please wait a moment,” the waiter left.
Qin Song stared at Li Zian in confusion.
He wondered if he had been too subtle when he said he usually didn’t drink, and Mr. Li didn’t understand, so he ordered vodka and specifically asked for the highest proof?
Mu Chuntao suppressed a laugh.
Yu Meilin felt a bit awkward. She leaned close to Li Zian’s ear and whispered, “Husband, I thought you’d order red wine. Tonight is Chuntao and Qin Song’s blind date. Why did you order vodka?”
Li Zian lowered his voice. “Didn’t you tell me to decide? You’re treating. Red wine is so expensive—decent ones cost thousands or even tens of thousands per bottle, and it doesn’t even get you properly drunk. Vodka gets you drunk and it’s cheap.”
Yu Meilin: “…”
Mu Chuntao took out her mobile phone from her small bag and looked at it.
Qin Song said with a smile, “Miss Mu, would it be convenient to add each other on WeChat?”
Mu Chuntao said, “Sorry, my WeChat account got hacked.”
Qin Song’s smile immediately froze on his face, but after two seconds it returned naturally. “It’s fine to add after you recover it. My account got hacked before too. There are so many hacking methods nowadays—it’s really hard to guard against.”
Mu Chuntao gave a slight smile, politely.
Li Zian silently prayed inside.
If only someone would call Qin Song right now and tell him his house was on fire.
This blind date dinner was just too awkward.