Qian Duoduo checked her schedule and arranged the meeting for Thursday evening. The day before meeting this reliable person, she had a nightmare. In the dream, she had a face full of wrinkles, was wearing a conventional suit, and was holding a briefcase, sitting in an empty conference room waiting for others to appear.
She waited and waited, but no one came. She went outside the conference room to look for them, but every office in the building was empty. The world was as quiet as death, except for the sound of her heels rapidly tapping on the floor.
When Duoduo woke up, she was covered in a cold sweat. She ran to the bathroom, turned on the bright light, and stared at herself in the mirror for a long time. Only after confirming that it was still that rather attractive face did she calm down a little.
That day, she unusually used her lunch break to go to the spa in the building next to the company for a facial. Yi Yi rushed over to meet her. The two of them had their faces covered with green volcanic mud. When they lay on the pink tatami, Yi Yi took out a photo from her exquisite handbag and handed it to Qian Duoduo, saying, "Here, take a look at the photo first."
Qian Duoduo stretched out her hand, which had just been coated with essential oil, and held the corner of the photo up to her eyes to examine it closely. The photo was clearly a candid shot, showing the profile of a man. Although it was blurry, she could still tell that he was very refined and elegant. There were many people in the background, some looking up at him, and others writing with their heads down.
"Teacher?" Qian Duoduo struggled to speak, her face mask thick.
"Yes, he's already an associate professor, Steve's teacher."
Steve's teacher, Qian Duoduo, twitched his eye and looked at the photo again. "Your Steve is almost 40, right? This guy looks about that age. Is he Zhou Botong?"
“Ye Mingshen is not even forty yet!” If it weren’t for the volcanic mud on her face, Yiyi would have almost shouted, “He works at the School of Economics at Fudan University, and he’s a teacher of Steve’s economics and management course.”
Qian Duoduo suddenly realized, "I know, you're talking about that CEO's Exchange Meeting, right?"
“Yes, it’s a place where you meet people like yourself under the guise of training.” Yiyi pointed at the photo. “What do you think? Single, very knowledgeable, and his requirements for a wife are lots of money.”
"Huh?" Qian Duoduo was startled again. "You don't have to be so blunt about wanting to live off a woman, do you?"
"I'm telling you!" Yiyi rolled her eyes. "He's sitting in front of a whole row of female bosses from listed companies. How could you possibly be a gigolo? I'm telling you, your conditions are exactly what he wants."
"Really?" Qian Duoduo pressed for details with her usual serious attitude, "How do you know so much?"
"He talked to Steve about independence, having your own life, not clinging to men all the time, and it's okay to be career-oriented, as long as the couple can appear together at the appropriate times during holidays. Also, don't be too young."
Wow—isn't that Qian Duoduo?
Duo Duo was overjoyed, and the slightly blurry image in the photo in her hand suddenly became radiant. But then she asked, "Why not a young one? Don't men all like young girls?"
Yiyi had already exhausted her explanations, so she closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. "Who knows? Maybe they've been staying in school all the time and are tired of seeing young girls?"
On her way back to the company, Qian Duoduo kept thinking about Professor Ye Mingshen's criteria for choosing a spouse. In fact, her requirements for a man can be summarized in a few sentences: independent, with his own life, not clinging to his wife all day long, and it doesn't matter if he is career-oriented. As long as he can appear together during holidays so that she won't be killed by her mother's resentful eyes, that's fine. Also, of course, he can't be too young, as she is a person of principle.
If Yiyi's information is correct, then she and Mr. Ye are truly a match made in heaven. Thinking about this, Qian Duoduo became happy and filled with anticipation for their meeting the next day.
Chapter Nine
In the afternoon, at the marketing department's supervisor meeting, Qian Duoduo walked behind the director as they entered the meeting room. The foreign head of the Shanghai region personally chaired the meeting, praising the director's work performance over the past few years and congratulating her on her promotion. The director had already received her official transfer order. Today, dressed in a royal blue suit, she smiled broadly amidst the applause. The disappointment of that night seemed like a mirage, leaving no trace on her face.
Duoduo was happy for her too. The next position was the director's long-cherished goal. It's always something to be happy about to get to where she is today and be able to prove that she didn't choose the wrong direction.
We must remember that many others pay the same price but do not receive the corresponding reward; not all efforts will yield results.
The boss announced that the farewell party would be held on Friday night, and at the same time announced the name of the new marketing director. Qian Duoduo sat on the right side of the conference table, opposite Ren Zhiqiang, another senior manager in the marketing department, who was at the same level as her. The two looked at each other amidst applause, and then parted ways at the same time.
Sparks flew. Besides the fleeting glance between a man and a woman, there were many other possible scenarios. Qian Duoduo turned her head and smiled knowingly.
In order to be able to leave work on time the next day, Qian Duoduo worked very late that day. When she got home and opened the door, she was shocked. The living room was brightly lit, and a legal program was playing on TV. Her mother was sitting upright on the sofa, her eyes blazing when she saw her.
"Mom, why aren't you asleep yet? It's so late." Qian Duoduo looked down at her watch.
When Mr. Qian heard the noise, he came out of the study next door, his reading glasses still on his nose, and he was holding a half-open copy of the Romance of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.
Qian Duoduo looked puzzled. Her parents' retirement life was very regular. Usually, they would have been fast asleep by this time. Why were they so energetic today and had been waiting for her until now?
"Duoduo, come sit down here." Mrs. Qian turned off the TV and pointed to the sofa next to her with an air of authority.
As soon as the TV was turned off, all background noise suddenly disappeared, and the room became very quiet. Qian Duoduo sensed something was wrong and looked at her father for help. Her father had already come over and sat down next to his wife. He adjusted his glasses and comforted her, "Duoduo, sit down first. By the way, why did you work so late today? Are you tired?"
"It's alright—" Qian Duoduo sat down next to the sofa, but then felt thirsty and stood up again to pour herself a glass of water.
"Sit down!" Mrs. Qian shouted, and Duoduo almost fell back onto the sofa.
Ignoring her daughter's terrified eyes, Qian's mother said in a firm voice, "Your Aunt Wang called me today."
Aunt Wang was the deputy head of the publicity department at her mother's former factory, and also the person who introduced the honest and kind IT guy to her. As soon as Qian Duoduo heard this, she knew what her mother was going to say next, and immediately raised her hands in surrender, "I already apologized to him, I already said it."
Seeing her daughter's expression, Qian's mother was furious. She stood up abruptly and said, "People are so happy with you, they keep asking what's wrong. I'm telling you, are you serious about finding someone to settle down and get married? Tell the truth! You're not going to sleep until you explain yourself clearly today."
Not allowed to sleep with you? That's too cruel! Qian Duoduo looked pained.
Mr. Qian stepped forward and advised his wife, "Our daughter is coming home so late, let her rest first, we can talk about it tomorrow."
Mrs. Qian glared at her and said, "You should also talk to her. Stop sitting there all the time."
While the two of them were talking back and forth, Qian Duoduo quickly stood up and went to the kitchen to get a cup of water, taking a big gulp first.
When she walked back to the living room, Qian's mother was still glaring at her. Duoduo pleaded, "Mom and Dad, I said I would resolve this this year and I will keep my word. Don't worry."
Mr. Qian tried to smooth things over again, noticing how late it was and feeling a pang of sympathy for his daughter. Mrs. Qian, finally exasperated, tapped Duo Duo's head, "All you ever think about is work! Work will be with you forever? Will work keep you company when you're old? Work—"
"You can cook porridge while you're sick? Okay, okay, I've memorized it all. Go to sleep, Mom and Dad." Qian Duoduo successfully charmed her parents and pushed them into the bedroom in one go.
She quickly finished showering and went into her room. Lying on the bed, she took one last look at the photo. Ye Mingshen, right? She silently repeated the name, then put the photo down and closed her eyes.
Yiyi, it's up to you now. This time, it's all or nothing.
Chapter Ten
The next day, Qian Duoduo, unusually, walked out on time amidst everyone's surprised gazes. As she passed the general manager's office, she encountered Ren Zhiqiang's assistant, Elizabeth, who came out from inside. She glanced at her, but did not greet her and simply brushed past her.
After joining the company, Elizabeth followed Ren Zhiqiang. As a local employee, he had worked for the company for many years and rose to the position of senior manager in the marketing department. Elizabeth had worked diligently and tirelessly for him all the way to this day, and she deserved all the credit and hard work. At this sensitive time, with the two sides clearly separated, there was naturally nothing more to say about her.
Qian Duoduo's eyesight is poor, but the corridor is narrow. When the two of them got close, he caught a glimpse of Elizabeth's earlobe faintly glowing with a suspicious red. He paused for a second, then glanced at the closed door of the general manager's office. He seemed to hear the director's voice in his ear: "We've been to the Arctic Circle. We go everywhere alone. What fun is there to speak of?"
Never mind, Qian Duoduo didn't linger and continued striding forward.
She slept well last night and got up early this morning. She was in high spirits all day, as if she had become the person she used to be. The teacher called her into the office and congratulated her on having a spot in a university directly, but she smiled and refused, saying, "Teacher, this is not my goal."
That time, she got into her first-choice university as she wished, and this time, she is confident in herself as well.
As she got into the car, Qian Duoduo flipped down the rearview mirror, looked at herself in the mirror, and clenched her fist. Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too? This year, this week, she, Qian Duoduo, is going to have her cake and eat it too.
The meeting place was set in the city center. As was Qian Duoduo's old habit, she parked her car at the subway station closest to the company and then took the most convenient and fastest means of transportation.
To show how seriously she took this blind date, she not only meticulously planned her time, choosing the most reliable mode of transportation, but also put thought into her attire. Underneath a classic black long coat, she wore a warm-colored cashmere two-piece set and a knee-length skirt, paired with slender heels, exuding femininity.
At the famous Cantonese restaurant, as soon as Qian Duoduo mentioned his name, the waitress smiled and said, "Mr. Ye has arrived. Please follow me."
When walking behind a lady, check your watch frequently. If you arrive at the right time, being punctual is a virtue, but if a man can arrive ten minutes earlier than his female companion, that would be even more commendable.
The private room was at the end of the corridor on the right, in a quiet corner, next to a clump of green bamboo. It was quite elegant in the lamplight. The hostess pushed open the door, and Ye Mingshen was sitting alone inside, looking down at the menu. Hearing the voice, he looked up and smiled, "You've come?"
His tone was natural and ordinary, and he did not stand up to fawn over anyone. His smile was refined, exactly the same as in the photo.
Qian Duoduo smiled back, and after a brief introduction, the two began to eat and chat. Yi Yi's introduction was indeed reliable. Ye Mingshen was eloquent and humorous, knowledgeable, and never mentioned the word "blind date." He talked about all sorts of things in a wonderful way, and Qian Duoduo listened with great interest.
After all the dishes were cleared away, the waitress served the last cup of jasmine tea. It was only when Qian Duoduo was drinking tea that she realized two hours had passed without her noticing. Ye Mingshen poured her tea and smiled before speaking, "Duoduo, do you know my criteria for choosing a partner?"
Qian Duoduo knew about it, but the fact that the topic of choosing a partner came up on their first meeting was a bit overwhelming for her, even though she's seen a lot about blind dates these days. "I know a little bit about it," she said.
"Very good, what are your terms?"
His question was so direct that Qian Duoduo felt a little embarrassed. "Didn't Yiyi mention it?"
"Yes, he said he wanted to find a partner, which was quite interesting, and I remember it very well."
Qian Duoduo was extremely embarrassed. How could Yiyi have revealed all her cards right from the start? She'd better wait and see how she deals with her.
After feeling embarrassed, she breathed a sigh of relief and spoke with less hesitation, "What do you think?"
"I think it's great." He said, his eyes crinkling with a cheerful expression. "Since we share the same goal, if possible, I hope we can complete the task step by step, and then continue the life we want based on mutual respect and understanding. What do you think?"
Although their goals were indeed aligned, he spoke so smoothly and naturally, as if everything was already a sure thing, and he had planned out the next fifty years. Was he so certain that she would agree? Wasn't he making this decision far too early?
Qian Duoduo was a little embarrassed on the spot and questioned, "It sounds like you don't really need marriage. If you really want to live the life you want, why get married?" Ye Mingshen continued to smile, "Duoduo, aren't you the same?"
Qian Duoduo was speechless. In fact, their thoughts were indeed the same. The perfect partner had suddenly appeared in front of them. They shared the same ideals and were of one mind. However, she did not feel happy at all. She vaguely felt that something was wrong, but she could not say why. Qian Duoduo remained silent.
He didn't urge her to answer. The two of them quietly finished their tea and left the restaurant. It was almost nine o'clock, and the traffic outside was still heavy.
Ye Mingshen drove there, but Duoduo didn't want him to drive her anymore, saying that taking the subway was more convenient. However, he insisted on driving her to her car.
Qian Duoduo's car was parked in an open-air parking lot. Ye Mingshen parked the car on the sidewalk and accompanied her inside. The parking lot was very basic, and the road surface was uneven. Duoduo's heels were delicate, so she walked carefully on tiptoe. Ye Mingshen walked beside her without offering a hand to help her, maintaining a very polite smile and not saying a word.
After getting into the car, Ye Mingshen gentlemanly closed the door for her, then stepped back and stood to the side watching her start the engine. Duoduo rolled down the window, waved goodbye, and he smiled and nodded.
As she stepped on the gas, Qian Duoduo couldn't help but glance at the man in the rearview mirror. He was tall and slender, with a refined and elegant smile, and was indeed pleasing to the eye in the moonlight.
She felt sad as soon as Ye Mingshen disappeared from her sight. In fact, she didn't understand why she was sad. That man was clearly a good match for her. Not only was he a good match, but he was also the best candidate for her to achieve her annual goals. But she was still sad.
Then I started to doubt Ye Mingshen's sexual orientation. Was he gay? Was he eager to find a woman to solve the problem of societal judgment so that he could be free and live happily ever after with his same-sex lover?
Lost in thought, Qian Duoduo parked her car and walked towards her building after arriving home. After a few steps, her phone rang in her bag. It was a text message. Who could it be so late? Duoduo opened it and glanced at it. It contained only a few words: "Duoduo, don't drive next time. I'll take you home."
It was Ye Mingshen. Duoduo didn't want to reply. Holding the phone, she continued walking. Although it was a cold winter night, the moonlight was beautiful. She watched her toes step on the light and shadow, and suddenly wanted to laugh. But the smile faded before it could even open. In the end, she just sighed softly.
Chapter Eleven
On Friday night, Qian Duoduo went to the hotel in the same car as the director. UVL is very considerate of its supervisors; usually, directors already have a company car and driver. When Qian Duoduo met her in the parking lot, the director greeted her in a good mood, "Duoduo, don't drive, come with me today."
Qian Duoduo looked around. It wasn't after get off work hours, and there wasn't much of a person in the garage. But at such a sensitive time, she should avoid suspicion, so she quickly declined, "No need, I'll drive there myself."
The director laughed, "There will be a lot of people toasting later. Can you drink them all? Even if you can, can you drive home? You might as well just park here."
The words were so obvious that Qian Duoduo felt embarrassed to refuse again. After working together for so long, the director had a high opinion of her, so she thought it would be good to say a few words before the last opportunity came.
It was a spacious German car, and the driver, always professional, kept his head down and drove without looking back. The director, naturally radiant and filled with emotion, sighed as he looked out the window at the street scene, "I'm about to leave this country. I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to come back again."
"Now, flying around the world takes only a day. Whether it's for work or travel, you can come back to visit anytime you want."
"Yes, you should come to Paris sometime."
“Paris, oh, last time I went there for a meeting, I almost got my hand kissed raw. You should be careful if you’re stationed there.” Qian Duoduo took a breath and spoke in a serious tone.
Traditionally, people are forgotten once they leave, but Qian Duoduo is the opposite. Without the superior-subordinate relationship, it's easier and more pleasant to talk to him.
The director laughed heartily, all the last vestiges of his sentimental feelings vanishing.
When we were almost at the hotel, Duoduo insisted on getting off the bus early and walking there alone.
The party was held in the banquet hall on the third floor. When she entered, almost everyone else had already arrived, but there was an empty seat for her at the table where her name tag was displayed.
As she walked past, Qian Duoduo felt countless piercing gazes sweeping across her back, intentionally or unintentionally. If those gazes were tangible, she thought she would have been cut into countless pieces long ago.
However, it was all just a feeling. Qian Duoduo was nearsighted and had astigmatism. At night, she was completely oblivious to everything in front of her. Except when she was driving, she never tried to improve her vision in any way. Moreover, she habitually only paid attention to the area within three feet in front of her and did not care about the various people and scenery around her.