Chapter 9: Aren’t You Going to Add Me?

“Add me?”

Tan Qingya was a little surprised.

Plenty of people had wanted to add her over the years, and she had all sorts of polite ways to turn them down. But none of them seemed right this time, because before she could even speak, a mist had already gathered in the other woman’s eyes.

“…”

Heaven knows, she hadn’t said a harsh word.

Yet the woman opposite her tried to steady herself and added, “President Tan’s picking out a wife for me. Aren’t you going to keep in touch?”

Her voice trembled terribly.

How could she look so pitiful?

Something like a soft brush tickled the bottom of Tan Qingya’s heart. Fighting the itch, she nodded with elegant poise. “Yes, let’s keep in touch.”

She pulled out her phone and opened WeChat, only then realizing she’d never once asked anyone to add her before. Now she couldn’t even find her own QR code.

What an embarrassment for an adult not to know where her own QR code was.

In a few quick seconds, she looked up. “Should I scan you?”

“Sure.”

With a beep, Zhou Jianghao’s WeChat profile appeared on her screen. The profile picture was a perfectly ordinary landscape photo. How did a young woman end up with such a middle-aged vibe?

Suppressing her inner critique, Tan Qingya tapped to add her.

Zhou Jianghao accepted almost immediately. Seeing the message [You’ve passed my friend verification request. We can start chatting now], Tan Qingya almost laughed.

“All set.” Now that they were connected on WeChat, Zhou Jianghao visibly relaxed and took a step back. Politely, she said, “Take care, President Tan.”

See? Just like Little Beauty.

Every time she needed something, she played pitiful. The moment she got it, she turned unfriendly.

Resisting the urge to pat her on the head, Tan Qingya leaned lazily against the car seat and hummed in acknowledgment.

This time, Zhou Jianghao had made her requests clear. Tan Qingya had thought finding a wife to her liking would be straightforward, but after actually trying, she realized it was anything but.

After days of careful screening, she had selected a few young heirs from reputable families. Their backgrounds weren’t quite on par with the Tan Family, but they were well-off, and their reputations suggested good temperaments.

But it was as if Zhou Jianghao had suddenly wised up. Every single one Tan Qingya had so carefully picked was rejected by Zhou Jianghao without even meeting them.

And her reasons were all perfectly logical—Tan Qingya couldn’t argue with a single one. After all, she was the one who’d told her that a lifelong commitment couldn’t be rushed into with just anyone.

Now that Zhou Jianghao was taking it seriously, Tan Qingya couldn’t very well slap her own face and tell her to settle for less.

Logic was logic, but Tan Qingya’s patience was wearing thin. She doubted she’d put this much thought into picking a wife for herself.

After several days like this, one night she jolted awake from a nightmare about selecting Zhou Jianghao’s spouse. Her eyes darkened, and she suddenly decided she couldn’t let this drag on.

The next day, she made arrangements right away and messaged Zhou Jianghao to meet up.

“President Tan, are you coming along?” After getting out of the car, Zhou Jianghao saw Tan Qingya following her and pressed her lips together before asking.

“Mm.”

Tan Qingya nodded.

Zhou Jianghao had only stayed with the Tan Family temporarily for a few years. If she went alone, she might be looked down on. Tan Qingya going in person would lend her some face.

The girl she brought personally carried far more weight than those Tan Family juniors trading on the family name.

As she pondered this, a sudden itch prickled her palm.

She froze and looked down instinctively.

It was Zhou Jianghao’s hand—whether deliberate or accidental, it had brushed lightly against the side of hers, sending tingles through her skin.

Glancing at Zhou Jianghao, Tan Qingya saw her face stiff with tension, sweat beading on her exposed forehead. It must have been an accident.

Zhou Jianghao pulled back a little, pretending nothing had happened.

But seconds later, cool fingers wrapped around Tan Qingya’s pinky. The sensation was utterly unfamiliar, that chill carrying a faint, buzzing current that kept traveling up her arm.

Tan Qingya rarely had physical contact with anyone. She instinctively tried to pull away but couldn’t.

“What’s wrong?” She had no choice but to stop walking.

“I’m a little scared.” Zhou Jianghao’s face was full of discomfort, her ears red as chili peppers. This was her first time doing something like this—an act verging on seduction—and she could hardly bring herself to look up at Tan Qingya.

Awkward and stiff as she was, the grip on Tan Qingya’s finger didn’t loosen.

Tan Qingya gave a half-smile. “But you’re about to snap my pinky off.”

“Ah!” Zhou Jianghao flushed even deeper and immediately let go of that slender finger. A red mark stood out on the pale skin where she’d gripped it, looking glaringly obvious. Embarrassed, she mumbled, “Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Zhou Jianghao’s fully flushed face was too adorable. A strange sense of relief washed away the earlier discomfort, and Tan Qingya simply reached out, taking the other woman’s cool hand in her own. “Don’t be scared.”

The poor girl was nervous for her first blind date, no doubt.

She led her into the restaurant, which was empty save for the staff. Tan Qingya frowned slightly.

They had arrived right on time, but Miss Lu still hadn’t shown.

Tan Qingya’s expression soured. She guessed the woman had no idea she would come personally and was deliberately late—a power play aimed at Zhou Jianghao.

After five minutes, she turned to the waiter standing nearby and said coldly, “Serve the food. No one else comes in.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The waiter scurried off, trembling.

With the restaurant reserved, Tan Qingya’s eyes now flashed with irritation. The atmosphere grew heavy and stifling in an instant.

Zhou Jianghao fidgeted uneasily with her fingertips. After a moment, eyeing the array of dishes on the table, she ventured, “Aren’t we waiting for Miss Lu?”

If she remembered right, this restaurant had been booked by that Miss Lu.

“Since she can’t even be punctual, there’s no need to meet.” Suppressing her annoyance, Tan Qingya looked at Zhou Jianghao. “She doesn’t meet your standards anyway.”

The woman clearly fell short of devoting herself wholeheartedly to Zhou Jianghao.

At those words, Zhou Jianghao tightened her grip on her chopsticks.

Tan Qingya seemed truly serious about finding her a wife, yet here she was, scheming against her alongside Old Madam.

Guilt welled up in her heart.

Once all the dishes were served, the waiter hesitated for a moment before asking, “President Tan, should we proceed with the original program’s planned activities?”

Tan Qingya paused mid-bite.

“Go ahead.” She let out a laugh that didn’t reach her eyes. She wanted to see just what else Miss Lu had prepared—and how sincere it really was.

Minutes later, a group arrived: a pre-arranged band. The music was decent enough, but Tan Qingya had attended countless performances by master musicians. This hardly impressed her.

Of course, none of that compared to the annoyance of the server standing beside them, holding a massive bouquet of roses.

The floral scent was overpowering, making Tan Qingya’s head swim. She was about to tell them to toss it when she glanced up and saw Zhou Jianghao’s eyes light up at the flowers. She looked like she loved them.

The words died on her tongue.

Zhou Jianghao had seemed listless the whole way, but the flowers brought some spark to her. She really was still so young—a few roses had her completely enchanted.

Tan Qingya, only a few years older herself, held her breath, took the bouquet, and quickly shoved it toward Zhou Jianghao. “Here.”

“Thank you.”

Zhou Jianghao murmured her thanks, pleasure shining in her eyes.

She was beautiful, yet she always kept such a straight face, like a romantic dunce with no appreciation for the softer things. In truth, though, she adored flowers—all kinds—and these roses were exorbitantly expensive. She’d delivered them as a delivery girl during her part-time gigs, never dreaming she’d receive some herself one day.

In her good mood, Zhou Jianghao even ate a bit more than usual. But the moment she set down her chopsticks, she caught Tan Qingya’s gaze sweeping over.

“Full?”

“Yes.”

Zhou Jianghao nodded. She’d eaten at least half again her normal portion.

“Sure?” Tan Qingya furrowed her brow. If memory served, the girl had barely touched her food. Plenty of dishes remained untouched on the table.

“My appetite’s small. I’m full.” Then, in her usual mild tone, Zhou Jianghao added, “Thank you, President Tan.”

Tan Qingya’s gaze lingered on the woman’s bony wrist. She shook her head inwardly. No wonder she was skinny as a rail with an appetite that tiny.