German Restaurant, second-floor private room.
Yan Fanghua and Shen Wanqing sat on the left side of the table, while two unfamiliar women occupied the seats on the right.
Lu Zhixia stood in the doorway, her expression icy cold.
Shen Wanqing glanced at her quietly, her heart twisting like it had been gouged by a sharp knife, the pain sharp and intense.
“Come on in and sit down,” Yan Fanghua called, waving her over. Her eyes caught on the stitches at the corner of Lu Zhixia’s brow, making her frown, but with others present, she couldn’t ask outright.
Shen Wanqing forced a smile, and that was enough to keep Lu Zhixia from storming out and slamming the door behind her.
On the way over, Shen Wanqing had already explained the truth about the dinner: it was a blind date arranged by Yan Fanghua.
Lu Zhixia had immediately wanted to call Yan Fanghua and cancel, but Shen Wanqing had talked her out of it. Since they were good friends of Professor Yan, she suggested Lu Zhixia give them some face.
Yan Fanghua took charge of the introductions. “Little Xia, this is your Auntie Yang—she was my college classmate, old friends for years. And this is…” She smiled. “Why don’t you introduce yourself?”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Yang Zhiqiao.” The young woman didn’t look much older than Lu Zhixia. She flashed a bright smile, revealing neat little white teeth. Her outfit was sunny and vibrant, her eyes sparkling with energy.
Lu Zhixia nodded politely, her introduction cool and distant. “Hello, I’m Lu Zhixia.” She barely touched the other woman’s hand in a perfunctory handshake.
Yan Fanghua chided her affectionately. “Look at this girl, still so shy after all these years. Don’t mind her, Yang-jie. And Zhiqiao, don’t take it to heart—Little Xia’s usually a lot more lively.”
“It’s fine.” Yang Zhiqiao laughed generously. “I know who you are. I’ve seen you on the news. You’re even prettier in person.”
Lu Zhixia offered a polite smile but said nothing.
“Your face…” Yang Zhiqiao ventured, taking the initiative.
Lu Zhixia brushed it off casually. “Just a little bump.”
Inwardly, Yan Fanghua thought: Yeah, right.
Normally so chatty, Lu Zhixia was at a loss for words today. The table stayed lively only thanks to Yan Fanghua catching up with her old friend.
Shen Wanqing tended toward quiet anyway, and today was no exception. She chimed in occasionally.
Yang Zhiqiao, for her part, was outgoing and tried to strike up conversations, but Lu Zhixia limited herself to polite responses, showing no extra enthusiasm.
Yan Fanghua orchestrated things, urging the two young women to add each other on WeChat for future chats.
Lu Zhixia hesitated, but when Yang Zhiqiao pulled up her QR code, she had no choice but to scan it.
Emboldened, Yang Zhiqiao then offered it to Shen Wanqing as well.
Shen Wanqing added her without fuss. Yang Zhiqiao smiled. “What should I call you?”
“Whatever works,” Shen Wanqing replied mildly, and Yang Zhiqiao suggested, “I heard Zhixia call you Big Sister, so if it’s okay, I’ll call you that too.”
Lu Zhixia bristled. That was her Big Sister, no one else’s. She cut in coolly, “Calling everyone Big Sister lacks creativity. Might as well come up with something new.”
“What’s there to change?” Yan Fanghua interjected. “By age, she should call you Big Sister.”
“It’s no big deal,” Shen Wanqing said smoothly. “Friends don’t stand on ceremony. Just call me Wanqing, and I’ll call you Zhiqiao.”
“Little Qiao works fine for me.” Yang Zhiqiao beamed, her temperament sunny and easygoing.
In the end, thanks to Shen Wanqing, Lu Zhixia held onto her exclusive right to call her Big Sister.
After enduring one forced scene after another that evening, Lu Zhixia was already in a foul mood. Yan Fanghua even tried to push the young people to keep talking. “Wanqing, are you heading back home tonight?” She waved a hand. “Little Xia, Little Qiao just got back from abroad and hasn’t checked out the local night market yet. Why don’t you show her around?”
Lu Zhixia’s brows furrowed. Shen Wanqing saw it clearly and, sensing an outburst brewing, stepped in. “I’ve never really explored it either. Mind if I tag along?”
The dinner had left Lu Zhixia uncomfortable, but Yan Fanghua was even more frustrated. She fired off a message: You little rascal, what’s gotten into you tonight? Whoever pissed you off, take it up with them. Little Qiao’s got a good impression of you, and she’s a nice girl. Behave yourself.
That message alone lit Lu Zhixia’s fuse. Then the next one made her explode: I had a quiet word with Wanqing tonight. She thinks Little Qiao’s a good match for you too. Give it a real shot.
And right after: You’re getting harder to handle by the day. What’s with those stitches on your brow? Who’d you get into a fight with?
Lu Zhixia was about to fire back when Yang Zhiqiao called out, “Zhixia, ready to go?”
She glanced over her shoulder. Shen Wanqing was watching her, and their eyes met. She curved her lips into a smile.
Fine. Lu Zhixia pocketed her phone. She’d treat it as a night market stroll with Big Sister.
With Shen Wanqing by her side and Yan Fanghua absent, Lu Zhixia perked up a bit.
She eagerly introduced the street food to Shen Wanqing and, out of courtesy, included Yang Zhiqiao too.
Shen Wanqing didn’t have much appetite, but she took a taste of everything Lu Zhixia bought.
Yang Zhiqiao kept glancing back at the four bodyguards trailing behind them. She whispered, “Are they going to follow us the whole time like this?”
“Yes.” Shen Wanqing had barely finished answering when Lu Zhixia tugged her sleeve and dragged her over to a nearby stall. “Big Sister, isn’t this keychain adorable?”
Yang Zhiqiao had sharp eyes. “It’s a couple’s set, too.”
A pair of little dogs: the white one wore a crown and hung its head low; the black one had a flower in its mouth and smugly lifted its chin.
Lu Zhixia bought them, detached the white one, and handed it to Shen Wanqing.
With a sidelong glance at Yang Zhiqiao—who was still intently browsing—Shen Wanqing watched as Lu Zhixia quickly stuffed it into her own shopping bag instead. “Big Sister, I bought too much already. This one’s for you.”
Yang Zhiqiao selected a little cat and a teddy bear. “Which one’s cuter?”
“The cat,” Shen Wanqing said.
“What about Zhixia?”
Lu Zhixia glanced over. “Big Sister’s right.”
Yang Zhiqiao kept the cat. Lu Zhixia batted away her phone. “Let me buy it for you.”
She hesitated, but Lu Zhixia said tactfully, “Just think of it as a little first-meeting gift. All your expenses tonight are on me.”
They passed a stall selling roasted sweet potato skins, and Lu Zhixia bought one. Turning back, she asked Yang Zhiqiao, “Want to try?”
“Is it good?” Yang Zhiqiao tilted her head toward Shen Wanqing to see if she wanted any. Lu Zhixia jiggled the bag she was carrying for her. “One’s enough for Big Sister and me, right?”
“Yeah, I can’t eat too much.” Shen Wanqing smiled.
Lu Zhixia asked the vendor to cut it into small pieces. She speared one, blew on it, and held it up to Shen Wanqing’s lips. “Ahh—”
Shen Wanqing said helplessly, “I’m not a little kid.”
Lu Zhixia grinned mischievously. “You’re a big kid. Ahh—”
Shen Wanqing gestured for her to feed Yang Zhiqiao a piece instead. Lu Zhixia turned away and started shoving big bites into her own mouth.
Her cheeks puffed out like little buns as she huffed and puffed, clearly sulking over Shen Wanqing’s words from before. Ignoring her, she scarfed down several more bites and let out a little huff.
Yang Zhiqiao ate hers happily, heaping praise on Lu Zhixia’s recommendation.
Lu Zhixia had gotten the mild version; Yang Zhiqiao’s was slightly spicy. She offered Shen Wanqing a taste.
Yang Zhiqiao watched eagerly, hoping for some interaction. Shen Wanqing figured she’d humor her and started to lean in—but Lu Zhixia darted forward and chomped it down herself. Chewing with exaggerated seriousness, she declared, “Even mild is pretty spicy. Big Sister’s stomach can’t handle it.”
“Then I won’t. Thanks, Little Qiao.” Shen Wanqing tugged Lu Zhixia aside and whispered, “That’s enough.”
Lu Zhixia pretended not to hear. Raising her voice, she said, “Big Sister, second milk tea’s half price. Let’s get two!”
The bodyguards following behind exchanged worried looks. President Shen’s delicate stomach…
Shen Wanqing was actually game to try it. The half-price deal had been Lu Zhixia’s idea for the two of them to share. But Shen Wanqing suggested Lu Zhixia and Yang Zhiqiao do it instead—she’d just have a sip.
Whether on purpose or not, Lu Zhixia grabbed only one straw.
She stuck it in and let Shen Wanqing take the first sip. When Yang Zhiqiao kindly offered her a second one, Lu Zhixia waved it off. “No need.”
She slurped down a big mouthful, drinking contentedly.
By the time they finished strolling the night market, it was well past midnight.
Lu Zhixia didn’t have a car and suggested calling a ride for Yang Zhiqiao.
But Yang Zhiqiao shook her head. “I’ve got mine right here. I can drive you.”
“Ah, no need—I’ll ride with Big Sister.” Smiling, Lu Zhixia turned to Shen Wanqing. “Big Sister, can I crash at your place tonight?”
Shen Wanqing held up her phone for Lu Zhixia to see. Her face fell, and she shot back, “Nope. I’ll just call her.”
Shen Wanqing pulled Lu Zhixia aside and murmured a few coaxing words. Only then did she reluctantly trail after Yang Zhiqiao.
Yan Fanghua had wanted Lu Zhixia to come home that night, but Shen Wanqing politely declined, saying she wouldn’t be going.
On the drive home, with Yang Zhiqiao at the wheel, Lu Zhixia kept WeChatting Shen Wanqing, whining that she didn’t want to go back.
Shen Wanqing messaged back: Yang Zhiqiao’s a nice person. Give the girl a little face.
Face—Lu Zhixia would give it, if Yang Zhiqiao wanted it.
When they reached the house, Lu Zhixia paused before getting out. “Yang Zhiqiao, I have a few things to say. They might come off as rude, but I need to get them out.”
“Oh, of course. Go ahead.” Yang Zhiqiao unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to face her.
Lu Zhixia—who’d been mulling it over the whole ride—laid it out plainly. “I don’t know what our parents talked about, or what you think of me. But here’s where I stand.”
She politely complimented Yang Zhiqiao at first, but then got to the point: she really wasn’t into blind dates right now, and she didn’t want to find love that way. With an apologetic smile, she said, “If I was rude tonight, please forgive me. I’d love to be friends, but romance? I’m just not interested.”
Yang Zhiqiao nodded with a smile. “Got it. Actually, I only found out it was a blind date when I arrived at the restaurant tonight.”
Lu Zhixia felt even more embarrassed and sighed helplessly. “Our mothers’ generation—they all love to take control of their kids’ lives.”
Yang Zhiqiao nodded in agreement. “True enough, though you can understand it. They’re not doing it out of malice.”
“I know,” Lu Zhixia said candidly, “but I don’t like other people mapping out my future for me.” When it came to love, she had her own ideas. “I’ll always honor my mother, but that doesn’t mean I’ll obey her blindly in everything.”
Yang Zhiqiao reached out her hand. “Same here. Here’s to mutual understanding.”
Now that she knew there were no romantic intentions at play, Lu Zhixia shook her hand with easy generosity. “Then let’s be friends from now on. If you ever need anything, just say the word—I’ll help however I can.”
“Sure,” Yang Zhiqiao said with a smile. Her gaze fell on the Little Dog keychain nestled in Lu Zhixia’s palm, and she added enviously, “You and your big sister are really close.”
“It’s not bad,” Lu Zhixia replied. She pushed open the car door and took the lead in saying goodbye. “Thanks so much. Drive safe.”
“Mm, you take care of yourself too.” Yang Zhiqiao pointed at a spot near Lu Zhixia’s brow, and she nodded her thanks.
Lu Zhixia headed homeward when her phone buzzed. She had been texting Shen Wanqing but glanced at the notification and saw it was from Yang Zhiqiao.
The message began: “You can rest assured, because I am…”
Lu Zhixia tapped it open and froze in shock.
Yang Zhiqiao: “You can rest assured—I think I’m gay. I hope you’ll keep this between us. How about we be each other’s alibis for a while? That way, our families won’t keep setting us up on blind dates.”
Lu Zhixia mulled it over. She needed to talk this through with Shen Wanqing.
She was still thinking when Yang Zhiqiao fired off the next message. Lu Zhixia nearly dropped her phone.
