"Male guest, what the lady just said about not supporting her parents in their old age—is that something you can accept?"
The Matchmaker suddenly asked.
Having been in the business for so many years, this Matchmaker had seen it all. She knew that agreeing on the matter of supporting one’s parents was crucial in determining whether a blind date could proceed.
If they couldn’t even agree on this, there was no point in continuing.
Zhang Zhe answered with some hesitation.
He wasn’t sure under what conditions the system would consider the blind date "complete."
Perhaps sensing his thoughts,
the system chimed with a DING~ and a notification popped up:
"Please take the blind date seriously, Host."
"Even if you are not satisfied with the current blind date partner, please maintain your image. Avoid letting a bad experience ruin potential future matches."
’The system makes a good point.’
Zhang Zhe thought for a moment. ’Fine, I’ll play it straight. I’ll just pretend I’m really on a date with this square lady.’
’It’s a bit ridiculous. If I met a woman like this in person, I’d turn around and walk away immediately.’
’But since we’re already halfway through, I might as well see it out. I’ll just consider it a life experience.’
He told the Matchmaker, "I can’t really accept not supporting one’s parents."
"But regarding the marital home, if my partner intends to buy a house, I can contribute 50%."
The Matchmaker nodded and turned to the woman. "Female guest, what are your thoughts?"
"I don’t think that’s acceptable," Qi Chunmei said rapidly. "I think my demands are already very low. All I’m asking for is a house; I’m not even asking for a car."
"These days, many women demand a car, a house, and a betrothal gift before they’ll marry. Someone like me, who only asks to have her name added to the house deed, is a rare find."
"Are my demands excessive?"
[She’s actually telling the truth.]
[It’s because there are too many simps these days, it’s messing up the market.]
[To put it bluntly, she just wants to get a free house from some guy by marrying him.]
[They demand a car, a house, and a betrothal gift, but what about the dowry? Does she think all women are from Gan Province? The guys aren’t stupid.]
"Adding your name to the deed of the marital home, what does the male guest think?" The Matchmaker once again sought Zhang Zhe’s opinion.
Just as Zhang Zhe was about to answer, someone knocked on his door.
Then, Mrs. Zhang’s voice came from outside:
"Son, are you on a blind date?"
"I saw you on Li Erniang’s livestream."
"We have a marital home, don’t say the wrong thing."
"Your father and I have already discussed it. When you get married, we’ll sell your dad’s car, and with the money we’ve saved these past two years, it’ll be enough for a down payment."
Zhang Zhe shook his head in resignation. "Mom, if I want to buy a house, the money I’ve saved is enough for a down payment. You don’t need to worry about this."
"I’ll talk to you after the blind date is over."
After dealing with his family, Zhang Zhe finally answered the Matchmaker:
"Betrothal gifts and such can be discussed separately, but for the house, I can only accept both parties contributing 50% and putting both our names on the deed."
"Fine, then there’s nothing more to talk about." The woman bypassed the Matchmaker and addressed Zhang Zhe directly. "I thought a highly educated programmer like you would respect women. But, heh, it turns out you just want to take advantage of them."
"No wonder a person like you can’t find a wife."
"Host, I suggest you don’t even bother editing a video for this guy. Coming on a blind date without even having a marital home... what a weirdo."
"Actually, it’s quite normal not to have a marital home," the Matchmaker, being a reasonable person, said reasonably. "Besides, buying a house isn’t even safe these days. What if you end up with a stalled construction project? You’ll be miserable for the rest of your life."
"Are there many people like him? HAHAHA, well, that’s a load off my mind." The woman suddenly laughed. "I was wondering why someone as excellent as me couldn’t find a partner. It turns out the quality of men these days is just too low."
"Sigh, no wonder."
"It seems being too excellent is also a flaw!"
Zhang Zhe hadn’t expected the woman to start waxing philosophical.
’If being a square counts as ’excellent,’ then what on earth counts as not?’
"Um, excuse me." Zhang Zhe gestured at the camera. "Ms. Qi, our blind date is over now, right?"
"Of course it’s over. What, are you going to change your mind?"
"No, not at all." Zhang Zhe shook his head. "Since it’s over, then..."
"I suggest that when you have time, you should interact with other women who are also on the dating scene and compare yourself to them."
"In reality, blind dating isn’t a competition between men and women. It’s a competition between you and other women."
"The reason you’re not married yet isn’t because of men; it’s because you haven’t been able to compete with other women. Do you understand?"
"The overbearing CEO didn’t fall in love with you not because there’s something wrong with him, but because you’re not as good as his pampered young wife. Get it?"
[The young man’s got a point.]
[Exactly! Women are competing with other women, what’s it got to do with men?]
[You guys don’t actually think she’s capable of understanding this, do you?]
[There are plenty of men willing to buy a car, a house, and pay a betrothal gift, but they just won’t choose you. Can you handle that?]
"The male guest is absolutely right!" The Matchmaker gave him a thumbs-up. "Your perspective has universal value."
"I want to clip this part for a video. Is that okay, male guest? I can blur out your face."
"No problem," Zhang Zhe nodded.
At this moment, the square lady, who hadn’t been able to get a word in, finally found her chance to speak. "Say whatever you want. I wouldn’t have you anyway. You can just keep going on blind dates and wait for some stupid woman who wants nothing to fall into your trap."
"Okay, I’ll take that as a blessing," Zhang Zhe replied with a smile and a nod.
"You..." The woman looked as if she had just choked on her own fury. After a snort, she silently left the livestream.
[She’s finally gone.]
[What a clown.]
[This young man is great. Good conditions and he has a brain. He’ll definitely find a wife.]
[Are you still dating? My daughter just got off work, she wants to join.]
Zhang Zhe also noticed the bullet comments, especially the one from the auntie who said her daughter wanted to have a date with him.
He very much wanted to continue.
But outside his door, Mrs. Zhang was still knocking, urging him to come out and talk.
After a moment’s thought, Zhang Zhe could only tell the Matchmaker and the audience that he had something to take care of and had to leave.
...
After disconnecting from the call, he didn’t go out immediately.
Instead, he first checked the system’s rewards.
’Going on a date with the square lady... if there’s no reward for merit, there should at least be one for hardship, right? Can I get a little bonus?’
"Blind date complete."
"Host has successfully completed the blind date and demonstrated a positive attitude throughout the process, winning the unanimous praise of the Matchmaker and the audience."
"Reward: [Happiness Points] x2."
Seeing the reward of 2 points, Zhang Zhe smiled with relief.
’If I had acted with the same short fuse I have when gaming, I would have definitely fired back when she provoked me.’
’But this time, I forced reason to triumph over emotion.’
The system, it seemed, had not let his efforts go unrewarded.
"Current cumulative Happiness Points: 3."
"New item unlocked: Wisdom Refining Pill (Requires 3 Happiness Points)."
"Wisdom Refining Pill: Accelerates the renewal of neurons in the human brain. When combined with effective training after consumption, it can significantly improve intelligence, especially social skills."
’This thing can improve social intelligence?’
Zhang Zhe was quite satisfied. Whether it was IQ or EQ, higher was always better.
But he wasn’t in a hurry to use it.
He wanted to try the Basic Body Building Pills that he had unlocked earlier.
"I want to redeem 3 Basic Body Building Pills!"
"This redemption is irreversible. Confirm?"
"Confirm."
"Redemption successful. Congratulations, Host, on obtaining 3 Basic Body Building Pills. They have been stored in your inventory and can be used on a selected target at any time."
"Can I use them remotely?"
"Yes. Once the Host selects a target and confirms, the Body Building Pill will take effect automatically."
"Excellent."
Zhang Zhe had been wondering how he would trick his parents into taking them if the system had given him physical pills.
This was much better; he could apply the medicine directly.
He quickly opened his inventory. Three Body Building Pills lay there quietly.
Select target, confirm, use!
’One for Mom, one for Dad, and one for me. Perfect.’
Just after using them, Zhang Zhe felt the tension in the back of his neck ease considerably. It felt... it felt like his neck was different than before.
"Zhang Zhe, what are you doing in there?" Mrs. Zhang’s anxious voice came from outside the door. "Come out once you’re done. We’re waiting to talk to you about the marital home."
"Look at you! Because you don’t have a marital home, you missed out on a woman with a master’s degree today!"
"Missed out? Mom, you’ve got it all wrong. That was me dodging a bullet!" Zhang Zhe stood up with a laugh, feeling refreshed and light all over.