Vоlumе 1 Сhарter 16: Blind Dаtе
Нu Wеijiе handed her thе mеnu. “Takе a loоk аnd sее whаt уou’d likе tо еаt.”
Shu Miaо smiled and took thе mеnu, ordеrеd twо dishеs, thеn pаssеd it bаck to him.
Нu Wеijie аdded a few mоre dishеs and callеd the wаiter оvеr.
While waiting fоr the food, Нu Wеijiе tоok the initiаtivе tо сhat with Shu Miаo. “Аre yоu usually busу with work?”
Shu Miаo gave а light smilе. “Nоt toо bаd, not too busу.”
She thеn аsked in return, “Dо you trаvel оftеn fоr work?”
Нu Weijie аnswered with а smilе, “It’s аlright, not too often either.”
Sensing Shu Мiаo’s nervousness, Нu Wеijie spokе tо comfort her, his voice gentle. “No need to be too nervous. We’re all young people, just relax and be comfortable.”
Shu Miao nodded, feeling a bit more at ease.
The two had a fairly pleasant lunch.
After the meal, they took a walk in a nearby park, then Hu Weijie drove Shu Miao home.
Throughout the journey, Hu Weijie was very gentlemanly, polite, and knew how to speak and act appropriately without overstepping boundaries.
Shu Miao had a decent first impression of him—at the very least, she didn’t dislike him.
Back home, lying in bed, she sent a message to Pei Ran: “Teacher Pei, I’m back.”
A video call rang out.
As soon as she answered, she saw Pei Ran’s gossipy expression. “So, you met him? What did you think?”
Shu Miao pursed her lips and replied calmly, “He’s decent-looking, and seems like a nice person.”
Pei Ran let out an “Oh,” her tone rising several notches.
Shu Miao rolled her eyes. “What?”
Pei Ran grinned mischievously. “Are you falling for him?”
Shu Miao immediately retorted, “What nonsense! It’s not that easy to fall for someone. I just don’t dislike him.”
Pei Ran raised an eyebrow, glancing at her sideways. “Isn’t that the same thing?”
Shu Miao glared at her, not wanting to engage further.
Pei Ran stopped teasing her and turned serious. “Since you don’t dislike him, try getting to know him a bit more and see what he’s really like.”
“Actually, from what Auntie said, his conditions seem pretty good, and his family background is decent. Since you don’t dislike him, don’t be too quick to reject him.”
“After all, you’re looking for a boyfriend anyway. If there’s a good one, you should give it a chance.”
“If Meng Yuchuan contacts you again, just tell him you’re already seeing someone from a blind date. Make him back off for now.”
Shu Miao nodded in agreement.
That evening, after having dinner with Hu Weijie, Yao Hui called her on video.
Beaming with joy, she said Hu Weijie had taken a liking to Shu Miao and advised her to give him a chance if she didn’t dislike him.
With nothing to do over the weekend, Shu Miao slept in until noon.
In the afternoon, Hu Weijie sent her a message, asking her to come to the entrance of her residential complex.
Wrapping herself in a coat, she went downstairs and found him standing next to his car, dressed in casual clothes, holding a box and a shopping bag.
Seeing her, he waved.
Shu Miao walked over. “What’s up?”
Hu Weijie smiled and handed her the things in his hands. “I just passed by a cake shop. Their fruit cakes are really good, so I thought I’d buy one for you to try.”
“Coincidentally, there was a supermarket next door. While waiting for the cake, I went in and bought a few things. I’m not sure if you’ll like them.”
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Shu Miao hesitated and didn’t reach out to take them. “This…”
Anticipating her refusal, Hu Weijie spoke first. “It was just on the way. Give it a try. If you really feel bad about it, you can treat me to something next time.”
Hearing this, Shu Miao didn’t refuse anymore, planning to find an opportunity to treat him to a meal next time.After washing up and lying in bed watching a variety show in the evening, Meng Yuchuan called again.
Shu Miao steadied her nerves and answered the phone: “Hello? County Magistrate Meng?”
“Hmm.” A low, seductive voice came through the phone.
“What are you doing?”
Shu Miao replied politely, “Getting ready to rest.”
The implication was clear: if there was nothing important, she could hang up.
Meng Yuchuan didn’t mind: “Did you eat the pastries?”
Shu Miao was startled: she hadn’t even opened them since bringing them back, let alone eaten any.
Feeling a bit guilty, she said, “I went home over the weekend and haven’t had a chance to try them yet.”
“Hmm.” Meng Yuchuan responded lightly.
Another moment of silence passed before Shu Miao took the initiative to ask, “County Magistrate Meng?”
“Hmm.”
“Is there anything else you need?”
“Nothing, I just wanted to hear your voice.”
The words carried a hint of ambiguity, combined with his captivating voice. Shu Miao fell silent.
After a while, Meng Yuchuan spoke again: “Get some rest early. You have work tomorrow.”
Shu Miao: “Hmm.”
She hung up immediately after speaking. Every time she talked to Meng Yuchuan, Shu Miao felt as if she had been sent to the execution ground.
For several days after that night, Meng Yuchuan didn’t contact Shu Miao again, and Liu Kangming didn’t ask her about the support work either, which allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief.
Shu Miao opened the pastries Meng Yuchuan had given her and tried a few. They were exquisitely made, with a delicate texture—sweet but not cloying, and very delicious. Judging by the packaging, they probably weren’t cheap.
Things given by leaders really are nice.
Hu Weijie would take the initiative to chat with her every day, showing great enthusiasm.
Shu Miao also thought he was quite decent, speaking and acting with a good sense of propriety.
One evening after work, Shu Miao invited him out and treated him to a meal as a way of thanking him for bringing her food last time.
During their second meal together, Shu Miao wasn’t as nervous as the first time. She felt much more relaxed and comfortable, treating Hu Weijie like a friend.
The week passed quickly, and by Friday after work, Meng Yuchuan still hadn’t contacted Shu Miao.
That evening, Shu Miao and Pei Ran made plans to have hot pot together. As soon as she got home and finished washing up, Meng Yuchuan’s call came through.
Shu Miao was startled and answered: “Hello?”
Meng Yuchuan’s low voice came from the other end: “Not asleep yet?”
Shu Miao hummed in response.
“Were the pastries good?”
“They were quite delicious. Thank you, County Magistrate Meng.”
“Good to hear.”
Shu Miao didn’t say anything more, and Meng Yuchuan continued: “I’m downstairs.”
Shu Miao’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected him to come again.
“Come down?”
Shu Miao closed her eyes, making up her mind. She needed to make things clear with Meng Yuchuan: “Alright.”
After changing her clothes, she grabbed her phone and went out.
It was still the same black Hongqi sedan, parked in the same spot. Shu Miao took the initiative to get in and sat in the passenger seat.
Turning to look directly into Meng Yuchuan’s eyes, she said, “County Magistrate Meng?”
“Hmm.”
Shu Miao bit her lip, furrowed her brows slightly, took a deep breath, and mustered up the courage to speak.
“County Magistrate Meng, is there something you need from me?”
Meng Yuchuan was equally direct: “Hmm, I wanted to ask how your consideration is going?”
Finally getting to the main point, Shu Miao spoke clearly and logically, using the words she had prepared in her mind.
“County Magistrate Meng, I’m very grateful that you think highly of me.”
“But my family has already introduced me to a young man, and we… get along quite well.”
“I still truly appreciate your admiration and affirmation. I wish you the best in finding a better, more suitable girl for yourself.”
Shu Miao finished speaking in one breath, only to see Meng Yuchuan’s face tighten, his eyes darkening as he stared straight at her, sending a chill down her spine.”Are you saying you have a boyfriend now?”
Shu Miao felt a bit guilty, but she admitted directly, “Yes.”
Meng Yuchuan suddenly laughed, his expression full of disbelief. “If you want to reject me, at least find a better excuse. It’s only been a few days, and you already have a boyfriend?”
Shu Miao’s face flushed slightly as she tried to explain, “We haven’t known each other for long, and we haven’t officially confirmed our relationship yet, but we’ve already met, and we both feel good about each other. It’s only a matter of time.”
Hearing this, Meng Yuchuan immediately lost the smile on his lips, and his voice turned cold. “Are you saying you’ve been meeting him all these days?”