After leaving the restaurant, Xu Jialan went home.
She bought a cup of iced milk tea on the way.
Getting out of the car in the parking lot, she held the milk tea in her hand, walking absentmindedly toward the elevator.
The cool, slightly sweet milk tea diluted the numbness and spiciness in her mouth.
Entering the elevator, Xu Jialan pressed the button for the fifteenth floor.
She slowly chewed the pearls, as if still hearing the words Shen Xichuan had said to her at the restaurant entrance.
Shen Xichuan had asked her if she wanted to date him or marry him?
Even after returning home and sitting on the sofa, Xu Jialan still found it unbelievable.
How could Shen Xichuan possibly ask her such a question?
She took a sip of the iced milk tea, along with a few pearls.
Just then, her phone buzzed.
Xu Jialan glanced over and picked up her phone.
It was a message from An Yuening.
[Is the blind date over? How did it go?]
Biting on a pearl, Xu Jialan typed a reply, “Both the process and the outcome were quite shocking.”
An Yuening replied instantly, [Holy crap? How shocking?]
Xu Jialan typed slowly, “The son of my teacher’s friend that my teacher mentioned is actually Shen Xichuan.”
[???]
[Shen Xichuan? Isn’t that your former crush?]
It was clear that An Yuening was very shocked.
“Yeah, and it really was him who saved me from the fire a few days ago,” Xu Jialan replied.
[Holy shit, holy shit! Xu Jialan, you’re something else!]
An Yuening was very curious, “So what now? After your blind date, what was his reaction?”
Xu Jialan paused for a moment, swallowed the milk tea in her mouth, and replied, “He asked me if I wanted to marry him.”
After sending the message, the other side also fell silent for a few seconds.
Then, the phone rang.
Xu Jialan sighed helplessly and answered the call.
“Hello?”
“Say yes.”
An Yuening’s enthusiastic voice came through, “Did you agree?”
Xu Jialan lowered her head and hesitated, “No.”
An Yuening was stunned, “Why not? That’s Shen Xichuan we’re talking about. He asked you to marry him, and you actually managed to resist saying yes?”
“Ningning.”
“Yeah?”
Xu Jialan pursed her lips, “Do you think I should agree?”
Hearing this, An Yuening was quiet for a few seconds before speaking, “Lanlan, he’s someone you’ve liked for so many years. Don’t you want to say yes?”
Xu Jialan fell silent.
How could she not want to say yes?
She dreamed of saying yes.
But, could she really do it?
Become Mrs. Shen.
Did he… like her?
Seeing that she wasn’t speaking, An Yuening thought for a moment and said, “Did he ask for an answer right away?”
“No, he said he’d give me time to think it over clearly,” Xu Jialan said.
“Then there’s no rush,” An Yuening said. “You’ve just reunited after a long time. Use this period to spend time together properly. You haven’t seen each other since high school graduation, right?”
They were college classmates and roommates.
Later, they became best friends.
That was when An Yuening learned about Xu Jialan’s long-kept secret.
Xu Jialan hummed in agreement, “The last time we met was at the fire scene after we reunited.”
“Did you exchange contact information?” An Yuening asked.
“Yes.”
Only then did An Yuening feel relieved, “Then you don’t need to make a decision so quickly. Take this time to think it over carefully and figure out whether you can really be with him or not.”
Sometimes, liking someone and being able to marry the person you like are both incredibly fortunate things.
But not all affections ultimately lead to a happy ending.
“Jialan, you will definitely be happy,” An Yuening said.
Xu Jialan froze for a moment. “Yuening.”
“Because you deserve it.”
An Yuening understood the concerns in Xu Jialan’s heart.
“Thank you, Yuening,” Xu Jialan whispered, tightening her grip on the phone.
Thank you for always staying by my side.
For giving me warmth during those days when there was no light.
An Yuening chuckled. “What’s our relationship? Do we still need such formalities?”
“But when you two really get together, you must let me meet the legendary Shen Xichuan. I also want to see this academic god who managed to make someone as smart as you settle for second place.”
Xu Jialan broke into a smile. “Okay, definitely.”
“Alright, I won’t keep talking. I need to go to the laboratory now. Anyway, you must tell me about any progress between you two,” An Yuening’s hurried voice came through.
“Okay, I understand.”
Not long after hanging up, Xu Jialan received a call from Madam Liang.
It was also to inquire about the blind date situation.
Xu Jialan didn’t elaborate much, only saying they got along quite well and the other party was quite nice.
Madam Liang simply hoped she could make more friends outside of work, so naturally she didn’t press for too many details.
Seeing that they had exchanged contact information, she felt considerably more relieved.
After chatting idly for a few more sentences, they ended the call.
Although it was the weekend, Xu Jialan wasn’t idle either. She took out her laptop to review materials for the new project.
While also researching companies in Nanchang that might have opportunities to invest in medical projects.
…
Meanwhile.
Shen Xichuan had just returned to his apartment.
Madam Shen’s call came through.
He glanced at it, answered, and put it on speakerphone.
As soon as the call connected, Madam Shen went straight to the point. “Are you very satisfied with today’s blind date?”
Shen Xichuan walked to the refrigerator, took out a cola, opened it, and took a few sips.
Then he answered slowly.
“Yeah, quite satisfied.”
Madam Shen fell silent for a few seconds. “You’re not lying to me?”
She paused. “Xiaochuan, if you’re only telling me you’re very satisfied with that girl because you don’t want to go on blind dates, that’s unnecessary. As long as you remain unmarried for even one day…”
Shen Xichuan held the cola can in one hand, the condensation on the can dampening his fingertips.
His other hand rested casually on the kitchen island, his tone calm. “As long as I remain unmarried for one day, you’ll keep arranging blind dates for me, right?”
Madam Shen didn’t respond.
Shen Xichuan took another sip of cola. “I’m not lying to you.”
After saying this, he added another sentence that completely blocked whatever Madam Shen was about to say next.
“We were high school classmates.”
Madam Shen’s eyes widened slightly. She opened and closed her mouth several times before finding her voice again. “Why didn’t your brother tell me?”
Shen Xichuan chuckled lightly. “What? Still think I’m lying to you?”
Madam Shen swallowed and cleared her throat lightly. “Well, Xiaochuan, since you already have someone you like, you should hurry up and settle down. What if after getting to know you for too long, the girl finds you too boring and doesn’t want to marry you anymore? What would we do then?”
Shen Xichuan frowned. “I’m boring? How am I boring?”
“Where are you interesting? If you were interesting, would you have stayed single for so many years?”
Madam Shen mercilessly roasted her own son.
Shen Xichuan: “…”
“Alright, I won’t arrange any more blind dates for you. From now on, your task is to treat my future daughter-in-law well and get married as soon as possible, understand?”
After saying this, Madam Shen hung up the phone.
Shen Xichuan pinched the bridge of his nose, his mind lingering on what Madam Shen had just said.
Was he… really that boring?