Lin Qianyi was momentarily distracted. This person who looked so clear, restrained, and noble—when he smiled, he was actually so free and unrestrained. This handsome man was far too captivating. Steady yourself—business first.
“Then… shall we talk?” Lin Qianyi had just said it casually and hadn’t really anticipated how things would develop. Now that the handsome guy was so cooperative—well, if the bike chain fell off, she couldn’t let herself fall apart.
“Sure, let’s talk.” The handsome man nodded seriously.
Zhao Xiangdong, standing nearby, was petrified. What had he just heard come out of Meng Junchuan’s mouth? He hadn’t misheard, right? Meng Junchuan was actually going to seriously “talk” with this girl? This was Meng Junchuan—the cold, indifferent man who never paid attention to girls?
“Then let’s find a place. It’s already noon—let’s go to the state-run restaurant,” Meng Junchuan said to Lin Qianyi after glancing at his watch.
“Okay.” Lin Qianyi agreed readily.
“You—go ride the bike,” Meng Junchuan said, turning to Zhao Xiangdong, who was still standing there in a daze.
Meng Junchuan opened the passenger-side door and motioned for Lin Qianyi to get in.
“I’d better ride myself. The state-run restaurant isn’t far—just a bit and we’ll be there,” Lin Qianyi said, feeling it was better to ride on her own. With that soldier’s long arms and legs, riding a women’s bike would be awkward anyway.
Hearing this, Zhao Xiangdong felt as if he’d been granted amnesty. Just imagining himself riding a women’s bike made his scalp tingle.
Seeing Lin Qianyi insist, Meng Junchuan didn’t say more. He realized he hadn’t thought it through—asking a girl to get in the car like that really wasn’t appropriate. So he and Zhao Xiangdong got back into the car, started the engine, and drove slowly to match Lin Qianyi’s speed.
The state-run restaurant wasn’t far. They arrived shortly, parked, and got out. Lin Qianyi locked her bike, and the three of them walked inside together.
State-run restaurants in this era were rather plain, though the space wasn’t small and the interior was bright. Lin Qianyi looked around curiously. There was a large glass window; through it, the work area was visible, with cooks busily working. A small blackboard hung on the wall, listing today’s dishes.
It was already past mealtime, and some diners were leaving. When they entered, there were still tables available.
“What would you like to eat?” Meng Junchuan asked Lin Qianyi.
“Anything’s fine. You decide,” she replied casually, having no clear idea.
Meng Junchuan ordered braised pork, a braised fish, chicken stewed with potatoes, and greens with tofu.
“Steamed buns or rice?” he asked again.
“Rice,” Lin Qianyi said—she preferred rice.
Meng Junchuan ordered three bowls of rice and a few steamed buns.
Lin Qianyi took out her money and ration tickets and handed them to Meng Junchuan. He cast her a dissatisfied look with those captivating eyes and paid with his own money and tickets. Seeing that he wouldn’t accept hers, Lin Qianyi didn’t insist—arguing in public wouldn’t look good—so she put them away.
Before the food arrived, the two began chatting.
“I’ll introduce myself first,” Meng Junchuan said. “My name is Meng Junchuan, twenty-six years old. I’m from the capital. I’m currently a deputy regiment commander in a regiment of the Lincheng Military Region. Unmarried, no partner.”
“My name is Lin Qianyi,” she said just as seriously. “I’m twenty years old, an employee at the Yuanshan County Machinery Factory. My parents died in an industrial accident three years ago. Unmarried, no partner.”
They talked in a very earnest manner.
Zhao Xiangdong watched the two of them with a blank expression. These two had just met on the roadside, and now, inexplicably, they were discussing life-long matters in a small restaurant.
If it were anyone else, Zhao Xiangdong wouldn’t find it strange. But this was Meng Junchuan. Others might not know him well, but Zhao Xiangdong did—they’d grown up together in the same compound, playing in the mud as kids.
Meng Junchuan had always been the most outstanding presence in their compound, and after growing up, he remained the most exceptional of their generation—excellent in every way. Girls who liked him lined up endlessly, from refined ladies to gentle beauties, all of them not only pretty but outstanding. They hinted, they confessed—yet Meng Junchuan remained cold and indifferent, paying them no mind.
His standards were simply too high. For years, not a single one had caught his eye. Even military leaders had introduced countless excellent girls—all returned in defeat.
But Meng Junchuan’s conditions were simply too good. He was outstanding himself, with an extraordinarily prominent background. At twenty-six, he was already a deputy regiment commander. Handsome and cold-featured, a military academy graduate, top-tier mind, ability, and combat power—his legend spread beyond the military compound to all of the capital.
Despite his illustrious family background, his achievements were earned through his own merits, with countless military exploits to his name. No matter how cold and unfeeling he seemed, admirers never stopped coming. Someone was always trying to manufacture coincidences to associate with him.
To avoid such incidents, Meng Junchuan had always avoided meddling and given no opportunities. Their group of friends often said he’d wasted that handsome face—cold-hearted, emotionally detached, utterly lacking any sense of tenderness toward women.
Today, Meng Junchuan shattered Zhao Xiangdong’s worldview. Not only did he personally step in to help a girl, he even came to a restaurant with her to discuss lifelong matters.
The server called out that their dishes were ready. Zhao Xiangdong quickly went to fetch them. When he returned, the two were already chatting familiarly. He didn’t interrupt—just ate quietly, doing his best to be a proper background presence.
“I’m basically in this situation right now. I really can’t think of a better way to resolve it,” Lin Qianyi said frankly, not hiding her predicament.
“The one you kicked earlier?” Meng Junchuan asked.
Lin Qianyi raised an eyebrow. So he had seen it?
“I’d just turned the corner and saw you leaving,” Meng Junchuan explained when he noticed her expression.
Lin Qianyi didn’t doubt him. She trusted a soldier’s character—if he’d seen more, he definitely wouldn’t have stood by idly. Why else would she dare ask a soldier in the middle of the street whether he had a partner? It was based on her trust in soldiers’ integrity.
Well… maybe also a bit on his looks. To be fair, this soldier really did fit her aesthetic, and she was a bit of a voice enthusiast too—his voice was dangerously alluring. Two birds with one stone—wasn’t that great? If he weren’t willing, she wouldn’t force it.
She’d really acted on impulse earlier, never expecting to actually hit the mark. This handsome soldier was far too accommodating—he actually agreed to come to a restaurant with her for a blind date.
Yes, in Lin Qianyi’s mind, this was a blind date. A soldier vetted by the state—his character was surely reliable.