By the time the second neat-cut military guy sat down across from her, Lin Wanshu had completely eased into her role.
“Ah, is military camp really that much fun?”
“Are there any female soldiers?”
“Do you guys usually hang out with the female soldiers for mixers?”
“The female soldiers must be so fierce and cool, right? Wow… treated just like one of the guys…”
The more they chatted, the more she felt that the military officer in front of her was also quite outstanding.
“So, can accompanying family members get jobs, too?”
“Ah, there are actually so many things they can do…”
As the conversation went on, she couldn’t help but think that Liu Fan was completely taking her blessings for granted!
When the time came to politely decline, Lin Wanshu reluctantly handed out a “friend-zone card.”
And so it went, all the way until the eighth guy. She was completely numb.
……
Liu Yuning had come to the state-owned restaurant to meet up with some comrades-in-arms.
They had scheduled a lunch together.
After eating, the group huddled together and walked downstairs.
“Huh? Aren’t those guys from my battalion?” someone suddenly pointed out.
“What about them?” Liu Yuning scanned the lobby. In a corner sat several military officers, sitting as straight as pencils.
They seemed to be queuing up, waiting to go over to another table not far away to meet and be evaluated by the same female comrade.
“The old Chief asked me today to arrange for the unmarried, outstanding officers in the battalion to come to the restaurant for a matchmaking session with your younger sister.”
Liu Yuning’s brow furrowed deep.
Arranging for so many people to be inspected by his sister?
“Ridiculous. Grandfather has truly spoiled her to the point of lawlessness!”
Military officers weren’t radishes or cabbages to be pulled out and lined up for her to pick and choose from!
“Hey, hey, don’t get angry! The old Chief is just anxious. Your sister is already twenty-two and still unmarried. Which family wouldn’t be worried?”
Liu Yuning waved his hand, telling him to drop it.
“You guys head back first. I’ll go over and take a look.” With that, he took off with long strides, heading toward that corner.
As he drew closer and caught sight of the girl’s face, his footsteps froze.
Did they get it wrong?
He didn’t know this female comrade.
Turning around to look for his comrades, he saw they had already stepped out the front doors and were driving off in their respective cars.
“Hello, may I ask if you are Comrade Liu Fan?”
“Yes, I am Liu Fan.”
The dialogue between the two carried clearly into his ears.
Liu Fan?
It really was his sister!
Heh~
Liu Yuning stood a few paces away, listening to them talk smoothly and effortlessly.
Until the two shook hands to “just be friends.”
As soon as the officer left, he brashly sauntered over and took a seat.
……
Lin Wanshu massaged her numb legs, her heart filled with nothing but pity.
They were all good. Every single one of them was excellent.
Each had broad shoulders, narrow waists, and thick arms.
My dear best friend, if you don’t want them, can you just give them all to me?
She took a sip of water, preparing to leave the venue.
Who would have thought that yet another tall, neat-cut guy would sit down across from her?
He was different from all the ones before him. He leaned back against the chair, crossed his legs, and fixed Lin Wanshu with a look that was pure, critical scrutiny.
Uh…
Hadn’t she already seen eight of them?
Could she have miscounted?
Lin Wanshu was a bit dazed.
However, judging strictly by looks, this guy was noticeably higher quality than the previous seven.
It was just his attitude—wasn’t it a bit disrespectful?
“Are you Liu Fan?” he asked coldly, cutting straight to the chase, his tone incredibly impolite.
Lin Wanshu despised this type the most—the ones who walked around with their nostrils pointing to the sky.
So what if you’re handsome? Think you’re a big deal?
“I am Liu Fan. What of it? Are you also here for the matchmaking?” Seeing his stern, deadpan expression, her own face began to sour.
Since you’re sizing me up so rudely, I’ll just pay you back in your own coin.
She put on a displeased face of her own and scrutinized him from head to toe.
“Yes, here for the matchmaking… Your brother is Liu Yuning, correct?” The man didn’t care in the slightest that her face had fallen, and simply pressed on with another question.
Lin Wanshu deeply disliked his tone of voice.
“My brother is Liu Yuning. What about it? Everyone else calls him Commander Liu, but you call him by his full name. Where are your manners?”
Heh~
He actually let out a muffled chuckle, and the dark gloom on his face finally gave way to a flash of brilliant sunshine.
“Comrade Liu Fan, in that case, what do you think of me?”
He certainly had thick skin.
“Not much.” Lin Wanshu picked up her water glass and took another sip.
“As far as looks go, you’re decent enough in human clothes. But your, uh, etiquette is lacking. And you look kind of old…”
Lacking etiquette? Kind of old?
Liu Yuning’s face darkened right back down. This female comrade dared to say he lacked manners? And she thought he was old?
He was only thirty, in the prime of his life. Where was he old?
But wait, he felt like he had seen this little girl somewhere before? Which classmate of his sister’s was she again?
“Comrade Liu Fan, have we met somewhere before? You look a bit familiar.”
Familiar?
Lin Wanshu froze.
An acquaintance?
She gripped her glass tightly, averting her eyes to avoid making eye contact with him, and gave a vague, evasive reply. “I suppose you look a tiny bit familiar.”
“However, we aren’t a good match. I’ll take my leave first. Goodbye.” Panicking, Lin Wanshu scrambled to her feet and practically bolted.
“How would you know we aren’t a good match without chatting for a few more minutes?”
The words following behind her made her accelerate even faster, dashing right out of the state-owned restaurant.
At the table, Liu Yuning slowly rose to his feet.
Grandfather was acting ridiculous, treating the soldiers under him like common cabbages.
And that disobedient sister of his was being even more ridiculous—how dare she get someone else to stand in for something like a matchmaking date!
Simply lawless!
When he got back, she was due for a severe round of criticism and education!
……
By evening, Lin Wanshu finally caught Liu Fan outside the gates of the veteran residential compound, just as she was returning from watching a movie.
“Come on, let’s go talk at my place,” Liu Fan said, pulling her along toward her house.
Once inside, the house was empty save for the housekeeper, who was busy in the kitchen bustling about preparing dinner.
The two sat down on the wooden sofa, chatting while munching on candies.
“So, how was it? Seeing eight people in one day—are you completely numb?”
“Just seeing eight wouldn’t have made me numb, but meeting that last person made my spine go cold.” Lin Wanshu still felt a lingering fear just thinking about it.
“He actually said I looked a bit familiar. Gave me a total fright.”
“When I went, I was worried someone might recognize you, and sure enough, my jinx came true.”
“Pfft… are you stupid?” Liu Fan laughed, slapping her shoulder. “If he thought you looked familiar, he was looking at your face, not mine. Even if it was an acquaintance, it would be your acquaintance…”
“Oh right, that’s true.” Lin Wanshu felt like her brain wasn’t working too sharply right now. “But I don’t have any relatives, friends, or classmates in the military…”
“The moment he said I looked familiar, I got so scared I just packed up and ran…”
“Oh, please~ He was just using a classic conversation starter to flirt! And you took it seriously.” Liu Fan couldn’t stop laughing. Lin Wanshu was so earnest; she was terrible at playing criminal, spilling her beans the moment she was lightly bluffed.
After laughing, her face crumpled back into a miserable look. “I have to see another eight tomorrow…”
“Don’t look at me!” Seeing that Liu Fan was gearing up to act spoiled and beg for help again, Lin Wanshu shut her down immediately.
“In my opinion, the eight we saw today were all top-notch. Any one of them is way better than Zhang Rong.” She began to feel bad for Liu Fan all over again.
“The aura of a military man is just unmatched—tall, straight posture, handsome features, upright and loyal… You should really just pick one from that lineup!”
“Of course, exclude that last guy. I didn’t even have time to ask his name. Though he was better looking than the others.”
Recalling that dark, stern face, Lin Wanshu curled her lip and shook her head. “His nostrils are practically on top of his head, and he has no manners when he speaks.”
“He’s the textbook definition of ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover.’ What’s the point of just having good looks? A guy like him…”
Ahem, ahem!
From right behind the sofa, a throat-clearing sound suddenly rang out.