When she smiled, she was as radiant as a flower reflected on water, breathtakingly beautiful.
For a brief moment, Lu Zhoushan found himself staring.
His heartbeat skipped.
But he was no ordinary man. He quickly regained his composure.
Remaining calm and graceful, he smiled. “It would be my honor.”
And he truly meant it.
This was his first blind date, yet he had met such a beautiful young woman. More importantly, her manner of speaking, her elegant temperament, and the natural grace in every gesture all stirred something in his heart.
Even he found it difficult to admit the flutter in his chest.
The conversation that followed flowed effortlessly, becoming more pleasant with every passing minute.
As they talked, Lu Zhoushan realized that although the young woman spoke softly and had only recently graduated from high school, she was intelligent, articulate, and well-mannered. She was much younger than him, yet she carried herself with remarkable poise. Before they knew it, the teapot had been refilled three times, and not once had the conversation fallen into an awkward silence.
His heart was beginning to waver.
Thinking back to the previous night, when he had been completely uninterested in the blind date and had even been considering how to politely reject the girl, he suddenly felt rather embarrassed by his own assumptions.
Given how things had turned out, there was no way he could bring himself to reject her.
In fact, the thought never even crossed his mind anymore.
Jiang Xiaoci’s thoughts were racing as well.
Knowing Lu Yaozu’s personality, if his attempt to report her family failed this time, he and Bai Miaomiao would undoubtedly continue plotting against her.
Her parents’ concerns weren’t unreasonable.
After all, while a thief may steal for a thousand days, no one can guard against thieves every single day.
Her family had always lived a simple, peaceful life. In both her previous life and this one, people as malicious as Lu Yaozu and Bai Miaomiao were unlike anyone she had ever encountered.
Since they had already set their sights on her, she might as well get married immediately.
That way, Lu Yaozu would understand that he would never have a chance to inherit the Jiang family’s property, cutting off any future schemes before they even began.
After all…
She was the Jiang family’s only daughter.
Once she married someone else, Lu Yaozu would have no reason to pursue her anymore, much less covet the Jiang family’s wealth.
And Lu Zhoushan was undoubtedly an excellent choice.
Setting aside his mysterious background, he was also Lu Yaozu’s younger uncle by family seniority.
With that relationship alone, Lu Yaozu would have to think twice before daring to cause trouble.
Especially…
Lu Zhoushan was sickly.
Looking at the handsome, slender man sitting across from her, his complexion pale as white porcelain, Jiang Xiaoci lowered her eyes thoughtfully.
Before she died in her previous life, she remembered that Lu Zhoushan had never married.
Once, when the Lu family was urging him to settle down, she happened to be present and heard him say with a casual smile,
“My health isn’t good. Even if I got married… there are certain things I’d probably be willing to do, but physically unable.”
Thinking back on it now…
Jiang Xiaoci figured he had probably been referring to his sexual dysfunction.
If that was the case…
He really was the ideal marriage candidate.
She wanted to marry someone mainly to prevent Lu Yaozu from causing more trouble in the future.
As for married life between husband and wife…
She honestly hadn’t figured out how she would deal with that.
But if her husband were Lu Zhoushan, then wouldn’t that problem solve itself?
Unable to help herself, Jiang Xiaoci smiled and murmured under her breath,
“Not bad… Let’s do that.”
Her voice was so soft that Lu Zhoushan couldn’t hear her clearly.
Besides…
The smile on her face looked rather… peculiar.
He found it amusing.
She seemed innocent and straightforward, yet somehow she also possessed a depth he couldn’t quite see through.
Given his experience and discernment, there were very few people he couldn’t read.
Smiling, he asked,
“What was that?”
Jiang Xiaoci looked up at him, realizing she had been daydreaming.
“Uh…”
Lu Zhoushan simply smiled warmly.
“You were speaking rather quietly. I didn’t catch what you said.”
His tone carried an unconscious gentleness and indulgence, though he didn’t realize it himself.
Jiang Xiaoci also felt that he seemed unusually patient with her.
It didn’t quite match the frail, aloof impression he gave.
Smiling honestly, she said,
“Mr. Lu… I don’t know what you think, but… I have a very good impression of you.”
Her confession was astonishingly straightforward.
So straightforward that even Lu Zhoushan froze for a moment.
Jiang Xiaoci herself felt embarrassed.
If she hadn’t lived through two lifetimes, she never would have found the courage to say something like that.
Lu Zhoushan looked at her quietly.
Seeing the slight embarrassment on her face, along with those sincere, crystal-clear eyes, something softened inside him.
There was tenderness.
There was affection.
And joy…
Like spring waters stirred by a breeze, rippling through his heart in endless waves.
Then he heard himself answer with a smile,
“So do I.”
Each of them had their own reasons.
But after talking for so long, both genuinely liked the other.
After finishing their meal, they exchanged home addresses.
Jiang Xiaoci lived with her parents.
Although the Jiang family was fairly well-off, they didn’t live in an ostentatious wealthy neighborhood.
The Jiangs had always kept a low profile.
Lately, they had become even more discreet.
Lu Zhoushan, meanwhile, gave her the address of the Lu family’s old residence, even though he himself hadn’t spent much time living there.
After Jiang Xiaoci had honestly expressed her feelings, Lu Zhoushan felt that, as a grown man, he couldn’t keep letting such a young woman take the initiative.
She was so much younger than he was.
Without realizing it, he felt an urge to cherish and protect her.
So he took the initiative to ask,
“When are you free? If it’s convenient, I’d like to come see you.”
As it happened, Jiang Xiaoci wasn’t working yet.
His question instantly made her feel awkward.
She had graduated from high school only recently and hadn’t found a job. She’d been idle ever since, making her somewhat embarrassed to admit it.
Looking sheepish, she replied,
“Well… I just graduated from high school and haven’t started working yet, so… I’m free anytime. Just whenever it’s convenient for you.”
Lu Zhoushan smiled.
Very seriously, he said,
“Miss Jiang, I think I should remind you of something.”
“You really don’t need to be so formal with me. And there’s no need to address me so respectfully. Just call me by my name.”
As he spoke, unmistakable amusement danced in his eyes.
Jiang Xiaoci laughed as well and readily agreed.
“All right, Lu… Lu Zhoushan. Then you… shouldn’t call me Miss Jiang anymore either.”
Without hesitation, he called her,
“Xiaoci.”
His voice was gentle, his lips curved into a smile.
The way he looked at her made Jiang Xiaoci’s heart suddenly race.
She instinctively lowered her eyes, staring at the exquisitely prepared pastries in front of her that neither of them had touched, and responded softly,
“…Mm.”
Aside from drinking tea, they had spent the entire time talking.
Neither of them had even tasted the desserts.
And somehow, they had talked for hours.
Since Jiang Xiaoci was free whenever, and Lu Zhoushan’s position was merely a nominal appointment without pressing duties, he thought for a moment before proposing,
“If it’s convenient… shall we start dating tomorrow?”
At twenty-five years old, he was no longer an inexperienced young man.
When he suggested dating, his expression remained calm and composed.
Only his slightly uneven breathing and accelerated heartbeat betrayed the truth.
He was nervous.
Nervous about whether she would agree.
And eagerly awaiting her answer.
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