Jiang Xiaoci was never the overly bashful type. Since she had already made up her mind, she didn’t hesitate for even a second when Lu Zhoushan suggested it.
“All right.”
In that instant, Lu Zhoushan finally understood what it meant for one’s heart to soar with joy.
For the first time, he realized that getting along with a woman could actually be so simple—not nearly as complicated as he had always imagined.
Of course, he also knew exactly why.
It was simple only because it was her.
She was straightforward and sincere, free of hidden agendas and complicated schemes. And by happy coincidence, the two of them shared the same temperament.
That was all.
After agreeing to start dating the following day, they remained seated for a while longer. Lu Zhoushan paid the bill. Feeling that escorting her all the way home would be too forward for a first meeting, he accompanied her part of the way before they each headed home separately.
Since Lu Zhoushan had walked her halfway, Jiang Xiaoci arrived home first.
Her father, Jiang Decai, was at work that day, while her mother was alone at home, absentmindedly knitting a sweater.
The moment she saw her daughter return, Jiang’s mother—who had been anxiously waiting all afternoon—hurried over.
“Well? How did the blind date go?”
Blushing, Jiang Xiaoci answered honestly,
“It went really well, Mom. He’s a nice person… and he’s very handsome.”
It was rare to see her daughter looking so shy. From the obvious satisfaction on her face, Jiang’s mother immediately beamed.
“That’s wonderful! I was worried Matchmaker Wang had exaggerated and that the real person wouldn’t live up to her description.”
Smiling, Jiang Xiaoci replied,
“Auntie Wang really does have a kind heart. This time, she wasn’t exaggerating at all.”
She couldn’t help thinking to herself that she had doubted the matchmaker as well.
As it turned out, everything she had said was true.
Putting Lu Yaozu’s rotten character aside—the one bad bamboo shoot growing among good bamboo—the Lu family really did have an excellent background. As the much-loved youngest son born late in his parents’ lives, Lu Zhoushan was indeed doted upon. He was also exceptionally handsome, and after spending time with him today, she found his bearing, manners, and conversation remarkably refined.
He was nothing like Lu Yaozu—a spoiled rich boy who thought himself above everyone else and possessed an utterly despicable character.
Aside from being physically frail, Lu Zhoushan was practically flawless.
Naturally, Jiang Xiaoci had no intention of mentioning his poor health to her parents.
Ever since learning what might happen, they had been living in constant fear, desperate for her to marry quickly and avoid disaster. She didn’t want to give them another reason to worry.
As they chatted, Jiang’s mother suddenly leaned in with sparkling eyes.
“You keep saying he’s handsome. Just how handsome is he?”
Jiang Xiaoci: “…”
So women really were all the same.
Even her mother, at her age, loved a bit of gossip.
She laughed helplessly.
“Well… how am I supposed to describe it?”
It was true that Lu Zhoushan was handsome.
But the first impression he gave people was that of a delicate, almost sickly beauty.
Could she really tell her mother that?
Obviously not.
What parent would willingly marry their daughter to someone who looked like a chronically ill invalid?
Although, after meeting him today, she honestly felt that he wasn’t nearly as frail as the rumors suggested.
Jiang’s mother said matter-of-factly,
“What’s so hard about describing? Could he really be even more handsome than your father was when he was young? Wait right here—I’ll find your father’s old photograph so we can compare.”
As she spoke, she happily rummaged through a drawer and pulled out an old photograph.
The young Jiang Decai in the picture was in the prime of his life.
His features were handsome and upright, his thick brows full of spirit, and a faint smile curved at his lips. Dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit, he carried the refined elegance of a cultured businessman—sharp and capable without appearing worldly or calculating.
Even now, after all these years, Jiang’s mother couldn’t help smiling warmly whenever she looked at her husband’s youthful photograph.
The calm confidence their daughter possessed was almost identical to what her father had been like in his younger days.
Jiang Xiaoci looked at the photograph, then at her mother’s delighted face, and couldn’t suppress a laugh.
She mentally compared the image of her father in the photograph with Lu Zhoushan’s face.
After pondering for a moment, she answered with a mischievous grin.
“They’re handsome in completely different ways. Dad was heroic and masculine when he was young, while… Lu Zhoushan… well… he’s more slender and refined.”
Because of his fragile appearance, “slender” was an entirely accurate description.
Quite satisfied with her answer, Jiang Xiaoci smiled softly.
Seeing that her daughter’s smile hadn’t faded once while talking about him, Jiang’s mother grew even happier.
A mother knew her daughter best.
The blind date had been arranged out of necessity, but if her daughter genuinely liked the young man, then this marriage wouldn’t feel forced at all.
She teased,
“You’ve been smiling nonstop ever since you started talking about how handsome he is. Don’t tell me you spent the entire blind date just admiring his face.”
Jiang Xiaoci pouted playfully.
“Of course not! He’s not only handsome—he’s well-spoken and has excellent manners too. Mom, we’ve decided to go out together tomorrow and get to know each other better.”
Jiang’s mother nodded excitedly.
“Good! That’s wonderful. If you can find someone suitable, not only will you have a good match, but it’ll also keep that scheming Lu Yaozu from bothering you.”
“All right. Since you’ve made up your mind, we’ll support you. When your father gets home later, we’ll tell him. He’ll definitely be delighted.”
Jiang Xiaoci smiled in agreement.
Everything had gone far more smoothly than she’d expected, and she couldn’t help feeling cheerful herself.
After all…
With a face like Lu Zhoushan’s, spending time together would at least be very pleasing to the eye.
At the same time, Lu Zhoushan returned to the Lu family’s old residence.
As he stepped into the sitting room, he found Old Master Lu reading The Art of War.
Even after retiring from the military for so many years, the old man was still obsessed with military strategy.
Lu Zhoushan’s only reaction was a quiet snort.
The old man may have aged, but his heart certainly hasn’t.
The thing he missed most was probably those unforgettable years spent on the battlefield.
Just like himself.
His body might be at home…
But his heart still belonged to the battlefield where he truly belonged.
A cold, penetrating gleam flashed through Lu Zhoushan’s eyes—one completely at odds with his frail appearance.
Sharp.
Calm.
Commanding.
Yet the expression vanished almost immediately.
When he looked up again, he had returned to his usual pale and sickly demeanor.
“I’m back, Dad. I’m going to rest.”
He turned to leave.
Old Master Lu wasn’t about to let him escape so easily.
“Stop right there!”
Lu Zhoushan halted helplessly.
“Well?” the old man demanded. “How did the blind date go? Did you at least have a proper conversation with the young lady?”
Lu Zhoushan gave a light cough.
“We talked.”
Quite a lot, in fact.
They had even refilled the teapot three separate times.
Old Master Lu continued,
“What do you think of her?”
Lu Zhoushan answered succinctly,
“She’s… pretty good.”
Far better than he’d expected.
So good that he couldn’t bring himself to reject her.
Old Master Lu, however, was left speechless.
How was he supposed to continue the conversation with answers that short?
Truthfully, he hadn’t expected a single blind date to succeed—especially judging from his son’s lukewarm attitude.
So he sighed and advised,
“Second Son, even if this one doesn’t work out, you’ll have to keep going on blind dates. Sooner or later you’ll meet a good girl. With your health, you should’ve had someone by your side to take care of you long ago.”
Instead of leaving, Lu Zhoushan walked over to the sofa, lazily leaned back, and answered without the slightest hesitation,
“I won’t be going on any more blind dates.”