Chapter 3: The Hidden Willow and the Bright Flower, Another Village

Qiao Xinwei's lips trembled with anger. Her aunt's words were becoming increasingly harsh, and she couldn't hold back any longer. Standing up, she said, "Don't worry, even if I can't get married for the rest of my life, I won't have any designs on my brother. Jing Shang is my brother, and will always be. Mom, I want to go shopping. You can go home first."

Xiang Ling's expression was extremely unpleasant. On one hand, she was her husband's younger sister, and on the other, she was her own daughter. She sympathized with her daughter in her heart, but she couldn't say it out loud.

Qiao Xinwei wandered aimlessly on the street like a lost soul, with pedestrians and vehicles rushing past her.

Ahead, a young couple in matching school uniforms walked hand in hand. In a daze, she seemed to see herself from seven years ago. Back then, she and Ji Xiaohai were just like this, holding hands and strolling on weekend afternoons, sharing an ice cream without caring about others' gazes.

Time flies, and things change. Ji Xiaohai is no longer the same person he was back then.

Yes, her aunt was right. What's the use of a man being handsome? Even if he doesn't have a wandering eye, other women will still come after him. The temptations in this society are too great. Who can guarantee to stay with one person for a lifetime?

"Qiao Xinwei, you wouldn't be thinking of having designs on the Jing family, would you? Your mom marrying my big brother is one thing, but don't even think about marrying Jing Shang." Her aunt's words kept echoing in her ears. It turns out that the gossip among relatives has become so malicious.

When she was thirteen, her father suddenly passed away in a car accident. The grief at that time is not worth mentioning, but she never expected her mother to remarry just half a year later. As a daughter, she resented her mother, but now as a woman, she could understand her mother.

Their family is a blended family. Her stepfather is a simple and progressive civil servant who has brought stability to her and her mother's life over the past ten years. And she, who was originally an only child, gained a brother, whose name is Jing Shang.

Ji Xiaohai and Sun Ruanxuan's betrayal left her feeling disheartened, and coupled with the ambiguous behavior of her brother Jing Shang, she was finally forced to go on blind dates at the age of twenty-three. She wanted to find a suitable person to marry early, and her only requirement was that the person be "suitable." Little did she know how difficult that would be.

She knew that her stepfather's relatives had been pressuring her mother. Her aunt had made her intentions so clear, and she couldn't pretend not to understand.

The Jing family would never truly become her family, even if she lived there.

She couldn't change her fate, she could only adapt to reality. So, she continued to accept blind dates, hoping that her "Mr. Right" would appear soon.

"Hey, Yunqing... Well, you're right, it didn't work out this time either."

Yunqing burst into laughter, not out of schadenfreude, but out of a genuine desire to play matchmaker. "Perfect, we're having lunch with a handsome and wealthy man at Fami La Restaurant at exactly 11 o'clock. Don't be late."

"So urgent? Let me catch my breath, please."

"Strike while the iron is hot. My husband just made an appointment with him, and we're already on our way. Hurry up."

"Huh? Hello? Hello?" Qiao Xinwei looked at her phone in astonishment. The call had been cut off. This Yunqing is really eager to promote her husband's friend. Maybe he's also a top-notch guy.

--

Fami La upscale restaurant. As Qiao Xinwei walked through the restaurant's entrance, Yunqing waved her delicate hand to greet her. "Xinwei, over here."

Following the sound, Qiao Xinwei's eyes fell on her husband's friend sitting diagonally across from Yunqing.

He exuded a sense of justice, perhaps due to his military background. With handsome features, broad shoulders, and a classic combination of a white shirt and black suit, he also had a neat and stylish haircut, exuding a heroic aura.

Qiao Xinwei thought to herself: This person looks good, a pleasant surprise. But would someone like him have any hidden secrets in coming for a blind date?

The frustration from the previous blind date hadn't completely dissipated, so she didn't hold any expectations.

Yunqing stood up and introduced her friend and colleague in a polite manner. "This is my good friend and colleague, Qiao Xinwei. Xinwei, this is Jiang Hao, a high-ranking officer."

"Ahem," Jiang Hao cleared his throat to interrupt Yunqing's words. He stood up politely and said, "Hello, Miss Qiao. It's a pleasure to meet you."

A very formal greeting, a seasoned blind date veteran. But his height was impressive, even with her wearing high heels, she still had to look up at him, which added another point. The previous one was named Guo Hao, and now this one is named Jiang Hao, barely the same name, but the level has suddenly risen.

There's a saying, when you're at the end of your rope, there's hope. When things seem hopeless, a new opportunity arises.

Jiang Hao's manners were impeccable, but there was no smile on his face. "Chen Jingye, why didn't you tell me there would be another friend coming?"

He was very displeased and didn't want to hide it. Since returning three months ago, he had been forced by his parents to meet a different girl almost every day. Today was a rare opportunity to relax with his old friend, but it turned out to be another blind date.

Despite his displeasure, his good upbringing and manners prevented him from showing further discontent. He changed the subject, saying, "It's not my style to meet a beautiful woman empty-handed. You should have told me earlier so I could prepare."

Qiao Xinwei was a sensitive person, and she thought to herself that this man was very slick.

Yunqing said, "Don't just stand there, sit down. What would you like to drink, Xinwei?"

"I'll have the same coffee as you both."

Yunqing signaled to the waiter, "Another cup of the same coffee, and then bring the menu."

Qiao Xinwei sat across from Jiang Hao. She glanced at him and thought to herself that this man was quite outstanding. His well-groomed appearance and eloquence revealed his extraordinary status. When he spoke, he exuded a natural confidence that made him very charming.

A man like him certainly had the qualifications to be picky about women.

Jiang Hao talked at length about his experiences abroad, his views on the domestic situation, and some interesting anecdotes from his time in the military. However, his attention and conversation never seemed to focus on Qiao Xinwei. Whenever Yun Qing tried to steer the conversation towards Xinwei, Jiang Hao smoothly avoided the topic.

It was obvious that Jiang Hao was not satisfied with Xinwei as a blind date, and he didn't even bother to look at her. This made the proud Xinwei very uncomfortable.

Suddenly, Chen Jingye frowned and let out a low exclamation. It was clear to anyone with keen eyes that Yun Qing had kicked him under the table.

The atmosphere became extremely awkward for a moment.

Finally, Jiang Hao threw out a question about Xinwei, but the question was directed at Yun Qing instead of her. "Miss Qiao, are you also involved in project planning like Yun Qing?"

"Yes, Xinwei joined the company with me. She has strong adaptability and learning abilities, and she often helps me. The leaders speak highly of her. She's also beautiful, and all the single young men in our office are pursuing her," Yun Qing said, nudging her husband sitting across from her. "Honey, isn't that right?"

Chen Jingye awkwardly responded with a hesitant "Um?" filled with doubt and confusion. Then, under his wife's intimidating gaze, he quickly nodded and said, "Yes, that's right."

Xinwei also felt embarrassed. How did Chen Jingye know about our department's affairs?