The early summer in Guangcheng was particularly hot.
However, by eight in the morning, the sun had already turned scorching.
Xu Yuqing took a bus and got off at the bus stop near Guangcheng Hotel. She then took out her phone and called her mother.
"Mom, I have arrived near Guangcheng Hotel. I'll be at the hotel very soon. Can you describe the man I'm supposed to meet for the blind date again?"
Xu's mother said on the phone, "Didn't you bring his picture?"
"I forgot it."
"You're always so forgetful. Even if I describe him to you, you might not be able to picture him. Anyway, once you enter the hotel, look around the cafe on the first floor. He is working at a nearby construction site. The man who is wearing construction worker’s clothes and a hard hat. That's the man you are supposed to meet on your blind date.”
Xu Yuqing adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose and replied with an 'Okay.'
"Xu Yuqing, listen, you can't keep being so picky, you're already 27. If you don't get married soon, you'll be an old maid. You can’t keep hiding in your orchard all day, avoiding people."
"Mom, I know. I … oh no!"
Before Xu Yuqing could even complete her sentence, someone bumped into her, causing her to stumble, and the call ended abruptly.
"Miss, are you okay? I'm sorry; I was in a hurry and didn't see you."
The person who knocked Xu Yuqing over was an elderly aunt in her sixties. She helped Xu Yuqing up, apologizing repeatedly.
Xu Yuqing was fine, apart from that fall. However, her glasses fell on the ground, and the lenses were shattered.
She was severely short-sighted, without her glasses, everything was blurry. She wouldn't even recognize her own mother passing by her.
"Auntie, I'm fine," said Xu Yuqing. She did not wish to be entangled with the older woman, insisting that she was not injured. After multiple reassurances, the old woman finally left.
She bent over to pick up her broken glasses. They were beyond repair, so she folded the frames and tucked them into her pocket.
Upon noticing that her mother was still on the phone, she quickly explained the situation and hung up, hurriedly entering the wide Guangcheng Hotel.
Without her glasses, her vision was blurry. In order to find the café, Xu Yuqing had to get close to read the signs clearly.
The hotel café was quite populated. She scanned the room and saw a man sitting in the corner. The man was dressed similarly to a construction worker, complete with a hard hat.
The man removed his safety helmet just as Xu Yuqing spotted him. With surety, she understood this must be her blind date for today.
Xu Yuqing approached him.
A stranger, a girl, stood before him, politely asking, "Excuse me, are you Mu Changfeng?"
Who was she?
Although Mu Changfeng was puzzled, he hummed in affirmation.
"Hello, I'm Xu Yuqing, your blind date for today," she replied.
Once she got confirmation, Xu Yuqing took a seat opposite Mu Changfeng, introducing herself.
With her blurred vision, even sitting across from Mu Changfeng, she could only see his features in a vague manner. As long as he had all facial features intact, that was good enough.
Mu Changfeng raised his sword-like brows, his gaze turning deep and icy cold, sharply aiming at Xu Yuqing. Seeing Xu Yuqing's calm demeanor, clear eyes, dissimilar from the women who intentionally tried to get close to him, he retracted his icy cold behavior.
"Mr. Mu, has the matchmaker told you about my situation? I’m twenty-seven years old this year, have had one relationship that ended without any particular reason, and have been single for seven to eight years. I have my own business, managing several fruit orchards, where litchis, longans, mangoes, papayas, grapes, tangerines, and watermelons are grown."
"I’m always busy with work and don’t have time for a relationship. I thought about settling down through matchmaking. If the suitor and I are compatible, I would get the marriage certificate right off the bat. This would spare my parents from constantly nagging me about marriage until my scalp tingles."
"Oh, right, I have two siblings. My older sister is married, and my younger brother has started his own family."
Being the only single one left, her parents pressurize her excessively.
Xu Yuqing was planning on buying a truckload of fertilizers after this meeting. She didn't want to waste too much time on this matchmaking thing. As soon as she sat down, she said all she wanted to say and made her situation clear.
Mu Changfeng looked at Xu Yuqing with interest. Unlike the distinguished and rich young ladies he met before, Xu Yuqing was very pleasing to look at. At first glance, she might not be stunning, but the more one looks at her, the more attractive she gets. Her straightforwardness and honesty gave him a good first impression.
Now that the lady had introduced herself, it was his turn.
"Miss Xu, I have many brothers in my family, and I am the eldest one. This year, I am thirty-one years old and unmarried. However, I am raising two children who belong to a deceased friend. He died unexpectedly, and his wife went missing, leaving two children unattended. I adopted them and treat them as my own."
"How old are they now?"
Xu Yuqing felt that the information about Mu Changfeng from the matchmaker was different. Older and raising two children, although they were not his biologically. Yet if she married him, she was effectively becoming a stepmother.
Indeed, a matchmaker could paint black as white without batting an eye.
"They are four years old. They will be attending preschool in September and are twins."
Hearing this, Xu Yuqing was relieved. As long as the children could attend preschool, it would be much easier for the adults.
"Do you have their photos? I’d like to take a look."
Xu Yuqing thought that Mu Changfeng was an upright and kind-hearted person since he was able to adopt his deceased friend's children, not fearing how it might impact his marital prospects. A single man who could take care of two kids must be someone with a good temper and an exceptionally tolerant heart.
That was precisely the kind of man she was looking for.
Having made her decision, she wished to see the two children.
Mu Changfeng pulled out his phone, opened the gallery, and found the children's photos for Xu Yuqing to look at.
Both children looked adorable and beautiful, like the two chubby 'Fuwa' dolls portrayed on traditional New Year pictures.
Although Xu Yuqing's eyesight was deteriorating, she still could see the children's faces clearly when she held the phone close to her. She instantly liked these cute children.
After looking at the children's photos, Xu Yuqing returned the phone to Mu Changfeng, and asked straightforwardly, "Mr. Mu, I have a favourable impression of you. If you think the same of me, would you be bold enough for a shotgun wedding? If you dare, let's get the paperwork done right away."
Marrying isn't a big deal. Once she got married, her parents would stop nagging her to do so.
Shotgun weddings required courage.
If there was one thing Xu Yuqing wasn't lacking, it was courage.
She was a young woman who had the guts to borrow millions for a loan and even ask all her relatives and friends for help in order to lease a few orchards. She was doing what she loved. Her courage could put many men to shame.
What's so scary about a shotgun wedding?
As long as her parents stopped nagging her, she could focus on her business in peace.
All she needed in a husband was a genuine man.
Mr. Mu worked on a construction site and was introduced as a very honest person. His main job was on the site, and he seldom had the chance to come home. With him out of the house, she wouldn’t need to look after her husband, which would be quite a relief.
