Stepping into the elevator, Li Yifei lowered his voice and said, "Dressing up all flashy like this—are you off to meet some online stranger?"
Qian Fei also whispered back, "Stranger my ass! It's called an online date! Such a proper term, but the way you say it makes it sound so shady!"
Li Yifei let out a mocking "Hah," then said in a weird tone, "All dolled up like some cheap, desperate floozy—what kind of impression are you trying to give your date?"
Qian Fei snapped, "Ugh! I’m just putting in effort to show respect!" She glanced at the elevator display—they had reached the ninth floor. "Alright, stop bothering me. Go find your girlfriend!"
As the elevator stopped on the ninth floor, another five or six people squeezed in, pushing Qian Fei and Li Yifei further inside. Li Yifei, being tall, towered above the crowd and didn’t feel suffocated, but Qian Fei, in high heels, was about the same height as the newly arrived men, who were around 170 cm. Wedged between a sea of male heads, she found it hard to breathe.
Li Yifei pulled her closer and maneuvered her into the corner, shielding her with his body, trapping her between himself and the elevator wall—just like he had done on the subway before.
"We didn’t make plans today. So, how about I tag along and vet this guy for you?" Li Yifei asked, one hand in his pocket, the other braced against the elevator wall, striking a pose.
People in the elevator were staring, making Qian Fei feel incredibly awkward. She pushed his hand away. "Are you that bored?"
Unfazed, Li Yifei leaned back in. "I’ve never seen a blind date before—I’m curious!" The elevator dinged as it reached the first floor. Qian Fei shoved past him and strode out, but Li Yifei followed, grabbing her arm. "Come on, take me with you! I’ll just sit quietly and observe. Qian Fei, don’t be so stingy—who took you to see Da Peng’s stand-up, huh?"
This was the first time Qian Fei had ever seen the usually aloof, picky, and proud Young Master Li act so shamelessly in public. She was stunned. "Li Yifei, are you okay? Why are you so obsessed with my date?" She swatted his hand away, refusing to let him come along.
Checking her watch, she realized she’d be late if she didn’t hurry. Done arguing, she rushed toward the lobby entrance. Before stepping into the revolving door, she glanced back.
Li Yifei was on his phone by the elevator.
Relieved, she walked through the door.
●︶3︶●
Since restaurants were crowded and noisy during peak hours, Qian Fei had arranged to meet her date at Wang Café on Dawang Road.
Her first impression of him in person was fairly positive. Though not as handsome as Wang Ruohai or Hu Zining, he at least seemed reliable and down-to-earth. After two disastrous experiences, she had lost all faith in pretty boys and now avoided them like the plague.
Her date seemed equally pleased with her, eyeing her up and down repeatedly while gushing, "I had no idea you’d be this stunning in person! You’re way prettier than your photos!"
The compliments made Qian Fei’s face burn.
Her date’s name was Yuan Feng, a civil servant working in Haidian District. Like her, he was from out of town and hadn’t yet bought property in Beijing.Qian Fei's standards for a partner were quite different from some other girls. She didn't insist that the man must have a house, car, or savings. She only cared about the person—even if the man had nothing, as long as he was honest, ambitious, and filial to his parents, she would choose him and live a steady life with him.
After chatting for a while, the initial awkwardness of their first meeting gradually faded, and both of them began to open up. However, as the conversation went on, Qian Fei felt that Yuan Feng was opening up a bit too much...
During this time, she wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but she kept feeling like someone was sneering behind her. Twice, she couldn't help but turn around, but the person sitting behind her was clearly a plump lady.
She refocused and listened to Yuan Feng's warm, sincere, and heartfelt confession.
"Qian Fei, we've been chatting online for so long, and now we've finally met. I don't know what you think of me, but I'm very, very satisfied with you! It wasn't very convenient to explain my situation in detail online before, so now I'll tell you properly. I was with my ex-girlfriend for many years, and we even reached the point of discussing marriage. But right after our parents met, set the wedding date, and even sent out the invitations, my ex cheated on me and ran off with someone else! I became the laughingstock of everyone around me! The blow was so heavy that now I'm as skittish as a startled bird when it comes to relationships without the security of marriage!"
Qian Fei faintly thought she heard another sneer. Shaking off the auditory illusion, she responded to Yuan Feng, "Don't worry, I despise cheating more than anything. My ex-boyfriend and I broke up because he cheated too. I won't be like your ex-girlfriend or my ex-boyfriend!"
Yuan Feng shook his head. "No, no, Qian Fei, you don't understand. I don't doubt your character, but I have psychological barriers of my own—I can't get past them! Without security, I don't dare to casually date a girl!"
Qian Fei grew more and more puzzled. "Then what kind of security are you talking about?"
Yuan Feng adjusted his glasses and said seriously, "I think we should have a trial marriage first."
Qian Fei was stunned. She heard another faint sneer from behind. Suddenly irritated, she turned around again, but all she saw was the same plump woman's back.
Turning back, she tried to make Yuan Feng, with his psychological barriers, understand her confusion. "But what does a trial marriage have to do with your ex-girlfriend cheating?"
Yuan Feng smiled like a leader about to make an important announcement, adjusted his glasses again, and said, "Qian Fei, here's the thing—if we live together, neither of us can hide our strengths or weaknesses. I'll get to know what kind of person you really are, and you'll do the same with me. That way, we'll know if we're truly suited for marriage!"
Qian Fei felt dizzy from his plainspoken explanation, as if she was being led in circles. Yet amidst the confusion, she found a rare moment of clarity.
At the same time, she felt her once warm and passionate heart gradually growing cold.
"To put it bluntly, you just want us to live together, right?" Her smile remained unchanged, but her attitude had done a complete 180-degree turn.
Unaware of the shift in her heart, Yuan Feng nodded repeatedly with a grin. "That's exactly what I mean!"Qian Fei smiled warmly and asked, "So, when do you think we should start implementing this?"
Yuan Feng was momentarily taken aback, seemingly not expecting such a perfect outcome in such a short time. "You don’t have anything on tonight, do you? Why don’t you come over to my place for a visit and get familiar with it?"
Qian Fei heard another faint, mocking chuckle.
She no longer had the energy to figure out where that sound was coming from.
She continued smiling brightly and asked Yuan Feng, "Has your place hosted many blind dates before?"
Yuan Feng, thinking she was jealous, adjusted his glasses and explained with a laugh, "Don’t mind that. Before, I kept going on blind dates because I hadn’t met the right person. But now that I have you, I won’t need those dating sites anymore!"
The "hiss" of that mocking laugh was so sharp it felt like a slap to the face.
Qian Fei’s smile vanished.
She asked Yuan Feng, "Is inviting me over just about showing me around?"
Seeing her serious expression, Yuan Feng also stopped smiling and said earnestly, "Qian Fei, stay the night. Even though I’m renting and only have one room, the bed is a double—we’ll fit just fine!"
Qian Fei felt like she might vomit if she stayed any longer. She grabbed her coat and stood up to leave. Yuan Feng’s expression darkened as he grabbed her arm. "Qian Fei, what’s your problem?"
She pulled her wrist free and rubbed the spot he had gripped, her face blank. "No problem. I’m just going home."
A vicious glint flashed in Yuan Feng’s eyes. "You’re playing me?"
Qian Fei paused in putting on her coat and looked at him coldly. "Sorry, but I don’t understand your psychological issues. I don’t think I can ‘fix’ you. Maybe try WeChat’s ‘Shake’ feature—I’m sure plenty of people would be happy to comfort your mental illness."
Yuan Feng’s face twisted into something ugly. "Stop acting all innocent! You’re no virgin, are you? Bet you’ve been slept with ages ago! If you’re so ‘proper,’ why are you even on a dating site? Don’t pretend to be some chaste saint just to lead people on!"
Qian Fei hadn’t expected a man’s demeanor could turn so vile and repulsive so quickly. She trembled with rage.
As she struggled to find the right words, a figure suddenly rushed past her and punched Yuan Feng square in the face.
She blinked in shock—it was Li Yifei.
Dazed, she glanced back. The plump woman behind her had turned to watch the commotion, and through the gap between her arm and the chair, Qian Fei caught a glimpse of a familiar men’s coat draped over the opposite seat.
A crowd began to gather.
She turned back to Li Yifei, who was now pointing at Yuan Feng as the latter scrambled up, wiping blood from his nose. "If you want to trick women into bed, at least come up with a classier excuse. Don’t drag ‘psychological issues’ into it—people might realize you’re just a pervert. Next time, try talking about black holes or something. Make it sound intellectual! Don’t be such an obvious sleazebag with ‘sleazebag’ written all over your face. It’s disgusting—no suspense at all!"Qian Fei found it exhilarating to listen to Li Yifei's scathing remarks. He didn't even use particularly vulgar words, yet his sharp tongue could infuriate anyone.
Li Yifei glanced back at her, raising an eyebrow. "Here's your chance. Say whatever you want to him. If he dares to act up, I'll make his nose bleed again!"
Encouraged by his words, Qian Fei felt her blood boiling. Watching Yuan Feng's cowardly demeanor after being beaten, waves of disgust rose in her heart.
"You... Oh right! And you call yourself a civil servant! Does your boss know how low-class and scummy you are?" After much deliberation, this was the retort she came up with.
Li Yifei burst out laughing beside her.
"Can you be any more naive? You actually believe he's a civil servant?"
Qian Fei was stunned. She had never doubted such things—whatever was written online, she took at face value. She didn't know whether she was too innocent and trusting or if society had simply betrayed the trust people placed in it.
Yuan Feng wiped the blood from his nose, picked up his jacket, and spat hatefully at Qian Fei, "Look who's talking! If you were such a saint, would some pretty boy have rushed out to defend you without a second thought?"
Hearing his foul mouth, Li Yifei immediately clenched his fist, ready to give him another nosebleed.
Qian Fei desperately held him back. "Don't go over there!" After restraining Li Yifei, she said earnestly, "Don't dirty your hands! Leave this to me!" Then she grabbed a glass of water from the table and splashed it at Yuan Feng.
Caught off guard, Yuan Feng's glasses were drenched. Just as he was about to shout curses, Li Yifei cut him off sharply.
"One word, you bastard, and I'll knock your teeth out!"
The onlookers' gazes grew increasingly intense. Unable to stay any longer, Qian Fei tugged Li Yifei toward the exit. As they passed the seat opposite the plump woman, she didn't forget to snatch the coat hanging on the chair.
Behind them, Yuan Feng yelled, "Qian Fei, you've got guts!"
Qian Fei turned her head and said expressionlessly, "Yuan Feng, with so many people watching, have some dignity!"
Author's Note: Thank you to all the lovely readers for your generous support! Many thanks! bows deeply
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Just one more shout-out today, don't get annoyed with me.
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