Chapter 120: The Ideal Candidate

Zhao Yan, feeling both embarrassed and agitated, snapped, "It's not a date, stop talking nonsense! I have some matters to discuss with Mr. Huang."

"Matters to discuss? You could discuss those at your duck shop, why go to Lei Garden? Dining at such a high-end restaurant—isn't that a date? Sister, you really are full of surprises! Don't tell me you've already reeled Mr. Huang in? You're incredible!"

"Stop blabbering! Get out, get out right now!" Annoyed to death by Zhao Jing, Zhao Yan shoved her out the door and—slam—click, locked it behind her.

Zhao Jing was thrilled. Through the door, she cheered for her sister, "Don't be shy, sis! A man should marry and a woman should wed when the time is right! What are you blushing for?"

"Get lost! It's not what you think!"

"Sis, I support you regardless! If Mr. Huang could become my brother-in-law, that would be so cool! Hey? Do you want me to come along and back you up?"

"No! Go find somewhere cool to rest!"

"Hehe, then I'll wait for your good news!"

Although Zhao Jing was a meddler, she knew better than to interfere in this; she had to let her sister play her own cards. Still, the fact that Zhao Yan and Huang Guolun were going on a date really shocked her. Reflecting on it, the two didn't seem to have any chemistry when they were together. How did they get entangled? Her sister truly was a master of the unexpected—silent until she made a splash.

Zhao Yan was left feeling anxious by Zhao Jing's pestering. She didn't even bother with makeup; she just threw on some clothes and hurried to leave. When Zhao Jing saw that Zhao Yan was wearing a high-collared white wool base layer under her trench coat, she stopped her in a panic, "You're dressed way too conservatively! For such an important date, how can you not show off your cleavage? You have a great chest, you know! Use your advantages!"

Exhausted by her sister's antics, Zhao Yan pleaded, "Just stop interfering! It’s really not like that between me and Mr. Huang! We have other things to talk about."

Zhao Jing paused. Seeing her sister’s flustered state, she began to doubt if it was a romantic date after all. "What else could you two talk about besides dating? Don't tell me you're planning to open a cafe together? You're strapped for cash right now—are you trying to secure an investment from Mr. Huang?"

"Yes! Just stop meddling and let me handle it, okay?"

Zhao Jing deflated, "Ugh, what a letdown. I thought you were going to talk about love with Mr. Huang."

"Didn't you say that Mr. Huang and I weren't a good match? Why talk about it then? Or do you actually want us to be together?"

"A reliable guy like Mr. Huang—better to keep him in the family than let someone else have him. Honestly, sis, I really do hope you two can be together. I think you're a good fit, but... Mr. Huang doesn't seem to feel the spark with you. Sigh, never mind. Anyway, good luck. Getting an investment from him wouldn't be bad either; it might finally get your little shop on the right track."

Finally escaping Zhao Jing’s entanglement, Zhao Yan left the house, relieved to have made it out.

The final remark about Huang Guolun not feeling a spark hit Zhao Yan a little hard. Sitting in her MINI Cooper, she took a moment to calm down. Looking down at her conservative outfit, she felt a slight sense of disappointment in herself. Should she, as Zhao Jing suggested, show a more feminine side?

Forget it. Baring skin wasn't her style; she would rather be her true self. Starting the engine, Zhao Yan gathered her courage and drove toward Jinbao Street.

Huang Guolun had arrived at the restaurant earlier than Zhao Yan. While sitting at the reserved table waiting for her, he received a bank transfer notification. Before he could check it, Yao Dajun called him.

Yao Dajun had sold the car. He was incredibly efficient; he had bought the car from his boss for 580,000 and flipped it at the car market for 900,000 shortly after, netting a profit of 320,000. Although Huang Guolun had told him to just return the principal and keep the profit, Yao Dajun added an extra 70,000, transferring 650,000 in total. Even though he was short on cash, Yao Dajun wasn't the type to be petty with a close brother like Huang Guolun; he was very generous to his friends.

After clearing that up on the phone, Yao Dajun added, "About my nephew, Yao Ming—you're still thinking about it, right? I can tell him you'll have a meal with him."

"I haven't forgotten. I've been a bit busy lately and haven't reached out. Let's do it next week." Huang Guolun thought for a moment and gave a concrete time, "Let's tentatively aim for next Wednesday."

"Next Wednesday?"

"Yes. Next Wednesday afternoon, I have a high school music teacher seminar in the district. It’s not very exciting, so I'll try to get out early. If I do, we can meet up then. Tell your nephew to prepare. Next Wednesday, I'll treat you two to dinner."

"Got it. See you next Wednesday then. I'll tell him to get ready."

"Alright, see you next week."

As Huang Guolun hung up, he saw Zhao Yan arriving, looking a bit winded as the waiter led her toward him. Because of the commotion at home, she hadn't bothered with elaborate makeup; she arrived with a light touch, looking no different than she did at her shop. The only difference was that her trench coat made her look taller, sharper, and more like an independent professional woman, rather than the dreamer tucked away in her little shop.

Huang Guolun hadn't put much effort into his appearance for this blind date either, sticking to his usual trio: a black jacket, a black shirt, and a pair of very clean black leather shoes.

The two were no strangers to one another, but given the different setting, they were both a bit reserved, with a glimmer of expectation for love hidden in their eyes. This created a subtle atmosphere between them. Zhao Yan had been worried that Huang Guolun might have accepted the invitation only to be polite, intending to turn her down gently in person. However, upon seeing him, her woman’s intuition told her that he hadn't come to reject her; he seemed genuinely interested in getting to know her better and seeing if there was a possibility for something more.

This made Zhao Yan’s heart swell, and the dimples on her cheeks seemed warmer than usual.

After they were seated, Huang Guolun asked for her preference and ordered for her. Since both had driven, they skipped the alcohol and toasted with tea. They started by talking about the shop before quickly moving to the topic of their blind date.

Zhao Yan was the first to ask, "I'm actually quite curious, Mr. Huang. For someone as talented as you, what kind of woman is your ideal partner?"

"Don't flatter me. Talent and relationships are two different things; you can't lump them together." Huang Guolun paused, then said, "To be honest, I want to find a suitable partner to start a family, mainly for my son's sake. You know that growing up in a single-parent family isn't great for a child's physical and mental health. My son has been deeply affected by it; he's very mischievous and often has strange ideas that leave me at a loss. He keeps telling me he wants a new mom, saying every kid in kindergarten has both parents except him. My heart aches whenever he says that."

Zhao Yan nodded gently, understandingly, "Children really should grow up in a complete family environment. It's much better for their development."

Huang Guolun said half-jokingly, "Do you think my idea of finding a partner for the sake of my child is a bit twisted?"

Zhao Yan quickly replied, "Not at all. I completely understand. It just goes to show what a responsible father you are."

"A friend of mine always teases me, saying it's a warped psychology to look for a mother for my child rather than a wife for myself. But honestly, it's not just for the kid; I have my own pursuits and thoughts, too."

Zhao Yan asked softly, "Putting the child aside, what kind of person would be your ideal partner?"

Huang Guolun thought seriously before answering, "Values have to be aligned. If there's a huge rift in values, living together is like being at war—you'd argue about everything, and that would have a terrible impact on the child."

Zhao Yan smiled sweetly, "I understand. I realize the importance of values now, too. Don't laugh, but my last boyfriend and I had many conflicting ideas, which led to a lot of friction. That was the biggest reason we couldn't make it to the end."

Since Zhao Yan had brought up her previous relationship, Huang Guolun shared, "My ex-wife and I didn't see eye-to-eye on several values either, and we had our fair share of conflicts."

Zhao Yan paused, asking cautiously, "But listening to your songs, I thought you were deeply in love with your ex-wife?"

"I was. I loved her very much. Despite the conflicts, we were very affectionate. Our life was like 'War and Peace'—when we were at war, sparks flew, but when we were at peace, we were inseparable. Sometimes I think, maybe aligned values aren't a strict requirement. If two people click and truly fall in love, they should be together regardless. If both are willing to be tolerant and considerate, they can be very happy, and there’s no shortage of passion."

Zhao Yan nodded in agreement.

Huang Guolun shifted the tone, "But now, I still hope to find someone with similar values. I don't want too much conflict or arguing. It’s bad for the child, and frankly, I'm getting older—I don't have the energy to fight anymore."