Chapter 282: Chapter 280: Pretending to be Competent
The same restaurant, the same spot.
Jian Xi was dealing with another batch of oddballs.
What left her most speechless was a thirty-year-old man who kept repeating, "My mom says this, my mom says that."
Jian Xi slammed her coffee cup onto the table. "Besides ’my mom says,’ can’t you say anything else? Are you your mom’s parrot?"
The man across from her widened his eyes, scared silly. He didn’t dare utter another word and turned to flee.
Jian Xi was exasperated.
Were these the choices her mom had painstakingly selected? She refused to believe it! There was something fishy going on!
After having the butler do some digging, she discovered her mom had intentionally chosen these weirdos.
It looks like she’s dead set on marrying me off to Fu Shengyuan!
Jian Xi took a deep breath, determined to do the exact opposite. Smiling, she called Wan Yu.
"Do you know any matchmaking services? It doesn’t matter if it’s high-end, just one with better quality candidates. Send a couple over; I have two hours, enough time for two dates."
Wan Yu cackled, almost breathless. "Okay, I’ll arrange it right away."
These were Wan Yu’s happiest times. Watching her best friend get forced into one blind date after another was immensely entertaining for her.
A short while later, a very artsy-looking man walked in. He was dressed in a Japanese fashion style and looked quite young, probably only in his twenties. His casual hairstyle wasn’t meticulously styled, yet it somehow contributed to his clean and fresh appearance.
He approached Jian Xi. His jet-black pupils were beautiful, his eyes glistening, seemingly untouched by the cynicism of the world.
"I’m a painter. Just call me Zhang Yaxuan."
"Nice name."
Jian Xi felt the name sounded somewhat familiar.
"Are you famous?"
The man smiled, his lips pursed.
Jian Xi quickly apologized, "That was presumptuous of me."
"It’s alright. I didn’t expect Miss Jian to be knowledgeable about the arts. I’ve produced some decent work in recent years, fetching quite good prices at international auctions, which has earned me a little bit of fame."
"So, you’re the new artistic genius, Zhang Yaxuan!"
Jian Xi then recalled why the name was so familiar. She had once helped her parents select one of his paintings as a gift when visiting an old friend—a single piece worth tens of millions! A painting gifted to Si Yuhuan, which hung in his home, was also by Zhang Yaxuan and valued at nearly a hundred million.
Jian Xi was stunned that Wan Yu had managed to find someone like him.
"A pleasure." Jian Xi always had a special appreciation for talent and extended her hand.
Zhang Yaxuan shook it briefly then released her hand.
He was very polite and didn’t try to take advantage. He seemed like the perfect candidate for a fake boyfriend. Jian Xi was pondering what to say next when Zhang Yaxuan spoke first, "I like men."
"Hmm?" Jian Xi’s eyes widened.
"To be honest, the reason I’m going on blind dates is to shut my family up." He was very candid, his eyes without a trace of impurity, his clear gaze fixed on Jian Xi. "Can you understand what I mean?"
"You want me to be your pretend girlfriend?" Jian Xi asked tentatively.
"Yes! You’re very smart, Miss Jian. May I ask what you do for a living?"
Jian Xi forced a smile, feeling a bit awkward. "I guess you could say I’m a lawyer."
Leave it to Wan Yu to be so unreliable! She hadn’t even told him what I do! But this guy... he’s perfect! He likes men, and I don’t want to find a man right now. Fake boyfriend, fake girlfriend—it’s a match made in heaven!
"A lawyer is fine. Shall we settle on this then?"
That was fast! Jian Xi was a bit shocked.
"I think you’re suitable, and if you don’t have any issues with me, please take this card as a sign of my sincerity. Rest assured, I won’t interfere with your private life; I don’t mind what you do."
Jian Xi was utterly speechless. He was offering her money and promising not to meddle in her private life. It was definitely every woman’s dream... except it wasn’t about love. Could any woman really accept that?
"Take the card back. I don’t lack money. As for being boyfriend and girlfriend, I agree."
Wan Yu came sprinting back, utterly shocked. As soon as she entered the door, she asked, "You and that Zhang Yaxuan are an item now?"
"Yeah, this matchmaking service of yours is surprisingly reliable. If there’s an opportunity, I’d like to invest, buy a stake, and help expand it. It could be a great public service."
Jian Xi didn’t even realize she was spouting business talk.
"What matchmaking service? That’s a friend of my friend. He really agreed to date you?"
"Is there something wrong with that?"
Wan Yu scratched the back of her head. "But I’ve set him up with many women before, and apparently, none of them worked out. When I asked why, they wouldn’t say a word, just looked thoroughly annoyed. It got to the point where I was afraid to introduce him to anyone else."
Jian Xi almost couldn’t help but laugh. With his personality, he probably tells women straight up that he likes men. It’s likely no woman would agree to be even friends with him. Except for an oddball like her.
"Probably just no visual chemistry with the others. We, on the other hand, find each other quite agreeable."
"Could be fate. It’s just a pity for poor Zhou Yan, who’s still so devotedly pursuing you."
At the mention of Zhou Yan, Jian Xi’s expression flickered almost imperceptibly.
Wan Yu quickly changed the subject. "The child comes first. Zhou Yan isn’t important. You’re the priority now."
"Anyway, let’s get some crayfish and celebrate!"
Jian Xi hadn’t eaten much at the restaurant and was starting to feel hungry.
"Two portions, extra spicy."
"Deal!"
The small diner was bustling with warmth and lively chatter. After Jian Xi and Wan Yu ordered, some customers at a nearby table left, so they moved to take those seats. They relaxed, watching the vibrant scenes of everyday life around them.
"Ah, a place like this is so comfortable. I love it." Wan Yu yawned. "After we eat, I’m going to go home and sleep soundly. I have to go on another business trip soon."
Jian Xi knew how hard Wan Yu worked and felt a pang of sympathy for her. "Take good care of yourself."
"You focus on protecting yourself and the baby first! Every penny we earn now is hard-won and allows us to stand tall."
Some things, Jian Xi didn’t know how to ask. She had often wondered why Wan Yu was so obsessed with earning money. But even as best friends, they respected each other’s personal space, and Jian Xi didn’t pry.
"I’ll go peel the shrimp for you!"
Wan Yu stood up, but Jian Xi grabbed her wrist. "What are you up to?"
"Si Yuhuan was right, you’re pregnant and precious. You need to be careful with everything. He peeled them for you last time; this time, it’s my turn."
Jian Xi blushed. "Don’t mention him."
"Not even allowed to mention him? Looks like he really annoyed you this time."
Jian Xi clenched her teeth. "He has another woman and still pesters me, I..."
Unexpectedly, she heard the proprietress laugh and greet someone outside.
"Handsome! You’re here!" The proprietress looked at Jian Xi, an ambiguous smile on her face.
Jian Xi turned and saw Si Yuhuan holding a bouquet of flowers, her lips twitching.
Dressed in a sharp suit, Si Yuhuan stood not far away. His handsome features outshone the bouquet he held, and his distinguished aura was strikingly out of place in the down-to-earth restaurant. He looked like a celestial being who had descended to the mortal realm, utterly captivating.
Passersby on the street couldn’t take their eyes off him, and in moments, a crowd had gathered at the door.
Some bolder onlookers covered their mouths, exclaiming, "How can anyone be that handsome? Is he a famous star? I’ve never seen such a good-looking celebrity; he’s just gorgeous!"
"It looks like he has a girlfriend, holding flowers! I just don’t know who they’re for!"
"So romantic! If he were my boyfriend, I’d be willing to die for him."
Wan Yu, sipping her soda through a straw, couldn’t help but cough. "Talk about a handsome face causing trouble," she muttered. "He’s a real romance magnet!"