Chapter 3: Three vs. Five

The next day, Chu Yao was stopped by his mother just as he was about to leave the house.

“You’re not resting today?”

Chu Yao shook his head. “…Just going out.”

“Out to have fun?” Chu Yao’s mother immediately activated her gossip radar, swiftly gliding to stand in front of her son. With a dramatic tone and exaggerated expressions, she teased, “Going out with Beibei?”

Chu Yao didn’t answer, but the answer was obvious—his eyes were brimming with laughter.

“A date?”

Chu Yao hesitated for a moment before replying cautiously, “No, not at all.”

Chu Yao’s mother beamed brightly but then instantly transformed her expression. Her hands shot out like eagle claws, grabbing him with a swift move akin to an arrest technique. Sternly, she said, “Whether it’s a date or not, if you want to step out of this house today, you’d better change into something bright! Are you wearing that black coat to a funeral? Chu Wuchang!”

In her younger years, Chu Yao’s mother had been a formidable detective in the serious crimes division—capable of hitting targets with her eyes closed while shooting with both hands. Arresting techniques were second nature to her, and even now, during menopause, subduing her son was still a breeze.

Chu Yao nearly knelt before his own mother. He stared at the ground and softly said, “I don’t have any other clothes.”

“Nonsense!” Chu Yao’s mother released him, showcasing her lightning-fast mood swings once again. She switched to a gentle maternal demeanor, softening her voice and smiling warmly. “I bought you a casual outfit just the other day—it’s in your father’s closet. Go change into that before you go out.”

Chu Yao murmured quietly, “…Isn’t that actually for Dad?”

The casual outfit his mother mentioned was a gray-blue hoodie. Its color was hard to describe—it looked old even though it was brand new. There was a 90% chance it was intended for Chu Yao’s father to wear while fishing. Chu Yao frowned slightly but, under his mother’s piercing gaze that promised torture if he didn’t comply, obediently changed into it.

When he emerged again, Chu Yao gazed at himself in the mirror and sighed softly. A few years ago, there was a popular phrase: “Old cucumbers painted green to look young.” That description seemed to fit him perfectly right now.

Almost all of Chu Yao’s clothes were either white or black—not intentionally, but because he found these colors simple and dignified, more suitable for his work. He had never paid attention to clothing colors until one day when he overheard his mother teasing Jiang Beibei about his wardrobe choices while she was over for dinner. It was only then that he realized he owned no other colors.

That day, Chu Yao’s mother had told Jiang Beibei, “Your Yao Ge is basically a living version of those white-and-black medicine pills!”

Jiang Beibei, who had her back to the door, burst into laughter. When she turned around and saw Chu Yao returning, she choked on her food, her face turning red.

Chu Yao’s mother, always eager to stir up trouble, shouted, “White-and-black pills cure coughs! Chu Yao, what are you standing there for? Come over and help Beibei catch her breath!”

That day, upon realizing he was being likened to white-and-black pills, Chu Yao had been stunned for a long time before asking, “…Do I really look that bad?”

Jiang Beibei waved her hands frantically. “Yao Ge looks good in anything!” Her expression was sincere, without a trace of insincerity.

Chu Yao felt slightly relieved.

But then his mother added, “I gave birth to a son who used to be as fair as Snow White when he was little. Who would’ve thought kids grow up so crooked? He went from Snow White to a Black-and-White Reaper spirit. Sigh…”

Jiang Beibei laughed again.

Regardless, Chu Yao still stepped out wearing the blue hoodie that made him look younger. He gently knocked on Jiang Beibei’s door, looking up warily toward Qin Yuan’s apartment on the third floor.

The old building’s soundproofing was notoriously poor, so Chu Yao usually tiptoed around whenever he visited Jiang Beibei’s place, fearing that Qin Yuan, with his sharp ears, might hear the commotion and intervene.

Soon, Jiang Beibei opened the door, still sweet and adorable. Seeing Chu Yao, her face lit up with a radiant smile.

Chu Yao smiled faintly. Her smile was the warm sunlight he eagerly awaited every day—a taste he had grown addicted to over the years. Each time he knocked on her door, he anticipated seeing her smiling face when it opened.

“Are you ready?” Chu Yao asked softly.

His voice was quiet, and Jiang Beibei instinctively lowered her tone as well, nodding rapidly like a pecking chicken. “Yes. Yao Ge, shall we go now?”

“Mm.”

Once they were in the car, Jiang Beibei whispered, “Yao Ge changed his clothes today.”

Chu Yao wasn’t sure how to respond, so he simply hummed softly.

Jiang Beibei didn’t say anything further, resting her chin on her hand and gazing out the window.

Chu Yao glanced at the rearview mirror. Jiang Beibei’s face was expressionless, her fingers picking at the loose threads on the edge of her clothes, her eyes vacant, seemingly uninterested in conversation.

Chu Yao desperately wanted to find a topic to talk about. He mentally sifted through all the jokes he’d heard recently but couldn’t bring himself to tell any of them.

But… he still wanted to see her laugh.

As they approached the restaurant where she was meeting her blind date, Chu Yao finally found a topic that could make her speak and possibly make her laugh.

“Beibei, what kind of jokes are trending online these days?”

Jiang Beibei immediately perked up, leaning forward and tilting her head to ask, “Eh? Yao Ge is interested in this? There are so many!”

Chu Yao chuckled softly. “Tell me one.”

Jiang Beibei replied cheerfully, “Okay!”

But just as she was about to share one, the only joke that came to mind was the one her colleague had told recently—an inappropriate gag: “How do you make an eagle fall from the sky with just one sentence?”

“How?”

“Shout: Sister Eagle, your bra fell off!”

Such vulgar humor was definitely not suitable for Yao Ge! At this moment, Jiang Beibei’s mind went completely blank. Chu Yao, waiting for her response, turned to look at her curiously, his concerned gaze softening as he asked gently, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Beibei stammered, “I think…”

Seconds felt like hours.

Heaven and earth, please let me remember a joke suitable for Yao Ge!

“I think…” Jiang Beibei was on the verge of tears. Heaven and earth mercifully spared Sister Eagle, but instead filled her mind with raunchy adult jokes.

Struggling to block out the dirty thoughts in her head, Jiang Beibei finally managed to say, “Yao Ge, you should read In Search of Lost Time .”

That kind of profound classic, utterly untainted by the vulgar, carnal thoughts swirling in her meat-eating girl brain.

A joke? Forget it.

Jiang Beibei thought to herself, if Yao Ge ever knew what kind of bed-related thoughts occupied her mind daily, his worldview might shatter.

Chu Yao parked the car and said gently, “It’s fine. I was just asking casually.”

The blind date had arranged to meet at a Hunanese restaurant. Before entering, Jiang Beibei reached out to grab Chu Yao’s hand but quickly pulled it back. She called out, “Yao Ge.”

“Mm.”

“...How should I explain this to him?”

“No need for you to explain,” Chu Yao said. “He brought his family to meet you today, so naturally, you should bring your family to meet him too. I’ll tell him I’m your brother.”

His expression was serious, and Jiang Beibei felt both joy and worry.

Chu Yao added, “If you don’t like him, I’ll help you reject him when we get back.”

Jiang Beibei nodded vigorously.

She lifted her face, giving Chu Yao a bright smile. However, before the warmth of spring could melt the frost, Chu Yao’s gaze shifted behind her, his pupils suddenly contracting.

His demeanor abruptly changed from gentle to sharp, like an unexpected frost in the middle of spring, startling Jiang Beibei so much that her hair stood on end.

A pair of hands landed on her shoulders, and a light laugh came from above her head. “Caught you. What are you doing here?”

“Third Brother!”

Jiang Beibei turned around, clutching her chest. “You scared me... What are you doing here?”

Qin Yuan squinted his eyes, pretending to be displeased. “That’s my line. Why are you here with Xiao Yao?”

Jiang Beibei hurriedly explained, “Brother Yao is here to help me reject the blind date!”

Qin Yuan burst into laughter. “We agreed last night that I’d do it. Why are you sneaking around with Yao instead? Do you dislike your Third Brother?”

“Of course not!” Jiang Beibei quickly shook her head, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

But Chu Yao coldly spat out two words: “Disgusted.”

Qin Yuan looked up, his gold-rimmed glasses glinting with a scholarly yet villainous air. After a long stare-down, Qin Yuan broke eye contact, glancing at the nervous Jiang Beibei with a faint smile. “As her brother, I also have to help vet potential matches. Come on, is this the restaurant?”

He pushed Jiang Beibei ahead into the Hunanese restaurant, turning back to Chu Yao with a smirk. “Follow us.”

“Shut up.”

“Tsk.” Qin Yuan raised an eyebrow, lowering his head to see Jiang Beibei twisting around to look at Chu Yao. He patted her head lightly and chuckled, “Who are you looking at? Watch where you’re going, don’t trip.”

The blind date partner had already arrived, chatting with his mother about Jiang Beibei.

“Your Aunt Three said she’s a good match—works at the TV station and has a stable position. At first, I thought it wasn’t reliable. Pretty girls at TV stations aren’t usually the type to settle down. But Aunt Three told me she works in social news, even on legal programs, so I agreed to let you come.”

“You’ll see when you meet her,” the blind date said. “She’s really good! Quiet, looks so gentle, very dependable—exactly the kind of girl you’d want to marry.”

If Jiang Beibei had heard such praise, she might have laughed until her teeth fell out.

Qin Yuan pushed Jiang Beibei into the restaurant and whispered, “I’m going to play a game. From now on, I’m your boyfriend.”

Jiang Beibei was shocked. “No way!”

From the corner, the blind date spotted her and called out loudly, waving. “Jiang Beibei, over here!”

Then, both sides froze.

Blind date partner: “...Brother Qin Yuan? What are you doing here?”

When Qin Yuan recognized the blind date as his cousin, his expression changed several times, finally settling on surprise.

“Oh, what a coincidence!” Qin Yuan’s boyfriend dream shattered. He quickly removed his hand from Jiang Beibei’s shoulder and walked over to greet his aunt and cousin. “What a surprise! I didn’t expect Beibei’s blind date to be you.”

Jiang Beibei quietly glanced at Chu Yao, who was silently following behind. Their eyes met briefly.

The blind date’s mother smiled. “Qin Yuan, no work today? Your mom introduced this girl, and your little brother liked her so much he insisted on meeting her. So here we are.”

Now it was Jiang Beibei’s turn to be shocked.

“Settled?” Settled what? Engaged? What on earth was going on?

She stared at Qin Yuan in disbelief, utterly confused.

“Aunt, you’re joking,” Qin Yuan immediately understood the situation, his expression darkening. But he couldn’t lose his temper in front of the elders, so he forced a smile, his voice tight. “Beibei’s still young... It’s too early to talk about this.”

This excuse was terrible.

The blind date and his mother exchanged glances between Qin Yuan and Jiang Beibei, slowly revealing expressions of shock.

That was it.

Jiang Beibei sighed softly, realizing that by the time she got home today, she would undoubtedly be labeled as the seductive fox spirit ruining Qin Yuan.

In the afternoon, the sunlight was bright.

Jiang Beibei sat silently on a park bench, sipping her milk tea.

Half an hour had passed since the awkward blind date incident. When the blind date left, his face was as dark as Bao Zheng’s. It wouldn’t be long before Qin Yuan’s mother heard rumors of her scheming with Qin Yuan.

Jiang Beibei had a belly full of grievances but nowhere to vent them.

Meanwhile, the two men sitting next to her were at odds.

Chu Yao: “At a time like this, your mom suddenly rushes to find Beibei a match. Are you telling me you don’t know anything about this?”

Qin Yuan: “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

“I don’t know. If you’ve got the guts, say it clearly. What do you mean it’s because of me?”

Chu Yao said coldly, “Don’t pretend to be dumb. We’re all adults here. Stop acting like children.”

Seeing they were about to argue, Jiang Beibei raised her milk tea cup impassively and said, “Third Brother, Yao Ge, I want ice cream and chips.”

Chu Yao stood up. “I’ll get the ice cream.”

Qin Yuan clicked his tongue and reluctantly went to buy chips.

After they left, Jiang Beibei buried her face in her hands and sighed mournfully, “I can’t survive this. I’m going to be labeled the concubine ruining their son...”

After years of being careful, she ultimately couldn’t escape the reputation of being the fox spirit who ruined someone’s precious son.