PDGUT - 1

The sweltering heat of summer was vividly conveyed through the incessant cicada calls that grew louder with each passing moment.

Yu Tian sat in a café, her left eyelid twitching uncontrollably.

Her feet were clad in 10-centimeter stiletto heels; her face was meticulously made up, adorned with expensive jewelry borrowed by Qi Sihao from his mother. Her outfit clung to her curves, bold and daring—entirely unlike her usual style.

Men occasionally entering or leaving the café cast lingering glances her way, their gazes an unspoken acknowledgment of her beauty and figure. Yet, Yu Tian felt no pride or satisfaction. The drastic change in her appearance made her uncomfortable, and the attention only heightened her unease.

She glanced at her watch and turned to Qi Sihao sitting across from her. “Are you sure Ren Yali will come?”

Qi Sihao appeared nonchalant. “Don’t worry, I’ve already posted the location on Weibo. It’s not far from her school. She’ll definitely show up within half an hour.”

But Yu Tian still felt uneasy. “My left eye has been twitching like crazy. I’ve heard it’s a bad omen. I have a feeling today might not go well…”

Qi Sihao dismissed her concerns with a shrug. “Either you haven’t been sleeping well lately, or it’s a lingering effect from when you had facial nerve inflammation. Or maybe it’s just random muscle spasms.”

He looked at her with mock seriousness. “You’re a medical student. How can you believe in superstitions like ‘left eye twitching means disaster’? If it bothers you, get some Botox—it’ll smooth out wrinkles too!”

However, he didn’t continue for long. Through the café window, he spotted Ren Yali approaching.

In an instant, Qi Sihao’s expression shifted to one of alarm. He grabbed the spoon in front of him, scooped up a dollop of melting ice cream, and adopted a look of tender affection, preparing to feed it to Yu Tian.

Just then, Ren Yali pushed open the door.

There weren’t many patrons in the café, so her gaze quickly locked onto Qi Sihao.

The timing was impeccable.

By the time Ren Yali reached their table, Qi Sihao had exaggerated his facial expressions and delivered the ice cream to Yu Tian’s mouth with an overly dramatic tone: “Darling, one spoon for you, one spoon for me—may we grow old together forever…”

“…” Yu Tian wasn’t sure if she’d ever spend her life with Qi Sihao, but Helicobacter pylori might.

Upon witnessing this scene, Ren Yali was initially shocked, then her face crumpled into an expression of anguish and heartbreak. She stared at Qi Sihao. “So… you really have a girlfriend?”

Qi Sihao pretended to notice her for the first time, feigning appropriate surprise before breaking into a smile. With practiced ease, he introduced, “Yes, this is my girlfriend, Yu Tian.”

Ren Yali’s face reflected disbelief and denial. She glared at Yu Tian. “Is this really your type?”

Accustomed to getting her way, Ren Yali was overwhelmed by feelings of jealousy and humiliation. Pointing accusingly at Yu Tian, her voice trembled as she vented, “Is it just because she’s pretty? Can beauty put food on the table? A beautiful face is nothing but skin-deep!”

Qi Sihao chuckled sheepishly. “But a beautiful exterior draws people in, making them curious about your fascinating soul.”

He winked. “Yali, you see, I’m a shallow man. I truly don’t deserve you. I do have a girlfriend now, so please don’t waste your time on me anymore.”

Ren Yali stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Qi Sihao couldn’t resist the urge to cheer internally. He downed a cup of health-conscious goji berry tea and gave Yu Tian a grateful bow. “Thank you, my fish! My opposite-sex brother!”

“Don’t ask me to do something like this again. It’s asking for trouble. Why don’t you find yourself a real girlfriend?”

Qi Sihao sighed mournfully. “I want to, but after that girl I fell head over heels for last time, I never saw her again. I’m a very loyal person. She’s the only one who’s ever made my heart race. I’m still waiting for fate to bring her back into my life.”

He launched into a familiar tale. “That time, I jumped into a foul-smelling ditch to save a drowning child. When I climbed out, no one wanted to help me because of the stench. But she didn’t hesitate—she reached out her hand to me without a second thought…”

Yu Tian strongly suspected this story was fabricated, but she lacked evidence.

Rolling her eyes, she retorted, “Then good luck waiting until you’re old and your sperm is inactive.”

Qi Sihao’s family and Yu Tian’s family had once been neighbors. They’d known each other since they wore open-crotch pants and had shared classes all the way through elementary school. Even in college, they both entered Rong City Medical University’s clinical medicine program.

Ren Yali, a broadcasting major from the neighboring art academy, had fallen head over heels for Qi Sihao at a mixer. Despite adding him on social media and launching relentless advances, Qi Sihao had repeatedly rejected her. Unfortunately, Ren Yali, spoiled and accustomed to having things go her way, refused to accept failure. For an entire year, she persistently pursued Qi Sihao, contriving “coincidental” encounters whenever he revealed his whereabouts online. She vowed not to give up as long as he remained single, leaving Qi Sihao utterly miserable. Finally, he hit upon the idea of enlisting Yu Tian’s help to make Ren Yali lose hope once and for all.

With one troublesome matter resolved, Qi Sihao’s mood soared, and he couldn’t resist flattering Yu Tian.

But Yu Tian had no patience for his flattery. She was pressed for time—she had two more meetings ahead.

The first was her own blind date, and the second was her mother Song Chunxiang’s.

To efficiently handle everything in one morning, Yu Tian had taken charge of arranging the venues for both subsequent meetings. She booked two private rooms in the restaurant next to the café where they were currently seated.

Now that Qi Sihao’s issue was resolved, she checked the time and prepared to head to her own blind date. However, she still felt a bit apprehensive. “Sihao, am I really dressed appropriately like this?”

Qi Sihao gave her a thumbs-up. “Don’t worry. Based on the chat records between you and that guy, he’s looking for a homely wife who embodies the selfless, sacrificial type—who eats grass but produces milk and blood. Plus, he holds very conservative views, believing women should never dress provocatively, which he equates with being promiscuous.”

“For someone like him, dressing like this and dripping in jewels makes it clear you’re not the domestic type. Since you’re not from a wealthy family, a pragmatic guy like him will definitely run for the hills!”

“However…” Qi Sihao glanced at Yu Tian thoughtfully. “What if he sees your face and can’t walk away?”

Yu Tian pursed her lips. “I still have my ace up my sleeve…”

Qi Sihao hesitated, seeming uncertain whether to speak. “You actually went through with getting that certificate?”

“Mm.” Yu Tian smiled faintly. “Now I can ride public transportation for free.”

She glanced at the time, said no more, and hurriedly picked up her bag. Awkwardly teetering on her stilettos, she made her way to the neighboring restaurant.

Yu Tian had no interest in blind dates, but she couldn’t refuse this one because the matchmaker was her aunt, who had financially supported her education after her father’s untimely death in a car accident during high school. Though she had repaid the tuition fees years later, she would never forget her aunt’s kindness.

Initially, she added the man on WeChat with low expectations, but after a few exchanges, she realized there was zero chemistry—not even friendship material.

“A wife should stay home and raise children. Isn’t that our great Chinese tradition? Men work outside, women manage the household.”

“I heard you’re not planning to become a doctor. That’s perfect! If you were a doctor, I wouldn’t dare consider you—you’d be too busy to take care of the family. This way is much better. You graduated from medical school, so you can tend to any minor illnesses at home, and it’ll be convenient for taking care of the elderly and children…”

Just recalling his words gave Yu Tian a headache.

Still, she had to meet him.

A quick encounter would suffice.

It was best if he rejected her outright.

She rehearsed what she’d say in her mind, bolstered her confidence, and headed upstairs to the private room.

Only…

Was it Room 203 or 204?

She had booked these rooms a month ago, but with the passage of time, she’d forgotten which one was hers and which belonged to her mother.

Fortunately, she had scheduled her mother’s blind date to take place half an hour after hers. Since it was still early and her mother and her mother’s match wouldn’t arrive yet, even if she entered the wrong room, it would surely be empty—no harm done.

With a sense of trial and error, she pushed open the door to Room 203.

Luck was on her side; she had chosen correctly on the first try.

There was someone inside.

The man was低头 (looking down) replying to messages on his phone, so Yu Tian didn’t immediately see his face. However, just by sitting there, it was clear that he was tall and broad-shouldered. His simple shirt appeared remarkably crisp and well-fitted on him.

The seating in this private room was next to the window, where the shadows of lush camphor tree leaves filtered through, creating dappled sunlight that accentuated his轮廓 (contours) with a deep and elegant allure.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, he lifted his head.

The man before her had fair skin, striking facial features, a prominent nose, and a chiseled jawline. His face was a masterpiece of sharp angles and refined lines, each feature meticulously sculpted. Together, they created an aura of breathtaking beauty that felt almost otherworldly.

Yu Tian stood frozen at the doorway for nearly a minute.

No one had told her that he would look like this .

Since she wasn’t particularly interested in blind dating, Yu Tian hadn’t asked her aunt for his photo or even remembered his name. Qi Sihao had joked that men who resorted to blind dates were often unattractive—but this man far exceeded Yu Tian’s expectations.

His beauty was almost inhuman.

He raised his eyes slightly and looked at Yu Tian.

His diamond-shaped lips gave him an air of sensuality, but his aloof gaze carried an unmistakable sense of superiority, as though he remained detached from everything around him.

The combination of his stunning appearance and cold demeanor created a striking visual impact—beautiful yet distant.

Then, Yu Tian saw him furrow his brow slightly, as if hesitating. “Yu Tian?”

It seemed there was no mistake.

This was indeed the man whose words during their WeChat conversations had thoroughly disgusted her.

In an instant, Yu Tian felt the calm surface of her heart roiling with an impending storm beneath.

The saying “相由心生 (a person’s character is reflected in their appearance)” apparently held little truth here.

His looks came as a complete surprise.

But quickly, she composed herself and walked into the room naturally.

She smiled faintly at him. “It’s me.”

Though his appearance was dazzling, Yu Tian had no intention of altering her plan.

“Let me introduce myself first. I just graduated this year and am currently unemployed. My father passed away when I was in my first year of high school, leaving only my mother and me. We live together in a modest affordable housing unit. My mother runs a small online shop with average income.”

Revealing the shortcomings of her family background was step one.

Step two was showcasing flaws in her personality.

Yu Tian looked at his face with feigned interest. “What about you? What’s your annual salary?”

He paused momentarily but still answered. “Around several hundred thousand yuan.”

“Pre-tax or post-tax?” she pressed.

Though visibly displeased, he politely replied, “Pre-tax.”

Seeing his restrained attitude softened her resolve somewhat, but recalling his prejudiced remarks on WeChat hardened her resolve again. She adopted a sharp tone. “I heard you’ve been working for several years. How can you only earn several hundred thousand pre-tax?”

Even under deliberate provocation, he remained composed. “According to the current personal income tax threshold, the annual tax-free amount is 60,000 yuan. But fewer than 100 million people nationwide pay personal income tax. An annual income of several hundred thousand isn’t exactly poor.”

He raised his eyes slightly. “So what’s your annual income?”

Yu Tian responded matter-of-factly. “My income depends entirely on yours.”

Confusion flickered across his face.

Seizing the moment, Yu Tian pressed further. “Even if I have no income, we’ll be a family in the future. Won’t your income become mine too?”

“So that’s why I’m so concerned about your earnings,” she added with a smile. “But it doesn’t matter. Income is tied to family circumstances. How many properties does your family own? Do you have any under your name? Are they fully paid or mortgaged? What about cars? What brand do you drive?”

As expected, such direct inquiries into his financial background made him uncomfortable. His expression turned colder, mixed with hints of rejection, as he said tersely, “That has nothing to do with you.”

“How could it not?” Yu Tian smirked, adopting a materialistic tone. “We might become family someday. Of course, I need to know everything upfront!”

His voice grew colder. “Not necessarily.”

Perfect!

Wasn’t this the very statement she’d been waiting for?

Yet, despite reaching this point, he didn’t make excuses to leave. Instead, he merely regarded her with a cool expression.

Could it be that he was shallow enough to cling to appearances despite everything?

Yu Tian felt uneasy and nervous. His striking appearance was almost intimidating, making it hard for her to meet his gaze. She couldn’t decipher what he was thinking.

To play it safe, after some thought, Yu Tian decided to pull out the certificate she had obtained just days ago.

“No matter what, there’s something I’d like to be honest about.”

With her left hand, she placed her disability certificate on the table. “I don’t know if anyone has told you, but my right hand has a slight disability.”

Sure enough, he frowned, looking at the certificate on the table with evident questions.

When she had picked up the certificate, Yu Tian thought she had accepted reality. But now, as she placed it on the table, waves of pain and embarrassment surged within her.

She wasn’t as accepting as she had imagined.

Her right hand, which she had tried so hard to conceal, still bore the scar spanning her entire palm—a reminder of her past trauma.

Unable to bear looking at it, Yu Tian almost neurotically pulled out her phone, pretending to check a message. Then, forcing a smile she hoped looked natural, she said to the man across from her, “Sorry, I just received news that my cat is in labor and the situation is critical. I need to rush home to take her to surgery. Let’s meet again another time.”

With that lame excuse, she hastily stuffed the disability certificate back into her bag and fled the room.

Ten minutes later, having changed out of her revealing outfit in the restaurant restroom, removed all her jewelry, switched into her usual style of clothing, wiped off her makeup, and washed her face, Yu Tian finally regained her composure as she gazed at her familiar reflection in the mirror.

Her performance earlier likely ensured that she wouldn’t see the man again.

After all, Yu Tian was certain she had conveyed every signal necessary to discourage him.

A mediocre family background, vain personality, rude behavior, and walking out mid-date—all reasons enough to be disqualified in a blind date.

At least, however awkward it was, it was over.

Thankfully, she had timed things perfectly. In a few minutes, she could seamlessly transition to attending her mother’s blind date.

Though Yu Tian had handled her own meeting carelessly, she took her mother Song Chunxiang’s very seriously.

Since her father’s passing, Yu Tian had watched her mother tirelessly shoulder all responsibilities day and night. For this reason, she had always encouraged her mother to find a reliable partner for a second chance at happiness. However, Song Chunxiang, out of consideration for Yu Tian, had never entertained the idea of remarriage.

It was during an incident involving a wrongly shipped package from her online store that Song Chunxiang unexpectedly crossed paths with a man who had been divorced for years and happened to be her age.

The two exchanged messages on WeChat for over a month, finding themselves highly compatible. They had already shared details about their respective family situations and finally decided to meet in person with sincerity and seriousness.

To demonstrate goodwill and ease any awkwardness, this blind date—initiated at Song Chunxiang’s suggestion—included both families. Thankfully, the family dynamics on both sides were straightforward: Song Chunxiang only had Yu Tian as her daughter, while the man, who had dedicated himself to his career after his divorce, only had a son five years older than Yu Tian.

Yu Tian hoped her mother could find happiness.

After so many years, her mother had finally taken this step, and Yu Tian wished for a positive outcome.

With this in mind, she tidied her appearance once more, ensuring she presented herself in the best possible light for the other family. After checking the time, she entered Room 204.

But why was no one there?

The agreed-upon time had already passed, and after waiting another five minutes, even her usually punctual mother hadn’t arrived.

Belatedly, Yu Tian pulled out her phone, which had been on silent since earlier and stuffed into her bag.

She discovered a flood of unread WeChat calls and messages.

They were all from the man she had met earlier.

Could he be calling to berate her for being unsatisfied with their meeting?

Trepidation filled her as she opened the messages, only to realize the situation was far different from what she imagined.

The first message was sent half an hour ago—

“Where are you? I’ve already been waiting in Room 204.”

“? Still not here? Why aren’t you answering your phone?”

In between, he had made numerous voice calls. Ten minutes ago, his final message read—

“You’re completely lacking in sincerity! Standing me up like this! Wasting my time! Do you really think I’m that eager to meet you? I only gave you a chance because I heard you were pretty! I also heard your right hand is disabled—do you really think you can afford to be picky? You’re almost twenty minutes late—I’m not waiting anymore!”

Yu Tian stared blankly at the barrage of messages on her screen, a sinking feeling forming in her chest.

She tried sending him a message but found she had already been deleted as a contact.

At that moment, her mother’s call came through. “Xiao Yu, have you arrived yet? We’re all in Room 203, just waiting for you. Hurry up!”