She went to the restroom and called. "Yue Yue, what are you doing?"
Shen Yue sounded chaotic in the background, her voice loud. "Xiao Xiao, did you see? Hehe, this is my surprise for you. How is it? Not bad, right?"
"..." She hadn't even had a chance to look.
Jiang Xiao asked, "Where are you?"
"Me? I'm busy," Shen Yue said. "I'm not coming."
"No, if you arranged it, why aren't you here?" Jiang Xiao saw someone approaching and covered the receiver. "I can't handle this alone. I don't care; get over here quickly."
"I really can't make it," Shen Yue said. "I trust you'll be fine."
The call ended. Jiang Xiao dialed again, but got a busy signal. After three tries, she gave up and returned to the private room. Facing the six men, she asked some perfunctory questions. The conversation wasn't very enthusiastic, but it wasn't awkward either.
Ten minutes later, the date ended. As they walked out, Jiang Xiao was surrounded by the six men asking for her contact information. She smiled and dealt with it.
That's when Cheng Yuan showed up. He had come to discuss business. At first, there was some smile on his face, but when he saw this eye-stinging scene from a distance, the smile vanished.
Jiang Yu also saw it and explained, "It must be work-related."
But the next second, one of the men surrounding Jiang Xiao said, "Miss Jiang, I enjoyed this blind date very much. If possible, let's keep in touch."
He didn't lower his voice, so anyone with good ears could hear him. And coincidentally, Cheng Yuan heard it too.
"Blind date..." His jaw tightened. "Very good."
Jiang Yu felt a chill in the air and forced a chuckle. "President Cheng, it's probably not what it looks like. Madam wouldn't go on a blind date with six men at once. I must have misheard."
Then another person replied. This time, it was the man on Jiang Xiao's left, speaking gentlemanly. "Yes, I very much enjoyed my date with Miss Jiang. I look forward to meeting again."
Jiang Yu, a few steps away: "......"
Jiang Xiao knew they were just being polite and replied, "I also enjoyed it."
In truth, they'd only talked for ten minutes. The mood hadn't even warmed up—what was there to enjoy?
After saying goodbye to each one, Jiang Xiao headed for the parking lot, answering a call as she walked.
Shen Yue was on the other end. "Sweetie, did you find anyone you like?"
Jiang Xiao: "No."
"Not a single one?"
"Mm, no one I liked."
"No rush. There are more to come. Just wait until I find the right one."
"Grandma, have mercy on me."
Jiang Xiao said, "I want to live a few more years."
Shen Yue: "Do you like the younger type? That makes sense. No woman doesn't like younger guys. I'll find you some younger ones next time. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
Before Jiang Xiao could respond, she accidentally bumped into someone in front of her. Looking down, she said, "Sorry."
She stepped aside, but the person didn't move or speak. Jiang Xiao shifted to the left and tried to walk away, but was blocked. She moved to the right, and was blocked again.
"Hey, you're blocking my way." She looked up and met the man's eyes—it was Cheng Yuan.
Jingbei really was small; they ran into each other again.
Shen Yue was still talking on the phone. "I get it, I get it. Next time I'll find you younger guys—abs and pecs, great in bed, way better than those old men."
"Better than that scumbag Cheng Yuan."
"Oh, has Cheng Yuan been bothering you lately? If he does, just call the police. A scumbag like him needs the police to deal with him..."
Jiang Xiao blinked slowly, then hung up.
"Younger guys?" Cheng Yuan stepped closer. "Abs and pecs? Great in bed?"
He spoke as he walked, and Jiang Xiao backed up step by step until her back hit the wall. There was nowhere to retreat.
"Xiao Xiao, you're so heartless."
After accusing her, Cheng Yuan took her hand, gently rubbing her fingers. "What do I lack compared to those people? Why would you rather see them than me?"
"Did you forget what you promised Grandpa?"
Jiang Xiao hadn't forgotten. She had promised the old man she would try to accept Cheng Yuan, but she couldn't guarantee the outcome.
"To be fair, if you've seen them, you have to see me too." Cheng Yuan trapped her between his body and the wall, showing rare dominance as he lifted her chin. "I want to date you too."
"..."
Jiang Xiao wanted to say, "Are you out of your mind?" But before the words came out, her phone rang. It was the old man calling. She pushed Cheng Yuan away and answered.
"Grandpa."
"Xiao Yatou, are you busy?"
"No. Go ahead."
"Grandpa misses you. When will you come visit me at the old house?"
"I've been too busy with work lately. In a few days."
"Good. Grandpa will wait for you."
The old man said, "Oh, I had some soup made. I'll send it to you later."
"Grandpa, no need to trouble yourself."
"It's no trouble. Last time I saw you, you looked thinner. Grandpa feels sorry for you."
The call lasted five minutes before hanging up. Jiang Xiao put her phone in her bag and looked up at Cheng Yuan. "What did you just say?"
"Have dinner with me," Cheng Yuan said.
"I don't have time," Jiang Xiao refused. "Some other time."
"You said 'some other time' last time," Cheng Yuan wouldn't let her leave. "But you break your promise every time."
Jiang Xiao snorted. "Compared to your broken promises back then, mine are nothing."
In those years, Cheng Yuan couldn't even remember how many times he had broken promises; there were too many to count.
"I was wrong then. I'll make it up to you now."
"I don't need it." Jiang Xiao pulled her hand away. "Alright, I still have things to do. You get busy."
Cheng Yuan thought she was going on another blind date, so he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms, pleading pitifully. "Don't go see other men, okay?"
He was terrified of her going on blind dates, even more afraid she would fall for someone else. Just one Song Xuan had already overwhelmed him; a few more and he would truly go crazy.
"It's my freedom to see whomever I want. President Cheng, you're overstepping." Jiang Xiao stepped out of his embrace. "Don't say things like that anymore. I don't like hearing it."
"Alright, I won't say it." In front of Jiang Xiao, Cheng Yuan had completely lost himself; whatever she said was right. "You don't have to eat with me if you don't want to, but you have to accept what I give you."
"What is it?" Jiang Xiao asked.
Cheng Yuan took it out of his pocket—a necklace. He had wanted to give it to her last time but didn't.
"Xiao Xiao, you said you liked it before," Cheng Yuan said. "I bought it specially for you."
"Did I?" Jiang Xiao's eyelids drooped as she examined it carefully. She had no memory of ever saying she liked it. "It's quite expensive, isn't it?"
"As long as you like it, the price doesn't matter."
"You really want to give it to me?"
"Yes."
"Fine." Jiang Xiao took it, played with it in her palm, then, right in front of Cheng Yuan, threw it into the nearby trash can.