Chapter 279: Chapter 277: Decision to Go on a Blind Date
"What? You’re going on a blind date?"
When everyone in the Jian Family heard this news, they were all petrified.
The first to question her was Jian Chuxin. "Little Sister, I heard from Mom that Si Yuhuan has found someone new. You can’t let him provoke you into making a rash decision in a moment of impetuosity."
Wan Yu quickly nodded and elbowed Jian Mingcheng beside her.
Jian Mingcheng immediately said, "Even if you’re not thinking about yourself, consider our family. We all want you to be happy, not just marry anyone on a whim."
"Exactly, exactly!" Wan Yu nodded like a chicken pecking at grain.
Father Jian asked earnestly, "You’re not doing this just to avoid Fu Shengyuan, are you?"
Indeed! No one knew her better than her dad.
Jian Xi couldn’t admit it!
"Not at all. I just genuinely feel that I’ve met too few men. Through blind dates, I can choose some good ones to keep as options."
Ideally, he’d be someone without strong opinions, from an average family. We could spend some time together, and I could finally get some peace and quiet.
Living this life again, Jian Xi didn’t want her mother to worry and fret over her marriage.
"Fine, since you’ve made up your mind, let’s start preparing," Jian’s Mother said, seeing she had decided. "Wait for my message; I’ll arrange something for you soon." She then promptly called up her old friends.
Jian Xi watched Jian’s Mother change her tune faster than one could flip through a book; in no time at all, her mother had cheerfully found four or five blind date candidates for her.
Jian Xi twitched the corner of her mouth. Mom, always so unique!
Afraid, Jian Chuxin turned and ran. "Uh, Little Sister, please be careful." He was afraid of being caught in the crossfire! Mom had long wanted him to find a girlfriend.
Jian Xi thought she should at least inform her Fourth Brother. She didn’t expect Jian Sirun to simply reply with, "Take care." So concise, her good Fourth Brother. He never said much unless it was something truly astonishing.
Somehow, the news reached her Third and Fifth Brothers.
Her Third Brother, who rarely left the kitchen, called her. "This is a good thing! You’ll get the chance to interact with all sorts of men. A woman needs to date dozens of boyfriends to figure out who her true love is! You were just blinded by Si Yuhuan before. I have a friend whose family owns a national chain of restaurants; they’re really great. I’ll recommend him to you."
"And your Fifth Brother also... I mean, he sent you a man!" Wan Yu exclaimed, then choked on her words.
Good news rarely travels, but bad news spreads like wildfire. Now her embarrassment was known all over the country.
In an instant, the entire Beijing business circle knew that Jian Xi was looking for a boyfriend, and any eligible and suitable man could meet her.
All eligible bachelors were practically boiling over with excitement.
Jian Xi was divorced, but that hardly mattered. She controlled the Yaowang Group, which raked in huge profits daily, and had the backing of the Jian Group. With such powerful support—like resting comfortably in the shade of a large tree—an heiress of her status was unique in all of Beijing.
Being with her was like owning an entire bank. Who wouldn’t want to marry her?
The threshold of the Jian family home was nearly worn down by visitors.
Jian Xi had a headache. She really shouldn’t have let herself be provoked into making such a rash decision.
Now that Mom had spread the news, she couldn’t call it off at the last minute.
Wan Yu offered a dubious suggestion, "Meet a few. If they’re unsuitable, just leave. If someone seems suitable, there’s no harm in dating for a bit. At the very least, it’ll stop Fu Shengyuan from pestering you."
"You’re right," she agreed.
「In the restaurant.」
Jian Xi looked at the handsome man opposite her. He was somewhat slender, but it didn’t detract from his height of over 1.8 meters. He had the appearance of a talented young man, albeit a bit shy, blushing for a long time after just one glance at her.
"Miss Jian, you’re truly beautiful! Much prettier in person than on TV or in photos."
Jian Xi was dressed in simple sportswear today, her unadorned face makeup-free, her hair tied in a high ponytail. She resembled a university student, her pure yet glamorous and noble temperament particularly captivating.
"My name is Su Ziyu, the second son of the Su family. My mother and yours have been good friends for many years. She told me to come and meet you, so here I am... I..."
Su Ziyu was practically tearing the tablecloth to shreds, his hands trembling with nervousness.
Jian Xi felt a bead of sweat. "You know, I don’t bite. There’s no need to be afraid."
"I’m not afraid, just nervous. I usually stay home playing video games and don’t socialize much. Especially when I see a beautiful woman like Miss Jian, I just... just... just..."
"Alright, I understand." Jian Xi took a deep breath and offered a gentle, knowing smile. "Next, please."
A homebody was one thing, but social anxiety? He’d better move along! Was she supposed to be the breadwinner and support a man? In his dreams! What was wrong with her thriving on her own?
Another man sat down opposite Jian Xi.
The man flicked his newly styled hair. Believing himself incredibly handsome, he tilted his chin up, leaned back in his chair, and smirked at Jian Xi. "Miss Jian, do you like my type—the charming bad boy?"
Jian Xi: "..."
"I’m quite the rising star in the country, you know. Most of my family’s business is in the entertainment industry, and I earn a lucrative income. Once I become a top-tier star, I’ll take over all our family enterprises. I hear Miss Jian owns a luxury brand called Yaowang? It’s doing incredibly well, which makes us a perfect match—truly an ideal pairing!"
With that kind of attitude, a top-tier star? Not even close. Compared to her Second Brother, he wasn’t even fit to carry his shoes.
Jian Xi didn’t mince words. "Not quite suitable. Your looks are merely passable; you won’t become a top-tier star. You’re not good enough for me."
SLAM!
The man slapped the table and stood up, his face beet-red with anger. "You should take a good look at your—"
"At my what?" Jian Xi rose, casually flicked her bangs, and raised an eyebrow at him.
The man was speechless.
Jian Xi was more beautiful than any woman in the entertainment industry. Even without makeup and in sportswear, she was breathtakingly gorgeous. Her innate charisma was that of an ethereal fairy, seemingly untouched by worldly concerns.
He had thought it would be smooth sailing, but to his astonishment, she hadn’t taken a liking to him. The man was furious.
"Forget it! I won’t stoop to your level. Truly no taste."
Jian Xi nearly rolled her eyes to the heavens as she sat back down and sipped her coffee.
"Excuse me, miss, is this seat taken?"
A man with a distinctly scholarly air nodded as he sat down opposite her.
"I couldn’t help but notice, are you on a blind date?"
Jian Xi nodded.
This man was polite and of average build. While he didn’t have an impressive physique, his intellectual and scholarly demeanor was appealing and not at all off-putting.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I’m a doctoral supervisor."
Jian Xi nodded. "You’re quite young for that!"
This kind of person, devoted to academia... if he was like her Fourth Brother, that would be perfect. Even better if they barely saw each other for days at a time. He’d be most suitable for a fake relationship.
"Not really! I just skipped a few grades, received several national and international awards, and somehow ended up becoming a supervisor. Now, all my energy is devoted to research in mathematics and physics."
After he finished his introduction, Jian Xi asked, "Have you ever had a girlfriend?"
He hastily shook his head, his face paling. "I’m quite busy, so I’ve never really had the time..."
"Alright, that’s good. What’s your name?"
Jian Xi scrutinized him with interest, more like she was evaluating goods than looking at a person.