Chapter 63: Blind Dates Only Happen Zero Times or N Times

Lin Feifei was startled, blinked her large eyes, and looked at me suspiciously. Half-doubting, she asked, "You know how to give massages? Are you a professional?"

I shook my head. "Not professional."

"..."

Lin Feifei rolled her eyes again. I hurriedly explained, "Even though I haven't studied it professionally, I've received plenty of massages! I don't know how many massage parlors I've financially supported. Even if I've never eaten pork, I've certainly seen a pig run!"

Lin Feifei laughed out of exasperation and retorted, "Hmph! It seems I underestimated you. Tell me, where should I get massaged?"

"If you have insomnia, you definitely need a head massage! Sit on the sofa. While Xue Qiuyun is taking a bath, I'll give you a head massage for a while."

Lin Feifei was tempted. After a brief moment of hesitation, she nodded in agreement.

Once she was comfortably seated on the sofa, I gently placed my hands on her shoulders and neck from behind, gradually beginning the massage.

To enhance the effect, I even turned off the main chandelier in the living room, leaving only the dim night light on. Then, I played some sleep-inducing music. Combined with the massage of my hands, Lin Feifei was soon conquered by my craftsmanship.

As she closed her eyes to enjoy it, she said softly, "I didn't expect you to be so good at massages! I must admit, it really feels quite comfortable. It's making me sleepy. Just how many massage parlors have you been to in order to acquire such profound life experience?"

I chuckled. "I just said that casually. You didn't actually think I went to those places, did you?"

Lin Feifei let out a soft "Hmph." "Who would believe you've never been?"

"I really haven't. I'm very innocent. I'm just a baby who is three years and three hundred and twenty-four months old."

"Pfft!"

Lin Feifei laughed so hard her whole body trembled. She raised her head and gave me a playful, reproachful look, though the corners of her slender eyes shimmered with cunning mischief.

"You're going to laugh me to death—ah, ouch, ouch, ouch..."

When I applied a little more force to the top of her head, she immediately cried out in pain.

"Pain means it's working. Just bear with it for a moment, and you'll feel great afterward."

Lin Feifei gasped in a breath of cold air from the pain. "No, no, it hurts like being pricked by needles. Be gentler, please be gentler."

"How about this?"

"Mmm, mmm, this is much better."

My hands massaged her head gently. Lin Feifei gradually grew accustomed to the pressure of my hands, closing her eyes to enjoy it once more. Occasionally, our limbs brushed against each other unintentionally, stirring up turmoil in my emotions.

Neither of us spoke, and the spacious living room fell into silence. The slanted, warm yellow light cast upon her face made her look as though she were draped in a soft filter, exuding an enchanting allure.

The night was as still as a pool of stagnant water. In this bustling metropolis, I hadn't felt this way in a long time. Some unspoken tacit understanding seemed to have formed between her and me, and neither of us wanted to break the atmosphere.

Unexpectedly, the one who broke the atmosphere turned out to be Xue Qiuyun.

Knock, knock, knock!

The crisp sound of knocking suddenly rang out, shattering the serene mood.

Lin Feifei opened her eyes and asked in bewilderment, "Qiuyun, what's wrong?"

Xue Qiuyun's shy voice drifted out from inside. "Are... are you guys done yet? I've been in the bathroom for ages. If you haven't finished what you're doing, can you pass my phone in to me? I'm getting quite bored in here."

Lin Feifei was taken aback. She stood up, stretched lazily, and asked perplexedly, "We're done. Come on out!"

There was silence in the bathroom for a few seconds before her crisp voice sounded again: "Are you sure you're both fully dressed? Because if you are, I'm coming out!"

"..."

When Xue Qiuyun came out, the look in her eyes as she gazed at the two of us seemed to have changed. She giggled broadly and said, "If I had known, I would have stayed at Tang Qin's place. I'm disturbing you two so much."

Lin Feifei rolled her eyes. "Yubin was just giving me a head massage! What on earth are you thinking?"

Xue Qiuyun came to a sudden realization. "Oh, is that so! Well, I wouldn't have thought that, except your conversation earlier gave me the wrong idea."

My face felt a little warm. Seeing that it wasn't too late and not wanting to disturb their rest any further, I took my leave.

Back home, my mind was still filled with that ambiguous scene. I walked over to the balcony and contentedly lit a cigarette.

The evening breeze brushed against my face; even the cool night air seemed to carry a trace of sweetness.

Just as I was enjoying my cigarette, my phone suddenly rang.

Seeing that the call was from my father felt like a basin of cold water poured straight over my head, instantly washing away my good mood.

"Hello, Yubin. Do you have time tomorrow night?"

As soon as he spoke, I instantly sobered up, immediately understanding what he was driving at.

A wave of irritation washed over me. Suppressing my emotions, I replied, "No."

The person on the other end of the line paused for a moment before impatiently pursuing the matter:

"Then when do you have time? The matchmaker has introduced another young woman to you, and she lives in the same city. Surely you can meet her this time, right?"

I laughed bitterly to myself. The only topic of conversation between us was always blind dates.

Now, not long after my recent breakup, he was already eager to force me into a blind date at gunpoint. What would it be like during the Spring Festival?

Just thinking about it gave me a headache.

I took a deep breath, composed my emotions, and asked in return, "Can a matchmaker's words be trusted? Have you forgotten what happened during the last blind date?"

My father sighed and tried to persuade me earnestly, "This one was introduced by your eldest aunt, so it's 100% reliable. The young lady is also an office worker, twenty-eight years old this year, and her family is quite anxious as well. Since the two of you are in the same city, you might even have common topics to talk about!"

There was a brief pause on the line before my father's tone suddenly softened, negotiating with me: "No matter whether this works out or not, I promise I won't bother you about this anymore this year. It's rare for your eldest aunt to introduce someone to you, so you should at least save some face for her."

I let out a cold, cynical laugh.

Her family was the wealthiest among all our relatives. In front of my parents, they always acted superior, perpetually wearing an expression of disdain.

"What's gotten into her? This doesn't sound like her style at all."

My father sighed. "Don't talk about your eldest aunt like that. She still has her good qualities..."

"Right: she despises the poor and loves the rich, loves spreading gossip, and is completely ungrateful."

"..."

The phone fell silent for a few seconds before my father's voice sounded again:

"Just go meet her! Otherwise, your mother won't know how to face your eldest aunt. After all, your mother is the one who begged her for a favor."

My heart sank as if a thousand-pound boulder had been pressed upon my chest, making it hard to breathe.

My mother had always been extremely humble in front of her siblings. I could already picture how my eldest aunt would mock her.

Desolation and anger nailed me firmly to the spot. I had to make something of myself so that they could finally hold their heads high.

Suppressing the anger in my heart, I took a deep breath and said indifferently, "Fine! Let her pick the meeting place."

The next morning, my father sent me the time and place for the meeting.

"Tomorrow night at five o'clock, at that cafe on Camellia Street. I'm sending you the location. The girl's name is Bai Yongqi, and she'll be wearing a red dress. Take this seriously!"

"Got it."

Just as I finished dealing with my father, Lin Feifei's call suddenly came through...