Xu Nuo watched with amusement as Xu Ke looked like she was about to pounce on him and start hitting him.

  He quickly said, “There’s a gift for you in the bck bag.”

  “If it’s another practice test or something, you’re dead meat!”

  Xu Ke clenched her fists, making a cracking sound.

  “I promise it’s not.”

  “It’s another doll, huh.” Xu Ke pulled out a pink doll from the bag, grumbling under her breath, though the smile tugging at her lips was impossible to hide.

  She ran back to her room and pced the doll carefully on her bedside.

  Almost all the dolls in her room were gifts from Xu Nuo—various kinds, a whole collection.

  “Next time, just tell me what gift you want, and I’ll buy it for you,” Xu Nuo said generously as he helped clean up the dishes.

  Perhaps because of their age gap, the siblings had always gotten along well.

  Ever since she was little, Xu Ke had followed him around like a shadow. It didn’t seem like a big deal back then, but as she grew up, her personality started mirroring his—carefree and tomboyish.

  “Whoa, bro, did you strike it rich or something?” Xu Ke stared at him with wide, unblinking eyes.

  “Not bad, I guess. I made a decent amount from a song. Whatever you want, I’ll buy it for you ter.”

  Zheng Qiuyun chimed in from the side, “Don’t spoil your sister. You’ll need money for plenty of things in the future—buying a house, getting married, having kids…”

  Seeing their mom about to unch into another lecture, Xu Nuo quickly finished cleaning the dishes and slipped back to his room.

  Not long after, Xu Ke pushed the door open and plopped onto his bed. “Bro, where’s my signed photo?”

  “…”

  Xu Nuo’s expression froze.

  “You didn’t forget, did you?!” Xu Ke grinned menacingly, raising a fist.

  “How could I? I’ll take you to meet her for dinner sometime, and you can ask her yourself.” Xu Nuo swatted her hand away, casually tossing out a big promise.

  “Heh, st time you said you weren’t close to her.”

  “We’ve gotten to know each other recently.”

  Xu Ke scoffed, “Men are all trash.”

  Xu Nuo blinked, stunned, then smacked her on the head. “You’re barely grown, where’d you pick up all this nonsense?”

  “Hmph, men are trash from age five to a hundred.”

  “Are you dating someone already?” Xu Nuo eyed her suspiciously.

  “Dating my foot!” Xu Ke rolled her eyes, tilting her face up with a look of disdain.

  Xu Nuo rexed. If she were dating, she’d probably be acting guilty right now.

  “Bro, I’ve got a secret for you,” Xu Ke said with a sly grin.

  “What secret?”

  “Mom set you up on a blind date tomorrow.”

  “What the hell…” Xu Nuo jumped up, ready to storm out.

  “Don’t bother, it’s useless,” Xu Ke said, picking at her nails boredly. “Just go along with it.”

  Xu Nuo rubbed his temples. As long as you’re single, no matter who you are, you can’t escape blind dates when you go home.

  “I can help you sabotage it tomorrow,” Xu Ke offered, lying on the bed and kicking her legs happily.

  “What’s the catch?”

  “I want to go to Modu for a few days.”

  “Deal.”

  The next morning, Xu Nuo was forced by Zheng Qiuyun to get ready. Reluctantly, he headed out.

  The location was picked by Zheng Qiuyun—a cssy restaurant not far from home.

  Even the seat was reserved, right by the window with a view of the scenery outside.

  Xu Ke tried to sit there, but Zheng Qiuyun yanked her back and dragged her to a corner.

  All Xu Ke could do was shoot him a helpless gnce.

  After sitting for a few minutes, a beautiful woman in a long dress walked into the restaurant. She looked around and then headed toward Xu Nuo.

  She was pretty good-looking, with a gentle demeanor.

  Xu Nuo stood up to greet her. “Hi, are you the one Aunt Zhang introduced?”

  The girl’s eyes visibly lit up. She hadn’t expected her blind date to be this handsome.

  “Hi, I’m Qin Tongyun. What’s your name?”

  Her unexpected forwardness caught Xu Nuo off guard. “I’m Xu Nuo.”

  He waved the waiter over to order food and two drinks.

  Just as she seemed about to say something else, Xu Nuo quickly deployed his trump card. “Do you have a car?”

  The atmosphere stiffened for a moment. Xu Nuo figured she’d turn and leave.

  But to his surprise, she actually answered.

  “Yes, I have three cars. A Volkswagen for work, a BMW, and a Mercedes.”

  Whoa, a rich girl?

  “What about a house?”

  “Yes,” Qin Tongyun nodded. “I have three. The one I live in is by the river, 140 square meters, with a nice view.”

  “…” Xu Nuo’s train of thought derailed.

  Uh, could you move out so I could live there?

  This girl was loaded. Those properties had to be worth millions.

  Why would someone this rich go on a blind date?

  “Uh-huh,” Xu Nuo nodded, mulling it over. This… might actually work.

  “So, how’s your income?”

  “I work in a government department. A little over 200,000 a year.”

  Xu Nuo didn’t know what to say. She didn’t seem like she was bragging at all.

  “Then let me tell you about myself. I just graduated and work in Modu. I make 5,000 a month, no savings, no car, no house. But I have high standards for quality of life—I need a nice pce to live, and I’m picky about food. My monthly expenses are around 30,000 to 50,000.” Xu Nuo described Yang Haonan’s lifestyle, hoping to scare her off.

  “No problem. My family gives me 100,000 a month for living expenses. I don’t spend much, so I can save a lot,” Qin Tongyun said quickly.

  “…”

  Xu Nuo almost wavered. Damn, he really wanted to live off her.

  “I don’t like doing housework. I just want to come home and eat after work.”

  Qin Tongyun smiled shyly. “My cooking’s average, but I can learn.”

  “I want to buy a house in Modu.”

  “Oh? That’s fine.”

  “My name has to be on it,” Xu Nuo added.

  “No problem,” Qin Tongyun agreed readily.

  “…”

  How was he supposed to py this? Xu Nuo couldn’t tell who was the weird one here.

  Were guys in such high demand on blind dates these days?

  Poverty had limited his imagination.

  Maybe he should just go for it?

  No way. He didn’t want a marriage without an emotional foundation. A proud man like him couldn’t live under someone else’s thumb forever.

  “Any other requirements?”

  “Not for now,” Xu Nuo shook his head.

  The food arrived, and Xu Nuo started brainstorming how to channel Yang Haonan’s jerk persona. With that level of sleaze, no one could stand him.

  “I’ve had a lot of girlfriends.”

  “Huh? How many?” Qin Tongyun set down her chopsticks, looking nervous.

  Xu Nuo looked up at the ceiling, silent for a while.

  “Just tell me, I won’t mind.”

  “I’m just counting,” Xu Nuo shook his head. “Forget it, I lost track.”

  Qin Tongyun’s expression shifted, but she gritted her teeth and said, “It’s fine.”

  Xu Nuo was shocked. She could tolerate *that*?!

  “Well, then, would you be my Jiangcheng girlfriend?”

  “Jiangcheng?” Qin Tongyun frowned, confused. “Don’t you work in Modu?”

  “Oh, I already have a girlfriend in Modu.”

  “???” Qin Tongyun finally snapped, storming off.

  “Filthy jerk!”

  Xu Nuo wiped the sweat from his forehead. That was a close call.

  When he went to pay, the waiter told him the girl had already settled the bill.

  Xu Nuo stood there dumbfounded for a moment before shaking his head with a bitter smile.

  (End of Chapter)