Qin Tongyun stormed out of the restaurant in a huff, yanked open her car door, and sat inside, still fuming after a long while.

  She had only come to the blind date because her family forced her into it. Her original pn was to half-heartedly chat for a bit, then make an excuse to leave.

  She’d go back home and say the guy wasn’t interested in her, just to avoid being dragged into more blind dates.

  Seriously, she was only 24—why did she need to go on blind dates?

  But the moment she walked into the restaurant, she changed her mind.

  He was way too handsome. Qin Tongyun couldn’t quite keep her cool.

  And then it turned out he was a total creep.

  Sitting in her car, the more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She pulled out her phone and made a call.

  “Wanqing, listen to this—I met the most ridiculous jerk today!”

  “How’d you meet him?”

  “Uh… a blind date.” Qin Tongyun paused. “That’s not the point. The point is, this guy was insane.”

  Lin Wanqing sounded surprised. “Why are you going on blind dates?”

  “Ugh, don’t interrupt, just let me finish,” Qin Tongyun cut her off, annoyed.

  “Oh, okay, go ahead.”

  “You won’t believe this—he started off asking if I had a car, a house, how much I make!” Qin Tongyun’s teeth itched with irritation just thinking about it.

  “Pfft, he asked that? Is he for real?” Lin Wanqing burst out ughing.

  “Yes! Can you believe how low-css that is? And then he said he makes 5,000 a month but spends 50,000!”

  Lin Wanqing paused, catching the key detail. “Wait, you didn’t just walk away? You actually kept talking to him?”

  “Uh…” Qin Tongyun faltered, her voice dropping sheepishly. “He was really good-looking…”

  “…” Lin Wanqing was speechless.

  “How good-looking?”

  “Ugh, you know, that sharp, handsome type, with a great vibe… ugh, forget that, it’s not about that.”

  Lin Wanqing chuckled. “You just couldn’t resist his looks, huh?”

  “No, it’s not that.”

  “What happened next?”

  Qin Tongyun hesitated. “Then he said he wanted to buy a house in Modu and put his name on it, and that he doesn’t do housework or cook…”

  “And you agreed to that too?!”

  “No,” Qin Tongyun said, her confidence wavering. “He also said he’s had who-knows-how-many girlfriends. Total jerk.”

  “And you didn’t mind?”

  “I minded a little,” Qin Tongyun mumbled.

  “Tongtong, I think you’ve lost your mind.”

  “It gets weirder.”

  “There’s more?” Lin Wanqing’s voice rose. “How weird can it get?”

  “He asked if I’d be his Jiangcheng girlfriend,” Qin Tongyun gritted out.

  Lin Wanqing blinked. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “He said he already has a girlfriend in Modu!!!” Qin Tongyun practically roared.

  “…”

  Lin Wanqing was stunned. “That’s a straight-up jerk!”

  “Exactly! I turned and left right then and there,” Qin Tongyun said, adding, “No hesitation.”

  Lin Wanqing held back a ugh. She knew her best friend had always been a sucker for good looks.

  “Don’t ever contact him again.”

  “Of course not!” Qin Tongyun vented for a while and finally felt a bit better. “Oh, by the way, Wanqing, be careful. That jerk works in Modu too. Don’t let him fool you.”

  “I’m not like you,” Lin Wanqing shot back. “What’s his name? I’ll warn the girls to steer clear.”

  “Let me think… he said his name’s Xu Nuo.”

  Lin Wanqing’s hand froze. After a long pause, she said, “What was that? I didn’t catch it.”

  “Xu Nuo. Graduated this year, works in Modu, says he makes 5,000 a month.”

  “Do you have a picture?”

  “What, even a big star like you is interested?” Qin Tongyun teased.

  “What are you thinking? I just want to protect others from getting tricked,” Lin Wanqing huffed dismissively.

  “I didn’t take a picture, didn’t have time.”

  “Hold on, let me see if I can find one.”

  Qin Tongyun was stunned. “Wanqing, you know him?”

  “I’m not sure, just wait.”

  Lin Wanqing rummaged through her phone for a while, eventually digging up a photo of Xu Nuo’s work ID and sending it over.

  “Is this him?”

  Qin Tongyun recognized him instantly. “Oh my gosh, that’s him! Wanqing, you actually know him?”

  “Yeah, he’s definitely a jerk. Plus, he’s into older women. You need to watch out.”

  “Really?!”

  “…Why do you sound so excited?” Lin Wanqing asked suspiciously.

  “No, no, I’m not,” Qin Tongyun denied quickly. “How do you know him?”

  “You know the song The Wind Rises?”

  “Yeah, wait… he wrote it?” Qin Tongyun caught on.

  “That’s amazing! He’s actually really talented!”

  “Hey, snap out of it—he’s a jerk,” Lin Wanqing said, exasperated.

  “You’re not still hung up on him, are you?”

  “No, no way,” Qin Tongyun said, her voice cking conviction.

  Lin Wanqing wasn’t having it. She went in for the kill. “And he’s a liar too. His sary’s not just 5,000. The company gave him a high-level contract, and with my song’s royalties, he’s made over a million this month.”

  “That’s incredible!”

  “Wait, your focus is all wrong—he lied to you!”

  “I get it. He probably didn’t want me to think he’s some gold-digger or something.”

  Lin Wanqing was losing it. “Tongtong, you’re not allowed to contact him again, or your parents will break your legs!”

  “Such a shame,” Qin Tongyun sighed.

  “Keep an eye on him for me. If he’s really a jerk, then there’s nothing I can do.”

  “I think you’re the one who’s lost it! I’ll expose his true colors!!”

  Lin Wanqing clenched her fist. This guy had dared to mess with her best friend.

  After hanging up, she started plotting how to unmask Xu Nuo.

  Last time, she’d already suspected he was a jerk—and maybe even had a thing for older women.

  They worked at the same company, but the composition department and the artist division were on different floors. Normally, they wouldn’t cross paths.

  The company was strict about access to the artist division, but the composition department was more rexed. Looked like she’d have to sneak over there to observe him.

  A young guy like him, not learning to be decent—what a waste of his talent.

  Lin Wanqing felt a pang of discomfort. His songs were so good, so heartfelt, and yet the guy was a jerk.

  …

  Xu Nuo strolled home slowly after the meal. When he got back, three pairs of eyes—six in total—were fixed on him.

  “Xiao Nuo, how was the girl?”

  “She was great.”

  Zheng Qiuyun lit up. “Really?”

  “Yeah, she was good. Too good for me, though—she wasn’t interested,” Xu Nuo said with a fake sigh of regret.

  “No way,” Zheng Qiuyun frowned. “I’ll ask your Aunt Zhang.”

  A little while ter, she swatted him. “Did you say something dumb to her?”

  “No, just normal conversation. But she’s got high standards, so it’s not surprising she didn’t like me.”

  “Mom, don’t worry about it. With my brother’s qualities, you think he won’t find someone perfect?” Xu Ke chimed in to help.

  Xu Chengwen, smoking nearby, added, “Just don’t go for those shady entertainment industry types.”

  “Alright, alright, give me a break. I’ve got to head back to work tomorrow,” Xu Nuo said, slipping away to his room.

  (End of Chapter)