Translator: Atlas Studios
Editor: Atlas Studios
The conversation went on for a while. Suddenly, Chang Bin said, “Oh yeah, let me introduce you to a girl. She’s Han’s high school classmate’s sister, four years younger than us, local. Her uncle works as the treasurer of a company. She’s cute, 1.62 meters tall. I can send you her number and WeChat. Then I can help you guys arrange for a meet-up either tomorrow or the day after.”
Surprised, Xiang Kun rejected at once. “I’ll give it a pass. Four yours is a huge difference.”
“How so? I think it’s just perfect. Her parents have said that they are looking for someone mature. Besides, I’ve mentioned you to her parents, and they are quite pleased with you. I’ve met this girl before too. She’s kind, lively, and outgoing. Her family background is rather decent too. She already has two houses under her name, and she even has a car to herself…”
“Well… I don’t want a relationship right now.” Xiang Kun interrupted him before he went on. At the moment, he was more concerned about his own survival. How could he even have the energy and guts for a relationship? He could not even have a proper meal with others now, let alone the many questions that he had yet to figure out.
Chang Bin could not care less. He dismissed Xiang Kun with a wave and insisted. “Bullsh*t! You are already thirty and you still don’t want a girlfriend! Now I see why you shaved your head. You want to be a monk, don’t you? Don’t forget to tell me which temple you end up staying at! I’ll donate some saisen1 there! Who told me to introduce some girls to him before? Now I’ve got such a good girl here, how dare you say no! Forget it, I’ll arrange it for you. The evening after tomorrow it is. I’ll ban you from coming to my wedding if you don’t show up to your date!”
Wang Han gave a gentle slap on her boyfriend’s arm and chided, “Don’t be rude!” Then she turned to Xiang Kun. “That classmate of mine and I grew up together, and we’ve been good friends since we were young. Her younger sister often hangs out with us too, so I know her well. She is a good girl. I suggest you two meet up and become friends. I’m not pressuring you to get together with her or marry her, because that is up to you and her, not anyone else. Besides, we can’t force it if either of you doesn’t have feelings for the other.”
Under their insistence, Xiang Kun had no other choice but to accept.
Honestly speaking, Xiang Kun was grateful to Chang Bin. As early as a few minutes ago, he had understood that Chang Bin’s insistence on meeting him today was not to introduce his fiancee to him. Rather, it was for Wang Han to decide whether to arrange a date for him and her friend’s sister.
He could almost imagine how Chang Bin had recommended him, Bin’s poor, single friend, to Wang Han once he first found out about her best friend’s pretty sister’s intention of finding a dating partner.
Without a doubt, Wang Han certainly had seen his recent photos. Judging from his face, which looked like that of a forty-year-old uncle, it was expected that she was unwilling to be the matchmaker. She would probably get complaints for her poor judgment!
He could almost guess what Chang Bin had told his fiancee. It should be along the lines of “My buddy is a decent man. Don’t cross him off just because of his average looks. Besides, he’s competent, smart, and gets paid well. You’ll know it once you interact with him. He has bought a house here using his own savings. He doesn’t have any bad habits either. Neither a smoker nor a drunk. He’ll definitely be a good husband…”
Therefore, Chang Bin had to arrange for a meet-up between Wang Han and Xiang Kun so that she could judge whether it would be a good idea to introduce him to her friend’s sister. That was why Chang Bin and his fiancee had exchanged glances with each other before he had embarked on this topic.
Of course, that was only Xiang Kun’s speculation. But it should be more or less true based on his understanding of his good friend.
Anyway, this was not the first time that Chang Bin had been his matchmaker.
It’s often said that you can tell the impression you have made on your matchmaker by what kind of person they introduce to you.
And objectively speaking, among those that Chang Bin had introduced, all of them were much better than Xiang Kun in terms of looks, age, and other conditions.
Take for example the girl that he had just introduced. She was local, younger by four years, from a rich family, and had a pretty face. Xiang Kun knew that Chang Bin would never lie about a girl’s appearance. She had to be cute if Chang Bin had said so. Generally speaking, girls like her would often find a date who was local and of a similar standard. The man should be either young, smart and with a prospective future, or neat, handsome, and able to get along well with the girl. In comparison, Xiang Kun was just a programmer who had passed his prime age for marriage. Indeed, he would not be a competent candidate on the list.
After another ten minutes, Xiang Kun excused himself and paid for the bill at the counter on his way out.
After he left, Wang Han turned to his fiance and asked, “Your buddy doesn’t seem introverted at all. Actually, I find him rather humorous and outgoing. Why do your friends think he’s a loner?”
Chang Bin shook his head and replied, “He doesn’t like to joke, not that he can’t. He’s a funny guy with people he likes or knows well, and he’s very bubbly when he’s with me and another friend from our dormitory. But in a big crowd, he doesn’t talk much. Maybe because it’s unnecessary and energy-consuming for him.”
“Speaking of which, he looks different from those photos. He looked dull and old in them. Based on his attire today, though I would say his fashion sense is non-existent… Well, maybe I should say it’s simplistic… Overall, he gives a better vibe. Could it be due to his hairstyle or his glasses?” Wang Han said as she pondered.
“Probably because of his workout regime. His belly flattened and he looks taller and buffer now.”
Wang Han nodded in agreement, but she shook her head immediately after. “But honestly, I still don’t think Nana will like him. That girl is very picky. Last time, there was a handsome hunk the same age as her with a UK university degree. But she ghosted him after two dates.”
“That means she doesn’t judge a book by its cover, and maybe she’ll get along well with Xiang Kun! Fate is rather vague and unpredictable. Besides, we are matchmakers. We don’t make promises,” Chang Bin said with a shrug.
On his way home, Xiang Kun bought a pair of zero-degree black-frame glasses. He noticed that it would be too drastic a change to his looks and vibe if he did not wear glasses. In the future, he could go glasses-free if he did not want to be recognized. Now, however, wearing glasses could reduce the sense of strangeness with the usual changes going on in his body and his bald head. That could prevent unnecessary attention to the sudden changes from those who knew him.
Other than that, he had to buy some new clothes. As expected, he would no longer be able to fit in his old clothes with the changes to his physique.