Chapter 19

“What is it?” Lin Tian still liked this little girl. If she could help, she certainly would.
Chu Ci, sitting nearby, seemed distracted and frowned. Jiang Ying didn’t know Zhao Yunyun but watched the two with bright curiosity.
Zhao Yunyun hesitated for a moment, then, blushing, finally said, “My boss wants to set me up on a date. My brother was supposed to accompany me, but he had something come up this afternoon, so I thought…”
“Let me go with you,” Lin Tian’s eyes lit up, excitement in her voice.
Zhao Yunyun nodded, puzzled by Lin Tian’s enthusiasm, as if accompanying her on a blind date was some… fun adventure.
Once Lin Tian received a clear answer, she quickly agreed. “No problem. When do you want me to go with you?”
Zhao Yunyun was still a bit flustered but replied, “At noon, at the State-Run Restaurant.”
“Alright, I’ll go with you,” Lin Tian said with a smile.
Finally, Chu Ci spoke. “I’ll take you there.”
Naturally, Lin Tian agreed. Jiang Ying, wanting to join in, asked, “Sister-in-law, can I come watch too?”
She had never seen a blind date before and was curious.
Before Lin Tian could answer, Chu Ci refused. “Why would you go? Focus on your homework.”
Jiang Ying pouted, quietly resentful.
Zhao Yunyun, reassured by Lin Tian’s agreement, visibly relaxed. She didn’t have to run home and come back again.
Lin Tian invited her to her room to help with makeup. Though she was now pregnant, she didn’t wear makeup herself, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t buy or use cosmetics.
Once they were in the room, Chu Ci’s eyes finally turned away.
Jiang Ying glanced at her cousin, displeased. “You didn’t want her to go, but said nothing. When it comes to me, why be so decisive?”
Chu Ci replied, “I worry about her, but she has freedom to go where she wants. You don’t have that freedom with me.”
Jiang Ying muttered under her breath about favoritism, then continued her homework.
Lin Tian was in high spirits and quickly gave Zhao Yunyun a simple, elegant makeup look. Makeup products were scarce in this era, so there wasn’t much room for creativity.
Zhao Yunyun looked in the mirror, delighted. “Sister Tian, you’re really skilled. I actually look a bit prettier.”
“See? Next time, come to my house, and I’ll teach you,” Lin Tian said.
“Okay, okay!” Zhao Yunyun quickly agreed, then remembered something. “My parents passed away early, so I live with my grandparents. But they have other grandchildren. Only my brother is the closest person to me. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know if I’d have gone to this blind date alone. Also, I think you’re really good at judging people, so I want you to help me check him out.”
Zhao Yunyun explained why she came to Lin Tian. None of her relatives cared about her well-being. If she truly could have refused her boss, she wouldn’t have gone. She had wanted to wait until her brother was married before thinking about her own matters.
But everyone told her that a girl’s youth is short. She was already 20; it was time to marry.
Zhao Yunyun didn’t look very eager. Lin Tian noticed clearly. Leaning back in her chair, she thought for a moment, then said:
“Yunyun, marriage is a big deal for a girl. If you really don’t want to marry now, that’s fine. Just go meet him, see if he seems suitable, and spend some time together. If not, it’s okay. Even if you end up together, you can date first, there’s no rush to marry.”
Zhao Yunyun was surprised, staring at her for a moment before saying, “Sister Tian, but…”
“Dating without intending to marry is reckless?” Lin Tian countered.
Zhao Yunyun nodded. Lin Tian sighed, this was one of the drawbacks of this era.
“I mean, you don’t need to rush into marriage. It’s a serious matter. You should know if the man’s family is easy to get along with, if his character is good, and if his income can support you,” Lin Tian said. She knew many people in this era decided to marry after only meeting once or twice, it was far too hasty.
Just like her, if she hadn’t known Chu Ci’s character in advance from the book, she would have divorced him immediately upon arriving in the city.
“Anyway, I’ll help you observe him carefully,” Lin Tian said. “You’re still young. I can give advice, but I can’t make the decision for you.”
Zhao Yunyun shyly smiled. “Thanks for your trouble, Sister Tian.”
Lin Tian never minded a little trouble when she volunteered.
As the appointed time approached, Chu Ci took them to the State-Run Restaurant.
“I’ll pick you up after I eat. Wait at the door,” Chu Ci said, still concerned before leaving.
Lin Tian was surprised. “Isn’t that unnecessary? Yunyun can take me back.”
Zhao Yunyun quickly added, “Yes! Brother-in-law, I’ll make sure Sister Tian gets home safely.”
Chu Ci wasn’t worried about Zhao Yunyun but firmly insisted, “It’s fine. I have nothing pressing anyway.”
Lin Tian had no choice but to accept.
Watching Chu Ci walk away, Zhao Yunyun sighed enviously. “Brother-in-law treats you so well. I wish I could find someone so attentive.”
Lin Tian smiled silently, and the two entered the restaurant.
Upon entering, Zhao Yunyun immediately saw her boss, Chairman Huang of the union. Standing beside him were a young man and woman, with somewhat similar but attractive features. The man was tall, in military uniform, with long limbs.
As soon as they met, Chairman Huang introduced them. “Yunyun, you finally came! This is Xu Zhiyuan and his sister Xu Jingsi. Didn’t you say your brother would come? This is…”
Zhao Yunyun quickly explained, “This is my sister, Lin Tian. My brother had something to do, so she’s accompanying me today.”
Chairman Huang nodded and invited everyone to sit.
After ordering, Xu Zhiyuan proactively greeted Zhao Yunyun. “Hello, Comrade Zhao. I’m Xu Zhiyuan, twenty-three this year.”
He stopped there, showing only a polite, proactive attitude.
Lin Tian felt her mind grow chaotic hearing the siblings’ names. If she remembered correctly, the male protagonist’s mother and uncle were named Xu Zhiyuan and Xu Jingsi. If coincidences weren’t so abundant, she might be correct.
She tried recalling the book’s description of the male protagonist’s aunt but couldn’t remember any details. So, were Zhao Yunyun and Xu Zhiyuan actually meant to be paired?
In the book, the male protagonist’s uncle was scarcely mentioned, only briefly. Xu Zhiyuan served on a remote island and rarely interacted with the male lead. Later, after a long time and promotion, he returned to the city and was mentioned only twice in the story.
Lin Tian remained silent, her expression unreadable and coldly elegant.
Xu Jingsi wasn’t very social either. Zhao Yunyun assumed she didn’t like Xu Zhiyuan and said nothing. The atmosphere grew tense.
Chairman Huang, noticing the awkwardness, laughed to ease the situation. “Looks like everyone’s shy, but marriage is important. We should still talk about the necessary matters.”
Just then, the waiter arrived with the food. Chairman Huang continued, “Alright, let’s eat first. Afterward, Yunyun can talk with Zhiyuan properly.”
Lin Tian finally snapped back to reality and smiled at Zhao Yunyun. “Chairman Huang is right. Let’s not talk about anything until after we eat.”
Xu Zhiyuan vaguely sensed the appraisal from his blind date’s companion. His gaze was clear, and he instinctively straightened his posture.
Xu Jingsi remained her usual quiet self, occasionally stealing glances at Lin Tian and Zhao Yunyun. Naturally, Lin Tian noticed but showed no reaction.
She knew well that Xu Jingsi was easily embarrassed. When reading the book, she had liked this character.
The meal was eaten in near silence. When it finally ended, Chairman Huang suggested, “Why don’t Yunyun and Zhiyuan take a walk outside? We can sit a little longer.”
Xu Jingsi had no objections and finally spoke her first words. “Zhiyuan, accompany Comrade Zhao for a walk.”
Chairman Huang looked at Lin Tian eagerly. She favored this pair, thinking they were very compatible, both in upbringing and otherwise.
Lin Tian naturally didn’t stop them. She had already noticed that Zhao Yunyun had stolen glances at Xu Zhiyuan several times during the meal. She wouldn’t intervene, this was a significant matter in the girl’s life.
“Go ahead,” Lin Tian said to Zhao Yunyun.
The two stood and left. From their backs, they indeed looked like a perfect match. As for how things would turn out, Lin Tian couldn’t predict, plots never stay fixed. Just like her: she was supposed to be in the countryside, yet here she was in the capital city.
Lin Tian looked at Xu Jingsi and tentatively asked with a small smile, “Comrade Xu, since you’re accompanying your brother, I suppose you’re already married?”
Xu Jingsi quickly nodded. “Yes, I’m married.”
She answered precisely, saying nothing more.
Lin Tian chuckled and asked, “Do you have children? I’m pregnant now and really like kids.”
“Yes, my son is just over three. He’s staying home with his grandmother today.” Mentioning her son, Xu Jingsi’s smile softened and her words flowed more easily.
Now Lin Tian was sure, today she had indeed met the mother and uncle of the male protagonist.
If not for today’s coincidence, she might have forgotten this was just a book, which still had a male protagonist. The family she met was just incidental characters.
Lin Tian touched her own belly anxiously, feeling complicated emotions.
She didn’t know how to approach the male protagonist’s family. Should she blame him? The plot was the author’s, and the child was only three. Or should she not blame them? Yet if she hadn’t entered this book, these children might not even have had a chance to exist.
Lin Tian fell silent again. Xu Jingsi was not a talkative person, leaving only Chairman Huang to try to spark conversation, looking both exhausted and weary.
At that moment, someone entered through the door. Lin Tian quickly recognized Chu Ci.
Before she could speak, Xu Jingsi unusually stood and went to meet him, greeting him warmly. “Comrade Chu Ci, what a coincidence to see you here. Are you here for a meal? Let me treat you. I’ve been wanting to invite you to our home, but you never agreed. And as for Xiaoyu, he keeps mentioning you. When convenient, I’ll bring him to visit you.”
Lin Tian was stunned by this sudden turn. Was this really the same Xu Jingsi?