Chapter 1: A Bizarre Blind Date Encounter
762 Words
"According to our family’s rules, we live together this month, prepare for pregnancy next month, and once you're expecting, we’ll get the marriage certificate."
"After we’re married, I’ll give you five hundred a month for household expenses. I hope you can manage the household frugally and avoid spending lavishly."
"Once we’re married, we’ll buy a big house in the city. I’ll cover the down payment, you’ll handle the renovation, and then my salary will go toward the mortgage while yours will support the family."
Lily sipped her milk tea, enduring the endless chatter of the bald man sitting across from her.
"By the way, milk tea costs a few bucks per cup—such a waste of money. Plus, it's full of fake creamers and totally unhealthy. Once we're together, you'll have to stop drinking it."
"Oh, and as for today's meal, let's split the bill."
Lily could no longer bear it.
"Mr. Lee, I'll cover this meal. Apologies, I have something to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now."
She gathered her belongings, unwilling to spend another second with this absurd individual.
But this was already her thirty-eighth blind date.
It’s hopeless, Lily sighed inwardly, recalling how confidently she’d promised her mother before leaving home today, that even if her date were a dog, she’d bring him back!
But this one… it was simply too much…
Sigh!
Lily glanced at her mother’s meticulously arranged schedule for the day. Only one more candidate remained. She no longer had high expectations, only hoping this last one might be somewhat normal.
Her phone rang, displaying a call from her best friend and assistant.
"Lily, our esteemed designer, when will you submit your final draft? The boss said if we don't see those designs tonight, we’ll all be shipped off to Africa as laborers!"
At 26, Lily had risen from her small-town roots to become a jewelry designer. Through relentless effort and long hours, she had earned the position of chief designer at her company.
"Got it. I’ll submit it tonight, don’t worry!"
She hung up the phone.
Time was running out. Lily just wanted to wrap up today's blind dates quickly. She followed the information on her list and found Table 18, where a young man in a suit sat, well-groomed and proper, with a composed demeanor.
"Hello, are you Ms. Evans?"
The man stood up politely when he saw her.
After a courteous handshake, Lily sat down. "Hello, I'm Lily,Lily Evans. You must be Mr. Sterling? Let's get straight to the point. I need a husband to build a family and fulfill my responsibilities to my parents. After marriage, I’ll do everything expected of a wife. Whatever reasonable requests you have, I’ll agree to them, but there’s one condition—I can’t give up my career to be a full-time housewife. I hope you can understand."
The man seemed caught off guard by Lily’s straightforwardness, looking slightly uneasy but responding with composure: "Alright, Ms. Evans, I have a few conditions as well."
"Go ahead."
"First, my family expects you to visit our ancestral home once a week to see the elders. Second, my work is very demanding, so I may not always have time to respond to your messages promptly. I hope you can understand. Third—"
At that moment, Lily’s phone rang again. She glanced at it— the hospital.
A wave of anxiety surged through her. She began to gather her things.
"Mr. Sterling, all your conditions are fine! I have a good impression of you, but something urgent has come up at home, and I must leave now. Here’s my family's phone number and address. If possible, I’d like to invite you over for dinner tomorrow afternoon so we can discuss things in more detail..."
With that, she answered the call while hurrying out. "Hello, it's me. How’s my mother?"
Behind her, Mr. Sterling stood up in surprise, about to call out to the swiftly retreating Lily, but she had already vanished around the corner.
"Ms. Evans! I wasn’t finished... I’m not Mr. Sterling; I’m his assistant, Ethan Carter!"
Ethan called after her departing figure, but Lily didn't hear.
Resigned, Ethan pulled out his phone and dialed his boss, Michael Sterling’s number.
"Hello, Boss? The girl who came for the blind date... she agreed to all your terms, but she’s a whirlwind... Oh, and she invited you to her house tomorrow afternoon for a delightful candlelit dinner."
"Hmm, the address?"
The man's voice over the phone was cold, as if he had no interest whatsoever in his blind date.
- Writer
