After they returned home, Mother Bai began sorting through Bai Ci's clothes again, nagging her about needing to dress nicely for their next meeting.
Her attitude toward Bai Ci became even more cautious, and she even went out of her way to cook several delicious dishes to make Bai Ci happy.
Early the next morning, not long after dawn, Mother Bai's phone rang.
She practically lunged to pick it up. Seeing that the caller ID showed Cheng Yin, a smile instantly broke out on her face.
She quickly pressed the answer button, her tone respectful and eager. “Hello, Teacher Cheng. Is there any news?”
On the other end of the line, Cheng Yin's voice was as enthusiastic as ever. “Hello, Auntie! I have great news for you. I've matched your daughter with a particularly suitable partner.”
“The young man is very mature and has a good job. His background matches your daughter's very well. I wanted to ask if you have time this afternoon to come to the shop for a meeting so the two kids can get to know each other?”
Mother Bai did not agree immediately. Instead, she instinctively glanced at Bai Ci, who was watching television, her eyes filled with inquiry.
She knew her daughter disliked matchmaking in the first place, and she didn't want to force her. She had to get her consent first.
Having overheard their conversation, Bai Ci looked up and gave Mother Bai a slight nod.
Seeing Bai Ci nod, Mother Bai let out a sigh of relief and spoke into the phone. “We have time, we have time! Teacher Cheng, we'll head over this afternoon. What time would be best?”
“Let's say three in the afternoon, Auntie. I'll wait for you at the shop then, and we can meet at the cafe next door. The atmosphere is nicer there, so the two kids can have a proper chat,” Cheng Yin said with a laugh.
“Great, great. Thank you, Teacher Cheng. We'll be there on time this afternoon.” Mother Bai quickly thanked her and hung up, her face filled with excitement.
She hurried over to Bai Ci's side and said, “Cici, this is wonderful! Teacher Cheng found a suitable match for you. We're going to meet him this afternoon.”
“I got it, Mom.”
Mother Bai spent the entire morning busily picking out clothes for Bai Ci.
She also repeatedly warned Bai Ci to talk more during the meeting, to get along well with him, and not to be too introverted.
Bai Ci let the advice go in one ear and out the other, occasionally giving a brief response to show she was still listening.
At ten to three in the afternoon, Mother Bai arrived early at Yuanxin Matchmaking Agency with Bai Ci.
Cheng Yin was already waiting at the door. Upon seeing them, she immediately welcomed them warmly. “Auntie, little sister, please come inside! The young man is already waiting in the cafe next door.”
She led them through the matchmaking agency and into the adjacent cafe.
A man wearing a plain shirt and trousers sat by the window. Seeing them enter, he immediately stood up, a slightly stiff smile appearing on his face.
“Auntie, little sister, this is the young man I wanted to introduce to you, Si Diyi,” Cheng Yin introduced with a smile, then turned to Si Diyi. “Diyi, this is Auntie Bai and little sister Bai Ci.”
Si Diyi nodded. His gaze fell upon Bai Ci, sizing her up from head to toe, and his tone was bluntly offensive. “You don't look as good as your photo.”
Bai Ci said nothing. She simply looked at him calmly, her face devoid of expression.
Mother Bai quickly tried to smooth things over. “Young man, Cici didn't put on much makeup today. She dressed up specifically for that photo.”
Si Diyi ignored Mother Bai. After they had all taken their seats, he asked Bai Ci, “Are you barefaced right now?”
“Going barefaced is good. Makeup is just a waste of money. There's no need for a girl to spend so much money on cosmetics. Living a practical, down-to-earth life is what matters most.”
Bai Ci remained silent, offering no response to his words.
For one, she naturally disliked self-righteous men like this and had no desire to waste her breath on him.
Secondly, just moments ago, she had opened her Rain's Message panel to take a look.
It was exactly as she had guessed—the Rain's Message NPC bound this time was indeed her blind date. She might as well offer a preemptive prayer for the soul of this "Dead Diyi."
She really had no reason to bicker with a dying man. Moreover, this person's traits gave her absolutely no interest in communicating with him anyway.
As for why this man would die—don't ask. If anyone asked, it would be classified as an accident.
【Temporary Rain's Message NPC: Si Diyi
Appearance: Ordinary
Identity: An ordinary person who murdered his own older sister; vain, cheap, self-centered, with violent tendencies
Relationship with Player: Blind date
Skill Levels: Stamina 3, Spirit 4, Agility 5
Special Skills: None
Life Status: Curse [What is Love] in effect】
How should she put it... Bai Ci had seen the Rain's Message panel several times by now, but she had rarely seen it criticize someone so bluntly.
Who would have thought that the first time this curse took effect, it would actually be ridding society of a menace?
The incarnation of evil thoughts' soul was already in the Underworld, yet it had somehow received karmic merit out of nowhere.
Seeing that Bai Ci remained silent, Si Diyi didn't mind. Instead, he began introducing himself on his own, his tone brimming with vanity.
“My name is Si Diyi. I work as a white-collar worker in a pretty good company. My monthly salary is over eight thousand, which isn't low.”
“When I was young, my grades were exceptionally good. Back then, I got into a prestigious university with a score in the top fifty of the entire county. If I hadn't decided against grad school back then, I'd definitely be even more successful than I am now.”
He went on and on about his glorious history, from his elementary school grades to his university honors. Every single sentence was a boast about himself. He didn't ask about Bai Ci's situation at all, nor did he care about her attitude.
From time to time, he would complain that young people nowadays were too impetuous and not as down-to-earth as he had been back then. He also added that when girls looked for a partner, they should look for someone like him—grounded, mature, with a degree and a stable job.
Sitting opposite him, Bai Ci ignored him completely, choosing instead to watch how the thoroughly embarrassed Cheng Yin next to him would handle this.
Just as Si Diyi was talking about how highly his professors had regarded him in college and how he had won scholarships, Cheng Yin finally couldn't help but speak up.
“Oh my, I think we're about out of time. Let's wrap up today's meeting here. If you two feel like it's a good match, we can schedule another time for a proper chat.”
Hearing this, Si Diyi stopped talking immediately. A trace of lingering reluctance appeared on his face, but he still nodded and said to Bai Ci,
“I feel like we really click. I'm very satisfied with you. Let's meet again next time, and I'll tell you more about myself.”
Bai Ci made no reply, acting as if she were a block of wood.
Cheng Yin smiled as she pulled Si Diyi along, walking out of the cafe while saying, “Diyi, don't worry, I'll help arrange the next meeting for you. You go on ahead back first; I need to have a quick word with Auntie Bai and little sister.”
After seeing Si Diyi off, Cheng Yin returned to Mother Bai and Bai Ci.
Her smile was still warm as she said to Bai Ci, “Little sister, I'm so sorry. I put you through an ordeal.”
“Don't worry, your big sister knows this kind of guy won't do. I'll rematch you right away. I'll definitely find you someone gentle, stable, and good to you. I won't make you force yourself at all.”
Upon hearing this, Mother Bai instantly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, “Thank you, Teacher Cheng. Sorry to trouble you. You really are so thoughtful.”
“Auntie, this is just my job,” Cheng Yin said with a smile. “If the little sister doesn't think it's a good fit, we won't force it. Marriage is a major life event; you have to find someone you get along with. You can't mistreat yourself.”
“I'll arrange the next one for you as soon as possible and call you then.”
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