In the end, Gao Sijin paid for the not-so-delicious French meal.

It wasn't that Yu Qingxue hadn't offered. Gao Sijin's pride simply wouldn't let him be treated by a girl younger than him.

The server stood nearby with a mechanical smile. Gao Sijin lowered his voice and asked:

“Hey, buddy, could you give me a discount? I know President Charles de Gaulle, you know.”

“Sorry, sir, but this is China. And President Charles de Gaulle probably doesn't know you.”

“Then can I use Huabei?”

“Of course, sir.”

After getting an affirmative answer, Gao Sijin breathed a sigh of relief.

The server didn't look down on him. Instead, he seemed completely used to it. Apparently, buying now and paying later had become the norm these days.

When they left the French restaurant, the world outside was blanketed in snow. Yu Qingxue took out her car keys and pressed a button. A silver sports car bearing the BMW logo responded to Queen Qingxue's call, like a knight who'd been waiting for her.

“Well, that's the end of today's blind date. If there's nothing else, I'm gonna head out. Bye! And you were drinking earlier, so remember to get a designated driver.”

Gao Sijin turned to leave.

This might be the last time they ever saw each other. In this world, life was nothing but a series of goodbyes.

Still, having a beauty for company and enjoying a French meal gave him something to brag about to his future grandchildren—if he ever had any.

“Wait. Who said you could leave, Mr. Gentleman?”

Suddenly, Yu Qingxue hooked her pale, jade-like arm around Gao Sijin's neck.

“Wasn't the blind date over? Besides, we're from completely different worlds. You can tell I'm not the guy who can make you happy.”

But the domineering queen grabbed Gao Sijin and pulled him into the back seat. Watching her lick the corner of her lips, Gao Sijin suddenly thought of one thing: car sex.

Was this girl, fresh back from studying in Country J, about to help him get lucky?

Wasn't she taking things a little too far?

As it turned out, Gao Sijin had read too much into it. Yu Qingxue crossed her legs and pulled out the latest iPhone.

“Give me your contact info. I want both your WeChat and QQ.”

“Huh?”

“What do you mean, ‘huh’? Are you so drunk you can't understand Chinese? Want me to say it again in Japanese? Or would you prefer English or French?”

“No, sis, why do you want my contact info?”

“How am I supposed to ask you out again if I don't have your contact info?”

Yu Qingxue folded her arms across her chest as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Gao Sijin considered himself a gentleman, but Yu Qingxue really was stacked—probably a D cup.

“You don't want to hang out with me? I'm not picky. You can treat me to French food or malatang. I just want to spend some time with you. Is that really too much to ask?”

Gao Sijin slowly took out his phone and handed it to her, still finding the whole thing hard to believe.

The people he'd gone on blind dates with before usually only met him once. There was never a second time.

Yu Qingxue was the first one who wanted to see him again.

“What's the passcode?”

“Five four one two two five.”

Yu Qingxue worked the phone with practiced ease.

First, she added his WeChat account: Work Makes Me Happy.

Then she tapped the QQ app.

Gao Sijin suddenly remembered that his QQ account was intensely otaku. His profile picture and status were both textbook chuuni.

But Gao Sijin had no intention of hiding it. If Yu Qingxue saw his QQ and looked disgusted, it was better to end things sooner rather than later.

Pretending to be a proper adult at work was already exhausting. If he still had to wear an adult's mask after starting a family, he might as well be dead.

Gao Sijin discreetly watched Yu Qingxue's expression. When she opened his QQ profile, she paused.

Love really did come and go in a flash, Gao Sijin thought.

But then Yu Qingxue said:

“Oh! Your profile picture is an album cover for a Japanese song, right? I've heard it too!”

“You have?”

“Yuki no Shizuku · Ame no Oto.”

Yu Qingxue named the song, then turned on the car stereo and played it.

Gao Sijin had thought Yu Qingxue, with her queenly air, was a normie. He hadn't expected her to be an otaku too.

She handed the phone back to Gao Sijin. One more mutual friend had appeared on his friends list.

Screen name: Yuki no Shizuku.

Her profile picture was a close-up of her face. She looked beautiful in it, but even more beautiful in person.

“I'll drive you home, Sijin~”

She hummed cheerfully, but Gao Sijin grabbed her arm.

“Get us a designated driver! You can't drive after drinking!”

“You're not allowed to drive after drinking abroad either. But it's fine. Rules are for the weak. I'm an amazing driver. Just lie back and stay still—this'll be over in no time.”

“Don't think I can't hear the dirty joke. Anyway, get a designated driver now, or I'm getting out.”

Seeing how stubborn Gao Sijin was, Yu Qingxue had no choice but to give in.

“I was hoping we could chat in the car about where to go next, but you had to call a designated driver and bring a chaperone. You're no fun at all.”

“We're all going to die someday, but I don't need any help speeding it up.”

“Okay, okay, I get it. You're such a coward.”

Yu Qingxue and Gao Sijin sat in the back seat without speaking. She seemed to be sulking.

Gao Sijin lowered his head sheepishly and started playing on his phone.

His common sense told him it was best not to provoke this woman right now.

Gradually, the only sound in the car was fingers tapping on phone screens.

More than half an hour later, the designated driver finally pulled up outside Gao Sijin's home.

He pushed open the car door and stretched.

Freedom at last.

“Well, time to say bye, Qingxue.”

“Bye? I had a bit too much to drink earlier, and I'm still dizzy. I want to sleep, so I'll just sleep at your place.”

Gao Sijin stared at her, speechless.

“What, are you afraid I'll eat you?”

“No, it's just that we only met for the first time today. Isn't this a little awkward? Besides, my place is really messy. It's not a good idea for a girl like you to come over.”

“So what if you've got a few crumpled tissues with DNA on them? What's the big deal?” Yu Qingxue yawned loudly. “Come on, you're a grown man. Stop fussing. Are you really going to let the driver take a drunk young woman like me home alone?”

“All right, then. You can sit at my place for a while and sober up.”

Gao Sijin had thought he was finally free, but he ended up taking Yu Qingxue to his rented apartment.

His place was simple, with just a kitchen, a bathroom, and one bedroom.

“It's not that messy. Not bad. I'll give you five more points.”

“I'm single, but I still clean every three days. Anyway, how many points do I have now?”

“That's a secret.”

Yu Qingxue took off her boots and changed into slippers. She tossed her coat and patterned black tights onto Gao Sijin's chair. The laundry basket was right beside it, but she acted like she hadn't seen it.

“Sijin, I'm going to sleep for a bit. Make yourself at home.”

“But this is my home!”

Gao Sijin shouted his complaint, but Yu Qingxue had already stretched out on his bed without a care. Her butterfly-wing lashes slowly closed.

Before long, she was asleep.