9: Lin Shishan's change of attitude

Chen Yujie watched Lin Shanshan's attitude toward Chen Qiu, and his heart skipped a beat.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Since their blind date began, Lin Shanshan had never shown him such an expression.

That look in her eyes—focused, ardent, and carrying a glimmer he couldn't understand.

For some reason, he felt that this blind date match, whom he had worked so hard to secure, seemed to have developed an indescribable interest in this cousin she had just met?

This thought was like a thorn pricking his heart.

He forced a smile that looked worse than crying, trying to break the eerie atmosphere.

"Heh, what a coincidence. I didn't expect such a connection."

His voice sounded dry; even he felt awkward hearing it.

Lin Shanshan acted as if she hadn't heard him at all.

Her face was full of smiles, radiant as a blooming flower.

However, that smile and that gaze were all directed at Chen Qiu.

"It really is quite a coincidence. I truly didn't expect to run into Brother Chen again so soon."

"Brother Chen, that last meal doesn't count. Next time you're free, I must treat you to a meal alone, just to make amends!"

Lin Shanshan's words were like a red-hot knife stabbing into Chen Yujie's heart.

His expression changed instantly.

Make amends? What was there to make amends for?

More importantly, treat him to a meal?

Since they had met, who had paid for every meal, big or small? Even today at noon, when she had lunch with her best friend, wasn't it he who transferred the money to pay the bill?

And now, you're actually offering to treat Chen Qiu to a meal?

Chen Qiu was no fool.

He clearly noticed the undisguised, intensely purposeful gaze Lin Shanshan directed at him.

He also understood that she had said this deliberately for him to hear.

Was she trying to apologize and repair their relationship? Or did she want... to take it a step further?

Chen Qiu just smiled, neither agreeing nor refusing.

He just stood there with a faint, elusive smile on his face, giving no indication of his stance.

Seeing this, Lin Shanshan's heart sank abruptly.

She had assumed that by lowering herself and taking the initiative to show favor, he would at least be polite and go with the flow to accept it.

As long as he agreed, she could naturally add his WeChat.

To her surprise, Chen Qiu was like a ball of cotton—immune to both soft and hard tactics—leaving her with a full-force punch that hit nothing but air.

Seeing the atmosphere growing cold again, Chen Yujie spoke up quickly, wanting to nip this dangerous trend in the bud.

"Shanshan, don't bother Chen Qiu."

He tried hard to make his tone sound like he was joking.

"My cousin here is quite busy; he needs to hurry up and go on blind dates to find a partner!"

His intention was to remind Lin Shanshan, but just as he finished speaking, he didn't expect Lin Shanshan's eyes to light up.

"That's right! Yujie, you reminded me!"

She clapped her hands, and the smile on her face became even more sincere.

"Speaking of blind dates, I happen to have some best friends who are good-looking and have great character, and they are all still single."

She turned her head and looked at Chen Qiu with eyes full of anticipation.

"Brother Chen, why don't we add each other on WeChat? I can introduce those best friends of mine to you!"

Chen Qiu looked at her with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Good-looking and great character?

Is that really true?

Having just experienced the baptism of Lü Shuang at noon, Chen Qiu expressed deep, deep skepticism about this!

If this were before today, he certainly wouldn't want to encounter another blind date match like Lü Shuang again.

As for the scheming Lin Shanshan before him, he would avoid her even more—let alone adding her on WeChat, he would feel it was bad luck just to look at her for an extra second.

But now, the situation was different.

With the Blind Date System, Chen Qiu suddenly realized a whole new perspective.

Lin Shanshan's "best friends" might be... absolute treasure troves for him!

The higher the other party's requirements, the more outrageous they were, the richer the rewards he could obtain!

However, he quickly calmed down.

He noticed the glowing eyes Lin Shanshan had when looking at him, almost as if she had written "I want to marry you" on her face.

Chen Qiu was certain that she, in all likelihood, didn't really want to push her best friends on him.

She was trying to push herself onto him!

Understanding this point, Chen Qiu revealed that polite yet distant smile once again.

"Sorry, my phone is out of battery and shut down automatically."

He spread his hands with a helpless expression.

"Maybe next time; let's talk about it next time."

Rejected again.

Rejected politely once more, the smile on Lin Shanshan's face had stiffened slightly.

She hadn't expected Chen Qiu to keep her at such a distance.

This shouldn't be happening!

Clearly, at the dining table at noon, when she proposed those conditions far exceeding Lü Shuang's, she could clearly feel that Chen Qiu's eyes were full of interest and appreciation for her!

That regretful, longing look in his eyes definitely couldn't be fake!

As for the matter of not paying the bill later...

In her view, it must have been because Lü Shuang's attitude was too poor, making him feel unhappy, which was why he left in anger.

Yes, that must be it!

If Chen Qiu were just an ordinary white-collar worker driving a 300,000 Xiaomi car, it wouldn't have made her lower herself so much to take the initiative again and again.

But she had witnessed with her own eyes that the house she couldn't get was just lightly, like gifting a head of cabbage, given directly to Chen Qiu!

That was a house worth one or two million!

Furthermore, the person who gave the house was that boss whom even Li Qing had to bow and scrape to and treat with the utmost respect!

On one side was Chen Yujie, who had to pull strings and look at Li Qing's face just to buy an ordinary house.

On the other side was Chen Qiu, whom Li Qing's big boss had to actively offer the best house to just to get acquainted...

One was a pheasant scratching for food in the dirt, the other was a phoenix soaring in the nine heavens.

Could she, Lin Shanshan, not tell the difference?

If she had known nothing about all this today, then so be it.

But now, she had encountered it!

Even at the dining table at noon, Chen Qiu had clearly shown "interest" in her.

How could she, Lin Shanshan, be willing to miss such a god-given opportunity?

As for Chen Yujie, the blind date match who was still chatting with her on WeChat...

Anyway, they weren't even engaged yet! They didn't even count as boyfriend and girlfriend!

As for her best friend Lü Shuang...

Sorry, happiness and opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared and dare to make a move!

In a flash, Lin Shanshan had already completed a series of pros and cons analyses and psychological preparation in her mind.

A firm yet sweet smile appeared on her face once again.

Since she couldn't open a breach from Chen Qiu, she would change direction!

She turned her head abruptly and looked at Luo Jinglan, who was still a bit out of the loop on the side.

"Auntie,"

Her voice was sweeter than Chen Yujie had ever heard.

Her attitude was friendlier and more respectful than Huang Hui had ever seen.

"Since Brother Chen's phone is out of battery, that's fine. Let me add your WeChat first, so it'll be easier to stay in touch later. I can also help Brother Chen keep an eye out for good girls at our workplace!"

These words were spoken flawlessly and were full of goodwill.

Looking at Lin Shanshan's sincere smiling face and listening to her voice, which was cloyingly sweet.

Chen Yujie and Huang Hui, standing to the side, were completely dumbfounded.