To the Civil Affairs Bureau

Wen Xi didn’t wait long in the private room before Bo Yu called her out.

“Miss Wen, it’s your turn.”

“Did I cut in line?”

Wen Xi walked out, curiosity written all over her face.

“Did you move me up to third place? Didn’t the third lady object? If she had a big issue, she could pick three bags.”

She had stayed in the room for less than twenty minutes before it was her turn.

She had every reason to suspect Bo Yu had pushed her up to third.

“No.” Bo Yu smiled and explained, “The sixth lady is stuck in traffic. You’re the sixth.”

“He’s that fast?” Wen Xi was shocked.

Five girls in twenty minutes. No wonder his mother arranged ten at once. At this rate, he could go through a hundred in a day.

Arranging only ten was already restraint.

“Mr. Jiang values efficiency.”

Bo Yu clearly knew her words weren’t meant that way, yet couldn’t resist laughing softly.

“Just introduce yourself normally when you go in. The rest… you know what to do.”

“I do.”

Bo Yu stopped outside a private room and placed his hand on the door handle.

He looked at her with a smile.

“Ready?”

“Ready!”

Wen Xi didn’t need psychological preparation.

Her desire to see her idol had already turned into pure adrenaline.

She was brimming with fighting spirit.

Bo Yu chuckled at her spirited expression and gently pushed the door open for her himself.

“Good luck.”

Before entering, Wen Xi sincerely told him, “You’re such a good person. Thank you!”

First, she was thanking him for the blessing.

Second, she was thanking him for arranging the blind date.

Compared to lurking at the entrance and throwing herself at someone, this formal setting felt far more decent.

At least, that’s what she thought.

She had no idea Bo Yu hadn’t informed Jiang Jibai.

In Jiang Jibai’s eyes, she was still a wild card who appeared out of nowhere.

The high-end private room was spacious and winding. There was a short foyer first.

After passing it and rounding a beautifully embroidered Suzhou silk screen, she reached the main hall.

She saw a man.

He sat by the window, leaning lazily against the chair back with his eyes closed.

There was only one person here. It had to be Jiang Jibai.

Getting closer to Jiang Jibai meant getting closer to seeing her idol.

Her heart pounded with excitement and nerves as she walked quickly yet carefully.

After only two steps, she heard him speak.

“Miss Li.”

Miss Li?

Did Bo Yu remember her surname wrong? Did he tell Jiang Jibai her name was Li Xi?

Whatever. Not important.

She kept walking toward the table.

He spoke again.

“I have a hidden illness.”

“If you mind, then there’s no need to waste time introducing ourselves. Goodbye.”

A hidden illness? He had one, not her idol. She didn’t mind at all, okay?!

Besides, she very much wanted to introduce herself. She did not think it was a waste of time!

Wen Xi continued moving toward the table.

Two or three seconds later, she finally reached it.

Driven by her intense desire to see her idol, she sat upright like a model elementary school student on the first day of class.

Her hands were neatly placed on the table.

She stared at Jiang Jibai without blinking and began answering him.

“I don’t mind that you have a hidden illness. And I can even marry you.”

Jiang Jibai finally opened his eyes.

Wen Xi’s lips parted again, sincerity written all over her face.

“Really. Believe me. Even if your hidden illness is so serious you won’t live past this year, I won’t dislike you.”

“If we get married and you pass away soon after, I’ll remain a widow for the rest of my life, Jiang Jibai.”

‘I’ll guard my idol’s agency for a lifetime for you, Jiang Jibai,’ she added silently in her heart.

Only after finishing did she truly notice his face.

She froze.

The man had perfectly shaped phoenix eyes — long, slightly upturned at the ends, with inner corners that hooked subtly inward.

His gaze carried a cool indifference, cold but not harsh.

With eyes that striking, even ordinary features would shine.

But his facial structure was exceptional.

A straight, tall nose rose like a solitary peak on a plain.

His lips were thin. Every feature was flawless.

Her eyes almost glued themselves to his face.

Wow. He’s seriously gorgeous.

Jiang Yin was right. Jiang Jibai is insanely handsome.

Marrying him for my idol suddenly doesn’t sound like a loss at all.

That was her first thought after seeing him clearly.

Before she could think further, his cold voice sounded.

“The door is over there.”

Her mind still filled with his beauty, Wen Xi replied instinctively, “I know.”

He fell silent, simply leaning back and staring at her expressionlessly.

Only then did she process it.

The door is over there = Please leave.

“….”

Wen Xi blinked and pretended she hadn’t heard. She remained seated upright.

For her idol, thick skin was nothing.

She cleared her throat and began her “self-recommendation.”

“Hello. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Wen Xi. I’m a third-year student at Ning University. I came today because I have something very important to discuss.”

Though determined to be shameless, she was worried he might interrupt her or stand up and walk out.

Fortunately, after her introduction, he neither spoke nor left.

Encouraged, she went straight to the point.

“I heard your family is pressuring you hard to get married.”

“Well… my family is also pressuring me. Very urgently!”

Though this was completely fabricated, she spoke as if it were true.

“So I was thinking — we’re both from Ning City, both suffering the same problem. How about we just get our marriage certificate and deal with our families together?”

The room fell silent.

Aside from her chirping voice, there was no other sound.

The moment she finished, it felt like someone had muted the air.

She wanted to say more, but seeing his impassive handsome face, she swallowed her words.

Let him respond first.

If he agreed, perfect.

If he refused, she would brainstorm and fight harder.

Now that the girl who had barged in finally stopped talking, Jiang Jibai lowered his gaze to her.

Oval face. Doe-like eyes.

Pink lips. Snow-white skin. Beautiful, with a hint of foolish innocence.

She didn’t need to introduce herself. He remembered her.

Yesterday at the hotel, on the sixth floor, she had been on the phone declaring she would marry him to become the boss’s wife of Fangke Entertainment and get close to her idol.

He had an excellent memory.

Even if she had only briefly stuck her head out.

His phone buzzed twice. New messages arrived.

Jiang Jibai withdrew his gaze as if she didn’t exist and opened WeChat.

A new document had been sent.

Madam Zou: [Rejected five girls in twenty minutes? Jiang Gu, you’re impressive.]

Madam Zou: [Don’t think spreading rumors that you’re sick will make things easier. I have your annual medical reports. I’ve learned my lesson. From now on, I’ll send one to every girl. Don’t even think about using that excuse again!]

Madam Zou: [And I checked with your Third Uncle. You’re free tomorrow. Here’s tomorrow’s list. Since you’re so efficient, there will be twenty.]

Madam Zou: [Let me repeat: I mean what I say. I’ll keep arranging blind dates until you meet someone willing to date and marry you. If you don’t want this to continue, start properly talking to these girls. End it sooner, and neither of us has to suffer.]

He finished reading without expression.

He didn’t reply.

He locked his phone and looked back at the girl across from him.

Her intention was obvious.

She wasn’t after him.

Nor marriage. She was young.

No matter how unreasonable her family, they wouldn’t be pressuring her this early.

She simply wanted someone under his brother’s company.

If they married, Madam Zou would stop the endless blind dates.

He would let her see her idol. And she wouldn’t cling to him.

After a moment, he exited the chat and nodded lightly.

“Fine.”

Wen Xi had been waiting nervously for his response.

Though she had mentally prepared to persuade him if he refused, in truth her mind was blank.

All she had was a passionate devotion to Qiao Zhiyan.

The longer he stayed silent, the more uncertain she felt.

She didn’t dare urge him. Afraid one push would make him reject her outright.

Time ticked by.

The long-held rain outside was about to fall.

Cool wind swept in through the open wooden window.

A strand of her hair blew into her mouth. As she reached to pull it away, she heard him speak.

“Fine.”

“We’re getting married.”

She blinked repeatedly. Did he… agree?

The progress was too smooth. Her first reaction wasn’t joy.

It was doubt. She raised her hand and pinched her cheek hard.

“Ow, that hurts…”

She winced, but her eyes lit up brightly.

“Jiang Jibai!”

She shot to her feet and leaned forward over the table, bracing her hands against it.

Her upper body crossed most of the narrow distance between them.

Her voice was trembling with excitement.

“You really agreed? Really really?!”

The rectangular table was only about half a meter wide.

Her upper body leaned closer and closer.

A faint fruity scent reached him first.

He didn’t move back. He only lifted his gaze.

“Did you bring your ID?”

She thought he wanted to verify her age and identity.

She quickly sat back down and rummaged through her bag.

“I brought it!”

She found it and stretched her arm out, almost pressing it to his face.

He glanced at the ID photo. She looked younger in it, like she had taken it in early high school.

His gaze moved to the birthdate.

Over twenty.

He took the ID from her and stood up.

“Follow me.”

His voice was low and lazy, carrying a trace of cool detachment.

Her head was spinning with excitement, but her body reacted quickly. She jumped up and followed him.

They left the private room one after the other and headed downstairs.

He walked ahead. She trailed behind.

He was tall.

Even standing one step higher on the staircase, she had to tilt her head slightly to look at him.

The white shirt and dark trousers fit his broad back and narrow waist perfectly.

A gust of wind blew down the corridor, ruffling her hair and outlining the strong lines of his back beneath the fabric.

Only then did she fully come back to her senses. Her excitement paused.

She reached out and grabbed a corner of his shirt.

“Jiang Jibai.”

He stopped and glanced at her small hand clutching his shirt before turning his head to look at her.

Her bright eyes blinked rapidly. Whether from excitement or curiosity, even she didn’t know.

“Where… are we going?” she asked softly.

He looked at her and answered without hesitation.

“To the Civil Affairs Bureau.”

“To get married.”