Chapter 8: The Unforeseen Demand

Approximately two weeks later, as work was nearing its end, Guan Qing received a call. It was an unfamiliar voice on the other end, claiming their boss had previously made a reservation with their agency.

Guan Qing patiently explained to them, “I apologize, but I’m not the receptionist. For specific appointments and arrangements, you can call—”

The caller immediately interrupted him, stating a figure.

“At this price, as long as it’s the boss providing the service, is that acceptable?” they asked.

Guan Qing fell silent. The absurdity of the situation made him want to laugh, yet he also felt an unsettling sense of being played.

‘With that kind of money, why bother with a matchmaking agency?’ he thought. ‘If he wasn’t a bald uncle past his prime, the women lining up to marry him would stretch from here to the Fourth Ring Road.’

The caller continued, “Half the deposit has already been transferred to your card. Our boss wishes to meet you tonight at Jiang Yun Xuan. If you don’t come, he will wait indefinitely.”

With that, they hung up.

Guan Qing pulled out his phone and indeed saw a text message notification for a bank transfer.

Guan Qing: “…”

Ye Zi approached him, his suit jacket draped over his arm and the top two buttons of his shirt undone. “What’s wrong? Have you decided what you want for dinner?” he asked.

Guan Qing considered for a moment. “I’m sorry, but I have an engagement tonight. I need to attend a dinner party.”

Ye Zi, ever understanding, readily agreed. He even offered, “Do you want me to give you a ride?”

Guan Qing quickly shook his head. “No need to trouble you. I’ll drive myself.”

Ye Zi didn’t press the issue. He walked over and straightened Guan Qing’s collar, then lowered his head to say, “Be safe.”

Guan Qing nodded.

While driving, Guan Qing listened to the radio and pondered. He likely knew who was behind this.

He only knew one person capable of such an outlandish act.

****

When Guan Qing and Xie Xu first started dating, they were both quite poor. Xie Xu had fallen out with his family over dating a beta, so their living expenses relied entirely on their combined earnings from part-time jobs.

Back then, a hundred yuan for late-night street food felt like a lavish feast.

Later, they became wealthy, but opportunities to dine together were scarcer than before. Having two or three meals a month together was considered good fortune.

Moreover, whenever Xie Xu returned home, he would collapse onto the bed. Forget going out to enjoy life; even getting him from the bed to the dining table was a challenge.

The few times they did go out, they would eat at the small stir-fry places or cheap, delicious Cantonese restaurants they used to frequent, reminiscing about their youth.

The last time they visited Jiang Yun Xuan, Xie Xu had just finished filming a drama. He was practically a dead dog, cooped up at home, when a renowned director unexpectedly invited him to dinner there.

Xie Xu hadn’t seen Guan Qing in ages and couldn’t bear to leave him alone at home. He insisted on bringing his partner along to freeload.

They emerged around nine in the evening, and Xie Xu asked, “Wifey, how does a meal costing nearly six figures feel?”

Just as he spoke, Guan Qing’s stomach rumbled.

Xie Xu laughed, coming up from behind to wrap his arms around Guan Qing and caress his stomach. “How many months, wifey? Can’t tell at all, secretly carrying a little one for me, aren’t you?”

Guan Qing: “…Don’t be a smartass.”

Xie Xu kissed him, then took his hand. “Ah, still, our darling’s homemade food is the best. Come on, hubby will take you for a big meal.”

Guan Qing looked at him. “Big meal? Who’s cooking?”

Xie Xu smiled proudly. “Of course, my wifey is cooking. Their culinary skills are excellent; you absolutely must try them.”

Guan Qing: “…”

Guan Qing promptly cut off his memories as the layout of the second floor unfolded before his eyes.

“Mr. Guan, please follow me.”

A man who appeared to be a manager bowed to Guan Qing, leading the way. Jiang Yun Xuan was a members-only private kitchen, seemingly only serving ten tables a day.

Amidst the waterside pavilions, a woman sat on a stage in the central courtyard, playing a pipa and singing.

The very person who had been playfully teasing him in his memories was now sitting opposite him, expressionless, flipping through a menu. He nodded to Guan Qing in greeting.

“Mr. Guan, hello.”

Guan Qing’s heart sank. Unsure of Xie Xu’s intentions, he could only nod in return. “Hello.”

“I took the liberty of ordering some dishes already. Is there anything else you’d like to add?” Xie Xu asked, pushing the menu with the selected dishes written on it towards him.

“Xie Xu, you…”

‘What are you doing? Playing a ‘pretend to be strangers’ game?’

Xie Xu looked at him, and his gaze was so chilling it momentarily froze Guan Qing. The playful words he intended to say died on his lips. He had never seen Xie Xu like this.

Guan Qing could only lower his head to look at the menu. This Cantonese restaurant was excellent, and almost all the dishes ordered were to his liking. There was just one, a Sichuan dish, and he couldn’t eat spicy food.

Guan Qing shook his head, and Xie Xu rang the bell to have the dishes served.

As the pre-meal soup arrived, a heavy silence settled between them. Guan Qing had intended to use this meal to clarify things once and for all, yet somehow, he couldn’t utter a single word.

Moreover, what exactly was there to clarify?

‘If you’re already with Jiang Lu, can you not come to see me?’ ‘Are you still planning blind dates because you don’t like Jiang Lu that much?’

He couldn’t ask, couldn’t voice the words. A hint of hopeful expectation, a touch of unreasonable petulance, interspersed within those unspoken questions, seemed to be waiting for someone to coax him.

Anyone with eyes could see it, as if testing the remaining vestiges of Xie Xu’s lingering affection and habit, to gauge their true weight. He felt utterly mortified.

Besides, whatever transpired between Xie Xu and Jiang Lu was their private matter… it truly had nothing to do with him.

Xie Xu was impeccably dressed this time, his beard meticulously shaved. His dark circles were less pronounced, and he sat there neatly, exuding a serious yet ascetic handsomeness.

Guan Qing found himself staring at him involuntarily. Suddenly, Xie Xu looked up, meeting his gaze with icy eyes. “Is something wrong, Mr. Guan?”

Guan Qing was chilled by his gaze and quickly shook his head, then lowered it to drink his soup.

He felt Xie Xu’s eyes on him, but when he looked up, he found nothing amiss.

Guan Qing ate the entire meal, finding it utterly tasteless.

He picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth. “Mr. Xie… Mr. Xie, your payment was a bit too much—”

Speaking to Xie Xu in such a manner felt peculiar, like children playing house—odd yet almost laughable. But when he saw Xie Xu looking at him with a strange, polite gaze, he couldn’t laugh anymore.

What was there to laugh about?

He and Xie Xu were, after all, supposed to be like this now: retreated to the distance of strangers, with no reason or standing to act spoiled.

Xie Xu made a gesture, interrupting him. “I naturally have my demands.”

After coming to a realization, Guan Qing felt a little downcast. He paused for a moment before saying, “Alright, we’ll do our best.”

Xie Xu scrutinized him for a long while. Guan Qing was waiting for him to state his demands, but to his surprise, Xie Xu snapped his fingers, and his assistant brought over a contract.

Guan Qing: “…”

The contract was several pages long, detailing various scenarios. Guan Qing directly turned to the page outlining Xie Xu’s requirements.

Firstly, Xie Xu’s affairs would be given top priority by the matchmaking agency. Secondly, all matters were to be handled personally by Guan Qing, including the selection of blind date locations and candidates.

If Xie Xu was dissatisfied with the outcome or any part of the process, Guan Qing would bear full responsibility.

Guan Qing: “…” He glanced further down. ‘Isn’t this a tyrannical clause?’

There was more: Xie Xu had the right to request a meeting with Guan Qing at any time to discuss specific blind date details, including during normal working hours, and had the right to require Guan Qing to work at locations outside the agency.

The list was extensive. Guan Qing didn’t read any further. He closed the contract. “I apologize, Mr. Xie, but we are just a small matchmaking agency. I’m afraid I cannot fulfill these terms. I can recommend—”

Xie Xu tapped the table, pulled out a cigarette, then pushed it back. “So, it doesn’t matter if Ye Zi gets sued?” he asked.

Guan Qing frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Xie Xu crossed his legs and slowly revealed his first smile of the day. He flipped his phone to a certain page and slid it across the table. “While Ye Zi was in M Country, he privately provided psychological treatment without a license, and he induced the patient to engage in an improper relationship with him.”

He clicked his tongue twice. “You understand, right? That kid is miserable. Not only did their depression worsen, but they were also left with permanent scars. They’re an omega, and they even had an abortion. I don’t need to tell you how significant the after-effects of an omega’s abortion can be.”

Guan Qing flipped through the photos and chat logs. The scars in the photos were shocking, including whip marks and burns.

Guan Qing was startled, but he had never seen this side of Ye Zi, so he instinctively defended his friend. “Xie Xu, even if your relationship with Ye Zi isn’t good, there’s no need to…”

Xie Xu stiffened, looking at Guan Qing with an almost incredulous expression.

He closed his eyes, let out a deep breath, and gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Is he really that good? In your eyes, am I just…” he murmured.

Guan Qing didn’t quite hear him. He wanted to ask again, but Xie Xu quickly reverted to his expressionless state.

Xie Xu wagged his index finger from side to side, pulling at the corners of his mouth. “I’m framing him? I’m helping him. That kid’s parents are almost causing a scene here. Ye Zi doesn’t clean up his own messes; if it weren’t for me covering for him…”

Before Guan Qing could reply, he continued, “Believe it or not, I’ll count to three. If you don’t agree, this will all be leaked online. You wouldn’t want to see your ‘good friend’ ruined, would you?

“Three.”

“Two.”

“It seems your friendship is only worth so much. Xiao Zhang, prepare to send…”

Guan Qing: “Wait!”

Xie Xu gestured for Xiao Zhang to stop. He looked into Guan Qing’s eyes, and for a moment, he seemed to freeze, but he quickly regained his mocking expression. “Regretting it now? Too late.”

Guan Qing felt a surge of helplessness. He almost wanted to slump onto the table. “…What exactly do you want?”

Xie Xu first pointed to the contract in front of him. “Sign it.”

Guan Qing didn’t even look, uncapping the pen and signing.

Though Xie Xu was the one who wanted Guan Qing to sign, seeing Guan Qing’s swift compliance seemed to displease him even more.

“And…” he mused, his voice dropping even lower, so low that Guan Qing almost thought he’d imagined it: “Make me another meal, Mr. Guan.”

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