Chapter 6: Bai Hao’s Audacious Request

Upon hearing this, Bai Hao, without a hint of hesitation, addressed the clerk.

“I’ll have a pearl milk tea, thank you.”

Only after the young man had taken a few sips of the milk tea he’d just received did Xia Zhiquiu finally speak, her tone laced with exasperation.

“Now, perhaps you’ll speak. What exactly will it take for you to leave my daughter?”

Hearing this, Bai Hao feigned a moment of profound contemplation, only to then snap his fingers with a sudden flourish.

“Uncle Xia, my parents aren’t around, and I’m quite lonely, you see. That’s why I’ve been yearning for a relationship.

If you make me break up with Xia Wei now, won’t I just be plunged back into loneliness? So, how about this: if you help me find a girlfriend, I’ll break up with Xia Wei. What do you say?”

Xia Zhiquiu was momentarily stunned by the young man’s words, utterly bewildered that he would propose such an outrageous condition.

Help this kid find a girlfriend? She didn’t even have a girlfriend herself!

With a deep sigh, Xia Zhiquiu responded.

“How am I supposed to help you with that? You’d best come up with another request.”

Bai Hao, however, merely looked unperturbed.

“No, that’s unacceptable. I simply must have a girlfriend.”

Witnessing his stubbornness, Xia Zhiquiu gritted her teeth in frustration, convinced this little scoundrel was absolutely determined to torment her.

With that thought, she ultimately let out another sigh.

“Alright, then what kind of girlfriend are you looking for?”

Her question, she knew, sounded utterly bizarre, for wasn’t her daughter already his girlfriend?

Yet she understood the young man harbored no genuine affection for her daughter; otherwise, he would never have dared to make such a demand.

When confronted with her inquiry, Bai Hao instinctively almost blurted out, ‘Someone just like you…’

But just as the words were about to escape, he deftly changed tack.

“I’m looking for an older woman, a gentle and thoughtful ‘big sister’ type. An ‘auntie’ would also be perfectly acceptable.”

Xia Zhiquiu was taken aback by the young man’s words, finding his preferences truly peculiar. Don’t boys his age typically prefer demure young maidens?

On second thought, however, she mused that perhaps he harbored such desires due to a lack of maternal affection.

Xia Zhiquiu felt a headache beginning to throb.

Given his demands, where on earth was she supposed to find a woman to be his girlfriend?

“Do you have any specific targets in mind, then?”

Upon hearing this, Bai Hao’s reply was laden with subtle meaning.

“I do, indeed. Tell me, Uncle Xia, you’re a bartender, aren’t you?”

Xia Zhiquiu nodded, a vague sense of unease stirring within her.

“Why do you ask?”

For some inexplicable reason, she was suddenly gripped by a terrible premonition.

The very next moment, the young man feigned an exaggerated burst of enthusiasm.

“That’s absolutely wonderful! You see, just yesterday, I met an older woman at a bar who completely captivated me. She’s also a bartender, and I intend to pursue her!

Since you’re also a bartender, Uncle Xia, you must be able to help me figure out a way, right?”

Xia Zhiquiu’s eyes widened in alarm upon hearing his words. A bar, a bartender… could he possibly be referring to…

“Absolutely not! You cannot pursue her!”

Of all people, this guy had to set his sights on her?

Xia Zhiquiu could scarcely believe her own ears. Was she truly expected to help this young man pursue her?

Moreover, setting all other considerations aside, Xia Zhiquiu found it utterly impossible to like this little brat; indeed, she could even say she detested him!

Facing the person’s overly dramatic reaction, Bai Hao felt a ripple of amusement deep within, yet he maintained a facade of confusion.

“Why ever not? Could it be that Uncle Xia knows this ‘older sister’?”

“Hmm, come to think of it, she does bear a striking resemblance to Uncle Xia. She wouldn’t happen to be your younger sister, would she?”

Sister your head! (TL Note: A humorous, dismissive retort, akin to “Nonsense!”)

As the young man’s conjectures grew increasingly outlandish, Xia Zhiquiu swiftly interjected, cutting off his train of thought.

“How could that possibly be? I don’t know the woman you’re talking about; she has absolutely no connection to me whatsoever!”

Bai Hao let out a drawn-out ‘Ohh,’ though his tone was undeniably odd, then spread his hands.

“Then why won’t Uncle Xia let me pursue her?”

“Because, because…”

Xia Zhiquiu opened her mouth, yet for a moment, she genuinely struggled to articulate a coherent reason. After all, she couldn’t very well admit that the woman in question was herself, could she?

After pondering for a considerable while, Xia Zhiquiu finally concocted an excuse, clearing her throat before speaking with solemn earnestness.

“Uncle isn’t letting you pursue her, primarily because, well, look: she’s already quite old and still working in a bar. Her private life must be incredibly chaotic; she’s hardly what one would call a ‘good woman’.

Uncle is only doing this for your own well-being.”

Upon hearing her words, Bai Hao very nearly burst into outright laughter.

He hadn’t anticipated that this ‘Aunt Xia’ before him, after such prolonged deliberation, would offer such a flimsy excuse.

And when it came to self-deprecating, she was truly giving it her all.

With this thought, Bai Hao replied with feigned seriousness.

“Uncle Xia, I honestly don’t concern myself with her past. Moreover, I’m hardly a ‘good person’ myself, so wouldn’t we be a rather fitting pair?”

Upon hearing the young man’s words, Xia Zhiquiu felt a furious throbbing in her temples. A perfect match? What utter nonsense! They were clearly incompatible in every conceivable way!

Yet, in this very moment, Xia Zhiquiu found herself with no other recourse than to persist in her earnest, albeit futile, attempts to dissuade the young man.

It was abundantly clear, however, that Bai Hao was absolutely determined to exasperate Xia Zhiquiu to her breaking point; no matter what she argued, he simply refused to yield.

Finally, Bai Hao delivered his ultimatum.

“Uncle Xia, if you refuse to help me pursue that older sister, I’ll simply continue to relentlessly bother your daughter.

And if Xia Wei’s grades plummet or she goes down the wrong path, don’t you dare lay the blame at my feet, alright?”

Xia Zhiquiu froze, her expression instantly contorting into one of furious indignation.

“You actually dare to threaten me?”

Bai Hao merely shrugged, his tone utterly nonchalant.

“How could that be? I’m merely offering Uncle Xia a benevolent reminder, wouldn’t you agree?”

Xia Zhiquiu gazed at the young man’s utterly infuriating demeanor, and though her heart blazed with fury, she found herself utterly helpless.

Her daughter was her Achilles’ heel; she absolutely would not permit Xia Wei to be corrupted by this fellow.

With this thought, she gritted her teeth and spoke.

“Fine, I’ll agree to help you pursue her, alright? But let’s be clear: you must leave my daughter immediately.”

Bai Hao, however, merely ‘tsk-tsked’ upon hearing this, wagging a finger in dissent.

“No, no, no, Uncle Xia, I never said I’d abandon your daughter simply because you lend a hand. I must first successfully win over that ‘older sister’.”

In that moment, Xia Zhiquiu yearned to kick this little scoundrel to death, if only she could.

With a frustrated sigh, she took a deep breath.

“Alright, alright, I understand. It’s settled then. However, this matter can wait a few days; I’ll go make some inquiries on your behalf first. Now, you may go. I have no desire to see you at this moment.”

Bai Hao gazed at the ‘man’ before him, who was now rubbing their temples with one hand.

Involuntarily, the image of her true, feminine self surfaced in his mind, and he couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly, finding the situation utterly delightful.

He then pulled out his phone.

“Uncle Xia, let’s exchange WeChat contacts. It would certainly make future communication much more convenient, wouldn’t you agree?”

Xia Zhiquiu heard this and cast a frigid glance his way. Despite her profound reluctance, she still retrieved her own phone.

With that, Bai Hao successfully acquired the WeChat contact of the beautiful, mature woman before him. He playfully shook his phone.

“In that case, Uncle Xia, I’ll take my leave. If anything comes up, just message me on WeChat.”

As he spoke, he didn’t forget to circle back and retrieve the milk tea.

“Oh, and thank you for the milk tea, Uncle Xia.”