However, this time, Madam Huo couldn’t find Fu Xiaoqing and her brother. It seems she was anxious and grasping at straws.
Nevertheless, Lin Wei had no intention of getting involved. It was just a matchmaking event, and they were all acquaintances from the business world. As long as they could maintain their dignity, there was no need to create a scene. If things didn’t work out, it was best to part ways amicably; it was unlikely they would force Huo Qijun into any actions that could impact his mission.
So he replied, “You’ve worked hard to endure; just hold on a little longer. Remember to watch your temper; don’t do something that would embarrass the other party.”
After receiving this message, Huo Qijun’s expression darkened.
Is he really not concerned at all?
He jabbed at the screen, “I can’t hold it in! Get over here!”
Lin Wei stared at the line in the messaging app for a moment and then asked the system, [What is his problem?]
Why would he go to a matchmaking dinner uninvited? Was he really going to say he was there to keep an eye on his good friend? That would be too disrespectful to the girl!
The system, straightforward as ever, replied, [Host, he seems to be acting spoiled.]
[…Alright, alright, just stop there! Don’t use that kind of wording.] Lin Wei shuddered at the system’s choice of words.
He certainly couldn’t go and stir things up; perhaps the girl wasn’t even willing to participate in such a controlling matchmaking. Better to let Huo Qijun handle it himself!
He texted back, “Even if you can’t stand it, you have to endure. I have no good reason to show up there.”
That was true in theory, but Huo Qijun was still dissatisfied. Luckily, he normally had a cold expression, and no one would suspect he was purposely giving a bad attitude.
The girl sitting beside him at the matchmaking banquet was named Fang Yueyue, and she had originally come reluctantly. To her surprise, the match was quite handsome, and she had been secretly taking photos to share with her friends.
She didn’t experience any instant attraction, as Huo Qijun’s aloof demeanor made it hard to feel such romantic stirrings. For now, she only admired his good looks.
Having been unsure how to start a conversation, she finally noticed him typing intensely on his phone with a serious expression, looking like a grumpy person because of his annoyance. This made her gather her courage to quietly ask, “Is it something work-related bothering you?”
“…Hmm?” Huo Qijun took a while to realize she was speaking to him and instinctively denied it, “No.”
Fang Yueyue breathed a sigh of relief. “Then is it a friend who upset you?”
Huo Qijun didn’t know how to answer. In truth, Lin Wei treated him quite well; it would be ungrateful to say Lin Wei was the reason for his anger.
However, the complicated feelings inside him made it impossible for him to return to his past attitude toward Lin Wei.
“Isn’t he a friend then?” Fang Yueyue thought. Could he be talking about a girlfriend? Knowing he was at a matchmaking banquet and getting angry? If that’s the case, she could understand; after all, Aunt Huo seemed obviously unsupportive of free love.
“Actually…” she lowered her voice, wanting to comfort him by saying the matchmaking event was just a procedure and he could explain it to his girlfriend. But before she could start, she was interrupted.
“No, he’s my friend…” Huo Qijun’s mind was a mess of emotions, and his mouth unconsciously blurted out three words he didn’t fully understand…
He said, “Boyfriend.”
“……!!” Fang Yueyue froze, not because he had spoken unexpectedly, but because his voice was loud enough for everyone at the table to hear!!!
Madam Huo and Fang Yueyue’s parents, who had been conversing happily nearby, suddenly fell silent.
The atmosphere became eerily quiet.
Lin Wei received another phone call from Huo Qijun later that night. His voice sounded low and intermittent, and even through the phone, Lin Wei could sense the influence of alcohol, making his eyelids twitch.
“What happened?” Lin Wei first asked, then realized it wasn’t the right time to dig deeper. “No… where are you now?”
“At the same place, that bar with Fu Xiaoqing…”
“Wait for me there, you’re drunk. Don’t drive; it’s dangerous.” Lin Wei grabbed the car keys off the table and walked out while reminding him. He was concerned that Huo Qijun might not be aware, considering that in the novel, the male lead typically ran red lights without a second thought when in a panic!
Huo Qijun paused for a moment after hearing this, suddenly bursting into laughter, “Are you trying to coax a child?”
Lin Wei was exasperated, “Then if you want me to relax, this ‘child’ is already in his twenties; do you think I want to coax you?”
“You do want to!” Huo Qijun thought. If that weren’t the case, he wouldn’t be feeling so troubled now. Feeling emboldened by the wine, he couldn’t help but ask, “So why do you want to?”
Lin Wei assumed he was finally having a moment of clarity and replied with a slight smile, “I have my reasons for wanting to.”
“What reasons?” Do you like me?
“My reasons, I cannot tell you.”
Huo Qijun remained silent for a while, finally responding with a simple, “Hmm,” and hung up. If he didn’t want to share, it was fine; perhaps he wouldn’t even dare to listen if it were to be said aloud.
Driving along, Lin Wei asked the system what was going on, but the system was also clueless.
[The world consciousness didn’t warn me; what happened with Huo Qijun shouldn’t affect the mission.]
[Alright.] He would have to ask Huo Qijun himself.
When Lin Wei arrived at the bar, he walked straight to the spot they had been sitting before and, indeed, found Huo Qijun with a cold expression under the dim lights. He held a drink and was shaking it languidly.
If it weren’t for the earlier phone call, from just the sight before him, one might think he was sober and unruffled!
Lin Wei walked over, unceremoniously snatching the drink from Huo Qijun’s hand and placing it back on the table. Huo Qijun seemed startled and looked at him with a frosty gaze. Once he realized it was Lin Wei, his expression softened immediately, revealing an innocent look.