Font Size:
The shameless old man—that’s what you’d call an “old rascal.”
Huh?
What on earth?
Was there really such a thing?
Lin Mitang’s eyes widened in surprise, silently adding a question mark in her heart.
Looking at Cheng Dingyuan’s serious expression, she actually found herself thinking it over too. “When was that?”
After briefly digging through her memories, she held her teacup in both hands and asked cautiously, hesitantly:
“Was it… back when we were three years old, playing house together?”
Back then, technology wasn’t as advanced as it is now. Unlike today’s phones, tablets, or game consoles, children’s favorite pastimes were jumping rope, tossing beanbags, or playing make-believe games like house.
Imitating adults—getting married, daily life, taking care of children or pets—that’s what kids always did when playing house.
Cheng Dingyuan actually nodded, speaking boldly without shame: “Yes.”
“Zhang Cheng, Luo Yunyun, and Ye Xun—they were all witnesses to my vow. I can’t just go back on my word, can I?”
“…”
It took Lin Mitang a long while before she finally remembered. Those three were indeed their kindergarten playmates. But after moving on to different elementary schools, they lost touch naturally.
After so many years, it was impressive that Cheng Dingyuan even remembered their names.
She couldn’t help but curve her lips slightly, letting out a small laugh.
Noticing this, Cheng Dingyuan raised his brows.
Under the warm yellow light, his features—usually laced with a mischievous edge—softened ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly. “Finally smiling.”
His voice was so quiet, almost a murmur. Lin Mitang didn’t catch it. “What did you say?”
Cheng Dingyuan calmly withdrew his gaze. “Nothing.”
Silence hung for a few seconds before Lin Mitang cautiously brought up the earlier topic again:
“By the way… Cheng Dingyuan, just now you said you weren’t here on a blind date just to humor Uncle and Auntie. Were you joking about that too?”
If the person sitting across from her had been a stranger, she might have racked her brains to persuade him to play along—just to pacify the elders on both sides.
But since her blind date was Cheng Dingyuan, things were completely different.
They had grown up together, childhood friends, fully aware of each other’s personalities and quirks. Collaborating to fool the elders would be easy.
For example—she and Cheng Dingyuan weren’t a good match in terms of family background. Or simply: they’d been friends for so many years.
Enemies don’t become spouses. Neither do close friends.
In just a few seconds, Lin Mitang had already prepared excuses in her mind.
But Cheng Dingyuan’s casual words left her stunned: “Of course not a joke.”
“Lin Mitang, I really am here for a serious blind date—with you.”
Lin Mitang froze, staring blankly at him. “…What did you just say?”
He shrugged. “Can’t help it. The old man at home said if I don’t get married soon, I’ll lose my share of the inheritance.”
“He’s been pushing hard lately. One phone call and he brings it up ten times. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even consider blind dates.”
“Of course, if you feel pressured by the idea of becoming my wife—having a real marriage—we can just make it a contractual one.”
“Since you don’t seem fond of blind dates, we could be each other’s shields.”
“I just need you to be married to me for at least a year—until I secure my share of the family inheritance.”
“During that time, I’ll cover all expenses. You won’t have to exhaust yourself with blind dates anymore. And I can promise, living with me will be far easier than living at your own home.”
“If, after a year, you meet someone you like, we can dissolve the agreement at any time.”
“And as thanks, I’ll buy you an apartment in the capital.”
“Of course, if you find that living with me isn’t so bad, we don’t have to dissolve the agreement—not until you no longer want to continue.”
“Lin Mitang, the choice is entirely yours. I won’t force you. That, I can guarantee.”
“…”
Lin Mitang blinked slowly.
A new home in exchange for just one year—it sounded like pie falling from the sky, a guaranteed win.
“But… don’t you already own your own company? Haven’t things been going really well these past few years? Why would you even care about Uncle Cheng’s inheritance?”
They were clearly talking about a marriage contract, yet suddenly Cheng Dingyuan’s brows lifted, his words taking a sharp turn:
“Lin Mitang, even after all these years, you still know me so well?”
His question left her momentarily confused, but she answered truthfully:
“You’re basically a celebrity in our high school group chat. Everyone’s always talking about you.”
Every time she opened that chat, three out of five messages were about Cheng Dingyuan.
It was impossible not to know his situation.
Cheng Dingyuan gave a knowing look and didn’t pursue the topic further.
Resting his chin in his hand, he asked lazily, “Lin Mitang, if you suddenly had a million yuan in your hands, would you think it’s a lot?”
She thought seriously, then nodded. “A lot.”
A million would be enough to buy a place in a smaller city—enough to finally get away from her family.
“And what if I gave you another million, no strings attached? Would you take it?”
“Of course,” she answered without hesitation.
But right after, she froze, realizing what he meant.
Seeing her expression, Cheng Dingyuan smirked.
“No one complains about having too much money. Besides, my company? Just something I started for fun. Who knows, maybe it’ll collapse one day.”
Of course, the “collapse” remark was false modesty. With his current conditions, there was no way he’d need blind dates—except for inheritance.
“But… Uncle Cheng only mentioned marriage to you recently. If you suddenly married so quickly, wouldn’t he get suspicious?” Lin Mitang asked cautiously.
Cheng Dingyuan raised a brow. “That’s exactly why you’re my best choice.”
Her eyes blinked in confusion. Her? The best choice?
“…What do you mean?”
He leaned back casually. “We grew up together. My parents know your character. They’d never suspect we were colluding to fool them.”
Still uneasy, Lin Mitang asked: “But what if—just what if—they do suspect something?”
Cheng Dingyuan tapped the table with long fingers, speaking smoothly:
“Then I’ll just tell them: we spent our childhood together. Over time, I fell for you. My feelings grew deep. While I was abroad, I missed you so much I couldn’t eat or sleep. And once I returned, I pursued you relentlessly until you were touched by my devotion and agreed to be my wife.”
Lin Mitang: “…?”
What nonsense was this?
But Cheng Dingyuan’s expression remained calm, as if he hadn’t just spun a ridiculous tale. “Of course, I know asking you to decide right now is sudden.”
“Take your time, think it over after you go home.”
He smiled faintly. “We’re in no rush.”
That dinner left Lin Mitang heavy-hearted. By the time they finished, night had fallen. Cheng Dingyuan, who had driven himself there, insisted on sending her home.
Unable to refuse, she reluctantly agreed.
As soon as she fastened her seatbelt in the passenger seat, a small peppermint candy appeared before her eyes.
Startled, she turned, only to see his sharp nose bridge and strong jawline.
Eyes fixed on the road, his tone was casual: “Don’t you get carsick easily?”
“…Oh.” Lin Mitang carefully accepted the mint, avoiding touching his palm, and murmured a quiet, “Thanks.”
His car was spotless, free from the odd odors some vehicles had.
The faint cool fragrance he carried surrounded her, subtle and non-intrusive.
The mint’s freshness spread across her tongue as she stared out at the retreating scenery. Slowly, a puzzling thought rose in her heart:
Strange—how did Cheng Dingyuan know she got carsick?
The black G-Class soon pulled into Xingfu Community, stopping beneath her building.
More precisely, beneath the home of Li Xiuhua and her stepfather Liu Jiangang.
Ever since graduating university, Lin Mitang had been forbidden by Li Xiuhua from renting her own place.
“On your salary, what’s left after rent? Nothing! Living at home is better—you can save money, and your rent money can help support the family instead.”
As for the rest of her wages—she could spend it however she wanted.
But in reality, almost every month, Li Xiuhua demanded nearly half of her paycheck.
Often, she’d time her calls to Lin Mitang’s commute, ordering her to buy groceries or daily necessities on the way home. And during holidays, of course, the demands only increased.
So despite working for several years already, Lin Mitang’s savings were pitifully small.
It wasn’t that she had never thought about asking Li Xiuhua if she could move out.
But every time Lin Mitang brought it up, Li Xiuhua’s face would instantly darken. She would glare at her viciously and ask if she had grown wings now that she was older—did she not even want to acknowledge her own mother anymore?
Unable to reason with her, the matter of moving out always came to nothing.
Happiness Community had been built many years ago, and its facilities had long since grown old, breaking down from time to time.
Just like tonight—the row of streetlamps below Lin Mitang’s building had inexplicably gone out.
The surroundings were pitch dark. After saying goodbye to Cheng Dingyuan, Lin Mitang was just about to muster her courage and dash into the entrance when a pair of warm, yellow headlights lit up her path.
She turned back.
Through the car window, those deep ink-black eyes of Cheng Dingyuan’s were fixed steadily on her. The ends of his brows tilted slightly, and his gaze carried a lazy smile.
Lin Mitang paused, certain that she had just read his lips.
“Lin Mitang, good night.”
When she returned home, Li Xiuhua and Liu Jiangang were watching TV in the living room.
Hearing the sound of the door, Li Xiuhua unusually hurried to greet her:
“Mitang, you’re back! How was it, getting along with little Cheng?”
At those words, Lin Mitang’s hand froze on her shoes.
She looked up in surprise: “Mom, you knew my blind date this time was Cheng Dingyuan?”
“Of course,” Li Xiuhua blurted out. “He’s the one I carefully arranged for you! How could I not know?”
“Actually, I knew from the start that little Cheng would achieve great things one day—and I was right, wasn’t I?”
Beaming, Li Xiuhua went on:
“He’s a rich boss now! If you marry him, wouldn’t it be easy to get a house or two out of him?”
“And besides, your brother’s major is the same as little Cheng’s field in technology. Maybe he could even give your brother a helping hand…”
On the sofa, Liu Jiangang suddenly coughed heavily.
Realizing her slip, Li Xiuhua shut her mouth at once.
But Lin Mitang was frozen in place. She finally understood Li Xiuhua’s so-called “good intentions.”
She suddenly recalled how the previous blind dates Li Xiuhua had arranged for her were always with men who were either old, ugly, divorced (with or without children), local or from out of town.
She had assumed this was simply the nature of blind dates—quality varied, and if a person was truly outstanding, they wouldn’t even need blind dates.
But linking that with what Li Xiuhua had just said, she realized the truth: she had overlooked the one thing those men all had in common—wealth.
Every single one of them came from well-off families: company bosses, nouveau riche compensated with several demolition-settlement apartments…
Slowly straightening, Lin Mitang stared at Li Xiuhua in disbelief:
“Mom, how could you?”
Pushing her daughter into a fire pit for money—how was that any different from selling her off?
Liu Jiangang spoke up, his voice heavy:
“Xiaotang, I have to say a fair word for your mom. She’s doing this for your own good.”
“Those men before, you didn’t like any of them, and we didn’t force you to marry, did we?”
“But this little Cheng—he’s perfect! Your mom already told me: you two grew up together. He wouldn’t mistreat you. I’ve seen his photos too—he looks like a TV star.”
“To be blunt, with your current situation, if you really marry into the Cheng family, that’s us marrying up. It’d already be a blessing if they don’t look down on you.”
“Your mom has a point. Once you’re married in, little Cheng could even help your brother’s career. That way, you’d be fulfilling your duty as an elder sister, wouldn’t you?”
“For my own good? Fulfilling my duty as a sister?”
Lin Mitang bit her lip so hard it nearly bled, her nails digging into her palms.
Forcing down the tremor in her voice, she spoke each word slowly:
“You two are utterly unreasonable.”
They clearly hadn’t expected the usually obedient Lin Mitang to suddenly talk back. Li Xiuhua was stunned at first, then jabbed a finger at her nose and cursed:
“Lin Mitang, how dare you speak to your Uncle Liu like that?”
“I raised you all these years, and this is how you repay me, you ungrateful wretch? Don’t want to live here anymore? Then get the hell out!”
Lin Mitang blinked slowly, then actually picked up her bag without a word and turned to leave.
Li Xiuhua’s shrill curses followed her out, but she walked faster and faster, until finally she couldn’t hear them anymore.
She wiped her face. Wet.
Sniffling, she sat on a bench by the roadside, trying to calm herself down. Just as she reached into her bag, a clean tissue was suddenly handed to her.
Looking up, she found herself staring straight into a pair of dark, peach-blossom eyes.
“Weren’t you just fine a few minutes ago?” Cheng Dingyuan raised a brow, crouching so their eyes met.
His familiar, drawling voice:
“Who bullied you? I’ll go beat them up.”
——
He had waited nearby when she hadn’t texted to say she was home safe. He hadn’t expected to see her storming out, eyes red and tears falling.
Normally, Lin Mitang would only have smiled politely, insisting:
“It’s nothing.”
“I’m fine.”
“Go on, you don’t need to worry about me.”
She was never one to trouble others, always choosing to handle things herself.
But maybe it was anger.
Or maybe it was that familiar line—reminding her of when, as a little girl, boys in class had pulled her braids until she cried at her desk, and Cheng Dingyuan had once said something almost the same.
She turned her face away, muttering:
“My mom and my uncle. Go beat them.”
Cheng Dingyuan nodded thoughtfully, then placed a milk candy in her palm.
“Alright. Wait here for me.”
And he really did turn to head inside.
Startled, Lin Mitang grabbed his sleeve.
“Cheng Dingyuan, where are you going?”
He glanced at her hand on his sleeve, his expression casual.
“Didn’t you just say they bullied you?”
Her lips parted. “But… they’re your elders…”
Since when did juniors beat up their elders?
Cheng Dingyuan gave a careless laugh, the lift of his peach-blossom eyes looking roguish—yet strangely shadowed with anger.
Lowering his gaze to her, his deep eyes seemed darker than the night. Then he leaned down slightly, his warm fingertips brushing away the traces of her tears.
“Lin Mitang, do you know something?”
“Only those who are worthy of respect can be called elders. The rest are just old bastards.”