The sound of footsteps echoed, steady and rhythmic. Before Xiao Ma’s breathing could calm down, a man in a white naval uniform came into view.

He wore a cap that initially obscured his face, but the strong and defined contours beneath the brim hinted at his handsomeness. As he looked up, his deep, dark eyes met Head Nurse Ge’s stunned gaze.

Gu Cheng strode up the final steps, paused, and removed his hat, fully revealing his strikingly handsome face. He nodded slightly in greeting.

Clouds drifted across the sun, casting a shadow over the sky. A distant sea breeze carried a refreshing coolness into the corridor.

“Is the person here? I’ll go in,” Gu Cheng said, pushing the door open and stepping inside, disappearing from Head Nurse Ge’s view.

His movements were swift and decisive. If Xiao Ma weren’t still catching her breath beside her, Head Nurse Ge might have thought it was all an illusion.

“What is Commander Gu doing here?” Head Nurse Ge muttered in disbelief.

“He’s here as a substitute for Deputy Director Xiao,” Xiao Ma replied awkwardly.

Ge Yunxia: “…”

Inside the room, Qin Yao sat on the sofa, one braid draped over her shoulder. When Gu Cheng entered, she happened to be tilting her head slightly, her long neck exposed. The light brushed across her soft, fair cheek as she turned.

Lowering his gaze, Gu Cheng locked the door behind him and took a few steps to sit across from her.

When their eyes met, Qin Yao’s expression showed clear surprise. Her almond-shaped eyes instinctively widened. Gu Cheng’s lips curved upward before he quickly composed himself, suppressing the smile. He placed his military cap on the table, adjusted his posture, and retrieved a file.

Pushing the document toward her, he said in a calm tone, “Gu Cheng. This is my personal information.”

“Qin Yao. I believe you’ve already seen my file,” she replied.

Awkwardly smiling, Qin Yao hesitated before reaching out to take the document. Her fingers moved delicately, as if playing a piano, until they finally gripped the papers. Quickly pulling them toward herself, she scanned through the contents.

As she read Gu Cheng’s impressive credentials, she couldn’t help but marvel at his achievements.

In her mind, she humorously noted how he was indeed the “top-tier employee” of the so-called “fishing company,” vastly different from the young man she had imagined him to be.

Qin Yao set down the documents and let out a long sigh of relief. The door to the room was shut, while one side of the window remained open. From her angle, she could see two heads peeking out by the window.

Qin Yao couldn’t help but laugh quietly to herself.

She wasn’t seriously here for a blind date to find a partner; she was just doing someone a favor. If she had met someone else today, she might have felt a little nervous or awkward. But since it was Gu Cheng who appeared, it was a classic case of “narrow roads for enemies to meet.”

Rejecting him wouldn’t be difficult at all.

With ease, Qin Yao curved her lips into a smile and initiated the conversation. “Commander Gu, I didn’t expect to see you again. I still need to thank you for what happened last time…”

Just like any ordinary blind date, Qin Yao cheerfully started chatting with him. She shared stories, starting from her first day on the island when she and her friend tidied up the courtyard, to her time at Chen Baozhen’s school playing games with the children.

As an editor, Qin Yao had a knack for storytelling. Even as she spoke, she often amused herself.

Half of the conversation was casual chatter, while the other half felt like narrating her personal diary of recent days.

Qin Yao’s lively voice filled the room, and those outside could faintly hear her laughter. Her bright personality created an atmosphere full of energy, as if a lively gathering were taking place.

Gu Cheng, however, spoke little. He sat quietly, listening to her, his gaze carrying a trace of unrecognized warmth.

The white clouds drifted away, and sunlight streamed back into the room through the window. It illuminated Qin Yao’s back with a soft, warm yellow glow.

The sunlight wasn’t blinding. A gentle beam fell on her hair, tinting her strands with a golden hue.

From Gu Cheng’s perspective, he could clearly see the crown of her head. Her soft, long hair framed her face loosely in a slightly messy braid, lending her a relaxed, gentle appearance.

Suddenly, his palm itched with the urge to reach out and touch her head.

Gu Cheng restrained himself, straightened his posture, and lowered his gaze as if to adjust his sleeve. “Please, continue.”

Qin Yao’s gaze landed on his pristine white attire. In her mind, she couldn’t help but think of a book title—The Actor’s Self-Cultivation.

She scrutinized him from top to bottom, left to right, but couldn’t find even a trace of the young “Gu Cheng” who used to hang around the docks.

Sitting opposite her was a commander with an upright and capable demeanor, dressed impeccably in a way that exuded professionalism. Even when lowering his head to adjust his sleeve, his natural arrogance, deeply rooted in his bones, couldn’t be concealed.

The white of his uniform seemed as pure as snow atop the Kunlun Mountains, and he himself was like a palace suspended above it—distant and unattainable, akin to a mirage.

It was exactly as his resume reflected. He came from an excellent family background, possessed outstanding abilities, and his age alone was enough for him to surpass his peers in achievements.

Even the way he had just spoken felt as if they weren’t on a blind date but that Qin Yao was reporting work to him, awaiting his approval before she could “continue speaking.”

There was no common ground to be found in their conversation.

After some time, Qin Yao, who had treated him like a listening tree, began to lose interest in talking.

Head Nurse Ge leaned against her own window frame and caught fragments of Qin Yao’s cheerful voice. A deep sense of fatigue swept over her, comparable to pulling two consecutive overnight shifts.

“Commander Gu” was only here as a stand-in, and she feared Qin Yao might actually develop feelings for him.

Head Nurse Ge muttered inwardly, wondering how they ended up in this situation with Deputy Director Xiao absent, leaving Commander Gu of all people to fill in.

Commander Gu was someone who gave Head Nurse Ge frequent headaches.

Many young and beautiful women admired Commander Gu and asked Head Nurse Ge to play matchmaker. However, every time, she hit a wall with him and returned empty-handed. Though she smiled cheerfully to his face, she had cursed this stubborn man plenty behind his back.

When persuading male officers, she’d use Chen Baozhen as a teaching example, saying they should marry someone practical and family-oriented. But when it came to young women, she’d use Commander Gu as an example.

“Look at Teacher Chen. She knows how to pick a man. She chose Xiao Gao. Gao Jianguo may not be perfect, but he doesn’t hesitate to put on an apron and cook when he’s home. Sure, they bicker, but they manage to live together.”

“But if it were Commander Gu, can you imagine? They’d probably be divorced in no time.”

“Marriage and family are all about the daily necessities.”

Commander Gu’s family background and abilities were impeccable, making him a rare catch. Young women admired him for his excellence. Stories of beauty and heroism have existed throughout history. Head Nurse Ge, having been young once herself, understood their feelings.

Over the years, Head Nurse Ge hadn’t just discouraged one or two admirers of Commander Gu—she had talked several out of it. That only accounted for the ones she knew about; there were likely more she didn’t.

Even within their hospital, there were plenty of admirers. Whether married or single, some envied, some resented, and some were biased against Chen Baozhen when they learned she had gone on a blind date with Commander Gu.

Commander Gu casually agreeing to come here worried Head Nurse Ge. She feared the feelings of a one-sided admirer would only lead to heartache.

Her matchmaking plans for Doctor He now faced even greater challenges. What could’ve been a smooth journey had turned into an uphill battle.

Head Nurse Ge clapped her hands in frustration. “What a mess.”

“Time’s up,” Head Nurse Ge said, knocking on the door loudly and raising her voice. “It’s getting late.”

Qin Yao stood up and took the initiative to open the door. Gu Cheng, still seated, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and was surprised at how quickly time had passed. After a small sip, he set the cup down and stood as Head Nurse Ge entered.

Head Nurse Ge looked exhausted. The shifting sunlight illuminated her face, highlighting the tired lines around her eyes.

The earlier excitement she felt while waiting for Deputy Director Xiao in the corridor had completely deflated, like a balloon punctured and leaking air.

Without bothering with pleasantries, she exchanged a few brief words. Qin Yao and Gu Cheng then left one after the other.

The next day, under Doctor He’s expectant gaze, Head Nurse Ge opened her mouth but hesitated to recount the blind date mishap in detail. Nurse Xiao Ma also didn’t spread any gossip about what had happened the day before.

“Head Nurse Ge, when can I meet Comrade Qin?” Doctor He asked eagerly.

Head Nurse Ge cleared her throat. “Soon.”

“I’ll ask her about her thoughts.”

“Alright,” Doctor He replied, smiling earnestly. Head Nurse Ge could tell he was genuinely interested this time. She had never seen the usually reserved Doctor He take such an initiative.

Head Nurse Ge was thinking of a solution in her mind as she made her way to the family compound to find Qin Yao. When she saw her, she pulled her to the corner and asked about her thoughts on the blind date from the previous day.

“What do you think… hmm, how was it? Commander Gu has pretty good conditions.”

“Commander Gu is excellent.” Qin Yao paused and then continued, “Although he’s a good person, he’s too old for me. He’s not suitable.”

Ge Yunxia blinked, her surprised gaze scanning Qin Yao’s youthful, collagen-filled face. She was taken aback by her answer.

“He’s already thirty, and I’m only eighteen, that’s a twelve-year age gap. It’s practically a full zodiac cycle apart.”

The “Commander Gu” on the file was thirty years old. Even if his real age wasn’t exactly thirty, his age in terms of the Chinese counting method still made him thirty.

“I said a lot yesterday, but he didn’t say much. I feel like we don’t have much in common, so I don’t think we’ll work out.”

“Head Nurse Ge, could you introduce me to someone younger?” After speaking, Qin Yao’s cheeks flushed slightly as she pretended to be shy, tucking a braid behind her shoulder.

“Sure, sure.” Ge Yunxia smiled broadly, her fondness for Qin Yao increasing. The girl was smart, practical, and straightforward.

“Xiao Qin, choosing a partner is like picking shoes. You can’t just look at the appearance or the price. No matter how expensive and good a pair of shoes is, it won’t work if the size doesn’t fit. The only way to know if a pair of shoes is right for you is to wear them and walk in them.”

Qin Yao nodded. She thought to herself that the problem was she wasn’t interested in finding a partner at the moment, so she’d have to disappoint Ge Yunxia’s good intentions.

Luckily, training would start in a few days, and she’d meet one more blind date at most.

She hoped to maintain a good relationship with Ge Yunxia, politely turning down another match and leaving things on a positive note.

Qin Yao moved closer to Ge Yunxia and took the opportunity to test her favorability.

[Her favorability towards you is 58 (she thinks you’re a smart girl).]

Qin Yao smiled slightly. It was almost a passing grade. Instead of focusing on blind dates, her main priority was to gain the Nurse’s favor.

“Let’s introduce you to Doctor He in two days. Although he’s a few years older than you, it’s not too much. Men usually need to be a bit older to know how to care for others. Since you’ll be starting training soon, if you have any medical questions, you can ask Doctor He.”

When she said this, Ge Yunxia felt refreshed. The sound of birds chirping outside filled her ears, and it seemed like a good omen.

She thought to herself that fate determined relationships, and if it was meant to be, no one could escape it.