Lu Qingyuan’s almond eyes flashed with confusion at his words.

As she struggled to recall the few times she had been to the county three years ago, something suddenly caught her eye.

On top of Shu Beiqiu’s head, the same red text that had appeared on Tan Chang’an’s head yesterday reappeared. At the same time, the mechanical voice from before echoed in her mind again.

[Today’s live streaming has started. The current number of fans: 28.]

【Hahahahaha, I’ve been waiting for this! Sisters, did you all see the changes in the original story’s text after yesterday’s broadcast cut off?】

The original plot had changed?

Lu Qingyuan’s eyes flickered.

【I saw it! I saw it! After our Xiao Qingyuan rejected that bastard! It was so satisfying at that time! But what’s even more amazing is that after the update, the original novel’s plot actually changed along with it when the characters made different choices!】

Did her behavior change?

Lu Qingyuan’s heart skipped a beat, feeling a bit flustered. However, she quickly reasoned that since the live stream was still on and hadn’t been shut down, this so-called “behavior change” shouldn’t be a big deal.

With that thought, she breathed a sigh of relief.

【Sigh, it’s all because of Qingyuan’s grandmother. If she hadn’t kept forcing Qingyuan to keep seeing that scumbag, she wouldn’t have ended up so miserable later.】

Lu Qingyuan was momentarily stunned when she saw this comment.

【Sisters, don’t dwell on the original storyline. The direction has changed now! I’m so excited to see Qingyuan’s life after leaving that scumbag!】

【Wait, is Qingyuan on a blind date right now?】

【Yes! The plot has changed. The latest update in the novel shows that Qingyuan’s fifth aunt introduced her to a new suitor, and this is their blind date.】

Lu Qingyuan instantly snapped back to reality. Right! She was on a blind date!

“I-I need to think for a moment.”

She gave an awkward smile, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Getting distracted while on a blind date wasn’t exactly polite.

“It’s okay,” Shu Beiqiu reassured her, completely unbothered by her momentary distraction.

Noticing that her tea cup was empty, he naturally picked up the teapot and refilled it for her.

【Wow! Sisters, I just checked the latest novel update! This blind date guy is the same person who helped Qingyuan retrieve her stolen coin purse three years ago at the county department store!】

As soon as this comment popped up, Lu Qingyuan’s memory clicked.

Three years ago, she was attending high school in the county. One day, she and a few close friends had gone to browse the department store, which was crowded at the time. Without realizing it, both she and a friend had their coin purses stolen by a pickpocket.

It was a tall man who stepped in and caught the thief, which was when they realized their purses were gone.

“It was you!”

Lu Qingyuan’s almond-shaped eyes lit up as she excitedly met Shu Beiqiu’s gaze.

“You left so quickly back then that I never got the chance to thank you properly! I really appreciate it, Comrade Shu.”

She immediately stood up and gave him a deep bow.

Shu Beiqiu was startled and quickly stood up as well, bowing in return.

“Comrade Lu, you’re being too polite! I just happened to see it and stepped in. There’s no need to be so formal.”

“No, this is necessary! Comrade Shu, you don’t understand. That coin purse had my meal and ration tickets for the whole month!”

Lu Qingyuan bowed again.

Shu Beiqiu followed suit.

A waiter passing by with a tray of food stopped in his tracks, completely dumbfounded by the scene.

“Wait… are you two… performing a wedding bow? Hahahaha!”

Unable to hold it in, he burst out laughing.

Both Lu Qingyuan and Shu Beiqiu froze. They straightened up, looked at each other, and then, realizing what had happened, blushed furiously before hurriedly sitting back down.

“You ordered peanuts and sunflower seeds. Let me know if you need anything else.”

The waiter, suddenly remembering that he was on duty, quickly corrected his posture and spoke more formally.

【Hahaha, this waiter is just like me watching gossip—until he remembered he’s at work!】

【Their synchronized bowing was suspiciously coordinated! I couldn’t put my finger on why it felt so strange, but the waiter nailed it—wedding bow! Hahahaha!】

【Time to get married! Time to get married!】

【Look at them blushing! Aww, Qingyuan’s face is as red as a monkey’s butt. She’s too cute!】

“Thank you,” Shu Beiqiu cleared his throat and nodded.

“Thanks,” Lu Qingyuan quickly said as well.

Seeing the barrage of comments teasing them about “wedding bows,” Lu Qingyuan felt her face burning even more. She quickly thanked the waiter and lowered her gaze.

Once the waiter left, both of them kept their eyes down, staring at their tea cups, neither daring to speak.

In the end, it was Shu Beiqiu who broke the silence. “Comrade Lu, let me introduce myself first.”

“Alright.”

Lu Qingyuan took a deep breath and lifted her flushed face to look at him.

The moment Shu Beiqiu saw her reddened cheeks, his smile deepened. “No need to be nervous, Comrade Lu.”

“I’m not nervous,” Lu Qingyuan said, picking up her tea cup and taking a sip. The tea was slightly astringent at first, but after swallowing, it left a faintly sweet aftertaste. It was old tea, but it had a great flavor.

【Not nervous? She’s already had two cups of tea in such a short time.】

【Hahaha, this blind date is too adorable! These two are killing me with their shyness!】

Lu Qingyuan didn’t dare look at the barrage of comments anymore. She also felt too self-conscious to keep sipping tea, so she settled on staring at the buttons of Shu Beiqiu’s shirt.

After all, he was tall. From this angle, it wouldn’t seem impolite.

“I’m twenty-five years old and from the Shuangyan Production Team. My parents are both alive. My eldest and second sisters are married, and I have a younger brother who is also married.”

Noticing that her tea cup was nearly half-empty again, Shu Beiqiu refilled it as he spoke.

“Thank you,” Lu Qingyuan said softly.

“You’re welcome.” Seeing that the redness on her face had faded a little, Shu Beiqiu pushed the plates of peanuts and sunflower seeds closer to her.

“I enlisted in the army at sixteen and was honorably discharged at twenty-two. I’ve been working in the county machinery factory’s technical department for three years now. Currently, I’m a Level-Two technician, earning forty-five yuan a month with five ration tickets. Every month, I send ten yuan home for living expenses.”

At this point, Shu Beiqiu cleared his throat.

When Lu Qingyuan looked up at him, he smiled and added, “Once I start a family, the ten-yuan contribution to my parents will be reduced to five yuan per month.”

Lu Qingyuan’s face grew hot again. She gave a soft hum in response and grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, focusing on shelling them.

“Right now, I live in a six-person dormitory at the factory. If circumstances change in the future, I plan to rent a family unit near the factory. Once I get assigned an apartment, I’ll move in then.”

Recalling how his father had repeatedly urged him to talk more about himself so the other party could have a better understanding, Shu Beiqiu racked his brain for more details to share.

“I don’t smoke, and I rarely drink. I only drink on social occasions, but I never let myself get drunk. I also don’t gamble. If there’s anything else you’d like to know, feel free to ask.”

After saying this, Shu Beiqiu picked up his teacup and took a big sip.

Truth be told, he was a little nervous.

Before coming here, when he learned the name of his blind date, he immediately remembered the girl from three years ago.

He recalled hearing her companions call her name—Lu Qingyuan.

And now that they had met, it really was her.

Shu Beiqiu felt like he was walking on air, his heart brimming with joy. He was incredibly happy.