Chapter 7: Matching Social Standing
The Matchmaker: “…”
Ao Chen: “…”
“Hey, you surf the internet too?” the Matchmaker said.
Wang Ming nodded calmly, confirming he was a typical factory worker who spent his free time on short-video apps.
The Matchmaker looked at Wang Ming with newfound respect, then pulled Ao Chen aside to whisper.
“Your Highness, if your destined one is… this, wouldn’t that dispel all the rumors?” the Matchmaker said earnestly. “Perhaps…”
“No need,” Ao Chen interrupted. “I don’t want to be entangled with anyone for the rest of my life.”
“And this gentleman feels the same,” Ao Chen said, glancing at Wang Ming, who nodded in agreement.
The Matchmaker: “…”
With both parties agreeing, the Matchmaker couldn’t interfere. The Red String Office didn’t have a mediation process; if they wanted to part ways, there was nothing he could do.
“Alright, please take your place in line,” the Matchmaker sighed, nodding.
Wang Ming and Ao Chen stood silently behind the ant and elephant couple.
“If you regret this, I’ll never forgive you!”
“Whoever regrets it is a loser!”
After a minute of silence, the couple started bickering again.
Wang Ming: “…”
I wonder if I’ll ever get divorced in the real world, Wang Ming thought. Will I see a scene like this?
Probably not, he thought. I’ve always been quite unambitious, at least in matters of the heart. This might be my only chance to get married to this incredibly beautiful man. And I’m splitting with him on the first day. A Crown Prince, at that.
Wang Ming: “…”
Heaven must be thinking:
“Are you crazy?”
Wang Ming shrugged mentally, feeling quite innocent.
As Wang Ming pondered his bizarre fate, the couple started arguing again.
“After this, get your stuff out of my house!” the elephant yelled at the ant.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” the ant scoffed. “My belongings are too large for you to easily find.”
Wang Ming: “…”
So their belongings are sized according to their original forms? Wang Ming thought, marveling at this new information.
He looked at Ao Chen, who resembled a celestial being.
This enormous being—his belongings would be incredibly costly to store in this city, Wang Ming mused, inexplicably thinking about real estate prices.
Wang Ming: “…”
Probably because we’re here for a divorce, I’m thinking about housing, he thought.
As Wang Ming considered housing, the ant and elephant couple started arguing again.
“We’re almost next, why haven’t you gotten the red string? You’re so grown up, you need constant reminders?” the ant said impatiently.
“We’re not there yet, you always get anxious prematurely,” the elephant retorted, frowning.
“Prematurely? We’re practically next! You’re just reluctant to let go of me,” the ant sneered, trying to provoke him.
The elephant: “…”
Wang Ming: “…”
This is more exciting than watching a family mediation show! Wang Ming watched, wishing he’d brought some sunflower seeds.
Watching the couple, Wang Ming remembered something and asked Ao Chen, “Do we need to get the red string out now? Where is it?”
“Not yet,” Ao Chen replied casually.
He seemed uninterested in explaining further, but Wang Ming’s persistent and earnest gaze inexplicably stirred a sense of guilt in Ao Chen, a feeling he couldn’t explain.
“Since it’s our first time here, we need to stand in front of the moonlit platform to find the red string,” Ao Chen explained.
Wang Ming: “…”
Amazing, Wang Ming thought. This is much more interesting than reading fantasy novels at home. An immersive, multi-faceted experience! And it’s free.
Wang Ming’s freebie spirit was awakened, but he felt a touch of regret—he was about to get divorced, and such opportunities would be rare.
As Wang Ming contemplated this, the ant and elephant couple started arguing again.
“Do you want to fight?”
“Fight? I’m not afraid of you!”
“One-on-one, or do you need backup?”
“One-on-one would be me bullying you. Get your backup,”
They started shoving each other, and then called for reinforcements.
Wang Ming: “…”
Ao Chen: “…”
“Can we cut the line?” Wang Ming asked.
Ao Chen: “…”
“There’s no such rule. Please wait,” Ao Chen said.
Wang Ming: “…”
They’re probably immortal or long-lived, and they probably don’t need to work, so they don’t worry about lost wages, Wang Ming thought, feeling a surge of worker solidarity.
As Wang Ming mused, a rumbling sound approached from outside.
Wang Ming: “…”
Are the reinforcements here? he wondered. They’ve brought a lot of people.
The door was kicked open, and several burly men stormed in. They were initially menacing, but upon seeing Ao Chen, they subdued their attitude, bowing slightly: “Crown Prince.”
Ao Chen simply nodded indifferently. The burly men, seeing Ao Chen’s disinterest, went to the ant and elephant couple, standing behind the elephant.
So those are the family members? Wang Ming wondered.
Wang Ming: “…”
“It seems the elephant has a lot of family,” Wang Ming said casually to Ao Chen.
Ao Chen: “…”
“The ant’s family hasn’t arrived yet. If they can’t find enough people, it’ll be a one-sided brawl,” Wang Ming continued.
“They’re here,” Ao Chen finally spoke, pointing outside after a tense silence.
Wang Ming looked and saw a massive crowd outside.
Wang Ming: “…”
“This place is like a May Day tourist spot,” Wang Ming said.
Ao Chen: “…”
“Those are all the ant’s family,” Ao Chen stated.
Wang Ming: “…”
“They’re army ants from the desert,” Ao Chen added unexpectedly.