To Offer Oneself in Marriage CHAPTER 1

Chapter 1: A Clichéd Beginning

“…I hear Mr. Lu is checking educational backgrounds? My apologies, I don’t usually carry my degree certificate. Of course, I respect your request. If you don’t mind, I can show you the online verification results… Rest assured, I’m not particularly skilled, and I’m also a bit timid, so forging credentials – something that requires a high level of technical skill – is beyond my capabilities. Here are the verification results!”

Cheng Xiao Xiao sat at a table by the window, her smile gentle and her tone polite and apologetic. She handed over her phone, turning it so the other party could easily see her academic verification results.

As a graduate from a prestigious university, a non-typical “renowned” financial worker, and a moderately successful freelance writer, Cheng Xiao Xiao had a remarkably rich resume and years of experience. Handling a “Mr. Lu” was certainly within her capabilities.

Most people, seeing this scene and hearing this conversation, would probably assume it was a job interview. However, the truth was – this was an unexpected blind date.

…

Initially, Cheng Xiao Xiao thought she was just a supporting character, a walk-on role. She didn’t pay much attention. However, the unfolding situation was rather uncomfortable, causing the unease brewing within her to bubble over. Before she knew it, she’d taken center stage, immediately seizing control of the situation, leaving the other person speechless and dumbfounded.

New Year’s Eve, a day for family reunions. After working late the previous night, Cheng Xiao Xiao had battled the Spring Festival travel rush, crammed onto a plane, and arrived home exhausted. She should have been relaxing at home with her family, but she hadn’t accounted for her mother’s determination to disrupt her even on New Year’s Eve!

She had barely gotten up and settled onto the sofa when her mother dragged her out the door, with a very plausible excuse – it was the New Year, a rare occasion for her to be home, so she should take advantage of the daytime to visit relatives and strengthen family ties!

Cheng Xiao Xiao, of course, didn’t believe it!

However, she lived in City B most of the year, only returning home for the New Year, and didn’t want to upset her mother. It was only once a year, so she decided to endure it!

Sure enough, after walking only a short distance, seeing her daughter silent and calm, with a slightly helpless smile on her face, her mother felt guilty and, while pulling Cheng Xiao Xiao along, started to explain, “Well, you rarely come back, so let’s just visit two families today – let’s go to Aunt Ma’s house for New Year’s greetings, and then we’ll go to Dongxing Street. Uncle and Aunt Lu have reserved two tables there for lunch. Do you remember Uncle and Aunt Lu?”

Cheng Xiao Xiao stopped on the windswept street, pulling up the collar of her down jacket, and calmly looked at her empty-handed mother, almost unwilling to expose her. “Mom, this is the first time I’ve seen you go to visit relatives empty-handed! And—”

Cheng Xiao Xiao sighed helplessly, “kindly” reminding her, “I’ve never even met the Lus, have I?”

Her thoughts seen through, her mother choked, coughed, and finally realized her deception. Unable to hide it any longer, she admitted, “We’ll meet them today! You’re so old, if you find someone yourself, I won’t have to worry about this! I just happened to hear Aunt Ma mention that the two Lu brothers were both single, and I had a thought. Your father and I have interacted with Uncle and Aunt Lu, they are honest in business, and reliable people, so their sons should be alright too.”

Seeing Cheng Xiao Xiao’s calm expression, her mother grew anxious, but didn’t want to appear too eager, lest she backfire. She stamped her foot, stating her position, “Don’t worry, our family is very open-minded, we won’t force you. Just go meet them, if you like them, date them; if not, it’s fine, we won’t force you!”

Her mother had already said so much, Cheng Xiao Xiao helplessly nodded. On New Year’s Eve, she would humor her mother.

She wasn’t opposed to blind dates, just disliked being forced into them by her parents. Fortunately, her mother knew her well, and this hadn’t happened before. Given this track record, Cheng Xiao Xiao reassured herself that she would treat this blind date as an outing to meet a friend. There was no need to argue with her mother in the street.

Aunt Ma’s house was very close, only a ten-minute walk away.

Upstairs, her mother knocked on the door. Aunt Ma smiled warmly, inviting them in, offering snacks and treats, talking with Cheng’s mother while complimenting Cheng Xiao Xiao’s appearance. She examined Cheng Xiao Xiao from head to toe, her eyes shining, increasingly pleased, and giving Cheng’s mother subtle winks.

The intention had been seen through. Cheng’s mother no longer bothered to pretend, exchanging glances with Aunt Ma.

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Aunt Ma’s eyebrows rose, almost letting out a laugh, but glancing at Cheng Xiao Xiao’s calm smile, she swallowed her words, carefully observing Cheng Xiao Xiao’s expression, hesitating before tentatively saying, “Since your mother has already talked to you, I won’t beat around the bush. This is a good thing. Your parents have met the Lus, I won’t say much about their character. Their two sons are also sensible. The younger one was even in the same middle school as Xiao Xiao, returning from studying abroad last year, now working at a tech company in City B. The older one is 32 this year; he started his own business in his twenties and it’s doing very well! It’s just that he’s been busy for the past few years, and it’s only now that he hasn’t married! The Lus are anxious, so they asked me. It just so happens that I heard your mother say you’re coming home today, so I thought we could arrange a meeting.”

“Thank you for your trouble,” Cheng Xiao Xiao nodded, expressing her understanding and politely thanking the elder for her kindness.

Before she could finish, she wanted to take back her words.

Aunt Ma smiled at Cheng Xiao Xiao, pleased with the thanks, feeling that she had done a great job as a matchmaker. Rarely did she encounter such a cooperative young person. She nodded in satisfaction, naturally asking, “Xiao Xiao, do you still have your diploma?”

Cheng Xiao Xiao paused, suppressing her sudden alarm, her face still smiling gently, puzzledly asking, “Isn’t it a blind date? Why are you asking about my education? Does the other party need to see the diploma?”

“Not really…” Aunt Ma, sensing that Cheng Xiao Xiao’s tone was off, realized her question was inappropriate, her confidence faltering slightly. She gave a reassuring smile to Cheng’s equally bewildered mother, stammering, “You know…blind dates, it’s rare for them to work out on the first try…cough, when the Lus first contacted me, they said their eldest son’s company is big, he makes a lot of money, and he’s handsome, his conditions aren’t bad, it’s just that he’s a little older, they don’t dare to hope for someone exceptional, they just hope the woman has a good education, saying it’s the eldest son’s request, he himself has a relatively low educational level, he wants to find someone educated to help raise the children, not to be clueless…”

Aunt Ma looked at Cheng Xiao Xiao again, seeing no reaction, neither agreement nor disagreement, she continued, “I introduced a girl to the eldest son earlier this year, a local girl, her parents are honest. The girl was quite articulate, saying she graduated from a prestigious university and worked for a multinational company, rambling on and on, and I believed her…who knew, they hadn’t even met, and the eldest son stopped contacting her – I asked the Lus, and found out the girl fabricated her education and job! She was just after his money! I checked, and found out what happened, the Lus were being polite… Oh, such a huge misunderstanding, I’ve lost face! Probably because of this, the eldest son added a condition – if you want a blind date, show your diploma first… Well, it’s mainly my fault for being careless, it’s not entirely their son’s fault.”

Cheng’s mother was also a little unhappy, frowning as she listened to Aunt Ma, but found it understandable. She looked at her daughter hesitantly and suggested, “Then, why not meet him?”

“He said he needs to see the certificate first! I can’t even pass the initial screening, why bother?” Cheng Xiao Xiao calmly replied to her mother, maintaining a gentle smile in front of Aunt Ma, her tone calm and even.

Aunt Ma, a veteran matchmaker, was adept at reading people’s expressions. After hearing Cheng Xiao Xiao’s words and observing her reaction, she suddenly realized her blunder, realizing how inappropriate her question was. She followed Cheng Xiao Xiao’s lead, “Oh, my fault! My fault! Xiao Xiao, don’t take it to heart! Auntie just asked casually. What kind of relationship do our two families have? I’ve watched you grow up, your studies were always excellent, how could I not trust you? You’re already here, why not meet him?”

Before she finished, a phone call rang. Aunt Ma glanced at it, smiling apologetically at Cheng Xiao Xiao and her mother, “It’s the Lus, they seem to be already here.”

She smiled apologetically at the two and stood up, walking a few steps towards the balcony outside the living room, lowering her voice to answer, “…Alright, we’ll come right away…I’ve known this girl since she was a child, she’s pretty and well-educated…Don’t worry, I’ve explained to the girl… You tell Xiao Shan how good the girl is…”

Cheng’s mother felt complicated, slightly frustrated and unwilling to give up. Besides, the other party had already arrived, it wasn’t something she could back out of. Her expression was a mixture of indefinable resentment, her gaze intently on Cheng Xiao Xiao, waiting for her decision.

Cheng Xiao Xiao calmly finished her tea, raising her eyebrows slowly at Aunt Ma’s words, standing up in her thick down jacket, smiling gracefully.

She had a vague idea of which Lu family this was! The eldest and second Lu sons, she remembered them! Such a straightforward blind date requirement, she actually wanted to see how confident this wealthy and handsome eldest Lu son was!

She would meet him!

Blind dates, some things are openly presented for choosing. As for stating the conditions so bluntly, it was her first time encountering such a thing!

She always reciprocated, and since he had been so clear about his requirements, it wouldn’t be too much for her to state her own.

Of course, Cheng Xiao Xiao understood the principle of knowing oneself and one’s enemy. Although she had an impression of him, her understanding was limited to a trivial past acquaintance and hearsay.

Therefore, before meeting the Lus, Cheng Xiao Xiao asked one last question, “What does Lu Xiao Shan’s company do?”