When Fei Keqing and Su Tang arrived with bags full of shopping, less than twenty minutes remained before seven o'clock.
Ping An didn't have time to see what clothes this mother and daughter had bought for him. All he knew was that for these few outfits, his card had been swiped for five figures according to the text message.
Children from athletic families, how could they have bad figures? Although Ping An ate excessively, his figure had always been good. Dressed in neat slacks, pointed leather shoes, and a light blue casual shirt on top, Ping An's lean side was perfectly showcased.
"My master has handsome moments too, huh!" Su Tang said with sparkling eyes after helping her master straighten his pant legs and taking a careful look.
"Here, this is your clutch. Don't tuck it under your arm; hold it naturally by your side. And this is your sunglasses. When you're not wearing them, put them on the table. Don't be like a ruffian and clip them to your collar. Also, this is a watch that Anjing picked out. Don't complain about the price. How much do you earn in a year? What's the harm in spending a bit!" Fei Keqing chattered.
"What about Anjing?" Ping An looked at Su Tang in confusion.
"Mm-hmm, Auntie and future Uncle are waiting by their phones for good news tonight!" Su Tang said, tiptoeing and unable to resist planting a kiss on her master, "Go for it, female doctor! Having you as my master's wife will be so impressive!"
"Here, it's our first meeting. Sending flowers is too cliché; small potted plants are popular now," Gao Xiaofei said, producing a small succulent as if by magic. "Cute, right? Give it to her. She can put it anywhere, and she'll think of you when she sees it."
After a thorough "arming," Ping An finally embarked on his blind date.
"The way you're walking these few steps, tsk tsk, so full of swagger. Maybe that female doctor will be impatient and you'll seal the deal tonight!" Gao Xiaofei said, rubbing his hands.
"Oh, you! Alright, let's go eat too. Daughter, what do you want to eat?" Fei Keqing said, holding Su Tang's hand.
"Actually, I really want to eat that Sichuan food, but since Master is going, it's not appropriate for us to go. Auntie, you decide," Su Tang said, her gaze fixed on her master's departing figure, without a care in the world.
"Then let's go eat at the dry pot place. I heard their braised goose is good," Fei Keqing said, making a unilateral decision to choose the dry pot restaurant without even asking Gao Xiaofei.
Speaking of blind dates, Ping An had been on a few before. But because he was young and didn't care, and never prepared, he always went with a playful attitude, so they never counted.
But this time...
There weren't many people at the Sichuan restaurant. Ping An chose a seat by the window, ordered a pot of chrysanthemum tea, and, acting on his own initiative, ordered two bowls of brown sugar ice jelly.
This blind date was only confirmed around noon, and they only contacted each other in the afternoon. No texts, no WeChat, just a phone call, a stranger's voice, stiff pleasantries, and then the wait before meeting.
A beautiful woman in a fiery red dress, with a big wave perm and bright red lipstick, slowly walked over from a distant pavilion.
No glasses? She doesn't look much like it, could it be true?
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Ping An stared blankly as the beauty approached him. She placed a hand over her chest, nodded at him, and then he suddenly understood. No wonder Fei Keqing insisted he dress up. If he had worn his usual clothes, wouldn't that have been utterly embarrassing?
"Hello, Ping An!"
"Hello, Qiao Yiyan!"
They shook hands politely and sat down. At this moment, Ping An didn't seem so nervous anymore. He steadily picked up the teapot and poured her a cup, a perfect seven-tenths full.
"You're more, um, cheerful than I imagined!" the beauty said after staring at Ping An with her large eyes for a long time. "It's nice to meet you."
"You're also more beautiful than I imagined. As an associate professor and a teacher, I expected you to be more reserved. But you're in this fiery red, and it's absolutely stunning," Ping An said, now in his element. After a slight pause, he added perfectly, "A feast for the eyes! It seems tonight will be worthwhile!"
Indeed, after a few playful remarks, Qiao Yiyan across the table blushed instantly. This was how it should be. Neither of them were masters of seduction; who comes for a blind date as a last resort? Flirting openly here is less practical than asking about monthly income.
However, even so, they were both people of the world, and proper courtesies still had to be observed. Ping An never dreamed that Qiao Yiyan would also be interested in solving cases. After a few opening remarks, she pointed to the "Arabian Tea Case" that Ping An had solved half a year ago and talked at length about her thoughts.
"What's happening with Liu Juan from the case now?" Qiao Yiyan asked.
"She gave birth to a big healthy boy. Old Yan, Old Yan, the day after he knew he had a grandson..." Ping An didn't really like mentioning these things.
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"I'm sorry, I've been studying criminal psychology recently, so I analyzed your case," Qiao Yiyan said. "It's also because of this work that I discovered I became interested in you."
"Oh, I thought we were here for a blind date tonight," Ping An said, feeling a bit helpless as the dinner seemed to be veering off course.
"Yes, becoming interested in you is the beginning of liking, and liking is the beginning of love," Qiao Yiyan said. "I'm very clear about your situation, and I'm very satisfied with you, and my family is also very satisfied. So, I'm very much looking forward to us having an outcome. If I say it like this, does it fit the theme of tonight?"
He never expected the girl across from him to be so—
"I never thought that such a realistic thing could be so elegantly put by Dr. Qiao," Ping An said. "You know me, but I don't know you. Or rather, to me, you're more like a stranger."
"But I feel like I've known you for a very, very long time," Qiao Yiyan said, pursing her lips and smiling. "In any case, it's great to meet you today. I have a premonition that I'll have a wonderful evening."
The initial pleasantries ended here, and the restaurant's waiter arrived at the opportune moment to present the menu.
Ping An looked at the menu first, then handed it to Qiao Yiyan.
"Kung Pao Chicken, no peanuts. Boiled Beef, no cilantro. Fiery Beef Tripe, add a little aged Shanxi vinegar when served. Ants Climbing a Tree, make sure no peppercorns are visible; grind the peppercorns into a powder first." It was evident that Qiao Yiyan was a regular here. Without even looking at the menu, she rattled off four dishes as if reciting a family recipe.
The dishes were simple, common ones, but she had a sophisticated palate.
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Then, she placed the menu on the table, her large eyes twinkling, signaling Ping An to order a dish as well.
Actually, Ping An didn't eat spicy food; he even disliked it. In this situation, he was a bit unsure what to order.
"The Sichuan food here is considered the most authentic in Hechuan, but the Sichuan food here is from the Yanbang cuisine style. Besides being fresh and spicy, there are also some non-spicy dishes you can try." She was indeed a psychology student; from Ping An's slightly furrowed brow, Qiao Yiyan could tell he didn't usually eat spicy food.
"Husband and Wife Lung Slices, thank you!" Feeling a bit embarrassed by her observation, Ping An closed the menu and blurted out the order.
"Certainly, please wait a moment!" the waiter said politely and left.
Looking at Qiao Yiyan again, she pursed her lips, seemingly trying hard not to laugh.
Ping An knew that he had probably shown his inexperience.
"Laugh, laugh, I really don't know how to order Sichuan food," Ping An shook his head, feeling a bit awkward.
"Hahahaha, how do you know the story behind Husband and Wife Lung Slices? You actually believe it?" Qiao Yiyan said. "I'm sorry, I really didn't expect you to order this dish."
"A friend recommended it before I came, so I thought I'd give it a try." Seeing her smile, Ping An felt a bit more relaxed. He unbuttoned the collar of his shirt and, with a clatter, took off his wristwatch and placed it on the table.
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"Has anyone ever told you that you're incredibly cute when you're nervous?" Qiao Yiyan said, propping her chin with her hands and smiling at Ping An.
"Usually, nothing makes me nervous. I used to be a political journalist. I'd ride with mayors and party secretaries for research every day, and sometimes we'd have to eat together at night, even sleep in the same house. At first, I was very nervous. I wouldn't even dare to pass gas when I slept at night. Over time, I got used to it..." Ping An thought about his previous job; it was indeed interesting.
"Hahahaha, you're such an interesting person." Upon hearing the phrase "wouldn't dare to pass gas," Qiao Yiyan, unable to contain herself, burst into laughter.
Good. Female doctors on TV were mostly robotic in their emotions. Ping An had been afraid of meeting someone stern and unsmiling, but the girl in front of him was not only talkative but also very interesting.
One by one, Sichuan dishes were served. Qiao Yiyan glanced at the Boiled Beef and nodded with satisfaction. She took the first bite, picked up a large piece of meat, and placed it on Ping An's plate.
"Eat, eat, it's delicious," Qiao Yiyan said.
"Uh, I'll try it," Ping An said, summoning his courage, and put the piece of beef, radiating a strong chili aroma, into his mouth. Then, the entire world went silent.
"Cough, cough, cough!" He wasn't choked by food, but by the spice.
Ping An picked up the ice water on the table and drank one glass after another.
Seeing Qiao Yiyan looking at him with chopsticks in hand, Ping An said sheepishly, "You eat, you eat. It seems I can't handle it. Let me take it slow."
"Does your past partner also not eat chili?" Qiao Yiyan asked suddenly, pouring him a glass of water.
Ping An touched his chest, recalling that Peng You liked sour, Lin Dang liked sweet, and he himself had no particular preference, but neither of them seemed to like chili.
"To my shame, I rarely came to places like this on dates before. I basically never ate chili," Ping An said.
"In fact, extreme spiciness is actually sweetness. Do you feel a sweetness in your throat now?" Qiao Yiyan said.
With a mix of doubt and belief, Ping An took a breath and truly felt a sweetness in his throat.
"The extreme of love is natural," Qiao Yiyan said. "My parents say that blind dates are about life, about reality, so don't be extravagant with love. Tell me, can we make it? Will there be love?"
This young girl had so many questions. Thinking back, the initiative had been entirely in her hands all evening. Ping An, having just recovered from the stimulation of the chili, heard her say this—
"Eat your Sichuan food! Why so many questions!" Seeing that Qiao Yiyan was still looking at him with wide eyes, Ping An, from her clear gaze, detected a hint of playfulness. He boldly flicked her forehead with his finger.
"Hahahaha!" As expected, Qiao Yiyan laughed again.
"How can you do that? You're being rude and flicking me with your finger!" Qiao Yiyan said, pretending to be angry. "You're so disrespectful."
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"Cut it out, you've been testing me with all sorts of weird things all night, provoking me!" Ping An said, neatly arranging his chopsticks. "You're not here for a blind date; you're clearly here to research a thesis."
"How can you be so perceptive? I still have several experiments to do, and you've already seen through me. What should I do next?" Qiao Yiyan said, unruffled.
"Miss, I'm quite busy too. It's not easy to get away. If we're a good match, it would be my honor. If not, I'll treat tonight, how about it?" Ping An said.
"Are you angry?" Qiao Yiyan asked, looking at Ping An cautiously.
"No, I'm not angry. I just feel like you're not very serious, um, at least not very serious about tonight's blind date," Ping An said, frowning and crossing his arms, feigning seriousness. "Since it's arranged by elders, we should take it seriously, shouldn't we..."
"Hey, I like you. Let's try dating," Qiao Yiyan suddenly said, her large eyes sparkling.
"No, I mean..." Ping An, interrupted, suddenly felt flustered.
"Really, I like your demeanor. You can hold my heart and stop it from wandering," Qiao Yiyan said sincerely, her face beaming.
The situation was getting a bit out of control. Ping An looked at her, his mind blank.
"Hello, Husband and Wife Lung Slices—! Please enjoy!" the waiter broke the awkwardness by serving the legendary dish.
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"We're just meeting for the first time. To be honest, I don't even know what you're like," Ping An said. "Isn't this a bit too fast?"
"Can we get married before National Day?" Qiao Yiyan seemed not to hear Ping An.
"Married?" Sweat beaded on Ping An's forehead.
"Yes, if you like someone, isn't it for marriage?" Qiao Yiyan said. "I'm the only one left unmarried in my family. My dad can't wait for me to get married. I know your family's situation, and honestly, it's better than mine. I also know about your adorable little disciple, and it's a pity I didn't see her today. In short, I don't mind a shotgun wedding. If you don't believe me, you can take me home tonight."
...
Ping An almost fled in panic but was grabbed by the quick-thinking Qiao Yiyan.
"I'm going to the restroom," Ping An said, a mix of amusement and exasperation in his voice.
"So you're not running away, right?" Qiao Yiyan said, narrowing her eyes at Ping An.
"That would be disloyal, wouldn't it? Don't I have any pride?" Ping An said, both amused and exasperated.
"No, I was just afraid you'd skip out on the bill," Qiao Yiyan said, releasing him and beginning to eat heartily.
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This was destined to be a magical night. Ping An's life was too monotonous, and he was actually quite looking forward to encountering such an overwhelming woman occasionally.
Leaving the Sichuan restaurant, Ping An, ravenously hungry, looked at Qiao Yiyan, who was covering her mouth and burping. He wondered, "What kind of woman is she?"
"I know you're not full yet. Come on, my treat next!" Qiao Yiyan said, shaking her car keys and leading Ping An to a red BMW.
"You professors and such are quite wealthy, aren't you?" Ping An said, looking around the car. A luxury car is different.
"Only about two hundred thousand," Qiao Yiyan said. "Don't pretend to be poor in front of me. I know your financial situation; you just don't like spending money."
"You've investigated quite thoroughly," Ping An said.
"Yes, it's a blind date, isn't it? You're looking for a husband, and you need to find a reliable one?" Qiao Yiyan said casually.
"Girl, I'm being serious now. You don't actually like me, do you?" Ping An glanced at Qiao Yiyan, curious to see what she would say.
"I won't hide it from you anymore. I previously made a table based on my own situation and then screened it from multiple aspects like personality, hobbies, and family background. In the end, out of the 109 men I studied, you scored the highest," Qiao Yiyan said.
"Just based on this? Is it reliable? No, how do you know my situation?" Ping An said, looking at Qiao Yiyan foolishly.
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"I studied your novels, your friends, your work, and everything you've done in public. For example, the Wind Power Community case, you were initially unwilling to take it on, not for other reasons, but because you were afraid you couldn't solve it!" Qiao Yiyan said. They had arrived at their destination. She parked the car and turned to face Ping An.
Frankly, this was a secret deep within Ping An's heart.
The Wind Power Community case had an unsettling aura from the beginning. Ping An immediately recognized it as a complex case. However, he was never one to give up easily. It was just that after a near-disaster in solving a previous case, he still felt a lingering fear, which led to a hesitation to take it on.
"How did you know?" After a moment of silence, Ping An implicitly acknowledged the situation.
"When you research cases, do you feel a sense of desperation?" Qiao Yiyan said. "When I research you, it's the same. Several times, I felt like I was you. Do you understand what I mean?"
As expected of a true foodie, Qiao Yiyan had brought Ping An to the snack street south of Hechuan No. 8 Middle School, which was a gathering place for all sorts of snacks and delicacies in Hechuan City.
"Let's eat first. You said you'd treat," Ping An said, his eyes fixed on a stall selling grilled intestines in the distance, his mouth watering.
Freshly grilled intestines, drizzled with sauce, a piece of braised tofu skin placed inside, a small bun crumbled and soaked in it, and finally sprinkled with chopped green onions.
Ping An never stood on ceremony when faced with good food.
"I don't really like people studying me like this, it feels like... peeping. Yes, it feels like peeping into my mind, and it makes me very uncomfortable," Ping An said, finishing a bowl and tapping his chopsticks, waiting for the owner to refill it.
"But you have a good impression of me, don't you?" Qiao Yiyan said with a smile.
"You really are a vixen. Are you like this at home? Or were you like this when you dated before?" Ping An looked at Qiao Yiyan helplessly.
"My family? They can't wait for me to get married. Before? I've never dated. I forgot to tell you, I can see through lies, so I'm afraid to date," Qiao Yiyan said. "Do you believe me? I can see what you're thinking, and sometimes, even before you've figured out what you're thinking yourself, I can already see it..."
"You make yourself sound so amazing. Think about what I'm thinking right now," Ping An said, staring at Qiao Yiyan with wide eyes.
"Don't you want to know what's inside me?" Qiao Yiyan said, her eyes alluring, staring directly at Ping An as if she could see through his body and pierce his soul.
"Let's stop here for today. I should go home," Ping An said, feeling unnerved by her gaze.
"Come to my place. I'll show you something," Qiao Yiyan said. "Don't think of refusing. After you see it, it will solve the mystery in your heart."
"I'd better not. If you start researching me, I'm afraid I won't even have a chance to fight back," Ping An said, trying his best to suppress his curiosity and firmly refuse.
"What are you afraid of?" Qiao Yiyan suddenly reached into Ping An's pocket, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.
"I don't know. For example, you smoke too, but I didn't know," Ping An said. "I don't like to adjust my rhythm too quickly..."
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"Are you that afraid of getting into my bed?" Qiao Yiyan interrupted Ping An.
"I wasn't thinking that?" Ping An said, bewildered.
"When I asked you to come home with me, you first looked at my chest for a second, and then instinctively touched your nose," Qiao Yiyan said. "And this action is a standard type of action before compromising. Yes, I'm studying you. Do you mind?"
With such a beauty beside him, what man wouldn't have such thoughts? However, the beauty's excessive forwardness made the suspicious Ping An a bit flustered.
In fact, Ping An could have turned around and left at this point. But he was filled with curiosity about this woman. She was like a puzzle waiting for him to solve.
...
After an unknown amount of time, Ping An lay hazily on a soft bed.
He heard a low breath beside him.
He wanted to move, but his body wouldn't respond.
Just as he was about to drift off to sleep again, he suddenly heard someone whisper a sentence in his ear.
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In the morning, a ray of sunlight shone directly on Ping An's steadily rising and falling chest. Perhaps it was tickling him, so he withdrew his hand from under a pillow and gently scratched.
He opened his eyes and, in less than three seconds, determined that this was not his usual bedroom but a girl's boudoir.
He sat up abruptly, looking around. He saw a pink wardrobe, a white bookshelf, a summer quilt with lace trim, and a heart-shaped glass on the bedside table.
Lifting the summer quilt, he found he was indeed stark naked.
Wrapped in the quilt, he got out of bed to find his clothes, only to discover that nothing belonging to him was there.
"Where's my phone?" Ping An said, flustered, patting around under the pillows.
"You're awake!" Qiao Yiyan's voice came from behind him.
"It's over!" Ping An's heart was filled with embarrassment.
He turned over, clamping his thighs together, his hands naturally resting on his chest, but the quilt was wrapped even tighter.
"Your clothes are outside. Come out and get them yourself!" Qiao Yiyan, wearing a red nightgown, stood at the door with a glass of juice and smiled at Ping An.
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"Last night?" Ping An looked at the beautiful woman in front of him, embarrassed.
"Mm-hmm, the research last night went well. You put in a lot of effort," Qiao Yiyan said with a chuckle, then turned and left.
"Effort...?" Ping An looked at the mess on the bed and thought helplessly, "Indeed, it took a lot of effort!"
While Qiao Yiyan was not in the living room, Ping An, completely naked, quickly ran out and then, with the fastest speed he could muster, put on his underwear. However, when people are in a hurry, they often make mistakes. For example, after struggling to put on his underwear, he found that his once-straight slacks had somehow gotten tied into a knot, and it seemed to be a dead knot.
"Creak—" Just as Ping An was struggling with his pant legs, a door opened behind him.
Ping An, maintaining a one-legged stance, instinctively looked back and saw Director Qiao, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
Director Qiao, that is, Qiao Yiyan's father, Qiao Moyan, came from an academic background. He became an official because he couldn't understand the complexities of human relationships. He had interacted with Ping An several times before; they weren't close, but they weren't strangers either.
At this moment, their eyes met, and time seemed to stand still.
"You're wearing your underwear inside out," Director Qiao said calmly, then quietly closed the door.