We Barely Know Each Other, but I'm Living with a Stone-Faced Mechanic! - Chapter 9

Discussing blind dates in front of Qin Zheng had become almost traumatic for Tao Ying.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, covered the phone, and turned away, lowering her voice to a murmur.

“Third Aunt, I’m out right now. I’ll talk to you when I get home.”

“What did you say? Speak up.”

Tao Ying closed her eyes briefly.

A quiet laugh escaped Qin Zheng, making her even more embarrassed.

Since he had heard everything anyway, she gave up. “I’m busy right now. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“All right. Don’t forget.”

“I know.”

After hanging up, Tao Ying tapped randomly around her phone, pretending to be very busy.

“Another blind date, Ms. Tao?” Qin Zheng’s tone held unmistakable teasing.

Mortified, Tao Ying tucked her long hair behind one ear and found an excuse. “An older relative arranged it. It’s difficult to refuse.”

“Forgive the question, but how old are you?”

“Twenty-seven.”

“A year younger than me.” Qin Zheng said, “You’re not old. Why are you trying to marry so early?”

A blind date was different from ordinary dating. Marriage was the explicit goal. If both sides met each other’s conditions, they could meet in the morning and register their marriage that afternoon.

Tao Ying had only agreed to these meetings because she wanted Li Meijuan to give up on marrying her into a wealthy family.

Experience had proved one thing: good men did not circulate on the matchmaking market.

She had met eight or nine, and not one had been suitable.

“I’m only meeting them. It doesn’t mean I’ll marry any of them.” Tao Ying brushed the question aside, unwilling to discuss it with Qin Zheng.

In her view, they weren’t close enough to talk about marriage.

Qin Zheng could tell. He said no more and drove her home with impeccable courtesy.

What Tao Ying didn’t know was that after she left, Qin Zheng got out too.

Sweeping aside his trench coat, he sat on the hood and stared up at the building until a light came on on the third floor.

He laughed softly. “So she lives on the third floor.”

He took out his phone and sent her a WeChat message.

*Ms. Tao, are you home?*

Tao Ying had only just sat down. Seeing the display name AAA Zhengtu Auto Repair made her want to laugh for some reason.

She replied: *I’m home. Doesn’t Xiao Fang manage this account?*

Why was he using it for personal messages?

Qin Zheng: *The account was registered with my number. The shop uses it on the computer, so there’s no conflict. I messaged because I was afraid you might not see a text.*

He certainly went to extraordinary lengths to retain a customer.

Tao Ying typed out a meticulous reply: *I’ve arrived home. Thank you for your concern, Boss Qin.*

Reading her prim response, Qin Zheng abruptly chuckled.

His phone rang. The caller was Liang Chong.

Qin Zheng answered. “What do you want this late?”

“Come have a drink. Someone spotted you on the West Bank.”

“I’m busy.” Qin Zheng walked around the hood, opened the driver’s door, and casually lit a cigarette.

“Qin Zheng, it isn’t that you’re busy. You’re scared to face me, aren’t you?”

A second voice came through the phone. It belonged to Pei Jinnian, a mutual friend of his and Liang Chong’s.

Qin Zheng scoffed. “Why would I be scared to see you?”

“Then come over now. Mingyu is back in the country too. The four of us haven’t been together in ages.”

Shao Mingyu was back as well? Qin Zheng checked his watch. It was only ten, so he agreed. “Where?”

“The usual place.”

Qin Zheng put out the cigarette, lowered his window halfway, and drove out of Jinhua Gardens.

Half an hour later, he stopped outside an exclusive club. The entrance was lined entirely with luxury cars.

The security guard saw Qin Zheng’s Tank 300 and thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Just as he stepped forward to check the driver’s identity, a formally dressed greeter hurried over.

“Good evening, Mr. Qin.”

“Good evening.”

Realizing he was an honored guest, the security guard immediately withdrew.

The greeter respectfully escorted Qin Zheng through the VIP passage to a private suite.

The instant he entered, Liang Chong blasted him with a party popper. “Boss Qin, wel-come!”

Qin Zheng brushed away the blue and purple streamers. “Is this how bored you’ve become?”

“I can’t be more bored than you,” Liang Chong complained. “You started repairing cars to chase a woman.”

Qin Zheng sat beside him. “Where’s Pei Jinnian?”

“Getting you a drink. Don’t expect to leave here conscious tonight.”

“Is that necessary?” Qin Zheng laughed and tossed a cherry into his mouth.

“Of course it is.” Pei Jinnian heard him as he entered and immediately objected. “Ms. Tao was my blind date.”

“Correction.” Qin Zheng raised a brow with shameless arrogance. “Your former blind date.”

“Damn it.” Pei Jinnian motioned for a server to open the wine.

“What’s going on?” Shao Mingyu laughed. “I’ve only been away for half a year. What are you all talking about?”

Delighted by the drama, Liang Chong filled him in.

“About half a year ago, someone introduced Jinnian to a university lecturer. And she made our Brother Zheng fall in love at first sight.”

“Does Jinnian like this lecturer too?” Shao Mingyu asked the key question.

“Not really.” Liang Chong never minded fanning the flames. “She rejected him, and his pride couldn’t take it. You know him—he’s always the one rejecting other people.”

Pei Jinnian snorted. “As if you’d know.”

Liang Chong shrugged. “Come on. Nobody leaves sober tonight.”

“I agreed to come. I didn’t agree to drink.” Qin Zheng tapped his watch. “I have work tomorrow morning.”

Liang Chong sprayed out a mouthful of wine. Work? What a remarkable word to hear from him.

“I give up. How did chasing a woman make you fall in love with going to work?”

Shao Mingyu hadn’t believed the story at first. Now his expression grew serious. “Are you serious about her?”

Qin Zheng looked at him. “You think I’m playing around too?”

“Love at first sight?” Shao Mingyu still found it hard to believe.

Love at first sight was nothing more than attraction to a face, and Qin Zheng had met every kind of beautiful woman.

Qin Zheng considered the question for a moment, unsure how to answer.

Some people could cross his path a thousand times without stirring him. Another needed only one glance to flood his brain with phenethylamine.

Nearly half a year ago, Liang Chong had called him to a rooftop restaurant to spy on Pei Jinnian’s blind date.

He had arrived late and happened to encounter Tao Ying coming out alone.

For one instant, the whole world lost its color. A sharp tingle prickled across his scalp and raced down the back of his neck to his spine.

God had fashioned woman from man’s rib. Qin Zheng had met bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh.

He had always believed that only what he held in his own hands was safe. Yet he had done nothing.

He hadn’t investigated Tao Ying’s past or intruded on her life.

Instead, he had created an opportunity to meet her by setting himself up across from her university.

He had waited for one tiny choice—for fate’s butterfly to take pity and beat its wings just once.

Three months later, Tao Ying had finally appeared in his shop, and he had obtained her contact details as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Pei Jinnian came over and poured him a glass. “You’ve been lying in wait all this time. Any results?”

Qin Zheng accepted it. “One glass, that’s all. Call a designated driver for me.”

“Once you’ve started, what difference does one glass or one bottle make?” Pei Jinnian said. “But fine, I’ll arrange a driver.”

Just as Qin Zheng was about to drink, his phone rang.

The moment the other three saw the caller ID, they crowded closer.

“Ms. Tao?” Liang Chong’s eyes lit up. “You’re moving fast. You already have her number.”

“Shut up.” Qin Zheng gave them a warning look. “I’m taking this.”