Chapter 24

Luo Tai and Fang Yanhong strolled down the street side by side. They walked east from the Star Island Café to a small park. Neither of them said a word the whole way. Especially Luo Tai, who showed no initiative at all and felt that this meeting was quite awkward, wanting it to end as soon as possible.

"Your name is Luo Tai, right?" Fang Yanhong finally spoke.

"Yes," Luo Tai replied.

They walked to the entrance of the park, and Fang Yanhong stopped. She looked up at the silent Luo Tai, smiled, and said, "Auntie told me you're an orphan?"

"Uh-huh."

"Living in a rented house now?"

"Uh-huh."

"Working with Master Wang?"

"Yes."

"Also an electrician?"

"Yes."

Fang Yanhong nodded and said, "Why don't you come meet my parents tomorrow?"

"What?" Luo Tai was taken aback.

"Hehe, don't be surprised. I'm quite satisfied with you, and I think my parents will be too. This way, we can settle things quickly. Marriage and all, you don't need to worry about it. The house, car, and even daily necessities, my family will provide. However, there is one requirement from my family."

Luo Tai's head was spinning. What was settled so quickly? He asked subconsciously, "What requirement?"

Fang Yanhong touched the strap of her bag and said, "It's not a big deal, but you need to move in with my family."

"Move in?" Luo Tai was puzzled.

"Yes, move in," Fang Yanhong said firmly. "I'm the only daughter in my family, with no male heirs. So, my family hopes to find a son-in-law who will move in. The requirements are not high, just that you are honest, treat me well, and take care of my parents. Also, any future children, regardless of gender, must take the Fang surname, continuing our family line. Since you are an orphan, this shouldn't be a problem for you, right?"

Luo Tai didn't know how to face Fang Yanhong. Perhaps the direct and practical talk about marriage was too much for him to accept. After a long pause, he managed to say, "That... cough... this... are you marrying me, or am I marrying you..."

Fang Yanhong's expression changed slightly. She could see that Luo Tai was not very willing, but she quickly said, "Actually, this isn't important. What's important is that we live well together. Don't you agree?"

"May I ask how old you are?" Luo Tai said.

"23! What's the matter?" Fang Yanhong replied.

"Uh... nothing, I just think you have a very clear view of marriage," Luo Tai said.

"Hehe, marriage is just about living well together," Fang Yanhong laughed.

Luo Tai shrugged and spread his hands, saying, "So, you mean if we talk things through today, we can register tomorrow?"

Fang Yanhong laughed and shook her head, then said, "Not tomorrow. Tomorrow we'll meet my parents. If they have no issues, then... within a week, we can register. Are you in a hurry?"

Luo Tai shook his head vigorously and said, "Actually, uh... Fang... Fang Comrade, I may not be suitable for your family's conditions. I haven't thought about getting married so soon, let alone having children... I feel..."

Seeing Luo Tai's hesitant expression, Fang Yanhong seemed to understand something. She said, "Maybe I was a bit too hasty. How about we get to know each other first? We can talk more later. Anyway, I have a good impression of you."

Luo Tai's intuition told him that Fang Yanhong had met many potential partners, and her goal was clear: to find someone to move in and continue the family line. Now, he really didn't know how to reject her. In his eyes, girls should be pampered and cared for. But he couldn't muster any feelings for her.

"Let's talk to Auntie about everything... what do you think..." Luo Tai stammered.

Fang Yanhong lowered her head in disappointment and said, "Alright, I hope we can still stay in touch."

Luo Tai smiled and pointed to the distance, saying, "I have some things to do, I'll go first. Can you get home by yourself?"

Fang Yanhong said, "Thank you, I can."

"Goodbye." Luo Tai waved and quickly left the park entrance, disappearing in a moment.

The next day, though it was his day off, Luo Tai still found Wang Bingyong. Luo Tai directly told him that he and Fang Yanhong were not a good match. Wang Bingyong looked puzzled and said after some thought, "Little Luo, your sister-in-law said Fang has good conditions, and she looks good too. What's the problem?"

Luo Tai smiled bitterly and said, "The conditions are good, but I don't feel a connection with her, and... and..."

"And what?" Wang Bingyong knew the key was in the "and," and he asked anxiously.

"And, she wants to get married right away, sigh... and for me to move in with her family," Luo Tai sighed.

"Haha," Wang Bingyong laughed. He understood and said, "It seems our Little Luo wants to find someone to get to know gradually, right?"

Luo Tai didn't say anything.

"Alright, if this one doesn't work, there's always the next one. Let's go meet someone else," Wang Bingyong patted Luo Tai's shoulder and said.

Luo Tai quickly said, "Brother Wang, forget it. I don't want to go on blind dates anymore. Fate will decide, I'll just wait and see. Thank you."

"No way," Wang Bingyong shook his head and said, "Helping someone means helping them all the way. I said I'd give you a reinforced platoon, and I'll stick to my word. Hehe, your sister-in-law knew last night. Fang Yanhong called and said you weren't very willing, which is true. So, your sister-in-law arranged another meeting for you tonight. This time... it's a girl who just graduated from university, from the city, and she won't make you move in."

Luo Tai realized he had boarded the "pirate ship." His words, "Can you introduce someone to me," were so thoughtless.

"Brother Wang, forget it, I really don't want to go," Luo Tai said.

"Come on, meeting someone won't kill you. It's the weekend, what do you have to do? Alright, it's settled," Wang Bingyong decided for Luo Tai.

The second... Qiu Xiaojing.

Luo Tai and she sat in a café.

She had long, flowing hair, wore a red T-shirt, had very fair skin, but a very "ample" figure. Luo Tai could tell just by looking that she weighed about 160 pounds! Plus, she was over 1.7 meters tall, making her look like a white tower in front of him.

"Am I fat?" Qiu Xiaojing asked this very tricky question after less than a minute of small talk.

Luo Tai was stunned for two seconds, then nodded, giving a definite answer.

"Looks like you judge people by their appearance," Qiu Xiaojing said.

"Uh..." Luo Tai felt he might have been too direct. Even if they didn't become a couple, he might have hurt her. So he added, "Actually, that's not what I meant. You... aren't very fat, uh... quite cute." He gestured in the air.

"Hmph~" Qiu Xiaojing didn't appreciate it. She coldly said, "That sentence shows your hypocrisy even more."

Luo Tai was speechless...

Qiu Xiaojing stood up and said to Luo Tai, "Men are all the same. I could tell from the first glance... Waiter, the bill..."

Luo Tai watched helplessly as Qiu Xiaojing paid for herself and left...

The third... Li Mai.

Time: noon. Location: park pavilion.

Li Mai was two years older than Luo Tai, mature and steady, wearing a gray business suit and a small black-rimmed glasses. She was beautiful and had a great figure, the kind of woman men would want to pursue.

However, Li Mai's job was not very stable, but this wasn't a fatal flaw. Because, just from her appearance and demeanor, her job seemed "negligible." Men are mostly visual creatures!

Luo Tai's first impression of Li Mai was quite good, and after talking for a while, he felt that Li Mai was very understanding. Even though Luo Tai didn't say much, Li Mai always found a way to make the conversation flow smoothly.

Luo Tai suddenly felt he had emerged from the shadows of Fang Yanhong and Qiu Xiaojing. But he wondered, why was Li Mai, who was so excellent, still single?

Maybe her standards were high, yes. Such a woman might not look favorably upon him.

Sigh, it doesn't matter. Even if they don't become a couple, it would be nice to be friends.

With this thought, Luo Tai felt relieved. His mood brightened, and they talked quite well.

"Do you mind that I'm older than you?" Li Mai asked, touching the black frame of her glasses.

Luo Tai smiled and said, "Actually, I don't think the age difference is a problem. You don't mind that I'm younger, right?"

"Hehe," Li Mai covered her mouth and laughed, then said, "Auntie told me you're quite reserved, but it seems she was wrong. You're quite humorous, aren't you?"

"Not really, I'm just being honest," Luo Tai said.

"By the way, what do you like to do in your free time?" Li Mai asked.

"Me? I don't have any special hobbies, just surfing the internet and watching movies," Luo Tai said honestly.

"Sounds pretty relaxed," Li Mai said, following Luo Tai's words. "So, you must have a lot of free time, right?"

Luo Tai nodded, "Yeah, just work and home, nothing else." He thought to himself that even if he joined a movie, it wouldn't take up much time.

Li Mai smiled and nodded, then said, "Why don't you think about getting a part-time job to earn some extra money? I think earning more will be beneficial for the future."

Luo Tai agreed with Li Mai and said, "Yes, I know that, but... I don't have any special skills, and I don't want to work a second job after my shift, as it would make me too tired and might affect my main job."

Li Mai said, "You just haven't found the right one. By the way, I have a part-time job. Would you like to do it with me?"

"Oh?" Luo Tai was surprised and asked, "What kind of job?"

"Have you heard of Amway?" Li Mai asked seriously.

"Wang Brother, I won't go on any more blind dates. No, no, no... really... I beg you, thank you for your kindness, but... please let me go." Luo Tai called Wang Bingyong as soon as he left the park after meeting Li Mai.

On the other end, Wang Bingyong said, "Sorry, brother, I didn't expect Li Mai to try to get you into Amway. Alright, this is the last one I'll introduce you to. Really, you have to meet this one. I was moved by her story. Just help her out."

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