Chapter 820
A Ruthless Method to Dissuade a Blind Date
Once my studio is officially established, on the right track, and resources are organized, I'll sign her and focus all my resources on promoting her.
This is also safer for her.
Qin Luo hesitated for a moment.
He didn't know much about the entertainment industry, but he knew it was a complex and murky place. He was a little worried about sending Chen Mengqi, a newcomer with no connections, to a strange company to "train" on her own.
“The entertainment industry is too chaotic. She goes there alone without anyone protecting her. I’m afraid something might happen.”
Qin Luo expressed his concerns.
"I think we should cut corners on the training process. We might as well wait until your company is established and sign with you directly. It'll just delay our debut by a few months."
Yang Mimi shook her head.
"Qin Luo, every industry is like a mountain. The entertainment industry has its own rules. Even if I signed her directly, I couldn't just throw a lot of resources at her right away. Newcomers need to adapt to this industry, learn the rules, and build their own professionalism and resilience."
Bringing someone in directly from the crowd would only make them a target; someone whose abilities don't match their position will inevitably face disaster. Sending her to my friend's place temporarily is for her protection and good. Don't worry, my friend and I are very close; I'll give her special instructions to ensure she doesn't suffer any mistreatment and that she's not involved in any messy situations. It's just a normal new employee training process.”
Seeing Qin Luo's still somewhat hesitant expression, she added.
"Moreover, my studio is being set up very quickly. If things go smoothly, I can get all the formalities and the initial team sorted out within one or two months. If things go slowly, it will take at most three to five months. I won't make her wait too long. I assure you, once she signs with me, I will do everything in my power to make her even more famous than I am now!"
Yang Mimi's tone was resolute, full of confidence and commitment.
Looking into her serious eyes, Qin Luo knew that she had put her heart into this matter and had considered it very thoroughly.
His concerns gradually dissipated, replaced by trust and gratitude.
He reached out and gently pulled Yang Mimi into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head as he whispered.
"Okay, I'll do as you say. Thank you, Mimi."
Yang Mimi was in his arms, a smile on her face. She stretched out her slender finger and touched his brow.
"Here we go again. And you're thanking me? That's too formal."
She put down her phone, wrapped her arms around Qin Luo's neck, snuggled into his embrace, tilted her head back, and looked up at him with a glint of cunning and allure in her eyes.
"You really want to thank me?"
Her red lips parted slightly, her voice low and alluring.
Saying thank you verbally isn't enough.
Qin Luo looked down at her beautiful face so close to his, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
"Then... how would you like me to thank you?"
Yang Mimi moved even closer, her warm breath carrying a sweet scent brushing against his earlobe, and she whispered softly in a voice that only the two of them could hear, a voice filled with extreme ambiguity.
"My flight is at 5 p.m.... I still have more than three hours before I leave..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning behind it was already self-evident. Beneath the soft bathrobe, her warm body pressed against him, silently conveying an invitation.
Yang Mimi's schedule was like a tightly wound string, with every second counting. Her work in Yanjing the previous day continued until 2 a.m., and by the time she returned to the hotel, she had only managed a quick wash and lay down around 3 a.m. After just four hours of sleep, she was already pushing herself to stay awake at 7 a.m. to board a flight to Fujian.
This brief but passionate few hours with Qin Luo was a precious moment she had squeezed out of her hectic schedule.
When the time came, even if she was reluctant to leave, she had to compose herself, put on the star's aura and mask again, and head to the airport on time for the variety show recording in Shanghai at 5 pm. She came and went like the wind, leaving behind only a lingering sense of beauty and a faint trace of melancholy.
Almost at the same time that Yang Mimi left Mindu Yipin, Ai Yiqian on the other side was caught in a completely different vortex of troubles.
Early in the morning, as she was still somewhat dazed in Qin Luo's luxurious yet empty living room, recalling the events of the previous night and morning, a sudden, urgent phone call shattered the silence. It was a call from her hometown. Her mother's voice was choked with tears, saying that her grandmother had suddenly become very unwell, experiencing dizziness and palpitations, and kept saying she wanted to see her.
Ai Yiqian's heart clenched instantly! Her grandmother had always doted on her since she was little, but the old lady was getting on in years and had some minor health problems. Upon hearing the news, she didn't have time to think about anything else. She immediately bought a ticket for the next high-speed train, packed her things quickly, and rushed anxiously to her hometown, a coastal town under the jurisdiction of Minxia City, 300 kilometers away.
Along the way, she kept calling home to ask about her grandmother's condition, but her mother was always vague, only saying, "You'll know when you come back and see for yourself," and "Grandma misses you terribly."
This made her even more worried.
Several hours later, a travel-worn Ai Yiqian finally stepped into that familiar farmhouse courtyard, filled with the smell of the sea and the warmth of everyday life.
She dropped her luggage and went straight to her grandmother's room.
"Grandma! How are you? Where does it hurt?"
She rushed to the bedside, grasped her grandmother's somewhat thin hand, and her eyes reddened.
However, the grandmother, who seemed to be in good spirits in bed, was stunned for a moment when she saw her granddaughter return, then her face lit up with a smile as she patted her hand.
"Oh, Qianqian's back! Grandma's fine, fine, it's just... I just missed my granddaughter!"
Ai Yiqian was taken aback and turned to look at her parents, who were following behind her with somewhat embarrassed expressions.
Ai's mother rubbed her hands together and gave an awkward smile.
"Um... Qianqian, your grandma misses you a bit, that's why she asked you to come back and visit. And... we can also chat about your important life event."
Mr. Ai cleared his throat and put on a stern face.
"You're already twenty-nine! Almost thirty! In our area, that's considered an old maid! If you don't hurry, all the good men will be taken! I called you back this time to arrange a few decent suitors for you, so take a good look at them!"
Ai Yiqian suddenly realized! The whole "grandmother's illness" thing was just a ploy to trick her into coming back for a blind date and pressure her into getting married!
She felt both angry and helpless, but looking at her grandmother's earnest eyes and her parents' stubborn expressions, she knew that it was useless to resist.
She thought she should finish this quickly, deal with a few people, and then hurry back to Fujian.
However, she underestimated the "efficiency" and determination of her family, especially the matchmakers from the surrounding villages who came running at the first sign of trouble.
In just half a day, from lunch to evening, she was like a product on an assembly line, being arranged to "inspect" four men in succession.
The first person was the owner of a small supermarket in town. He was in his early thirties, a little overweight, and his conversation was always about how much his store made in a day and how he was planning to open another branch in the county town.
The second person was a civil servant from the next town. He wore glasses and was very polite, but the conversation always revolved around "social insurance and housing fund," "stable benefits," and "my children's schooling in the future."
The third person was a teacher from the town's middle school. He spoke in a refined manner, but his eyes kept glancing at her, and he subtly asked her, "What kind of work do you do in Mindu? How much is your income? Can you be transferred back in the future?"
The fourth man came from a family that ran an aquaculture business. He reeked of fish and constantly talked about how "my family has fifty acres of shrimp ponds" and "the market is good this year." To be fair, in their hometown, these four men were indeed considered "high-quality"—they owned houses, cars, and had stable livelihoods, making them ideal marriage partners for many local girls.
As Ai Yiqian sat there, listening to their boastful, calculating, or probing words, another person's image involuntarily surfaced in her mind—Qin Luo.
He didn't flaunt his wealth, but he could easily mobilize astonishing capital and power; he didn't emphasize stability, but he gave people a sense of security that even if the sky were to fall, he could withstand it.
He is young, handsome, and has a unique temperament. He can be annoying at times, but he can always make people feel safe and dependable in crucial moments. More importantly, they have developed an intimacy and commitment that goes beyond a normal relationship.
Compared to Qin Luo, these blind date partners suddenly seemed pale and powerless, even somewhat... boring and laughable.
The result was predictable: Ai Yiqian politely but firmly rejected all four men.
After seeing off the last person, Ai Yiqian breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the ordeal was over and she could ask to return home.
"Dad, Mom, I've met everyone, I should go back now, I still have things to do at the company..."
"Go back? Go back where?"
Ai's father's eyes widened.
"This is nothing! If those four don't work out, it's because they're unlucky! Our Qianqian is so outstanding, how could she not find someone good? Let me tell you, if we don't succeed today, we'll try again tomorrow! I've already given your photo and information to a few experienced matchmakers, and they said they'll definitely find you the perfect match!"
Ai Yiqian's heart skipped a beat; she had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, her "bad news" soon became a reality. Whether it was because the matchmakers were too enthusiastic or because the title of "white-collar beauty who returned from Fujian" was too well-known in the countryside, early the next morning, strange men began to appear one after another outside the gate of Ai Yiqian's not-so-small courtyard.
First there were three or five, then a dozen or so, and by noon, a long, crooked line had formed on the country road outside the courtyard gate! At a glance, there were at least a hundred people!
The people ranged in age from their early twenties to their forties, and their attire varied. Some were dressed in suits and ties as if they had dressed up specially, while others wore work pants with mud on them. They all craned their necks to look into the yard and were talking to each other in hushed tones, creating an eerie yet lively atmosphere.
When Ai's parents saw this scene through the crack in the window, they were first startled, but then their faces lit up with joy!
"Oh my! Old man, look! So many people! That means our Qianqian is very popular!"
Ai's mother slapped her thigh, laughing from ear to ear.
"That's right! My daughter, just like me, outstanding!"
Mr. Ai also looked smug, as if he could see countless sons-in-law waving to him.
Ai Yiqian, trapped inside the house, looked out the window at the long, dark "blind date line" stretching far into the distance, and felt a wave of dizziness and chills run down her spine! If she had to meet them all one by one, when would she ever see them? Would she even be able to return to Fujian?
No, we have to find a way to make these people back down!
Ai Yiqian's eyes darted around, and an idea came to her.
She took a deep breath, pushed open the door, walked to the courtyard gate, cleared her throat, and called out loudly to the long dragon.
"Everyone, thank you for your hard work. My home is indeed a bit cramped. If you want to learn more about me, you'll have to help me with some chores first. Look, that pile of firewood in the corner of the yard hasn't been chopped yet."
As soon as she finished speaking, the eyes of the several strong men at the front of the line lit up! This was a great opportunity to test their physical strength and show their masculinity!
"I'll do it!"
"Give me an axe!"
"Let me do it!"
Immediately, several people rushed towards the pile of firewood, as thick as a bowl, scrambling for the axe in the corner. Those who didn't get an axe also gathered around, eager to try their luck next time.
The crackling sound of chopping wood quickly filled the air, sending wood chips flying everywhere. In no time, the pile of firewood was neatly chopped and stacked.
Ai Yiqian nodded, and then said.
"There are still two acres of rice on the back hill that haven't been harvested..."
Immediately, another group of people roared and rushed towards the back mountain with sickles.
"The watermelons in the vegetable garden should be picked; they're quite heavy."
"The fishpond seems to need to be cleaned; the silt is a bit thick."
"By the way, that old house on the east side seems to be leaking a bit; the tiles need to be repaired."
Ai Yiqian calmly and methodically issued the "tasks" one by one. Harvesting rice, picking watermelons, cleaning fish ponds, repairing roofs... all were real, heavy physical labor.
In less than half a day, the men who had come to the blind date looking smart and energetic were now exhausted, sweating profusely, covered in dirt, and staggering about. Their carefully styled hair was messed up, their crisp shirts were dirty, and their shiny leather shoes were covered in mud.
There was no semblance of decorum left in this blind date; they were nothing more than a group of laborers who had been brutally exploited.
The yard was piled high with freshly harvested rice and watermelons like small mountains. The fishpond had been mostly drained, and the roof of the old house had been completely renovated.
When Ai's parents saw the bizarre "products of their labor" and the exhausted "candidates" lying haphazardly in the yard, they were completely dumbfounded.
"Qianqian! What...what are you doing? This is a blind date, not a job search!"
Ai's mother, holding her daughter's hand, stamped her feet in distress.
Ai Yiqian clapped her hands, looking completely innocent.
"Mom, I'm just being careful in my selection process. From now on, anyone who wants to go on a blind date should first do all the heavy and tiring chores at home. This way, we can test whether the other person is reliable and hardworking, and it will also help lighten the burden on the family. It's a win-win situation. I think this is a good idea, so let's do it this way from now on."
Ai's father was so angry that his beard stood on end.
"Nonsense! Utter nonsense! You...you clearly don't want to get married! You're deliberately making things difficult for me!"
"I just don't want to get married so casually!"
Ai Yiqian also lost her temper.
"You...you unfilial daughter! Are you trying to drive your mother and me to our deaths?"
Ai's father's face turned bright red. Suddenly, he stomped his foot and rushed into the house. A moment later, he came out with a thick hemp rope, carried a stool, and placed it under the roof beam.
"Fine! If you don't listen to us and don't give us peace of mind, we'll die today! It'll be better if we just die!"
Ai's mother also started wiping away tears, pretending to grab the rope.
Seeing her parents' clumsy yet unsettling attempt to "force her to commit suicide," Ai Yiqian felt both angry and amused, but mostly deeply helpless.
She knew that unless she gave them a "satisfactory" explanation today, this matter wouldn't be resolved. (End of Chapter)