Jiang Yuning grew even more confused, but after hesitating for two seconds, she obediently walked out.

With a click as the door shut, Xiao Liye leaned back in his chair, casually crossing his legs. A cigarette hung from the corner of his lips as he said:

“Don’t you think this is moving a little too fast?”

Su Ni smiled gently.

“I’m not some eighteen- or nineteen-year-old kid anymore. I don’t have the energy or patience for all that chasing and courting. Better to confirm the relationship first and slowly get to know each other. Isn’t married life supposed to be about growing together over time?”

Xiao Liye’s eyes flickered slightly. So this was actually working out for her.

He rubbed the back of his head, stayed silent for a few seconds, then asked:

“Do you really know her?”

Su Ni replied, “She’s your cousin, right? Since you introduced her personally, she must be reliable. Even if I don’t trust her, I trust you.”

Xiao Liye choked on his words. For some reason, he suddenly wanted to slap himself.

Su Ni continued:

“Boss Xiao, don’t worry. I’m not the kind of man who disrespects women. If things really work out between us, I’ll definitely treat her well.”

Seeing the seriousness on Su Ni’s face, Xiao Liye inexplicably started panicking. He grabbed his cup, took a sip of tea, thought for a moment, then said:

“To be honest… I suddenly developed a conscience after sending her out just now. I realized I shouldn’t ruin your life.”

Su Ni frowned slightly.

Xiao Liye patiently continued:

“She’s got something wrong with her head. Don’t be fooled by how normal she looks right now. When she has an episode, killing someone wouldn’t even be impossible. Otherwise, why do you think someone that pretty got divorced? Her ex was completely tormented by her.”

A trace of panic flashed across Su Ni’s face.

“She looks so gentle and quiet though. It can’t be that bad, right?”

Xiao Liye pressed on:

“If she didn’t have serious issues, would I personally be helping her find a husband? There are tons of problems. While staying at my house these past few days, she doesn’t even shower, let alone brush her teeth. If anyone says anything, she goes crazy.

“And today—don’t think she looked decent just because she put on makeup. That was after days of not washing her face. The moment she heard I was introducing her to a well-off man, she slapped makeup on herself.

“And don’t even get me started on the house. She turns it into a pigsty. I’m a clean freak, I can’t stand it. I’ve been cleaning up after her every day. Honestly, I’m just completely fed up, which is why I stepped in.”

Su Ni’s face turned slightly green. He genuinely hadn’t expected someone to be that unhygienic. No wonder Xiao Liye had suddenly become a matchmaker.

Seeing him hesitate, Xiao Liye curled his lips, about to add a few more comments—

Just then, Jiang Yuning walked back in.

“What were you two talking about?”

Xiao Liye immediately swallowed his next words and smoothly changed the topic.

“Just discussing some business matters.”

Jiang Yuning didn’t think much of it. Sitting back down, she said:

“Mr. Su, I thought about what you said earlier. Actually…”

Before she could finish, Su Ni suddenly shot up from his chair.

“Miss, I think I didn’t think things through properly earlier. Maybe we should just leave things at that.”

Without waiting for her response, he turned to Xiao Liye.

“Boss Xiao, something came up at the factory, so I’ll head out first.”

Xiao Liye’s lips curved into a rather obvious smile.

“Sure. Today’s on me. Don’t pay for the meal.”

Su Ni didn’t dare stay another second. He practically fled, afraid Jiang Yuning might cling to him.

Jiang Yuning looked bewildered.

Wasn’t everything fine before she went to the restroom?

Why had he suddenly become so resistant?

Now only the two of them remained in the private room. Xiao Liye was in an excellent mood and continued eating happily.

Jiang Yuning asked suspiciously:

“Did you say bad things about me just now?”

Xiao Liye acted innocent and shamelessly turned it back on her.

“Who do you think I am? Would I really do something that low? Besides, I wanted this to work out more than anyone.”

Jiang Yuning thought about it and figured that made sense. After all, he was the one who introduced them. Surely he wouldn’t sabotage his own matchmaking.

She sighed in disappointment.

“Sorry. It’s not that I wasn’t willing. He just didn’t like me. Looks like I’ll have to trouble you to introduce me to more people.”

Xiao Liye’s expression immediately darkened.

“Eat your food.”

His tone was fierce.

Jiang Yuning couldn’t understand his mood and didn’t dare argue. Looking at the table full of meat and fish dishes, she actually had little appetite.

Although she hadn’t seen such a lavish meal in a long time, being dragged out by her nominal husband for a blind date only to get rejected by the man—it was impossible to feel good.

She took a few bites and quietly set down her chopsticks, sitting to the side waiting for him.

Xiao Liye became even more irritated. Speaking in a strange, mocking tone, he said:

“Looks like you were pretty satisfied with him. Now that he rejected you, you’re all depressed.”

Jiang Yuning didn’t dare argue and casually replied:

“No, I just don’t really have much appetite.”

Xiao Liye fell silent and continued eating. The more he looked at her dejected expression, the more annoyed he became.

Finally, he pulled all the money and meal coupons from his pocket and handed them to her.

“You go downstairs and pay the bill. After that, head home. I still need to go to the factory later.”

Jiang Yuning hesitated.

“We’re just leaving all this food?”

“I’m not shameless enough to pack leftovers home.”

“But they’re not really leftovers. The chicken and fish haven’t even been touched. If you don’t want them, maybe I can take them to my little sister.”

“Just buy more food.”

“That’s such a waste.”

Seeing how stubborn she was, Xiao Liye frowned and looked up at her.

“Then how are you planning to carry it?”

Jiang Yuning carefully suggested:

“Your factory’s nearby, right? Maybe… you could go get a couple small metal containers. Half can go to my family, half to yours.”

Xiao Liye was speechless.

He had genuinely never done something like this before. Usually when discussing business with clients, entire tables of untouched dishes would simply be abandoned.

He wanted to refuse firmly, but when he caught the hopeful look in her eyes, the words that came out were:

“Then wait here. I’ll go get them now.”

Even he was startled by what he’d just said. But after freezing for only two seconds, he turned and left.

Jiang Yuning waited in the room and simply divided the dishes into two portions ahead of time to save trouble later.

When Xiao Liye returned to the factory, the cafeteria was a long hall-like room. Aside from Xiao Dahai, no one else was there. He walked straight into the kitchen.

Xiao Dahai noticed him and smiled.

“Boss, today we’ve got winter melon with pork and chili scrambled eggs. Want some? Or should I make a couple extra dishes for you?”

Xiao Liye said:

“No need. Get me two small metal containers with lids. I need them to pack food.”

Xiao Dahai went to look for them when Wang Xiangmei walked in.

“Liye, what’re you taking those for?”

Xiao Liye glanced at her and suddenly thought of something.

“Right, Second Sister-in-law, perfect timing. Jiang Yuning and I ate at a restaurant today. There’s a whole table of untouched food, and she wants to pack some for home and some for her parents’ place.

“You take our share home. I’ll buy some things afterward and count it as accompanying her back to her parents’ house. It wouldn’t look good if she only brought leftovers.”

Xiao Dahai, fat and smiling like a Buddha statue, joked:

“Looks like marriage really taught you how to live frugally.”

Xiao Liye looked a little embarrassed and said nothing.

Wang Chunyan, meanwhile, was delighted at the thought of eating good food tonight. Taking the metal containers from Xiao Dahai, she hurried to the restaurant.

Looking at the dishes already split into two portions, she immediately dumped the untouched roast chicken and braised fish from Jiang Yuning’s side into her own container.

“My third son loves these. I’m taking them.”

Jiang Yuning paused briefly. Seeing Wang Chunyan reaching for more meat dishes, she immediately grabbed the container back.

“I’m bringing these to my parents’ house. Xiao Liye already agreed.”

Wang Chunyan instantly looked displeased.

“You’re married now, yet you still want to carry everything back to your parents’ family? What, does Liye have to support your entire family too?”