Chapter 1

June 17, 2025. Yuan Ying decided to go on a blind date.

That morning, she shared this decision with her best friend Fang Qiqi at the homestay she owned.

A blind date? Are you sure? Fang Qiqi looked utterly shocked.

Yuan Ying nodded. Yes, I’m sure.

Fang Qiqi stared at her for a long moment, confirming she wasn’t joking, then gulped down half a glass of iced coffee.

The icy bitterness washed down her throat, calming her nerves. Why?

Because… Yuan Ying hesitated, unsure whether to reveal the real reason.

But Fang Qiqi instantly understood. Oh, spring fever.

Yuan Ying wanted to deny it, but she had to admit the description was spot-on. After a three-second silence, she nodded.

Fang Qiqi grinned. I always thought you were completely devoted to your homestay business, living like some ascetic. Turns out you’re human after all.

Yuan Ying smiled wryly. That was true up until a month ago.

But clearly, not anymore.

Fang Qiqi slung an arm over her shoulder. Since my girl’s finally developed some earthly desires, I simply have to help.

You? Yuan Ying was surprised.

Of course! I’m the most famous matchmaker in Jinlin Town. I’ve got tons of high-quality connections, Fang Qiqi said proudly. Isn’t that why you told me? So I could help?

Yuan Ying: …

Not really. She had just been sharing her recent thoughts.

Besides, she had already signed up with the True Love Matchmaking Club in the city.

Just as she was about to explain, a commotion broke out upstairs.

They exchanged a glance, and Yuan Ying hurried toward the source of the noise on the second floor.

I don’t care, you have to change it for me.

Ma’am, it’s not that I don’t want to. But this is the fourth set of bedding I’ve changed for you. A fifth set for just a two-day stay—does that seem reasonable?

What’s unreasonable about it? I’m a customer asking you, a staff member, to change the bedding. What’s the problem?

When Yuan Ying reached the second floor, she saw Xiaoyu, the front desk staff, standing red-faced in the hallway, arguing with a guest leaning against the door.

Seeing the situation escalating, Yuan Ying stepped in. What’s going on here?

The guest spoke first. What’s going on? Your staff refuses to change the bedding. Is this how you run a business?Boss, Xiaoyu said, voice trembling with grievance, her child isn’t wearing diapers. Every time he sleeps, he wets the bed. I’ve already changed the bedding four times.

The guest immediately bristled. My child is allergic to diapers. Why are you insisting he wear one? What are you trying to do?

If you don’t want to use diapers, you can use the waterproof pads we provide.

Who knows how many people have used those pads? You might not mind, but I do.

You—

Xiaoyu, Yuan Ying interjected gently.

Xiaoyu reluctantly fell silent.

Yuan Ying then smiled at the guest. It’s just a small matter. Let’s not scare the child.

The guest instinctively glanced into the room, where her child looked frightened, and quieted down.

Xiaoyu, go get another set of bedding, Yuan Ying instructed.

Xiaoyu protested, Boss—

Go on, Yuan Ying said, patting her arm reassuringly.

Xiaoyu looked like she wanted to say more but eventually left reluctantly.

I’m sorry. She’s new to the job and still learning to be flexible. Let me apologize on her behalf, Yuan Ying said to the guest.

The guest, seeing her friendly attitude, softened his expression: I’m not an unreasonable person either, but that child keeps wetting the bed—what can I do about it?

Yes, yes, we understand completely.

Yuan Ying said a few more reassuring words and offered breakfast vouchers, finally settling the matter.

After the guest returned to his room, Yuan Ying went back to the first floor and, as expected, saw Xiaoyu sitting at the front desk, secretly wiping away tears.

Are you angry? she asked, walking over with a smile.

Not angry, just frustrated, Xiaoyu replied with a stiff face, her eyes red.

Yuan Ying patted her head. I know you’re frustrated, but when you’re running a business, it’s important to keep the peace.

You still remember we’re running a business? Xiaoyu said irritably. It’s already the off-season, and a room only costs a little over a hundred per night. Dry cleaning a quilt costs 20 yuan, a mattress 80, and after deducting utilities, we’re actually losing money on her.

It’s not that bad—we’re still making a little, Yuan Ying replied, still smiling.

Xiaoyu, disarmed by her smile, rubbed her eyes and started replying to booking inquiries.

Seeing her mood improve, Yuan Ying called Fang Qiqi, who had been watching the whole scene, and they returned to the tearoom next to the lobby.

As soon as she sat down, Fang Qiqi couldn’t help but sigh. Pacifying the guests, then comforting the staff—you’re one busy boss.

No choice. Harmony brings wealth, Yuan Ying said casually.

Fang Qiqi pursed her lips. But you can’t be too accommodating. Take that guest just now—she’s already soiled four sets of bedding. Why give her a fifth? And Xiaoyu, she shouldn’t have argued with the guest without talking to you first. That’s just not right.

Everyone has moments when they lose their temper. It’s normal, Yuan Ying said understandingly.

Fang Qiqi glanced at her. How come I’ve never seen you lose your temper?

They’d known each other for two years, and she’d never once seen Yuan Ying get angry.

…You don’t have some kind of illness that prevents you from getting angry, do you? Fang Qiqi asked skeptically.

Yuan Ying smiled. There’s no such illness.

As they chatted casually, the conversation drifted back to the topic of blind dates.

I’m not joking—I really know quite a few single men around your age. I can introduce you.

Seeing her unusually serious, Yuan Ying wavered. Really?

Fang Qiqi nodded immediately. Really.

Yuan Ying promptly took out her phone and started typing rapidly.

Fang Qiqi asked curiously, What are you doing?

Trying to get a refund from the True Love Matchmaking Club, Yuan Ying replied without looking up.

Business at the guesthouse had been slow lately—every penny counted.

Fang Qiqi: …

After a few minutes of messaging, Yuan Ying finally put down her phone.

Did you get the refund? Fang Qiqi asked.

Yuan Ying sighed regretfully. No.

Fang Qiqi picked up her phone and glanced at the screen—it was filled with polite phrases:

Please, sorry, my apologies, is it really not possible? Okay, I understand, sorry to bother you.

…No wonder they didn’t refund her.

Fang Qiqi rubbed her temples, deciding to skip over that episode and return to the previous topic. What kind of guys do you like?

I don’t have a particular type, Yuan Ying replied.

Fang Qiqi didn’t believe her. How is that possible? Everyone has preferences.

Really, I don’t, Yuan Ying insisted.

Fang Qiqi was silent for a few seconds before changing her approach. What was your ex-boyfriend like?

Yuan Ying was caught off guard by the question.

Seeing her hesitate, Fang Qiqi was shocked. Don’t tell me you’ve never been in a relationship. You’re 28, sis.

Yuan Ying quickly replied, I have been in a relationship.

What type is he then? Fang Qiqi pressed.

Yuan Ying’s mind conjured up someone’s face and abdominal muscles, along with sweat droplets rolling down during exertion and tensed thighs.

Yingying? Fang Qiqi called her name.

Yuan Ying snapped back to reality and said with a straight face: The scumbag type.

Fang Qiqi: …

Well, one could imagine how scummy he must be.

To have driven even this mild-tempered bodhisattva to curse.

Though extremely curious about what Yuan Ying had experienced in her last relationship, Fang Qiqi decided to focus on business first: Even if you don’t ahave preferred type, you must have some standards. Don’t tell me height, weight, looks don’t matter at all.

Yuan Ying sighed: I really don’t have any standards.

Right now she just wanted to find someone to date as soon as possible.

Fang Qiqi clicked her tongue: Then I’ll help you find someone according to the highest standards.

Don’t set them too high either. What if they don’t like me? Yuan Ying cautioned.

…What nonsense are you talking, Fang Qiqi said speechlessly, Don’t you ever look in the mirror?

Yuan Ying wasn’t the dazzling type, but her gentle eyes that seemed veiled in mist, her perky nose, well-shaped lips, and fair skin combined to create a consistently pleasant appearance. That such a person would worry about others not liking her…

Fang Qiqi thought she must have lost her mind.

Don’t worry, the only possibility is you rejecting others, not others rejecting you, she reassured again.

Yuan Ying thought she was being too optimistic but didn’t say anything.

After chatting a while longer, Fang Qiqi checked the time and stood up from the couch.

Alright, I need to get back to my little supermarket, she stretched, Let me go back and screen some candidates. I’ll pick the best one for you within three days.

Yuan Ying stood up too: Make it after three days.

Fang Qiqi paused: Why?

Yuan Ying: Aunt Feng took time off. I’m responsible for cleaning these few days.

Aunt Feng was the cleaning lady hired by the guesthouse.

Fang Qiqi: …I remember Aunt Feng just took a week off last month.

Yes, Yuan Ying nodded calmly.

Fang Qiqi: …

After finishing their discussion about blind dates, Fang Qiqi went on a trip the next day, while Yuan Ying took on a group booking business that filled all four rooms on the second floor.

With the cleaning lady away, she cleaned from morning till night every day, leaving no time to think about blind dates.

After three consecutive days of work, Aunt Feng finally returned.

Yuan Ying finally breathed a sigh of relief and went to bed early around seven in the evening.

Though summer solstice was approaching, Jinlin Town remained cold. Even under thick blankets, Yuan Ying didn’t feel warm.

She slept restlessly, half-dreaming that someone was pressing down on her, breathing heavily while kissing and nibbling her earlobe.

Warmth dispelled the cold, unfamiliar yet familiar sensations coursing through her body.

The person remained unrestrained, asking over and over in her ear: Like this? Do you like this?

Too heavy, she tried to push him away.

He: Mmm, you like it rougher.

Yuan Ying’s eyes snapped open.

The room was pitch black, the whole world seemed to be asleep, only her breathing remained awake.

Click.

The light turned on as Yuan Ying sat up.

This was the twelfth time this month.

For the twelfth time this month, she had dreamed of doing spring-like activities with her scumbag ex-boyfriend.

And the month was only twenty days old.

She was absolutely certain she no longer loved that bastard who had disappeared without a word.

So she was just experiencing spring fever, as Qiqi had said.

As for why she kept dreaming about that guy… it must be because she had no experience with anyone else, leaving her with no fresh material even in her dreams.

Yeah, that was all there was to it.

When these dreams first started, Yuan Ying didn’t pay them much mind, chalking it up to her own weirdness. But as they became more frequent, she couldn’t ignore them anymore—

They were too frequent, disrupting her sleep and leaving her physically uncomfortable.

She went to the hospital for a check-up and was told she was perfectly healthy. She even consulted a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner for calming herbs, but they didn’t help either.

After much thought, Yuan Ying concluded she might just be lonely and that getting a boyfriend would solve the problem.

She had originally wanted to find someone on her own.

Unfortunately, her social circle was too narrow—she didn’t know many men her age. Online dating felt unreliable, so she decided to try arranged meetings.

Thinking about arranged meetings reminded her of the three thousand yuan she’d paid to the True Love Matchmaking Club. As a B&B owner struggling with business, Yuan Ying felt a pang of heartache as she headed to the bathroom for a shower. She changed her underwear and went back to sleep.

She always slept in a bit later after these dreams, and this time was no exception.

One perk of being a B&B owner was that during slow periods, she could sleep as late as she wanted.

When Yuan Ying woke up, it was already 10:30 a.m. Her booking system showed that guests had already checked in, and there was a message from Qiqi on WeChat.

Qiqi: The match I found for you is here. Guaranteed to satisfy.

Yuan Ying paused, noticing the message was sent an hour ago. She hurriedly got up to wash up.

While changing clothes, she frantically called Qiqi, but no one answered. With no other choice, Yuan Ying headed downstairs first.

The weather was nice today, and most guests had gone out to explore. Only Xiao Yu was in the first-floor lobby.

Yuan Ying rushed downstairs in a flurry. Before she could speak, Xiao Yu pointed to the adjacent tea room: Boss, your guest.

Yuan Ying nodded and quickly pushed the door open. Sorry I’m late—

Her words trailed off as a tall figure by the tea table turned around. Unprepared, Yuan Ying met a pair of deep, dark eyes.

Their gazes locked, and Yuan Ying halted abruptly.

In response to her stunned expression, the man slowly curved his lips into a smile and leisurely spread his arms open.

Hug.