The next day, Ning Guiwan handed over her work to Director Xiao. In the afternoon, she boarded a flight to the north with Director Xiao's assistant.
This trip would last for more than half a month.
During that time, only Old Madam Quan had called her. She told her that Wei Chaolian had already found a decent young man for her: the only son of the main branch of the Li Family, from the north of the city. He was not only wealthy but also well-respected in Shencheng.
What mattered most was his upright character and high level of thinking.
Wei Chaolian's phrase "high level of thinking" likely meant he didn't mind the scandals surrounding Ning Guiwan from a few years ago. After all, the incident had become such a big deal that it was impossible to keep it hidden.
In early October, Ning Guiwan flew back to Shencheng. She had barely gotten off the plane and had no time to catch her breath when she received a call from Old Madam Quan. The old madam, afraid Guiwan would refuse, had preemptively set the time and place for the meeting.
Ning Guiwan felt somewhat helpless. Not wanting to disappoint the old madam's kindness, she appeared at a hotel's Chinese restaurant in the city an hour later.
She arrived looking travel-worn, but the gentleman waiting for her by the window brightened at the sight of her.
He stood up and, like a gentleman, politely pulled out Ning Guiwan's chair, his smile irrepressible. "Miss Ning, hello. My name is Li Annan. Auntie Wei must have mentioned me to you, right?"
Ning Guiwan thanked him and sat down. Li Annan didn't hide his satisfaction with her, yet he didn't make her feel uncomfortable. He handled that emotion impeccably.
"I'm late, my apologies."
Ning Guiwan spoke with ample courtesy but little enthusiasm.
"I only arrived a short while ago myself," Li Annan said. "Auntie Wei told me you just returned from a business trip today. I should have rescheduled our meeting for another day. That was my oversight."
Li Annan was quite mature in his speech and conduct. He ordered dishes according to Ning Guiwan's taste, and once the dishes arrived, he first ladled a bowl of soup for her.
"You must be tired and hungry after traveling all day. Have some soup to soothe your stomach first."
"Thank you." Ning Guiwan smiled and took a couple of sips with a soup spoon. Then, she lifted her eyes to truly observe Li Annan. He was a man in his late twenties, average-looking, slightly chubby, with a somewhat high hairline. He was impeccably dressed in a suit and tie, appearing quite refined.
"Auntie Wei mentioned you've been developing your career abroad and only returned to the country this year?" Ning Guiwan rested an elbow on the edge of the table and asked with a smile, seeming to have gained some interest in this blind date.
Li Annan immediately picked up the conversation. "Yes. My parents passed away unexpectedly early this year. I came back to take over the company they left behind. I'll be based in the country from now on."
"I see." Ning Guiwan lowered her eyelids, casually remarking, "Mr. Li, since you haven't been in the country, you might not be aware of how people here describe me. They say I'm... wanton and malicious. Does that not bother you in the slightest, Mr. Li?"
"I've heard about your affairs, Miss Ning," he said, "but my perspective differs from that of the general public. As the saying goes, seeing is believing, while hearing can be deceiving. Besides, the media is prone to fabrication, especially entertainment reporters. Regarding the actual truth, only those directly involved know it. We outsiders are in no position to judge."
Ning Guiwan watched Li Annan silently for a moment, then suddenly laughed, her radiance captivating.
"Mr. Li, you truly have a silver tongue."
Her laugh left Li Annan utterly spellbound; he was lost in the moment for a long time. He stared at Ning Guiwan for quite a while before suddenly returning to his senses, a touch of embarrassment appearing on his face as he hurriedly used the serving chopsticks to offer her some food. "The egg yolk crab here is quite good. You should try it."
「The restaurant's second floor.」
Chi Zhengjun rested one hand on the railing, craning his neck towards a window seat on the first floor. His mouth was never idle. "Look at my grandniece here. Just one smile from her can steal a man's soul. This eldest son of the Li family, freshly returned to the country, is going to have his heart completely devoted to her from now on."
Beside him, Quan Yu stood with his suit jacket open, hands in his trouser pockets. He appeared casual and relaxed, yet his gaze towards the floor below was deep and intense, carrying a distinct chill.
Chi Zhengjun turned to glance at Quan Yu and laughed. "You know, your cousin-aunt's reputation as a 'Matchmaker God' isn't for nothing. My grandniece has a terrible reputation, but your cousin-aunt found her someone who just returned to the country and whose parents are deceased. This even spares her any potential mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts!"
Downstairs, Li Annan must have said something amusing again, as Ning Guiwan covered her mouth, laughing. The way her eyes crinkled when she smiled was particularly eye-catching.
Quan Yu's gaze darkened further. "Don't keep President Han waiting. Let's go."
He and Chi Zhengjun were collaborating on the acquisition of a large household chemical enterprise. The person in charge from the other company had arranged to meet them for a detailed discussion. Who would have guessed that the restaurant chosen would, by such a coincidence, be the very place Ning Guiwan was having her blind date.
Seeing his nonchalant reaction, Chi Zhengjun suddenly found himself unsure of Quan Yu's attitude towards Ning Guiwan.However, when Quan Yu then pressed to lower the previously negotiated acquisition price by five percentage points, pushing President Han to the verge of tears, Chi Zhengjun couldn't help but worry about that Mr. Li.
「As for Ning Guiwan, she had actually noticed Quan Yu and Chi Zhengjun much earlier. She knew they had been watching her from upstairs for a while.」
After the meal, Li Annan offered to drive her home. Ning Guiwan paused for a few seconds, then agreed with a smile.
Before she flew back to Shencheng, Director Xiao had told her to take a few days off after her return. So, Li Annan drove her directly to the Ning Family's villa estate.
Upon arrival, Li Annan suggested exchanging phone numbers for easier contact in the future, and Ning Guiwan obliged.
Back in her room after a bath, she planned to take a nap. She was just drifting off when the phone rang. Picking it up, she saw it was the landline number for the Quan family mansion.
She answered, and Old Madam Quan's joyful voice immediately came through. "Xiaowan, have you met Annan? How did it go? What do you think of him?"
Ning Guiwan gave a helpless smile. From the old madam's tone, it was clear her blind date had already given feedback to the matchmaker. "Mr. Li is a good person," she replied.
"Then you should get to know him better. Chaolian mentioned that Annan is very pleased with you. And since his parents are no longer around, he's his own master when it comes to his affairs," Old Madam Quan said suggestively.
Ning Guiwan understood the unspoken implication. With her current reputation, no matter how beautiful she was, no parents would want their son to marry such an infamous woman.
"I understand. Don't worry, Grandma Quan."
After hanging up, Old Madam Quan couldn't conceal her delight. Given Ning Guiwan's current circumstances, it was indeed difficult to find someone who was both a good social match and an outstanding individual. Li Annan was simply perfect.
"What has you so happy?"
Quan Yu's voice suddenly sounded from behind, startling the old madam.
Old Madam Quan turned and glared at her son. "When did you get back? You didn't even make a peep!"
After her light scolding, she resumed her cheerful expression. "Your cousin-aunt is so efficient! She found a suitable match for Xiaowan so quickly, and they both seem very pleased with each other. Seeing Xiaowan on her way to a happy marriage puts my mind at ease."
Quan Yu remained unimpressed. Picking up a teacup from the coffee table, he took a sip and nonchalantly deflated his mother's enthusiasm. "Suitable doesn't necessarily mean they'll last."