Zhao Xueqing knew Li Xiang was a major influencer with over two million followers. ’Should I agree to this?’

’If I agree, maybe I’ll get famous just by showing my face. Even if the blind date is a bust, it’s no loss for me.’

’It’s just... a little embarrassing. Who just shows up at their blind date’s house? We’re not nearly at that stage yet.’

Li Xiang said, "I’m sincerely inviting you. And, there’s an appearance fee. For someone with your refined temperament, who is also an inheritor of an intangible cultural heritage, how about a 2,000 yuan appearance fee? I hope you don’t think it’s too little."

"Oh, that’s not a small amount at all." Zhao Xueqing was delighted and quickly agreed, thinking, ’Wow, what a sweet deal.’ 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Li Xiang was overjoyed. They chatted for a little longer, and then he took his leave.

Actually, Li Xiang also wanted to recruit Zhao Xueqing to work at the Li Family Village tourist site in the future. He planned to become the village chief, develop tourism, and turn Li Family Village into a viral destination. That would definitely require tea houses, coffee shops, and boba shops. Conveniently, Zhao Xueqing knew how to run all of them, making her a rare talent.

She could perform the long-spout Kung Fu Tea ceremony, an intangible cultural heritage, and she was beautiful. It would be a huge loss not to recruit her. But since nothing was set in stone yet, he didn’t bring it up.

Anyway, they had already added each other on WeChat. He’d bring it up again later when the time was right.

When they reached the village entrance, Jiang Cai’Er suddenly said, "Brother, I think I left something at their house. I’m going to run back for a second."

"Want me to go get it for you?" Li Xiang offered.

Jiang Cai’Er quickly waved her hands. "No, no, I can get it myself. You wait here for me."

Then she turned her electric scooter around and headed back.

Li Xiang waited for her right where he was.

Jiang Cai’Er rode for a bit and deliberately glanced back. Seeing that Li Xiang hadn’t followed her, she finally relaxed.

She arrived at Zhao Xueqing’s house, and naturally, Zhao Xueqing was surprised to see the girl who had just left and now returned.

"Hi, Big Sis!" Jiang Cai’Er greeted her sweetly.

"Hi, Little Sis. Is something the matter?" Zhao Xueqing asked with a captivating smile.

"Mhm, I have a little secret I want to share with you."

So, Jiang Cai’Er leaned in and whispered a few words into the bright, beautiful girl’s ear.

"Huh?"

After listening, Zhao Xueqing blinked. ’As if I’d believe you,’ she thought. ’You seemed so close with Li Xiang just now, yet you came all the way back just to bad-mouth him. Are you looking out for me, or for yourself?’

Whenever one woman bad-mouths a man she’s close with to another woman, it’s always... because she’s being possessive! ’You little brat, don’t tell me you have a secret crush on your Brother Li Xiang?’

So, Zhao Xueqing asked tentatively, "In that case, should I still go to your village’s gala?"

Jiang Cai’Er quickly said, "Of course, you should go!" She was afraid of messing up her brother’s actual plans.

Seeing Zhao Xueqing’s surprise, she hurriedly explained, "Hey, with a scumbag like him, it’s good to get some money out of him. You know how easily these influencers make money. Besides, the influencer circle is basically part of the entertainment industry—it’s a total mess. Just take the appearance fee, but whatever you do, don’t be a fool and get yourself emotionally invested."

Zhao Xueqing put on a grateful expression and nodded as if in deep agreement. But as she watched Jiang Cai’Er’s retreating back, she gave a slight pout. She was certain that Jiang Cai’Er said the same thing to every one of his blind dates. ’But this little brat’s tricks are too shallow. She might be able to fool those silly women, but she can’t fool me.’

’I’m sharp as a tack. How could I fall for your trap?’

There’s a saying that goes, "Guard against fire, guard against thieves, and guard against your best friend." It means smart women will always bad-mouth their own men in front of their friends; only naive fools would endlessly praise theirs. If you even have to guard against your best friends, you naturally have to be even more careful with a strange woman. ’This Jiang Cai’Er is definitely wary of me.’

...

"Brother, Zhao Xueqing is getting a 2,000 yuan appearance fee. Since I’m one of your own, shouldn’t I get a little more?" After coming out and meeting up with Li Xiang, Jiang Cai’Er felt a little guilty, so she shrugged and tried to joke around.

"If you’re one of my own, why would you need to get paid?" Li Xiang said.

"Then I won’t perform! How can you favor her over me? Hmph. Is it because you and Zhao Xueqing are a perfect match for that saying about ’feelings’ and ’propriety’?" Jiang Cai’Er’s nose tingled, and she felt tears welling up in her eyes.

"Whoa, how can you just cry on command? Fine, fine, I’ll give you a big 3,000 yuan red envelope then."

"Hee hee, I knew it! Brother spoils me the most!" Jiang Cai’Er was finally satisfied. In truth, it wasn’t that she needed the money; she just didn’t want to lose to Zhao Xueqing.

Whatever Zhao Xueqing got, she had to have it too!

"What were you just saying about ’feelings’ and ’propriety’? What does that even mean? Don’t just spout nonsense," Li Xiang warned.

This blind date probably wasn’t going to work out anyway. Although Zhao Xueqing was beautiful, he didn’t really feel much for her. She was the type who was too pure—nice to look at, but she didn’t stir any desire in him.

He could see them as friends or like a sister, but he didn’t feel any spark for her as a wife or lover. It was a strange thing; it wasn’t as if just any beautiful woman could move his heart.

In the countryside, reputation was taken very seriously. It was best if a failed blind date could end in friendship; causing any negative repercussions would be bad.

"Her name is *Qing*. Your name is *Li*. Get it?" Jiang Cai’Er said unhappily.

"What in the world? How does your brain even come up with this stuff?" Li Xiang was speechless. She was actually making a pun based on their names. ’Still, Jiang Cai’Er is really clever to even think of that.’

After a few more blind dates, Li Xiang truly couldn’t be bothered to go anymore. In any case, he had gone through enough of them to fulfill his obligation. His grandmother couldn’t force him anymore, and he had saved face with all the various matchmakers.

Besides, there’s no guarantee a blind date will work out, right?