Kindness mistaken for ill intent

"Tch... If your mutt saw a tiger, it would be scared out of its wits!"

At that moment, the pit bull, trotting out energetically, seemed to understand Chen Anquan’s disdainful words. It stuck close to Chen Juanjuan’s side, baring its teeth at Chen Anquan.

But it only bared its teeth, not daring to make a single threatening sound.

It was as obedient as a little monkey...

"Wait a second!"

Suddenly, Chen Juanjuan stopped in her tracks, turned around, and started jogging back. "Anquan, I just remembered—we need to bring a few things for the hike. You wait for me here!"

Before Chen Anquan could react, Chen Juanjuan had already disappeared from sight.

Now, only Chen Anquan remained in the courtyard, along with the pit bull who had long since been frightened into obedience.

Bored, Chen Anquan looked down at the dog beside him. "Hey there, mutt."

Whimper, whimper!

The pit bull froze, then, as if it had four-wheel drive, backed away rapidly.

Bang!

Yelp!

It retreated so fast that it crashed straight into the wall, curling all four legs in and eyeing Chen Anquan warily, like a shrimp pulled tight.

Its simple dog brain already recognized Chen Anquan as half its master, but the trauma from getting a thorough beating the day before still lingered, spanning several square kilometers in its mind.

No matter how hard it tried, it couldn't shake the fear.

"Don't be scared! Listen, mutt, there really are wild boars up in those mountains. I heard pit bulls are hunting dogs too. Whether or not we’ll get to eat wild boar later depends on you!"

The pit bull kept its gaze fixed on Chen Anquan, but when it heard mention of wild boars, something wild and manic seemed to awaken within it. Suddenly, it looked toward Ao Bei Mountain, its mouth agape, drooling hungrily.

"Have you been there before?"

The dog's reaction was a bit much. It wasn’t exactly known for its intelligence—how could it possibly understand words like "Ao Bei Mountain" or "wild boar"?

Chen Anquan stared at the pit bull, but the dog’s innocent eyes betrayed nothing unusual.

Shaking his head, Chen Anquan turned to look at the gate of the courtyard.

Zhao Xuan and the other two were still waiting for his interview over at the basketball court.

"Maybe I should just go over and start the interview now. Juanjuan’s not coming back that soon anyway," he thought to himself.

He called to the dog, "Come on, mutt, follow me."

Without waiting for the pit bull to catch up, he walked out the gate.

The dog hesitated, watching his departing figure, but eventually followed, though with some reluctance.

And so, man and dog headed toward the basketball court.

"This Chen Anquan is really dragging his feet!" On the court, a short-haired woman shivered in the cold wind, her expression sour as she started to complain.

"Hua, there must be a reason he’s delayed," Zhao Xuan tried to explain.

"It takes him this long just to eat breakfast? Maybe he took a dump afterward too!" Even after Zhao Xuan’s explanation, the short-haired woman continued grumbling.

"Seriously, Hua, how does your mind even go there?" Zhao Xuan was speechless.

She was the one who wanted a boyfriend, and Zhao Xuan had even filled her in on Chen Anquan's situation. At the time, Hua was so interested, but now that they’d come here, she was full of complaints.

Zhao Xuan recalled a story she’d once heard: a college girl fell for a handsome, sunny guy, even though he came from a poor mountain village. She’d said, "No matter, I’ll struggle alongside you." But after graduation, when she actually visited his mountain home, she ran off the very first night.

Reality was always harsher than your romantic daydreams.

"Well, what do you expect? Sure, Chen Anquan is good-looking, but his family situation is obviously worrying. At the very least, both parents should have pensions, right? Or maybe an apartment in town and a car worth over a hundred thousand."

"..."

Zhao Xuan was at a loss for words.

Clearly, she never should have tried matchmaking. Hua was just too much...

She no longer wanted to reply, so she simply stared off in the direction Chen Anquan had gone, muttering under her breath, "Anquan, why aren’t you here yet? Are you really just having breakfast?"

"Hua, let’s go over and have a look," Zhao Xuan suggested.

"Why bother? Chen Anquan has no manners! He goes off to eat breakfast and doesn’t even invite us inside to rest. We’re left out here in the cold, shivering away. It’s miserable!"

"Yeah, sorry, I shouldn’t have brought you here," Zhao Xuan apologized, feeling a bit ashamed.

I really shouldn’t have tried to set you up, she fumed inwardly.

But she kept quiet, not wanting to stir up trouble.

"Oh, come on, Zhao Xuan, thank you anyway for being so considerate and trying to set me up. My family’s been pressuring me, or I’d be taking my time. Honestly, if Chen Anquan hadn’t been fired, I might have considered him."

"...?"

Zhao Xuan was bewildered.

Hua, what do you mean? Changing your mind again?

Zhao Xuan forced a smile. "Actually, after a few years, he could go back to working at a hospital. Maybe not the County People’s Hospital, but the County Traditional Medicine Hospital or a township clinic would still be possible."

"Hmph!" The short-haired woman snorted, frustrated. "And what good would that do? Still just a temp!"

"But aren’t you a temp too?"

"My parents are both retired from the broadcasting bureau. Becoming a permanent staff member is only a matter of time for me!"

Is that so? Zhao Xuan didn’t bother to point out the truth. Back when they’d taken the civil service exam together, she’d passed, but Hua hadn’t. Hua had tried several more times afterward, but never made it.

"Zhao Xuan, since you know Chen Anquan so well, if his circumstances are so good, why don’t you go for him yourself?"

The question left Zhao Xuan completely speechless.

"I’m not that close with him, honestly. I just did my homework because I needed to interview him. Besides, I—"

"You what?" The short-haired woman looked at her suspiciously. "You don’t even want him yourself, so you introduce him to me. No wonder my mom always says you can’t trust matchmakers whose own daughters or nieces aren’t married!"

"Why not?" Zhao Xuan was confused.

"Because they save the good men for themselves and their families, obviously."

"Is that really how it works?" Suddenly, Zhao Xuan felt a pang in her heart—stung by her companion’s words.

So, in your mind, I set you up with Chen Anquan because I don't want him myself?

Damn it, I only introduced him because I thought he was excellent, and you go and paint me as the villain!

Zhao Xuan seethed inwardly...

Next time, not for anything in the world will I play matchmaker for you!

"Zhao Xuan, beauty, the two of you have been waiting long enough." Just then, Chen Anquan appeared not far away.