"Miss Wen, we're still working on the investigation, but so far we haven't found any clues. I'll notify you immediately once there's any news."
…
After the call ended, Wen Ran's mood plummeted. Thinking of her deceased parents and her brother who remained unconscious in the hospital, a deep sorrow welled up inside her.
Just as she was lost in her grief, the office door suddenly swung open. Bai Xiaoxiao's voice came from the doorway, "Ranran, hurry up and get ready—come with me for a blind date at noon. Hey, what's wrong with you?"
Bai Xiaoxiao strode over to Wen Ran's desk and fixed her tear-filled eyes with a look of concern.
Wen Ran forced herself to push aside her sadness, shaking her head and replying in a flat tone, "It's nothing. So, who are you meeting?"
Bai Xiaoxiao frowned slightly, guessing that Wen Ran must be thinking of her parents, so she didn't press further. Instead, she cheerfully said, "I'm meeting a man. I also want to find a good man—just like you, I'm all for a flash marriage."
"Are you sure you're not running a fever?"
Wen Ran stepped away from her desk, walking over to Bai Xiaoxiao, and reached out to feel her forehead.
Bai Xiaoxiao scolded her playfully, swatting her hand away: "You're the one with a fever! Besides, since your Mo Xiuchen hasn't returned from his business trip, you won't have anyone to keep you company at lunch. So, come with me on this blind date—just help me out with some advice, okay?"
Wen Ran glared at her and asked seriously, "Are you really going to go on a blind date?"
Bai Xiaoxiao nodded emphatically, declaring with conviction, "As true as gold—hurry up and pack your things. Let's go right now."
"Who's the other party, and where have you arranged to meet?"
Wen Ran turned around while gathering some files and inquired. Bai Xiaoxiao answered one by one, but from her responses, Wen Ran sensed that Bai Xiaoxiao's blind date wasn't entirely sincere.
Sure enough, when they arrived at Yipin Xuan, Wen Ran finally realized that Bai Xiaoxiao's true intention wasn't the date at all.
In the second-floor lobby, Xiao Yuting and a sexy woman were having a romantic meal. They were chatting away, and the woman laughed seductively—so much so that Bai Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth in envy.
"Ranran, you go to table 10 and handle things for me there. I'll be back in a bit."
Bai Xiaoxiao snorted and tossed a remark over her shoulder as she strode off in their direction.
"Xiaoxiao…"
Wen Ran frowned in surprise as she watched Bai Xiaoxiao's departing back. After a moment, resigned, she headed to table 10 to deal with the man set up on the blind date.
Had she known that Bai Xiaoxiao was just using the blind date as a pretext to meet Xiao Yuting—and had treated the role of a third wheel more diligently than anyone—Wen Ran would never have agreed to come along.
Because the bespectacled man who was set up with her turned out to be an absolute nightmare. When she introduced herself as Bai Xiaoxiao's friend, the man immediately declared that he liked women just like her—before she could even speak, he went on listing his family's entire lineage:
"...Miss Wen, since fate has brought us together, why don't you spend some time with me? Here's my bank card, my gym membership... Miss Wen, don't go—let me finish what I have to say…"
Seeing Wen Ran rise to leave, the bespectacled man hurriedly stood up. His tall figure blocked Wen Ran's path as he thrust various cards into her hand.
Wen Ran furrowed her brows, utterly exasperated with this wretched man, and said in a stern tone, "I'm already married. You'd better look for someone else."
"Miss Wen, you're so young—how could you possibly be married?"
The man, refusing to believe her and thinking she was just playing along, grabbed her hand in excitement. Wen Ran, already glancing over at Bai Xiaoxiao and Xiao Yuting, was startled by his sudden action. Her clear, delicate cheeks flushed as she asked sharply, "What are you doing?"