Chapter 4 Going on a blind date

Last night, she slept very well, so today she felt much more relaxed when she came to the company, almost forgetting the bizarre dreams of yesterday.

Like every time, with a cup of cappuccino and a stack of documents, Emily arrived early at the company to enjoy breakfast. However, today the atmosphere in the office seemed a bit lively, didn't it?

Emily walked to her desk and scanned what everyone was talking about today, sipping her cappuccino and listening to her female colleagues gossiping with interest.

"The guy is handsome and talented. I wish I could meet him. Just looking from afar would be enough."

"Tell us, what kind of person does he like? Do I meet his standards?"

"Oh, come on, ladies. Wealthy men like him wouldn't be interested in people like you. His family probably has high expectations for a daughter-in-law. Only a perfect match would suit their family."

Emily listened in on what her male colleagues were buzzing about.

"Being even half as successful as him would be quite challenging."

"I heard he studied abroad since childhood, became mature early, and now manages a large company. Such maturity. People like him are no different from successful foreign businessmen. Many girls must be lining up for him, and he's got wealth like a mountain, enough to last for generations."

"Is he a character from a story? I thought such all-around abilities only existed in stories and movies. Turns out there's a real person like Alex in the world."

Upon hearing the name Alex, Emily choked a bit, and it reminded her of the newspaper she read yesterday. She hurriedly stood up and asked her male colleagues:

"Who were you just talking about?"

"It's Alex. Don't you know him, Emily? Lately, he's almost in the newspapers and on TV every day." – A nearby male colleague quickly responded.

"Is he really real?"

She looked somewhat surprised, glancing at her male colleagues:

"You're kidding, Emily? Being on TV and all, is that possible to fake? Isn't he a real person?"

"Emily, you're a bit slow on catching up with the news."

She pursed her lips and sat back down, lost in thought. That vague memory rushed back to her again. She shuffled through her stack of documents to start working, trying to forget, but then helplessly let it fall back on the table, leaned back, and looked up at the ceiling, sighing.

Her mind was tired and overwhelmed.

Throughout the working day today, Emily struggled to concentrate, went to the restroom over a dozen times, and consumed more coffee than usual. She couldn't focus, and the air around her was tense due to everyone's concentration on their work.

But with each passing minute, she felt more and more engulfed in fatigue and frustration.

Feeling both helpless and stuck, she couldn't even swallow her lunch. At the adjacent lunch table, two female colleagues were discussing marital matters. The idea struck Emily, and she quickly messaged Chang to express her interest in going on a blind date.

Chang received the message, but Emily couldn't believe her eyes. It made sense, though. She had been avoiding finding a partner for years, but now she was suggesting a blind date. That must be surprising, right? To ensure Emily's determination, Chang called to confirm:

"You're not joking, are you, Emily? Why the sudden interest in going on a blind date? Or is something wrong with you? I've noticed you've been acting strange lately. Is it because you feel lonely or jealous of the couples outside?"

Emily was eating her lunch and answered the call promptly. Before she could speak, she heard a barrage of questions from the other end. She waited for Chang to finish and then responded calmly, of course, having prepared a few words to convey her polished intentions and not raise suspicions about her purpose:

"Aisss, Chang, too many questions. How can I answer them all at once? The truth is, I was too busy with work before, so I couldn't go on blind dates. Now that I have some free time, I want to explore. You know, I can't focus on two things at once. Just think, if I'm busy all the time and can't pay attention to and take care of the other person, the relationship will break quickly. Isn't it the same as having and not having at all? You have to think it through."

"That makes sense. If that's the case, I'll introduce you to a few people. Just arrange your time, and when you want to meet, let me know. Also, I'm afraid you'll change your mind halfway..." - Chang nodded, seemingly accepting Emily's explanation:

"Starting from tomorrow? I'm free tomorrow. You just arranged for me. Well, going on a date with someone new every day isn't a bad idea. It will help me find a suitable person faster." - Before Chang could finish, Emily cut in excitedly:

"Alright, alright. I'll inform the other party. Don't change your mind and leave me hanging."

Emily chuckled happily with her plan, while Chang remained the same, seeming puzzled, shrugging and not saying much, just proceeding to arrange the meet-ups for Emily.

As the dating days approached, every day Emily dressed up and put on glamorous makeup, appearing excited. However, as predicted, in the first few days, Emily was very enthusiastic and full of energy, but as the conversations went on for longer, she felt disappointed with her dates.

Delving into deeper matters, John looked at her and said with a smile:

"If we get married in the future, I hope you'll put family before your job. My mother is getting older, and her health is not good. She can't work like us, so let me handle the money, and you can take care of household chores and the family."

'What era is this, and he still holds such conservative views? My job is more important than marriage, after all, huh?'

Emily thought to herself as she continued eating. Not wanting to be judged, she answered John's questions briefly without adding more to the conversation. It continued this way until the end of the date.

Back at home, Emily was exhausted, lying on her familiar bed, feeling short of breath, making a call to Chang to say she wouldn't go on blind dates anymore, and then began to contemplate. Lying on the comfortable bed, she couldn't find a good night's sleep. She tossed and turned, causing a headache she couldn't bear.

Finally, Emily decided to go for a sauna tomorrow to relax.

Another day passed; today was already Sunday. As planned yesterday, after lunch outside, Emily headed straight to the sauna room that Chang used to take her to.

Just after changing into sauna attire, she took a few steps out and was surrounded by a group of people in black, blocking her path. She was startled and took a few steps back.

What's happening?

Before she could comprehend the strange situation unfolding, Alex slowly

appeared among the bodyguards, stepping forward to stand in front of her.