Lin Shuang stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. The relentless ringing of her phone finally stopped, leaving four missed calls on the screen.
She had changed her phone number since moving back to Beiquan. With only a handful of contacts in her phone book, there was no doubt that the person who kept calling her was her aunt.
Ten minutes later, Lin Shuang called back and heard her aunt’s eager voice.
“Hello, Shuang, there’s a nice young man I want you to meet. Do you have time to see him...?”
Great, another blind date.
“Auntie, why can’t you give it a rest? I’m really busy and don’t have time for dating.”
“Busy with what? Have you started working?”
“No, just staying at home.”
“You’ve been back for so long and still haven’t found a job. What are your plans for the future?” Her aunt shifted the conversation to her work situation. “The position your uncle arranged for you, you quit after two days. Then, you refused the office job because you found nine-to-five work too tiring. Shuang, you’re a young woman. It’s better to be in Beiquan than drifting around outside. But now that you’re back home, you shouldn’t aim too high. You need to live a steady life.”
For the past six months, Lin Shuang had been staying at home, playing video games and sleeping in. Her aunt was anxious, constantly trying to persuade her, but Lin Shuang remained unmoved, determined to enjoy her lazy lifestyle.
“That’s just how I am. Auntie, can you please stop worrying about me?” Lin Shuang nonchalantly grabbed a cigarette from the pack on the table. “Even my mom doesn’t bother me about this, so why do you?”
“If your mom doesn’t care, then as your aunt, I have to.” Her aunt responded strongly, “This time, the young man is really nice. You must meet him and have a good talk.”
Lin Shuang mocked, “He’s not another divorced guy with a kid, is he? Please spare me, Auntie. I don’t want to be a stepmother.”
“That’s nonsense!” Her aunt was fuming on the other end. “Watch your mouth! You’ve scared off so many people with your careless words. If you keep it up, I’ll really have to come over and shut you up.”
“This one was introduced by our department head. I heard he’s quite good—a teacher, no family burdens, upright, and ambitious...”
Her aunt went on and on, while Lin Shuang listened absentmindedly. Half an hour later, her aunt forwarded a WeChat message to her.
Zhou Zheng, 26 years old, local, a math teacher at Beiquan High School, graduated from a top-tier university, good-looking, trustworthy, and with both parents deceased.
She sneered—“both parents deceased” equals “no family burdens.” What kind of logic is that from the matchmaker?
Unable to resist her aunt’s persistence, Lin Shuang relented. The next day at noon, she received a call from an unknown number.
When she answered, a young man’s slightly hoarse voice came through after a brief pause, “Hello... Is this Lin Shuang? I’m Zhou Zheng. I was given your number by Aunt Lin...”
She was in the middle of playing a mobile game and cut him off, “A blind date, right? I’m free Saturday morning around ten. Does that work for you?”
“Yes, that works. So where should we meet...?” The man waited for her to decide.
“There’s a coffee shop on the first floor of Fountain Plaza. Do you know it? Let’s meet there.”
“Okay.” He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “Let’s stay in touch. See you on Saturday.”
After the call ended, a WeChat friend request popped up two minutes later. The profile picture showed a sunrise emerging from a sea of clouds, with the note: “Hello, I’m Zhou Zheng.”
Lin Shuang slid past the notification, ignoring the friend request.
Fountain Plaza was in the city center of the old district, the first mall in Beiquan City. The plaza featured musical fountains and was a popular spot for locals to eat, drink, shop, and even dance. It was only a ten-minute walk from Lin Shuang’s home.
It had rained the previous night, leaving the air feeling fresh and damp. Lin Shuang sat outside the café, waiting for her date. She wore a light, soft apricot-red turtleneck cashmere sweater, paired with black pencil pants and high-heeled ankle boots, making her look like a flowing, elegant painting. Her long, straight legs were visually striking, and passersby couldn’t help but take a second glance.
What caught even more attention was her flawless, stunning face—a beauty that stood out in a crowd, with perfect bone structure and harmoniously balanced features. Her thick, curly hair, delicate eyebrows, and red lips added to her allure.
She crossed her legs and curled up in the wicker chair, engrossed in her game, completely oblivious to the stares around her—or perhaps she was just used to them.
At exactly 10:00 AM, the musical fountain at Fountain Plaza began to spray. Someone walked by her, and out of the corner of her eye, she noticed black dress pants and leather shoes.
Both the style and quality of the clothes and shoes were questionable.
The man’s shoes pointed firmly toward her. Lin Shuang looked up to see a stranger in a dark blue shirt. He wasn’t particularly tall or short, with a lean build and a buzz cut. His face was decently attractive, exuding a scholarly, slightly introverted air. However, without glasses, he didn’t quite fit the image of a math teacher.
It was a warm spring day in April, neither hot nor cold, yet the fabric of his shirt was thick and stiff, with a poorly tailored cut that made him appear awkward and subdued. His sleeves were rolled up in layers to his elbows, revealing a well-toned arm with prominent bones.
The man extended a hand into her line of sight. His voice, slightly raspy, matched the one on the phone, like a soft-edged green leaf: "Hello, Lin Shuang..."
“I’m Zhou Zheng.”
The name Zhou Zheng, spoken by him, was simple and clean, without any hint of pretense—straightforward and memorable.
“Hello, Mr. Zhou,” she said, not changing her relaxed posture as she lounged in the chair, smiling and pointing to the seat opposite her.
“Please, have a seat.”
The man withdrew his hand and glanced at the empty table. “Would you like something to drink, Miss Lin? I can place an order.”
“A cappuccino with cream, please. Thank you.”
A few minutes later, he returned with a coffee for her and a glass of water for himself. He placed the coffee in front of her and kept the water for himself.
“Thank you.”
Lin Shuang noticed the slight steam rising from the glass of water. “Mr. Zhou, you don’t drink coffee?”
“I’m not used to it,” he replied, lips pressed together. “Plain water is fine.”
“Teachers often have trouble with their throats. It’s good to drink plenty of warm water,” Lin Shuang said, smiling in understanding.
The atmosphere was lukewarm, and their conversation followed suit.
“Do you teach at Beiquan High School, Mr. Zhou? What grade?”
“Yes, I teach seniors.”
“That’s my alma mater. You must be very capable, Mr. Zhou.”
“I graduated from there too.”
“What a coincidence, we’re even alumni.”
Beiquan High School was the only good high school in Beiquan City, one of the top ten in the province. Its teaching quality was renowned in the surrounding counties and cities, with a large annual intake of students. Most college graduates from Beiquan City had likely passed through its doors.
Lin Shuang had been an average student in high school and didn’t feel much nostalgia for the school.
“Are you from Beiquan as well, Mr. Zhou? Which part of the city do you live in—East or West?”
“My home isn’t in the city. It’s in a village near the eastern slope of Lianhua Peak, a small town under Beiquan.”
Lianhua Peak was the highest peak in the Beiquan area, not very close to the city. It was a locally famous scenic spot and a pilgrimage site for hiking enthusiasts.
“Isn’t it quite a distance for you to go home, Mr. Zhou?”
“Not too far, about an hour by bus.”
Lin Shuang responded with a long “Oh.”
Their conversation continued in a question-and-answer format, like filling out a questionnaire. Lin Shuang would pose a question, and Zhou Zheng would answer. Perhaps because he was a teacher, his speech was calm and measured, with a comfortable rhythm. He was emotionally steady, and his words were honest, without any embellishment or artifice.
“I’ve heard that teachers are quite popular in the dating market, especially those from Beiquan High School. Why would a teacher like you still need to go on blind dates?”
Zhou Zheng’s expression darkened slightly as he replied slowly, “Work has kept me busy... I haven’t met the right person yet.”
Lin Shuang smiled faintly and took a sip of her coffee without saying anything.
She knew the issue with this male teacher: no house, no car, still renting a place, and a grandmother back home who depended on him for support. His family background was a significant drawback in the dating scene. In other words, he was more of a poor guy than a potential success story at the moment.
The mall’s sound system started playing a song she liked, and Lin Shuang’s mind drifted along with the music.
Condensation formed on her coffee cup, and droplets of water slowly trickled onto the table. Lin Shuang, looking relaxed, lazily traced patterns on the table with her finger, dipping it in the water.
Zhou Zheng noticed her colorful, glossy nails.
“I’m not sure if my aunt told you, but I’m 26 years old. My parents are divorced, and I attended a third-rate university in the provincial capital. After graduation, I worked out of town and only returned last winter, planning to settle down in Beiquan.”
“She did mention that. I know all about it.” Zhou Zheng nodded.
Lin Shuang leaned back in her chair, pulled out a cigarette case from her bag, and waved it in her hand, looking at him with a sultry gaze. “Do you mind?”
He glanced at the colorful cigarette case and shook his head.
Red lips holding a slim cigarette, Lin Shuang expertly lit it and took a deep drag. She held the cigarette between her fingers and asked him, “Do you smoke, Mr. Zhou?”
“I don’t smoke or drink.”
“That’s good—healthy and long-lived.” She smiled, her face alluring and vibrant in the wisps of smoke.
“I’ve asked you a lot of questions, Mr. Zhou, so let me tell you a bit about myself.”
“After my parents divorced, I lived with my father. Both my parents remarried and had new children. A few years ago, my father got into trouble and ended up in prison for an economic crime. He’s still serving an eight-year sentence.”
“They left me an old house, not worth much. I don’t have many skills, and working outside was too exhausting. Coming back home, I’ve been living like a bum for the past six months.”
“I’ve had a few boyfriends before. I’m a DINK (Dual Income, No Kids) advocate and don’t plan on having children.”
“I’m a pretty shallow person, very vain, and I don’t have any lofty aspirations. I just want to live a relaxed, carefree life.”
Her implications were clear.
The slender cigarette was half-smoked, the butt stained with lipstick. Lin Shuang stubbed it out in a paper cup, then adjusted her posture, sitting up straight and looking directly at the man in front of her. “Do you have anything you want to say, Mr. Zhou?”
“Not really,” he said calmly, meeting her gaze.
“In that case... Mr. Zhou, I have something else to attend to. Shall we say goodbye?” Lin Shuang raised an eyebrow, got up from her chair, and grabbed her bag, ready to leave.
Zhou Zheng stood up as well.
“Oh, by the way.” She slung her purse over her shoulder and pointed at the cuff of his shirt. “It looks like there’s some dust on your sleeve.”
“It’s chalk dust from the blackboard.” He glanced down and brushed off his sleeve. “Sorry about that, I came straight from class.”
“Saturday classes, a fine tradition at Beiquan High School. It must be tough on you, Mr. Zhou.” Lin Shuang smiled and waved goodbye. “Goodbye, Mr. Zhou.”
Zhou Zheng watched her walk away. Her chestnut-colored wavy hair shimmered, her shoulders were straight, her waist slender, and her long legs moved with grace. Her face was strikingly beautiful, the kind that leaves a lasting impression.
Lin Shuang headed to the nail salon on the third floor of the plaza. It was owned by her middle school classmate, Miao Cai. Lin Shuang had an appointment at 11:30 AM, but since the blind date only took half an hour, she arrived at the salon an hour early.
“Are you free now? If not, I can go home and come back later.”
Saturdays were the busiest days for the nail salon, with all the nail technicians occupied. Miao Cai ushered her into the back lounge. “For you, there’s always time. I’ll personally take care of our VIP.”
In her hometown, there weren’t many leisure activities, and Lin Shuang had become a regular at the nail salon over the past six months, gradually becoming close with Miao Cai.
“What time did you go to bed last night?” Miao Cai noticed she looked a bit tired. “It’s rare for you to be out at this hour on a weekend.”
“Went to bed at 2 AM.” She yawned. “I was on a blind date at the café downstairs.”
“Another blind date?” Miao Cai’s eyes lit up. “Who was it this time? How did it go?”
“Not great.” Lin Shuang popped a mint into her mouth. “A teacher from Beiquan High School.”
“A teacher, huh?” Miao Cai’s interest spiked as she started counting on her fingers. “Civil servants, bank employees, teachers, doctors—those are the big four in the dating market. What was he like? How did you feel about him?”
Lin Shuang was indifferent, brushing off the question with a simple reply: “He was ordinary. Kind of boring, really. We chatted for a bit and then parted ways.”
Miao Cai’s excitement faded. “Another dud?”
“Yeah, another dud.”
“Your standards are way too high. Beiquan is so small, with so few people of the right age. Where are you going to find someone who meets your expectations? Why not reconsider some of our old classmates? Since you’ve been back, quite a few have been interested in you. They’ve asked about you endlessly when they visit the salon. They’re all decent guys. Are you really not interested in any of them?”
Lin Shuang hadn’t returned to Beiquan City in years and had long vanished from her former classmates' social circles. Last Chinese New Year, Miao Cai had posted a photo with Lin Shuang on social media, causing quite a stir among the male classmates.
“Not interested.” Lin Shuang lowered her eyes, delicately extending her fingers. “I just don’t feel like getting involved.”
After her nails were done, it was nearly noon. Lin Shuang and Miao Cai went out for a mutton hotpot, and afterward, Lin Shuang watched a movie on her own. By the time she left the cinema, it was 5:30 PM. The sky was still bright, though the sun was setting. The streetlights hadn’t yet turned on, and the crimson sunset was at its most vibrant. She stood under a tree, smoking a cigarette, her silhouette swaying like a poppy in the wind—radiant and alluring.
A group of teenagers, around 18 or 19 years old, passed by, then doubled back. One of them, holding a cigarette, walked up to her with a cheeky grin and asked for a light. Lin Shuang glanced at him, a smile playing on her lips, and casually said, “No.”
The young man grinned, undeterred. “Come on, beautiful. Just a little favor?”
“There's a convenience store two meters behind you. A lighter costs a buck.” She stubbed out her cigarette and walked away with long strides. “You’re welcome.”
Lin Shuang picked up a beef noodle takeout on her way home. The narrow alley leading to her place was cluttered with parked electric scooters, and the gray, concrete buildings on either side were grimy. She entered the dimly lit stairwell, its whitewashed walls plastered with messy advertisements. The narrow, steep stairs were worn shiny from countless footsteps, and the half-rusted railings left a dusty residue on her hand.
She stopped on the third floor, found her key, and unlocked the door. Kicking off her boots at the entrance, she slipped into her slippers.
Realizing she’d forgotten to pick up disposable chopsticks with her beef noodles, Lin Shuang rummaged through the kitchen drawers. She’d been eating takeout for the past six months since moving back home, so the kitchen was sparsely equipped, with just two bowls and a pair of chopsticks. Finally, she found a moldy pair of bamboo chopsticks in the sink and had to use a plastic fork from a cup of instant noodles instead.
That evening, her aunt called again, but Lin Shuang ignored the call and replied with a text message.
I’ve met him. He’s alright, but I’m not interested.
Her phone immediately buzzed with seven or eight long-winded texts from her aunt. Lin Shuang didn’t bother reading them, just cleared the chat history in one go.