Trending topic alert: The mysterious fan site administrator of a top celebrity has been exposed.

A few days later, Chu Yi had just finished a surgery and changed out of her scrubs when she received a call from Chu Ruoyin.

Her tone on the phone remained cold. She simply informed him that he could make time to meet Xie Huaiming, the second young master of the Xie family, over the weekend at an elegant members-only tea room.

Chu Yi held his phone, silent for a few seconds. He knew what this meant; his mother's words that day hadn't been just a casual remark. He ultimately didn't argue, only replying softly, "I understand."

It was a sunny weekend afternoon. Chu Yi arrived at the teahouse hidden deep in the bamboo forest on time. He was led to a quiet private room by a waiter dressed in an elegant cheongsam.

I pushed open the door, and the person inside was already there.

Xie Huaiming looked up at the sound. He was wearing a well-tailored light gray suit, without a tie, and the top button of his shirt was casually undone, making him look both formal and relaxed.

He was looking at his phone, his brows furrowed with a hint of weariness from just escaping from a busy work schedule, seemingly not expecting much from this arranged meeting.

However, when his gaze fell on Chu Yi who walked in, his weariness was instantly replaced by surprise, which then turned into undisguised amazement.

Today, Chu Yi wore only a simple white cotton shirt and light-colored casual trousers, still carrying the clean scent of the outdoor sunshine. His soft hair fell over his forehead, further emphasizing his fair complexion and refined demeanor.

He is like a delicate ink painting, completely different from the arrogance or slickness commonly found in this glamorous circle. He is calm, reserved, yet extremely strikingly beautiful.

Xie Huaiming stood up almost immediately, his previously formulaic smile becoming much more sincere, and he extended his hand proactively: "Dr. Chu? Hello, I'm Xie Huaiming. It's an honor to meet you."

Chu Yi nodded slightly, reached out and gently shook his hand before letting go, her fingertips slightly cool: "Mr. Xie, hello."

His voice was clear and calm, revealing little emotion.

The two sat down. A waiter quietly entered and brewed a pot of fine Jin Jun Mei tea. The fragrant aroma of the tea temporarily eased the slight awkwardness of their first meeting.

Xie Huaiming broke the silence first, shaking his head with a smile, his tone tinged with self-deprecation and candor: "To be honest, before I came here, my mother kept telling me how outstanding the second young master of the Cheng family was, and I was thinking that he was just another spoiled brat from another family that I needed to deal with... But after meeting Dr. Chu today, I realized that I was being narrow-minded."

His gaze fell on Chu Yi's face, filled with appreciation: "Dr. Chu is very different from what I imagined."

Chu Yi picked up his teacup, the rising steam blurring his overly calm expression. He gently blew on it, took a sip, and then looked up at Xie Huaiming, his tone still indifferent: "Mr. Xie, you flatter me. I'm just an ordinary person."

"Anyone who can earn a doctorate and still wield a scalpel on the operating table is no ordinary person." Xie Huaiming leaned forward slightly, looking very interested. "Especially in our field, those who can calmly focus on scholarship and technology are extremely rare. I truly admire them."

He spoke sincerely, not evasively. He had just returned from abroad to take over the family pharmaceutical company and knew the importance of technology and research and development, and he also valued truly talented people.

Chu Yi undoubtedly fits all of these criteria, not to mention his outstanding appearance and calm demeanor.

The conversation that followed was guided by Xie Huaiming.

He is witty and knowledgeable, and can talk about everything from the latest developments in the medical industry to interesting stories from abroad, without making people feel bored or pressured.

Xie Huaiming was clearly very interested in Chu Yi, and most of his questions revolved around Chu Yi's work and studies. He handled the situation with perfect tact and did not touch on any uncomfortable private matters.

Chu Yi was mostly a quiet listener, occasionally offering a few words of reply that were concise yet always to the point, revealing a sharpness and depth that belied his appearance. He wasn't overly enthusiastic, but he maintained good manners and politeness, ensuring no one felt neglected.

Xie Huaiming watched as he lowered his eyes to pour tea, his long eyelashes gleaming, and his eyes occasionally shining as he talked about his professional field. His interest grew stronger.

He originally thought this was just an inevitable and boring family gathering, but he never expected to actually meet such a special "breath of fresh air".

"Does Dr. Chu have any hobbies? You must work very hard outside of work, so you must need to relax sometimes," Xie Huaiming asked with a smile, trying to learn more.

Chu Yi put down her teacup, thought for a moment, and replied, "I'm a rather indifferent person, and I don't have any particular hobbies."

Just as he finished speaking, Chu Yi's phone vibrated in his pocket, the buzzing sound seeming somewhat abrupt in the quiet tea room.

He took it out and saw the words "Qi Yuan" flashing on the screen.

Chu Yi frowned slightly and gave Xie Huaiming an apologetic look: "Excuse me, Mr. Xie, I need to take this call."

"Please go ahead." Xie Huaiming smiled and nodded, his demeanor remaining composed.

Chu Yi had just pressed the answer button and hadn't even had a chance to bring the phone to her ear when Qi Yuan's incredibly loud and excited voice exploded out. Even Xie Huaiming, sitting opposite her, could vaguely hear a few keywords.

"Xiao Yi! Brother Yi! My good brother! Quickly tell Brother Ying! Did you agree to invest in my health tea? One million! Right?! Tell him now! He doesn't believe me! He insists you tell him yourself!"

Chu Yi: "..."

He glanced subconsciously at Xie Huaiming across from him. The other man was elegantly holding a teacup, a faint smile playing on his lips. He wondered how much he had overheard.

Chu Yi took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady, and succinctly confirmed into the microphone, "Yes. It's true. I'm busy, I'll talk to you later."

As soon as Chu Yi finished speaking, Qi Yuan on the other end of the phone, like a firecracker that had been lit, not only didn't quiet down, but became even more energetic. His voice came through the receiver clearly, with exaggerated sobbing and questioning:

"Busy? Busy with what?! I checked your schedule! You're clearly off today! Chu Yi, let me tell you, don't try to fool me! Tell me! Do you have another dog on the side?! Don't you love me anymore?! Is that why you're so perfunctory when I call?!"

"..."

Chu Yi's ears instantly flushed a barely perceptible red. He could clearly feel Xie Huaiming's gaze on the other end of the line. Almost instinctively, he turned to the side and tightly covered the phone's receiver with his hand, trying to block out Qi Yuan's incoherent howling.

He lowered his voice and said quickly into the microphone, "No. Don't guess. I'll call you back later."

However, Qi Yuan's intuition was frighteningly sharp at times, especially regarding Chu Yi's "abnormalities".

The more Chu Yi avoided the question, the more suspicious he became, and he started shouting wildly, his voice still faintly audible even when his mouth was covered:

"Wait! Something's not right with your tone! You're stammering! You're not usually like this! Let me guess... you didn't really go on a blind date behind my back, did you?! Right now?! Is that it?!"

Chu Yi never expected that Qi Yuan's jinx would be so accurate.

He was never good at lying to Qi Yuan, especially under such unreasonable questioning, and a rare hint of panic flashed across his eyes.

Chu Yi took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice as steady and calm as ever, and succinctly confirmed into the microphone, her tone even carrying a hint of barely perceptible helplessness: "Yes. It's true."

To prevent Qi Yuan from spouting more outrageous details, he immediately added, "I'm busy, I'll talk to you later." Then, without waiting for Qi Yuan's response, he quickly hung up the phone.

He could even picture Qi Yuan gesticulating wildly on the other end of the phone, while Cheng Yingzhi looked completely incredulous.

Chu Yi placed her phone back on the table, looked at Xie Huaiming again, her expression now calm as usual, as if she had only dealt with a trivial incident: "I'm sorry, Mr. Xie, let's continue."

The tea room has regained its previous tranquil atmosphere.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the phone, in Cheng Yingzhi's studio, Qi Yuan had the call on speakerphone, and Chu Yi's clear and calm voice said, "Yes. It's true."

The four words echoed in the air.

Qi Yuan, his chin practically pointing to the sky with smug satisfaction, shouted, "Did you hear that! Did you hear that! Cheng Yingzhi! Hurry up! Double! Two million! You mean what you say!"

Cheng Yingzhi incredulously picked at his ear, checked his phone, then looked at Qi Yuan, who had a knowing look on his face, before finally managing to stammer out:

"...Did Chu Yi...take the wrong medicine today?!"

An investment of one million? For Qi Yuan's "life-saving tea for staying up all night"?

This was even more unbelievable to him than the sun rising in the west.

However, before Cheng Yingzhi could fully process the explosive news of "Chuyi Investment of Millions," his brain seemed to suddenly delay processing another, even more crucial piece of information—

Did Chu Yi just say... "I'm busy"?

What Qi Yuan had been yelling about was... "You didn't actually go on a blind date behind my back, did you?!"

And Chu Yi's final confirmation... "Yes. It's true."

……

……

……

The air was deathly still for a full five seconds.

Cheng Yingzhi and Qi Yuan stood frozen in place, like two statues that had suddenly been petrified.

Their eyes met blankly in the air.

Their pupils reflected each other's shocked faces, which were filled with questions like, "Who am I? Where am I? What did I hear?"

next second.

"A potential match? A blind date?"

Two distinct yet equally horrified voices suddenly rose to a high pitch, bursting out almost simultaneously and exploding in the quiet studio, as sharp and piercing as a dolphin's cry.

"Did I fucking hear that right?!" Cheng Yingzhi abruptly threw down the photo in his hand, grabbed Qi Yuan's shoulders, and shook him violently. "Did he just admit it?! Did he say 'it's true'?! Regarding your question about 'whether he was on a blind date'?! Huh?!"

Qi Yuan was dizzy from being shaken so much, but the shock on his face didn't diminish at all, it was even more exaggerated. He grabbed Cheng Yingzhi's arm with his other hand, his voice trembling: "Yes, yes, yes! He admitted it! He actually admitted it! Chu Yi! That Chu Yi! He actually went on a blind date?! It's like blood is falling from the sky! A comet is about to hit the earth! Brother Yingzhi, pinch me! I must be dreaming!"

Cheng Yingzhi pinched his arm hard without any hesitation.

"Awooo—!"

Qi Yuan cried out in pain, but the shock in his eyes was quickly replaced by an extremely complex mix of disappointment that "his own cabbage actually went to 'go after' a pig" and excitement that "this is simply the biggest gossip of the century."

"He really went... He actually went..." Qi Yuan rubbed his arm, which had been pinched red, and spun around in place. "Who is the other party? The Xie family? Which Xie family? What do they look like? Are they male or female?... How could Xiao Yi agree to go? Did Aunt Ruoyin pressure him again? No, no! I have to go and see!"

Cheng Yingzhi finally snapped out of his daze, his face also filled with disbelief and a burning passion for gossip. He grabbed his car keys: "Let's go!"

"Wait!" Qi Yuan suddenly grabbed him, a sly smile on his face. "Let's not act rashly! Let's call Brother Yan Qing first and gather some intelligence!"

The two heads immediately huddled together, staring at Qi Yuan's phone, their faces beaming with the excitement of discovering a new continent and the thrill of causing trouble.

The previous investment of one million was instantly wiped out by the bombshell news that "Chu Yi is actually going on a blind date".

---

Two pots of tea were drunk, and time quietly slipped away.

Xie Huaiming glanced at the watch. Although he was still not quite done, he considerately didn't want to take up too much of the other person's rest time.

He took out his phone, smiling broadly: "Dr. Chu, it was a very pleasant chat today. Would it be convenient to add each other on WeChat? Perhaps I can consult you on some medical issues in the future."

Xie Huaiming's reasons were sufficient and appropriate.

Chu Yi stared at the QR code handed to him, remaining silent for two seconds. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bamboo blinds, casting a small shadow beneath his thick eyelashes.

In the end, he took out his phone, scanned the QR code, and added the friend.

"It's my pleasure." Xie Huaiming smiled after confirming the verification. "Then I won't disturb Dr. Chu's rest any longer today. I hope we'll have the chance to have tea together again next time."

At the entrance of the teahouse, Chu Yi had just seen Xie Huaiming off and hadn't even had time to savor the complex emotions brought about by this unexpected blind date when her phone rang again.

The word "mother" was displayed on the screen.

Chu Yi took a deep breath and answered the phone: "Mom."

On the other end of the phone, Chu Ruoyin's voice was still rather cold, but it seemed less rigid than usual, with a hint of barely perceptible inquiry: "Did you meet her? How did it go?"

How is it?

Chu Yi held her phone, her gaze fixed on the swaying bamboo shadows in the distance.

Xie Huaiming is a man of impeccable manners, witty and erudite, who knows how to conduct himself properly and is impeccable in every aspect, even to the point of being considered perfect.

But... feelings are a very mysterious thing.

It's difficult for Chu Yi to define this meeting simply as good or bad.

He paused for a few seconds, then finally chose the most objective, least likely to be wrong, and most likely to temporarily appease his mother, giving a concise report:

"We added each other on WeChat."

Sure enough, Chu Ruoyin on the other end of the phone seemed quite satisfied with this "progress".

In her view, this at least meant that the other party was interested in Chu Yi, and that Chu Yi had not directly rejected him.

Unusually, she didn't press for details, and even softened her tone slightly, praising him for the first time: "Hmm. The second young master of the Xie family is a sensible person, and you... did quite well today too."

This was almost the highest praise one could receive from Chu Ruoyin.

Chu Yi responded with a curt "Mm" without much emotion.

"Alright, I'm hanging up." Chu Ruoyin seemed to have achieved her goal and ended the call decisively.

Chu Yi took the phone away from her ear, and before the screen had completely gone dark, another call came in, the name that popped up on the screen was—Cheng Yanqing.

Chu Yi's fingertip paused for a moment above the screen.

The timing of Cheng Yanqing's call was too fast and too coincidental.

He could almost immediately guess that it must have been those two troublemakers, Qi Yuan and Cheng Yingzhi, who had exaggerated the news of "Chu Yi's suspected blind date" and leaked it to Cheng Yanqing.

Chu Yi swiped to answer the call, held the phone to her ear, and didn't speak.

Sure enough, Cheng Yanqing's deep, gentle voice came through, getting straight to the point with a hint of barely perceptible concern and probing: "Xiaoyi, did Mom send you on a blind date?"

Chu Yi gazed into the distance, his voice calm and emotionless: "Hmm. Let's try to make contact."

He used a similar neutral expression as when he answered his mother.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, as if someone was carefully choosing their words. Then, Cheng Yanqing's voice rang out again, a few degrees deeper than before, carrying an undeniable sense of protection: "You need to know your limits. If you don't like something, don't force yourself. Never wrong yourself."

He paused, his tone becoming increasingly firm: "Don't worry about Mom. If there are any problems, I'll take care of you."

Chu Yi's eyelashes fluttered slightly. He lowered his eyes, looking at the tips of his shoes. His voice remained calm, yet it carried a clear and unmistakable certainty: "Brother, I know. It's alright."

He paused, then added, as if stating a perfectly natural fact, "I never do anything that makes me unhappy."

Cheng Yanqing on the other end of the phone seemed to choke on her words for a moment, then let out a barely audible sigh, tinged with helplessness and understanding: "...Okay, that's good. Call me anytime if you need anything."

"Um."

The call has ended.

Chu Yi put her phone away and placed it in her pocket.

On the other end of the phone, Cheng Yanqing held the phone, which had already ended the call, but her brows did not relax.

He believed Chu Yi's last words.

Chu Yi does indeed have the ability to maintain her comfort zone to the greatest extent possible within a seemingly compliant framework.

He won't openly rebel, but he has his own way of passively resisting, and he will never truly let himself be wronged.

Even so, Cheng Yanqing still felt a pang of indescribable bitterness and unease.

He did not want Chu Yi to come into contact with any people or things he was not interested in because of his family, or to live any kind of life that was even slightly unbearable because of his family.

He has tried his best to balance and reconcile the almost unsolvable relationship between his mother and Chu Yi.

Cheng Yanqing clearly remembered that when Chu Ruoyin first married into the Cheng family, she was only three years old and had lost her birth mother. She was so kind and careful, trying her best to be a good mother to him.

Even after Chu Yi was born, Chu Ruoyin's affection for her did not diminish in the slightest.

That's why he hoped Chu Yi could be more free, even more free.

He hoped that his younger brother, who was excessively quiet and pitifully sensible since childhood, could truly live according to his own wishes, instead of passively accepting arrangements time and time again, even though he always managed to minimize his "unhappiness".

However, his attempts at reconciliation always seemed to be in vain.

The mother had her obsessions, and Chu Yi had his silence.

Cheng Yanqing rubbed his temples, a deep sense of powerlessness enveloping him.