Chapter Eighteen: The Matchmaking

“Nayeon Im!”

Hearing this familiar name from Sooyoung Choi’s mouth, Zhe Chen couldn’t help but freeze for a moment. But he quickly came to his senses, shaking his head with a sigh. It was probably just a coincidence of names—how could it possibly be the very Nayeon Im from Twice that he knew of?

“What is it, Zhe? Do you know her?” Sooyoung Choi scratched her head in puzzlement at his startled reaction. As far as she remembered, Zhe Chen had never been to Korea before—how could he possibly know the eldest daughter of the Im family?

At the same time, Yuqi Chen cast a questioning glance at her younger brother, equally bewildered by his strong reaction to the name. She didn’t think her brother could possibly know Nayeon Im. In fact, she herself had only learned of the name after arranging this matchmaking for him.

“I don’t know her. The name just sounded a bit familiar, that’s all!” Under the scrutiny of these two beautiful women—his sister and her best friend—Zhe Chen felt a faint sweat break out on his forehead. His mind raced, searching for a plausible explanation.

“I see. Well then, remember to get up early tomorrow. Sooyoung and I need to help you pick the right outfit.” Though Yuqi Chen could tell her brother was lying, she couldn’t be bothered to call him out and simply reminded him instead.

“Sooyoung nuna is helping with the outfit too?” Zhe Chen caught the key point in his sister’s words, pausing in surprise.

“That’s right. I’m staying over tonight with Yuqi. After we help you get dressed in the morning, we’ll drive you to the venue ourselves.” Noticing how off he’d been since learning about this blind date, Sooyoung Choi raised a brow, a hint of schadenfreude in her tone.

“So you’d better behave. We’ll both be there tomorrow. If you dare try to sabotage the meeting, I’ll make sure you experience firsthand what a sister’s love feels like!” As Zhe Chen still seemed distracted, Yuqi Chen cracked her knuckles threateningly, the warning clear in her voice.

“I got it. I swear, I’ll do my best tomorrow!” Faced with his sister’s blatant intimidation, Zhe Chen nodded vigorously, terrified that a delayed answer would earn him a taste of her iron-fisted “love.” He had no doubt: if he dared sabotage things, this she-devil would not only teach him a lesson herself, but also report to their parents—setting him up for a mixed-gender tag-team beatdown.

“Glad you know what’s good for you,” Yuqi Chen finally nodded in satisfaction at his sworn promise. When it came to reading the situation, her little brother could be quite sharp.

“Waiter, you can bring out the dishes now.” Business settled, Yuqi Chen realized her own hunger. Glancing at Sooyoung Choi, who had just finished her juice and was eyeing Yuqi’s freshly served glass with obvious longing, she quickly called the waiter to serve their meal.

——— Time Skip ———

Early the next morning, Zhe Chen stood at the entrance of a French restaurant, arms crossed and back straight, as if waiting for someone. Whenever passersby walked past, they’d pause and steal a few extra glances before moving on.

Today’s look had been orchestrated by both Yuqi Chen and Sooyoung Choi, who’d even dragged him to a beauty salon for some touch-ups. The results accentuated his already handsome features with a more refined charm, drawing the attention of every passerby.

Ignoring the stares, Zhe Chen scanned the passing cars. When none pulled up for him, he retreated a few steps into the shade, away from the harsh sunlight.

Feeling the sweltering heat and seeing the blazing sun above, Zhe Chen’s irritation grew. He’d been waiting a while, yet this Nayeon Im still hadn’t shown up—her attitude only soured his mood further.

“Ah, is it just taken for granted nowadays that women are always late?” He grumbled to himself, recalling how, in his previous life, every date with his girlfriend meant waiting an extra half hour—sometimes even longer—with no right to complain. Punctuality was supposed to be a virtue. Why had everyone abandoned it, and why was it now expected for women to be late?

Just as he was stewing in annoyance, a taxi suddenly pulled up in front of him. The back door swung open, and a small foot clad in blue sneakers stepped out, landing gracefully on the ground. Looking up, Zhe Chen saw a pretty girl in light blue jeans emerge from the car.

She looked like a high schooler, with softly curled shoulder-length hair. She wore a white long-sleeved top beneath a black camisole, her neck as fair as milk, her eyes large and lively, exuding a special kind of vitality. Her features were striking, with a distinct nose and slightly parted lips, revealing two cute little bunny teeth.

The whole impression she gave was one of cleverness and adorability—the kind of girl that made you want to tease her.

“Annyeonghaseyo, I’m Zhe Chen.” The moment he saw her, Zhe Chen instantly recognized who she was. Last night, he’d been so sure it was just someone with the same name—but fate had other plans. It really was the Nayeon Im from Twice. Despite the turmoil inside, he kept his composure, stepped forward politely, and greeted her with a slight bow.

After all, when two people of the opposite sex meet for the first time, launching straight into a handshake can come across as overly forward. A kiss on the hand or a hug might be acceptable if you’re bold, and if she accepts a cheek kiss, it means she’s interested and you’re free to pursue her. (Editor’s note: This is pure nonsense. Do not attempt. If you try and succeed, please send the author a large red envelope.)

“Annyeonghaseyo, my name is Nayeon Im. It’s a pleasure to meet you—please take good care of me.” Upon hearing his introduction, the girl—Nayeon Im—realized this was her blind date. She took a step back, bowed politely in return, and greeted him.

“Well then, Miss Nayeon Im, it’s getting late. Shall we head in for our meal?” Zhe Chen stepped to the side, letting her pass, and prepared to escort Nayeon Im inside. Over lunch, he’d need to carefully recall everything he knew about her personality from his past life.