Volume 1, Chapter 37: A Blind Date with an Ex-Blind Date

Because the intention was to play matchmaker, especially after hearing Su Wan praise Colonel Huo for being a good man, the tone of the conversation inevitably became a bit suggestive.

Su Xiaohui’s eyes widened as she looked at Brother Huo sitting nearby. So, her previous suspicions were true; Brother Huo had been sneaking off to the Song residence to dally with Su Wan all along. Did this harlot, Su Wan, know that Brother Huo loved to eat, which was why she kept cooking braised pork for him?

Huo Xiaohan’s jaw tightened, his expression stern. Clearly, he had not expected Secretary Yang to speak this way. A faint, uncomfortable flush crept up to his earlobes, and he quickly interjected, "Secretary Yang, I am fine with anything. I am not a picky eater."

In the kitchen, Su Wan, who was busy ladling soup, was shocked to her core by Secretary Yang’s remark. Every pore on her body stood on end, and she accidentally scalded her hand. She had intentionally avoided making meat dishes specifically because she feared Secretary Yang might serve her a piece, and she didn't want to deal with the fatty parts. She certainly didn't want to make Huo Xiaohan eat them for her again.

Hearing the commotion in the kitchen, Secretary Yang leaned forward and asked with concern, "What's wrong, Xiao Wan? Is the soup too hot? Xiao Huo, why don't you go in and help bring it out? A young girl's hands are delicate."

Huo Xiaohan, being straightforward, didn't catch the underlying meaning of Secretary Yang’s words. He stood up and walked toward the kitchen.

However, both Su Wan and Su Xiaohui understood perfectly. Su Xiaohui gripped her chopsticks tightly, nearly pulverizing the shrimp in her bowl. *Harlot, harlot, Su Wan is nothing but a shameless harlot!*

"No need, Auntie, it’s not hot," Su Wan called out from the kitchen, then hurriedly picked up the Pingqiao tofu soup.

"Let me have it." When Huo Xiaohan entered the kitchen, he noticed that Su Wan’s delicate, fair index finger was oddly red, likely from the burn. He reached out with his long, slender hand to take the bowl from her.

But Su Wan refused to let go. "Colonel Huo, please go back and sit down. I can manage." As she spoke, she looked up and blinked at him repeatedly, gesturing for him to return to the table.

"I’ll take it," Huo Xiaohan said in a low voice. Failing to understand her blinking, he assumed sweat from her forehead had run into her eyes—something that happened to him often during training. Relying on his height and reach, he simply raised the bowl higher and took it from her hands with ease.

*What a hopelessly dense man!*

If not for Secretary Yang’s earlier remark, Su Wan might have simply thought the woman wanted Huo Xiaohan to help her. But with that first comment, she felt it wasn't that simple, and she began to have a vague, unsettling feeling that something was wrong. She hoped she was just overthinking it.

Huo Xiaohan placed the Pingqiao tofu soup in the center of the table, and Su Wan followed behind to place the aluminum ladle inside. Principal Song and Secretary Yang exchanged a smile.

"It really is true that when men and women work together, the work isn't tiresome," Principal Song chuckled, his meticulous voice carrying a hint of humor.

Cowering in a corner, Su Xiaohui secretly observed them. Were these two actually trying to set up Brother Huo and Su Wan?

Huo Xiaohan remained stoic, his robust figure sitting perfectly straight. Having spent four years at the school, he was used to Principal Song’s way of speaking. Back when the Principal was his freshman instructor, he used to tell them during training: "If you aren't in bed with your wives for at least an hour, it’s a disgrace." At first, Huo hadn't understood—did he mean they had to continue physical training in bed after marriage? He was sure he wouldn't lose at that. It was only later, when he was stationed in the Northwest and listening to the married soldiers talk, that he vaguely grasped the meaning.

Su Wan pulled out a chair and sat next to Secretary Yang, a look of pure, innocent joy on her face.

"Xiao Huo, I heard that your family introduced you to a girl yesterday named Fang Yu, a high school teacher, is that right?" Secretary Yang immediately pivoted to the real business, her expression turning slightly more serious.

***

Who could have imagined such a coincidence? When Su Wan returned and told her that while at the military compound, she saw the mother and daughter she had encountered at the department store entering the Huo residence, and that their conversation suggested it was a matchmaking meeting for Huo Xiaohan.

This wouldn't do at all. That teacher, Fang Yu, was incredibly arrogant and snobbish; she looked down on everyone and lacked any of the qualities a teacher of the people should possess.

Huo Xiaohan nodded and said nonchalantly, "That is true."

"Did you agree to it?" Secretary Yang watched his facial expressions closely.

"No."

"I knew you wouldn't have such poor taste, Xiao Huo." Secretary Yang let out a relieved laugh, then recounted the incident at the mall two days prior: "That mother and daughter were absolutely insufferable. When they saw how beautiful Su Wan looked in her pale yellow dress, they insisted on snatching it from us. They forcefully demanded Su Wan take off the dress for her, and no matter how much we offered to go back and get money, they wouldn't listen."

"It’s my fault for not bringing enough cash, so I had to make Su Wan take it off. But once that girl put it on, it wasn't the dress that was beautiful—it was that Su Wan has a better figure. She would look good even draped in a burlap sack; she was graceful and slender, with a waist no wider than the mouth of a bowl." As she spoke, Secretary Yang set down her chopsticks and used her hands to gesture the shape of a bowl.

Huo Xiaohan had been listening with furrowed brows. But when Secretary Yang mentioned Su Wan’s figure, he instinctively lowered his head, his gaze fixed on the bowl in front of him, looking quite uncomfortable.

Being praised like this in front of Huo Xiaohan made Su Wan blush. She reached out to tug gently on Secretary Yang’s sleeve and served her a braised lion's head meatball, but it couldn't stop the Secretary.

"I won't comment on how that teacher Fang Yu looked in it, but everyone around us advised her to let us have the dress. Yet, she would rather throw her money away than let us have it, wearing an expression that said, 'If I can't wear it, neither will you.'"

Su Xiaohui was stunned. She had initially thought Section Chief Li was constantly prying into Su Wan’s affairs because Su Wan was pretty and attracted attention. It turned out it was because they had a conflict at the mall, and she was afraid Su Wan would tell the Huo family what happened. If she had known that earlier, she wouldn't have bothered mixing nitrite into the salt jar to try and change the Huo family's impression of her.

Thinking further, Su Wan had already been to the department store while working as a nanny, while she had been stuck in the Huo house and hadn't been anywhere. Her heart turned sour with jealousy.

Huo Xiaohan’s dark, inscrutable eyes turned toward Su Wan. No wonder she had specifically told him to come over for dinner, and no wonder Section Chief Li had accused Su Wan of being vicious when she was poisoned. So that was the story. Since Su Wan couldn't easily speak for herself, she had used Secretary Yang’s voice to let him know the truth.

"Secretary Yang, thank you for your concern. I already had my aunt decline the offer yesterday, and there won't be any further involvement."

"Since you’re here for dinner, I knew you and that teacher Fang Yu wouldn't work out." Secretary Yang gave Su Wan a mysterious smile. "That teacher Fang Yu may have a good family background and education, but in terms of appearance, character, and disposition, I think she’s not as good as Su Wan."

"Xiao Huo, you've interacted with Su Wan a few times now, and she even went to your house to cook for your grandmother. What do you think of her?" Secretary Yang asked, looking at Huo Xiaohan.

"Cough, cough..." Su Wan was so startled she choked on the soup she had just sipped. She thought they were introducing a coworker; how did it turn into her? Her fresh, delicate face changed color.

Su Xiaohui’s eyes widened, her grip on her chopsticks tightening as she turned to watch Brother Huo’s reaction. *Could Brother Huo have changed his opinion of her because her cooking is good and she’s constantly praised by the Song family? Is he going to pursue Su Wan? Then what does that make me? If Su Wan becomes Brother Huo’s partner, can I still stay in the Huo house? She would definitely find a way to send me back home.*

Huo Xiaohan’s jaw set firmly. He put down his chopsticks, slowly lifted his head, and straightened his back. His dark eyes swirled with depth. After a moment, he spoke: "I don't quite understand what you mean, Secretary Yang."

"Your teacher's wife intends to introduce Su Wan to you and wants to ask for your opinion," Principal Song said, tilting his head slightly with a smile.

"Uncle, Auntie, I am still in high school and want to focus on getting into university. I have no intention of dating," Su Wan said immediately, her voice youthful and naive, conveying the image of an innocent student who hadn't yet been awakened to romance.

But both Secretary Yang and Principal Song were waiting for Huo Xiaohan to speak. It wasn't that they ignored Su Wan’s opinion; they simply knew that as a student from the countryside, even if she got into university later, it would be nearly impossible for her to find a partner as high-quality as Huo Xiaohan. If they became a pair, it would be a huge help to Su Wan, who was in Beijing alone. She wouldn't have to worry about tuition, and once at university, knowing her partner was a Colonel would protect her from being bullied.

If she didn't get into university, the Huo family would certainly arrange a job for her. As for the rest, Xiao Huo might be cold and not particularly affectionate or proactive, but he would definitely treat her well. If he hadn't left for the Northwest right after graduation, he probably wouldn't have remained unmarried this long. This was a rare catch, and Secretary Yang naturally hoped Su Wan would seize it.

"Su Wan, aren't you trying to get into university? According to current policies, family members of those who receive a First-Class Merit award get bonus points on the college entrance exam."

The offer was indeed tempting, though it would have been more useful in the future, where the entrance exam was a narrow bridge thousands of people fought to cross.

"Principal, Secretary, I really have no thoughts on personal matters at the moment; my heart is entirely focused on my work." Huo Xiaohan’s spine was rigid, his cold, stern face taut, his side profile looking incredibly hard. The veins in his arms bulged and throbbed. He had never expected that the Principal and the Secretary would try to set him up with his former blind date, wanting to match him with Su Wan. If Principal Song knew they already knew each other and that Su Wan *was* his rural blind date...

"Uncle, Auntie, Colonel Huo is so outstanding; he should naturally find an equally outstanding partner. I’m just a girl from the countryside, please don't tease me." Su Wan chimed in, lowering her head to tug at Secretary Yang’s sleeve. This was truly awkward. Was it because Principal Song and Secretary Yang had seen them in the small woods last time that they got the idea to play matchmaker?

"Xiao Huo, you are a leader now; you must lead by example. Only then can the organization trust you. Your personal affairs are your top priority; you must resolve them quickly," Principal Song said, his lips straight and serious. "You haven't said a word. Is it because you heard Su Wan say she wants to go to school that you're saying this?"

"She is a simple, plain girl from the countryside who hasn't been awakened to these things and hasn't considered it, but you surely have ideas. You are a Colonel—are you afraid of losing face? Why are you just following her lead?"

Principal Song simply assumed Su Wan was still young and in school, and thus ignorant about dating and marriage. His first reaction was that she was afraid, and furthermore, for a girl from the countryside, marriages were decided by parents; Su Wan surely wouldn't dare agree. If he wrote a letter to her parents, given Huo Xiaohan’s credentials, her parents would certainly agree a hundred times over.

"You have always had your own opinions and can make your own decisions. As long as you nod, we will contact Su Wan’s parents," Principal Song instructed Huo Xiaohan earnestly.

Su Xiaohui’s eyes darted back and forth between Brother Huo and Su Wan, dying to blurt out that they already knew each other and that Su Wan was the original blind date.

"Uncle, my sister received several love letters when she was in junior high, and when she was in high school in town, several groups of people came to our house to propose," Su Xiaohui, who had been silent until now, spoke up. She wanted to prove that Su Wan wasn't simple or plain, and that she actually had more experience with dating than anyone. Principal Song was Brother Huo’s mentor; she was terrified that Huo might agree under the Principal's persuasion.

Su Wan hadn't expected them to be so pushy. She echoed Su Xiaohui, saying, "It’s true. Uncle, Auntie, I finally have a chance to study in Beijing; I only want to study hard and get into university. I cannot let down my parents' expectations." If she had known Secretary Yang wanted to match her with Huo Xiaohan, she would have died before letting him come.

"Xiao Wan, getting married won't delay your studies. I believe Xiao Huo would definitely support you. Besides, Xiao Huo was the top student in the city when he took the college entrance exam and was admitted to the military academy with the highest marks. You can go to class during the day, and when you come back to the compound in the evening, you can have Xiao Huo tutor you. How wonderful that would be!"

Secretary Yang just assumed Su Wan was shy and that her having rejected several marriage proposals in town meant she was resilient and goal-oriented, not easily fooled by a man's sweet talk. "You will have to find someone and marry eventually, and Auntie truly thinks Colonel Huo is excellent."

After saying this, she turned to the brooding, tense Huo Xiaohan: "Xiao Huo, I’ll be honest with you. If our Wenbo didn't already have a girlfriend, I would have definitely introduced Su Wan to him."

Su Xiaohui had wanted to mention that Su Wan’s grades were terrible—that she had only scored single digits in math and foreign language—but hearing Secretary Yang praise Su Wan to the heavens, she felt a bitter taste in her mouth. How was it that Su Wan got all the benefits? She could only shut her mouth and stay silent.