Dating My Ex After Breaking Up - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

In May, Jiangbei City was transitioning from spring to summer, with the most comfortable weather of the year. Shen Zhirou sat in a tea restaurant waiting for someone. She wore light makeup and a moon-white, waist-cinched long dress that made her look even more slender.

Shen Zhirou’s appearance was slightly more refined than average, not strikingly beautiful, but her eyes, shimmering with a watery glow, were particularly captivating. She ordered a cup of red tea, her slender, fair fingers stirring the spoon in the cup. She glanced at her phone; only five minutes remained until the agreed meeting time, but the person she was waiting for hadn’t appeared.

How many blind dates had she been on this year? Shen Zhirou couldn’t quite remember. It wasn’t her choice, but her mother pushed her too hard, as if being over 28 meant no one would want her.

Shen Zhirou sighed softly. As she sighed, she caught a faint scent of narcissus. Looking up, she saw a good-looking woman standing nearby. The woman had fair skin, full lips highlighted by lipstick under a pert nose, and slightly wavy long hair cascading over her shoulders. She wore a standard business suit, looking more like she was attending a meeting than a date.

The next moment, Shen Zhirou watched as the woman walked toward her.

As Lu Yao approached, she observed Shen Zhirou. Her eyes showed no emotion, no sign of interest in Shen Zhirou, until their gazes met. Then, a faint spark appeared in Lu Yao’s eyes, and her look softened slightly.

She nodded at Shen Zhirou and said, “Sorry, I was tied up with work and came late. I’m Lu Yao. We just spoke on the phone.”

Lu Yao’s voice was pleasant, much more so than her serious expression.

Shen Zhirou smiled at Lu Yao and waved her hand. “It’s fine. I haven’t been here long. What do you want to drink?”

Lu Yao signaled to a nearby waiter. “One coffee.”

“Right away, miss,” the waiter replied.

Lu Yao glanced at Shen Zhirou and spoke first. “Miss Shen, the matchmaker probably told you about me. I’m a project manager at Xinqu Construction Group, with an annual salary of about six million, a 200-square-meter apartment, and a Bentley. I don’t have any special hobbies. I’m busy, so I spend most of my time working overtime. What about you, Miss Shen?”

As Lu Yao spoke, Shen Zhirou felt a twinge of discomfort. Every blind date involved reciting these details, as if everyone was a priced commodity. Shen Zhirou disliked this feeling.

Still, she couldn’t say nothing since she was here, and she seemed to like the woman in front of her.

“Miss Lu, you can call me Zhirou. I work at AFN Group as an office clerk, with an annual salary of about 200,000. I haven’t bought a house or car yet.” The more she spoke, the less confident Shen Zhirou felt. Her circumstances seemed far from Lu Yao’s. This blind date probably wouldn’t work out.

After speaking, Shen Zhirou glanced at Lu Yao’s expression. Lu Yao remained calm but occasionally checked her phone, as if she had something urgent.

“Okay. Are you busy with work? Do you often work overtime?” Lu Yao asked, looking up.

“It’s alright. Our department handles paperwork, mostly preparing materials, so we don’t need to go out for business. I rarely work overtime,” Shen Zhirou said honestly. Her department was relaxed, which was why the pay was low.

Lu Yao nodded. “Alright, Zhirou. I have a meeting to attend soon, so let’s stop here for now. I should be free tomorrow evening. I’ll meet you for dinner then.”

Lu Yao stood as she spoke. Shen Zhirou couldn’t say much. After Lu Yao left, the coffee she ordered arrived. Shen Zhirou sighed, looking at the coffee. Did Lu Yao’s suggestion to have dinner tomorrow mean she was somewhat interested? Shen Zhirou wondered quietly.

But the next day, Shen Zhirou didn’t receive a call from Lu Yao. The WeChat messages she sent went unanswered, like stones sinking into the sea.

Later that evening, Shen Zhirou’s mother, Ning Jianfang, called. “Zhirou, how was the blind date I arranged? Lu Yao comes from a good family, with a house and car. Her parents retired from big companies, and they’re locals in Jiangbei City. If you marry her, she could help your brother.”

At first, Shen Zhirou thought her mother meant well, but the conversation always circled back to her brother. Shen Zhirou’s half-brother, Kang Yunheng, was from a different father. Her parents divorced twenty years ago. Neither wanted to raise Shen Zhirou or her sister, seeing them as burdens. In the end, Shen Zhirou and Shen Yumian grew up under their grandmother’s care. Their parents sent tuition and living expenses to their grandmother but did little else for the sisters.

Ning Jianfang only reconnected with Shen Zhirou after she started working. Shen Zhirou’s father, Shen Hongxing, stopped sending money or contacting her after she graduated from university. He once said, “I raised you until you graduated. Your life is no longer my concern.” Shen Zhirou still remembered his last call.

Shen Zhirou sighed and said, “Mom, you’re thinking too much. Lu Yao isn’t interested in me. We haven’t met since yesterday. I sent her WeChat messages, but she didn’t reply. It’s probably not going to happen.”

“I told you to prepare properly. She has such good prospects and is pretty. You didn’t listen to me. Zhirou, you’re 28. It’s hard to find a boyfriend or girlfriend now. You should’ve started earlier…”

China’s same-s3x marriage law passed five years ago, and acceptance of same-s3x relationships had grown. Finding a boyfriend or girlfriend wasn’t unusual.

Ning Jianfang kept talking on the phone, but Shen Zhirou’s mind drifted. She grew up with her grandmother, who raised her single-handedly. Her grandmother passed away when Shen Zhirou went to university, leaving her and her sister to rely on each other. Family was a luxury for them. That’s why, when Ning Jianfang reconnected after Shen Zhirou started working, she and her sister clung to her, despite knowing their mother cared most about their brother.

“Mom, I have work to do. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up. My supervisor needs something tomorrow,” Shen Zhirou said, wanting some quiet and making an excuse.

Hearing it was for her boss, Ning Jianfang said, “Alright, go work. I’ll find someone to arrange another blind date. You’ll find someone suitable. Go work. Jobs are hard to keep.”

Shen Zhirou hung up. The brief silence made her feel better. In recent years, as major companies grew, Jiangbei City’s housing prices soared. She lived in a 30-square-meter company apartment. Though small, it had a kitchen, bathroom, and a room for rest.

After graduating, Shen Zhirou worked in Jiangbei City. Besides necessary expenses, she saved 900,000 yuan. That was enough to buy a house in a smaller city, but in Jiangbei, it wouldn’t even cover a small apartment. She shook her head, feeling her mother had pulled her into this mess. Living alone without marrying seemed fine.

Shen Zhirou tied up her long, glossy hair. Despite never using hair care products, it was smooth and shiny.

She changed into pajamas to wash up, exhausted from the blind date.

The next day at work, her colleague and friend Zhao Tongtong stopped her. “Zhirou, how was the blind date? I only heard you took leave the day before yesterday for it.”

Shen Zhirou laughed and pulled Zhao Tongtong off her. “She wasn’t interested. We’re not in touch anymore.”

Zhao Tongtong recalled asking Shen Zhirou about past blind dates. Shen Zhirou usually shook her head and said they didn’t work out. This time, she said the other person wasn’t interested. Zhao Tongtong leaned in and asked, “What do you mean? Do you like her?”

Shen Zhirou thought of Lu Yao’s face in the tea restaurant. She rarely felt drawn to anyone, even attractive men or women. Her company had many pretty women, but she never felt anything for them. Lu Yao was an exception, though Shen Zhirou felt their gap was too wide for anything to happen.

“A little, I guess. I can’t explain it. But she doesn’t like me. Let’s not overthink it. I want a break from blind dates. It feels like being a priced commodity. It’s no fun,” Shen Zhirou said with a light laugh, shaking her head.

“If you like her, go for it. How will you know if you don’t try?” Zhao Tongtong said.

“No need to try. She doesn’t like me. Chasing her would only bother her. Let’s get to work,” Shen Zhirou said with a smile, as if she didn’t care.

Days passed calmly. On the weekend, Shen Zhirou liked staying in her apartment to catch up on sleep. Her phone vibrated, showing a WeChat message.

It was Lu Yao, who hadn’t contacted her in a week. Shen Zhirou perked up. The message read:

Lu Yao: Sorry, work kept me busy, and I couldn’t reply. Tonight at 6:30, Yue Lanwan Restaurant, Table 16. I’ll wait for you there.

When Shen Zhirou replied, there was no response, as if all her messages to Lu Yao sank into the sea.