Chapter 4: White_004

Translator: Abo Dammen

The server presented the menus. After a soft consultation with He Ruifeng, Deng Chengning swiftly placed their order.

During the lull as the server brought sparkling water, Deng Chengning spoke, “I’m sorry for imposing on you.”

He Ruifeng was still processing. “Huh?”

Deng Chengning began his explanation. “That day, my mother deceived me. She claimed the child of a friend wanted to consult about studying finance and insisted I attend.”

Ah. So that was it.

He Ruifeng sipped his water and shifted slightly.

“Once I arrived, I realized it was… a dinner setup. I’ve always been a firm believer in staying single. From the past until now, I’ve never considered finding a partner. I’ve told her many times, and she accepted it. But recently, for some reason, she started insisting I should still find someone.”

A believer in staying single?!

Deng Chengning’s face was illuminated by the flickering candlelight. He Ruifeng thought, If the old high school crew knew this, they’d probably wail in despair.

Deng Chengning’s brow was tightly furrowed, an expression both apologetic and distressed. He Ruifeng offered reassurance, “My parents are the same. Even though same-sex marriage isn’t legal here, and having children isn’t an option, they still believe I must find a partner…”

“You…” Deng Chengning seemed to want to ask something, but he glanced at He Ruifeng and swallowed his words.

He Ruifeng: “?”

Deng Chengning unconsciously fiddled with the cutlery on the table, moving the knife and fork back and forth, his head bowed. “That evening, I… argued with my mother for a while. Actually, it wasn’t really an argument, more my one-sided dissatisfaction. But I never expected that after taking her home, the moment she stepped out of the car, she fainted.”

“What?! Is your mom alright?!” He Ruifeng was stunned. He hadn’t anticipated anything this severe.

“She’s fine now,” Deng Chengning hurriedly responded. “I called an ambulance immediately. The doctor said it was due to heightened emotions, elevated blood pressure, combined with post-surgical weakness that’s why she fainted. She was observed at the hospital for a day. All indicators were normal before she went home. That’s when I found out she’d had a minor surgery recently. She went with a friend and didn’t tell me. The doctor said she’s very weak now, and mustn’t get agitated or stressed. I…”

Deng Chengning paused, seeming to search for the right words, his expression pained and conflicted.

He Ruifeng was somewhat taken aback.

Both the mother fainting and her undergoing surgery without informing her son were things he found difficult to comprehend.

He had assumed the “very unwell” and “agitated” mentioned in the WeChat messages referred to a mother-son argument over the blind date, that the mother was unhappy and needed placating. He never imagined such a serious situation.

His professional teacher’s sensitivity immediately alerted him that there might be issues in the dynamics and communication between this mother and son.

Sometimes life isn’t as perfect as it appears on the surface. He understood that.

He comforted Deng Chengning gently, “Don’t worry. Let’s follow the doctor’s advice. It’s good your mom is okay now. If there’s any way I can help, please just ask.”

Deng Chengning cast him a grateful look, then quickly averted his eyes, murmuring, “Thank you.”

The server began bringing the appetizers, politely describing each dish in a soft voice.

A conversation felt inappropriate now. They fell quiet, focusing on the meal.

They didn’t speak again during dinner. Deng Chengning seemed disinclined to chat further. Most of the time, it was He Ruifeng, fearing an awkward silence, who seized on the server’s descriptions to ask a few questions.

On these occasions, Deng Chengning appeared genuinely interested, tilting his head slightly, listening intently, his gaze seemingly fixed on the server yet also seeming to drift into the air.

He Ruifeng wondered about the color temperature of the crystal chandelier at Capitol Rui. How could it cast such flattering light and shadow on someone’s fair skin?

The portions were neither too large nor too small. He Ruifeng found everything delicious and cleaned his plate, even finishing Deng Chengning’s bread roll and dessert.

Deng Chengning hadn’t touched his roll or dessert and had left a few bites of his main course. He explained he’d been too tired from recent overtime to have much appetite.

He Ruifeng asked, “Is your work usually very busy?”

Deng Chengning wiped his hands and shook his head. “Generally manageable. Asset management at a securities firm isn’t as grueling as investment banking. It’s just this phase with a project that’s keeping me busy.”

He Ruifeng didn’t trade stocks or buy funds, so finance was a complete mystery to him. Unsure how to continue the topic, he could only chuckle awkwardly and mumble, “That’s good.”

After a brief silence, Deng Chengning resumed their pre-meal conversation.

“My mother pleaded with me from her hospital bed to contact you. She said if I had someone else in mind, that was fine too. As long as I try to understand and get to know other people…

“I’m sorry. I don’t have anyone else I can ask. Others might find this absurd.

“The doctor said she really can’t endure any more stress…

“It’s somewhat akin to a… fake relationship agreement.

“We just need to meet every so often and send her a photo. If during this process, you meet someone you’re interested in, or for any other reason, if you don’t wish to continue meeting, we can terminate the agreement anytime.

“I know helping me with this will cause you a lot of trouble. If you’re unwilling, it’s perfectly fine. I’d just ask you not to tell your parents this month that we’re not in contact—”

He Ruifeng lightly tapped the table, interrupting Deng Chengning’s increasingly flustered explanation.

“It’s no trouble at all. Friends, classmates meeting occasionally for meals or movies—isn’t that perfectly normal? I don’t work overtime, so I’m quite free every day. Don’t overthink it. It’s not troublesome, and I’m happy to help.”

Deng Chengning seemed to calm down a little. He said “Thank you,” picked up his phone, tapped a few times, and said, “I drafted a note about future meetups. Please take a look and see if anything needs adding.”

He Ruifeng picked up his phone and stared.

Deng Chengning had earnestly written a list of meeting precautions, numbered one through four… He skimmed it.

1. All expenses arising from the fake dates shall be borne by me.

2. Before each meeting, I will inform you of the location, time, etc. If there are any issues, please notify me for changes.

3. All scheduling will accommodate your convenience.

4. Please kindly refrain from revealing the truth about the fake dates to our parents.

If this interferes with your own dating or relationships, the agreement can be terminated at any time.

…

The list was extensive. He Ruifeng almost wanted to facepalm and sigh. He locked his phone and gazed quietly at Deng Chengning.

Deng Chengning, who had meticulously drafted such a document, at this moment exhibited none of the sharp intellect expected of an Ivy League master’s graduate.

He seemed… adorably naive.

He Ruifeng simply didn’t know how to explain that it was just old classmates having a meal, taking a photo to placate parents, that there was no need for such formality, which only created more awkwardness.

Unaware, Deng Chengning pressed, “Please see if I missed anything or if changes are needed.”

He Ruifeng had to say, “I’ll look it over when I get back.”

After the meal, Deng Chengning paid the bill. He Ruifeng didn’t contest it. There would be another shared meal later.

He didn’t take Deng Chengning’s “precautions” seriously. Once his phone screen locked, he didn’t look at it again.

They took the elevator down. He Ruifeng pressed B1, while Deng Chengning pressed 1.

He Ruifeng asked, “You didn’t drive?”

Deng Chengning shook his head. “I was afraid of traffic so I left my car at the office. I still have to go back to work.”

He Ruifeng checked the time. It was almost 9 PM. “You have to go back to work now? If I’d known you were this busy today, we should have picked another time.”

Deng Chengning offered a slight smile. “It’s a busy period, but it’s alright. I should be home before eleven.”

He Ruifeng then offered to drive Deng Chengning to his office. Deng Chengning initially declined, but He Ruifeng insisted it was a thank-you for the meal and decisively canceled the first-floor button.

Deng Chengning reluctantly acquiesced.

When Deng Chengning got into He Ruifeng’s car, he was still visibly embarrassed, repeatedly saying, “Sorry for the trouble.”

The drive to Deng Chengning’s office was about twenty minutes. The moment they left the parking garage, He Ruifeng caught a faint whiff of cologne. It hadn’t been noticeable in the restaurant, but now, in the enclosed space, the scent from Deng Chengning soon permeated the cabin.

It was a light, subtle fragrance. It was not sweet, but slightly bitter, slightly cool, reminiscent of medicinal herbs.

It suited Deng Chengning inexplicably well.

He Ruifeng knew nothing about cologne, but he liked this scent.

At a red light, he stole a glance at the quiet figure in the passenger seat.

Deng Chengning was looking out the window, offering only a view of his fair, sharp jawline and slightly flushed ears.

The light turned green. He Ruifeng stepped on the accelerator.

Suddenly, Deng Chengning spoke, “I’m sorry, I just realized I never asked why you agreed to the blind date. If you have plans to find someone, then wouldn’t this agreement with me interfere—”

“No!” He Ruifeng said quickly. “I’m not a believer in staying single, but I’m not actively looking for someone through blind dates either. I prefer to let things happen naturally. It’s mainly my parents who are anxious, insisting on finding matches for me at Renmin Park.”

“Is there really a same-sex matchmaking corner at Renmin Park?” Deng Chengning asked, curious.

“It’s true,” He Ruifeng nodded. “I’ve been on three blind dates already, all arranged by my parents at Renmin Park.”

Silence filled the car. Feeling awkward, He Ruifeng grasped for conversation. “They all failed. With you, it’s the fourth one, haha…”

But as soon as the words left his mouth, the atmosphere grew even more strained.

For some reason, they hit every red light that night. At each waiting intersection, He Ruifeng suffered.

As they neared Deng Chengning’s office, He Ruifeng breathed an internal sigh of relief, only to hear Deng Chengning say softly, “That was my first blind date.”

The car turned onto the service road and stopped in front of the building.

Deng Chengning unbuckled his seatbelt. “For the past ten years, my mother had accepted my stance on staying single. She never mentioned finding someone for me. This time, I don’t know what happened, but she suddenly became very insistent, demanding I go on a blind date, that I must contact you, that I must find a partner.”

He Ruifeng watched him.

Deng Chengning gave a bitter smile. “It wasn’t until last Saturday night that I learned she’d been frequenting Renmin Park recently to find matches for me. I was a bit upset… I argued with her before you arrived…”

Perhaps because his skin was so fair, after a few sentences, the tip of Deng Chengning’s nose tinged with red, and the corners of his eyes looked as if brushed with faint rouge.

He looked on the verge of tears. Deng Chengning was consumed by guilt.

He Ruifeng was flustered, unsure whether to first offer a tissue or words of comfort.

“Your mother is just overly concerned, maybe also affected by her recent surgery, worried you’ll be alone and lonely in the future,” He Ruifeng offered clumsy consolation. “That’s what my parents say: life is long, they’ll leave before I do someday, and they hope I can find a reliable partner to support each other.”

“That’s not it,” Deng Chengning shook his head, then turned slightly to look at He Ruifeng with a bitter smile. “She believes I have… personality flaws. She probably thinks finding a partner might make me more… normal.”

He Ruifeng was stunned.

“I know myself very well. I don’t want to burden or harm anyone else.”

After saying goodbye, Deng Chengning opened the car door and left.

Personality flaws?

Who?

Perfect Deng Chengning?

He Ruifeng took a long time to process it. His mind replayed Deng Chengning’s final words and that heart-wrenching, bitter smile.

Author’s Feed: Fragile Xiao Deng