Fang Qingru also didn't want to push Mi Jing too hard, so she pondered for a while before saying, "I'll give you three months. If you can't find a boyfriend, no matter if you like it or not, you'll continue with the blind dates."
"It takes at least one or two months to find a suitable apartment, finding a reliable boyfriend within three months seems a bit too short, doesn't it?" Mi Jing said.
"No more bargaining. After another two or three months, you'll be twenty-eight years old by New Year."
So what if she's twenty-eight? Isn't she still youthful and beautiful? Mi Jing muttered to herself, feeling that she had achieved her goal, she didn't push further. After all, there was a generation gap between her and Fang Qingru on certain views, and a single disagreement could result in being educated like brainwashing.
Thinking about the next three months without blind dates, Mi Jing felt great and devoured meat, treating herself to a good meal.
Time flies, in the blink of an eye, one-thirteenth of the three-month period between Mi Jing and Fang Qingru had passed. During this week, Mi Jing spent her days either at home or at the coffee shop, completely avoiding any friend or classmate gatherings.
Speaking of which, Mi Jing had been quite busy during this period. Li Bao'er went traveling, so she not only had to manage the coffee shop but also catch up on her artwork, making her terribly busy.
Mi Jing's busyness was clearly noticed by Mi Zhihong and Fang Qingru. The elders had proposed multiple times to help at the coffee shop but were firmly refused by Mi Jing.
Mi Zhihong was a four-star hotel chef. After retiring a few years ago, he found a job as a cooking instructor at a medium-sized training company. Though the income wasn't as good as before, it was considerably more relaxing than when he was a chef. Fang Qingru was an accountant at a state-owned enterprise and retired two years ago.
Logically speaking, Fang Qingru definitely had the time to help Mi Jing, but her health wasn't great, so most of the household chores were handled by Mi Zhihong, making Fang Qingru the key protected individual at home. Thus, Mi Jing preferred to handle things herself, not wanting to trouble her parents.
After dinner, Mi Jing curled up in her room drawing. She always demanded high standards from herself, but she wasn't satisfied with several drawings, crumpling the paper and throwing it in a corner of the table, forming a small hill.
Feeling a bit frustrated, Mi Jing put down her drawing pencil, planning to go to the living room to watch TV with her parents for a break.
Her phone rang on the table just then. Picking up the phone and looking at the caller ID on the screen, Mi Jing smiled knowingly.
"Hey, soon-to-be bride, how come you have time to call me now?" Mi Jing answered the phone, teasingly.
"Jing, I have some news for you."
"What news? From the tone of your voice, it sounds quite serious. Please don't tell me you want to call off the wedding?" The call was from Mi Jing's university roommate Bai Lulu. They had lived under the same roof for over three years and were quite close.
"I do want to, but I'm afraid it would infuriate my parents, so I don't dare. Ahem, back to the point, Jing, Han Xiujie is back. Old Guo went to a gathering with old classmates and Han Xiujie was there. And tomorrow is our wedding, he said he'll be attending. Ugh, all because of Old Guo..."
Old Guo was Bai Lulu's soon-to-be husband and Han Xiujie's university classmate and roommate, they were very close buddies. It was because Mi Jing and Han Xiujie got together that Bai Lulu met Old Guo. Mi Jing and Han Xiujie's relationship ended just as it started, but Bai Lulu and Old Guo experienced a six-year-long romance and finally tied the knot.
Hearing about Han Xiujie's return, Mi Jing's mind went blank for two seconds. Ultimately, she still couldn't be indifferent upon hearing Han Xiujie's name because the scars on her heart were still there.
"Lulu, I'm fine." Mi Jing knew Bai Lulu cared about her feelings, her sincere apology eased Mi Jing's tightened heart a bit. No matter what, tomorrow was Bai Lulu's big day, Mi Jing naturally hoped she would be happy.
"Are you really okay? Or are you just being stubborn? Alright, I'll give Han Xiujie a call and tell him not to show up tomorrow!"
"No! I'm really fine, you don't need to worry about me. I'll attend your wedding tomorrow with a bright spirit." Han Xiujie and Old Guo's friendship still existed, Mi Jing didn't want to make things difficult for Old Guo because of her. After all, it was Han Xiujie who wronged her, she didn't need to avoid him.
"But..."
"No buts. Have a good night's sleep tonight, be a happy and beautiful bride tomorrow. That's it, we'll see each other tomorrow."
After hanging up, Mi Jing immediately tossed her phone onto the bed and began rummaging through her wardrobe for clothes.
Han Xiujie will attend Bai Lulu's wedding tomorrow, and presumably, Li Jia will be there as well. Mi Jing didn't want to be outshined by Li Jia.
Trying on set after set of clothes, Mi Jing took photos one by one, then sent them to her good friend Ruan Pianran who was far away, along with a message.
The message read: Ruanruan, which outfit do you think looks best? That scumbag Han Xiujie has rolled back from across the ocean and will attend Lulu's wedding tomorrow!
Soon after sending the message, Ruan Pianran called.
"No need to look further, you look better than Li Jia in anything." Truly a good friend, Ruan Pianran knew Mi Jing's thoughts very well and hit the nail on the head.
"Of course!" Mi Jing was just less well-off compared to Li Jia, but because Li Jia's family was wealthy, that scumbag Han Xiujie dumped her for his future and ran into Li Jia's arms, even went abroad to study with her.
Thinking of seeing this pair of scumbags tomorrow made Mi Jing grind her teeth in anger.
"Actually, the outfit is secondary. The confident you is the most beautiful." Ruan Pianran said softly.
"Hmm." Mi Jing hummed lightly, then said, "Ruanruan, I wish you were here."
"Can't you handle them alone?" Ruan Pianran purposely used reverse psychology.
"Of course I can, you know me, Mi Jing is not a pushover." Suddenly, Mi Jing's fighting spirit soared.
"So what do you need me for?" Ruan Pianran also really wanted to attend Bai Lulu's wedding with Mi Jing, but she happened to have an open class tomorrow and couldn't take leave.
"To cheer, wave flags, and support me!"
"Alright, I'll support you mentally. Comrade Mi Jing, please show your queenly aura and combat power, don't embarrass me tomorrow."
"It's a must. Are you preparing lessons? I won't disturb you anymore, wait for my triumphant return!"
Ruan Pianran was a people's teacher from Cili. She returned to Cili to work after graduating from university. She and Bai Lulu were Mi Jing's university roommates. Back in university, there were four of them in the dorm room, Mi Jing was closest to Ruan Pianran. Even now, though they were separated, they often kept in touch.
After the call, Mi Jing's mood brightened a bit, and she found inspiration for drawing, efficiently completing a portion of her work. Afterwards, Mi Jing put on a face mask, preparing to face Han Xiujie and Li Jia, the pair of scumbags, in her best state.