Chapter Twelve: The Blind Date

“Nan, it’s been so long! You’re still as straightforward as ever!”

Having spent some time in the Jiang family during childhood, Yin Zhen always addressed Jiang Jing’an as “sister.”

“Don’t be hypocritical. If you want to say I’m quick-tempered and fierce, just say it!” Nan rolled her eyes at Yin Zhen. She’d had this fiery temper since she was little—everyone knew it well!

She sized him up from head to toe. “You’ve been eating well all these years, huh?”

Jiang Jingnan compared him mentally; this man was even bigger than her typical Northeast husband—he had to be at least around six foot one or two.

Her father was about five foot ten, already tall enough. This man was half a head taller than her dad; Jing’an and Jingping probably only reached his eyebrows.

Makes sense—he’d always had long limbs as a kid, clearly destined to grow tall!

At least Zhu Zhu wasn’t short!

“Not bad!” came Jiang Jingzhu’s voice, showing she didn’t object.

Even in the next world, marriage remained an unavoidable topic for single men and women alike. Nowadays, establishing a family and career was a top priority in the eyes of parents.

Unlike her previous life as a solitary single, she still had nearly ten years before she could freely make her own choices.

Before, while still in school, her family thought she was too young to bring up marriage. But soon, with no more studies to attend, marriage would become the family’s main concern within a year or two, no matter what she did.

After this recent experience, she wasn’t going to let her family worry themselves sick anymore. For their peace of mind, marriage was a subjective issue she had to face.

If it had to be faced, sooner or later was the same—there was no harm in mentioning it now.

She wasn’t a complete believer in lifelong singleness; if she met the right person and could build a healthy, mutually progressive partnership, a revolutionary marriage was not out of the question.

This man was someone her parents could trust and accept. If he could also offer quicker access to research opportunities, then there was no reason to hesitate!

Blind dates, after all—their appearance and demeanor mattered, and she was not at a disadvantage in that regard!

“Dad, Mom, why don’t you check out the nearby state-run restaurant and see what we’ll have for lunch?” Jiang Jingnan took charge. “Jing’an, you go with me to check on Zhu Zhu’s school situation. Zhu Zhu, talk with Yin Zhen and make sure you warmly entertain our parents!”

She found a reason to take her family away, giving her sister an encouraging look. Seizing the moment to win him over—just with that face, it was already a gain!

A good-looking match made the meal more enjoyable, didn’t it?

Jiang Jingzhu was staying in a special care ward, currently the only patient there. After yesterday’s observation, she was set to be discharged tomorrow, so the hospital didn’t transfer her to another ward.

With the Jiang family gone and the door closed, only the two young people who had heard of each other but were meeting for the first time remained in the room.

“Would you like to sit, or shall I stand? I’m mostly recovered now, no need to be cautious.” After a pause, Jiang Jingzhu took the initiative to speak.

Such a tall figure carried a strong presence. She wasn’t one to be shy; once she made a decision, she took it seriously.

Hearing this, Yin Zhen pulled over a bedside chair, placed his hands on his knees, and sat upright like he was ready for inspection.

“This is my first blind date—I don’t have much experience. Is it okay if I just speak freely?”

“Neither do I!” Their eyes met, and the girl’s clear gaze reflected in his, making Yin Zhen inexplicably nervous.

Though he wasn’t supposed to stare, as a pilot he was known for his eagle-sharp eyesight.

At first glance, he immediately recognized the little sister he’d heard so much about from Jing’an—her features were delicate and bright, her complexion fair and flawless… even with his limited vocabulary, he could picture her as elegant, fresh, and radiant.

Jiang Jing’an had claimed her little sister looked most like him—he didn’t know how much praise that was, but it was certainly flattering!

“From your personal qualities, you don’t seem like someone who needs a blind date!”

“I wasn’t interested in marriage before. I preferred to fight battles in the clouds, soaring through the sky, looking down on the earth, feeling free and alive!”

Challenging limits, honing the edge of the sword, always ready for action—year after year, that fire in his heart never went out, leaving no time for trivial thoughts.

“Now that I’m older, there’s no avoiding my parents’ anxiety and my superiors’ concern.” Yin Zhen sheepishly scratched his nose. He was the main target of criticism, known as the most rebellious of rebels!

Compared to the girl’s obedient demeanor, he felt a bit inadequate.

“You don’t seem like someone who’s easily influenced by others’ words!” She clearly had a firm will and strong opinions.

“In the military, once you reach a certain rank, the organization prefers you to have a stable home life. For some special missions, they prioritize comrades without worries at home.”

“So, having the right partner to settle the marriage issue is essential.” A stable home base was also one of the prerequisites for advancing his career.

“I’m someone who’d rather have no one than settle for less. Plus, given the current environment, choosing the wrong partner could drag me down into the abyss! I can assure you, my family holds no prejudices.”

It was undeniable that the Jiang family was a plus. The uncles and aunts were veteran revolutionaries, Nan’s university degree was in response to national calls, Jing’an was a soldier, and Jingping a worker—today, they were the ideal blend of red and expert.

“I might not be the ideal partner in a practical sense. I only know how to cook basic meals—just enough to make food edible. I only did laundry for myself during college and never handled household chores. I probably lack the traditional virtues of a good wife. In the future, I want to focus on research work, so it’s very likely I won’t have much time for family.”

A blind date wasn’t a sham marriage; she wanted to be honest about her situation.

As the youngest in the family, her older siblings took care of her, letting her focus solely on studying. She rarely touched chores. In her previous life, she mostly ate in the cafeteria and only washed her own clothes; later, the washing machine made it more convenient!

“That’s not a problem. I’m a fighter pilot with a special meal allowance. I can eat at the flight kitchen for all three meals. The military compound has a canteen with skilled chefs, and many families don’t cook at home.”

His grandmother was a military doctor, a surgeon who never cooked in her life. He was used to this and easy to please.

“I’m not looking for someone to revolve around the stove or for daily meals. It’s great if you have independent thinking so we can grow together.”

“Professionally, I’m not an ideal husband either. During missions, you’ll need to be brave and handle things alone at home.”

“I’m good at organizing the household and can take care of chores when I’m home.”

“I’ve heard families out west have washing machines. I’ll ask if we can get one! Scientists’ hands are too precious—talent should be placed where it can flourish. These trivial things aren’t a concern!”

A graceful lady and a worthy gentleman make a perfect match. Since there was mutual attraction and a good fit, the pilot, adept at lightning-fast moves, immediately trusted his instincts and took the opportunity to engage wholeheartedly.