CHAPTER 505: 201 GRADUALLY BECOMING ADDICTED

As an attorney, Helian Yi was a stickler for punctuality. Whenever he arranged to meet someone, he would always arrive ten minutes early.

In the parking lot of Songtao Residence, Liu Runxi, sitting in the passenger seat, looked slightly uneasy. "Uncle, you’re going on a blind date—there’s really no need for me to come along, is there?"

Helian Yi glanced at him. "Kid, does your uncle dote on you or not?"

Liu Runxi nodded.

His only relative whom he felt completely at ease with was this younger uncle.

Their relationship, rather than being strictly uncle and nephew, was more like that of friends.

"Since your uncle dotes on you, helping him out with a small favor wouldn’t be too much to ask, right?"

"But..."

Before he could finish speaking, Helian Yi unceremoniously dragged him out of the car. "You don’t need to speak—just keep your head down and eat."

Based on Helian Yi’s many years of blind date experience, the presence of a third party tended to increase the chances of things going awry...

And so, Liu Runxi was pulled along into the restaurant.

The dining establishment featured light luxury and minimalistic décor. The soothing piano music added an elegant touch to the atmosphere. Each booth was separated by greenery or antique screens to ensure guests’ privacy.

Helian Yi provided the surname and phone number ending of the person who made the reservation, and the attendant respectfully led them to the designated table.

Helian Yi took off his coat, which the attendant reverently draped over their arm before placing it in a dustbag and hanging it up nearby.

Sitting down, Helian Yi checked the time. Exactly ten minutes remained before the agreed meeting time.

Across from him, Liu Runxi seemed somewhat distracted.

"How did your exam go this morning?" Helian Yi asked.

Liu Runxi pursed his lips. "It was fine."

"That means it went well." This kid’s biggest flaw was his excessive modesty.

"Uncle, did you see An’an this morning?"

Helian Yi chuckled and glanced at him. "I knew you’d ask about her."

"This case isn’t difficult. You don’t need to worry. With me on the job, your friend won’t get the short end of the stick."

Liu Runxi smiled. "That’s good to hear."

"You care about her a lot, don’t you?" Helian Yi teased.

Liu Runxi remained composed and reiterated, "We’re just friends."

"Friends, huh?" Helian Yi drew out the word, finding it quietly amusing.

Ah, to be young.

They chatted, and ten minutes passed.

Helian Yi’s blind date hadn’t arrived on time.

Helian Yi let out a sigh of relief.

If she’d arrived punctually, he’d have to think of another excuse.

This was better—a ready-made justification.

Still, he wouldn’t relax just yet. He decided to give her another ten minutes.

And then twenty minutes passed...

Liu Runxi hesitated several times but ultimately said nothing.

Helian Yi chuckled, though it was hard to tell whether it was self-mocking or a release of tension.

He picked up the menu beside him and slid it over to Liu Runxi. "Order whatever you want—your uncle’s treating you."

Liu Runxi cleared his throat lightly and opened the menu.

The attendant, attentive as always, promptly came over.

Liu Runxi raised his eyes toward Helian Yi. "Uncle, what do you want to eat?"

"Anything’s fine." Helian Yi loosened his tie.

"Then let’s go with this set menu for two."

Liu Runxi handed the menu back to the attendant.

The attendant respectfully said, "Please wait a moment," and withdrew.

At that moment, Helian Yi’s phone, left on the side, began ringing. One glance at the caller ID gave him a headache.

"It’s your mom."

Liu Runxi wished he could just disappear from sight, his face showing helplessness.

Helian Yi mentally braced himself before accepting the call.

"Where are you now?"

Helian Yi replied, "Where do you think?"

"Miss Kong ran into some delays. Don’t hold it against her—just wait a little longer."

"Of course. Miss Kong is a busy person, and I’m just a lowly lawyer. What do I matter?"

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds.

"The Kong family ranks second only to the Yan family in Chunzhou, and her maternal family is from a noble background in Jingzhou. She’s the marriage candidate your grandmother and I painstakingly selected for you. It’s an advantageous match that will benefit your career immensely."

A hint of a cold smile appeared at the corner of Helian Yi’s lips. "Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now—it’s clear she’s lost interest in me."

The person on the other end took a deep breath, trying to rein in their emotions. "Miss Kong isn’t like that. Just wait a little longer."

Helian Yi hung up and tossed the phone aside, visibly irritated.

Glancing at the silent Liu Runxi across the table, Helian Yi suddenly said, "Your uncle hopes that, in the future, you won’t be trapped by the expectations of family, sacrificing marriage for the sake of so-called career prospects. You should step into marriage with someone you truly love; otherwise, you’ll spend your entire life in misery."

As a lawyer, he’d seen too many tragedies of human nature—couples passionately in love one moment, turning viciously against each other the next, wanting nothing more than to eat each other alive.

Now that he had become deeply skeptical of romantic relationships, his family was forcing him into a marriage alliance.

Those around him treated arranged marriages less like unions and more like business partnerships—mutually beneficial but utterly uninspiring.

Stunned, Liu Runxi hadn’t expected his uncle to say something like this. He nodded earnestly. "I understand, Uncle."