Chapter 43: I Am Not a Good Person

"Affection grows over time; who feels a deep connection the very first time they meet? And who spends a lifetime together without ever developing feelings? As long as people are together, feelings will naturally develop. The crucial thing is that they are well-matched."

"Secretary Xu, Director Hong, this is the first time in my life playing matchmaker, and it will definitely be the last. You certainly wouldn't want me to... suffer a setback before even reaching the battlefield, would you?" Xu Guoli said with a cheerful laugh.

Qin Feng could hear the underlying threat in Xu Guoli's words and could only reply, "Having Secretary Guo act as matchmaker is my supreme fortune, and it is my absolute honor that Director Hong looks favorably upon me. Of course I am willing, but matters of the heart require mutual consent, don't they? For all we know, Miss Hong might already have someone special in her heart."

Qin Feng had good reason to say this. He could clearly see that Hong Yue held no affection for him whatsoever; on the contrary, she seemed rather repulsed by him.

"I know my sister's personality. She is quite shy and timid. Her silence doesn't mean she disagrees; in fact, her silence signifies her consent to this arrangement, she's just too embarrassed to say it out loud," Hong Haifeng said with a warm laugh.

"Brother, I do not agree..."

Hong Haifeng glared at Hong Yue, then smiled and said, "I am her brother, I can make the decision in this matter."

"Secretary Hu, what is your opinion? What do you think?" Xu Guoli turned to ask Hu Jiayun, whose opinion mattered most to him.

"I also think this is a wonderful thing. As I said earlier, I think the two of them are very well-matched—a talented man and a beautiful woman, a truly suitable pair."

At this, Hu Jiayun glanced at Qin Feng. Seeing him glaring at her as if he wanted to commit murder, she smiled and continued, "However, what Qin Feng just said is also true. This matter ultimately requires their mutual willingness. No matter how anxious we are, we're just like the emperor being anxious while the eunuchs aren't."

"Therefore, I believe there's no need to rush things right this moment. Let's treat today as a first meeting for the prospective couple to get to know each other. After that, let them spend some time together and get to properly acquainted. It won't be too late to finalize things once they've developed genuine feelings for each other after a while."

"That's right, that's right. We were just too impatient. Let's do as Secretary Hu suggests. Qin Feng, whenever you have free time, take Hong Yue out for a stroll, go take a look around Shannan. My car is parked right over there, I'll tell my driver. From now on, whenever you need the car, just give him a call—he'll be at your beck and call. But you better make sure I get to eat that pig's head celebration meal!" Xu Guoli said with a hearty laugh.

Giving a pig's head to the matchmaker upon marriage was the local custom here.

Qin Feng smiled awkwardly, then raised his glass to toast Xu Guoli in order to change the subject.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, seeing that Xu Guoli and Hong Haifeng were both quite intoxicated, Hu Jiayun said, "Secretary Xu, I think it's about time today. Shall we call it a day?"

"Alright then. I certainly drank a bit too much. Little Qin's alcohol capacity is truly no exaggeration," Xu Guoli said cheerfully.

"Um, Qin Feng, could you do me a favor?" Hong Haifeng asked hurriedly.

"Director Hong, you're being too polite. What instructions do you have for me?"

"Well, it's like this. Secretary Xu has indeed had a bit too much to drink, and I need to take him back. It's pitch black outside, and I wouldn't be at ease letting Hong Yue walk back alone. Could you trouble yourself to help me escort her home?"

Qin Feng instantly understood what Hong Haifeng was up to.

"Brother, I've walked this path since I was a child, how could there be any danger?"

"What do you know as a young girl? Sorry to trouble you, Qin Feng." Hong Haifeng glared at Hong Yue once more.

"Director Hong is right. It's truly unsafe for a young woman to walk outside after dark. Qin Feng, please escort Miss Hong back," Hu Jiayun chimed in.

Qin Feng glared fiercely at Hu Jiayun, then walked out awkwardly alongside Hong Yue.

Normally, Qin Feng was not someone who felt shy around girls, but after being put through the wringer by Xu Guoli and Hong Haifeng at the dinner table, he felt intensely awkward walking beside Hong Yue now, having no idea what to say.

If Qin Feng was awkward, Hong Yue was even more so. Her face remained flushed red as she walked with her head down, not uttering a single word, let alone daring to look at Qin Feng, overwhelmed by shyness.

"Um... Miss Hong, please don't misunderstand. I genuinely had no idea beforehand that they were going to bring this up today, and it was certainly not my intention," Qin Feng explained to Hong Yue, as the situation today was indeed rather embarrassing.

"Yeah, I know," Hong Yue nodded and said softly.

"I'm sorry for putting you in such an awkward spot. Don't worry about it, just treat it as a joke on their part and don't take it to heart." As he spoke, Qin Feng walked Hong Yue over to his motorcycle.

Qin Feng straddled the motorcycle and asked Hong Yue, "Hop on. Are you heading back to the clinic or home?"

"No need, I'll walk back by myself," Hong Yue waved her hands hurriedly, refusing to get on Qin Feng's motorcycle. As a young woman, she naturally couldn't just hop onto a stranger's motorcycle—how awkward would that be? More importantly, she truly didn't hold much affection for Qin Feng.

"That won't do. Your brother asked me to escort you, and if anything were to happen to you, I wouldn't be able to face him. How about this, I'll walk you there on foot. Let's go!"

"Really, it's fine. I walk this road every single night, I know it like the back of my hand."

"Let's go. I've had a bit too much to drink anyway, so a walk will help sober me up, think of it as a stroll. Are you heading back to the clinic?"

Hong Yue nodded. Seeing that Qin Feng was persistent, she felt too embarrassed to refuse further, and continued walking toward the clinic with her head bowed.

"That night... I must have scared you, right? Do you think I'm a bad person?" Qin Feng asked with a smile while lighting a cigarette. He had to find some topic of conversation, otherwise the silence was simply too awkward.

Hong Yue didn't answer. No answer meant tacit agreement.

Qin Feng glanced at the young woman and smiled; she clearly didn't view him as a good person.

"Are you really a civil servant?" After a moment of silence, Hong Yue suddenly asked Qin Feng.

"What? Do you suspect your brother lied to you?" Qin Feng smiled and asked.

"If you're a civil servant, why do you get into fights?"

"What kind of question is that? Civil servants aren't allowed to fight? Besides, that night it was quite obvious that I was the one being beaten up, I was the victim," Qin Feng said with a laugh, finding this young woman rather cute.

"Are you going to claim that the guy who showed up later wasn't beaten by you?" Hong Yue retorted.

"Uh..." Qin Feng was left speechless.

"Out of words, aren't you?"

"Alright, I admit it. I'm indeed not a good person." This matter was impossible to explain clearly to her, and Qin Feng didn't even care to try.