Gao Huabin felt as if an iron pincer had seized his neck – if it had tightened any further, his throat would have been crushed! This wasn’t his imagination; Pan Bohua had indeed crushed thugs’ throats before.

Gao Huabin collapsed to the ground, gasping for air after his brush with death. Hearing this strange man’s accusations, he naturally objected.

“Who… who are you calling a kept man?”

He was a proud university graduate – how could he be accused of living off women? This man was being utterly unreasonable. He must be one of Bai Zhenzhu’s senior martial brothers.

Gao Huabin silently gritted his teeth.

Pan Bohua sneered, “What, am I wrong? You’re hanging around so persistently just because you know Zhenzhu has money. You definitely know about the building materials store, what else do you know!”

It was natural for men to provide for their families, and he’d seen women marry men for financial security – that was just how the world worked. But for a man to pursue a woman for money, that was utterly pathetic. What else could you call him but a kept man? And to be dishonest about it made him even more despicable. Based on what Gao Huabin said at the police station, he might even be trying to force his way into an easy life!

Gao Huabin, stung by Pan Bohua’s words hitting too close to home, covered his neck and kept his mouth shut, clearly unwilling to argue. He struggled to his feet and limped away. Only after running a block and confirming Pan Bohua wasn’t following did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

What was wrong with wanting money? Rich people could never understand the pain of poverty. While some classmates had the best resources for their studies, he had to study on an empty stomach. When he couldn’t bear the hunger anymore, he had to carefully ration even water-soaked steamed buns… After graduation, classmates with connections got assigned to good positions, while he was assigned to a government office.

“Youth Reserve Cadre” might sound impressive, but who knew how many years of struggling it would take to advance? Working in government wasn’t much better than being a teacher – the salary was just as low! The real good positions were at the large state-owned enterprises where some graduates went.

Gao Huabin had had enough of poverty.

As a university graduate, did they think he was desperately in love with some unfeminine private business owner? It was pure chance that he discovered Bai Zhenzhu owned substantial assets!

The Bai family was wary of him, only telling him that Bai Zhenzhu was a minor shareholder in the building materials store, never mentioning the brick factory or cement plant. Gao Huabin walked faster, filled with indignation. How could a poorly educated private business owner have so much money while a university graduate who spent years studying had to live in poverty?

Bai Zhenzhu was his target, and no one would ruin his plans.

Gao Huabin limped back to Yangcheng, avoiding Chang Ying and going directly to find the other matchmaker from before. This was Office Director Chang, Gao Huabin’s unit supervisor, and a relative of the Chang family. While Chang Ying was the woman’s side matchmaker, he represented the man’s side.

He briefly explained about being taken to the police station, angering Director Chang who slapped the desk:

“This is outrageous! Xiao Gao, I’ve let you down by introducing you to someone so unreasonable. I was deceived and didn’t see it. Why don’t we just end this here? I’ll arrange for the woman’s side to apologize to you. We’ll give you a proper explanation for this matter!”

Director Chang hadn’t fully understood what had happened.

His display of anger now was just to save face for Gao Huabin.

He had already heard from the Chang family that the woman wasn’t interested in Gao Huabin. Regardless of the reason, since both matchmakers had communicated, this match was considered a failure. It was Gao Huabin who went to Pengcheng himself, which was rather… embarrassing.

He hoped Gao Huabin would take the hint and back down. As for the apology, that was just Director Chang being polite – he needed to understand what had really happened and couldn’t just take Gao Huabin’s word for it.

Unexpectedly, Gao Huabin didn’t follow the usual script. He failed to appreciate the matchmaker’s goodwill and instead reaffirmed his intentions:

“Director, I don’t think this was Zhenzhu’s intention. She’s an upright person. I believe some of her ‘friends’ acted on their own. I’ve gotten to know Zhenzhu, and I truly don’t want to see her go down the wrong path. So I won’t give up. I’ll keep pursuing her, and sooner or later, I’ll drive all those bad friends away from her side.”

Director Chang: “…!”

You’re something, telling such blatant lies with a straight face.

After a while, Director Chang gave a dry laugh: “Xiao Gao, pursuing a woman requires proper etiquette. You can’t force love. You should let this matter go early.”

“Director, you don’t need to try to convince me. I’m truly committed to Zhenzhu. When we get together, I’ll thank you properly for the matchmaking.”

He hadn’t noticed Gao Huabin’s potential to be so persistent.

Previously, many people had tried to arrange matches for Gao Huabin at the unit, but he’d never shown interest. How had he become so fixated on Chang Ying’s sister-in-law on his very first blind date?

Director Chang watched Gao Huabin’s retreating figure, his face growing serious.

As a university graduate and Youth Reserve Cadre, of course, he wouldn’t take an old man like him seriously, since he wasn’t even Gao Huabin’s direct supervisor.

He had meant well as a matchmaker, but now he’d caused trouble for Chang Ying’s family.

Director Chang felt he needed to visit Chang Ying’s home after work.

For what?

To tell Chang Ying’s family they didn’t need to give him a face – they should directly reject Gao Huabin if he showed up again.

However, what was it about Chang Ying’s sister-in-law Bai Zhenzhu that made Gao Huabin so persistent?

She was just a shareholder in a building materials store.

Although the store was quite large, Gao Huabin had previously refused to even meet their unit leader’s niece, yet he was so focused on Bai Zhenzhu… Was Bai Zhenzhu just a building materials store shareholder?!

Director Chang went to Chang Ying’s home after work.

Chang Ying called him Uncle, though not by blood, they were still close relatives.

Upon arrival, he first apologized and explained about Gao Huabin’s situation.

The three members of Chang Ying’s family all felt something was off.

Chang’s father asked her, “He wouldn’t be this persistent just for a building materials store shareholder. Any other man would be furious with embarrassment after being taken to the police station, but Gao Huabin still won’t give up… Unless the benefit he’s hoping to gain outweighs the humiliation he’s suffered.”

Chang Ying wasn’t sure either.

Could she be a major shareholder in the building materials store?

She felt she needed to get to the bottom of this.

Otherwise, even if they got rid of Gao Huabin this time, others might appear next time… Well, the first time introduced a match for her sister-in-law, and they encountered someone like Gao Huabin – Chang Ying felt very embarrassed.

She felt she should clarify things with Zhenzhu and discuss how to handle Gao Huabin.

How could they let a woman’s reputation continue to be tarnished like this?

“I’ll ask Zhenzhu to come back, so we can all talk openly and figure out a strategy together.”

…

In Pengcheng.

Bai Zhenzhu had her senior martial brother deal with Gao Huabin – it was just a small maneuver, but it was enough to remove this unwanted guardian from her door.

“From now on, just do this – chase him away every time he comes. If he keeps coming after several times…”

They could take stronger action then.

Bai Zhenzhu felt she had handled this perfectly – there hadn’t been any immediate violence, and Xiaolan should praise her for that.

But before she could go see Xia Xiaolan, an unexpected visitor arrived at the An Family Building Materials Store on People’s Bridge.

“Third Brother? Why are you here!”

If there had been a mirror in front of Bai Zhenzhu at that moment, she would have seen how her eyes lit up the instant she saw Pan Bohua!

Pan Bohua had eyes – he could see Bai Zhenzhu’s expression.

He remembered her smile that had dazzled him.

–What had been wrong with him before, how had he never noticed these details?!