The Framework of Blind Dates

"Ah Lina, how are you? What happened? I made an excuse for you today to the boss, but you need to return to the office tomorrow!" Zhou Zhili cried as soon as Wu Lina picked the phone.

"I'll call you back in some time Jia," she replied and cut the phone. After taking a warm bath, Wu Lina went to the bedroom to wear something comfortable. She wore a pale yellow shirt with a cartoon printed in front and paired it with casual white shorts. By the time she finished drying her hair, she realized she hadn't eaten anything till now.

She went to the kitchen to prepare ginger tea and rice noodles. Once again her whole body ached. She was feeling very cold, and her body was hurting. She started shivering and again went to the bedside drawer to take out medicine. She just swallowed the medicine, as she didn't have the energy left to fetch water from the kitchen to gulp with it.

She looked at her phone to see that Zhou Zhili had texted her.

[Wu Lina, please call me the moment you see this. What is wrong? I am worried.]

Wu Lina: [I am down with fever Jia. Sorry to have messaged you after so long. I think the fever will go down by tomorrow. I would like to take another day's leave. Please inform the superiors about it.]

Zhou Zhili messaged her immediately. [Oh God! Wu Lina, take care! Don't bother coming tomorrow. I will inform the boss about your absence.]

Wu Lina: [Thank you.]

Wu Lina kept the phone beside her and went back to sleep. She took extra duvets to cover herself, as she was feeling cold. Her head, limbs and every muscle of her body were paining. Soon she fell asleep.

***

Yang Xinyu drove to his parent's place for dinner. He was prepared for his mother's onslaught of lament regarding proposals. She was keen on setting him up on blind dates.

When he reached home, his mother greeted him happily, "Ah Xinyu! It's so nice to see you. Such a treat to my old eyes!" She was very happy to see her son, who hadn't visited them for a week. She was always this melodramatic. Yang Xinyu hugged her and rolled his eyes! She caught his hand and pulled him to the dining area. She wanted him to eat first and then talk to his father. However, Yang Xinyu went to greet his father first and together they came to the dining table to have dinner.

She then ran excitedly between the kitchen and the dining room ordering servants to serve the dishes she had prepared so painstakingly since morning.

The conversation on the table was very general at the beginning with Senior Yang enquiring about the business in general and the upcoming project in Spain. However, when Mrs. Yang joined them, the conversation automatically took another direction.

"Yang Xinyu, you must get married soon. We want to see our grandchildren before we die. You are already twenty-nine and aren't getting any younger," she stated in a matter of fact.

"I have chosen around ten possible girls for you who are heirs to large businesses. Give me your schedule, and I will set you on blind dates with them. If you cannot give your schedule, I will take it from Zhou Zhili!" She knew that Yang Xinyu would never give his schedule and she had to threaten Zhou Zhili to send it to her, as she was instructed not to divulge it to anyone.

"Mother, can you stop pestering me! I am not ready!" retorted Yang Xinyu.

"Not ready? Don't be mad Yang Xinyu! I am talking in your best interest. Please go to these blind dates. You might like one of them. They all come from very fine backgrounds and have graduated from elite schools and colleges." She was nonstop nagging him. She looked at Chairman Yang Ming-Chang for help.

"Yang Xinyu, it is high time you look into the matter your mother is mentioning," said senior Yang and continued having his dinner.