Chapter 23: Accompanying a Roommate on a Blind Date

At exactly eleven o'clock, Lu Zheng met Tong Muxuan at the East Mountain Park Subway Station.

No doubt he's a programmer, even on a date he's wearing the standard checkered shirt and jeans, just that he washed his hair before heading out.

"How many days have you been working? How come you've already got a little belly?" Lu Zheng stepped forward and patted Tong Muxuan's stomach.

"Get lost!" Tong Muxuan swatted Lu Zheng's hand away, "My company has a gym, and I work out every day. Unlike you, cooped up at home for a month... Holy crap, are those legendary six-pack abs?"

"Excuse me, excuse me. I haven't done anything this month except work on my physique."

"Tsk tsk, are you planning on switching careers?"

"Switch to what?" Lu Zheng didn't catch on immediately.

"Don't tell me no auntie at the gym has set her sights on you?" Tong Muxuan curled his lips, "With your pretty face and those body lines, anyone past a certain age would be drooling over you."

"Ha." Lu Zheng looked disdainful, "Sorry, the older ones can't squeeze past the young ladies surrounding me."

"Impressive, your confidence level is unmatched," Tong Muxuan gave a thumbs up, "Marrying into wealth is way better than hanging onto an older lady!

Wait until I make it big, I'll go to your father-in-law's house to support you!"

"Scram!"

The friendship of college classmates is the purest; even after a month apart, Lu Zheng and Tong Muxuan felt no awkwardness between them.

"Let's get serious. How did you meet her? What's she like? Where's she from? Is she reliable?"

"You're checking household registration now." Tong Muxuan lacked the energy to retort, "My parents introduced us, she's also in Hai City, graduated the same year, works at a bank."

"Tsk tsk, a state-owned enterprise, huh!"

"Heh, my salary overshadows hers!"

"You're something else!"

"By the way," Tong Muxuan shifted the topic, "How's your job situation, any prospects?"

"None, planning to be a kept man."

"Be serious." Tong Muxuan curled his lips, "I get along well with my department head, I'll find an opportunity to recommend you internally."

"Please don't." Lu Zheng quickly waved his hand, "I have an income."

"What income, doing programming freelance or writing web novels?" Tong Muxuan said with disdain.

"You look down on web novel writing?" Lu Zheng glared, "Top authors earn a hundred million a year!"

"And what's that got to do with you?"

"Nothing."

Lu Zheng instantly backed down, having to admit that most low-tier writers can't even earn enough to change their own pants.

"Anyway, I'm fine. I really do have income, and there's no need for me to save face with you all. If I really need help, I'll definitely ask."

"Really?"

"Really!" Lu Zheng gave a firm nod.

"That's good." Tong Muxuan nodded, suddenly pondering, "Then did I affect your work by calling you over today?

After all, at the gym on weekends is when you have the most clients."

"Scram!"

...

Fulong Plaza, south second entrance.

"Didn't you guys decide on the venue ahead of time?"

"It's obvious you haven't dated before. You definitely meet first and discuss face-to-face," Tong Muxuan laughed, "Don't say an old pal doesn't have your back, learn something!"

Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, realizing the work environment is more complicated than in university, as this was the third time Tong Muxuan left him speechless.

Should I just draw my sword?

"They're here." Tong Muxuan raised his hand to nudge Lu Zheng, gesturing into the distance, "The one in red is mine."

Following Tong Muxuan's gaze, Lu Zheng saw a pair dressed in red and white approaching together.

The girl in the red outfit was about 1.6 meters tall, a head shorter than Tong Muxuan. She had delicate features and smooth skin, just like a girl from the Shu Region.

The other girl wearing a white dress was slightly taller, her makeup was exquisite, and her natural beauty showed underneath. Her shoulder-length hair curled slightly at the ends, adding a touch of allure.

Hmm, they're above average.

"Tong Muxuan?"

"That's me. Hello, beautiful ladies!"

"This is my best friend, Luo Yun."

"This is my good buddy, Lu Zheng."

After exchanging names, Lu Zheng finally knew the main girl's name was Su Mengmeng.

That name...

How to say, it's nice, but Lu Zheng couldn't help but wonder how Su Mengmeng would introduce herself after she got old.

"What are we having for lunch?"

The first test appeared as scheduled.

"I looked up, and the Old Qingyu Hot Pot here in the plaza is quite good."

Tong Muxuan immediately answered, "If you find hot pot too greasy, the seafood at Akai Japanese Cuisine also has good reviews. Additionally, there's Cui Gang Restaurant and Haihua Local Cuisine, both quite popular too."

"Hiss!"

Lu Zheng took a deep breath, feeling that without a Mind Jade Seal, he might never get out of being single in this lifetime.

Su Mengmeng and Luo Yun asked for Lu Zheng's opinion symbolically, and of course, Lu Zheng indicated he had no opinion.

So the four happily decided on Haihua Local Cuisine as the lunch venue.

"Luo Yun is a local; Haihua Local Cuisine is considered a pretty decent choice."

Lu Zheng nodded. He had just taken a glance at his phone; the girls didn't choose the most expensive Akai Japanese Cuisine, and Haihua Local Cuisine's average spending was only slightly higher compared to Cui Gang Restaurant.

The first interaction was both Su Mengmeng's test and Tong Muxuan's test, wasn't it?

...

Once seated, the menu naturally ended up in the hands of Luo Yun, the local expert.

Four dishes and a soup, with both meat and vegetables.

The dishes were served quickly, with unique and delicate colors and presentation. As for the taste, well, everyone has different preferences.

But of course, eating was not the main purpose for any of them.

While eating casually, Lu Zheng listened to the conversation between Tong Muxuan and Su Mengmeng.

Starting from describing their hometowns, then discussing their respective family backgrounds, and soon talking about their studies and lives in Hai City.

Finally, they touched upon the big issue of settling down and starting a family in Hai City.

Housing!

"The housing prices in Hai City are indeed high. Even as a programmer at a major gaming company with a high salary here, it still requires years of frugal saving for a down payment."

"And they all say programming is a young man's job, thirty-five is the critical age."

"Of course, I'm also learning more languages and newer frameworks to ensure my competitiveness in this field."

"Meanwhile, I'm not resigned to just doing hard work for others. I'm working on my own indie games in my spare time besides my day job and learning."

"If I succeed, even earning a little will make housing no longer an issue. And even if I'm unlucky, I'll have enough experience and confidence not to be eliminated from this industry."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng couldn't help but look at Tong Muxuan with new respect. Who would've thought Old Tong was so clear-headed!

Obviously, Tong Muxuan's rationality also impressed Su Mengmeng.

And there was another important point, which is that Tong Muxuan's looks weren't bad either. He was over 1.75 meters tall, scholarly, and considerate.

Adding his rational planning for the future, as long as Su Mengmeng wasn't looking to marry for social climbing directly, Tong Muxuan absolutely seemed like a promising prospect.

"Of course," then Tong Muxuan decisively changed his tone, "all of the above are variables. The only certain thing that won't change is that even if I don't earn big money, my parents can gather enough for my down payment for a house in Shanghai."

Lu Zheng: (ー_ー)!!

In one second, the image crumbled, bro!