Huo Mingze and Shen Modi found a coffee shop not far away.
After sitting down, Huo Mingze ordered coffee.
Shen Modi also handed over her personal information to Huo Mingze.
She highlighted and said, "Thank you for helping me out just now. The main reason I'm on a blind date is that my father is ill and may not last long. I want to make him feel at ease. Of course, I am also at the age when I should get married."
Huo Mingze expressed understanding and nodded, also stating his own situation: "The reason I'm on a blind date is that I really want to get married."
The person who has been in a relationship for six years left the country just like that, in the most heartless way.
So, his bride - to - be could be someone else.
He could end a six - year relationship and also start a new one in six minutes.
Shen Modi added, "My family has a heavier burden. My father is ill, and my younger brother attends a school for the deaf - mute. If we really get married, I will also need to support my father and brother in the future. However, don't worry. I won't touch your salary."
Since there is no affection in blind dates, it's better to make these things clear first.
Huo Mingze nodded to show understanding: "You can touch my salary. I mean, if we get married, your parents will be mine too. If you have no objections, we can get the certificate at any time. Shall we add WeChat first?"
He didn't know her well, but at least she seemed to be a filial woman.
Filial piety shows a kind heart.
A woman who shoulders the responsibilities of her father and younger brother alone can't be bad.
Moreover, he can afford to take a gamble.
"Okay." Shen Modi didn't act coy and took out her mobile phone to add Huo Mingze's WeChat.
Is this what a blind date is like?
Two strangers, feeling that each other's conditions are suitable in all aspects, then discuss marriage.
Furthermore, she herself also came for a blind date with the intention of getting married.
Just after adding WeChat, a WeChat notification rang. A message from her younger brother came through: Sister, I have arranged for Dad's discharge from the hospital.
Shen Modi's heart sank. Her fingers trembled as she hurriedly typed: Dad's condition is so serious. How could he be discharged?
Her younger brother was born deaf, so he can't speak. However, he is very smart. He has been attending a school for the deaf - mute all these years. He types very fluently and his sign language is also good.
The younger brother replied: Dad insists on being discharged. Sister, just let Dad be discharged.
From that last sentence, Shen Modi could even picture her younger brother's desperate and helpless face.
She understands. She understands everything.
Both Dad and her younger brother think they are a burden to her.
Last month, her younger brother even came back home with his schoolbag, refusing to go to school.
Shen Modi's nose became sour, and she immediately called her father.
The call was quickly answered on the other end.
The voice of her father, Shen Weiguo, came through, very calm and warm, but also slow - paced due to illness: "Xiao Di, what's wrong? The decision to leave the hospital was mine. Don't blame Xiao Guang."
"Dad, isn't it better not to leave the hospital?" Shen Modi's tears streamed down, and her voice was pleading.
With an outsider present, she wanted to hold back her tears, but couldn't.
"Xiao Di, this illness of Dad's can't be cured, so don't waste money. Dad promises you that he will go home and rest well, strive to live a few more years until you get married and have children..."
"Dad, your illness can be cured. It's just chronic and requires a longer treatment period. Dad, the treatment cost is not expensive, they are all common drugs, and a lot can be reimbursed by medical insurance. We can afford it. Dad, you leave the hospital first, and I'm coming now." Shen Modi's eyes were red.
No matter what, she wanted to persuade her father to continue staying in the hospital.
"Xiao Di, you don't need to come to the hospital. Xiao Guang and I are already on our way home and will be home soon."
"Dad... I'm coming back now." Shen Modi choked, her throat tight.
She was very flustered. She always felt that her father seemed to know about his illness.
Because his voice seemed to carry a kind of reluctant despair and reluctance.
"Okay, you drive slowly and pay attention to safety." Her father laughed on the phone and then hung up.
Shen Modi's heart ached again as she heard her father's laughter.
She slightly raised her head, trying to hold back the tears in her eyes.
However, the tears still rolled down her cheeks.
At the moment when Shen Modi put down the phone, Huo Mingze handed her a tissue.
"Thank you! I'm sorry, but I have to go back now." Shen Modi took the tissue, turned her head away, and quickly wiped away her tears, not wanting Huo Mingze to see her haggard appearance.
Huo Mingze comforted her, saying, "Life is long, and there will be difficult times. I'll give you a ride!"
"No, thank you. I can go back by myself." Shen Modi picked up her bag and left to pay at the bar.
Huo Mingze took a step forward and said, "Let me do it!"
"You already paid for the coffee earlier." Shen Modi insisted on scanning the code to pay.
She habitually didn't want to owe anyone anything.
Huo Mingze reached out and held her wrist, keeping her away from the bar. While scanning the code to pay, he said, "As long as you're with me, you'll never have to pay."
Shen Modi looked at the hand on her wrist.
Was it because she had been struggling too hard in these past few years?
Was it because she had become too fragile?
She suddenly thought that it would be nice to have a marriage with respect like guests.
Huo Mingze had already paid the bill, and he let go of Shen Modi's hand.
Shen Modi pulled herself together, said "Let's keep in touch" and hurried out of the coffee shop.
She walked to the roadside to wait for a car.
Before long, a Chevrolet stopped in front of her.
Huo Mingze lowered the car window and said, "Get in. I'll give you a ride."
"No, thank you. My car - hailing service is about to arrive," Shen Modi didn't want to trouble Huo Mingze.
"I'm free right now. I'll give you a lift. You'd have to wait for a long time if you take a taxi," Huo Mingze said.
"Thank you for the trouble," Shen Modi was indeed eager to go home, so she opened the car door and got in.
Huo Mingze leaned over to fasten Shen Modi's seatbelt.
Shen Modi tensed up all over.
After Huo Mingze helped her fasten the seatbelt, he focused on driving.
Shen Modi relaxed a little.
She glanced at Huo Mingze from the side. His fingers on the steering wheel were very nice - looking, slender and with well - defined joints.
"Where do you live?" Huo Mingze asked.
Shen Modi immediately gave her address: "In Liyuan Community."
This house is rented by them.
Once upon a time, they also had a house of their own.
Later, because it was discovered that her younger brother was born deaf, her father sold the house to prepare for treating her brother's illness.
However, her mother took away the money from selling the house.
That year, she was 11 years old and her brother was 2 years old.
The house payment was gone, and the treatment of her brother's illness was also delayed.
At that time, they were still living in Meicheng.
After she graduated from university the year before last, the three of them moved from Meicheng to Haicheng to live. Anyway, it's all about renting a house, and life is the same everywhere.
However, misfortune never pities the wretched. She and her father managed to save 170,000 yuan, preparing to install a cochlear implant for her brother. Her father got ill and was diagnosed with liver cancer.
The doctor said that it had already spread and surgery was of little significance. It was recommended to have conservative treatment, take anti - cancer drugs, and have chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
She had been hiding it from her father all along, only saying that her father was too tired after all these years, that it was an occupational disease, and that he would get better after staying in the hospital for a period of time.
Regarding the cochlear implant for her brother, she said that she wanted to save more money to buy an imported one for her brother, which would be a bit more expensive, and she would have to wait another year.
Soon, Huo Mingze parked the car at the entrance of the community and asked, "Do you want me to accompany you up?"