Wang Biao was stunned by the barrage of questions.
He then explained one by one, "I'm a company driver. Monthly salary a bit over ten thousand. I haven't bought a house yet. I have a ten-thousand-yuan runabout."
Wang Biao wasn't well-educated—if not for Xu Shou, he might still be on a construction site.
"So you're a driver."
Disappointment showed in Li Shuang's eyes.
She'd heard from the matchmaker that Wang Biao worked at a big company, and from their chats he seemed generous. She'd assumed he was rich—turns out he just drives a car.
"Li Shuang, what do you know? Drivers depend on who they drive for. Back in ancient times, even servants weren't the same—serving the emperor isn't the same as serving some landlord," Chang Li patted Li Shuang's shoulder.
Li Shuang thought that over and asked, "Brother Wang, how much do you have in savings?"
"I've got two to three hundred thousand," Wang Biao answered honestly.
"Only two to three hundred thousand? That won't do. You're already thirty. People online say at that age even having a million puts you at lower-middle."
Hearing that, Xu Mu almost wanted to go slap her and ask how much she had saved. Must've overdosed on social media nonsense.
How many thirty-year-olds with a million in savings would look twice at a face full of plastic surgery like hers?
Wang Biao stayed silent.
"Brother Wang, I'll tell you my conditions then. You must have a place within the third ring. I'm not renting."
"As for the car, at least three hundred thousand. All my friends drive Benz and BMW—if I drive something cheap they'll laugh."
"Engagement gifts: 180,000. The bride price doesn't need to be much—just our hometown custom, 388,000, plus the five gold pieces."
"Oh, and I have a younger brother. When he gets married I can't lose face as his sister. He likes EVs, so buy him a Tesla then."
…
She rattled on happily, then sipped her juice and started on her steak.
It wasn't just Wang Biao who was dumbfounded—Xu Mu was too.
She's got some nerve asking for all that.
Xu Mu couldn't stand it anymore. He took out his phone and messaged Wang Biao.
Wang Biao glanced down and, following Xu Mu's prompt, asked, "Then what dowry will you bring?"
At that, Li Shuang immediately soured.
She slapped the table. "Wang Biao! Are you even a man? You still want dowry? There are fewer women than men now—my girlfriends all ask like this."
"That's right. There's dowry too—the bride's side gives three sets of bedding," Chang Li chimed in.
Xu Mu chuckled. He might as well see what this woman's background really was. If her status matched her demands, fine. If not, she was just making wishes.
He used the Divine Eye—and almost laughed out loud.
Name: Li Shuang
Role: Masseuse at "All-Under-Heaven Foot Spa"
Favorability: 0
Fate Level: 1 (max 10)
He knew that place well in Jiang City. The women there were "take-out"—agree on the price during the foot bath, and you could take them out afterward.
He checked the other woman:
Name: Chang Li
Role: Masseuse at "All-Under-Heaven Foot Spa"
Favorability: 0
Fate Level: 1 (max 10)
Xu Mu sneered. Birds of a feather indeed.
"Brother Wang, think it over. These are my minimum requirements. If you can't meet them, that just means you're not good enough—don't blame me."
"Marriage isn't just your business. Your parents can chip in," Li Shuang added.
"Beauty, if you want to make wishes, go up a mountain and burn more incense."
Xu Mu walked over and addressed Li Shuang.
"Who are you? We're talking—who asked you to butt in?" she snapped.
"I'm just calling it like I see it. How much do you make a month? How much have you saved?"
"Ever heard of 'matching families'? With your conditions, just being set up with this brother is your ancestors blessing you," Xu Mu said.
"You… you're full of crap!"
"Don't get so worked up—your silicone might fall off," Xu Mu said coolly.
"Wang Biao! Why are you just standing there? Didn't you see him insulting me? Do something!"
"Let's go," Xu Mu said, gripping Wang Biao's shoulder and heading out.
Meng Wanyue also rose and left with them.
"Damn it! Wasting my time! Not a penny to your name and you still want to get married? Do you deserve it?" Li Shuang cursed at Wang Biao's departing back. All that cutesy voice on WeChat—turns out he was a broke loser.
She snorted, grabbed her bag, and stood. "We're leaving!"
"Ladies, just a moment—you haven't paid. Total is 6,800. We accept scan, card, or cash," a server approached with a smile.
"6,800? Why don't you just rob us?"
"Please catch up to them and make him pay!" Li Shuang pointed outside.
"Sorry, you placed the order and they didn't eat. Naturally, you'll be the ones paying."
"Based on what?" Li Shuang raised her voice.
Just then, several security guards arrived and surrounded them.
"We offer installment plans. If you don't want financing, we'll call the police," the server said, still smiling.
…
In the car, Wang Biao sat in the back, silent.
"Old Wang, what's on your mind?"
"Brother Xu… maybe she's right. In the end, I'm just not capable enough," Wang Biao murmured.
"Bull. There are plenty of good women—you just happened to run into a top-tier grifter," Xu Mu said. "Let me tell you, more often than not, the uglier they are, the more they act up."
Wang Biao kept his head down.
"Old Wang, answer me honestly: do you think you two are a match?" Xu Mu pressed.
"No. I'm not worthy of her," Wang Biao said softly. He didn't have parents to help like others.
"I'm not wasting words. Here's my conclusion: she's not worthy of you," Xu Mu said, turning the car back toward the company.
Wang Biao smiled faintly. He knew Xu Mu was trying to comfort him.
"I'll give you the answer tonight," Xu Mu said, watching him in the rearview mirror. "And call more brothers—say, thirty."
"B–Brother Xu, you're not planning to…"
Wang Biao trailed off. His job was to protect Xu Mu. Whatever Xu Mu said, he'd do—and he guessed Xu Mu might be helping him save face.
"You think I'm going to make trouble for that woman?" Xu Mu asked with a smile.
Wang Biao hesitated, then nodded.
"No, you misunderstand. I'm just going to help her hit her sales target," Xu Mu said, eyes forward.
…
Back at the company, Xu Mu was about to take a short nap when his phone rang.
He checked the screen—it was Feng Jian.
A smile tugged at his lips as he answered.
"Brother Xu! Save me!" Feng Jian wailed on the other end.