Yu Meitong was actually quite satisfied with the guy. He looked like someone she liked, was gentle, and capable, being a deputy manager at a young age. But she wasn’t willing to argue over money in the future with such a family. Having experienced poverty, she knew how hard it was to live without money.
Lu Jiaxin noticed that she still seemed a bit reluctant. Well, logic is one thing, and feelings are another.
After thinking for a moment, Lu Jiaxin said, "Didn’t we just talk about how Nie Zhan always ghosts me? The Nie Family is wealthy, and many issues can be solved with money; Nie Zhan was just there to advise and strategize. But the guy pursuing you is from a poor family. If they encounter any problems, they’ll need you to offer both effort and money."
"Sister Meitong, if you’re just dating, it’s fine to enjoy yourselves. But if you’re considering marriage, then forget it—it would be exhausting and burdensome."
It’s not that his family would definitely suck Meitong dry, but when there’s trouble, should you help or not? Refusing once or twice can be handled, but constant refusal would surely affect the marital relationship, leaving only a mess in the end.
Zong Shimeng posed a practical question, "How old is the man, and has he bought a property yet?"
Yu Meitong replied, "He’s a year younger than me. He bought a property in Yuen Long at the beginning of the month, over 700 square feet."
"Have you ever gone shopping with him?"
Yu Meitong shook her head, "I don’t intend to accept him, so I haven’t gone shopping with him."
Lu Jiaxin said, "Sister Meitong, you’re right not to accept him. Today we spent over twenty thousand on shopping together, and that guy’s monthly salary is probably not even that amount, right?"
"His salary is over fourteen thousand, plus quarterly and year-end bonuses," Yu Meitong replied. For his age, it’s considered pretty good income.
Upon hearing this, Lu Jiaxin couldn’t help but shake her head, and said, "Sister Meitong, even if his monthly salary plus bonuses isn’t enough for you to shop once."
"While dating, you might not say anything even if you disagree, but marriage is different. In the end, there are only two outcomes: one, you compromise and lower your standard of living; two, endless quarreling, followed by parting ways."
"Is there no third option?"
Lu Jiaxin shook her head, saying, "No. Life isn’t a fairy tale. I mentioned this to Shi Xinyu before, and now I’m telling you the same."
"Take me and Nie Zhan for example. If I were just an ordinary white-collar worker, I might date him but definitely wouldn’t marry him. Once married, you’d not only have to endure the resistance from the Nie Family but also break barriers to integrate into his circle—it’s too tiring."
Zong Shimeng chuckled, "Aren’t you afraid Nie Zhan will hear that?"
Lu Jiaxin wasn’t afraid, "I have no problem telling him directly. The disparity between our families is too great, not only will his relatives but even his friends look down on you. Life is short, I just want to be happy and joyful, and don’t wish to endure hardships or make compromises."
After listening, Yu Meitong felt somewhat scared, and decided that once Monday came, she would find time to make things clear with the guy: "I’ll focus on work, earning a promotion and raise!"
Lu Jiaxin was very pleased, glad that she listened to advice. Perhaps the guy’s family could be harmonious, but top-down compatibility is really exhausting, and the result of enduring is not necessarily good.
A few days later, Lu Jiaxin had just returned from a walk in the garden when she received a call from Yu Meitong.
Yu Meitong said angrily, "That scumbag—I only rejected him three days ago, and yesterday I saw him having coffee with the secretary of the publicity department manager in my company."
Good thing she rejected him despite feeling sad and guilty, but turns out he was a fisherman. The more she thought about it, the more disgusting it seemed. But she couldn’t say anything, or he might turn the tables.
Lu Jiaxin asked, "Does that secretary come from a wealthy background?"
Yu Meitong affirmed her assumption, "Although I don’t know what kind of family she’s from, she dresses in designer clothes and carries bags from Chanel and Little Xiang. Yesterday, she was carrying Little Xiang’s latest model."
"Why be angry over such trash?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Meitong realized her foolishness, "Jiaxin, should I remind her, to prevent her from being deceived?"
"You can remind her, but you shouldn’t be the one to say it—you’d need to find someone close to her to talk to her. Otherwise, she might think you secretly have feelings for the guy and are being jealous to stir things up."
Feeling fortunate to have vented to Jiaxin, Yu Meitong otherwise might have impulsively told the secretary, potentially causing bad repercussions.
Lu Jiaxin laughed, asking, "Thinking about dating someone?"
Yu Meitong indeed wanted to date, so she didn’t hold back, "Seeing you all sweet and lovely, I want to fall in love too. Also, you’re getting engaged this year and will get married and have children in the next few years—I can’t fall too far behind."
Wanting to date signifies she’s moved past the shadow of the last relationship. Lu Jiaxin happily said, "What are your requirements for your future partner? Sister Shimeng and I can help look around."
Yu Meitong knew that although she wasn’t socially active, the many elites in companies like Wansheng Real Estate and Xinxin Real Estate were valuable resources. Without shyness, she said, "Be committed to the relationship and have a promising career like mine. I don’t ask for wealth, but can’t be poor either."
Yu Meitong said, "Looks should be at least a seven out of ten—too ugly won’t do, or the children might be unpleasant looking as well. That scumbag looked gentle and refined but was actually a deceitful gentleman."
She wouldn’t want someone who wasn’t committed to the relationship, no matter how good-looking or wealthy their family was. Having suffered once, she couldn’t falter in the same way.
After hanging up the phone, Lu Jiaxin went through the senior staff at the company in her mind. Turns out, they were all over thirty, and most were already married.
While taking a walk after dinner, Lu Jiaxin asked Nie Zhan, "Does your company have any good-looking guys with nice personalities?"
Real estate companies might better fit Yu Meitong’s criteria because there is more potential in real estate companies; Wansheng being the N04 real estate company in Hong Kong, those who manage to get in have strong abilities and come from prestigious schools.
Nie Zhan stopped, looked at her, asking, "Why suddenly ask this?"
Lu Jiaxin explained about Yu Meitong, "She never mentioned wanting to date, indicating the wound hadn’t healed completely. Now that she’s considering dating, it signifies the matter has passed, so I want to introduce someone suitable. I already checked Xinxin Real Estate and Green Forest but haven’t found anyone appropriate."
"What are the requirements?"
"Excellent ability, hardworking, good personality, and handsome looks. As for family background, just having parents with decent jobs is sufficient," Lu Jiaxin said. Parents with respectable jobs constituted the middle class in Hong Kong, and someone with excellent ability and a promising future would be a good match for Yu Meitong.
Nie Zhan didn’t refuse, saying, "When I go to work tomorrow, I’ll have the secretary gather information on the middle-level leaders at the company to see if there’s anyone who fits your criteria."
Lu Jiaxin smiled, saying, "I’ve already called Sister Shimeng, asking her to help look around. She knows many people, so she might act faster than I will."