“By the way, can I call you Pretty?” His voice was deep and magnetic, like a sudden cool breeze on a scorching summer day, leaving me momentarily dazed.
“I’m… I’m fine,” I stammered. My leg was certainly fine; I just felt weak in the knees upon seeing him.
It seemed I really needed to prepare a proper thank-you gift for Thalia Eve; she had set me up with such a handsome guy!
“But why do you call me Pretty? You seem older than me?”
“Don’t you like it? I thought girls liked being called Pretty?” As he said this, his eyes were red, his lips slightly drooping, and his voice choked.
Why does it seem like he’s about to cry? But looking at his face, I couldn’t feel annoyed; all I felt was heartache and panic! I had never comforted a younger sister; my relationship with her was always about direct arguments and fights. Comforting someone was not my area of expertise.
“Can you… can you not do that? I don’t really like it when guys cry.” I thought I was speaking softly, perhaps the softest and gentlest I had ever spoken in my life.
“Wow… Prettier, you don’t like me.”
Did I pick up the wrong script? The current scene was truly bewildering; a twenty-year-old man was sobbing uncontrollably in a café?
Everyone’s gaze turned towards me, and I felt a thrill; I actually had a day where I was the center of attention!
“Um… I don’t dislike you; just don’t cry for now.” I decided to calm him down first. His tearful expression made it seem like I was bullying him, and it pained me to look at him.
“Woo… you… you just said you don’t like me.”
I rubbed my forehead and sighed lightly. Was he really being this serious? Isn’t this behavior more suited for a child?
“I really like you. Here, have a piece of candy; don’t cry anymore.”
I decided to try some child-soothing techniques I had seen before, and sure enough, he broke into a smile. It really worked, but he was a bit strange; I would have to ask Thalia about it later.
“By the way, you still haven’t told me your name!”
“My name is Franco Yeris.” He smiled brightly with the lollipop I had just given him in his mouth. Although it looked a bit out of place, it was quite cute.
“Then can I call you Frank from now on?” I felt he would like a cuter nickname.
“Sure, I like it.”
“Frank, what are your hobbies usually?”
“I like whatever my Pretty likes.”
He seemed to dislike bitter things; since he came in, he had only eaten sweet desserts, and he hadn’t touched his coffee at all. Looking at the cup of Americano in front of me, I had an idea.
“Could you help me finish this cup of coffee? I can’t drink it anymore, and I don’t want to waste it.”
“Of course, if you don’t like it, then don’t drink it.”
I saw him quickly grab my cup and take a sip of coffee. If it weren’t for the momentary grimace on his face before he returned to smiling, others might have thought he really enjoyed it!
“Alright, don’t drink anymore. If you clearly don’t like it, why force yourself?”
He looked at me nervously. “I don’t dislike it; if Pretty Lilly asks me to finish it, I will definitely do it.”
Isn’t he too obedient? It seems Thalia really didn’t deceive me.
Seeing him reach for the cup in front of him again, I quickly stopped him. “Wait, let’s exchange phone numbers first.” Today’s blind date was quite satisfactory if I ignored that little bit of strangeness. He should be my destined partner, right?
“Hey, it’s me, Lillie.”
“It’s you! How’s it going? The handsome guy I set you up with is pretty good, right?”
“Yes! His looks are really to my taste; I felt weak in the knees the moment I saw him.”
“Really? I told you finding someone through me would be a sure thing!” Her tone was quite proud.
“But what’s up with you?”
“Huh?”
“You actually introduced someone who seems a bit dim-witted to me. I may be after looks, but I’m not looking for someone foolish.”
“How could that be? He’s a normal person; his intelligence is fine.”
“Intelligence is fine? Would a normal man cry uncontrollably in a café and need candy to stop?”
“Did he really do that? But he’s a top student from a prestigious university; his IQ is very high! I even have his health report here; all indicators are normal, and his health is top-notch.” Her tone was filled with surprise, almost breaking.
“Don’t underestimate the men I have here; each one has a unique code, and their background must be thoroughly checked. I won’t rest until I’ve traced their ancestry back eighteen generations. Of course, there are also requirements for physical quality, excluding clients with special preferences!”
