Chapter Six: Persistence Is Also a Kind of Luxury
“What’s wrong, still not satisfied?” Xiao Xiao stepped out from behind the screen, watching the graceful figure disappear into the distance. This was already the thirty-seventh matchmaking session she had orchestrated for Bai Yunchuan. In truth, she had known the outcome before she even arrived. No matter how outstanding the candidate, he would never accept them. That was precisely why she had managed to retain him as a regular client for so long. Of course, it had also become something of an industry joke—almost a blemish on her otherwise impeccable career. In the past, no matter how unpresentable the client, under her guidance and packaging, they would settle on a partner within three attempts. But Bai Yunchuan was far too unusual.
She picked up a teacup that hadn’t yet been used, pouring herself a drink, her face wreathed in a playful smile. “Honestly, she’s not bad at all. Why don’t you just make do and get married? That way I can finally report back and close your case.” Bai Yunchuan also smiled. Xiao Xiao had said something along those lines over a hundred times; he always treated it as a joke, just a bit of lighthearted banter. Seeing that he didn’t respond, she asked, “Still holding out?”
Bai Yunchuan glanced at his watch, speaking with the air of someone who’d seen it all. “You’re still young. When you reach my age, you’ll realize that even persistence is a luxury.” His words carried a note of pride. Xiao Xiao clicked her tongue dismissively, catching a glimpse of Yu Xin as she glided in, poised and elegant. Quickly, Xiao Xiao stood to offer her the seat, her voice as sweet as honey as she greeted her, “Sister Yu, don’t worry. Under my supervision, even if Brother Chuan wants to indulge in the endless red dust, I’ll make sure he sits as still as a meditating monk.”
Neither of them paid her words any mind, remaining as wrapped up in each other as ever. Xiao Xiao, understanding her place, left them to their world. Without so much as a goodbye, she slipped from the private room—only to bump right into Lin Shuo in the club’s lobby. She almost suspected that lately, fate itself had been scripting melodramas for her, always hitting on the most awkward moments.
Though she was at work, Xiao Xiao’s attire was nothing like the formal wear she’d sported at yesterday’s wedding. Just a simple T-shirt and jeans, her high ponytail swinging playfully as she walked. This casual look had nearly gotten her stopped by the lobby manager earlier, and now, standing before Lin Shuo, she still felt somehow a notch below him. She saw no need for pleasantries, kept her gaze straight ahead, and strode past with her head held high. But Lin Shuo seemed determined to pick a fight, his voice strange as he called out, “Did the real wife beat you up?”
“What did you say?”
Xiao Xiao was a bit bewildered, forced to a halt. Turning back, she saw the mocking look on his face as he drawled, “I didn’t expect you to be so slippery—just barely missed running into the real wife. Then again, if you hadn’t left in time, you’d probably be dragged by the hair and beaten up already.”
She was even more confused by Lin Shuo’s nonsense, until he spoke again, “Wasn’t that your boyfriend’s wife who just went in? I remember you nearly got your face scratched a while back.”
At these words, Xiao Xiao understood. He was referring to Bai Yunchuan and Yu Xin.
Back then, Bai Yunchuan’s repeated matchmaking failures had damaged the reputation of several of her peers, landing him on the industry’s blacklist. By the time his request reached Xiao Xiao’s company, all the veterans were unwilling to take him on, passing the hot potato to her. She was new to the field then, utterly at a loss with such a tough case, and it had taken considerable effort to even make a start.
It was only on the official day of the matchmaking that she truly realized how formidable Bai Yunchuan was. She’d never met a client so courteous yet so perpetually distant; in the end, the woman left utterly disheartened. Most irritating of all, as soon as the candidate departed, Bai Yunchuan looked genuinely regretful, leaving Xiao Xiao with no outlet for her frustration. All she could do was offer polite words of comfort, though in her heart, she truly never wanted to deal with such a reluctant client again.
To thank her, Bai Yunchuan had invited her to dinner, and as they were leaving, Xiao Xiao was suddenly seized by the hair by a woman she’d never met. The woman accused her, saying she’d stolen her husband. The situation unfolded so abruptly that Xiao Xiao barely had time to react before the woman’s shoves nearly knocked her off her feet. Her scalp felt as if it would be torn out, her head blazing with pain, while curses—‘homewrecker,’ ‘shameless’—rang in her ears. Furious, she summoned all her strength to push this sudden attacker away. Judging by her instincts, the woman didn’t seem the type to make a scene, and sure enough, she stumbled backward, high heels clattering against the old Kunming stone map at the center of the square. Just then, Bai Yunchuan, who had been trying to mediate, appeared behind the woman and caught her as she nearly fell, asking with urgent concern, “Yu Xin, are you all right?”
Lonely Moments, Chapter Six: Even Persistence Is a Luxury. End of update.