My Blind Date Was My Boss

My mother called me eighteen times that week.

Every call was about blind dates.

“You’re twenty-four and still don’t have a boyfriend,” she snapped. “What did you study all those years for?”

Her voice sharpened.

“If you don’t marry, where will the bride price come from? Your two brothers are still waiting to buy apartments and get married.”

I had heard these words too many times.

To my parents, my greatest value was the money my marriage could bring.

I did not argue.

After so many years, habit had worn down my anger.

“Mom, I’m busy with work. I really can’t make time.”

“Listen carefully,” she said. “The man tonight is rich. If you fail again, your father and I will marry you to Old Zhang from the next village.”

Old Zhang was over fifty.

He had made some money when he was young.

His wife died last month, and before she was even buried, he began offering a high bride price for a new wife.

A young wife.

A clean one.

I had not expected my parents to push me this far.

My department head demanded overtime that day, so by the time I reached the restaurant, it was already dark.

The man stood by the window, speaking on the phone.

A custom black suit framed his tall figure.

Restrained.

Elegant.

Untouchable.

His low voice made my heart itch.

Then I saw his face.

My soul nearly left my body.

Victor Fu.

My direct boss.

Also the man I had secretly loved for years.

I pressed myself against the wall and began inching toward the door.

No joke.

If someone lent me ten extra lives, I still would not dare go on a blind date with my boss.

Victor was always focused when working.

Maybe he had not noticed me.

I had almost reached the door when he suddenly turned.

His cold, handsome face crashed into my vision.

Our eyes met.

I stiffly raised one hand.

“Boss. What a coincidence. Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Victor looked at me for a long moment.

Then frowned.

“You are my blind date tonight?”

I waved both hands in panic.

“No. No. Absolutely not. I walked into the wrong room.”

I had no idea how much my mother paid to arrange this date, but I was already calculating how much I would need to transfer her to calm her rage.

“Since you’re here,” Victor said evenly, “let’s complete the process.”

He sounded like we were discussing a billion-dollar contract.

“My gas stove is on at home,” I muttered, staring at the floor.

Victor Fu had been my unreachable crush since college.

During my freshman year, he returned as an outstanding alumni speaker.

I had grown up timid, humble, and constantly pressed down.

Brilliant people always drew my gaze.

I hid my feelings for years.

No one knew.

After graduation, I fought my way into his company and started from the bottom.

I was satisfied.

Even if I rarely interacted with him, I looked forward to Monday staff meetings because Victor attended whenever his schedule allowed.

The scent of food brought me back.

My stomach growled.

Victor pushed a plate of sliced steak toward me like a gentleman, then picked up my blind date profile.

“Don’t…” My protest was too soft to matter.

My hand trembled around the knife and fork.

I did not want him to see my ordinary life.

My cheap education path.

My poor family.

My unremarkable resume.

He had always been excellent.

I ate the exquisite food like chewing wax.

The red wine emptied.

Then refilled.

Then emptied again.

My heart filled with sourness.

I called the waiter and changed to stronger liquor.

Victor stopped me once.

“You have work tomorrow.”

I did not care.

I had joined his company just to be closer to him.

After tonight, perhaps even that fragile connection would be gone.

He would never accept someone as damaged as me.

The liquor burned down my throat.

Heat exploded in my stomach and spread through my blood.

My consciousness loosened.

When I looked at Victor again, I no longer hid the way I wanted him.

Direct.

Burning.

“Victor Fu.”

Only drunk did I dare say his name.

“Lina.” Victor caught my head before it hit the table.

Maybe it was the lighting.

Maybe it was the alcohol.

But tonight, Victor seemed different.

Softer.

Closer.

I wanted to lean into him.

“Lina, can you walk?” His breath brushed my face. “I’ll take you home.”

I wanted to hug him.

Kiss him.

Do every unspeakable thing my sober self would never admit.

Alcohol makes cowards brave.

My brain heated.

“I like you, Victor.”

The moment I said it, I regretted it.

I was suddenly sober.

Victor looked at me with an expression I had never seen before.

“Lina, I—”

I rubbed my nose, tears stinging my eyes, and cut him off.

“Boss, drunk words don’t count. I need to go home and finish a proposal.”

Then I fled the expensive restaurant like a coward.