They became stronger through blind dates, and all their wishes came true.

Chapter 1 Fully Furnished and Unfurnished Apartments

The afternoon sun shines through the large floor-to-ceiling windows of the "Genting Handmade" café, illuminating the somewhat glaring wooden tabletop.

Zhou Kang subconsciously shrank back, not because of the glare, but because the woman sitting in front of him was looking at him with a scrutinizing, or rather, selecting-goods-as-sale-item-look, which gave him goosebumps.

Her makeup was very heavy, like she had applied a layer of putty.

The intention was to cover up the wrinkles around the eyes, but it actually made the wrinkles appear deeper.

She was wearing a black lace bodycon dress that was too formal for the occasion, with a low neckline that revealed a large expanse of somewhat loose skin.

A shiny necklace hung around his neck; he didn't know if it was real diamond, but it dazzled Zhou Kang in the sunlight, making him unable to open his eyes.

The woman's surname is Liu, and she is his blind date.

This was Zhou Kang's first blind date in his life.

As a sophomore, he should have been sleeping or playing games in his dorm room when he didn't have classes.

It's all that distant cousin's fault—I don't even know her name!

Zhou Kang felt annoyed just thinking about how she had been running home every day these past few days, trying to persuade his parents.

Zhou Kang complained.

Given the current state of marriage and relationships, you're only good for casual flings.

If we're really aiming for marriage, I don't have a job right now, and people want a house, a car, and a dowry. In the end, won't it be you two who have to pay for it?

As a result, I had just finished arguing with my parents.

He was immediately silenced by his cousin's words, "What do young people know?"

So Zhou Kang sat down there.

When he arrived, he realized that Ms. Liu was thirteen years older than him, and had been married and had children.

No wonder they said during the introduction that she was older and caring, and told me not to look down on her. So that's why!

"So, you're only twenty?"

Ms. Liu finally spoke, her tone tinged with disdain.

"Yes, I'm still a sophomore in college."

Zhou Kang nodded awkwardly, wanting to end this blind date that should never have happened in the first place as soon as possible.

"Tsk. Your aunt raves about you, calling you a 'potential stock' and handsome. Potential stock? That just means you're broke."

Zhou Kang smiled awkwardly and glanced at the semi-transparent blue light screen above Liu Wenyan's head, which only he could see.

[Dating System]

[Blind date: Liu Wenyan]

[Time spent together: 14 minutes and 27 seconds / 30 minutes]

Zhou Kang sighed deeply as the story finally came to an end.

This matchmaking system has only just been activated. It claims to be able to fulfill all the requirements made by potential partners and turn them into its own assets.

The prerequisite is that you need to spend half an hour with your blind date.

Half an hour! It was torture!

But in order to participate in the lottery, Zhou Kang had no choice but to continue to endure it.

She picked up the caramel macchiato in front of her, stirred the cream on top with the straw, and deliberately dragged out her words:

"I don't really care about age; what I value is a man's responsibility. My ex-husband was a good-for-nothing. I was blind to marry him because he was good to me. And what happened? We've only had a miserable life. So this time, I'm going to be upfront about what's unpleasant to say."

Zhou Kang's lips twitched involuntarily. To ask for a price in such a grand and respectable way, there was truly no one else like him.

He took a deep breath, nodded, and smiled.

"Sister Liu, tell me what your request is. I will try my best to fulfill it."

This question seemed to have flipped a switch on Liu Wenyan.

"Requirements? These aren't requirements, these are basic guarantees."

"First of all, a house is a must. Don't tell me about working hard together in the future. I can't work hard anymore, and I don't want to work hard anymore. I want something ready-made."

"I need a large apartment in the city center, which is nearby, that's at least 120 square meters. Note that it has to be paid in full. I don't accept any form of mortgage. I don't want to spend even a single day of having to calculate my mortgage payments every month. My name must be on the property certificate. It's for my sense of security."

[System records requirements[1]: Fully paid large flat in the city center, area ≥120㎡]

Zhou Kang's heart skipped a beat, not because the request was too outrageous, but because the light screen in front of him had indeed been updated.

Seeing that Zhou Kang didn't speak, Liu Wenyan assumed he was intimidated, and a smug glint flashed in her eyes:

"What? You're scared already? Boys these days are so fragile."

"A house is just a place to live; you need to present yourself in public. A Porsche Cayenne or a Panamera is the standard. Don't try to fool me with some cheap car; I'm used to driving nice cars, and I get carsick in those cheap junk cars that cost tens of thousands of dollars."

[System record requirement[2]: One Porsche Cayenne or Panamera]

Seeing the system notification, Zhou Kang was inwardly laughing: Sister Liu, you're simply my God of Wealth!

But on his face, he looked like he was listening attentively and deeply agreed.

"Yes, I understand. Indeed, we can't afford to lower our quality of life."

"Wow, you're quite the smooth talker!"

Seeing that Zhou Kang was so cooperative, Liu Wenyan continued:

"Since we're getting married, the finances will definitely be under my control. Money corrupts men, that's an age-old truth. All your savings, including your salary card, must be handed over to me for safekeeping."

"Besides that, I need at least 50,000 yuan in pocket money every month. Skincare products, facials, clothes—everything costs money. If I take good care of myself, it makes you look good when we go out, don't you think?"

[System records requirements[3]: All savings must be handed over, and a fixed allowance of 50,000 yuan per month]

Zhou Kang felt his blood pressure was really rising.

This isn't about finding a husband.

This is clearly looking for a slave with built-in ATM functionality.

"Finally, regarding the bride price, I want 880,000."

[System records request[4]: Cash bride price of 88 yuan]

"Eight...eight hundred and eighty thousand?" Zhou Kang never expected that he would be given such a large sum of money when it came to the bride price.

"Sister Liu, this is your second marriage..."

"So what if I'm remarried?!"

These two words seemed to have stepped on Liu Wenyan's tail, and she slammed her coffee cup on the table with a loud bang.

"You stinking men, do you all think a woman's value decreases after a divorce?"

Liu Wenyan's voice turned sharp: "Let me tell you, you're completely wrong! Divorced women are the real treasures! They've been tempered by time, they understand life!"

She leaned forward, pressing close to Zhou Kang with an imposing air: "What do those young girls know? All they know is to whine and throw tantrums, expecting you to pamper and pamper them. I'm different. I've been through marriage. I know how to take care of a man, and I know what a man needs."

"Mine is a finished product, a fully furnished apartment, ready to move in! Those girls' apartments are like bare shells; you have to spend money and effort to decorate them, and you don't even know how they'll turn out!"

"Besides, is an 880,000 yuan dowry too much?" Liu Wenyan rolled her eyes and looked at Zhou Kang with disdain.

"That's how things are these days. A first marriage is about testing the waters, and a token dowry is fine. A second marriage is about truly entrusting your life to you. If there's no guarantee, why should I be your slave?"

"Eighty-eighty thousand, not a penny less. This is a discount because you're young and healthy. If it were an old man, he wouldn't even dream of it without two million..."

Zhou Kang sat there speechlessly, listening to the woman babbling on and on.

In her logic, her divorced status was not a disadvantage, but rather a bargaining chip. Her age was not a problem, but rather a sign of maturity and understanding.

What kind of logic is that?

"Little brother, are you listening?"

Seeing that Zhou Kang was still in a daze, Liu Wenyan tapped the table in dissatisfaction.

"These are all golden words of advice. I only say them because I like you; I wouldn't bother with anyone else. You might feel pressured now, but think about it: having such an understanding wife like me, how much peace of mind will you have in the future? Can't you do the math?"