Down on her luck and out of options, Lydia Lockwood heads back to her hometown for a blind date—and walks straight into Xavier Vance, a man who feels less like a last resort and more like a twist of fate. "Mr. Vance, a man like you doesn't exactly need a setup. So why show up?" "Because I'm particular." Her first impression? Too smooth. Too casual. Not her type. But Coach Xing—as she came to know him—had other plans. He started turning up everywhere, laying on the charm thick and fast, and she was sure it was just a guy being a guy. What she didn't know was that this was no whim. It had been years in the making—quiet, restrained, deliberate. Then came the day he cornered her, shirtless, closing the distance one slow step at a time. She shoved him away on instinct. He laughed. "What's this, feeling me up?" "As if." "Would that be so bad? Go on—I dare you." She rolled her eyes. Shameless. Absolutely incorrigible. Until one day, she had him pinned beneath her, watching the tips of his ears go pink as she leaned in with a smirk. "Mr. Vance, all that talk—and now you're shy?" Xavier's jaw tightened. His throat moved. "I'm a decent man," he said, voice low.

Chapter 1"Xavier Vance," the man's voice was a magnetic rumble. "Thirty-one, boxing coach."Twenty-eight-year-old Lydia Lockwood never imagined she would end up destitute enough to return to her small hometown for a blind date.The matchmaker had said he was a great catch—an out-of-towner, orphaned, with a healthy grandmother.He owned a three-story house in town, a fully paid-off apartment in the county, and a car worth tens of thousands of dollars.He also ran a boxing gym in Larkspur County with a decent income.Everyone called him Coach Vance.Right now, this highly recommended coach sat across from her, his tall and broad frame taking up significant space.Dressed in all black, he exuded a wild, rebellious aura with sharp features and a clean buzz cut—a classic, handsome face.Yet, he wore an expression as stoic as stone, radiating a heavy, cold intensity that was impossible to ignore.He was tough and unyielding, handsome but rugged.He didn't look very approachable.Lydia responded out of politeness, "Lydia, twenty-eight. I work as a translator."Xavier looked at the woman before him. She had a luminous complexion, and though her lips curved in a smile, her eyes were distinctly cold and distant.Her aura was elegant yet deeply aloof.As he observed her, his gaze locked onto the tiny beauty mark at the corner of her eye, a hint of intrigue rippling through his stare.After the introductions, silence fell.It was Lydia's first blind date, and she wasn't good at handling these situations. Coupled with Xavier's icy demeanor, she had no interest in making small talk.So, she picked up her glass and took a tactical sip of water.Even after she finished her drink, Xavier remained leaning back in his chair, staring at her blankly like a sloth.Her nerves frayed, but she spoke calmly."Coach Vance, I heard you're quite a catch. Why are you on a blind date?""I'm picky."Lydia scoffed. "I figured your family forced you into it.""Yeah," Xavier replied, his voice low. "Grandma said she'd roll over in her grave if I didn't show up."Just as Lydia was marveling at the coach's bluntness, his careless tone drifted into her ears again."Don't take blind dates too seriously. If you're lucky, you find true love. If not, you find a good time. And if all else fails, it's just experience."Ridiculous.Lydia's lips twitched. "Sounds like you're a regular on the dating scene.""It's alright," Xavier shrugged. "I've only been on about a hundred."The man was way too flippant and completely unreliable."Coach Vance, I don't think our personalities match. I personally prefer serious, steady men," Lydia said, trying to save him some dignity since they lived in the same small town."To be honest, I lost my job, got scammed, and I'm drowning in debt. That's why I'm back here crashing with my family. I'm really not good enough for you, and I hope you find someone you actually like."Xavier lowered his eyelids, a profound depth swirling in his gaze.After a long moment, he said, "Alright."Lydia watched him grab his jacket and stride away, her eyes involuntarily following his movements.He was tall and broad, with wide shoulders and a narrow waist. His muscular definition was exceptional, exuding sheer power.Even in a massive city, a physique and face like that would be considered top-tier.Too bad his personality left a lot to be desired.Ultimately, she brushed off the matchmaker with a simple "I don't like flippant men," ending the disastrous date.The January wind was bitterly cold, and the trees lining the town's streets were strung with festive lights.The heavy atmosphere of the approaching holidays washed over her, feeling both familiar and foreign.Come to think of it, between college and working, she hadn't been back in eight years.This year had been an absolute disaster.In the first half of the year, a nepotism hire snatched the Vice President position that was practically hers, and in the second half, she was framed by a colleague and fired over a work error.Then, at the end of the year, a single phone call ended in a scam that wiped out her entire life savings.All those years grinding in the city amounted to absolutely nothing.She finally decided to return to her hometown.For one, she couldn't afford rent. For another, the man she had secretly loved for years got engaged last week.On her second day back, her aunt Audrey Adler forced her into a blind date.Which led to that incredibly awkward encounter just now.The moment she arrived home, the sound of Gerald and Audrey arguing echoed through the hallway.Their voices weren't overly loud, but in the poorly insulated old apartment building, every word was crystal clear."Lydia just got back and you're already making her go on blind dates! Sure, Xavier has money, but a guy in his thirties who's still single definitely has issues!""What exactly is your precious niece trying to pull, quitting her job and coming back? She even said she isn't leaving anytime soon! Does she plan to leech off us for free? I refuse to support a freeloader.""Lydia hasn't asked us for a dime since college! She even brought back clothes and gifts for us from the city. Can't you be a little more generous as her aunt?""Gerald Wyatt, letting you bring her back from that orphanage was me being generous! She ate our food and lived under our roof; it's her duty to respect us! Besides, she's pushing thirty, accomplished nothing, and isn't even married. Does she have no shame coming back? Aren't you worried about the neighbors talking? Because I am humiliated.""Plus, we only have two bedrooms. Don't forget Fiona and her husband are coming back for the holidays. She either finds her own place or marries some guy and moves in with him, because there is no room for her here."Standing outside the door, Lydia felt numb.After all these years, she was still just an unwanted outsider.When she finally composed herself and walked inside, Audrey still had a sour look on her face and immediately launched into a harsh lecture."The matchmaker said you turned down Coach Vance? Do you know where you stand? You have no right to be picky! Once a woman passes twenty-eight, her value plummets. Nobody wants her!""You think living in the city for a few years makes you some high-class socialite? Hurry up and get married while you still have your looks. I'm doing this for your own good. Look, I'll have the matchmaker find a few more guys. You're going on more dates tomorrow!""Audrey, enough is enough! Our Lydia is amazing...""Gerald," Lydia interrupted with a forced smile, stepping in to stop the fight she had caused. "I don't mind blind dates. If I can find the right person, it would be great."Returning to her room, she shut the door, dropping the stiff smile as a deep frown creased her forehead.A wave of suffocating despair washed over her, and a thin layer of cold sweat broke out on her forehead.She walked to the bed, pulled her medication from under the pillow, swallowed a pill, and collapsed exhaustedly onto the mattress.It took a long time before she recovered enough to check her phone. She opened her messages and saw a friend request.The profile picture was a wisp of black smoke, dark and oddly eerie.Lydia accepted the request and sent a quick text.[Who is this?]Half a minute later, the person replied.[The flippant Coach Vance.]Lydia froze for a few seconds before realizing it was Xavier.She kept it brief: [What do you want?]He replied instantly: [We didn't eat at the blind date today, just had drinks. Total was twenty bucks. Since it didn't work out, we're splitting the bill.]Splitting a twenty-dollar tab...That was a whole new level of cheap.Not only was Xavier flippant, but he was also a spectacular cheapskate.Lydia decisively sent him a ten-dollar digital transfer.She wanted absolutely nothing more to do with him.But Xavier didn't accept the money. Instead, he sent another message.[I want cash. Same place tomorrow morning. I'll be waiting.]Lydia wanted to laugh.Was this guy out of his mind?She aggressively typed out a response, realized it was too much, deleted it, and retyped.[I'm busy in the morning. Let's do the afternoon.]A long while later, he sent back a single, cold word.[Fine.]Early the next morning, the matchmaker dragged Lydia out for more dates.Throughout the morning, she met three different men.One was a tenured math teacher in town.One was an obstetrician from the county.And the last was a divorced businessman with a kid.They were either creepy, overweight middle-aged men or overly confident losers.The dating pool was an absolute disaster, getting worse with every candidate.Just when Lydia thought the nightmare was over, the matchmaker rushed her to the next location.The final prospect was a twenty-five-year-old named Marcus Kane.He was a sweet talker, relentlessly praising her luminous skin and gorgeous looks.But she still found an excuse to politely decline.After all, she was barely surviving; romance was the last thing on her mind.Wrapping things up quickly, Marcus took it in stride, chuckling as he spoke."Hey, if we can't date, we can still be friends!"Lydia gave a bright smile. "Sure.""Oh, my buddy and I are heading to the county to run errands. We pass right by your place. You can hitch a ride, we'll drop you off!""Thanks." It was freezing outside, and she was more than happy to score a free ride.Walking out with Marcus, she spotted a black SUV parked by the curb.A tall man leaned against the car, looking down as he took a drag from a cigarette. Dressed entirely in sharp black, he exuded a fierce, dark energy.Through the swirling smoke, his sharp features softened slightly, trading some of their grit for a rugged handsomeness.Hearing them approach, the man slowly lifted his gaze, his eyes slicing sharply through the smoke.When Lydia met his eyes, she froze.It was that cheapskate, Xavier."Xavier, this is Lydia, my blind date." Marcus stepped up and threw an arm around Xavier's shoulders. "We're heading the same way, so we're dropping this beautiful lady home!"Xavier didn't reply. His lazy gaze swept over Lydia.She wasn't wearing any makeup today either, but her radiant complexion caught the light effortlessly, striking and stunning.Wearing a beige coat, half of her hair was pinned back, leaving a few strands framing her forehead. She looked elegant and gentle.But within those beautiful eyes hid a sliver of unbreakable ice, giving her entire demeanor a chilling, untouchable solitude."Well." Xavier slowly exhaled a ring of smoke, raising an eyebrow. "What a coincidence.""Coincidence.""You were busy this morning, turns out..." Xavier drawled, "you were just going on more blind dates?"Lydia didn't have a good impression of him and replied dryly, "I have no choice. I'm getting older, and my family is rushing me."Xavier held the cigarette between his lips, staring at her with a smirk."Xavier, you two know each other?" Marcus caught the scent of gossip."Yeah," Xavier put out his cigarette and shoved his hands into his pockets, showing zero hesitation. "She was my blind date. Yesterday.""You should have said so!" Marcus clapped his hands, loving the drama. "So she's basically yours!"Birds of a feather flock together.He really was Xavier's friend—both of them were completely absurd.Lydia completely lost the desire for a free ride. She looked at Xavier. "Coach Vance, I'll pass on the ride. I have things to do, so I'll be going."She pulled a crumpled ten-dollar bill from her pocket and pressed it onto the hood. "Your ten dollars in cash for the split tab."After a few steps, Lydia turned back, pulled out another ten-dollar bill, and set it down with a sarcastic smile."The rest is my treat."Xavier glanced at the twenty dollars on the hood, then looked at Lydia's retreating figure.A barely noticeable curve tugged at his usually grim lips.Chapter 2"Xavier Vance," the man's voice was a magnetic rumble. "Thirty-one, boxing coach."Twenty-eight-year-old Lydia Lockwood never imagined she would end up destitute enough to return to her small hometown for a blind date.The matchmaker had said he was a great catch—an out-of-towner, orphaned, with a healthy grandmother.He owned a three-story house in town, a fully paid-off apartment in the county, and a car worth tens of thousands of dollars.He also ran a boxing gym in Larkspur County with a decent income.Everyone called him Coach Vance.Right now, this highly recommended coach sat across from her, his tall and broad frame taking up significant space.Dressed in all black, he exuded a wild, rebellious aura with sharp features and a clean buzz cut—a classic, handsome face.Yet, he wore an expression as stoic as stone, radiating a heavy, cold intensity that was impossible to ignore.He was tough and unyielding, handsome but rugged.He didn't look very approachable.Lydia responded out of politeness, "Lydia, twenty-eight. I work as a translator."Xavier looked at the woman before him. She had a luminous complexion, and though her lips curved in a smile, her eyes were distinctly cold and distant.Her aura was elegant yet deeply aloof.As he observed her, his gaze locked onto the tiny beauty mark at the corner of her eye, a hint of intrigue rippling through his stare.After the introductions, silence fell.It was Lydia's first blind date, and she wasn't good at handling these situations. Coupled with Xavier's icy demeanor, she had no interest in making small talk.So, she picked up her glass and took a tactical sip of water.Even after she finished her drink, Xavier remained leaning back in his chair, staring at her blankly like a sloth.Her nerves frayed, but she spoke calmly."Coach Vance, I heard you're quite a catch. Why are you on a blind date?""I'm picky."Lydia scoffed. "I figured your family forced you into it.""Yeah," Xavier replied, his voice low. "Grandma said she'd roll over in her grave if I didn't show up."Just as Lydia was marveling at the coach's bluntness, his careless tone drifted into her ears again."Don't take blind dates too seriously. If you're lucky, you find true love. If not, you find a good time. And if all else fails, it's just experience."Ridiculous.Lydia's lips twitched. "Sounds like you're a regular on the dating scene.""It's alright," Xavier shrugged. "I've only been on about a hundred."The man was way too flippant and completely unreliable."Coach Vance, I don't think our personalities match. I personally prefer serious, steady men," Lydia said, trying to save him some dignity since they lived in the same small town."To be honest, I lost my job, got scammed, and I'm drowning in debt. That's why I'm back here crashing with my family. I'm really not good enough for you, and I hope you find someone you actually like."Xavier lowered his eyelids, a profound depth swirling in his gaze.After a long moment, he said, "Alright."Lydia watched him grab his jacket and stride away, her eyes involuntarily following his movements.He was tall and broad, with wide shoulders and a narrow waist. His muscular definition was exceptional, exuding sheer power.Even in a massive city, a physique and face like that would be considered top-tier.Too bad his personality left a lot to be desired.Ultimately, she brushed off the matchmaker with a simple "I don't like flippant men," ending the disastrous date.The January wind was bitterly cold, and the trees lining the town's streets were strung with festive lights.The heavy atmosphere of the approaching holidays washed over her, feeling both familiar and foreign.Come to think of it, between college and working, she hadn't been back in eight years.This year had been an absolute disaster.In the first half of the year, a nepotism hire snatched the Vice President position that was practically hers, and in the second half, she was framed by a colleague and fired over a work error.Then, at the end of the year, a single phone call ended in a scam that wiped out her entire life savings.All those years grinding in the city amounted to absolutely nothing.She finally decided to return to her hometown.For one, she couldn't afford rent. For another, the man she had secretly loved for years got engaged last week.On her second day back, her aunt Audrey Adler forced her into a blind date.Which led to that incredibly awkward encounter just now.The moment she arrived home, the sound of Gerald and Audrey arguing echoed through the hallway.Their voices weren't overly loud, but in the poorly insulated old apartment building, every word was crystal clear."Lydia just got back and you're already making her go on blind dates! Sure, Xavier has money, but a guy in his thirties who's still single definitely has issues!""What exactly is your precious niece trying to pull, quitting her job and coming back? She even said she isn't leaving anytime soon! Does she plan to leech off us for free? I refuse to support a freeloader.""Lydia hasn't asked us for a dime since college! She even brought back clothes and gifts for us from the city. Can't you be a little more generous as her aunt?""Gerald Wyatt, letting you bring her back from that orphanage was me being generous! She ate our food and lived under our roof; it's her duty to respect us! Besides, she's pushing thirty, accomplished nothing, and isn't even married. Does she have no shame coming back? Aren't you worried about the neighbors talking? Because I am humiliated.""Plus, we only have two bedrooms. Don't forget Fiona and her husband are coming back for the holidays. She either finds her own place or marries some guy and moves in with him, because there is no room for her here."Standing outside the door, Lydia felt numb.After all these years, she was still just an unwanted outsider.When she finally composed herself and walked inside, Audrey still had a sour look on her face and immediately launched into a harsh lecture."The matchmaker said you turned down Coach Vance? Do you know where you stand? You have no right to be picky! Once a woman passes twenty-eight, her value plummets. Nobody wants her!""You think living in the city for a few years makes you some high-class socialite? Hurry up and get married while you still have your looks. I'm doing this for your own good. Look, I'll have the matchmaker find a few more guys. You're going on more dates tomorrow!""Audrey, enough is enough! Our Lydia is amazing...""Gerald," Lydia interrupted with a forced smile, stepping in to stop the fight she had caused. "I don't mind blind dates. If I can find the right person, it would be great."Returning to her room, she shut the door, dropping the stiff smile as a deep frown creased her forehead.A wave of suffocating despair washed over her, and a thin layer of cold sweat broke out on her forehead.She walked to the bed, pulled her medication from under the pillow, swallowed a pill, and collapsed exhaustedly onto the mattress.It took a long time before she recovered enough to check her phone. She opened her messages and saw a friend request.The profile picture was a wisp of black smoke, dark and oddly eerie.Lydia accepted the request and sent a quick text.[Who is this?]Half a minute later, the person replied.[The flippant Coach Vance.]Lydia froze for a few seconds before realizing it was Xavier.She kept it brief: [What do you want?]He replied instantly: [We didn't eat at the blind date today, just had drinks. Total was twenty bucks. Since it didn't work out, we're splitting the bill.]Splitting a twenty-dollar tab...That was a whole new level of cheap.Not only was Xavier flippant, but he was also a spectacular cheapskate.Lydia decisively sent him a ten-dollar digital transfer.She wanted absolutely nothing more to do with him.But Xavier didn't accept the money. Instead, he sent another message.[I want cash. Same place tomorrow morning. I'll be waiting.]Lydia wanted to laugh.Was this guy out of his mind?She aggressively typed out a response, realized it was too much, deleted it, and retyped.[I'm busy in the morning. Let's do the afternoon.]A long while later, he sent back a single, cold word.[Fine.]Early the next morning, the matchmaker dragged Lydia out for more dates.Throughout the morning, she met three different men.One was a tenured math teacher in town.One was an obstetrician from the county.And the last was a divorced businessman with a kid.They were either creepy, overweight middle-aged men or overly confident losers.The dating pool was an absolute disaster, getting worse with every candidate.Just when Lydia thought the nightmare was over, the matchmaker rushed her to the next location.The final prospect was a twenty-five-year-old named Marcus Kane.He was a sweet talker, relentlessly praising her luminous skin and gorgeous looks.But she still found an excuse to politely decline.After all, she was barely surviving; romance was the last thing on her mind.Wrapping things up quickly, Marcus took it in stride, chuckling as he spoke."Hey, if we can't date, we can still be friends!"Lydia gave a bright smile. "Sure.""Oh, my buddy and I are heading to the county to run errands. We pass right by your place. You can hitch a ride, we'll drop you off!""Thanks." It was freezing outside, and she was more than happy to score a free ride.Walking out with Marcus, she spotted a black SUV parked by the curb.A tall man leaned against the car, looking down as he took a drag from a cigarette. Dressed entirely in sharp black, he exuded a fierce, dark energy.Through the swirling smoke, his sharp features softened slightly, trading some of their grit for a rugged handsomeness.Hearing them approach, the man slowly lifted his gaze, his eyes slicing sharply through the smoke.When Lydia met his eyes, she froze.It was that cheapskate, Xavier."Xavier, this is Lydia, my blind date." Marcus stepped up and threw an arm around Xavier's shoulders. "We're heading the same way, so we're dropping this beautiful lady home!"Xavier didn't reply. His lazy gaze swept over Lydia.She wasn't wearing any makeup today either, but her radiant complexion caught the light effortlessly, striking and stunning.Wearing a beige coat, half of her hair was pinned back, leaving a few strands framing her forehead. She looked elegant and gentle.But within those beautiful eyes hid a sliver of unbreakable ice, giving her entire demeanor a chilling, untouchable solitude."Well." Xavier slowly exhaled a ring of smoke, raising an eyebrow. "What a coincidence.""Coincidence.""You were busy this morning, turns out..." Xavier drawled, "you were just going on more blind dates?"Lydia didn't have a good impression of him and replied dryly, "I have no choice. I'm getting older, and my family is rushing me."Xavier held the cigarette between his lips, staring at her with a smirk."Xavier, you two know each other?" Marcus caught the scent of gossip."Yeah," Xavier put out his cigarette and shoved his hands into his pockets, showing zero hesitation. "She was my blind date. Yesterday.""You should have said so!" Marcus clapped his hands, loving the drama. "So she's basically yours!"Birds of a feather flock together.He really was Xavier's friend—both of them were completely absurd.Lydia completely lost the desire for a free ride. She looked at Xavier. "Coach Vance, I'll pass on the ride. I have things to do, so I'll be going."She pulled a crumpled ten-dollar bill from her pocket and pressed it onto the hood. "Your ten dollars in cash for the split tab."After a few steps, Lydia turned back, pulled out another ten-dollar bill, and set it down with a sarcastic smile."The rest is my treat."Xavier glanced at the twenty dollars on the hood, then looked at Lydia's retreating figure.A barely noticeable curve tugged at his usually grim lips.Chapter 3"Xavier Vance," the man's voice was a magnetic rumble. "Thirty-one, boxing coach."Twenty-eight-year-old Lydia Lockwood never imagined she would end up destitute enough to return to her small hometown for a blind date.The matchmaker had said he was a great catch—an out-of-towner, orphaned, with a healthy grandmother.He owned a three-story house in town, a fully paid-off apartment in the county, and a car worth tens of thousands of dollars.He also ran a boxing gym in Larkspur County with a decent income.Everyone called him Coach Vance.Right now, this highly recommended coach sat across from her, his tall and broad frame taking up significant space.Dressed in all black, he exuded a wild, rebellious aura with sharp features and a clean buzz cut—a classic, handsome face.Yet, he wore an expression as stoic as stone, radiating a heavy, cold intensity that was impossible to ignore.He was tough and unyielding, handsome but rugged.He didn't look very approachable.Lydia responded out of politeness, "Lydia, twenty-eight. I work as a translator."Xavier looked at the woman before him. She had a luminous complexion, and though her lips curved in a smile, her eyes were distinctly cold and distant.Her aura was elegant yet deeply aloof.As he observed her, his gaze locked onto the tiny beauty mark at the corner of her eye, a hint of intrigue rippling through his stare.After the introductions, silence fell.It was Lydia's first blind date, and she wasn't good at handling these situations. Coupled with Xavier's icy demeanor, she had no interest in making small talk.So, she picked up her glass and took a tactical sip of water.Even after she finished her drink, Xavier remained leaning back in his chair, staring at her blankly like a sloth.Her nerves frayed, but she spoke calmly."Coach Vance, I heard you're quite a catch. Why are you on a blind date?""I'm picky."Lydia scoffed. "I figured your family forced you into it.""Yeah," Xavier replied, his voice low. "Grandma said she'd roll over in her grave if I didn't show up."Just as Lydia was marveling at the coach's bluntness, his careless tone drifted into her ears again."Don't take blind dates too seriously. If you're lucky, you find true love. If not, you find a good time. And if all else fails, it's just experience."Ridiculous.Lydia's lips twitched. "Sounds like you're a regular on the dating scene.""It's alright," Xavier shrugged. "I've only been on about a hundred."The man was way too flippant and completely unreliable."Coach Vance, I don't think our personalities match. I personally prefer serious, steady men," Lydia said, trying to save him some dignity since they lived in the same small town."To be honest, I lost my job, got scammed, and I'm drowning in debt. That's why I'm back here crashing with my family. I'm really not good enough for you, and I hope you find someone you actually like."Xavier lowered his eyelids, a profound depth swirling in his gaze.After a long moment, he said, "Alright."Lydia watched him grab his jacket and stride away, her eyes involuntarily following his movements.He was tall and broad, with wide shoulders and a narrow waist. His muscular definition was exceptional, exuding sheer power.Even in a massive city, a physique and face like that would be considered top-tier.Too bad his personality left a lot to be desired.Ultimately, she brushed off the matchmaker with a simple "I don't like flippant men," ending the disastrous date.The January wind was bitterly cold, and the trees lining the town's streets were strung with festive lights.The heavy atmosphere of the approaching holidays washed over her, feeling both familiar and foreign.Come to think of it, between college and working, she hadn't been back in eight years.This year had been an absolute disaster.In the first half of the year, a nepotism hire snatched the Vice President position that was practically hers, and in the second half, she was framed by a colleague and fired over a work error.Then, at the end of the year, a single phone call ended in a scam that wiped out her entire life savings.All those years grinding in the city amounted to absolutely nothing.She finally decided to return to her hometown.For one, she couldn't afford rent. For another, the man she had secretly loved for years got engaged last week.On her second day back, her aunt Audrey Adler forced her into a blind date.Which led to that incredibly awkward encounter just now.The moment she arrived home, the sound of Gerald and Audrey arguing echoed through the hallway.Their voices weren't overly loud, but in the poorly insulated old apartment building, every word was crystal clear."Lydia just got back and you're already making her go on blind dates! Sure, Xavier has money, but a guy in his thirties who's still single definitely has issues!""What exactly is your precious niece trying to pull, quitting her job and coming back? She even said she isn't leaving anytime soon! Does she plan to leech off us for free? I refuse to support a freeloader.""Lydia hasn't asked us for a dime since college! She even brought back clothes and gifts for us from the city. Can't you be a little more generous as her aunt?""Gerald Wyatt, letting you bring her back from that orphanage was me being generous! She ate our food and lived under our roof; it's her duty to respect us! Besides, she's pushing thirty, accomplished nothing, and isn't even married. Does she have no shame coming back? Aren't you worried about the neighbors talking? Because I am humiliated.""Plus, we only have two bedrooms. Don't forget Fiona and her husband are coming back for the holidays. She either finds her own place or marries some guy and moves in with him, because there is no room for her here."Standing outside the door, Lydia felt numb.After all these years, she was still just an unwanted outsider.When she finally composed herself and walked inside, Audrey still had a sour look on her face and immediately launched into a harsh lecture."The matchmaker said you turned down Coach Vance? Do you know where you stand? You have no right to be picky! Once a woman passes twenty-eight, her value plummets. Nobody wants her!""You think living in the city for a few years makes you some high-class socialite? Hurry up and get married while you still have your looks. I'm doing this for your own good. Look, I'll have the matchmaker find a few more guys. You're going on more dates tomorrow!""Audrey, enough is enough! Our Lydia is amazing...""Gerald," Lydia interrupted with a forced smile, stepping in to stop the fight she had caused. "I don't mind blind dates. If I can find the right person, it would be great."Returning to her room, she shut the door, dropping the stiff smile as a deep frown creased her forehead.A wave of suffocating despair washed over her, and a thin layer of cold sweat broke out on her forehead.She walked to the bed, pulled her medication from under the pillow, swallowed a pill, and collapsed exhaustedly onto the mattress.It took a long time before she recovered enough to check her phone. She opened her messages and saw a friend request.The profile picture was a wisp of black smoke, dark and oddly eerie.Lydia accepted the request and sent a quick text.[Who is this?]Half a minute later, the person replied.[The flippant Coach Vance.]Lydia froze for a few seconds before realizing it was Xavier.She kept it brief: [What do you want?]He replied instantly: [We didn't eat at the blind date today, just had drinks. Total was twenty bucks. Since it didn't work out, we're splitting the bill.]Splitting a twenty-dollar tab...That was a whole new level of cheap.Not only was Xavier flippant, but he was also a spectacular cheapskate.Lydia decisively sent him a ten-dollar digital transfer.She wanted absolutely nothing more to do with him.But Xavier didn't accept the money. Instead, he sent another message.[I want cash. Same place tomorrow morning. I'll be waiting.]Lydia wanted to laugh.Was this guy out of his mind?She aggressively typed out a response, realized it was too much, deleted it, and retyped.[I'm busy in the morning. Let's do the afternoon.]A long while later, he sent back a single, cold word.[Fine.]Early the next morning, the matchmaker dragged Lydia out for more dates.Throughout the morning, she met three different men.One was a tenured math teacher in town.One was an obstetrician from the county.And the last was a divorced businessman with a kid.They were either creepy, overweight middle-aged men or overly confident losers.The dating pool was an absolute disaster, getting worse with every candidate.Just when Lydia thought the nightmare was over, the matchmaker rushed her to the next location.The final prospect was a twenty-five-year-old named Marcus Kane.He was a sweet talker, relentlessly praising her luminous skin and gorgeous looks.But she still found an excuse to politely decline.After all, she was barely surviving; romance was the last thing on her mind.Wrapping things up quickly, Marcus took it in stride, chuckling as he spoke."Hey, if we can't date, we can still be friends!"Lydia gave a bright smile. "Sure.""Oh, my buddy and I are heading to the county to run errands. We pass right by your place. You can hitch a ride, we'll drop you off!""Thanks." It was freezing outside, and she was more than happy to score a free ride.Walking out with Marcus, she spotted a black SUV parked by the curb.A tall man leaned against the car, looking down as he took a drag from a cigarette. Dressed entirely in sharp black, he exuded a fierce, dark energy.Through the swirling smoke, his sharp features softened slightly, trading some of their grit for a rugged handsomeness.Hearing them approach, the man slowly lifted his gaze, his eyes slicing sharply through the smoke.When Lydia met his eyes, she froze.It was that cheapskate, Xavier."Xavier, this is Lydia, my blind date." Marcus stepped up and threw an arm around Xavier's shoulders. "We're heading the same way, so we're dropping this beautiful lady home!"Xavier didn't reply. His lazy gaze swept over Lydia.She wasn't wearing any makeup today either, but her radiant complexion caught the light effortlessly, striking and stunning.Wearing a beige coat, half of her hair was pinned back, leaving a few strands framing her forehead. She looked elegant and gentle.But within those beautiful eyes hid a sliver of unbreakable ice, giving her entire demeanor a chilling, untouchable solitude."Well." Xavier slowly exhaled a ring of smoke, raising an eyebrow. "What a coincidence.""Coincidence.""You were busy this morning, turns out..." Xavier drawled, "you were just going on more blind dates?"Lydia didn't have a good impression of him and replied dryly, "I have no choice. I'm getting older, and my family is rushing me."Xavier held the cigarette between his lips, staring at her with a smirk."Xavier, you two know each other?" Marcus caught the scent of gossip."Yeah," Xavier put out his cigarette and shoved his hands into his pockets, showing zero hesitation. "She was my blind date. Yesterday.""You should have said so!" Marcus clapped his hands, loving the drama. "So she's basically yours!"Birds of a feather flock together.He really was Xavier's friend—both of them were completely absurd.Lydia completely lost the desire for a free ride. She looked at Xavier. "Coach Vance, I'll pass on the ride. I have things to do, so I'll be going."She pulled a crumpled ten-dollar bill from her pocket and pressed it onto the hood. "Your ten dollars in cash for the split tab."After a few steps, Lydia turned back, pulled out another ten-dollar bill, and set it down with a sarcastic smile."The rest is my treat."Xavier glanced at the twenty dollars on the hood, then looked at Lydia's retreating figure.A barely noticeable curve tugged at his usually grim lips.