Around 4pm, Lin found herself in front of her closet, rummaging through a collection of scarves, wigs, and sunglasses. Her conversation with Mrs. Li from the night before had sparked an idea—a ridiculous, overly elaborate idea, perhaps, but Lin was never one to take half measures.
This meeting had to be treated like a top-secret mission; after all, matchmaking on this scale required absolute discretion.
By the time she was done assembling her disguise, Lin barely recognized herself.
She wore a floral headscarf tied tightly under her chin, a pair of oversized cat-eye sunglasses, and a rather peculiar trench coat, complete with shoulder pads she'd stuffed with a few extra scarves for "added bulk."
For the finishing touch, she applied a generous smear of lipstick and lowered her voice to a gravely tone as she practiced her introduction in front of the mirror.
"Hello, I'm… Ming Lan," she muttered to herself, stifling a laugh.
After a quick text to Professor Qin saying she'd be out for a "quick coffee run," Lin set off, barely able to keep from laughing at her own reflection in store windows as she passed.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Li was gearing up in her own version of covert attire. Ditching her usual pearls and pristine business attire, she opted for a large, floppy sunhat, massive sunglasses, and an exaggeratedly puffy shawl that obscured her silhouette. Her lipstick, a bold crimson, seemed a touch out of place with her otherwise demure makeup, but she couldn't resist a bit of glamour, even in disguise.
The two women had agreed to meet at a discreet little café tucked away in a quiet neighborhood.
As Lin approached, she spotted Mrs. Li—or at least the shape of Mrs. Li beneath the large sunhat—seated at a corner table. With a deep breath, she strutted over, feeling like a spy in an old movie.
Mrs. Li looked up, blinking twice as she took in Lin's peculiar ensemble. "Ming… Lan, is it?" she asked in a voice that was just a touch too loud for clandestine purposes.
Lin coughed, attempting her best serious tone. "Yes, indeed, Mrs. Chen. I trust your journey here was… unobstructed?"
Mrs. Li adjusted her sunglasses and lowered her voice to a whisper, though it was still loud enough that a nearby couple glanced over.
"Oh, yes, very smooth. No one suspected a thing."
Lin nodded, glancing around the café as though she expected secret agents to burst through the door at any moment. The ridiculousness of their disguises was apparent to anyone watching, but both women were far too invested to acknowledge it.
With a conspiratorial glint in her eye, Lin leaned in, her voice hushed. "So, about this… plan regarding our children."
Mrs. Li's eyes sparkled behind her sunglasses. "Yes, let's get to the point. My Adrian is… well, let's just say he's never been one to show much interest in anyone. Until recently, that is."
"Oh, how coincidental! Lia's exactly the same," Lin replied, nodding eagerly. "She's all about her studies and her ambitions. I tried setting her up, but she always—"
Lin cleared her throat, a touch embarrassed. "Well, I meant to introduce her to Adrian, but they ended up meeting on their own. I think destiny stepped in to give my plan a little nudge."
Mrs. Li clutched her shawl dramatically, glancing around as though expecting to see fate itself listening in. "Destiny indeed! Adrian came home last night, mentioning a girl—'unusually warm,' he said. And he's usually so… guarded."
Lin took a sip of her tea, her eyes sparkling behind her dark glasses. "That's Lia. She has a way of bringing out the best in people. And honestly, she needs someone with a calm, grounded nature. Someone who can help her feel secure and at peace."
Mrs. Li nodded vigorously. "And Adrian… well, he needs someone with her spirit, someone who can bring warmth to his life. He's been focused on the family business, but a girl like Lia could help him see life beyond those stupid shareholders."
The two women exchanged knowing glances, as though already picturing future family dinners and cooing over hypothetical grandchildren.
"So," Lin continued, "if we're going to encourage this relationship, we need to do it delicately. Lia's not one to be forced into anything. But maybe… we could arrange another chance meeting?"
Mrs. Li tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, Adrian will be attending a charity gala next month. Very exclusive. I could arrange an invitation for Lia, as a 'plus-one,' so to speak."
Lin's eyes gleamed. "Brilliant! She'd be so surprised and charmed by the invite."
"Now, of course," Mrs. Li added, tilting her hat slightly, "we'll need to ensure Adrian knows it's nothing too obvious. Maybe I'll mention casually how lovely Lia was and let him make the first move. He hates feeling like he's being set up."
Lin nodded approvingly. "Yes, yes, that's perfect. And perhaps I could persuade Lia to dress up a little for the event. Just enough to catch his attention, of course."
They giggled, exchanging a few more details in hushed tones, their enthusiasm bubbling over despite their attempts to remain incognito. But as the discussion unfolded, both women began crafting more than a mere matchmaking plot—they were, in their minds, crafting a fairytale.
Their conversation took on a particularly dramatic turn when Mrs. Li, waving her hands with excitement, said, "And you know, Lin, I can already imagine it! Little ones with Adrian's eyes and Lia's soft smile."
Lin clasped her hands together, eyes shining. "Oh, don't get me started, Wan Ru! The perfect little family."
In their excitement, they nearly knocked over the sugar dispenser, prompting the café's waiter to shoot them a look of mild exasperation. Ignoring him, Lin leaned in closer, a new idea sparking in her mind.
"Since you mentioned children…" she began, keeping her voice low. "What if, as this courtship unfolds, we nudge them in the right direction? Little hints. Let them know we're supportive without overstepping."
Mrs. Li raised her eyebrows, intrigued. "You mean… the 'grandchild appeal'?"
"Precisely!" Lin whispered excitedly. "Young people always underestimate the charm of starting a family. A little encouragement might make them realize what they're missing."
The two women erupted into soft laughter, and as the conspiratorial whispering continued, they began to hash out a series of "subtle" plans to gently guide Lia and Adrian toward family-oriented dreams.
"We must tread lightly, of course," she said, "but we'll keep an eye on them. And if we're lucky, maybe we'll even have a few adorable little ones to spoil in the not-so-distant future."
Mrs. Li, equally inspired, squeezed her hands. "Lin, I do believe this is the beginning of a beautiful collaboration. Together, there's nothing we can't achieve."
With a final, triumphant nod, they parted ways, each woman giving the other a subtle wink before disappearing down different streets, disguised but positively glowing with excitement.
As Lin returned to work, she stopped by Professor Qin's office and could barely contain her glee. Professor Qin took one look at her flushed cheeks and the barely restrained grin on her face and raised an eyebrow.
"Did the meeting go well?" he asked with a wry smile.
Lin nodded, removing her scarf and trench coat. "Professor Qin, let's just say… destiny is on our side."