Livestream Matchmaking: My Intel Infinitely Refreshes

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Blind Date by Addition

"System, I think there’s a problem with your rewards."

"For that woman just now, you only gave me 1 point."

"This is unreasonable!"

"For going on a blind date with an outrageous woman like her, you should pay me extra for emotional distress."

Zhang Zhe grumbled inwardly.

But the System gave no response.

’Then again, it made sense. He had chosen this path himself.’

He could have also waited for the Matchmaker to find someone, and he could have asked her to filter out the heavier women beforehand.

Live-stream matchmaking was truly an unnecessary hardship he had brought upon himself.

"Welcome... [Loves Braised Pork]."

"Braised pork is pretty high-calorie. Let me ask you first, what’s your weight?"

"Ah? So direct?" The woman was a bit caught off guard. "I’m 121 pounds, but I’m 5’5". That’s not fat, right? I think I have a decent figure."

"Not fat at all. You sound very healthy."

’If this girl’s weight had also been over 165 pounds,’ Zhang Zhe thought, ’I would have asked her another question: ’Do you like to party?’’

Those two questions could weed out an entire category of people.

’I guess you could say I’ve gotten experienced from all this matchmaking.’

"Okay, go ahead and introduce yourself."

"Um, okay. I was born in ’98, so I’m 26 this year. And I’ve already told you my height and weight."

"And I’m looking for someone who..."

"Hold on." Zhang Zhe held up a hand to stop her. "Why aren’t you following the procedure? You need to list your own stats first, and then you can talk about what you’re looking for."

"But I thought..." the woman explained, "since you’re the one running this service, you could role-play for a second. Listen to my requirements from that perspective, and it’ll feel more real."

"Now that you put it that way, you’ve got a point."

"Alright, then tell me first: what are you looking for in a partner?"

"I’m hoping for..." A rustling sound came from the woman’s microphone, as if she were flipping through pages. She was probably looking at a cheat sheet with a list of her ideal man’s qualifications.

[Host, she’s cheating!]

[This girl’s a pro. The fact that she made a draft shows she’s thought this through.]

[Sis, are you that desperate to get married? What’s so great about men, anyway?]

[In the group chat, they all say they don’t want a man, but the second they get on stream, they’re all desperate to get hitched.]

"The man’s age... the absolute oldest he can be is born in ’89 or ’90, so around 35."

"His annual income needs to be over 150,000. I’m in Changsha, and anything less might not be enough to support a family."

"I do have a height requirement. I’m hoping for someone 5’10" or taller. He can’t be too short."

"And he can’t smoke. That’s very important."

"That’s about it."

"Huh? That’s it?" Zhang Zhe looked shocked. "Those are your only requirements? From my perspective, other than finding someone who’s 5’10" in Changsha being a little uncommon, the other conditions are no problem at all."

"You’re 26, looking for a guy nine years older, and your only real requirement is that he’s tall?"

"Be honest with me, miss. Do you have some kind of serious illness, or have you been divorced twice?"

Zhang Zhe’s reaction wasn’t an act. He put himself in the shoes of a "35-year-old, 5’10", single man making 150,000 a year who doesn’t smoke":

’I’m already getting old. Once a guy is over 36, he’s basically aged out of the primary matchmaking market. If I absolutely have to get married, I’d have to start considering women who’ve been married before.’

’An income of 150,000 isn’t high, either. If I’d actually focused on making money, this salary would be considered low for my age. I definitely can’t compare to my peers; I’m just doing better than some fresh-out-of-college kid.’

’Not smoking is a minor plus, but very few people smoke traditional cigarettes these days anyway, and a lot of girls are fine with vaping.’

’The only real selling point is being 5’10", which basically makes me a mini-giant in Changsha.’

If Zhang Zhe actually met these criteria and a 26-year-old woman expressed interest in marrying him, his first reaction would be that she was either horrifyingly ugly or a gold digger.

’I couldn’t possibly be meeting my one true love at the ripe old age of 35, could I?’

"I don’t have any illnesses! Host, didn’t you just say my height and weight were very healthy?"

"And I’ve never been divorced. My parents are in a blended family themselves, so I’m not actually that desperate for marriage. I just want a bit of stability."

"Alright." Zhang Zhe reluctantly accepted her reasoning. ’Her family background must have really influenced her views on marriage.’

’Maybe her stepfather has a low income and loves to smoke, which is why she’s reacting against it.’

"Alright, my conditions are set."

"Now, tell me about yourself."

"Focus on your family situation," Zhang Zhe stressed.

"A woman’s family situation becomes increasingly important to older men."

"I’m 35 years old now. If your family’s situation is poor, I’m definitely not interested. I’m not looking to be your family’s poverty relief fund."

[The host is so right, that’s exactly what I think.]

[You’re 35 and unmarried. You should be grateful anyone’s willing to marry you.]

[I also have a feeling this woman has a red flag hidden somewhere.]

[Girls from blended families are usually bitter and resentful. At least, the one I dated was.]

"My parents have been together for many years now."

"They got together when I was in elementary school. It’s a bit of a ’Brady Bunch’ situation. I came with my mom, and my stepfather brought his son, my stepbrother."

"My stepfather is a provincial civil servant, and my mother is an accountant at a state-owned enterprise. My stepbrother works for a major tech company in Yangcheng."

"How is your parents’ relationship?" Zhang Zhe cut in, explaining why he asked, "You having a younger brother immediately makes one think you’ll be one of those women who endlessly supports her brother at her own expense."

"But since he’s your stepbrother, not related by blood, it gives a guy a sliver of hope."

"My stepbrother and I were close when we were little, but we drifted apart as we got older and went to school. Now we only talk occasionally during the holidays." Her answer wasn’t a deal-breaker. "He’s already engaged, and he makes around 300,000 a year. He definitely doesn’t need my help."

"And you? What’s your profession?"

"I guess you could say I’m a civil servant."

"’You guess’?"

’How can you be uncertain about your own profession?’

Zhang Zhe thought for a second and immediately understood. "You’re a contract worker?"

"Yes, that’s right. But I’m working hard to become a permanent employee."

"And what’s your annual income?"

"Around 100,000, but it’s very stable."

"Contract work is hardly what I’d call stable." Zhang Zhe shook his head with a slight smile. "You can only say it’s fine... for now."

"You should never include ’my salary will be stable after I become a permanent employee’ as one of your qualifications during matchmaking."

"Matchmaking is all about the ’now’. You talk about the future when you’re actually preparing for marriage."

"Based on your current situation, I don’t think your requirements are unreasonable."

[Does this mean he’s interested?]

[Well, she’s 26 looking for a 35-year-old. Of course she can find someone with those stats.]

[Oh crap, this woman is actually serious about finding a match.]

[Good thing the host is just role-playing.]

"Can I really find someone like that?" The woman was still a bit doubtful. "My friends all say my family situation is too poor, and that if I want to find someone, I have to lower my standards."

"They said I should either look for a divorcé with kids, or someone who earns less than me."

"Who told you that? Your best friend?"

"I guess so."

"Sounds like your ’best friend’ is terrified you might actually have a good life," Zhang Zhe said with a raised eyebrow.

"Your family situation isn’t great, that’s true. But the good news is, your stepfather has his own son, who is very successful and will probably settle down in Yangcheng. That means you’ll basically have nothing to do with your stepfather’s side of the family."

"And by extension, you won’t have to worry about your stepbrother. This cancels out some of the disadvantages of your family background, making your situation a little better than being from a single-parent home."

"But the key is that your standards are low. A 35-year-old making 150,000, with no demand for a car or house... just hearing that tells me you’re a practical person who’s serious about settling down."

"Host, wait a minute." The woman, as if hearing something outrageous, quickly interrupted him. "Of course, he needs a car and a house! Otherwise, where would we live after getting married?"

"Any specific requirements for the house?" Zhang Zhe’s brow furrowed.

"No, as long as it’s a place to live."

"Okay, so we’ll add another condition: he has an old house inherited from his parents, or a new one he’s paying a mortgage on. For a 35-year-old guy, that’s usually achievable."

"He needs a car, too," the woman quickly added. "I want him to be able to drive me to and from work. And it can’t be a Chinese-made electric car, or something he uses for ride-sharing."

"So, no BYD, then."

"What other requirements do you have?" Zhang Zhe was rendered a little speechless. "When people go on blind dates, they usually compromise and subtract from their list. Why are you adding things to it?"

"Are you afraid you’ll actually succeed in finding someone?"

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