After I Blocked the Matchmaker Customer Service, He Came for Door-to-door Service - Chapter 10
Chapter 10
On the last day of his probationary period, Xie Chi didn’t show up.
He messaged me, saying he had some old paperwork to take care of.
I asked him what paperwork.
He replied: [Proof of resignation.]
I thought he was joking.
At eleven that night, the old lady called me.
The one from the incense and candle shop in the south of the city.
She said Xie Chi was with her.
“Young lady, would it be convenient for you to come by?”
When I rushed to the old alley in the south of the city, the incense and candle shop had already half-lowered its door.
In the back courtyard, Xie Chi was sitting beside a dried-up well.
A loop of Red String was wrapped around his wrist.
No one else had tied it there.
It extended out from his own heart.
The old lady said, “If someone from the After-sales Department develops personal feelings, they have to return the official string completely.”
“If they don’t return it cleanly, it hurts.”
I walked over.
Xie Chi looked up at me, his face a little pale.
“I’m fine.”
I crouched down and looked at him.
“Is that the only line you customer service people know?”
He pressed his lips together.
“We don’t really know any others.”
I reached out and touched the loop of Red String.
It was burning hot.
Xie Chi tried to dodge, but I held him still.
“Don’t move.”
The old lady handed me a pair of silver scissors.
“He has to cut this string himself, or have it cut by someone he’s willing to let cut it.”
I asked, “What happens after it’s cut?”
“Then he truly won’t be part of the After-sales Department anymore.”
“Will he forget?”
The old lady glanced at Xie Chi.
“No.”
“Will he lose anything?”
“From now on, he’ll never be able to see anyone else’s Red String again.”
I looked at Xie Chi.
“Have you thought this through?”
Xie Chi nodded.
“I used to see too many.”
He said, “From now on, I only want to look at the person in front of me.”
My heart softened into an absolute mess.
“Xie Chi, keep this up and you’ll pass probation in no time.”
A faint smile appeared in his eyes.
“For what position?”
I picked up the scissors.
“Let’s start with intern almost-boyfriend.”
The silver scissors came down.
The moment the Red String snapped, Xie Chi let out a muffled groan.
I caught him.
He leaned against my shoulder, his breathing very light.
After a long while, he asked softly, “Does an almost-boyfriend have a probationary period?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Depends on performance.”
“What about the salary?”
I said, “Oranges reimbursed.”
Xie Chi laughed.
The wind swept through the back courtyard and over the dried-up well. The last remnants of old Red String on the well’s edge turned to ash.
Suddenly, I felt that maybe love and fate were never meant to be arranged by anyone else in the first place.
It should be like someone asking if it’s convenient for you on a rainy night.
Like an umbrella tilting toward you, then stopping when you step back.
Like someone who clearly knows how to repair Red String, but is still willing to first learn how to be an ordinary friend.
A month later, Xie Chi and I went to the south of the city to return the scissors.
When the old lady saw us holding hands, her smile turned very knowing.
“Passed probation?”
I said, “Internship.”
Xie Chi said, “Almost-boyfriend.”
I looked at him.
“You’re pretty good at promoting yourself.”
He lowered his head and smiled.
“I’m working hard for it.”
On the way back, we passed a newly opened matchmaking agency.
A banner hung at the entrance.
[Single no more in three months. Your destined match awaits.]
Xie Chi and I stopped at the same time.
He could no longer see Red String, but he still frowned.
I asked, “Occupational hazard?”
“Mm.”
“Should we do something?”
Xie Chi looked at me.
“Do you want to?”
I thought about it.
“Food first.”
“Okay.”
“Then we call the police.”
He laughed.
“Okay.”
I took his hand and walked forward.
This time, no copper bell rang.
No repair ticket appeared.
No system reminded me who my fated match was.
There was only Xie Chi, asking softly, “Jiang Mian, what do you want for dinner tonight?”
I said, “Hot pot.”
His steps paused.
“Why do you all like hot pot so much?”
“It’s lively.”
I looked at him.
“And it’s perfect for ordinary friends, almost-boyfriends, and official boyfriends to eat together.”
The tips of Xie Chi’s ears turned red again.
“Then I’ll work hard to level up.”
Smiling, I tilted the umbrella a little more toward him.
“Depends on performance.”
The End
