Chapter 120: High-End One-on-One

Chapter 120: Chapter 120: High-End One-on-One

"It’s not a diploma mill, just a regular school. Nothing special, so I don’t want to talk about it."

"Is it a foreign university recognized by our Ministry of Education?"

"..." The woman was silent for a long while before finally blurting out, "I don’t know."

This was, in a way, an indirect answer to Zhang Zhe’s question.

Back in the early days of the study-abroad craze, there were many universities overseas set up specifically for Chinese students. Their admission standards were even more lax than domestic junior colleges—as long as you paid, you were an "international student."

But this wasn’t twenty years ago. Information about studying abroad is completely transparent now. It’s not just about a school’s overall quality; online sleuths, the "Conans" of the web, have meticulously analyzed the standards of specific programs at specific universities.

When a Liu Zi can’t even name their school, then there are only two possibilities:

He did something outrageous at school, and saying the name would expose everything;

Or he went to a diploma mill. In reality, he’s just at a high school equivalency level, and aside from partying a little too hard, has no special skills.

Of course, partying hard could be considered a special skill in itself. It’s just not a skill that helps you find a job or a partner these days.

"Are you comfortable sharing your weight?"

"Around 121 pounds, I guess."

"More or less?" Zhang Zhe pressed. "Is that on the high side or the low side?"

Although this woman spoke like she was spoiling for a fight, she clearly did want to consult him about her marriage prospects.

’It made sense, though. She was already 38. Soon, she wouldn’t even have a chance in the second-marriage market.’

"My weight fluctuates. It’s a bit higher after I eat, and a bit lower when I haven’t."

"Duh, that’s how all humans work," Zhang Zhe said impatiently. "What is your actual weight? This is for a matchmaking consultation, are you going to make me keep guessing?"

[Hahaha, first time I’ve seen the streamer get a little flustered.]

[This woman’s way of talking is seriously annoying.]

[The streamer’s being really polite. I’m getting the urge to punch someone just listening to her.]

"I’m 130 pounds! So what? Is there a problem with that?"

"No, I’m just recording your information. Don’t be nervous. It’s fine."

"Let’s move on to the next topic."

Zhang Zhe didn’t comment on the woman’s weight because he could predict she would explode if he did.

’She was bound to blow up sooner or later, but he wanted to see if a more interesting flashpoint would present itself.’

’With so many people watching, it’d be a disservice to everyone if I didn’t get some good material out of this.’

"What’s your current family situation? Single-parent or blended family?"

"A blended family, but I’m an only child. My mother didn’t have any more children after she remarried, and my stepfather is very good to me. He treats me like his own daughter."

"I can tell," Zhang Zhe nodded.

’For someone with such a combative personality to have survived to the age of 38, she either had to thank the stability of society, have no family at all, or have a family that constantly spoiled her.’

’This woman was the latter.’

"What do you mean, you can tell?" the woman challenged. "Is there a problem with having a blended family? Am I any different from a normal girl?"

"What are you supposedly sensing?"

"No difference," Zhang Zhe said, taking a sip of water. "You’re just a little older and have a bad temper."

"How am I old?" the woman countered, as if on a hair-trigger. "I was born in ’87! How is that old? Liu Yifei was born in ’87 too!"

[Hahahaha, this woman is incredible.]

[The problem is, Liu Yifei isn’t looking for a match and isn’t trying to get married.]

[If you had her looks, suitors would have worn down your family’s doorstep by the time you were 18.]

’The danmu comments were too conservative. You don’t even need Liu Yifei’s looks. If she looked even a third as good as her, a bit of makeup and a livestream would be enough to start collecting "Cullinan fragments."’

"Liu Yifei was born in ’87? Then she’s old too," Zhang Zhe said, pointing to himself. "I don’t have double standards. How about this: turn on your camera. If you’re even half as pretty as she is, I guarantee I can find you a partner."

"..."

The woman fell silent for a moment.

"Do you have to be so serious about this? Is it that fun for you?"

"Aren’t you just trying to say I’m old and it’s hard for me to get married? Do I really need you to tell me that? You think I don’t know that myself?"

"Oh, so you do know," Zhang Zhe said, clapping his hands. "Well, that makes things easier."

’So many "leftover women" are almost 40 but still think they’re delicate little princesses, trying to act all cute.’

"On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your looks?"

"It depends," the woman said, a bit haughtily. "In the eyes of people who like me, I’m probably a 10. But to people who don’t like me, I’d guess I’m a 4."

"Then it’s a 4. Your looks are the median score given to you by the people around you."

"You have an annual income of 400,000. If you don’t mind me asking, do you own a small travel agency?"

’Zhang Zhe found it hard to believe a tour guide could earn that much. The commission from tricking old folks into buying health supplements can’t be that high, can it? Unless she knows hypnosis and can make all the seniors on her tours obediently hand over their money.’

"What does that have to do with matchmaking?" the woman retorted, as was her habit.

"Of course it has to do with it."

"These days, a lot of travel agencies are losing money. For you to still be earning 400,000, I need to confirm whether you’re a career-driven, high-powered woman."

"Something like that. In any case, I earn 400,000."

[She probably envies some other woman who makes 400k a year, so she’s just copying what that person says.]

[Ask her how much tax she pays a year, then you’ll know if it’s true or not.]

[The tourism industry is extremely unstable. You could make a million one year and maybe 100,000 the next.]

[Girl, with that kind of income, why not just find a boy to date instead of getting married?]

Zhang Zhe laughed as he read the danmu comments in the stream.

’Every time an older, single person came on the show, there were always "sisters" asking them: since you’re already financially independent, why do you want to get married?’

’In reality, the women who ask this kind of question are the most typical examples of people who see marriage as being only about money.’

’If you have money and still want to get married, it must be because marriage can provide things other than money, like family affection, support, procreation, and so on.’

"Alright, those are your basic details," Zhang Zhe said, turning back to carefully review the woman’s information.

’Thirty-eight years old, blended family, single and unmarried, studied abroad but who knows what, currently works in the tourism industry, annual income of 400,000, and a very bad temper...’

[High-Value Intelligence]

[Your matchmaking client is currently engaged in high-end, one-on-one local tour services. Her average monthly salary is around 7k, with significant hidden income. She maintains ambiguous relationships with wealthy male clients. Host, please proceed with caution.]

’Zhang Zhe normally wouldn’t maliciously speculate about a woman’s source of income.’

’But since the system said so, it must be true.’

’Now her income was transparent. It might even be a case of having a clearly marked price.’

’An annual income of 400,000... and now she wants to find a man to marry. It’s like a state-owned enterprise going private. Zhang Zhe guessed she’d be looking for a man worth at least four million, otherwise she’d definitely feel like she was getting a raw deal.’

"So, what are your requirements for a partner?" Zhang Zhe asked, gesturing to the form in his hand. "Let me first help you evaluate the kind of person you’re looking for and see if we can find them."

"My requirements are simple. Very, very simple. He just has to be generous."

"Mm-hm, and then?" This requirement was exactly what Zhang Zhe had expected.

’Generous was basically code for a walking, talking ATM.’

"That’s it. Just generous."

"That’s it? Huh?" Zhang Zhe’s hands froze over his keyboard.

"You’re really not picky at all, are you."

"That’s right. It’s that simple of a requirement. But not a single one of the guys I’ve been on dates with has been able to meet it."