The early summer in New York was particularly hot.
However, by eight in the morning, the sun had already turned scorching.
Joanne took a bus and got off at the bus stop near the hotel her mother had mentioned. She then took out her phone and called her mother.
"Mom, I have arrived near The Times Square. I'll be at the hotel very soon. Can you describe the man I'm supposed to meet for the blind date again?"
Didn't you bring his picture?” Joanne's mother asked from the other side of the call.
“I forgot it.”
“You’re always so forgetful. Even if I described him, you might not remember. Anyway, once you enter the hotel, look around the café on the first floor. He works at a nearby construction site—the man in construction gear with a hard hat is the one you’re meeting.”
Joanne adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose and replied, “Okay.”
"Joanne, listen—you’re already 27. If you don’t get married soon, you’ll be an old maid. You can’t keep hiding in your orchard all day, avoiding people.” her mother nagged.
“Mom, I know. I… oh no!”
Before Joanne could finish her sentence, someone bumped into her, causing her to stumble, and the call abruptly ended.
“Miss, are you okay? I’m sorry; I was in a hurry and didn’t see you.”
An older woman in her sixties had accidentally knocked Joanne over. She helped Joanne to her feet, apologizing repeatedly. Joanne was fine, aside from the fall, but her glasses had hit the ground and shattered. Being severely nearsighted, without her glasses everything was a blur—she might not even recognize her own mother if she passed by.
“Auntie, I’m fine,” Joanne insisted, eager not to be bothered further. After offering several reassurances, the woman finally left.
Joanne bent down to pick up her broken glasses. Realizing they were beyond repair, she folded the frames and tucked them into her pocket. Noticing that her mother was still on the phone, she quickly explained the situation, hung up, and hurried into the sprawling Times Square.
Without her glasses, everything was a blur, so she had to move close to the signs to read them and locate the café. The café was bustling. Scanning the room, she spotted a man in the corner dressed like a construction worker, complete with a hard hat. As he removed his safety helmet, Joanne was certain he must be her blind date.
Approaching him, she politely asked, “Excuse me, are you Chris Whalley?”
Though Chris looked puzzled for a moment, he nodded in affirmation.
“Hello, I’m Joanne, your blind date for today,” she introduced herself and took a seat opposite him. Despite her blurry vision, she could make out that his face was complete—and that was enough for her.
Chris raised his sharply arched eyebrows, his gaze turning deep and icy as he fixed it on Joanne. However, noticing her calm demeanor and clear eyes—so unlike the women who usually tried to get close to him—he softened his expression.
“Mr. Whalley, did the matchmaker tell you about my situation? I’m 27 this year. I’ve had one relationship that ended for no particular reason, and I’ve been single for the past seven or eight years. I run my own business managing several fruit orchards where we grow litchis, longans, mangoes, papayas, grapes, tangerines, and watermelons. I’m always busy with work and don’t have time for a relationship. I thought I’d try matchmaking—if the suitor and I are compatible, I’d get married right away, sparing my parents from incessant nagging.”
“Oh, right—I have two siblings. My older sister is married, and my younger brother has started his own family,” she added, noting that as the only one still single, her parents constantly pressured her.
Joanne had planned to buy a truckload of fertilizers after this meeting, so she didn’t want to waste any time. As soon as she sat down, she laid out her situation clearly.
Chris regarded her with interest. Unlike the pretentious, wealthy young ladies he had met before, Joanne was genuinely pleasant to look at. At first glance, she might not have been stunning, but the more one observed her, the more attractive she became. Her straightforwardness and honesty left him with a very favorable first impression.
Now it was his turn. “Miss Joanne, I come from a large family, and I’m the eldest. I’m 31 and still single. However, I’m raising two children who were left orphaned after a close friend died unexpectedly—his wife disappeared, leaving the kids unattended. I adopted them and treat them as my own.”
“How old are they now?”
Joanne recalled that the matchmaker’s description of Chris had been a bit different—older and raising two children, though not biologically his—which meant that marrying him would effectively make her a stepmother. Indeed, matchmakers have a knack for twisting the truth.
“They’re four years old—they’re twins, and they’ll be starting preschool in September.”
Hearing this, Joanne felt relieved; as long as the children were in preschool, managing them would be much easier for the adults.
“Do you have their photos? I’d like to see them.”
Joanne thought that Chris seemed upright and kindhearted—adopting his late friend’s children without worrying about his marital prospects spoke volumes. A single man capable of caring for two kids surely had a good temperament and an exceptionally tolerant heart—exactly the kind of man she was looking for.
Having made up her mind, she asked to see the photos. Chris pulled out his phone, opened his gallery, and showed her the pictures. Both children looked adorable—plump and cheerful, reminiscent of the cute “Fuwa” dolls from traditional New Year displays. Even with her deteriorating eyesight, Joanne could see their faces clearly when she held the phone close, and she instantly grew fond of them.
Handing the phone back to Chris, Joanne said plainly, “Mr. Whalley, I have a favorable impression of you. If you feel the same way about me, would you be bold enough to agree to a shotgun wedding? If you dare, let’s get the paperwork done right away.”
Marrying wasn’t a big deal to her—once she was married, her parents would finally stop nagging. A shotgun wedding might require courage, but if there was one thing Joanne had in abundance, it was courage. She was a young woman who had borrowed millions and even asked all her relatives and friends for help just to lease a few orchards. She was pursuing what she loved, and her boldness could put many men to shame. What’s so scary about a shotgun wedding? As long as it meant her parents would stop nagging, she could focus on her business in peace. All she needed in a husband was a genuine man.
Mr. Whalley worked on a construction site and was known for his honesty. His job kept him on site most of the time, so he rarely came home—a fact that actually appealed to her, as it meant she wouldn’t have to take care of him.