Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1631 - 890: Nothing Out of the Ordinary (Part 2)

Jiang Ning commented, "It seems everything revolves around currency these days, with every interaction calculated from the very outset."

Guo Ran replied with a trace of melancholy, "In truth, the fundamental nature of a blind date is merely mutual assessment and calculation."

Harried by relentless pressure during the Lunar New Year, she found her enthusiasm for such encounters steadily waning.

After draining his coffee, Jiang Ning stood up to request a glass of hot water from the service counter.

While returning, he spotted a man in his thirties approaching Guo Ran with beaming enthusiasm, "Hello there, you must be the lady Aunt Li mentioned! No wonder you kept your photo hidden—you are quite stunning!"

The man’s gaze brimmed with genuine surprise and copious praise; he had clearly expected nothing of this caliber from a typical setup.

As Guo Ran watched with confusion, Jiang Ning tapped the man on the shoulder and remarked, "My friend, I believe you have the wrong person. Isn’t your date over there?"

The man froze, his gaze following Jiang Ning’s finger toward a short, stout woman busy on her smartphone in the distance.

Only then did the man notice his own device vibrating incessantly in his pocket.

After ending the call, he quietly slipped out of the cafe.

Jiang Ning chuckled, "Mr. Guo, look what you have done. You have spoiled another blind date."

Guo Ran answered, stunned, "It was already doomed from the start, truthfully!"

While blind dates should prioritize compatibility, they often collapse into superficial judgments of beauty; those with striking appearances almost always find prospects swiftly, provided they are not overly selective.

"Also, what exactly did you mean by 'again'?" Guo Ran asked, perplexed.

Jiang Ning offered an enigmatic smile, "Just observe."

Remaining in the cafe for a while longer, Guo Ran eventually realized the truth. Men arriving for other dates could not help but steal glances at her, and even their actual engagements became distracted; one man even gave completely nonsensical answers to his date’s personal questions.

Guo Ran packed her bag quietly and whispered, "Let us depart."

Jiang Ning let out a low laugh.

Guo Ran prodded him with her bag, feigning annoyance, "Do not lecture me while you are still laughing!"

The pair left the warmth of the shop, wandering down the street toward the distant sounds of music.

They soon arrived at a newly developed commercial district, dominated at the entrance by an opulent Golden Tower pulsing with energy. Crowds swarmed the doorway, while performers in vibrant red garments danced to traditional strings on the second-story balcony.

Guo Ran remarked in surprise, "What a magnificent display."

Jiang Ning focused his Divine Sense toward the center of the throng, "Let us investigate."

Guo Ran replied anxiously, "Is it not far too crowded?"

Jiang Ning dismissed her worry, "It is of no consequence."

Just as they prepared to push ahead, a voice rang out, "Ranran!"

Grasping that familiar tone, Guo Ran sensed immediate trouble and clung to Jiang Ning’s arm, "Let us move quickly!"

They had barely traveled a few paces when a young woman blocked their route.

"Qinqin..." Guo Ran murmured, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Qinqin appeared to be about twenty-three, matching Guo Ran’s age, yet she possessed a sharp, confident gaze characteristic of a city dweller.

Their paths had diverged significantly; while Guo Ran had relocated to the unfamiliar Yuzhou, Le Qin had remained in the capital as a high-powered lawyer, thriving in her career.

Le Qin demanded with mock anger, "Honestly, Ranran! I asked you to accompany me to the jewelry shop yesterday, but you claimed you were busy drafting lesson plans at home. Did you actually get that work done?"

It seemed a girlfriend was choosing a man over her... familiar territory, no?

Le Qin scrutinized Jiang Ning, her brow furrowing with growing suspicion.

Without warning, her eyes widened as she stuttered, "You... you are a martial arts expert!"

Unlike Le Qin’s reaction, recollection hit Jiang Ning instantly; he remembered a summer trip to Hu City with Tongtong, where a woman had burst into his hotel room looking for her lover, only for him to teach that individual a sharp lesson.

At that time, the woman had been wearing a professional suit, working as a lawyer.

Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow, "A lawyer?"

Le Qin exclaimed, "Yes, that is me!"

She had never forgotten the imposing demeanor Jiang Ning displayed that day, nor could she have imagined meeting him again as her friend’s companion.

Guo Ran asked, bewildered, "What are you two discussing?"

Le Qin briefly recounted the incident, leaving Guo Ran looking astonished, "Are you truly that capable?"

Jiang Ning smiled calmly, "You may inquire among the students in Class 8."

Guo Ran felt indifferent; she taught Class 8 herself and had seen nothing out of the ordinary.

As a lawyer accustomed to navigating diverse social circles, Le Qin possessed a keen eye for nuance and immediately sensed the subtle, lingering tension between the two.

She held her counsel, choosing not to voice her observations.

Guo Ran quickly pivoted the conversation: "Qinqin, did your mother not arrange another blind date for you today?"

Contrary to Guo Ran’s aversion toward such meetings, Le Qin expressed frustration: "It is bewildering. I have been home for quite some time, and my mother has already arranged eighteen separate introductions in just two days. Some candidates are unsightly, some obese, others incredibly short, and some are so arrogant that they fall silent the moment you ask a simple question."

"I constantly implore my mother to find someone suitable, yet she holds back, and here I am wasting my youth while my peers already have children in school. And me?" Le Qin complained.

"...That is truly extreme," Guo Ran replied, "Did your mother not introduce you to a tall, handsome man just the day before yesterday?"

Le Qin sighed, "Auntie simply does not understand. He may have been handsome, but he expected to move directly into our family home. Is my family even in a position to permit such a thing?"

Guo Ran was left speechless.

... Nothing cures a restless mind quite like the sight of gold jewelry. Guided by Le Qin, Jiang Ning and Guo Ran pressed into the heart of the crowd.

The shop was celebrating its grand opening, offering not just discounts, but a unique challenge.

"Gold lifting?"

The store manager, a middle-aged woman in uniform, addressed the masses through a microphone: "This gold bar weighs twenty-five kilograms and is valued at seven million. Should any participant wear these gloves and manage to lift it, they may select any of these accessories for free! We have a notary present, so have no fear of us reneging on the promise!"

The manager’s voice rang with vigor, yet the crowd’s focus remained fixed on the table before her—a heavy wooden slab draped in red cloth, upon which sat a rectangular bar of gold, catching the sunlight with an inviting, metallic glint.

Glass barriers flanked the display, and four robust security guards stood at the ready with batons to ensure no one dared attempt a theft.

A sign clearly stated the rules: [Palms facing upward, lift the bar single-handedly, and maintain the hold for ten seconds to claim the prize].

A burly, well-built man shouted from the front, "I wish to attempt it!"

The manager remarked, "You are familiar with the rules, I assume?"

An elder in the crowd nodded, "That man looks quite sturdy; this should be impressive!"

"May I ask your profession?" the manager asked in a practiced tone.

The man grinned, "I am a gym coach. I can deadlift two hundred and sixty kilograms!"

While some in the crowd struggled to appreciate that metric, the mention of over five hundred pounds drew gasps from the onlookers.

"Very well, please proceed with the challenge!" the manager said, showing no sign of concern.

The man stepped forward, donning the provided disposable gloves.

Le Qin whispered, "Those gloves are not ordinary; they look incredibly slippery."

The coach slowly reached for the gold bar, gripped it single-handedly, and attempted to heave it upward.

"It moved! It is moving!" the crowd roared, their collective breath hitching in anticipation.

A split second later, the heavy bar slipped from his grasp, hitting the table with a deafening "clang."

The hopes of the audience plummeted along with the bar.

"Unbelievable!" the people murmured with a mix of relief and disappointment.

"Truly, can no one hold it steady?"

"Exactly! The gold shop is never going to let anyone reap the rewards," an onlooker reasoned.

Le Qin offered a logical assessment: "Lifting twenty-five kilograms single-handedly in a flat-grip is nearly impossible, especially with those slippery gloves. I doubt the world record holders could manage that with such ease."

She muttered under her breath: "These shops will do anything for a bit of publicity."

"Hey, another challenger!"

A man covered in layers of dust and grime pushed into the center of the arena.

"What is your profession?" asked the manager.

The man, with weathered skin and a rugged look, replied, "I am a steel rebar worker at a construction site."

"I have heard that steel workers are among the strongest labor forces, far surpassing bricklayers or carpenters," Le Qin murmured to herself.

The worker donned the gloves, seized the bar, and heaved it upwards with all his might, but he could not sustain the weight for even two seconds before the heavy bar crashed back onto the wood with another resounding "clang."

Sighs of frustration rippled through the crowd.

After witnessing so many failures, some began to heckle the owner, calling the challenge a scam and threatening to boycott the store; the atmosphere began to turn hostile.

Recognizing the shift, the store manager considered adjusting the rules to salvage the event.

Le Qin’s eyes shone with sudden curiosity as she turned to Jiang Ning: "Tell me, Master? Would you care to try?"

Guo Ran caught the implication, clearly skeptical: "Him?"

"Qinqin, surely you are jesting?"