Chapter 0323

As Winter recalled that night she got drunk, she blushed and rubbed her nose. “It’s all my mom’s fault. She insisted I go to the young adult mixer, but it turned out to be a matchmaking event.”

She felt those young men and women at the event seemed like products lined up for selection.

Natalie had many positive traits, but she worried too much. She often mentioned how mismatched backgrounds could lead to unhappy marriages. Based on her experiences, she insisted that love ultimately hinged on financial stability.

Winter was fed up with her mother’s nagging. So, she made a deal with her mother after she returned home that day.

She agreed to look for someone with a similar background but insisted on choosing her own matches. In return, Natalie needed to stop arranging matchmaking events or other gatherings without her consent.

Miranda asked, “You really want to pick your own partner?”

“Yeah, as long as his family background is decent, my mom will be fine with it. So, I’ll just choose from my social circle.”

“Are you serious about this?” Miranda blinked.

Winter liked younger men, but there were plenty of younger ones among the guys in her social circle. Still, finding one who would pamper her and treat her like a princess seemed nearly impossible.

Given their privileged backgrounds, these men had inflated egos. They were all from wealthy families, so why would they go out of their way to please her?

Winter cleared her throat and lowered her voice. “Yes. I need to find someone to avoid explaining things to my mom. After all, I’m not looking for a significant other, but a fake one.”

“A fake date?”

“Yeah. In our social circle, there are plenty of guys and girls being pressured into marriage. Since none of us want to go along with our parents’ plans, we might as well make it a collaboration,” Winter explained.

“How does that work?”

Winter replied, “Just put on a show in front of everyone, play along, and then do our own thing behind the scenes.”

She figured that approach could satisfy her family’s expectations and stop the constant nagging. Plus, she could enjoy her freedom and have fun under the guise of a relationship. It was a win-win for her.

Miranda urged her to think it through and warned her not to get in over her head.

“Relax,” Winter said. “I know what I’m doing.”

As they finished their meal, Miranda took the chance to settle the bill while Winter was in the restroom.

As they walked out, Winter pouted. “I already said the meal is on me. Why did you pay the bill?”

“Right, you’re Miss Moneybags.” Winter reached out to pinch Miranda’s cheek.

“Hey, stop it! It hurts. We can’t be acting like this in public.”

The two laughed as they made their way through the restaurant lobby.

“Dr. Jefferson, wait up!”

The words stopped Miranda and Winter in their tracks as they instinctively turned in the direction of the voice.

A group emerged from an upstairs private room. Most of them were middle-aged men, with a few showing signs of gray. They were dressed in matching polo shirts and casual slacks, and it gave off a distinctly scholarly vibe.

But the tall and handsome young man in the center was strikingly different. He stood out among the balding, chubby middle-aged men like a sore thumb.

“Dr. Jefferson, please endorse my new project,” one man said.

“I also need your help with ordering some lab supplies,” another added.

“We would appreciate your feedback on our lab’s project application.”

A group of people surrounded Paul, making polite requests and expressing gratitude. It created quite a lively scene.

He acknowledged each of them, but a hint of impatience crossed his face. Suddenly, his eyes swept across the hall below and spotted Miranda and Winter. His expression immediately softened.

“I’m sorry, everyone. My sister is here and she’s waiting for me downstairs. I have to leave now. Goodbye.” With that, Paul strode toward Miranda and Winter amid a chorus of requests to stay.