The woman enthusiastically led Bai Ci and Mother Bai into the matchmaking agency.
The interior decor matched the style of the sign outside, featuring a pink and white color scheme. The walls were covered with photos of successfully matched couples, everyone in the pictures smiling radiantly.
Soft sofas were arranged on both sides of the lobby. Several staff members dressed in professional suits identical to the woman's were huddled around clients, talking in low voices, their tones similarly overly enthusiastic.
“Auntie, little sister, please take a seat. I'll pour you some water,” the woman said with a smile, gesturing for them to sit on the sofa before turning to head to the pantry.
A moment later, she returned with two cups of warm water, handed them to the two, and then pointed to the silver name tag on her chest to introduce herself.
“I forgot to introduce myself. My last name is Cheng, and my name is Cheng Yin—Cheng as in success, and Yin as in marriage.”
She raised her hand and lightly tapped her name tag, teasing herself. “Isn't it a coincidence? With a name like this, I was practically born to be a matchmaker and help all the lovers in the world unite.”
Mother Bai quickly agreed with a smile. “What a coincidence indeed! It's a great name with wonderful meaning.”
Cheng Yin's smile grew even wider. She naturally took Bai Ci's hand and said in a warm, intimate tone, “The little sister looks so gentle and quiet. She must be a wonderful girl.”
“Let's start by filling out a form to clearly list your basic information and preferences for a partner. That way, I can precisely match you with the most suitable candidate and not waste any of our time.”
As she spoke, she pulled a printed form and a fountain pen from a nearby filing cabinet and handed them to Bai Ci.
The form was very detailed. In addition to basic information like name, age, occupation, and income, it also clearly marked preferred age ranges, height requirements, personality preferences, and even family background, marital history, and whether one had children.
Bai Ci took the form and the pen. Without asking any questions, she filled it out line by line according to her understanding of the role she was playing.
Of course, she intentionally left one or two subtle discrepancies.
Mother Bai sat beside her, leaning over from time to time to look, terrified that Bai Ci might fill something out inappropriately, and whispered gentle reminders.
“Cici, you can expand the age range by two years, and height doesn't matter too much as long as it's reasonable. The most important thing is that he's a good person and treats you well.”
Bai Ci nodded slightly. She listened but made no changes, completing the form exactly as she had written it before handing it over to Cheng Yin.
Cheng Yin took the form, quickly skimmed it, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face. “With such great qualities, being so gentle and capable, you'll definitely find a suitable match.”
“Oh, by the way, we need to attach a recent photo of you to the form. That way, when we show it to the prospective matches, they'll have a direct visual impression.”
Before Bai Ci could speak, Cheng Yin continued, “Our shop has a dedicated vanity and photographer. We'll do your makeup and take photos for free. It won't cost you a dime, and you won't have to go anywhere else. It's incredibly convenient.”
“You have such a great foundation, little sister. With just a bit of light makeup and a nice dress, the photos will definitely turn out beautiful. That will also greatly increase your chances of a successful match.”
Hearing that it was free, Mother Bai's eyes lit up instantly. She hurriedly said, “That's wonderful! Thank you so much, Teacher Cheng.”
“Cici, just listen to Teacher Cheng. Dress up nicely and get a good photo taken.”
Bai Ci nodded. Since she hadn't detected any obvious danger yet, she decided to stick to her persona for now. She said to Cheng Yin, “Thank you for the trouble.”
“No trouble at all, this is our job!” Cheng Yin waved her hand with a smile and led Bai Ci to the dressing room on one side of the lobby.
The vanity was covered with all kinds of cosmetics. The brands weren't top-tier, but they were all common, reputable brands.
A girl wearing a makeup artist's smock immediately came over to greet them, skillfully styling Bai Ci's hair and applying foundation.
Once the makeup was done, Cheng Yin brought over an off-white dress and held it out to Bai Ci. “Try this on, little sister. It really suits your temperament and will definitely look great in the photo. This is free as well, no charge.”
“Don't worry, all the clothes we provide are washed and sanitized. We guarantee they're clean and hygienic,” Cheng Yin said, proactively pulling out a logbook that recorded cleaning dates, which had clearly been flipped through many times.
She pointed to one of the entries to show Bai Ci. “Look here. This is the item number for this dress, and the most recent wash was just yesterday.”
Bai Ci took the dress and walked into the adjacent fitting room to change.
The dress fit perfectly. The style was simple and elegant, indeed looking much more refined than the casual clothes she was wearing.
When she stepped out of the fitting room, Cheng Yin's eyes lit up, and she showered her with praise. “That looks amazing on you! What did I tell you? You have such a great foundation; a little styling makes you look absolutely stunning.”
Mother Bai also hurried over. Looking at Bai Ci, her face was filled with pride and relief. “So beautiful. Our Cici was already pretty, but she looks even more gorgeous all dressed up.”
Cheng Yin led Bai Ci to the photography area. The photographer skillfully adjusted the angles and lighting, guiding Bai Ci into simple poses while snapping several photos.
He then selected the most natural and flattering shot, quickly printed it out, and pasted it onto the designated spot on the form.
Throughout the entire process, Cheng Yin and the staff were exceptionally warm and attentive. They didn't mention fees once, and they hadn't even had to pay for a cup of water.
Looking at the form in her hands, Bai Ci actually felt a chill run down her spine.
Even if this weren't an Anomalous Infection instance but a real matchmaking agency in the real world, she would have reacted the exact same way to this kind of service.
The service here was incredibly thorough. Earlier, when Mother Bai asked about the fees, Cheng Yin had quoted a very reasonable, inexpensive price. But with so many free services, how on earth did they turn a profit?
However, these doubts only flashed through her mind. Bai Ci didn't ask further questions; after all, there weren't enough clues yet, and rashly probing might expose her.
Cheng Yin put away the form with the attached photo and said to them with a smile, “Auntie, little sister, I've filed the form away. I'll match the little sister with a suitable partner as soon as possible. Once there's news, I'll call you right away, so don't you worry.”
Mother Bai quickly thanked her. “Thank you so much, Teacher Cheng. We'll be waiting for your good news.”
“It's no trouble at all, just doing my job.” Cheng Yin smiled as she escorted them to the door, adding another piece of advice, “Little sister, you should dress up more in your daily life too. It keeps your mood up, and who knows, maybe fate will find you sooner!”
After saying goodbye to Cheng Yin, the two rode the electric scooter back home.
All the way back, Mother Bai kept chattering about how wonderful Cheng Yin was, saying that the matchmaking agency provided excellent service and was so cheap, so they would definitely find a suitable partner for Bai Ci. Her tone was filled with anticipation.
Sitting on the back seat, Bai Ci didn't say anything, only listening in silence while her mind continued to ponder where she should begin her investigation.
Rate on N.U.
