From several meters away, Hannah and Emma both watched her leave.
Back at the table, Harold leaned back in his chair with an unmistakably satisfied look on his face, as if the disastrous blind date had gone exactly the way he had hoped.
After a moment, he pushed his chair back and began to stand.
But just as he got to his feet, Hannah suddenly appeared in front of him—Emma being half-dragged along behind her.
Harold froze.
In the next second, Emma stumbled forward slightly and almost fell onto Harold, her hands instinctively lifting to catch herself. A flustered look immediately spread across her face as he looked down at her, clearly not understanding how things had suddenly turned into this situation.
A wave of shame and embarrassment rushed up her neck.
Harold looked completely caught off guard.
Emma stood quietly in front of him.
She was wearing a pink dress that reached her knees, the fabric falling in smooth lines around her. Her hair was loose over her shoulders, soft and slightly wavy. She looked simple, elegant… and unexpectedly pretty.
Strangely, Harold realized he had never really noticed her before.
Every time they had met in the past, it had always been in a group, surrounded by friends and other people. He had never paid her much attention.
Just then, Hannah suddenly stepped forward.
Before Harold could even react, she grabbed his hand, then took Emma’s, and firmly placed their hands into each other’s.
Harold’s brain froze.
His flushed and flustered expression snapped upward as he looked at his mother in shock.
“Mom—”
But before he could say anything, Hannah spoke first.
“Harold, this is Emma. I think she’s perfectly suitable for you. So from now on, the two of you will date each other.”
2 Deals & Auctions
She didn’t even wait for a response.
Instead, she stepped back as if everything had already been decided.
Looking at the two of them with obvious satisfaction, she gave them a wide, cheerful smile.
“I’m going to leave now. You both can start dating from today.”
She paused, taking a thoughtful breath before continuing very seriously.
“And it’s completely normal to kiss on the first date. If you sleep together, it’s not a big deal either, all right? I’m very open-minded.”
Harold looked as if he had suddenly lost his voice.
Slowly, he lowered his gaze to the hand Emma was still holding. Then he looked back up at her face.
In the very next second, he quickly pulled his hand back.
The flustered look returned instantly, mixed now with clear shock.
