Cupid in Training

As a newly appointed trainee Matchmaker, Gu Kerong has just one wish: to tie some red strings, earn enough points, and become a full-fledged Matchmaker as soon as possible. That way, he won't have to worry about suddenly vanishing into thin air.

Everything had been going smoothly, until one day.

He met a workaholic.

The workaholic had eyes only for work and was entirely devoted to his career. He never paid any attention to the match Gu Kerong had worked so hard to find for him. Gu Kerong, who'd always had things go his way, had finally hit a wall.

Gu Kerong: Buddy, focusing on your career is great and all, but how about adding a little romance to spice up your life? We're professionals, and we have all kinds of people on the other end of our red strings. There's bound to be someone who's your type! What are you waiting for? Better to act than just pine. Bring home the one who makes your heart flutter!

After combing through all sorts of information, Gu Kerong concluded that a cold, unapproachable CEO and an innocent young woman just starting out in society had a seventy percent chance of getting together! He looked over the red strings in his hand and finally found someone who fit the bill.

OK, you're the one. Let's do this!

The innocent young woman, fresh out of school and new to society, carried over a cup of freshly brewed coffee. She slipped and accidentally spilled it all over the CEO's suit jacket. The CEO caught her as she fell, and their eyes met...

A spin, slow motion, background music...

What a beautiful beginning to a romance...

Gu Kerong clasped his hands together and closed his eyes, lost in the moment. Wonderful, another couple made.

Crash! The cup hit the floor, and Gu Kerong's heart shattered right along with it.

What happened? Gu Kerong stared at the girl, stunned by the coffee on the floor, and the workaholic who walked past without a care. Gu Kerong: ??? Wait, dude, you're... pretty nimble.

Gu Kerong flipped through his handbook again and again before realizing he'd gotten the gender wrong. You really can't rely on stereotypes these days. Gu Kerong shook his head and walked away with his hands behind his back.

According to the data, a hardworking boss always needs a sharp and capable secretary by his side. They help him build his business from nothing, stand by him as he reaches the top, and watch him survey his business empire...

Ahem, maybe that was a little over the top. But it worked out perfectly: the workaholic had a single male secretary, too. Close enough. Time to tie the red string!

Next, the broad-shouldered, slim-waisted, polished and capable male secretary would bring a cup of hot tea to the CEO, exhausted from meetings. He'd massage the CEO's temples, rubbing his shoulders, and worry about everything for him...

Then they'd confess their feelings, sparks would fly, and they'd burn with passion. Let the office romance of a lifetime begin!

Too bad... the workaholic was utterly clueless about romance. He didn't even take a sip of the tea his secretary poured! He coldly said, "Get out."

Get out! Get out! Gu Kerong clutched his head and crawled despairingly across the floor. How could a mouth that's thirty-six degrees say something so cold!

It's fine. A good Matchmaker doesn't fear setbacks, and a trainee Matchmaker fears them even less! Keep going, Gu Kerong, you can do it! After giving himself a pep talk, Gu Kerong finally pulled himself together. He'd only failed twice. What was the big deal?

He opened his handbook. According to the data, business tycoons always keep a few canaries. The workaholic had a dog at home, so he could be said to like keeping pets. If keeping a dog counts, why not keep a canary? It made perfect sense! Once he had one around, feelings would surely develop. Then the canary would want to fly away, he'd run, the tycoon would chase, and neither of them would be able to escape!

Great, great! This is the hottest genre right now: a contract marriage turning into real love, a kept lover and a rich patron, and a tycoon chasing his lover after driving him away! Maybe it's a bit of a mishmash? No big deal, as long as it works.

A top-tier star was willing to switch agencies and pay a breach-of-contract fee just to join the workaholic's entertainment company. What was that? It was love! Gu Kerong was moved to tears. He hurriedly tied a red string between them, and even made it extra thick! Let's see you dodge that! Looking at his thickened red string, Gu Kerong was so smug he almost threw his head back and laughed.

The workaholic: "A top-tier star? Give him a few more scripts and have him act in more shows."

Gu Kerong: "..." So you just see him as a money-making tool.

Six.

Gu Kerong stared at the fistful of snapped red strings in his hand, lost in confusion and thought, bewildered and baffled...

What kind of demon king was this? Why wouldn't he get into a relationship? All he ever did was make money! Stop making money already! Gu Kerong was so furious he could cry, pacing around frantically. Fine, fine! Let's see what you're thinking about all day!

Taking advantage of the fact that ordinary people couldn't see spirits, Gu Kerong shamelessly followed the demon king around to observe him (and court death).

Secretary: "President Su, Miss Qin and Young Master Lin have both sent you invitations. They'd like you to join them for dinner tonight. Which one should I accept?"

The workaholic: "Decline both. Send me the project proposal."

Gu Kerong: "Decline, decline, decline! Why do you keep declining? Do you know you're turning down your own good fortune?"

Mother Su: "When are you going to find someone and settle down? I don't care whether it's a man or a woman, as long as you start a family!"

The workaholic: "I have no interest in men or women. I don't think there's any need to start a family."

Gu Kerong: "Oh, oh, oh, no interest in men or women, no need for a partner. What do you want, a ghost? Strong, and still saying there's no need."

The workaholic: "..."

The workaholic drove home, locked the door, closed the windows, drew the curtains, and then lit a stick of incense...

Gu Kerong followed close behind. "What are you doing?"

The workaholic: "Catching a little ghost."

Gu Kerong: "Oh, catching a ghost." Wait! Had he just answered me? No, he could hear him! Gu Kerong abruptly looked up and met the workaholic's unfathomable gaze.

Gu Kerong was so startled that he stood rooted to the spot, afraid to move.

The next second, the workaholic slowly loosened his tie and wrapped it around Gu Kerong's neck.

Gu Kerong: "..." Hilarious. Did he really think a tie could restrain him? He tried to move... move... Why couldn't he move?!

Gu Kerong: "Dude, no, wait, bro, don't get physical! We can talk this out!"

Gu Kerong: Aaaah! Help! Someone save this ghost! Weren't ordinary people supposed to be unable to see spirits? Help! Why can he touch me?!

*

Su Mingqing had never understood why everyone around him kept throwing themselves at him.

Until one day.

A certain endlessly talkative Matchmaker started following him around.

Oh, and he was still a trainee.

So you were behind all this.

Can't pass my trainee evaluation and get promoted? What should I do? What should I do?

I guess I'll just give myself to you. There's no rule saying Matchmakers can't date.

Right, first I'll keep this trainee Matchmaker by my side and teach him not to play matchmaker with the wrong people.

Darling, don't go tying red strings all over the place. Just tie yours to mine.

Synopsis revised and screenshot archived on 2024.2.23

Theme: Everyone, get into a relationship!