Matchmaker Mayhem
Chapter 98: Mei’s Big Announcement

Chapter 98: Mei’s Big Announcement

The Matchmaker’s Tea Shop smelled of jasmine, vanilla, and freshly baked pastries, the kind of comforting scent that made Ava sigh in relief as she curled up against Ryan’s side on the plush couch.

It was one of those rare moments of peace, where everything felt settled, easy, and exactly as it should be.

For the first time in weeks, she had nowhere to be, no competitors to outmatch, no ridiculous high-stakes matchmaking challenges hanging over her head.

It was blissfully quiet—just her, Ryan, and the warm steam curling from her teacup.

Ryan’s arm rested loosely around her shoulders, his fingers occasionally brushing soft circles against her arm. It was an easy, familiar kind of closeness, the kind that still made her chest tighten in the best way.

Ava rested against his side, sipping her tea with a rare contented sigh.

"I could get used to this," Ava murmured, closing her eyes briefly.

Ryan smirked. "That makes two of us."

It had been a long time since she had felt this—calm, safe, happy.

And, naturally, that meant it was about to be ruined.

The moment Mei strutted into the shop, radiating mischief, Ava groaned audibly.

Ryan, without looking up from his phone, muttered, "That look is dangerous."

Mei gasped theatrically, clutching her chest as if personally offended. "Excuse me? Can a loving grandmother not check in on her world-famous, internationally celebrated, matchmaking prodigy of a granddaughter?"

Ava narrowed her eyes. "You only call me that when you’re about to ruin my life."

Mei gasped again, offended in triplicate. "Ava Lee! How could you accuse me of such a thing?"

Ryan, amused now, crossed his arms. "Because history suggests otherwise."

Mei ignored him, gracefully plopping down into the armchair across from them, setting a glossy red envelope on the table with an air of dramatic flair. It landed with a soft thump, carrying the weight of inevitable chaos.

Ava eyed it warily, her instincts screaming at her before she even touched it.

"No," she said immediately.

Mei raised a brow. "You haven’t even opened it."

"I don’t need to. That envelope has trouble written all over it."

Ryan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, clearly entertained. "Come on, Matchmaker. What’s the worst that could happen?"

Ava shot him a glare. "Have you met my grandmother?"

Mei beamed. "He’s learning."

Ryan smirked, squeezing Ava’s knee under the table. "I mean, she did get us together."

Ava groaned. "Ugh, don’t give her credit."

Mei clasped her hands together. "Ah, see? My greatest matchmaking achievement." She sighed wistfully, eyes twinkling. "I can die happy now."

Harold, who had quietly been reading a newspaper near the counter, without missing a beat, muttered, "I doubt that."

Mei pretended to be wounded, then waved her hand dismissively. "Fine, fine, enough about my genius." She gestured at the ominous red envelope. "Let’s focus on your future."

Ava, still glaring at it like it might explode, crossed her arms. "And why, exactly, does my future come in a suspiciously fancy envelope?"

Mei grinned. "Because, my darling, you and Ryan are about to embark on your next grand adventure."

Ryan perked up at that. "Adventure?"

Ava muttered, "I don’t like how excited you sound."

Ryan grinned, nudging her playfully. "Come on, Matchmaker. Maybe it’s a vacation."

Ava scoffed. "With Mei? Doubtful."

Mei ignored their banter and dramatically tapped the envelope. "Open it, Ava."

Ava hesitated. Then, with a deep, suffering sigh, she reached out and broke the seal, pulling out a crisp invitation.

Her eyes widened.

Ryan leaned over her shoulder, reading aloud.

"The Global Matchmaker’s Summit—Tokyo Edition. "

Ava froze.

Ryan let out a low whistle. "Well, that’s not a vacation."

Mei beamed. "Isn’t it thrilling?"

Ava just stared at the invitation, horrified.

Harold took a slow sip of tea and deadpanned, "I predict international levels of chaos."

Ryan, nudging Ava’s side, grinned. "You were saying about Mei ruining your life?"

Ava groaned, leaning back against the couch in defeat. "I walked right into that one."

Ryan smirked, wrapping an arm around her and pressing a quick kiss to her temple.

Mei sighed happily, clasping her hands together. "Ah, young love."

Ava groaned again.

This was going to be another disaster.

---

Tokyo?

Ava ran a hand through her hair, staring at the words on the envelope like they might vanish if she glared hard enough.

"We just won L’Amour Élite. Can’t we take a break?"

Mei gasped, scandalized. "Take a break? Ava Lee, you are at your peak! Now is the time to expand your empire!"

Ryan snorted, squeezing Ava’s waist playfully. "Expand, huh? Next thing you know, you’ll have matchmaking franchises."

Mei brightened. "Now there’s an idea—"

Ava cut her off. "No."

Harold leaned in. "But Tokyo, Ava. Think about it! Sushi, cherry blossoms, historic temples..."

Ryan smirked. "And matchmaking samurai."

Ava snorted, despite herself.

Mei patted Ryan’s arm approvingly. "See? He gets it."

Ava rubbed her temples. "Okay, first of all, samurai don’t do matchmaking. Second of all, what kind of challenge are we even talking about?"

Mei clapped her hands together. "Oh, I’m so glad you asked."

Ryan muttered, "That’s never a good sign."

Mei ignored him, pulling out a detailed itinerary that immediately made Ava nervous.

"The Global Matchmaker’s Summit is a month-long event, traveling through multiple cities, starting in Tokyo."

Ava frowned. "Multiple cities?"

Mei nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, and Singapore! A whirlwind matchmaking tour!"

Ryan let out a low whistle. "You’re really sending us across the world, huh?"

Mei winked. "Naturally."

Ava folded her arms. "And what’s the catch?"

Mei feigned innocence. "Catch? Why must you always assume there’s a catch?"

Ryan leaned toward Ava, whispering, "Because there’s always a catch."

Ava sighed. "Just tell me."

Mei finally relented. "Fine. The winner of the summit earns an exclusive global matchmaking contract—one that would make Matchmaker’s Tea Shop the premier matchmaking brand worldwide."

Ava froze.

Ryan’s eyebrows shot up. "That’s... actually huge."

Ava swallowed. "That means—"

Mei nodded. "Winning Tokyo wouldn’t just be a title. It would be the next step toward building your legacy."

Ava hesitated, her fingers tightening around the envelope.

She glanced at Ryan. He was watching her carefully, waiting for her decision.

She exhaled.

"Well," she murmured, lifting the envelope, "looks like we’re going to Tokyo."

Ryan grinned. "Guess I’d better start packing."

Mei beamed. "That’s the spirit, my dear!"

Harold cheered, raising his teacup. "To matchmaking samurai and sushi!"

Ava sighed. "We are not calling them matchmaking samurai."

Ryan leaned in, his voice teasing. "It’s already happening."

Ava groaned.

And just like that, the chaos was starting all over again.

---

Later that evening, when the chaos of the tea shop had settled and Mei had left, Ava found herself standing on her balcony, the cool night air soothing against her skin.

She stared out at the skyline, the glow of the city lights flickering below her.

Tokyo. Seoul. Bangkok. Singapore.

Her world had just expanded again, and yet, all she could think about was one thing—

Could she really do this?

She felt him before she heard him.

Ryan stepped onto the balcony, the warm scent of coffee and cinnamon preceding him.

When she turned, he was holding two mugs, a lazy smirk on his face.

"Thought you could use this," he murmured, handing her one.

Ava took it, watching as Ryan settled beside her, the way he always just knew when she needed him close.

"You’re thinking too much," Ryan observed, his voice softer now.

Ava sighed. "I just... Tokyo is huge. The whole thing is huge."

Ryan leaned in, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "And?"

"And what if I mess it up?" Ava whispered.

Ryan chuckled, placing his coffee on the balcony railing before wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him.

"Ava, you literally won the most prestigious matchmaking competition in Paris," he murmured against her temple, his lips grazing her skin.

Ava exhaled a laugh. "I know, but—"

Ryan tilted her chin up, his blue eyes locking onto hers. "But nothing. You don’t need an algorithm, a formula, or a game plan. You’re the best because you trust your gut."

Ava felt the tension in her shoulders ease just a little.

Ryan smirked. "Besides, if anyone’s gonna mess up in Tokyo, it’s me."

Ava snorted. "Oh, you are absolutely getting lost within twenty-four hours."

Ryan chuckled, resting his forehead against hers. "I never mind getting lost..."

Ava felt her heart stutter.

Ryan’s fingers traced slow circles against her waist, his lips just inches from hers.

"...as long as I always find my way back to you."

Ava swallowed, her entire body warming.

Ryan tilted his head, brushing his nose against hers, his breath warm, teasing, familiar. "So... does that earn me a reward?"

Ava rolled her eyes. "Fine."

And then, with zero hesitation, she pushed up on her toes and kissed him.

Ryan grinned into the kiss, deepening it as his arms tightened around her, pulling her even closer.

Ava, sighing into the warmth, let herself melt into him, into this, into everything that made Ryan hers.

When they finally pulled back, Ryan smirked. "Knew it."

Ava groaned. "I’m so regretting this engagement."

Ryan chuckled, brushing his lips against her forehead. "Liar."

And honestly?

She wasn’t.

---

Meanwhile, in Manhattan –

Julian sat in his dimly lit office, his fingers tapping against his desk as he watched the official announcement for the Global Matchmaker’s Summit.

Tokyo.

Seoul.

Bangkok.

Singapore.

His jaw tightened. "She’s really doing this."

Ethan, lounging on the expensive leather couch, let out a low whistle. "Gotta hand it to her—she doesn’t stop, does she?"

Julian didn’t respond, his eyes narrowing at the screen.

He leaned forward, studying the details of the summit.

A high-profile, multi-city matchmaking event.

The perfect stage.

The perfect opportunity.

Ethan, sensing the shift in his mood, sat up. "I take it we’re not sitting this one out?"

Julian finally looked away from the screen, his expression cold and calculating.

"Of course not."

Ethan grinned. "Then what’s the plan?"

Julian steepled his fingers. "She embarrassed me once. That won’t happen again."

Ethan chuckled. "So we’re talking sabotage?"

Julian’s smirk was slow and deliberate. "Oh, Ethan."

He picked up a sleek black folder from his desk, flipping it open to reveal confidential event documents.

"I’m talking about elimination."

Ethan’s grin widened. "Now we’re talking."

The screen flickered, displaying Ava’s photo beside the announcement.

Julian stared at it, his voice low and resolute.

"This time," he murmured, "I’m going to destroy her completely."