I'll use some analogy / metaphor from the other aspect to reply.

In the investment world, no rational investor enters a position expecting to lose. Each move is strategic — based on available data and anticipated return. Dating is no different — you already weighed the risk versus reward before deciding to meet up.

You had good early indicators: engaging text conversations, strong phone chemistry. Based on that, you made a calculated decision to proceed.

The outcome didn’t align with expectations — not because either party was malicious, but because the in-person energy revealed something the pre-meeting signals couldn’t predict.

He told you he’s introverted, and perhaps he is — or perhaps he simply wasn’t aligned. Regardless, he clarified his position, and you both moved on. That’s not wasted time. It’s real-time data acquisition.

Not every investment yield profit. But even a loss sharpens your next decision. Emotional overreaction distorts decision-making. Keep what you learned, discard the rest, and reallocate your emotional capital wisely.

Relationship cultivation/building — I'm afraid there's no shortcut.

It’s just like learning you need to allocate time to study and grow. The same applies to relationships. A strong and genuine relationship cannot be built without the investment of time. Through that time, we experience both the good and the bad in the other person. We begin to appreciate their strengths, admire their values, and gradually learn to accept their flaws and weaknesses.

Without the passage of time, none of this deeper understanding can occur. If you believe there’s a shortcut or faster way — humanity has been trying for thousands of years, and yet the truth remains: there is no substitute for time.

If you're still in doubt, consider this simple observation:
Would you be more willing to follow a leader within your organization who has groomed you, instilled values in you, and fought for your growth over the years —
or someone hired externally, who issues instructions without knowing your personal strengths, weaknesses, or working style? In my experience, 10 out of 10 people would prefer to follow the one who invested in them — not the latter.

This analogy holds true for male-female relationships as well: just as it takes time for trust and rapport to develop between leader and subordinate, it takes time for a relationship to mature. With this in mind, "time" is not an optional ingredient. Like it or not, you must spend it.

Now, if you already know you can’t save time — only use it — then why worry about someone “wasting” your time? Do you have a better alternative? No, you don’t.

You're left with three options:

Option A: You worry about wasting time and do nothing — but time will pass anyway.

Option B: You try, spend time, but don’t find the right person — and time still passes.

Option C: You try, spend time, and eventually find the right one — and yes, time passes just the same.

Among these three, none can stop time from passing.
But if you try, at least there's a chance you’ll end up with Option C.
If you do nothing but worry, your chances of success drop to zero.

So don’t overthink. Focus only on what’s within your control and give it your best. The outcome, if beyond your control, is fate.
And if Heaven wants us to walk a certain path, who are we to defy Heaven’s instruction?