After being universally criticized online, I went viral on military-themed variety shows.

Chapter 571 The Conversation in the Recorder: Do What You Want to Do

After Duanmu Long returned to his bedroom, looking back every few steps, Duanmu Rongrong closed the study door, then went into the dark room behind the landscape painting and took out what looked like a recording pen from her pocket.

After studying it carefully, I finally found the switch and pressed it down hard.

The static mixed with electrical noise suddenly filled the dark room, which was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat.

After enduring nearly ten minutes of noise, intermittent voices finally appeared amidst the background noise.

Duanmu Rongrong recognized her nephew's voice immediately.

In the dark room that was originally only known to the nephew, it's no surprise that the nephew brought the recording pen himself to record.

What kind of thing could this be that needs to be recorded and preserved?
She clenched her fists and listened intently.

"...Sizzle...The Li family...No...I want Chengxiao to stay..."

"...The medicine...is becoming less effective..."

"...Queshan...I'll go there myself..."

Amidst the crackling noises, Duanmu Rongrong sat in the dark room from night until dawn.

"Clap!"

The recorder slipped from my hand and fell straight to the floor, hitting the power switch. The static that had been playing all night instantly disappeared.

Duanmu Rongrong, who was sitting stiffly in the chair, seemed to wake up from a dream. She first glanced at the recorder lying at her feet, then reached out to hold onto the table next to her, slowly stood up, and, enduring the discomfort of not having slept all night and the splitting headache, picked up the recorder and walked out of the study with somewhat stiff steps.

The servants, who were already busy outside, thought she had gotten up long ago when they saw her. "Good morning, Madam. Would you like breakfast now? Miss doesn't seem to be up yet."

Duanmu Rongrong waved her hand, "I'm not eating yet. I'm feeling a bit unwell. I'll go back to bed and rest. You can all do what you need to do. Don't knock on the door. I'll come out when I'm rested."

Upon hearing her say she wasn't feeling well, the maid mustered her courage and looked at her face, immediately exclaiming in surprise, "You don't look well, should we call a doctor?"

It's not just not good; even at the funeral yesterday, he was elegant and dignified from head to toe.

Just one night later, the person in front of me seemed to have aged several years in an instant. The wrinkles on their face had increased, and they had developed eye bags.

He looked completely exhausted!
"No, I'm fine."

The maid could only stand there and watch as she walked stiffly into the bedroom.

This doesn't look like everything is alright.

However, since the master had spoken, she had no choice but to obey; she dared not make decisions for the master.

He shook his head and went back to his work.

Back in her own private space, Duanmu Rongrong glanced at the dressing mirror opposite her as she put down the voice recorder. After a moment of stunned silence, she raised her hand to touch her face.

"I really am getting old!"

A sigh escaped between his lips.

Duanmu Long tossed and turned for a long time after returning to her room last night before finally falling asleep. She woke up this morning when she heard noises outside. Unable to fall back asleep, she opened the door and went outside. She didn't see her great-aunt, who usually got up earlier than her. "Where is my great-aunt?"

"The old lady is in her room."

"Still not up?"

"No, I ran into the old lady half an hour ago. She came from the direction of the master's study. But the old lady didn't look well. She went back to her room to rest and wouldn't let anyone call the doctor or disturb her."

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Long turned to look at the study door, which had been locked again.

An incredible thought arose in my mind.

My great-aunt, could she have spent the whole night in the study?
If she hadn't slept all night, her complexion naturally wouldn't be good. But her great-aunt had said not to be disturbed, and she was probably already exhausted and asleep by now, so she hesitated for a moment but still didn't knock on the door.

After finishing breakfast, Duanmu Long was about to go to the study to see if there were any other clues when he heard voices and footsteps coming from the front reception room.

Upon stepping outside, I couldn't help but frown.

"Third Aunt, why did you come so early?"

Where is Auntie?

"Grandma is still resting. If you have nothing else to do, you can go back now."

"Something must have happened, how could nothing have happened?" Third Aunt quickly took two steps and grabbed Duanmu Long's hand, her face full of affection. "My poor niece, your father passed away so suddenly, your aunt is heartbroken for you. Our Duanmu family is large and prosperous, and your aunt is so old. Niece, you have to think carefully about the future."

Duanmu Long felt a chill and tried to pull his hand away, but couldn't.

Having no choice but to hold back for the time being, he said irritably, "Why don't you just tell me what you've come here for?"

"Your aunt just wants to set you up with someone. Gao Songchen from the Gao family, you met him yesterday, he's a very handsome man..."

Duanmu Long suddenly looked up, staring at the face in front of him that appeared to be concerned but was actually full of scheming. He gritted his teeth, forcefully pulled his hand away, and sneered, "The Gao family is really capable; they even managed to bribe you."

“Niece, don’t say such harsh things. Your father is gone. Do you think you can protect the Duanmu family? Rather than struggling until you are torn apart and devoured, why not just cooperate with the Gao family? Then you can have another child with the surname Duanmu, and the Duanmu family will still be ours. Your father will be comforted in the afterlife.”

Duanmu Long coldly stared at the incessantly chattering mouth in front of him, then caught a glimpse of Lu Feng rushing over out of the corner of his eye. "Brother Feng, help me see my third aunt downstairs."

Third Aunt was still a little intimidated by the bodyguard who was always by Duanmu Rongrong's side.

Before he could even make a move, she couldn't help but take a few steps back, but still somewhat unwilling to give up, she called out, "Niece, think it over carefully!"

Duanmu Long took a deep breath, turned around, and prepared to go to the study to be alone for a while.

Although her third aunt's words had infuriated her, one sentence in particular resonated with her.

She lacked confidence that she could protect the Duanmu family like her father had.

Although her great-aunt was there to help out, her great-aunt was getting on in years, and she couldn't trouble her with everything.

“Takitaki”.

"Grandma? You're awake?"

Duanmu Long paused in his steps as he was about to head to the study, and jogged over to Duanmu Rongrong, who was standing at the door of the room. "You don't look too well."

"It's nothing. Who was it that just came by?"

"Third Aunt".

Duanmu Rongrong rubbed her temples. "What's she doing here?"

"To act as a lobbyist for the Gao family."

Duanmu Rongrong suddenly felt her head hurt even more.

"She's an idiot, don't take anything she says to heart."

"But she was right about one thing: I'm afraid I won't be able to protect the Duanmu family."

Duanmu Rongrong had originally planned to wait until that person arrived in the capital before discussing it, but seeing Duanmu Long's bewildered expression, she reached out and patted her head reassuringly, "Longlong, if the Duanmu family is no longer your responsibility, is there anything you want to do?"

"I can't think of anything I want to do right now." Duanmu Long looked up. "Why did you suddenly ask that?"

“It’s okay if you haven’t thought about it yet, you can take your time. Just like I love acting, I ignore all the stares and comments and focus on what I love. As for why I suddenly asked this…”

That's because the Duanmu family will soon be gone!
It was stolen anyway, so it's time to return it.