I bought a secret manual of the Hehuan Sect for ten yuan.

"Don't worry, although your brother is a bit reckless sometimes, he still knows his limits and wouldn't be that foolish!"

"Besides, even if he really had that idea, he wouldn't dare make such a big decision without consulting me. He doesn't have anyone under him capable of handling this kind of thing!"

Zheng Hongye was comforting his daughter, and in doing so, he was also comforting himself.

Zheng Qiuyi, however, disagreed, saying, "That's hard to say!"

"My brother has done all sorts of outrageous things. You're the only one who thinks he's reasonable, but does he really?"

"Dad, of course I hope my brother wasn't involved, but what if he was?"

"This is absolutely outrageous. If my brother really did it, and the Zheng family gets involved, how will things end?"

She paused for a moment, slightly hesitant, "Dad, if my brother had discussed it with you beforehand, would you have agreed to send someone to Yunxi Residence?"

"That's a miracle drug that can cure cancer! If it works, you might have a chance to compete for the position of family head!"

Zheng Hongye was slightly taken aback, raised one hand as if to strike, but Zheng Qiuyi had already dodged to the side.

He sighed, "You brat, you're getting more and more out of control! You dare to make fun of your father now?"

"Let's not discuss this now; we'll ask Shaoqing when he arrives!"

"Now let's talk about your marriage. You've called off the engagement with the Liang family. What are your plans now?"

"I'm not joking with you. Even if you don't marry into the Liang family, you'll eventually have to!"

"You're not that old yet, you have more options. Wait a few years, and even if you wanted to marry someone like Liang Chen, they might not even want you!"

"Why can't you understand my good intentions?"

"I don't understand a thing!" Zheng Qiuyi exclaimed angrily. "Isn't it just using me as a tool for a political marriage?"

"You act like you're doing this for my own good, but if you really are, why don't you give me freedom?"

"Dad, I understand now. The Zheng family is already so rich, why do they have to do things like this?"

"The girls of the Zheng family are born into privilege, envied by everyone. But outsiders don't know that we are deprived of freedom from birth; we can't even choose our own marriages!"

"What chills me to the bone is that, as my father, you have never said a word in my defense, and even supported what they did!"

"This..." Zheng Hongye looked at his daughter with a complicated expression.

After a long silence, he sighed, "Alright, since you want to know, I'll take this opportunity to explain it to you clearly today!"

"You are my biological daughter. I watched you grow up since you were little. Think about it yourself, when have I ever stopped loving you? When have I ever stopped spoiling you?"

"Do you think I'd be happy for you to become a sacrifice in a marriage of convenience for the Zheng family?"

"Isn't it strange that if I don't want to, why don't I object?"

"Furthermore, I was one of the decision-makers in the Zheng family. When the engagement between you and Liang Chen was discussed, I even voted in favor. You don't understand why, do you?"

"Qiuyi, it's true that I'm one of the decision-makers in the Zheng family, but I'm not the head of the Zheng family!"

Do you think my objections will make a difference?

"At least for now, you still have a choice. I can still participate and you can help select a relatively good family for you to marry into."

"Do you know what will happen if I object?"

Zheng Hongye said helplessly, "That will only make our voice in the Zheng family weaker and weaker, and we might not even have the opportunity to participate in decision-making in the future!"

"Even then, you'll still have to get married, and it will be entirely arranged by them!"

"So what if you're not satisfied, Liang Chen? There will be something even more unsatisfactory, and then you'll have no choice at all. Can't you even understand such a simple logic?"

"If you're not satisfied, you can tell me. I'll try my best to find a solution and choose one that you prefer, doing everything I can to make it happen."

"Besides, didn't I give you a chance?"

"How's your company doing? How far are you from your agreed-upon goals?"

"If you succeed and prove your talent, I will have a reason to try to get you to stay and help out in the Zheng family group in the future."

"As long as you can generate profits for the Zheng family, and with those profits guaranteed, who cares whether you get married or not!"

"But did you manage to do it?"

Zheng Qiuyi was rendered speechless by her father's series of words, her heart filled with mixed emotions, and she had no words to respond.

The father had put a lot of thought into his daughter, but unfortunately, she was not up to par.

But running that company was indeed too difficult; the Zheng family's resources were unavailable, and they were restricted in every way.

She had always suspected that someone within the Zheng family was hindering her company's development, but there was nothing she could do about it.

"Speechless now?" Zheng Hongye smiled indulgently. "I understand how you feel, but you also need to understand me and our situation."

"Even if none of those young masters from wealthy families meet your standards, you still have to pick one. It's better to choose the best among the worst than to have someone else pick one for you, right?"

"The more influence I have in the Zheng family, the more secure your and your brother's future will be. It will also be easier for your brother to rise in the family in the future, understand?"

"To put it bluntly, if you really marry Liang Chen, and I'm insignificant in the Zheng family, I can only pretend I don't know if he beats you!"

"Only when we have influence will our words carry weight, and only then will others stop bullying us, understand?"

"Tell me about it now, or I can find you another one. Don't wait until you don't even have this much of a choice before you regret it..."

"I have a man!" Zheng Qiuyi blurted out, instantly silencing her father.

"What...what did you just say?" Zheng Hongye stammered, and seeing his daughter's blushing and shy expression, he felt even more uneasy.

"Qiuyi, you're kidding me, right?"

"Who is it?!"

"Qin Ge!" Zheng Qiuyi went all out. "Donghai, Qin Ge, you should know him, right?"

"He and my brother don't get along; he even calls them enemies. My brother seems to have suffered a loss at his hands in the East China Sea!"

"You mean serious?" Zheng Hongye's jaw nearly dropped to the floor. "This is no joke!"

"Once word gets out, it will be even harder for you to marry into a good family. What wealthy young man would want to marry a woman with a reputation for gossip?"

Zheng Qiuyi said, "What do you mean by 'real' or 'fake'? Do I have to record an intimate video of us together before you'll believe me?"

"I've only ever considered him; I won't marry anyone else!"

"Dad, we can find ways to solve our problems. Why do we have to force you to arrange my marriage?"

"You—!" Zheng Hongye raised one hand in a fit of rage.

"Go ahead and hit me!" This time, Zheng Qiuyi not only didn't dodge, but also tilted her head and brought her face closer. "Even if you kill me, I won't change my mind!"