I'm the villainous Dragon King? I start with a free 100-pull gacha pull for the female lead!

The study was brightly lit.

Liu Ruyan's face was full of confusion and bewilderment.

I thought Grandpa would be angry and furious, but I never expected him to say such a... almost cruel truth.

She opened her mouth to argue, but there was nothing left to say in her defense.

Faced with Grandpa's theory.

Those fears about the future and the avoidance of Ye Shu became excuses for not being ambitious and for cowardice.

She went from being a victim to a dependent, overgrown child.

The huge difference in her situation left her somewhat disoriented, so she could only lean on the chair, frowning and deep in thought.

Could it be... that she was wrong?

Silence fell over the study for a moment.

The old man was in no hurry; he simply picked up his teacup and took a sip.

It seems my granddaughter still has a lot to learn.

It seems a bit hasty to hand over the Liu family to her so hastily.

After a long while, Liu Ruyan slowly raised her head.

She took a deep breath, seemingly hesitant, but still chose to ask the person she trusted most, her voice carrying a hint of grievance.

"Grandpa... even if I'm too cowardly..."

"But Ye Shu abandoned me and left. Isn't that abandoning his wife and children? Is he right? Even if I am 100% wrong, isn't he completely without fault?"

She finally voiced the question that had been bothering her the most.

It's not destruction, it's abandonment.

Regarding this question, Liu Wenshan sighed slowly.

My granddaughter is good in every way, but she cares too much about these romantic relationships.

But humans have seven emotions and six desires, and girls are no exception.

Fortunately, the old man was not only a master of romance in his youth, but also a devoted lover; otherwise, he would not have remained unmarried to this day after Grandma Ruyan's passing.

He held Liu Ruyan's hand and said softly:

"Life is like a long marathon. You can't stop moving forward yourself and expect others to stop for you. That's too selfish and unrealistic."

Liu Ruyan was unconvinced:

"But...but I'm his wife!"

"Shouldn't husband and wife support each other, share joys and sorrows, and go through thick and thin together? How could he leave me alone?"

The old man grasped Liu Ruyan's hand, looked into her eyes, and said:

"Ruyan, you only see him abandon you, but have you ever dreamed about why he abandoned you, or left you?"

No, no.

Liu Ruyan shook her head.

How could Luo Chen's true feelings be so clear?

Most of it was junk information about where to go prostitutes at night, but the information about the downfall of the Liu family was something she had painstakingly compiled.

"Yes, you didn't see why he abandoned you, so why do you assume he must have betrayed you and abandoned his wife and children?"

"Grandpa, I can boldly assume it's you...."

Liu Wenshan pointed at Liu Ruyan's face and said, word by word:

"You asked him to leave so as not to implicate him."

ha? ? ?

Liu Ruyan stood there, completely bewildered.

"Grandpa, what are you talking about? How could I possibly ask him to leave? That makes no sense!"

Liu Wenshan said with a smile:

"Don't rush, let Grandpa explain it to you slowly."

"Imagine you in the future, as Ye Shu's wife. Looking back at your future self from today's perspective, would you truly love him?"

"Of course!"

Liu Ruyan said decisively:

"If we were really husband and wife, I would definitely, absolutely love him. How could I possibly marry someone I don't like? If I married him, I would love him to the core!"

"However...however..."

Liu Ruyan blushed and added, "This is just hypothetical. I don't like that guy right now, so please don't misunderstand, Grandpa."

"Alright, alright, Grandpa understands what Ruyan means."

Liu Wenshan looked at her with a wise gaze and smiled.

"Since you love him so much in the future, you naturally wouldn't want to see him trapped in this small corner because of you, like a dragon destined to soar to the heavens being bound in shallow waters. Of course, you would feel heartache and want to let him go to pursue a better future."

"Then I can go with him!"

Liu Ruyan seized on the loophole and retorted.

"But what if the place he's going to is dangerous, and you don't want to be a burden to him? Ruyan, love is great, so let you be great too, willing to bear the pain of separation alone for his future."

"Perhaps he even wanted to take you away, but you didn't want to leave with him."

The old man gently patted the back of her hand and asked:

"Ruyan, is Grandpa right or wrong?"

Are you the kind of person who would sacrifice for the one you love?

"..."

Liu Ruyan remained silent.

Can she say that she's not that great?

Absolutely not!

She just said she would love him to the core, and then she went back on her word. Isn't that a slap in her own face?

After going around in circles, she felt like her CPU was about to burn out.

Liu Wenshan was overjoyed to see his granddaughter nodding and shaking her head.

How can a young man compete with an old fox like him?

Let's eat rice for a few more years.

"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes."

The old man smiled, his eyes full of cunning.

"Ugh... Grandpa, you're bullying me!"

Liu Ruyan gave a coquettish remark, but did not refute it.

It seems that she has already accepted the old man's logic in her heart.

Seeing his granddaughter like this, the old man was completely relieved.

He took her hand, his voice sincere.

"Ruyan, don't blame Grandpa for not favoring you, but for favoring Ye Shu."

"Tell me, how do you compare to that little girl from the Su family?"

"Su Qingyue?"

Upon hearing this name, Liu Ruyan was startled.

They had clashed in business several times, but he never came out on top.

It's made her develop some PTSD.

After a long silence, she bit her lip and replied somewhat reluctantly:

"I...I'm not as good as her..."

"Having a clear understanding of oneself is something many people cannot do."

The old man said with satisfaction,

"But that's not what Grandpa wanted to say."

"Grandpa wants to tell you that, in essence, you are the same as that little girl from the Su family."

"Grandpa, I don't understand."

Liu Ruyan shook her head, puzzled.

It's normal that you don't understand.

The old man explained to her,

"The Su family's little girl lost her parents early, and the huge Su family is counting on her to inherit the family property. There's also a second wife eyeing the family fortune left by her father."

"And you, Ruyan, you are the same."

"Although your parents are alive, they are both hopeless and just like the second branch of the Su family, trying to ruin the property left by your grandfather."

"In terms of environment, you are the same."

"So you're all the same."

"Let me be honest with you today."

The old man's eyes were unusually serious.

"Grandpa doesn't ask much of you and never interferes in anything you do, but when it comes to marriage, Grandpa will not allow the heirs of the Luo family or other big families to get close to you."

"Your only choice is to be an ordinary person."

I know this is very unfair to you.

"But if you enjoy the benefits that come with family, you must also bear the corresponding responsibilities, even if it means sacrificing some of your choices."

Liu Ruyan stared blankly at her grandfather.

The bright lights in the study illuminated her profile.

It was written with resentment, grievances, and incomprehension.

Yes, of course she didn't like Luo Chen.

But has she even lost the right to choose whom she likes?

"So...Grandpa, you still hope that Ye Shu and I will be together?"

"He is the best candidate you gave me."

"Is it right?"

Liu Ruyan raised her head and gave a bitter smile.

We talked so much in the study tonight.

We've talked so much.

She thought her grandfather had finally let go of Ye Shu, but she didn't expect that all the conversations would eventually point to him.

And she was undeniable.

The old man did not answer the question, but simply sighed slowly.

"Ruyan, Grandpa knows you're very tired right now. From now on, let Old Master Mo handle the Liu family's affairs. Take this time to rest and relax."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruyan's pupils shrank sharply, her face filled with disbelief.

rest?

Isn't this just a disguised power grab?!

We were just talking about Ye Shu, and now she's been stripped of her right to handle family affairs. This is worse than killing her.

"Why, Grandpa?"

"Just because I don't like him?"

Liu Ruyan's eyes were filled with tears, and her face was full of resentment as she questioned.

The old man glanced at her with disappointment and waved to Old Mo.

"Take Miss back to rest."

Old Mo, who was at the door, immediately stepped forward and gestured for her to leave.

"Young Miss, let's go."

She was unwilling to accept it, so unwilling!

But in this family, the old man always had the final say.

Even though Liu Ruyan was extremely unwilling, she could only walk back to her own room step by step.

The night was desolate.

For a moment, only Liu Wenshan and Old Mo remained in the study.

Recalling the young lady's heartbroken appearance just now, Old Master Mo felt a pang of pity and couldn't help but advise, "Master, isn't this too cruel to the young lady?"

"This world is not a children's game."

Looking out at the night sky, Liu Wenshan calmly said:

"She's not ready yet, let her grow up a bit more."

After saying that, his gaze fell on a photo frame on the desk.

It was an old black and white photograph, like one taken in the 1960s or 70s with an old-fashioned camera, the edges of which were yellowed.

The photo shows a young man in military uniform.

Beside the young man was an elderly man with a balding forehead and a mole on the corner of his mouth, dressed in a simple cadre uniform. He had one hand on the young man's shoulder and a gentle smile on his face.

Old Mo's gaze also fell on the photo, his eyes revealing a deep sense of awe and nostalgia.

"It looks just like it, so much like it!"

"Like?" Liu Wenshan shook his head. "He hasn't changed at all."

"Xiao Mo, I've always wondered if we chose the wrong side back then? Is that why we're reaping the consequences, and why the Liu family has no successor..."

"Sir, we were just nobodys back then."

Old Mo comforted him, saying:

"No matter what we choose, the outcome will not change. Compared to having your property confiscated, at least you still have the Liu family's legacy."

"As people get older, they become nostalgic... and want to do something..."

Liu Wenshan gently covered the photo frame, took out a small package wrapped in oilcloth paper from the drawer, and carefully handed it to Old Mo.

"Master, what is this?"

"When I was working in the countryside, I was in charge of stud horses."

The old man chuckled.

"Add this stuff to your tea and give my good-for-nothing son a few cups before bed every day, so he'll put in some effort."

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

"this...."

Old Mo held the paper package, his expression strange.

It seems some people are going to be quite busy these next few months.