Meanwhile, in Jiangnan Province, a powerful and wealthy man lived in a luxurious mansion.

In a private room at the luxury bar on the sixteenth floor, Qin Ziyang was still being forced to drink by Wang Zhaoyue.

Wang Zhaoyue's face was radiant with a captivating smile, while his face was slightly flushed from drinking, a result of both intoxication and emotional excitement.

Forced to drink several glasses of wine, he quickly excused himself to go to the restroom to catch his breath. However, he had only taken a few steps when he was stopped by Long Er and two burly men in suits. The leader, expressionless, said coldly:

"Young Master Qin, my eldest son requests your presence!"

"Young Master?" Qin Ziyang looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a private room with the door half open. He could vaguely see a middle-aged man in a suit sitting inside.

His eyes flickered involuntarily.

Long Er is Wang Zhaoyue's bodyguard, and the only person who can be addressed as "Young Master" by Long Er and his group of bodyguards is the eldest young master of the Wang family, who is Wang Zhaoyue's father.

But why did they contact him?

Qin Ziyang suddenly remembered that he had carried Wang Zhaoyue back to the hotel last night...

His gaze met Ryuji's for a moment. Although Ryuji was well-trained and his eyes were calm and unreadable, he could not discern anything.

But he knew that it was most likely Long Er who told the Wang family about this, otherwise, given his status, the eldest son of the Wang family wouldn't have come to his door in person.

Qin Ziyang composed himself, trying to keep his mind clear, and then followed the bodyguard through the corridor into the innermost VIP room.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the private room, the city lights stretched out. Wang Bai leaned alone on the leather sofa, dressed in a custom-made haute couture suit. The watch on his wrist gleamed subtly, and he exuded an aura of authority that came with long-standing power.

"Uncle Wang is looking for me, what's the matter?"

Qin Ziyang stood five steps away from the sofa, his posture calm and composed, neither humble nor arrogant.

Wang Bai glanced up, his expression devoid of politeness or warmth, his eyes utterly indifferent. He gestured towards the sprawling, bustling city outside the window:

"What can you see if you look out the window?"

Qin Ziyang followed his gaze and saw the city's tall buildings lit up with lights, and fishermen's songs echoing on the river.

He replied, "The myriad lights of the provincial capital in Jiangnan."

"Yes, it's bustling with prosperity and towering buildings. Ordinary people standing here feel insignificant."

Wang Bai sighed softly, his voice suddenly turning cold:

"But you must understand that, in the grand scheme of things, this provincial capital of Jiangnan is just a tiny place in the whole of China."

He turned his head, his gaze icy as he locked onto Qin Ziyang:

"It's like you. You stand out among the younger generation in Jiangnan, but if you were to put into the top circle of the Dragon Kingdom and compare yourself with the real heirs of aristocratic families, you would be as insignificant as dust."

Qin Ziyang said calmly, "Uncle Wang, I don't quite understand what you're saying."

"Let me put it more bluntly." Wang Bai leaned back on the sofa, crossed his arms, and exuded arrogance. "I want you to stay away from Zhao Yue."

"Your status in Jiangnan is at its highest, but compared to Xie Mingqiu, the eldest son of the Xie family, it's worlds apart, there's absolutely no comparison."

Qin Ziyang frowned slightly: "Uncle Wang, I still don't quite understand what you're saying."

He and Wang Zhaoyue always maintained a certain distance.

Wang Bai scoffed, his eyes filled with disdain:

"You don't understand how capable Xie Mingqiu is. Let me put it this way: in less than five years, Xie Mingqiu will be able to lead the Xie family to our level and become the fourth top family in the Dragon Kingdom."

"Not to mention the Xie family of Chenjun, with its millennia-old heritage and extensive connections in the military, political, and business circles. Even disregarding all that, just considering their lineage and foundation, the Xie family has a thousand-year history, producing numerous high-ranking officials and renowned figures throughout the ages. How can your mere newly established Qin family compare?"

After speaking, his gaze returned to Qin Ziyang, his words clearly dissecting and suppressing him:

"I have long since investigated the Qin family's background thoroughly. The Qin family does have some resources, which is enough to take a piece of fat meat from the Yuan family, but that's all."

"Xie Mingqiu is different. The Xie family's cultural tourism, heavy industry, and financial sectors are spread all over the country. Any one of their branches is more than ten times larger than the entire Qin family's industries."

"Furthermore, Xie Mingqiu has studied business under famous teachers since childhood, and he is on friendly terms with the scions of powerful families in various provinces. He attends major top-level summits, and his network of contacts, resources, vision, and perspective are far beyond your reach."

"And you? You're detached from the Qin family business and have no ambition whatsoever."

Qin Ziyang was baffled, and he frowned slightly: "So?"

Wang Bai abruptly stopped smiling, his tone turning as cold and hard as ice.

"The marriage between the Wang and Xie families is a done deal, but ever since Zhaoyue and you got very close last night, the nature of this matter has changed."

"She is destined to marry into a top-tier noble family, and you, you dare to defile her!"

"You're not qualified to get close to her."

"Not qualified?" Qin Ziyang lowered his eyes. Young and impetuous, he couldn't stand such forceful words. Fueled by alcohol, he retorted:

"Then may I ask, Uncle Wang, what qualities would qualify someone to be worthy of Zhaoyue?"

Wang Bai picked up the whiskey on the table, took a sip, and slowly began to speak:

"In terms of family background, the elders of the family must have connections with at least a lieutenant general or a provincial-level official, and the family must control leading industries across regions with a net worth of at least 20 trillion. The Xie family fully meets the criteria, as do many other prominent families, but your Qin family is an exception."

"In terms of ability, you either need to take charge of the core business of a multinational corporation at a young age, or cultivate your career in the government and rise steadily. Xie Mingqiu managed a trillion-dollar project in his early twenties, while you haven't even managed a small company yet."

"In terms of connections, the Xie family has been associated with top military and political figures for generations. They can smooth things over with just a word. The Qin family's connections in Jiangnan are useless outside of this provincial capital."

At this point, Wang Bai shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with disappointment and disdain: "In terms of family background, ability, and connections, the Qin family is no match for the Xie family. What makes you think you can get close to my daughter?"

He leaned forward slightly, exuding an oppressive aura, his tone carrying an undisguised threat:

"I am speaking kindly to you today to save face for your Qin family. If you know what's good for you, cut off all ties with Zhaoyue and never see her again. I might still be able to spare your Qin family's life out of consideration for her."

"If you insist on pestering Zhaoyue and bad news spreads, not only my Wang family, but also the Xie family will not let you off the hook."

Finally, he spoke slowly and deliberately, his words chilling to the bone:

"I advise you, if you don't want your family to fall into ruin, stay away from Zhaoyue."

If it weren't for Wang Zhaoyue's feelings, he wouldn't have bothered with words; he could have simply put pressure on the Qin family with a flick of his finger, forcing Qin Ziyang to leave his daughter.

Recalling how Wang Zhaoyue suddenly changed her attitude a week ago, threatening suicide, and how the old man had to step in and give her a month of freedom, strictly forbidding anyone else from disturbing her, Wang Bai felt a headache coming on.

This incident caused a significant rift between the father and daughter.

Recently, seeing his daughter playing on that live stream, with a genuine smile on her face, he didn't want to disturb her too much.

However, just in case something outrageous happens, he still has to step in to warn and suppress Qin Ziyang, telling him not to covet someone he's not good enough for.

Qin Ziyang remembered the terrifying size of the Wang and Xie families, and his mind cleared up a bit. In order not to cause trouble for his elder brother, he ruthlessly destroyed the budding feelings in his heart.

He fell silent and stopped talking, staring blankly at the night outside the window, his eyes unfocused.

Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Wang Bai got up from the sofa, stopped as he passed Qin Ziyang, left a final warning, and then left with his bodyguards.

"Remember to stay away from my daughter."

"You don't even deserve to get close to her!"

(The data has been declining recently, so I'm adding an extra chapter. Please urge me to update more and give me free gifts! If the number of requests for updates and gifts increases, I will maintain a daily update of 6000 words three times a day for the time being. Thank you for your support, I'm kneeling down and kowtowing!)

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