Before he died, my grandfather forced me to marry the richest man in the capital.

Tang Junyao got up very early and still wore her heavy down jacket. Nothing was more important than her health right now.

After quickly washing up, I prepared breakfast and placed it under the insulated cover. I left a sticky note on the bedside table and then went out.

It was fate, really. While waiting at a traffic light, Lu Jinnan felt that the Mercedes next to him looked familiar. He immediately thought it was the Mercedes of the eldest daughter of the Su family. Come to think of it, the two of them hadn't had much contact since the last out-of-control incident.

Lu Jinnan rested his head on one hand against the car window, recalling this woman. Apart from her lack of words when drunk, she seemed quite good in other aspects. She had a slim waist, long legs, and a curvy figure. She had everything she should have, and her body felt nice to the touch. It was just that she had a bad temper, and her mouth was like a machine gun.

Lost in thought, all that remained for Lu Jinnan was a wisp of exhaust fumes, leaving him somewhat dazed.

It's true what they say, men shouldn't indulge in meat; once they do, their brains become useless.

Sitting beside her, Lu's mother said with dissatisfaction, "Why are you daydreaming while driving? Be serious. Stop thinking about all sorts of random women all day long. Bringing me a proper wife is the real business. The eldest daughter of the Su family last time was quite good. Why are you so useless? You just can't catch up with her."

Lu Jinnan: Is this what mother and son are like? They can actually think of the same woman at the same time.

After criticizing her son, she added, "What's wrong with people these days? Driving so fast, don't they know how to be careful?"

Lu Jinnan suspected that the person in the car wasn't the eldest daughter of the Su family, at least not because of their driving skills. He turned to his mother with a grin and said, "Mom, she just started a little fast. At a normal speed, on this road, how fast do you think she could go? Unless she had wings."

Lu's mother didn't dwell on the car speed issue, but reminded her son, "Let me tell you, when we get to your uncle's house, you better keep your mouth shut and don't tell anyone. I know that over the years, your uncle and Lu Man's actions have been a bit excessive, and you and your father don't like it either, but seeing them relying on each other for survival, I can't just stand by and do nothing. Speaking of which, Lu Man is also pitiful. Her biological mother ran away because she thought they were poor, leaving your uncle to be both a father and a mother to them. Since we're not going to help them anymore, we still have to show some courtesy. Your uncle called and said Lu Man is sick, so we have to go see her. After all, he's your uncle, my own brother."

Lu Jinnan understood what his mother meant. Kind people are always taken advantage of. Poverty or being pitiful is not a reason, much less a reason for you to unconditionally demand help from others. No one owes anyone anything in this world. Helping you is a favor, not helping you is simply fulfilling your duty.

But how many people truly understand this principle?

Lu Jinnan had always looked down on his uncle's family's outlook on life, but he still said, "I know, I went with you, didn't I? You can't blame Dad for not going with you. Dad has had enough. You know what kind of person Lu Man is. Maybe you didn't see the whole story. A few days ago, she got pregnant outside and blamed it on Young Master Ji."

He understood why Young Master Ji had let Lu Man go time and time again. First, his grandfather had saved Young Master Ji when he was a child, and second, it was out of respect for Lu Jinnan, since she was, after all, his cousin.

Lu Jinnan couldn't help but feel fortunate that Lu Man wasn't foolish enough to distort the truth about the child in front of her sister-in-law; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to save her, and she would probably have been thrown into some backwater of the underground market.

Ever since he learned about the relationship between Young Master Ji and his sister-in-law, he had a clear understanding of Young Master Ji's true feelings for his sister-in-law, as well as how Chu Yi had treated him as a tool. He couldn't help but feel worried for Lu Man.

Lu's mother was a little surprised. "Has this child gone mad? How can he do something like this so casually? He's getting more and more outrageous."

Arrived at the Xu family's residence.

Xu Zhong's company was revived after Lu Man received 5000 million, but there were still very few people willing to cooperate with the Xu family. It can be said that without the help of the Lu and Ji families, it would be difficult for the company to continue. In addition, Xu Zhong did not know how to adapt to business.

After a few days, most of the money has been used up, and there's not much left.

Upon seeing his younger sister arrive, Xu Zhong greeted her with a smile in his eyes, but a complex emotion still lingered in them. "Sister, you're here. Please have a seat."

Seeing her brother's expression, Lu's mother knew something bad was going on. She went straight to the point, without much small talk. After all, she was disappointed in her brother, as he had received countless complaints from the family. "How is Manman? What illness does she have?"

Xu Zhong didn't hide anything. He lowered his eyes, sat down, and poured water for the two of them. "Sigh, this child is too obsessed. She's only thinking about Master Ji. She just got pregnant, but then she miscarried. She's heartbroken and hasn't left the house for several days. She just stays in her room and doesn't talk to me."

Hearing this, Lu Jinnan, who was half-reclining on the sofa, was displeased. It was a veiled implication that the child was Ji Shao's, and the blame was being shifted onto him again. "Uncle, Lu Man wouldn't have told you this child is Ji Shao's, would she?"

Xu Zhong remained silent. Lu Man hadn't told him about the child's father, but he guessed that since Lu Man liked Master Ji so much, the child must be Master Ji's. Plus, with that 5000 million, no one but Master Ji would be so generous as to give his daughter so much money. "I..."

Lu Jinnan rested his chin on his hand and said slowly, "Let me tell you something, the child isn't Young Master Ji's. Young Master Ji knows about this. Before the New Year, Young Master Ji and I went to the hospital to see her. You two shouldn't step on Young Master Ji's landmines anymore. He's already spoiled you to the extreme. You should know why. Don't pretend you don't know."

Lu's mother felt that her son was speaking recklessly, so she nudged him. But Lu Jinnan started talking nonchalantly.

He continued, "Uncle, you know very well that without the Lu family, you would have left the capital long ago and wouldn't have been able to establish yourselves here for so long. You must have heard about Young Master Ji's style of doing things, or have you forgotten it after all these years of indulgence? Don't make things difficult for me anymore. Also, I heard that your company has started operating, but as your nephew, I have a suggestion: you should close the company, take Lu Man and leave the capital, or find a job. With Lu Man's expertise, finding a job shouldn't be difficult. I can give you another million. Stop dreaming about Young Master Ji. Returning to a normal life and keeping Lu Man far away from him might be the best choice for her. Think it over carefully. Don't think we're heartless and won't help you. Over the years, I don't need to list how we've treated you."

This was Lu Jinnan's last attempt to persuade his uncle; if he remained obstinate, he would not intervene further.

Lu's mother is a sensible person, but sometimes she is too soft-hearted to stand by and watch, so she lends a helping hand. Before coming this time, Lu's father told her not to indulge him anymore, so she did not particularly stop her son when he said so much.

Xu Zhong knew in his heart that he wasn't cut out for business. But after so many years, he had climbed to the top and didn't want to come down. Once a person reaches a certain height, it's hard for them to humble themselves.

This is why so many people want to buy a 10 yuan car even if they only have 30 yuan in their bank account, and they have to keep swiping their credit cards even if they can't afford to go to high-end places. In the end, they are heavily in debt and can't support themselves anymore before they realize their mistake.

Just for that little bit of enjoyment, that little bit of face, that little bit of vanity.

Xu Zhong lowered his head as if considering something. "Let me think about it," Lu's mother continued to persuade him, her words full of earnest advice.

Lu Jinnan stood up and straightened his clothes. "I'll go check on her."

Lu's mother nodded.

A knock was made on the door, and a weak voice came from inside, "Come in."

Lu Jinnan swaggered in, closed the door, pulled up a beanbag chair, sat down, crossed his legs, and glanced at Lu Man, who looked very haggard and no longer had the arrogant and domineering young lady she used to be.

"I have a question for you. Answer honestly."

Lu Man scoffed, "Want to ask me about my company's operations?"

Before Lu Jinnan could speak, Lu Man continued, "Are you satisfied with the breakup fee given by the child's father?"

Lu Jinnan leaned back, supporting her head with her hands, and said, "He's quite generous. It seems this man isn't single. You've probably threatened him."

Lu Man's fingers, hidden under the blanket, curled up, gripping the back of her hand tightly, and she remained silent with her lips pursed.

"Have you told Tang Junyao about your pregnancy? I'll say it again, I want to hear the truth. You should know that Young Master Ji has no feelings for you. Don't ruin your life."

Lu Man knew this all too well, but her own resentment kept brainwashing her, making her believe that Young Master Ji could belong to her, and this had been her goal for so many years.

The more unattainable something is, the more you want it.

She paused for a moment, lowered her eyelids, and lied, "No."

Lu Jinnan believed her once and for all. "I hope you're telling the truth. Don't have any more contact with that man. Now that you've had the child, start over. Change your surname back. It wasn't easy for your uncle to raise you. Be yourself. Without the protection of the Lu family, you might live a better life."

Lu Man lowered her head and tears streamed down her face. Strings of beads seeped into the quilt, as if telling her that what she was holding on to was so ephemeral.

Lu Jinnan had said everything he needed to say. As for why he was advising his uncle and then his cousin like a mother hen, like an emotional news anchor, it was simply because he didn't want his mother to be upset. If his uncle and Lu Man didn't end well, his mother would still be heartbroken.

He didn't care whether Lu Man had really listened or not, and got up to leave.