Chapter 60: Let’s Talk About It Later

"Wu Ya, you know as well as I do that my daughter Liu Qian is about to graduate as a top student from Yan University. Given her own merits and our family background, it’s clear she wouldn’t enter into a relationship lightly. Her partner would have to be someone with matching education and boundless potential ahead—or a man who’s already battling the tides of the business world, forging a career for himself. But someone like you, trying to balance both sides and do everything at once, just isn’t right for Liu Qian," Liu Mingli’s tone shifted again as he spoke.

At such a young age, the most important thing is to be grounded and steady in one’s heart. Even if you’ve achieved something impressive so far, it’s only for now. Human ability is, after all, limited. You’ve barely scraped the surface of success, and already you want to split your focus? Let’s not even mention whether you’re capable of managing both. Even if you could, you’d never reach the heights you might achieve otherwise! As the saying goes, “Mastery requires specialization.” Continuing your studies will demand the bulk of your energy. Are you planning to run your business with just the scraps of your attention? And from hundreds of kilometers away? Liu Mingli couldn’t see any ending but bankruptcy.

That’s why his attitude changed again. The initial disdain was gone, but so too was the fleeting warmth that had just appeared.

“Uncle…” Wu Ya began, his tone carefully measured.

From the start, Wu Ya had anticipated the direction of Liu Mingli’s questioning, so none of this surprised him. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding.

But before he could speak—

“Wu Ya, your uncle is right. We’ve discussed it, and we just don’t think you and my daughter are meant for the same path. In the end, you’ll go your separate ways. I’m sorry, but we’re out of groceries here. You should head home,” Lin Yongfen walked out of the kitchen, having overheard her husband.

No more groceries. After making their stance clear, they found an appropriate excuse. Cooking a meal? Dream on. Now that we’ve decided not to approve of your relationship with Liu Qian, we won’t keep you for dinner. Not just anyone is welcome at our table.

Such a quick turn of face.

“You…” Wu Ya’s enthusiasm for debate was instantly snuffed out by the couple’s attitude. His ambitious plans to purchase a production line and expand his business, all those grand designs, were now stuck in his throat, not a word able to escape.

They didn’t realize that once the factory was properly established and every department staffed, he wouldn’t need to worry so much. All it would take was hiring competent managers and he’d be free from the day-to-day burdens.

Yet, given his age, no one would imagine he already had the means to buy a production line. As far as Liu Mingli knew, Wu Ya only ran a tailor’s shop. The idea of hiring managers to oversee his enterprise was even more inconceivable in those days—far ahead of its time.

No one else truly understood the weight he bore. So Liu Qian’s parents’ reaction was only natural.

“Mom, Dad, what are you doing? Can’t you at least let Wu Ya finish what he wants to say before making up your minds?” Liu Qian came over, her face marked by displeasure and obvious disgust. The abrupt shifts in her parents’ attitude filled her with embarrassment in front of Wu Ya.

She felt apologetic. Wu Ya was such an outstanding young man, and yet her parents couldn’t wait to dismiss him. It was all too mercenary—so much so that they wouldn’t even let him finish his sentence. Was this cleverness? It was utter folly!

“Let him finish? We already know enough about his situation. What else is there to say? The only thing left is to ask him to leave. This household is no longer a world he can step into!” Liu Mingli glared at his daughter, his expression openly domineering.

They say daughters don’t always side with their mothers as they grow up, but she wasn’t even grown yet and was already turning against them! What would happen when she was an adult? Would she drive her parents out of their own home just because she was upset? No, he had to quash her rebelliousness before it took root and became unmanageable.

“Listen to your father, sweetheart. We are your parents—whatever we do, it’s for your own good. You’re still young, you don’t understand. One day you’ll see the pain behind our decisions,” Lin Yongfen tried to comfort her daughter, seeing the stubbornness in her eyes.

They had only one child. Though Wu Ya had influenced her a little, it hadn’t been long. With care and patience, they could still bring her round to their way of thinking. For now, calming her was the most pressing concern.

But—

“I don’t understand? Your good intentions? All you’re doing is looking for an excuse for your own snobbery! If you say this is all for my sake, then tell me: is my happiness and joy more important, or that unknown future you keep talking about?” Liu Qian wouldn’t listen. She stood her ground, her anger overflowing.

It was obviously their own snobbery, their belief that Wu Ya lacked promise, and yet they cloaked it in the guise of “all for your sake.” How ridiculous. Even if Wu Ya’s abilities would shock them, even if he were truly mediocre, as long as he cared for her sincerely, that would be enough for this lifetime! When her parents married, they’d had nothing—why was it different for her?

Liu Qian was indignant now, too furious to bother explaining Wu Ya’s achievements. The room fell silent again.

After a long moment, Liu Mingli spoke. “Wu Ya, you’ve seen our family’s circumstances. You tell us—are you worthy of Liu Qian?”

He was passing the ball to Wu Ya, making their opposition clear. Their family’s wealth was on full display: one of the most renowned merchants in Suiyan District, earning tens of thousands each year. The splendor of their home’s decor was beyond anything Wu Ya had ever seen. What did Wu Ya have to offer? Let him say it himself—that he was unworthy. That would break both Wu Ya and Liu Qian more thoroughly than any harsh words.

Otherwise, the more they pushed, the more the young couple would resist. This was a clever move.

But by now, Wu Ya’s patience had worn thin.

“Uncle, Aunt, I’ll take my leave. As for the rest, we’ll see about it in the future.”

With those words, he turned and left—without declaring whether or not he was worthy of Liu Qian, and without any grand speeches. Just a simple “we’ll see,” leaving Liu Mingli and Lin Yongfen standing behind him, abandoned.