"Uff…" I sighed inwardly, feeling a strange sense of relief when I saw that the system was still responding.

  I rested the back of my head against the Italian leather seat of the limousine and closed my eyes, trying to organize all the information I knew so far.

  ?In the original story, after awakening his inheritance, Lin Feng discovers that he can see the hidden value of objects. With that ability, excited, he liquidates every last cent of his savings and heads to the Antiques Market. There, the typical 'cliché' happens: he meets Gu Xinyi, the young jewel of the Gu family, who is visiting with her father to buy a gift for her grandfather's birthday, a famous collector. The point is that when they are about to buy a very elaborate forgery, Lin Feng shows his 'talent', intervenes heroically and prevents the scam. In doing so, he earns the gratitude of one of the most influential families in the city.?

  After that, and a few more events, Lin Feng gains the Gu family's support, takes over my family's business, and my head ends up with a hole in the forehead.

  "I have to avoid that event at all costs if I want to survive," I thought, while lightly tightening my wrists.

  Fortunately, the Antiques Market does not open on weekends, so I still have two days to plan how to sabotage that encounter.

  …

  Soon, the limousine came to a gentle stop, pulling me out of my thoughts.

  Through the window, I watched as the iron gates slowly opened, letting us pass. We advanced along a path lined with perfectly trimmed cypresses until the imposing structure of Qin Villa rose before me.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Lin Hai quickly got out and opened the door with a slight bow.

  "We've arrived, Young Master," he announced in his usual tone.

  I stepped out of the car and adjusted my suit. The mansion was a monument in itself, almost a work of architectural art. As I crossed the threshold of the grand hall, a middle-aged man was waiting for me. He wore a dark silk suit and had his hair slicked back, revealing faint white strands at his temples.

  It was Qin Zhen, the current patriarch of the family and the man who, in my memories, was the only figure of support.

  "Mosheng…" he said, pronouncing my name with a mixture of relief and reproach.

  "Father," I replied.

  I surprised myself. For the first time, the icy voice of Qin Mosheng let out a faint trace of warmth. It wasn't forced; it was an instinctive reaction of this body.

  Qin Zhen walked toward me and placed a hand on my shoulder, squeezing lightly. His sharp, hawk-like eyes swept over my face.

  "They told me you didn't sleep at home. And the rumors about what happened with the Su girl have already started to leak out," he let out a heavy sigh as he guided me toward his study. "You know the old Su is not an easy man to deal with. Was it really necessary to force things in that way?"

  I sat down on one of the leather armchairs in front of his desk.

  "…I won't let this affect the family's assets, Father," I said, without showing any change in my expression.

  My father fell silent for a moment, focused on the stream of tea gently pouring into the cup.

  "It's not about the assets, Mosheng," he finally said, setting the teapot down with a dull thud. "I'm worried that, because of this incident, the family's reputation might be affected. The elders of the council are vultures; you know that… they won't stay quiet in the face of a scandal of this magnitude."

  He raised his gaze, fixing it on mine with seriousness.

  "Mosheng… if you truly like that Su girl," he paused, weighing his words, "I will formalize the engagement immediately. It's the only way to silence the rumors and prevent the old men from stirring up a 'scandal'."

  "Father, I understand," I replied, keeping calm, measuring each word. "It's not just about my feelings, but how we will manage the influence on the Su in the long term. I know there are many pieces in motion right now... but still, let me think about it."

  My father nodded slowly, visibly surprised. It wasn't the answer he expected.

  "All right, Moshen. You have a week."

  I stood up and left the office without looking back. When I reached the solitude of my room, I loosened my tie and collapsed into the armchair, staring at my hands.

  "Compromise..." I chewed the word bitterly. If I accepted, I tied myself to the novel's deadly fate. If I refused, I lost my family's shield.

  "Haah..."(suspiro)