Going home for Chinese New Year, I squeezed onto a bus with three energetic young women.

Bai Weiguo's face was filled with disbelief:

"Goodness, this girl...is she really twenty-five?"

Wang Xiulian kept sizing up Li Mengmeng.

The older generation values ​​practicality and personal chemistry when choosing a wife.

Li Mengmeng, a lively and cheerful girl who can also cook, is the most likable.

Wang Xiulian whispered:

"This girl is getting more and more likable the more you look at her..."

Bai Weiguo couldn't help but agree:

"Yes, but we should prioritize our son's opinion. Young people should be free to choose their partners."

Beside him, Xie Tianyun stared blankly at the chaotic living room, completely bewildered.

What kind of nonsense is this?

Are you going to have to fight for a wedding? Are you going to have to wait in line?

Is this reasonable?

But if it's someone even the top official in Yuncheng has to curry favor with, then that makes sense.

But understanding is one thing.

Why his own daughter of all people?

Xie Tianyun only had this one son!

Which father wouldn't want to entrust his daughter to a man who only has eyes for her?

Even if the other party comes from an ordinary family, as long as they are honest and hardworking, the Xie family can afford to support them.

But the tall and handsome Bai Li in front of me is clearly a womanizer who leaves his mark everywhere!

Xie Tianyun felt a tightness in his chest.

Back then, he got involved with a woman outside of his business dealings.

This enraged his wife, who angrily drove back to her parents' home in the middle of the night, resulting in a car accident. She didn't even have time to say her last words.

That was the biggest mistake he ever made in his life.

Lingmo was spoiled since childhood, so she has a stubborn temper and can't tolerate any nonsense.

Following such a playboy, what if I suffer injustice in the future, what if I also get stuck on a rut...

He was scared...

He sighed deeply, unsure how to begin.

Xie Lingmo took in her father's reaction.

She saw the dejection on Xie Tianyun's face and understood the deep worry in his eyes.

He's still his biological father after all.

The anger in Xie Lingmo's heart slowly dissipated.

She stopped hiding behind others and walked up to Xie Tianyun:

"dad."

Xie Lingmo called out.

The tone was very soft, lacking the sharpness of before.

Xie Tianyun looked at his daughter.

"Bai Li is right, I am an adult."

Xie Lingmo looked directly into her father's eyes and spoke very clearly, word by word:

"I know what I'm doing."

Xie Tianyun rubbed his fingers together, his voice dry:

"Mo'er..."

"Everyone has the right to choose their own life, doesn't they?" Xie Lingmo interrupted him.

She pointed to the group of girls behind her:

"I am happy here. We can live in harmony."

Xie Lingmo paused for a moment, then her tone became earnest.

"Dad, I know why you got so angry that day."

"You hit me because you're disappointed in me. You think I'll go astray, but you're doing it for my own good; you're afraid I'll be deceived."

"But have you thought about it?"

Xie Lingmo took a step forward:

Even if you hit me, even if you forcibly take me back.

My thinking remains unchanged.

"Besides, that will only make me more rebellious and make me hate you."

Having said all that, it's as if the last layer of paper has been pierced.

The living room was unusually quiet.

Chen Tingting and the others stopped making a fuss, released Li Mengmeng, and all their eyes turned to Xie Tianyun.

Having worked his way up through the ranks for so many years, Zhao Donghai is most adept at reading people and situations.

He immediately realized the situation had reached a critical point and quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Hey, Lao Xie!"

Zhao Donghai put his arm around Xie Tianyun's shoulder and, going along with the flow, advised:

"As elders, we should let nature take its course when it comes to our children's affairs."

"Look at Lingmo, she's in such a good state right now."

"At least Bai Shao doesn't hide anything; he says everything. You should feel at ease knowing Ling Mo is with him."

Zhao Donghai patted Xie Tianyun on the back:

"Respect your daughter's opinion."

"Don't let things get to the point where the father and daughter can't even see each other anymore; that would be something to regret."

Xie Tianyun remained silent.

She could hear Zhao Donghai's persuasion, see her daughter's determined gaze, and witness the young man who hadn't said much but was in control of the whole situation.

All the pressure came from all directions.

More than a minute passed.

Xie Tianyun shook his head and let out a bitter, dry laugh:

"The child has grown up..."

His voice was hoarse, filled with endless sorrow:

"I can't control it anymore..."

Saying this is tantamount to surrendering.

Upon hearing this, Xie Lingmo's eyes welled up with tears, but she turned her head away to prevent them from falling.

Xie Tianyun stopped paying attention to Zhao Donghai and stopped looking at his daughter.

He turned around, his eyes fixed on Bai Li, as if trying to see through him completely.

This powerful figure in the Yunshi business world has now shed all pretense and pride.

His back was slightly hunched, like an ordinary old father making a final check before handing over his most precious treasure.

"you……"

Xie Tianyun gritted his teeth, his eyes swirling with complex emotions.

There was resentment, but more than that, there was pleading:

"Can you really keep being good to my daughter?"