Ark Heroine Development Plan

"Mr. Guanyue...you are joking."

Wei Yanwu shook his pipe lightly: "That's not what I meant."

"Okay, you guys chat about yourselves."

Guan Yueli leaned against the sofa, supporting her face with one hand, and yawned lazily: "I'll take a rest."

"..."

Wei Yanwu glanced at Chen. The expression on the girl's face surprised him a little.

Calm and peaceful, although with a hint of anger hidden in his heart, it was not as bad as he had imagined.

So, it's bad.

"I think... my next conversation with Officer Chen is rather private and cannot be disclosed to Miss Guanyue."

Wei Yanwu rarely spoke to Guan Yueli in this tone.

"That's what you think." Guan Yueli squinted her eyes and smiled, "Since it's private, it's a matter between two people."

"Xiao Chen, do you mind if I listen?"

"I do not mind."

Chen said something calmly that surprised Wei Yanwu.

——Wei Yanwu was absolutely confident that his niece would never reach an agreement with that woman during this period of time.

But obviously, something happened... something beyond our control, or perhaps a coincidence.

For example, now, Chen Huijie is not as gloomy and angry as he thought.

"Besides, I just want to tell you something unilaterally. I'm not interested in discussing life philosophy with you."

The young police officer looked directly at the highest official in charge of Longmen:

"Listen carefully, Wei Yanwu."

"I don't mind you testing me. I will accept any form or method you use."

"But don't try to change me with this. Don't try to make me accept... the rules you define, the world you see."

"I will defeat you, including all the tricks you will use in the future—according to my rules, according to the world I see...

Her eyes were clear and bright, never covered with dust even for a moment, because the gray seed that Wei Yanwu tried to plant had just tried to take root when it was easily crushed by a bad woman.

The girl named Chen Huijie was so high-spirited and brilliant at this moment. From now on, if Wei Yanwu wanted to use similar means to make Chen "face the cruel reality", it would no longer work.

And imagine that in this case, such a dark, cruel and vicious scene happened to come together by such coincidence. Even Wei Yanwu would have to spend a lot of effort, not to mention events that are even more disgusting?

——Unless he made up his mind and did it on purpose.

But if that were the case, he would not be the Lord of Longmen, nor would he be Chen Huijie's uncle.

The girl who made such a declaration to her superior left Wei Yanwu's office without looking back. This time - she was the winner.

A man of honor and victory.

In the huge office, there were only Wei Yanwu, whose expression gradually disappeared, and Guan Yueli, who was dozing with his eyes half closed.

"You're hurting her."

This man rarely spoke in such a cold and indifferent voice, not to mention... how dangerous the person he was talking to was.

Yes, Wei Yanwu was very angry, but he was not angry just because of Chen’s speech, Chen’s declaration, or Chen’s thwarting of his plan.

If it were anything else, he would gladly accept Chen's defiance and victory, but this time... only this time, no.

Those who manipulate people's hearts are the best at reading their minds.

Wei Yanwu could tell at a glance that the sparkling light in Chen's eyes could never have been achieved by her own strength - to be precise, if she was alone, she could only barely remain calm in front of him.

A wedge was driven into Chen's heart.

That wedge could not be created with just a few words; it required guidance from a veteran who was more powerful than him and more formidable in stirring the soul.

Because Wei Yanwu absolutely did not believe that just simple guidance could make Chen realize this level of awareness.

Just like Guan Yueli, in Wei Yanwu's eyes... Chen is just a child.

She was too young, too easily influenced by the outside world, and her beliefs and emotions were too easily shaken, so he took advantage of this wonderful coincidence to arrange such a plan.

Chen's final position would only be at the top of Longmen. Wei Yanwu knew his junior too well. He knew that based on that girl's personality... let alone taking over his position, she might even be defeated along the way.

He was reluctant to change his beloved blood relatives, but he had to do it.

From a very early time... the man named Wei Yanwu had almost no choice.

All he could do was to subtly change Chen's way of thinking without changing her original ideals, so that she would understand that the world was ten thousand times more cruel than she had imagined, and Longmen was ten thousand times darker than she had imagined.

The sun in the sky can only burn itself to ashes, but it can't burn the darkness on the ground or even underground.

She had to face reality, the reality that "I have no choice."

Recognize the reality of… compromising with the world.

Perhaps this is too early for a college graduate, but Chen is different. Wei Yanwu believes that Chen must be different. He believes that Chen can, while maintaining his own path, gradually make darker but more realistic changes to everything in the world.

And after that, it’s just a matter of subtle work.

A person as bright as the sun cannot rule this city or reach the highest point. She will only be defeated or burn herself out and fall into complete despair.

Wei Yanwu didn't want Chen to become that kind of person.

But under Guan Yueli's operation, Chen did not gradually take root in the deep and cold earth as Wei Yanwu expected, but... flew into the sky.

Unrealistic, ridiculous, dangerous skies.

"You'll... get her killed."

Wei Yanwu said word by word.

Guan Yueli stretched lazily, looking confused as if she had just heard what Wei Yanwu said.

"what did you just say?"

"Naive idealists will die tragically on this land," Wei Yanwu said expressionlessly. "I was lucky enough to survive, but I suffered the same pain as them. I don't want Huijie to follow this path, to suffer the same wounds as me, or to regret it decades later... like I did."

"Ha." Guan Yueli's laughter was filled with contempt and disdain: "Being afraid of those ahead and blocking those behind is a typical adult style."

"Not everyone possesses the absolute power to defy the rules like you, Lord Guanyue."

He didn't want Guan Yueli to let Chen go down a path that was completely opposite to the one he had planned.

"If this land is stable and peaceful in this era, I will fully support Huijie in following the path she desires."

Wei Yanwu stared at Guan Yueli. "But you should know better than me how bad this era and this land are. If Your Excellency Guan Yue is interfering in Hui Jie's life simply for your own pleasure, I... Longmen..."

"I will become your enemy."

Wei Yanwu...didn't want to control Chen's life, but because he knew how dangerous the path Chen was taking was. In this land, her ideals could hardly find a way out.

He could allow Chen to deviate within a certain range, and the stubborn girl could rebel and think that his plans for her were wrong, as long as she understood that the world was tragic, cruel, and vicious, and he would not have unnecessary expectations of her. As long as she could understand this sooner or later, it would be fine.

As long as you understand this one thing, as long as you don't think about becoming the sun, as long as you don't get burned by your own ideals, as long as you don't burn out because of your own beliefs...

As long as I’m not like the person I used to be, who was just as passionate but had almost nothing.

Chen didn't know that this weak man, who was extremely terrible in his eyes and allowed Guan Yueli to do whatever he wanted in Longmen, was declaring his hostility towards Guan Yueli so bluntly.

"..."

Guan Yueli touched his chin and said, "My reputation with you is so bad."

Even though her style of doing things was still very casual, Wei Yanwu had no intention of joking at all.

"In this world, there are truly few who can completely restrain Lord Guanyue. This has nothing to do with reputation."

"Okay, okay, I get it." Guan Yueli nodded. "Anyway, what you mean is that you want me to stop interfering with Xiao Chen and watch you transform her, right?"

She narrowed her eyes and smiled brightly.

"You... are so brave to say that."

In an instant, three dark figures appeared in Wei Yanwu's office.

"Duke Wei, please step back."

A deep and hoarse voice came from under the black straw raincoat.

"Hooh?"

Guan Yueli raised an eyebrow: "Why, do you want to tell your subordinates about educating children?"

"Mr. Wei has his own considerations on the path that the young lady will take."

The leader, Hei Suo, whispered, "Please, Master Guanyue... please refrain from overstepping your bounds."

"Ah, I know, I know."

The woman crossed her legs leisurely. "Parents naturally have the right to guide their children. Every normal parent doesn't want their children to get hurt. They want them to become better, so they will correct their 'mistakes'."

"A 'mistake' in the eyes of parents."

"Of course, you, Wei Yanwu, are different from ordinary parents. You are wiser, more far-sighted, more courageous, and more... willing to give than ninety-nine percent of parents in this world."

"So what you consider a 'mistake' is not the 'self-righteous mistake' that most parents think it is, but a real 'mistake'."

"The path you've mapped out is undoubtedly beneficial to Xiao Chen and can truly help her—it doesn't force her to change herself, but simply allows her to recognize what she needs to recognize. It can be said... it's quite painstaking, and quite perfect."

She tilted her head to the side and curled her long cherry-colored hair lazily. "She will definitely thank you when she grows up. I have no doubt about that."

"In that case—" Wei Yanwu frowned deeply, "Why then, Lord Guanyue…"

"why?"

Guan Yueli's mouth corners gradually rose:

"Do you believe in fate, Wei Yanwu?"

"The older you get, the easier it is to believe in such mysterious things..." Guan Yueli sighed softly.

Then, she looked at Wei Yanwu with a smile and said:

"You think I'm doing this because I'm unhappy about being used by you as a tool to temper Xiao Chen's character, or you simply think it would be pleasant to let Xiao Chen embark on this path, right?"

Wei Yanwu curled his lips and said, "Even I can't think of a third reason."

"Why do you think... this is my arrangement?"

Guan Yueli's smile became even brighter.

The man at the pinnacle of power was stunned. Just for a moment, a look of pure disbelief flashed across his face, which was very rare.

"Is it just..."

"Just a coincidence."

Guan Yueli, filled with joy and happiness, laughed and said, "My meeting her was just a coincidence."

"When I left the fishing spot and took a detour to the orphanage to relax with the children, that child, somehow, took a winding path and finally found his way to me."

"Her first few encounters with me were just your calculations. You wanted her to get to know me in advance so that she could understand me, the odd one out of Longmen. I don't mind because Xiao Chen is very cute."

"But this time—it was neither your plan nor mine."

The woman's expression softened.

"That sad and confused child just appeared in front of me by coincidence."

"So, I simply offered my help, that's all. Although she didn't say it to me at the time, but... I heard it."

Guan Yueli, who was surrounded by children, saw the helpless girl standing in front of her, staring at her blankly.

"A beautiful and pure soul stands before me by destiny."

The woman in kimono closed her eyes and smiled softly.