Kuang Ye gave Mu Wan a reassuring glance before following Mu Jianhua into the study.

Mu Jianhua’s study was decorated in a fully traditional Chinese style, with elegantly crafted wooden furniture. The bookshelves were filled with titles like Practical Applications of Sun Tzu’s Art of War and Missile Theory—books that exuded an unmistakable sense of authority and sharpness. On the walls hung several gleaming medals, each one heavy with significance and prestige.

Mu Jianhua didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point. “Kuang Ye, Mu Wan is my precious daughter. I know you two are deeply in love right now, but love and marriage are not the same. Very few couples can rely on feelings alone for a lifetime.”

“Now answer me one question.”

“If you sever ties with the Kuang family and no longer have access to their wealth, how will you ensure my daughter continues to live a comfortable life?”

“The Mu family has money. I wouldn’t mind supporting my daughter for the rest of her life, but I don’t want her husband to be so incapable that he needs to rely on her. That would embarrass her in front of others, and I can’t bear to see her suffer that kind of grievance.”

“Don’t tell me how much your signing fees are right now. I’ve looked into it—it’s indeed a lot. But I’ve also looked into it: a professional player’s career peak only lasts a few years. If you’re planning to sit back and spend what you have with no plan for the future, I won’t let my daughter marry you.”

Mu Jianhua’s tone was already quite polite. The deeper reason behind his concerns was his worry that if Kuang Ye retired, cut ties with the Kuang family, and had no professional plans, the gap between his ability to earn money and Mu Wan’s success would only widen over time.

As a man himself, Mu Jianhua understood men’s insecurities. Many men simply can’t accept their wives holding a stronger position in the family.

Kuang Ye, having been out in the real world for years, could hear the unspoken undertones of Mu Jianhua’s words. Rather than feeling offended, he appreciated the concern from Mu Wan’s father.

“Uncle, I do have a plan.”

He pulled out his phone, opened a few electronic documents, and handed them to Mu Jianhua.

Mu Jianhua saw that it was a contract outlining a partnership to co-found a company, along with a certificate of ownership for a club. As he read more closely and recognized some familiar terms on the document, his eyes widened slightly.

“Su You?”

Wasn’t that the rising tech company that had been making headlines recently? And Kuang Ye was a shareholder? Not just a shareholder—he was a major shareholder?!

Kuang Ye calmly explained the origin of the contracts. “A few years ago, when I injured my hand and went abroad for treatment, I met Tang Ce, who was studying overseas.”

“His team was starting a company but lacked funds. At the time, I had already been playing professionally for a year and had saved up a bit of money, so I invested.”

Originally, Tang Ce’s technical expertise and Kuang Ye’s financial backing meant they shared equal shares of the company. However, Tang Ce adamantly refused and even made Kuang Ye the nominal CEO^[1]A nominal CEO refers to a Chief Executive Officer who holds the title but does not have significant authority, power, or responsibility in the organization’s actual operations. The … Continue reading, calling him the ‘big boss’ for good luck.

After returning to China, Tang Ce officially established the company, and it grew steadily. Rumor had it that the company even went public last year.

Mu Jianhua: “…”

His stern face finally showed a trace of satisfaction.

“So, after you retire, you plan to work at Su You? That’s a tech company—do you know anything about the field?”

Kuang Ye answered honestly. “I don’t. I know nothing about technology, but I do know quite a bit about running a gaming club.”

“A few years ago, the ST team’s club was poorly managed. I asked Tang Ce to help me acquire it.”

“Right now, I’m supporting several teams, and the annual revenue is considerable.”

He pulled up the profit statement of the club from last year on his phone.

Mu Jianhua glanced at it, and after a moment of silence, his expression finally softened. He smiled, patting Kuang Ye’s shoulder.

“Good kid. You’re young, but you’ve got a clear vision for the future.”

“Since you already have plans, then go ahead and sever ties with the Kuang family if that’s what you want.”

“When you deal with the kidnapping last time, your parents didn’t even make a single phone call. You don’t need that kind of family.”

“But as for Grandfather Kuang… Ah, what he did this time was indeed dishonorable. Still, he was the one who brought you back to the Kuang family and helped secure the engagement with Wan. I’m not asking you to forgive him for what he did; I just hope you’ll go and talk to him in person.”

Grandfather Kuang had been a comrade-in-arms with Grandfather Mu, and when Mu Jianhua was younger, he had witnessed the old man’s decisive and thunderous methods. He understood Grandfather Kuang’s mindset: he simply didn’t want the family business he worked so hard for to fall into the hands of an outsider. But the way he went about it showed a complete lack of respect for Kuang Ye.

Kuang Ye was a person with his own ideas and identity—not a tool to inherit the family business.

“Uncle, I understand. I’ll find time to visit the old man.” His voice carried a hint of cautious respect. “So… do you agree to let Wan and me stay together?”

Mu Jianhua let out a hearty laugh. “As parents, we naturally want our children to live well. I can see Wan is deeply in love with you. I was just worried that if you didn’t give me a satisfying answer, I’d have to figure out how to persuade her otherwise.”

He looked at Kuang Ye with approval and said, “Fortunately, you didn’t let me down.”

Kuang Ye’s eyes visibly lit up.

That meant he had their approval.