"The last time you lectured me, you said I wasn’t qualified to be a vase. To be honest, your words really stung, and I couldn’t accept them... I believed I was never a vase. I felt very capable. I could find great jobs, run a successful business, and even get into Harvard... I thought I was something extraordinary..."

She chuckled in self-mockery. "But when I calmed down and thought it through, I realized I’d been playing the role of a vase for a long time."

"!!!"

"Take my university education, for instance. Without Wan Donglin, I wouldn’t have had a chance at all. Not to mention starting my own business—I don’t even have the startup capital, so I can just forget about that. Even the good jobs I found on my own—without my degree to open doors, would I have gotten them? And Harvard? If it weren’t for him, could I have gone? I couldn’t even dream of it..."

In this world, PhDs are a dime a dozen. People work nine-to-five jobs, walking on eggshells around their bosses for a paycheck. Why should you get to be so carefree and at ease?

"Life is long, and in a prominent family like yours, anything can happen. I think, even if I can’t help him, at the very least, I must not be a burden to him..."

"So?"

She avoided Liu Daqing’s sharp gaze. "I think I’ll reconsider once I’m strong enough... Of course, if he still wants me then, I won’t hesitate to be with him for the rest of my life..."

Liu Daqing said bluntly, "Donglin doesn’t have time to wait for you."

"I know, so I don’t dare delay him... After all, you’re eager for a grandchild, and he’s eager for a child too... That’s also why I suggested breaking up. He’s not young anymore. He should find another woman to have children with..."

Liu Daqing looked at her, puzzled, as if a monster stood before him.

He felt this woman was beating around the bush, being evasive and not telling the whole truth, as if the real reason lay elsewhere.

"Yan Xixi, how do you think you can become stronger?"

"This... I think... I should start by becoming mentally stronger. At least, I shouldn’t panic or get overly frightened at the first sign of trouble, or feel like I’m about to collapse under pressure... I hope..."

She pondered for a moment. "I hope I can be like you! Yes, that’s it. I wish I could one day be as strong as you, afraid of nothing..."

Liu Daqing gave a wry smile.

Yan Xixi seemed surprised.

"Yan Xixi, if you cultivate yourself to that level, then you won’t have love in this lifetime."

Yan Xixi was stunned.