Lu Man spoke with such finality that for a moment, both her mother and father were somewhat stunned.

After all, who doesn't have dreams?

Isn't a life without marriage imperfect, but a life without dreams perfect?

In this situation, only Chen Yan seemed to be truly aware.

Having been with Lu Man for four or five years, Chen Yan actually understood this girl's thoughts better than anyone else.

This girl, how should I put it...was rather impulsive.

Probably because she had grown up in affluent conditions and was beautiful, she had always been adored and pampered from a young age.

So, she would harbor some unrealistic dreams or ideas.

For example, she once dreamed of becoming a superstar and the hottest female celebrity in the world.

But because she was too spontaneous, these thoughts...actually might only last a little while before she ceased to care about them.

She would verbally say, "I need to strive, strive, and strive again." But in private, she might just lie on the sofa and not want to do anything at all.

Especially in the past two years, as Lu Man's career developed better and better, Chen Yan noticed that her ambition was dwindling.

If it weren't for her career progressing too well and Chen Yan, Mei Li, and Yang Rou pushing her forward, she would probably just give up, go home, and spend her time playing video games and watching dramas.

So, when she said today that she wanted to fulfill her dream, she could fool others, but she couldn't fool Chen Yan.

Since she said that not planning to marry for the sake of dreams was a lie, her real intention of not wanting to marry yet was clear: she didn't want to pressure Chen Yan and wanted to help him find a better time.

Thinking of this, Chen Yan couldn't help but look at her sympathetically.

But whether she was acting a full play or she didn't notice Chen Yan, she didn't look at Chen Yan at all, but stared resolutely at her parents.

It was clear that this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment idea for her, but rather a well-thought-out plan.

Because of Lu Man's untimely topic, the atmosphere in the entire house suddenly cooled down.

No one in the room spoke; each person was lost in their own thoughts.

After a while, Lu Mom squeezed out a smile and then said, "Xiao Chen, it seems you haven't seen our study room yet? Why don't you let Man Man's dad show you around?"

"Although our home isn't known for scholarly heritage, your uncle loves books, so we have also collected quite a lot."

"I heard from Man Man that you like reading. Why don't you accompany him to take a look?"

It was clear that this was a pretext.

After all, if it were a room full of video games, Chen Yan might have been interested, but a room full of books...emmm...If Chen Yan loved reading that much, he wouldn't have failed to get into Tsinghua University.

Just, Lu Mom clearly had something to say to Lu Man, so despite being reluctant, Chen Yan still pretended to be happy and accompanied Lu Dad to the study to look at books.

After the two of them left, only Lu Mom and Lu Man remained in the living room.

Lu Mom came over, hugged Lu Man, and then asked softly, "Man Man, are you guys hiding something from me?"

"Why do I feel so unsettled?"

A mother knows her daughter best. As soon as Lu Mom said this, Lu Man felt a jolt in her heart.

But luckily, in these past years, under Chen Yan's "nurturing," her acting skills had improved, so there was no change in her expression. Instead, she showed a helpless look and said to her mother, "Mom, we're fine. Really good."

"Just that, you know me. I'm a female celebrity. For female celebrities, dating and marrying can easily lose fans."

Lu Mom wasn't easily fooled; she retorted, "You're not an idol. Your core fan base isn't male fans. What's the big deal with marriage and having children?"

"So many female celebrities get married and have children, why can't you?"

Seeing her mother getting a bit anxious, Lu Man didn't dare to resist strongly.

She shook Lu Mom's hand, then said, "Mom~ I just don't want to get married yet."

"I haven't had enough fun. I don't want marriage to restrict me."

"Also, even though I don't really need male fans, marriage isn't just about losing fans. The audience's perception and judgments about me will change."

"Before marriage, I can play a young girl's role; after marriage, it would be awkward for me to play those roles."

"Before marriage I can play single, strong women, but it would be difficult for me after marriage."

"After all...you know Chen Yan's situation."

"Even though I don't care about his money, his familial wealth, inevitably others will care. They might think I married into a rich family and don't want to work hard anymore."

"Moreover..." Lu Man said, her cheeks slightly reddening as she lies, "Indeed, these past years, I have achieved my current position and accomplishments through my own efforts."

"These accomplishments now are all my own."

"But once my relationship with Chen Yan goes public, then everyone will say it's all because Chen Yan supported me."

"You see, with so many disadvantages, wouldn't it affect my dream?"

Listening to Lu Man's reasoned response, Lu Mom looked at her doubtfully then asked, "Is there really nothing else?"

Lu Man nodded earnestly, "Really, there's nothing else."

Seeing Lu Man so serious, Lu Mom finally relaxed slightly.

She said earnestly, "Nan Nan, you don't know, when you just talked about not going public and not marrying, my first thought was that you and he were having a clandestine affair..."

At this point, Lu Mom cautiously glanced towards the study and whispered, "I've seen those social news articles too."

"I'm really afraid you'll go astray."

Hearing her mother's words, Lu Man felt a bit uneasy.

Luckily, Lu Mom didn't notice her daughter's discomfiture, and she continued, "But, Nan Nan, as someone who's been through it, I still have to say more to you."

"A man as outstanding as Chen Yan is indeed rare."

"If you don't seize the chance now, what if he changes his heart later?"

"You might think that having love is having everything."

"But, Mom has to tell you, love is an impulse. I'm not saying it will necessarily go bad, but isn't it good to add a safeguard?"

"You're young and beautiful now, without a sense of crisis. But you have to realize, you won't always be 20 years old, and yet there will always be twenty-year-old women around Chen Yan."

"If you don't have any assurance, what if..."

Lu Mom sighed without finishing her sentence.

"Oh...what will you do then..."

Seeing her mother worried like this, even the carefree and indifferent Lu Man felt a twinge of sadness for a moment.

She gently hugged her mother, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

After all, only she knew the real situation.

She had indeed done what her mother was most worried about.

She felt she might regret it later, but right now, she genuinely didn't regret it.

Especially seeing Chen Yan having to take care of five girls, she found it both amusing and painful.

And among the few girls, her excuse to hold back was the most convenient, so if she didn't share Chen Yan's worries, who could?

'Mom...sorry. Forgive Nan Nan just this once.'

Thinking this, Lu Man's eyes began to redden as she lay on her mother's shoulder.

...

Meanwhile, in the study, Chen Yan had actually been eavesdropping on the conversation outside between mother and daughter all along.

When entering the study, he had been cautious and quietly left a crack in the door, not shutting it completely.

Thus, their voices could faintly be heard.

Ordinary people might not hear clearly, even some with average hearing might not catch it, but don't forget, his Constitution was +9. Therefore, he could hear the conversation outside clearly.

Hearing Lu Man considering for him so much and listening to Lu Mom's worries, Chen Yan felt that if he continued to wait, he wouldn't be acting like a man.

So he thought for a moment and said to Lu Dad, "Uncle, I'm still a bit uneasy. Let's go out for a bit."

"I think Lu Man might be simplifying some things. I want to explain further."

Hearing Chen Yan say this, Lu Dad couldn't stop him and had to nod.

Leaving the study together, Chen Yan turned his head and then said to Lu Mom, "Auntie, I understand Man Man's thoughts. And I understand your concerns."

"So, what do you think about me offering a solution?"

Hearing Chen Yan's words, mother and daughter both looked up at him, a bit puzzled about what Chen Yan was about to say.

Then Chen Yan sat down, looked at Lu Man first, and then said in a gentle voice, "Man Man wants to focus on her career, I understand that."

"I know her concerns as well."

"So, I'm willing to wait. She's not in a rush to get married, so I can wait."

"It just so happens that I'm also busy with my career and don't have much free time."

"We can both focus on our own things first and continue dating. We can talk about marriage later."

Seeing Lu Mom starting to get anxious, Chen Yan raised his hand slightly, signaling her to be patient, and then continued, "But I also understand your concerns."

"So, I was thinking, since it's too early for marriage, how about we get engaged first?"

Hearing Chen Yan's suggestion, Lu Mom was stunned for a moment, but then her face lit up.

Chen Yan said, "I can invite you to our home or ask my parents to come here and have a good talk with you. We start with the traditional three letters and six betrothal gifts, just getting engaged first."

"Of course, we wouldn't just talk about engagement emptily. To show my sincerity, I can give Man Man a dowry of 100 billion, in addition to my shares in our group's film and artist management companies."

"All these together are worth about two to three hundred billion. Although it might not be much, I think it still expresses my sincerity."

Lu Mom and Lu Dad were shocked by Chen Yan's mention of "billions." They were also afraid Chen Yan might misunderstand that they were after his money, so they quickly waved their hands in refusal, "We don't need a dowry, no need for that."

But Chen Yan insisted, "A dowry should be given. It's my sincerity. It's also to put your mind at ease."

He earnestly said, "To be honest, in my heart, Lu Man is worth far more than these few hundred billion to me. I feel that by giving them out, I'm still making a good deal."

He smiled, "And I have confidence in me and Man Man. I believe we will make it to the end."

"Then what's mine isn't hers, and hers isn't mine?"

For some reason, after hearing Chen Yan's words, Lu Mom, who had previously felt that her daughter and Chen Yan were hiding something from her, now felt his sincerity deeply.

For a moment, she felt a lot more relaxed.

However, if Chen Yan truly considered her daughter more valuable than hundreds of billions, then she really didn't have much to worry about.

Don't you see how many wealthy people sign prenuptial agreements before getting married?

And other wealthy people have even preempted their earnings for the next ten years before the wedding, earning not a single penny a year after marriage, just afraid that their wives would take a share of their money.

Chen Yan being so frank at least showed he was serious about her daughter.

Especially since he was planning to have his parents meet her and arrange an engagement.

This sincerity was actually quite sufficient already.

She didn't really need to ask for more.

As for the two of them not marrying now...

Well, let's leave it to fate.

Even if her daughter doesn't marry, she can't just report her to the police...

Thinking this, Lu Mom adjusted her mindset and said to Chen Yan, "Xiao Chen, Man Man can be quite willful. Please be more tolerant towards her."

"We really don't want the dowry."

"If you give it to us, we will return it."

"Auntie has met you now, and I feel relieved. Man Man being with you is her good fortune."

"I'm not saying this because of your status, but because you can tolerate her temperament, her personality."

"Her..." Lu Mom glanced at her daughter and sighed, "Oh..."

Seeing Lu Mom misunderstand Lu Man, Chen Yan thought for a moment and then added again, "Auntie, I actually like Man Man's personality. If she weren't like this, I might not even like her."

"Also, don't worry too much."

"I know Man Man's concerns. So I was just thinking, is there a way to satisfy both sides?"

"What way?" Hearing Chen Yan's words, Lu Mom looked over.

Chen Yan said, "Man Man's concern is that news of the marriage getting out will definitely be tracked down by her fans in the country."

"So, how about we have a small wedding ceremony abroad?"

"We only invite you and uncle, as well as my parents as witnesses."

"That way, without outsiders, the news can't leak out. Getting married abroad, under the protection of foreign laws, but domestic fans won't find out."

"This way, we handle the matter yet avoid the news spreading."

"What do you think?"

Hearing Chen Yan's words, Lu Man brightened up and looked over at her mother, then said, "Mom. I think this could work!"

Hearing Chen Yan's suggestion, although Lu Mom instinctively felt something was off, on one hand continuously dating without marriage, and on the other, getting married abroad with only both families witnessing...

It seemed there really wasn't much to hesitate about...

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