"Sweetheart..." Old Pan began.

The moment he started talking, Pan Ge immediately knew. Her premonition had come true; nothing good was coming!

How smart was she? She knew this man all too well, the father before her with that ingratiating smile.

"Dad~~~ I'm so tired. Can we talk about it tomorrow? Please~~~"

She immediately began to act coquettishly, her sugary tone 400% higher than usual. That cloyingly sweet voice, her delicate face, and cute smile would dazzle anyone.

Old Pan was a sucker for this act, instantly grinning from ear to ear, completely dazed.

A sly twinkle flashed in Pan Ge's eyes as she thought about making a quick escape, but then her mom suddenly appeared, wrapping her arms around her slim waist from behind.

"Oh my, my baby, what have you been doing at school today? Come talk to Mommy! I've missed you so much this past week... MWAH!"

Pan Ge's face instantly darkened.

Oh boy! Just what magnitude of issue was it? To have both of you gang up on me?!

Pan Ge's mom was named Zhao Anni, a name very characteristic of the era and region. At first glance, it might seem a bit common, but the woman herself was extremely clever.

Or you might say... extremely cunning.

She was the master of the velvet-gloved stab, drawing blood without a trace.

Pan Ge had inherited her temperament and abilities from her mom, but limited by her age and experience, she was no match.

"N-nothing, what would I be doing?"

Pan Ge was firmly guided by Zhao Anni to sit on the sofa, feeling anxious, her spirits completely deflated.

Sigh, there's no escape!

"Then why is our baby so tired? Oh, I know, it must be emotional exhaustion. Come, baby, let Mommy have a good chat with you..."

Zhao Anni's concern was like an airtight, tender trap, ensnaring Pan Ge with no way out.

"Dad! What was it you wanted?!"

Pan Ge decisively surrendered, figuring it was better to get it over with.

"Oh, oh!"

Old Pan finally snapped out of his daze, then caught his wife's subtle, triumphant glance.

Honey, you're truly something else...

"Here's the thing."

Old Pan cleared his throat, ready to perform according to their prearranged plan.

"As you know, Dad has been dabbling in stocks in his free time over these years, and it's been loss after loss!"

Old Pan slapped his thigh, his expression one of utter agony.

Upon hearing the words "trading stocks," the ominous feeling in Pan Ge's heart instantly peaked.

"And your mom hasn't stopped scolding me over it..."

Bullshit! Don't think I don't know there's barely a few cents in your stock account?!

Pan Ge inwardly screamed, just as she was about to retort, she suddenly heard her dear mother's supporting line, "Oh, isn't that the truth!"

She instantly went as quiet as a mouse, obediently shrinking back.

Old Pan continued with a sigh, "Well, Dad has pretty much faced reality now. But with all that money lost, I had to find a way to account for it, so I asked some friends for help..."

CLICK!

A lightning bolt suddenly flashed through Pan Ge's mind, illuminating a figure.

No, no, it can't be?!

It could. Some things, the more you don't want them to happen, the more likely they are to occur.

"And wouldn't you know it? Today, your Uncle Zhang called me, saying there's a young fellow who's extremely skilled in this area, and you know him too...

So Dad thought, could we perhaps invite him over to our house, so I can ask for his guidance?"

Pan Ge's eyes widened, her lips quivering as she slowly uttered the name, "Han Lie?!"

"Yes, yes, yes, little Han!"

Old Pan grinned broadly, baring his teeth—the cat was out of the bag.

Now that Pan Ge understood what Old Pan was up to, she was utterly baffled.

We've only met him once; why do you think so highly of Han Lie? This isn't right!

Pan Ge might be cunning, but she was remarkably innocent in *that* regard.

She saw Xi Luting's persistent attention as nothing more than a playful rivalry between two top-tier beauties, never really considering it in a romantic light.

Moreover, she could tell that Xi Luting's true preference was for men, and most likely jerks at that.

Xi Luting's affectionate gestures towards her were half playful teasing, half genuine appreciation of beauty.

Pan Ge felt the same; she didn't resist or dislike Xi Luting's embraces simply because Xi Luting was just too beautiful.

She found this completely normal and healthy, so she had never read anything more into it.

So she couldn't fathom why her dad admired Han Lie so much.

A brief encounter, and he left such a deep impression? Perhaps... that jerk really does have some huge, shining quality that I failed to notice?!

She began to doubt herself, to doubt her judgment of life itself, and then her mother, Zhao Anni, prodded her further.

"Baby, you have to help Mommy. I really don't want to see your dad messing with that stock account anymore.

The money isn't much, but losing it is just plain frustrating.

Please invite little Han over for a chat, see if there's anything he can do.

If his skills are genuinely good, my idea is to just entrust the stock account to little Han—out of sight, out of mind.

Don't worry, baby, Dad and Mom will make it worth his while~~~"

Pan Ge was stunned by her words.

What do *I* have to not worry about? What you're implying...

She jolted, a sudden realization dawning on her—Good heavens, you don't suspect there's something going on between me and that jerk, do you?!

"Impossible!"

A cry of disbelief escaped her lips.

"Hmm?"

Zhao Anni hummed lightly, staring at her with a smile. "Why?"

One had to admit, that kind of natural dominance was a real thing.

Pan Ge instantly caved, hurriedly changing her tune, "I mean, he probably isn't *that* capable..."

Old Pan said leisurely, "How will we know if we don't chat with him? Dad isn't a complete fool; I still have some discernment, you know!"

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