"Little Han, you don't usually drink tea, do you?"

Old Pan's first attempt at small talk didn't sound like a casual question.

Han Lie sensed it, but he didn't overthink it and answered honestly.

"Indeed, I don't."

Old Pan immediately began to 'educate' him, "Drinking tea is good! It cultivates the body and mind, hones patience, and can make a man more composed. It's much better than drinking sodas! Boys who drink soda are just immature kids. What kind of image is that! You should learn..."

What did that mean? It didn't sound like mere criticism, did it?

While Han Lie was pondering this, another conversation was unfolding in the living room's sofa area.

Zhao Anni asked, "Pan Pan, all the dishes today are your favorites. What would you and Ting Ting like to drink later? Will you have some red wine with Mom?"

Pan Ge replied indifferently with three words, "Drink cola!"

"Oh? That's odd..."

Zhao Anni was even more composed, merely nodding with a smile.

"Sure, you're second in charge today; you can drink whatever you like. But we don't have that stuff at home. Do you need to go buy it, or what?"

Xi Luting naively interjected, "Pan Pan, I'll go with you!"

Pan Ge tugged at her, took out her phone, and lowered her head.

"I'll call the supermarket. They should deliver if I buy a whole case."

Zhao Anni didn't stop her, just smiled meaningfully and glanced sideways at Han Lie.

Han Lie didn't see that look, but he overheard their conversation. Suddenly, a lightbulb went off, and he finally understood.

Well then! So, his potential father-in-law and mother-in-law were giving him hints, weren't they? Wow, that was quite subtle...

Both of Pan Ge's parents were talking about the same thing—Pan Ge didn't like to drink cola and didn't fancy boys who drank cola like it was water. Pan Ge likely appreciated a composed and patient man.

Of course, her parents were no longer so certain about that. Pan Ge had even brought Xi Luting home with her; who knew if she (Pan Ge) even still liked men?

That's why they had only hinted subtly.

If you could understand it, that was your skill. If you couldn't, then a simple fellow like you probably stood no chance against Pan Ge.

Thinking about it more deeply, it was clear: her parents hadn't fully committed to him yet. Tests and observations were still ever-present. If he had what it took to win over Pan Ge, they'd be delighted. If he didn't, they couldn't be too biased in his favor. After all, she was their daughter; they had to dote on her.

After understanding all this, Han Lie held this family in high esteem.

They were all masters of subtlety... Daily conversations felt like solving riddles! Xi Luting called Pan Ge a Black-hearted White Lotus. Honestly, growing up in such a family, how could she not be cunning? No wonder she wasn't interested in boys her age... Conservatively speaking, out of ten thousand peers, it was doubtful even one could keep up with her train of thought.

After Han Lie had figured things out, Old Pan started talking about tea again.

"This tea of mine, I got it cheap at the Duyun Maojian new tea auction two years ago. That time, the Duyun company from Qiannan released three cans of 'Duyun Maojian Special Treasure Tea King,' 150g a can, one lot per can. I went with Old Guo from Fuxing, and we agreed: I'd let him have the first lot, we'd compete fairly for the second, and he'd let me have the third.

"The bidding for the first lot reached 70,500, won by Old Lin from Yuezhou. The contest for the second lot was even more heated, and together we pushed the price up to 100,000 exactly! By the third lot, those determined to win had already gotten theirs. Old Guo couldn't bid, so he could only watch as I secured it for 50,000. No one else dared to compete with me... The same can of tea, and his was twice as expensive as mine, which pissed Old Guo off so much he slapped the table on the spot... HAHAHA!"

Han Lie listened attentively, then was hugely shocked.

Damn! Old Guo from Fuxing! Good heavens, Old Pan, what exactly do you do for a living? To have such a good relationship with a major figure, he must be a major figure himself, right?

While he was still dumbfounded, Old Pan suddenly expressed a deeply meaningful lament.

"So, you see, it's never easy to get your hands on something precious that many people are vying for. You need strategy, and you need patience. First, you must neutralize the key obstacles. Then, plan meticulously before acting. You can't rush success; you must strike decisively at the critical moment, giving others no chance to react... Ah, this pot of tea of mine... it just tastes so much better than Old Guo's!"

Lesson learned, thoroughly learned! Your determination to be my father-in-law, sir... your 'son-in-law' has certainly perceived it!

Though he might be cheeky internally, on the surface, it was the complete opposite. Han Lie's composure was so profound, he seemed slower than an ancient turtle.

"I will savor it attentively."

Exactly seven words, not one more.

You couldn't accuse him of being disrespectful. He sat there, perfectly upright, showing the utmost deference.

This left Old Pan both anxious and frustrated.

Did he even understand a word I said? And does he even like our Pan Pan? Ultimately, we're on the same side! Can't he confide in his 'dad' a little?!

Sorry, I cannot. My visit today has three objectives: first, to observe the situation; second, to make a comprehensive assessment; and third, to present myself.

In other words, until the results of his comprehensive assessment were out, Han Lie only planned to offer a preliminary glimpse of himself. He wouldn't commit to a stance yet, content to merely observe the 'show' at most.

As for what he was assessing... Simply put: the pros and cons of getting deeply entangled with Pan Ge. Any affair without sufficient benefits? Whoever wanted to get involved could. He, for one, wouldn't.

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