"Jingmin, your grandfather is only thinking of your best interests,"

Grandpa Jin's voice changed, as if he were offering a loving word of advice.

"If you give yourself up for a woman whose heart is not with you, you are destroying yourself."

Jing Min's eyes were as deep as the night, as if a whole storm was hidden in the darkness of his eyes.

His tone remained calm.

"No need for you to worry."

"It doesn't matter where her heart is; what matters is that I want her."

Grandpa Jin paused for a moment, this time truly speechless at Jing Min's words.

He'd lived most of his life; he'd seen all sorts of ruthless people.

I've never seen anyone so stubborn and completely insane, knowing full well that they might betray you.

His voice turned cold.

"Forcing her like this will only make her dislike you more."

“Jingmin, she’s different from you. Her world is full of people, and she’s willing to give you up for any one of them.”

At this point, it seemed as if Mr. Jin was finally playing his last card.

"Oh, by the way, you probably don't know, but Miss Chu personally promised this time that she would break up with you...tsk tsk,"

"Just for Jin Xian."

"He's supposed to be her cousin, but they've only known each other for a few days. How could he abandon you for someone like that?"

"Jingmin, to be honest, your grandfather really feels sorry for you."

There was a moment of silence in the carriage.

Jingmin's knuckles tightened slightly, and the phone in his palm was almost deformed from his grip.

His eyes were already red, but his voice remained cold and sharp.

Whether it's worth it or not is not for outsiders to judge.

"I think she deserves it, and that's why she does."

He paused, then continued, his tone eerily calm.

"Furthermore, whether I want her or not has no direct relation to whether her heart is with me or not."

"It would be best if she was willing, but if she wasn't... that's fine too. In short, I want her, and she can only be mine."

There was a sudden silence on the other end of the phone; it seemed as if Grandpa Jin was completely choked by those words.

He had never heard of such an almost pathological obsession.

That attitude of not wanting a response, not wanting understanding, but only wanting to possess, is unlike Jingmin's usual restraint and self-control.

More like... an incurable obsession.

After a few seconds, Old Master Jin shook his head with a wry smile.

A sense of powerlessness flashed through my mind.

Having lived most of his life, what kind of tough challenges hasn't he tackled?

I've seen far too many people who are genuine and deceitful.

In his eyes, feelings were nothing more than bargaining chips in a transaction.

Men, in the end, live for interests and power;

Women, at most, add the finishing touch.

He himself married several wives, and had countless mistresses.

Which man in the Kim family isn't like this?

He never regarded Jingmin as a "romantic type".

Unless—he suddenly thought of a possibility—unless he inherited it from his deceased wife,

However, since it is an illness, it is a temporary loss of direction.

Every illness will eventually be cured.

With that thought, he regained his composure, his voice calm.

"You make it sound so easy, but when you actually see it with your own eyes, you might not be able to remain so calm."

Grandpa Jin's tone sounded like he was earnestly advising him.

"But have you ever considered that your insistence might be a burden for her?"

“She has been suppressed by your power from the beginning, but now it’s different. You will soon fall from power, and she will finally be free from having to be subservient to you.”

"Do you think she might turn around and run into someone else's arms?"

“Jingmin, your grandfather has really opened his heart to you. If I say more, you’ll accuse me of stirring up trouble and creating discord between us.”

The call was immediately disconnected as soon as he finished speaking.

Immediately afterwards, a text message popped up from Mr. Jin's number, sending a hotel address.

Only one sentence was attached at the end:

Go and see for yourself; seeing is believing.

Jingmin, your maternal grandfather is waiting at the Jin family home to welcome you back.

Jing Min stared at the address on the screen, his gaze darkening inch by inch.

He pushed open the car door, got out, leaned against the car body, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.

The smoke dispersed in the night breeze.

Like the emotions surging in his chest but being forcefully suppressed.

His Adam's apple bobbed, his throat felt like it was on fire, and he remained silent.