However, to the astonishment of Liu Yanran and Liu Yang, Liu Jingxian asked a seemingly unrelated question.

"Have you ever carefully reflected on why you, with all these inherent advantages, always end up getting the short end of the stick in front of Wang Qian?"

Liu Yanran and Liu Yang exchanged a glance. Although they were both indignant, they shook their heads simultaneously for fear of saying the wrong thing.

Because of perspective!

Liu Jingxian patiently explained, "If a person has a far-reaching vision, they will be more confident and appear more unfathomable in the eyes of others."

"Dad, do you mean Wang Qian has very high standards?"

Liu Yang was clearly disdainful. "I admit he does have some skills, but he's just a young man the same age as my sister. No matter how sophisticated he tries to appear, he can't change the fact that he's a country bumpkin."

Liu Jingxian ignored Liu Yang's words and stared intently at Liu Yanran. "Yanran, tell me honestly, every time you've been in contact with Wang Qian lately, do you feel that he's hard to see through and that you always feel inexplicably guilty and afraid?"

Liu Yanran's delicate body trembled slightly. "Dad, how...how did you know?"

"You just need to answer me, whether it exists or not!" Liu Jingxian pressed.

"Yes...there is!"

Although she was unwilling to admit that Wang Qian was capable, her father's words just now were almost spot on, hitting her soft spot that she usually dared not show to others.

She wanted to hear what her father's different perspective would be.

There's a saying that goes, "Confidence stems from ability!"

Liu Jingxian smiled and said, "The reason you feel this way is because Wang Qian does indeed have the ability to look down on you."

"impossible!"

A hint of resentment flashed in Liu Yanran's eyes. "Wang Qian is just bluffing. I know his abilities better than anyone. What right does he have to look down on me?"

Although she denied it verbally, her tone sounded weak and lacking in conviction.

"Yanran, I know you've always been very competitive, never willing to admit defeat, but..."

Liu Jingxian changed the subject and said, "If someone makes you feel fear and dread that comes from the depths of your soul, then that person is indeed stronger than you!"

He paused, then added, "This isn't superstition, but a conclusion I've drawn from observing countless people over the years."

"But……"

Liu Yanran wanted to retort, but Liu Jingxian suddenly roared, "Enough!"

Liu Yanran's delicate body trembled.

Liu Jingxian added, "The most valuable thing about a person is self-awareness. If you can't even face yourself and keep deceiving yourself, the end result will only be that you fall into a biased and extreme state."

Liu Yanran's expression changed drastically again.

After a moment, she said in a deep voice, "Dad, I know what to do from now on!"

"Okay, I understand!"

Liu Jingxian nodded in satisfaction. "Speaking of which, do you know why Wang Qian refused my invitation?"

"I...don't know!" Liu Yanran shook her head.

"If I'm not mistaken, he should have already seen the flaws in my project, and then used a strategy of retreat to force me to lower my stance and invite him to join the project."

"Dad, are you really going to go find him yourself?" Liu Yanran asked.

"Of course I'll go!"

Liu Jingxian sighed, "As I just said, it's important for people to know their own limitations. Since he has already figured it out, there's no need to test him anymore. I might as well go and see him myself."

"But his attitude is so arrogant, aren't you lowering yourself too much by acting like this?" Liu Yanran was still somewhat indignant.

"That's where Wang Qian's cleverness lies!"

A hint of admiration appeared on Liu Jingxian's face. "Do you think that his arrogant attitude this time was just him arguing with you, or that he was blindly arrogant?"

"Is there some deeper purpose behind this?" Liu Yanran asked thoughtfully.

"He's making a declaration to me!"

Liu Jingxian said, "Since he has already seen the drawbacks of my project, he naturally guessed that even if he didn't come, I would still go to him. So, he wants to use this strong stance to show me that I can cooperate with him, but I have to respect him enough."

"But what real benefit would he gain from doing this?"

Liu Yanran still couldn't quite understand.

Showing a tough attitude might earn her father's respect, but it would also offend him.

This will only bring more hidden dangers to Wang Qian in future cooperation.

If Wang Qian were smart enough, he probably wouldn't have done that.

But the truth is quite the opposite.

"Yanran, you still can't see the most essential thing!"

A hint of disappointment flashed in Liu Jingxian's eyes.

But then he patiently explained, "If I don't take him seriously, and he comes begging to me, even if I eventually agree to let him join, how much weight do you think he will have in future collaborations? How much say will he have?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yanran finally understood.

"Dad, I think I understand what you mean..."

She said excitedly, "The reason Wang Qian is being so tough is to make you take it seriously enough, so that you will have more initiative and say in future cooperation, right?"

"Not bad, not bad, a promising young man!"

A knowing smile finally appeared on Liu Jingxian's face. "Although it's a bit late to the party, the fact that you can see this aspect shows that the future is still promising."

These words were indeed a compliment, but they sounded rather harsh to Liu Yanran.

If it were any other senior expert, she would probably be smug, thinking she had solved some incredible mystery.

but,

The object of his affections was Wang Qian.

That's a different story.

Before this, in her eyes, Wang Qian was just a country bumpkin who had gotten rich overnight by sheer luck.

Even though she had been feeling overwhelmed and unable to lift her head for a while, in her subconscious, she was still someone Wang Qian needed to look up to.

Now, it turns out that Wang Qian's action actually concealed such a profound meaning.

Moreover, it was only after her father kept reminding her that she finally figured it out.

What does this tell us?

This only shows that Wang Qian's depth has far exceeded what she thought it was; he is someone she can only look up to even if she tries her best.

How can she find peace of mind about this?

Therefore, the more her father praised her, the more grating it felt to her.

"Alright, I know you're upset, but that's an undeniable fact."

Seeing what Liu Yanran was thinking, Liu Jingxian snorted coldly: "Although Wang Qian is a young man in the same year as you, his skills are far superior to yours. If you want to continue to improve, there is still a lot you need to learn humbly."

He then stood up from the nanmu chair. "Make the arrangements for tomorrow, and I'll take you to meet him!"

"Okay, I'll make the arrangements tomorrow!" Liu Yanran nodded.

"I underestimated this kid before!"

A hint of anticipation flickered in Liu Jingxian's eyes. "I want to see how he'll escape from this trap I've set up."