Chapter 1737: 1737: Truly Unexpected

Chapter 1737: Chapter 1737: Truly Unexpected

(Seventeenth Chapter)

Luo Ziling didn’t expect Ling Mingrui to say such things.

He also believed that this was the gift Ling Mingrui wanted to give him.

He was fully aware that if Ling Mingrui was willing to give him such an opportunity, his future would take a different path.

Perhaps, in a few years, he would start working at some institution, quickly get promoted, and after gaining experience at the grassroots level, he would advance further.

By the age of thirty, he should reach a considerable position, and by forty, he might become a regional leader or even a high-ranking official, like Ling Zhengping now.

And there would be even higher positions waiting for him—if he himself was exceptionally capable, all of this wouldn’t just be a dream.

But Luo Ziling had never thought about being a government official, so Ling Mingrui’s question didn’t stir much emotion in him.

After thinking for a moment, he still shook his head: “Grandpa, I’ve really never thought about entering politics. My personality is not suitable for being an official; I’m hot-tempered and reckless. If I entered politics, I’d surely offend everyone, superiors and subordinates alike.”

Ling Mingrui wasn’t surprised by Luo Ziling’s response. His expression unchanged, he looked at him and asked, “Then what do you want to do?”

“Actually, I don’t have any grand ambitions,” Luo Ziling said with a wry smile. “Since I was young, my wish was to reunite with my parents, for us to live together as a family. I never thought of anything else. Unfortunately, this wish has not yet come true. My desire is really simple, very ordinary—just a peaceful life for my family. In one’s lifetime, the greatest happiness is not endless pursuit but learning to be content. It’s just a pity that life doesn’t always go as one wishes.”

Saying this, he glanced at Ling Ruonan.

Ling Ruonan lowered her head, not daring to look at Luo Ziling. Her inner guilt resurfaced after hearing his words.

Wanting family reunification was Luo Ziling’s wish before he came to Yanjing. Throughout his childhood, teenage, and youth, this was his only wish, but regrettably, she hadn’t helped him achieve it. As a mother, Ling Ruonan felt deeply guilty. Her slight dissatisfaction with Luo Ziling disappeared without a trace.

For the past decade or so, her biggest thoughts revolved around Luo Ziling, hoping the mother and son could reunite, allowing Luo Ziling to live by her side. Now, Luo Ziling lives near her, fulfilling her greatest wish. Next, her thoughts focused on growing and strengthening her career, letting everyone know she created a miracle, that she’s a powerful woman—a presence everyone admires. She also hoped to leave Luo Ziling a legacy that would be the envy of many. She’s someone who never settles; her greatest pursuit is surpassing herself and realizing her life’s value. Standing at the peak of glory, overlooking others, the satisfaction gained from that must be the strongest.

But she didn’t expect that Luo Ziling still needed a simple life, having no pursuit for wealth or career.

He just needed family reunification and a peaceful life.

This made Ling Ruonan feel ashamed.

She felt that in Luo Ziling’s heart, the weight of family bonds was significant, whereas in her heart, career and success weighed more. Thus, after being with Luo Ziling, she always hoped he would excel and succeed in all aspects.

Now, Ling Mingrui has clearly stated that Luo Ziling could make a request, and the Ling Family would support him, nurture him. But Luo Ziling didn’t care about such an opportunity. He still stated that his greatest desire was a simple life and family reunification. She knew that the request Luo Ziling wanted to make was only this. Family ties are far more important to him than status and success—in that moment, Ling Ruonan felt like crying.

Ling Mingrui’s expression still showed no change, quietly observing Luo Ziling: “You only want family reunification, nothing else?”

“Once our family reunites, I think with our efforts and the current foundation, we can undoubtedly create something great,” Luo Ziling smiled. “Actually, life’s greatest success is a simple life and family health. Power, status, and wealth are external, neither brought at birth nor taken at death—not that important. In your heart, what seems significant, such as future prospects and wealth, I don’t take to heart. Grandpa, if you want to reward me, please help our family reunite soon, let my dad come to Yanjing, allowing us to live together, I would be content.”

“Judging by your performance lately, you seem like a person with pursuits, capable of creating achievements,” Ling Mingrui chuckled warmly, “I didn’t expect someone so young, almost disillusioned, having no desire for power and wealth.”

He paused for a moment and continued, “The reason you can act as you please now is because of your mother’s influence and your status as the Ling Family’s grandson. Without these, do you think you could still act as you please? If you were an ordinary person, most in Yanjing could bully you, and you might live worse than death. Others created this for you, and you enjoy it comfortably, but haven’t you considered creating it yourself, for your family, for your future children? I hope you think about it.”

“Since coming to Yanjing, I’ve wanted to live an ordinary life, but because of the identity endowed by you all, my life indeed feels somewhat worse than death, far less leisurely, joyful, and peaceful than it was in the Northwest. I absolutely don’t want a life where I need bodyguards whenever I go out, constantly on guard against assassinations. Not to mention, for over twenty years, because of these special circumstances, I’ve fared worse than most children from ordinary families. Forget it, let’s not talk about the past,” Luo Ziling stopped, feeling a bit depressed, and said, “I truly don’t have grand pursuits. After gaining fame this time, apart from wanting to promote traditional medicine and pass on the skills I know, I haven’t thought of much else. My mom and sister want to use my fame for something, which I’m not entirely willing, but if they want to do something, I will support them. As for other things, I truly haven’t thought about it. Family reunification is my biggest request. Of course, I also hope for a peaceful future without so many troublesome matters, without the need to worry about being chased for my life.”

“Ling’er, listen to Grandpa,” Ling Ruonan wiped her tear-stained eyes and softly instructed Luo Ziling, “Grandpa surely has his ideas; listen carefully, okay?”

“Alright,” Luo Ziling agreed.

Ling Mingrui showed a hint of playful smile on his face, “I remember you once said you wanted to build your own powerful family.”

“Yes, at that time, I indeed thought so. But now I feel, what’s the use of a powerful family? Life isn’t free, requiring bodyguards and vigilance against assassins—such a life isn’t as good as a common person’s. A powerful family without freedom is pointless. I’m sick of the fighting,” Luo Ziling paused and then shifted his tone, “Okay, I admit I haven’t entirely let go of the idea; perhaps I will strive for this.”

“Then what you said just now was all nonsense?” Ling Mingrui still with the playful demeanor asked, looking at Luo Ziling, “You’re quite conflicted within, aren’t you?”

“Yes, indeed,” Luo Ziling didn’t deny, “I genuinely want a calm, simple life, but I also hope to impress you all. Calm life is my true desire, while wanting to build a powerful family is just a response to not being content after being bullied, not really contradictory.”

“For young people, a new idea every day is very normal. It seems you’re also in confusion, unsure of what you want to do in the future,” Ling Mingrui, as if seeing through Luo Ziling, chuckled and said, “Alright then, go back and think it over carefully. Once you’ve figured it out, come tell Grandpa. Grandpa will agree to one request from you, a choice related to your future, as a reward for your excellent performance this time.”

“I want my parents to live together and give them a wedding, is that request okay?”

“That doesn’t require you to request it. As your grandfather, your mother’s father, I will arrange all this for them. She will have a grand marriage, and I’ll give her a perfect wedding. It’s a father’s duty, and when you have a daughter one day, you’ll need to fulfill this duty too. I should have done this twenty years ago, but I missed it; still, I will make amends.”

“Thank you, Grandpa,” Luo Ziling said, standing up and respectfully saluting Ling Mingrui.

Sitting beside them, Ling Ruonan felt a pang in her nose and almost cried.

“No need to thank me, it’s a father’s duty. I missed it before, but I will definitely make amends,” Ling Mingrui shook his head and resumed the earlier topic, “Remember what we said today; you can ask me for a condition, related to your future. It’s a reward for your performance this time. You can propose it now or later; I won’t break my word.”

Ling Mingrui’s words left Luo Ziling and Ling Ruonan quite stunned.

Both instantly understood the meaning behind Ling Mingrui’s words.