Jian Zhou fell silent.
He knew, of course, that the hardest hurdle would be his mother.
The Jian family didn't need outside help to strengthen their lineage, but as the saying goes, a tree needs its roots, and a person needs face. Reputation was important.
His elder brother and sister-in-law had gotten married without parental consent back then, which had infuriated their mother.
Especially during gatherings with other socialites, where ladies would boast about their daughters-in-law's good upbringing, noble status, and generous dowries. This always left his mother feeling utterly dejected.
Although years of adjustment had led his mother to accept his sister-in-law, she held onto a desire to compensate through her younger son's choice of partner.
His father added, "Your mother isn't snobbish or disdainful of the poor. It's just that different circles have different rules. While marrying someone from a similar background is traditional and perhaps even feudal, it's been tested over a long time. When the families of the bride and groom are on equal footing, it prevents imbalance. This is how relationships are most stable."
He sighed, "As parents, what we want most is to see our children happily married, with stable and fulfilling families. If there's too much of a disparity between the couple, and they constantly bicker over trivial matters, leading to divorces and remarriages, it's the most frustrating thing!"
Jian Zhou pondered for a long time before saying, "Dad, I understand what you mean. I also want to find a spiritual partner with whom I can connect deeply for the rest of my life. To be honest, the girl I like, although she comes from an ordinary family and her parents are no longer around, is ambitious and driven. While she can't compare to our family's immense wealth, she's in a high-paying profession earning hundreds of millions annually."
"Oh?" Jian's father exclaimed, a mixture of surprise and curiosity in his voice. "A girl from an ordinary family earning hundreds of millions is quite remarkable. Tell me, what's her name and where is she from?"
Jian Zhou scratched his head. "I haven't confessed my feelings to her yet. I'll tell you once we've officially started dating!"
"Hmph, you rascal, trying to pull the wool over my eyes again!"
His father shot him an exasperated glare. "No matter how much you try to hide it, you can't hide an ugly wife from her in-laws forever. You'd best figure out how to win over your mother."
"I'll think about it. There's always a way!"
As the father and son chatted, they failed to notice Jian's mother eavesdropping by the door, her ears pricked.
A girl from an ordinary family?
Earning hundreds of millions?
Who exactly had their youngest son fallen for?
She walked to the balcony, pulled out her phone, and called her private secretary. "Find out which girl Jian Zhou has been frequently interacting with recently. Make it quick!"
Being abroad on vacation, Jian's parents rarely paid attention to domestic affairs. They were unaware that Jian Zhou had been acting as Jiang Ling's assistant for a period, under a hidden identity.
Now, hearing that their younger son had someone he liked, they naturally wanted to investigate the other party's background.
...
The sustained popularity of "Prince Turns into Frog" had reignited the audience's passion for idol dramas.
Waves of viewers who hadn't watched idol dramas for years were now joining the binge-watching trend.
The reason for their long hiatus was twofold: they had aged, and the idol dramas being produced at the time were frankly terrible.
The emergence of "Prince Turns into Frog" brought back a familiar feeling.
The idol dramas they watched in their youth had this very essence.
"My youth is back, my youth is back!"
As they watched, they reminisced about their lost youth.
Just as Jiang Ling had predicted, the popularity of "Prince Turns into Frog" continued to skyrocket.