After Lang Zhe finished speaking, he gazed at Sun Man with a deep, affectionate look.

He believed he understood what Sun Man wanted most.

Sun Man had lost her father at a young age and lived with her mother in her maternal grandfather’s house, where males were favored over females. Her mother was someone who enabled her brother, which paints a picture of a love-deprived environment. Growing up constrained by her family, she yearned to break free but felt morally bound, often feeling powerless.

When she dated Lang Zhe, she had expressed that she didn’t need to marry a wealthy man; she simply wanted a warm home and someone who truly loved and respected her to stand by her side. She also wanted children and dreamed of nurturing them in a home filled with laughter.

In saying this, Sun Man had gathered a lot of courage to hint to Lang Zhe that she was different from other actresses. She was willing to marry early because she wanted to be an actress, not a celebrity, and her goal in acting wasn’t merely to make money.

However, Lang Zhe had dodged this topic entirely. He was drawn to Sun Man because she was utterly naive in matters of the heart. Even if she discovered his secrets, she wouldn’t expose him, which made her a safer bet. Plus, she was willing to spend money on him. While he liked Sun Man, he didn’t want to settle down so soon.

He hadn’t anticipated that the moment Sun Man discovered his gambling, she would end the relationship.

Initially, Lang Zhe was dismissive, thinking that Sun Man was only after his money and that her claims of wanting a loving home were mere words.

But when he found himself in a tight spot, he realized that only Sun Man would soften and help him.

So, he decided to offer her something she couldn’t refuse, believing that this foolish girl would surely return to him.

Moreover, Sun Man held strong family values; as long as they were married, even if she discovered the truth, she would dutifully help him pay off his debts. To put it bluntly, she was the type to work tirelessly.

Confidently, Lang Zhe moved to take Sun Man’s hand to put on the ring.

But in the next moment, Sun Man abruptly pulled her hand back.

Lang Zhe nearly stumbled in surprise and looked up to see Sun Man frowning at him. The sweetness of her face was now slowly replaced by anger.

The people around them fell into an awkward silence.

Ji Fei had to dig her nails into her thigh to suppress her laughter in the quiet hall.

When she turned her head, she found Qin Zhao and Qin Rong doing the same, but Pei Mingxuan raised an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued.

The chat on the live broadcast went wild for a moment.

“What’s going on?”

“Did Lang Zhe get rejected?”

“Based on the atmosphere the host created earlier, I thought everything was going smoothly.”

“Could it be that he got shy? Or did he want to say something more?”

Viewers were thoroughly confused.

Then they heard Sun Man clearly say, “What are you doing? I thought we made ourselves very clear. We broke up.”

Lang Zhe’s expression changed, and his smile turned stiff and forced. “Man Man, are you still angry with me? Didn’t you understand what I just said?”

“I understood, but it has nothing to do with me. We’ve broken up,” Sun Man declared firmly.

Lang Zhe stared at her in disbelief. He thought he understood girls well, but Sun Man’s reaction was completely beyond his expectations.

“...Didn’t you say you wanted a family? I’m willing to give you one...”

“You’re willing, but I don’t want one,” Sun Man replied coolly.

*Pfft, she wants a family, and you’re offering her a dangerous place. How does that work?*

Qin Zhao and Qin Rong continued to stifle their laughter.

*Lang Zhe thinks he knows how to manipulate young girls, but what he doesn’t realize is that a girl who has suffered from a lack of love, if she’s smart, will build the strongest defense mechanism once she wakes up. She’ll firmly distance herself from anything harmful. Otherwise, how could she resist her uncle and mother?*

Qin Zhao and Qin Rong seemed to understand, and they sighed in relief. Thankfully, Sun Man was resolute and not deceived by a man’s hollow promises.

Lang Zhe was momentarily stunned by Sun Man’s repeated rejections and found himself at a loss for words.

After all, when they broke up, he had begged her not to expose his gambling, and she had agreed, even when rumors spread that she broke up with him due to cheating with a male co-star. She never revealed his secret to defend herself.

Such a foolish woman should be easy to manipulate!

Why was it not working?

Just then, two figures stepped in front of Sun Man.

Her mother, with sharp, triangular eyes, looked quite harsh. “Sun Man, you argued with us to date him, and now that he’s proposing, you’re still being stubborn? Such a good partner—if you lose him over your temper, you’ll regret it.”

Lang Zhe’s plump uncle also chimed in, “Sun Man, it’s fine to argue with your man occasionally, but don’t embarrass him in front of so many people. Little Lang is sincere; if you act out now, it’s too unreasonable.”

Sun Man seemed to finally realize something, looking at them in disbelief. “You want me to marry him? Why?”

Previously, they had often told her to snag a wealthy husband and to marry into a rich family, and Lang Zhe definitely didn’t qualify as such.

The two exchanged awkward glances, and her mother said, “We just want you to be happy. You’re already so grown up; as elders, we only hope to see you happy. Everything else is secondary.”

Her uncle put on a kind smile and added, “Little Lang truly cares for you. We trust him to take care of you.”

Sun Man’s eyes widened in shock as if she didn’t recognize them anymore. After days of cold war due to her defiance, this sudden outpouring of concern caught her off guard.

Having rarely received such treatment from her family, Sun Man’s eyes softened slightly, but she wouldn’t waver in her decision. “I... I don’t think we’re suited for each other.”

With that, she attempted to leave, but her mother and uncle each grabbed an arm.

“Daughter, please reconsider.”

“We all think Little Lang is great; we support you two being together.”

Ji Fei and her friends watched this spectacle, utterly dumbfounded.

Pei Mingxuan remarked, “If they knew their cash cow was duped out of ten million, would they still be so supportive? It feels like they don’t genuinely wish for Sun Man’s happiness.”

“Their words are really unpleasant,” Qin Rong added.

Qin Zhao sneered, “Their concern is false; it’s really about looking down on Sun Man.”

Ji Fei scoffed inwardly.

*Those who are only driven by profit clearly prioritize their interests. It’s simply because their money-making tool has started to resist, and they want to regain financial control. They feel they can’t contain Sun Man anymore. Just when Lang Zhe comes to guarantee that if they marry, he won’t ask for a dowry, and he’ll pay them a lot, he’ll surely persuade Sun Man to reconcile with them, reverting her to the obedient, filial daughter she once was.*