If given to them, An Feng would rather dissolve this vast underground kingdom.

An Mingji remained silent.

An Feng sighed softly, "Mingji, you like that girl Gu Jin, but don’t you understand from this incident?

Only in the face of absolute power do you have the right to protect the one you love. Only before absolute strength can you provide your beloved with a space for indulgence without restraint. To truly love someone, you must become stronger for her, possessing an absolute voice among many.

The Darwin Family’s influence holds absolute sway in various nations, controlling the lifelines of many countries with their vast underground arms empire, which you should be aware of. I also believe that, with your intelligence and talent, you will successfully take over the Darwin Family."

"Aunt, let me think about it some more." An Mingji still did not agree.

Before this, An Feng had asked him several times, but he was still hesitating.

An Feng knew his hesitation stemmed from his reluctance to leave Gu Jin.

"Take your time thinking, child. If you truly don’t want to, I won’t force you."

"Thank you—"

After hanging up the phone, An Mingji stared at the phone screen in a daze.

It would be impossible for him not to have thoughts about the Darwin Family.

This family symbolizes power and glory, along with countless wealth. It could also let him bypass many shortcuts, reaching the highest peak.

Possessing absolute power and influence allows him to protect his A Jin.

But he doesn’t want to leave A Jin.

To successfully take over the Darwin Family, he has to undergo various assessments, and thereafter take control of all publicly and privately-held family businesses, as well as understand collaborative partners across the country, dealing with them for years.

These collaborators could be politicians, people from gray areas, fugitives, or even the heads of a nation.

These matters cannot be mastered quickly within a day or a month.

He asked Aunt how much time it would take, and she told him at least a year.

Over the past few years, he and A Jin have been inseparable, with the longest separation being less than half a month. A year is too long.

And that’s still the fastest timeframe.

So he hesitated.

The phone screen gradually darkened, An Mingji’s dark eyes flickered slightly. He removed the glasses from his nose and gently pressed his forehead.

After a while, he put his glasses back on, his sparkling peach blossom eyes brimming with radiant light.

He wants A Jin, and he also aims to claim the Darwin Family! 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

An Mingji got up and left the study.

...

Night Paradise.

On the sixteenth floor, there are several rooms that are not open to the public.

In one of the suites, Qiu Qianghai had just showered. He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window in a robe, emanating a faint scent of bath lotion, and swayed a wine glass in his hand while surveying the vast Beijing.

He reminisced about the scene a few hours ago when he encountered Gu Minmin downstairs.

The other party treated him indifferently, even having a cold and unfamiliar attitude.

He knew why.

Before the girl came to Beijing, she had called him from Wanhai City, hoping to meet him.

He promised Gu Jin he wouldn’t target Gu Minmin, so he naturally refused the meeting.

Since then, the girl never contacted him again.

Tonight was their first meeting after being apart for several months.

Unsure if it’s a misjudgment, he constantly felt that Gu Minmin had changed somewhat, her aura transformed, seemingly prickly, making it painful to touch.

He liked this change quite a bit, no longer worries about her being bullied.

Unfortunately, during this meeting, he didn’t see her sweet smile.