These past few days, he had truly experienced what "high society" meant.
At riverside restaurants where one could see the skyline of foreign architecture, he had visited two different ones. One was the famous Jiangge. The last time he accompanied Dongfang Jingjing there, he had seen many familiar faces.
Many influencers filmed videos there.
Admittedly, the scenery was indeed beautiful, especially the night view.
Rather than a place to eat, it was like paying for a ticket.
In establishments where even a simple dim sum cost three to four hundred, and a bottle of cola fifty to sixty, every seat was taken, and people were practically queuing.
At this moment, he deeply understood the vast chasm between the poor and the rich.
The other was a riverside restaurant surrounded by glass on three sides, exuding a cultured ambiance. Directly below the restaurant was an art gallery. He had accompanied Dongfang Jingjing to view an exhibition and then coincidentally dined upstairs.
Undeniably, the prices here were almost identical to Jiangge, and the view was much the same. The people inside…
were also much the same.
A paradise for influencers and the wealthy.
To Dongfang Jingjing, the prices here were as common as eating at a roadside stall, very reasonable.
Wang Qiran finally understood that the money Dongfang Jingjing had given him was merely pocket money…
Just today, Dongfang Jingjing brought him to yet another restaurant. He glanced at the menu; all the signature dishes started at four figures.
"Brother Lan will come," Dongfang Jingjing said, completely unconcerned, sipping her thirty-one-dollar cola with innocent eyes.
"I'm afraid he'll be managed by his family," Wang Qiran recalled Zhuge Lan mentioning that his family was very strict. Half a month ago, Zhuge Lan had said he had become the clan leader and was busy with affairs, so he couldn't come over for the time being.
Clan leader…
For Wang Qiran, a modern person who grew up in an ordinary family, such a title was only seen on television and in novels.
Since he was already the clan leader, he was likely swamped with work now.
It would probably take him a considerable amount of time to come over.
…
Zhuge Lan put down the documents in his hands.
Since he took over the position of clan leader, what troubled him most were not the various clan affairs, but the documents placed on his desk every day.
These documents contained profiles of women in the clan of marriageable age. The elders' intention was simple.
Find a suitable one and arrange the marriage at an opportune time.
He had expressed his disagreement twice, but each time, the elders acted as if they hadn't heard him.
He casually put the documents away, Dongfang Jingjing's image flashing in his mind. He couldn't wait any longer; if something needed to be done, he had to do it.
With that thought, he stood up and walked towards the great elder's room.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Enter,"
the great elder's voice came from inside the room.
Zhuge Lan pushed the door open and entered. He looked at the great elder sitting cross-legged and bowed slightly, "Great Elder."
"Clan Leader, what brings you here today?" The great elder finally lifted his eyelids, fixing his gaze on Zhuge Lan.
As he opened his eyes, the atmosphere in the room shifted slightly.
Zhuge Lan looked at the great elder with some surprise. As the great elder's eyes opened, he realized that the formation he controlled had been disturbed.
"Great Elder, since I am now the clan leader, I believe there are certain matters regarding our Wuhou lineage that need to be slightly altered." Zhuge Lan said politely.
"Is the Clan Leader referring to your marriage?"
The great elder nodded, immediately guessing the reason for Zhuge Lan's visit.
This was precisely the matter that Zhuge Lan had been opposing.
"Yes."
Zhuge Lan nodded and looked at the great elder. "Great Elder, do you know that my mother had someone she loved before marrying my father?"
"I know."
"Then do you know that my father had a confidante before marrying my mother?"
"Naturally."
At this point, Zhuge Lan paused and raised his voice slightly, "Then why must you arrange such unsuitable matches?"
"Clan Leader,"
The great elder did not answer his question but instead retorted, "What do you mean by 'unsuitable matches'?"
"Great Elder, do not answer a question with another question."
Zhuge Lan did not answer the great elder's question. His attitude began to toughen with his tone.
"Alright, if that's the case, Clan Leader, I will tell you." The great elder took a deep breath, as if preparing his words. "This is to ensure the bloodline of our Wuhou lineage remains pure."
"Only those with a pure Wuhou bloodline can inherit Master Zhuge's legacy and allow Master Zhuge to forever endure within our Wuhou lineage."
"And you, as the clan leader, must have the purest bloodline, as the position is inherited. Only then can Master Zhuge be continuously passed down."
Zhuge Lan had already guessed this answer. He frowned, "There are many pure bloodlines. In this era, why do I, as the head of the clan, have no right to change this?"
"Because it is your duty as the clan leader."
The great elder reasoned patiently, as if he had anticipated Zhuge Lan's return to discuss these matters. "The Wuhou lineage has been able to pass down to this day entirely thanks to Master Zhuge."
"Now that you are the clan leader, you have the obligation to ensure Master Zhuge continues to be passed down, rather than ending here for your personal affections or selfish desires."
This statement was spoken from the highest moral ground of the family to educate Zhuge Lan.
This left Zhuge Lan in a difficult position.
He could not be the reason for the Wuhou lineage to cease its inheritance.
Only with the appearance of Master Zhuge could everything accumulated by the Wuhou lineage over the river of time be passed down to the entire family.
"Alright, Clan Leader, if this is all you have to discuss, I believe this matter can end here." The great elder said, waving his sleeve to signal Zhuge Lan to leave. "Tomorrow, I expect the Clan Leader to have chosen a suitable partner."
Zhuge Lan clenched his fists. He desperately wanted to argue, but he was the clan leader now…
As the clan leader, he had this obligation.
Just as he turned to leave, he suddenly thought of something and stopped.
The great elder also lifted his eyelids again, looking at Zhuge Lan.
"Great Elder, since as the clan leader I must bear such an obligation, then… Great Elder, starting today, I, Zhuge Lan, shall abdicate my position as clan leader and pass it to whoever desires it." Zhuge Lan stared at the great elder. He could not be the reason for the Wuhou lineage's inheritance to end; therefore, he would not be the clan leader.
This time, the great elder was no longer listless. He stared at Zhuge Lan. "Nonsense!"