Reborn with Consumption System-Chapter 515 - 237: Effortless and Formidable Youth

Chapter 515: Chapter 237: Effortless and Formidable Youth

Puppy Lie quickly changed into pajamas and went out again.

When he came out, his sister was heating milk.

"Going for such a healthy drink?" Han Lie’s eyes widened.

Guo Qingting smiled gently. "Drinking some warm milk before bed is rather good for your health."

That sounded pretty good...

Han Lie sat on the couch in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, silently admiring the view of the Huangpu River and the Bund outside. A quiet, mysterious aura seemed to emanate from his profile.

"What are you thinking about?"

Before long, Guo Qingting strolled over with two cups of hot milk and stood beside Han Lie, joining him in looking out the window.

"I’m wondering, does everyone who strives to climb to the peak end up without true friends?"

Han Lie’s voice carried a strong sense of uncertainty. His expression was lost, and his desolate eyes gazed at the glittering Bund without focus. The neon lights from outside crisscrossed on his face, forming cracks and shadows that resembled fractured porcelain.

That feeling was fragility.

Guo Qingting’s heart tightened, and a wave of maternal feeling washed over her.

The young man before her was just a nineteen-year-old boy...

"Why do you have to push yourself so hard?"

She didn’t understand. "You’re already so accomplished; no one your age is more capable than you. Why not stop and enjoy life?"

Han Lie could have explained in many ways, but he chose not to. Instead, he countered, "When you’re already in this position, isn’t there always someone pushing you to climb higher?"

Guo Qingting was left speechless.

Second Sister Jin was already quite eager for quick success, and her agency in Taiwan treated her as less than human, wanting to schedule her work solid for the next two years.

Han Lie gazed at the lights outside and murmured to himself.

"When you’re a nobody, a pile of mud, no one pays you any mind.

"When you demonstrate some competence, your superiors will dangle carrots in front of you, piling more responsibilities on your shoulders, hoping you’ll generate more value for them.

"When you show significant potential, your parents, family, and friends all develop higher expectations for you.

"Once you start succeeding, everyone connected to you will push you to keep charging forward.

"Can you really stop?"

Guo Qingting knew this was true, but she still believed she had a choice. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"I’m very selective about the jobs I take, and I always make sure to leave myself enough time to rest. I’ve never had a burning desire to be an A-lister or a superstar. As for money, enough to live on is fine.

"You don’t have to push yourself so hard and wear yourself out like that!"

Han Lie didn’t turn his head, but a hint of amusement suddenly laced his voice.

"Imagine you have two children, and your husband earns only ten thousand Taiwan Dollars a month. The kids need to attend school, they need proper nutrition, they need tutoring, they need to go to the summer camps all the other children attend...

"You want to give them the best possible life, but you can’t, because you’re past your prime.

"At that point, wouldn’t you regret not having strived harder when you had the power to control your own life?

"Or perhaps, regret not marrying a husband who could offer a secure future?"

Guo Qingting was stunned speechless.

Damn kid, why is he so sharp?

All she could do was stubbornly retort, "As long as they are choices I’ve made after careful consideration, I won’t regret them, regardless of the outcome."

"Sister, you’re an internally strong woman."

Han Lie sighed, looking up at the night sky.

"I can’t be like that. I have an extreme lack of security about the future. I don’t know who will abandon me, but I know someone inevitably will. So, all I can do is give my absolute all in every present moment I can control."

Well, damn!

If Xi Luting and Pan Ge heard this, they would probably roll their eyes hard at this shameless bastard and want to spray his face with menstrual blood.

Shameless scoundrel! Like hell I’d believe you!

But Guo Qingting believed him.

She couldn’t see Han Lie’s intense, almost absolute self-confidence; she only saw a little boy on the verge of being overwhelmed by anxiety. The more dazzling his outward appearance, the more fear accumulated within him.

Yes, after working so hard to obtain everything he now possessed, who wouldn’t be terrified of losing it?

She sighed softly, sat down beside Han Lie, and put her arm around the boy’s shoulders.

"Your current way of thinking isn’t quite right."

Believing herself to be an older sister figure who had experienced all facets of life, she summoned all her gentleness to try and comfort Han Lie.

"Your rise has been too rapid; it’s perfectly normal to feel this fear now.

"When I became famous overnight, I was in the exact same state you are now.

"I was also incredibly confused and anxious, constantly worrying, ’What if things don’t go well later? What if I can’t earn as much money?’

"So, I desperately tried to seize every seemingly wonderful opportunity.

"But our industry... you know how it is. There are always some unsavory exchanges involved. I struggled with it, even became reclusive for a time. Eventually, I figured it out—

"Opportunities lost can be found again; money spent can be re-earned. But if you lose yourself, no amount of money will bring you happiness.

"So, I started only accepting jobs that didn’t come with ’extra’ conditions. If I could earn money cleanly, I did. If not, I spent time with my family, raised pets, traveled, and filled my heart with beautiful scenery, delicious food, and the love of family and friends.

"Most human suffering stems from insatiable greed. Although I still feel a little greedy at times, I no longer fantasize about things destined not to be mine. Keeping things simple, like this, is best..."

Han Lie remained motionless, letting her keep her arm around him.

Only then did he suddenly turn his head.

"Sister, your way of thinking seems very reasonable. But the question is, if you don’t even try, how can you know for sure that what you desire is truly not meant for you?"