Reborn with Consumption System-Chapter 552 - 249: Little Rascal, Can’t I Deal with You Yet?_2

Facing her mother's meaningful reminder, Pan Ge felt completely numb.

I'm so tired. Let it all just end!

"Mom, what are you talking about?" she asked wearily, a hint of shyness, irritation, and apprehension in her voice.

Zhao Anni walked over to her daughter, sat down on the edge of the bed, and gently stroked her long, soft hair.

"I'm your mother; I've seen it all," she said. After a pause, she continued, "You're in college now. It's time to get acquainted with the adult world. As long as it's consensual, not only will I not blame you, but I'll also bless you. My little girl has finally grown up!"

Zhao Anni had always been a very open-minded woman. She had witnessed many facets of human desire and knew well that some things were simply beyond control. While some parents might choose to intervene forcefully, she wouldn't. She preferred to influence her daughter subtly, like a gentle rain nourishing plants unnoticed.

Pan Ge, however, was somewhat uneasy.

"Han Lie and I... Ugh, let's not talk about it. Some things are just so annoying to even think about!"

What annoyed her wasn't Han Lie, nor losing her virginity. It was being claimed by that scoundrel too soon, causing her to lose the upper hand in their dynamic and be constantly at his mercy. But she couldn't share these private thoughts with her mother.

So she quickly changed the subject. "Mom, you and Dad are way too nice to that scoundrel, aren't you? Why? It's like you're terrified I won't get married off..."

This was just her feigning annoyance, but Zhao Anni immediately grew wary, her mind racing.

My little girl has already been with Little Han, so why the resentment? What's bothering her? Is this silly child still hung up on Xi Luting? Finding it hard to choose? Could it be that Little Han... No, that's not right. Seeing how exhausted she is, Little Han's stamina must be much better than Old Pan's... Or perhaps, is my daughter psychologically more inclined towards girls?

Pan Ge's single complaint startled Zhao Anni. She had already been strongly in favor of Han Lie, and now her resolve was like iron.

"Oh, you! Try to understand your parents' painstaking efforts!"

Zhao Anni was exceptionally shrewd, a woman who could devise a plan in the blink of an eye. She sighed, then lay down beside her daughter, speaking softly as she opened her heart.

"With our family's standing, how well do you think you can expect to marry?"

"Hmph!" Pan Ge retorted, unconvinced. "The guys chasing me could form a line from Sinan Mansion all the way to Lujiazui, you know?"

"Then who among them has caught your eye?" Zhao Anni countered, then immediately began to lay out the facts and reason with her.

"Once a girl is beautiful, she faces countless temptations. If she also comes from a wealthy family, it's even more problematic. It becomes hard for her to achieve anything significant in life.

"Don't pout. Think about it yourself. You were so smart, always first in your class in elementary school. Why couldn't you keep up your studies in middle and high school? Professor Wang was astonished by your piano talent. What level are you at now? You simply can't focus, and you lack motivation, right?

"I understand this perfectly. That's why your father and I never blamed you for not applying yourself to your studies or for wasting your talent. Expecting a child who wants for nothing to be extremely disciplined and focused goes against human nature. Your situation isn't unique.

"The second generation from affluent families often appear polite, knowledgeable, and worldly—like elites. However, true top-tier talents rarely emerge from this group. This is because while external development resources are abundant, their internal drive and self-motivation are severely lacking.

"It's even more challenging for girls from such wealthy families. They might not be very capable themselves yet have sky-high expectations. They often only know how to spend money, not earn it. They can be pampered, self-centered, and inconsiderate. Even the occasional gentle and kind ones often require constant looking after...

"If you marry someone highly capable, you won't be able to keep up with their pace, and you'll eventually become just another mediocre, wealthy wife. If you marry someone less capable, you'll look down on them and feel you've settled for less. Whether a man is rich or poor, older or younger, handsome or not, there will always be various problems, and they're incredibly difficult to resolve.

"You might think you have no shortage of admirers, but finding a mutual match—someone you like who also likes you—is incredibly difficult, not to mention factoring in all the other conditions..."

Pan Ge listened intently.

And as she listened, she grumbled inwardly, "What kind of love potion did that scoundrel give you two? You're completely sold on him, aren't you? Everything you say, in one way or another, implies he's the best..."

Actually, she wasn't angry. Instead, she felt a little sweet inside. She was smarter than Zhao Anni realized and was keenly aware of the difficulties she faced in finding a partner.

Globally speaking, if a 'Miss Perfect'—rich, beautiful, and accomplished—can't be realistic about her expectations, her marriage is unlikely to be happy, regardless of whether she marries up, down, or on the same social level. Li Fuzhen is a classic example of marrying down, and it was a complete disaster. Her second sister married someone of similar status and ended up addicted to drugs. Her youngest sister wasn't allowed by the family to marry the one she loved, became depressed, and committed suicide over it. Li Fuzhen's sister-in-law, Lin Shiling, married up through an alliance between powerful families, painfully gave up her studies, and ultimately divorced after ten years. Strange? Not at all. Most of these privileged women face similar fates; the wealthier the family, the more complicated things become. Marriage can never be maintained by one person's efforts alone. A one-sided commitment is meaningless. Sometimes, even mutual effort is futile; it also depends on whether their fundamental interests align...

Zhao Anni's next words were very insightful.

"Our family doesn't expect you to achieve great things, nor is there any need for you to climb higher through some ridiculous marriage alliance. Your father and I just want you to live well—to be safe, content, and happy.

"However, someone must safeguard the family's legacy and assets. Therefore, we have three fundamental requirements for the man you marry. First, his values must be sound; he cannot be after our family's money. Second, he must be capable enough, at the very least, to protect you and our family's wealth."