Bao Mingyuan took a deep drag on his cigarette, his body slumping against the leather chairback.
He was momentarily lost in thought before he said to his youngest son, "Ziqi, you only get one chance to choose a wife."
Bao Ziqi furrowed his brows.
Bao Mingyuan took another puff of his cigarette, closed his eyes, and slowly exhaled the smoke from the corner of his mouth.
His voice was indistinct, "You like Ruanruan, don't you?"
Bao Ziqi didn't make a sound.
Bao Mingyuan opened his eyes, quietly watching his youngest son…
He said in a raspy voice, "I gave the Imperial View to Jingyan! You've been learning art since you were young, I know you're not convinced in your heart."
"Why bring this up, Dad?"
Bao Mingyuan covered his eyes with a hand, falling silent for a long while before murmuring, "Dad just hopes that all of you will be well, Jingyan, Jingse, you, and Jingyuan. All of you are my children."
