To be honest, Jun Yang was too busy processing the amount of information his father had just dumped on him to really pay attention to what his mother was saying.

“Other than his career, a man also needs to take care of his family.” Mrs. Jun continued, “Jun Yang, you have reached the mature age to start paying attention to your responsibility to continue the Jun family legacy.”

It was right then that Jun Yang’s attention snapped back to reality. ‘So this is why mother is here. She wants to talk to me about my future… Wait a minute, doesn’t this mean…’

As if to confirm Jun Yang’s thought, Mrs. Jun said, “Jun Yang, you have reached the appropriate age to start planning for your future family.”

When she said that, a heavy sense of dread started to curl itself around Jun Yang’s heart. He had a feeling he was not going to appreciate what his mother was going to say next.

Once again, the young man was proven right. “As the only heir of the Jun family, it is your responsibility to continue the legacy and bloodline of the family name,” Mrs. Jun stated that with such solemnity that one would think she was declaring the gospel truth.

“Of course, this does not mean that we want you to go start having babies right this moment but we are just reminding you that it is time for you to start working towards that direction.”

Jun Yang thought the weight on his shoulders was already quite heavy when he finished hearing what his father had to say but he did not expect the weight on his shoulders would continue to increase. For that split second, Jun Yang felt like he was about to get crushed under the weight of his parent’s expectation and demands, all due to a name that he happened to bear.

Either Jun Yang was too good at hiding his real emotions or his mother was simply too impervious to them, Mrs. Jun continued without halting, “A family is going to help anchor you in life and can offer you much stability and support. Your father and I have made some discussion and I believe we have found the perfect candidate that we think can be your wife.”

Thunder rang above Jun Yang’s head. They had already found him a wife?! He could not help but wonder if they had already finished registering the marriage for him.

Mrs. Jun turned to share a look with her husband. Mr. Jun nodded silently to show approval for the statement that his wife proclaimed earlier. This potential wife candidate for Jun Yang was someone that they both approved of.

“This person is the daughter of the Pei family, Pei Ling. She is of the same age as you and her family will be able to help you a lot on your journey. Pei Ling’s father has some connections in the business that will be of great importance to you in the future.

“Furthermore, Pei Ling is a well-cultured young lady. She is taught well by her mother and I am sure she will be a very good wife and is able to support you when you need it.”

After Mrs. Jun mentioned the name, Pei Ling, things started to make sense in Jun Yang’s mind. Now he understood why Pei Ling would say those things to him that morning at school. She probably knew about this already. Jun Yang wondered if Pei Ling was forced into this marriage as he did or she had the freedom of choice. Jun Yang believed it was the former.

“Regardless, your father and I don’t think it is a good idea for you to get married so soon. It is better for you to focus on your career for now. However, to ensure that you can enjoy the resource provided by your future in-law, we suggest that you have an engagement with Pei Ling as soon as possible. This union between Jun family and Pei family is only going to make both of the families stronger. This is something that has no disadvantage to all the parties involved. Everyone has something to gain from this union.”

This union was something that had no disadvantages to all of the parties involved? Jun Yang had his doubts about that statement.

“In a few days, when you are free, we shall go pay a visit to the Pei family to iron out the details of the upcoming union. Details like the engagement date, the party venue and so on,” Mrs. Jun concluded.

Even though Jun Yang was called along for this meeting, the young man knew he would have no part in the planning process. The details would be decided by the parents, probably his mother and Pei Ling’s mother because the men of the house would not handle family issues like marriage and engagement.

The influx of information in a short amount of time was too much for Jun Yang to handle. His brain had technically short-circuited. The young man practically spaced out while his mother droned on in the background.

He finally regained his consciousness when his father cleared his throat audibly and said, “Jun Yang, do you have any questions to ask?”

Jun Yang looked at his father and then at his mother. They looked so well-done and predictable, like characters from a fiction. Their lives had been laid out before their eyes in such a way that Jun Yang could easily see how they would be like decades later. And now he felt like he was going to join their ranks, to live a life that was predefined and structured in planned details. Jun Yang knew that was going to be his future since he was young but seeing it laid down in such details, he suddenly saw how drab that kind of life would be.

Then again, what else could he have done to change the course of his life? Jun Yang placed himself in his parent’s perspective and he could see that they only wanted the best for him. This was how they were raised and they could see no other or better way of living. This was the inviolability of family tradition.

Mr. Jun was waiting for a reply and Jun Yang could not let his father wait for too long. Perhaps it was his habit of 18 years which compelled him to say, “No, father.”

When Jun Yang realized he might have something else to say, the words had already left his lips. Mr. Jun nodded wordlessly. Even though he did not say anything, Jun Yang understood that this was his cue to leave.

It had already past the period for Jun Yang to voice his concerns… not that they would be heard if he voiced them anyway.