As Feng Qingwu reached for the cash on the table to return it, Eren pressed it firmly back down.
Seeing her reddened eyes and resolute refusal to accept the money, Eren said firmly, "Aunt Qing, you must take this money. Even if you're divorced from Uncle Yuan, Nannan is still his only child. If not for yourself, you have to think about her future."
"Nannan is still young. A proper education will require substantial expenses."
"Even though the US advocates for relaxed education, all those who truly succeed and rise above the rest started receiving elite training from a young age."
"Aunt Qing, you don't want Nannan to struggle at the bottom of society like so many others, do you?"
A parent's heart is always full of concern.
As Eren spoke, Feng Qingwu couldn't help but waver. As a mother, she couldn't ignore her daughter's future.
Feng Qingwu knew all too well the harsh realities of life at the bottom of the Federation's social hierarchy. She didn't want Nannan to follow the same path she had.
Raising a child to become a true elite in society required significant financial resources.
When Yuan was alive, Feng Qingwu still had a fallback. She could have asked Yuan to contribute to their daughter's education. After all, it was his responsibility as a father.
But now that Yuan was gone, she faced a cruel question: Could she earn enough on her own to provide Nannan with a better future?
The Federation was a pragmatic place, where life without money was incredibly difficult.
With Eren's reasoning cutting through her doubts, Feng Qingwu's resolve to return the money began to falter.
That $50,000 was no small amount. If she spent wisely and supplemented it with her own earnings, it might just cover Nannan's education expenses.
Feeling her resistance weaken, Eren pressed on.
"Aunt Qing, you know a bit about my situation. Although my mother has passed, she left me a sizable inheritance. This $50,000 is nothing to me. Please, keep it—for my peace of mind."
After much persuasion, Eren finally convinced Feng Qingwu to accept the money.
Before she could change her mind, Eren quickly said his goodbyes and left, closing the door behind him.
With a soft "click," the door of apartment 304 shut behind Eren.
Inside, Feng Qingwu stared at the $50,000 on the coffee table, frozen in place. Tears welled in her eyes, and she began to sob quietly.
Outside, Eren paused. His sharp hearing caught the faint sound of crying from the apartment above.
Looking up at the apartment building, he sighed softly.
"Ah…"
This visit to see Yuan's family had taken an unexpected turn.
Feng Qingwu was kindhearted, and it was clear to Eren that she still cared deeply for Yuan.
Their divorce had likely been her desperate attempt to push Yuan away from his gang life.
But in the end, she had failed.
No, Eren thought, Yuan must have understood her intentions. So why did he agree to the divorce?
Was it to sever ties with them and protect them? Or was there another reason?
Eren shook his head, setting aside thoughts of the complicated relationship between Yuan and Qingwu.
Through this interaction, Eren realized that while Qingwu was gentle, she was also incredibly determined.
Unless she faced absolute desperation, she wouldn't accept help again—not even from him.
How could he continue to help her and her daughter?
Wait… Eren remembered something.
Gang members like Yuan often bought high-value life insurance policies.
If Yuan had such a policy, why hadn't the insurance company stepped in after his death?
Perhaps Qingwu wasn't aware of it.
Eren decided to investigate. If Yuan had insurance, he could help Qingwu claim the payout. She'd be more likely to accept it than direct financial assistance.
As Eren pondered, he made his way back to Chinatown.
Once there, he visited a bookstore and bought several books on hypnosis before heading to his three-story building on the edge of Chinatown.
Shortly after arriving home, Eren's phone rang.
The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number. After a moment of hesitation, he answered.
"Gwen Stacy speaking. Is this Eren?"
"Yes, Gwen. What's up?" Eren asked curiously.
"Nothing much, just a reminder that you're coming to dinner at my house tonight. My mom's already bought a ton of food and is looking forward to cooking for you. Oh, by the way, do you have any dietary restrictions we should know about?"
"None at all. Your mom can cook whatever she likes."
"Great! She'll be thrilled to hear that. Don't forget to be here by six!"
"I won't. See you then."
After hanging up, Eren sighed and shook his head.
He had almost forgotten about dinner at Gwen's house.
"Let's hope nothing unexpected happens tonight," he murmured.
Since arriving in this world, Eren felt like he hadn't had a moment to rest. Every day was packed.
After placing the hypnosis books in his bedroom, he settled in for another round of studying.
Time flew by, and soon it was evening.
At around 5:30, Eren followed the directions on Gwen's note and arrived at her high-end apartment building in the city.
The building had excellent security.
As soon as Eren stepped inside, a security guard stopped him.
It wasn't until Gwen came down to meet him that he was allowed to enter.
(End of Chapter)
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