Charles Harper put away the fan and was feeling quite well at the moment. In his previous life, he was an orphan who grew up with his master. Although he had no experience interacting with parents, as a love expert, he was still full of confidence. He strode eagerly over the threshold, and before he could even see the faces of his cheap new parents, he heard a furious roar: “You wretch, you dare come back? You useless thing, kneel down right now!”

Charles Harper was taken aback and saw the furious old man Edward Harper. Edward Harper had a dignified appearance, a square face with a fine beard, but his eyes looked as if they could devour someone. At this moment, he was glaring fiercely at Charles Harper.

Sitting to the side was Mrs. Harper, who looked somewhat uneasy and distressed—she was Charles Harper’s mother. Love and the frustration of high expectations both flashed across Mrs. Harper’s face, making her expression very complicated.

“What sins did I commit in my past life to have a son like you? You wretch, you still dare to stand?”

Facing Edward Harper’s aggressive questioning, Charles Harper felt embarrassed. Wasn’t he just a bit of a playboy—was it really that serious? Besides, according to his memories, the Harper family wasn’t particularly strict. After all, he was the only heir, and both Edward Harper and his wife doted on Charles Harper to the extreme. Usually, if he did something wrong, at most he’d get a scolding and that was it. But today’s severity was a first.

Charles Harper hesitated for a moment, then knelt down obediently and said, “Your son knows he was wrong.”

A man’s knees are as precious as gold, but after all, Charles Harper was now taking someone else’s place as their son. From now on, these two emotional parents would be his own, so kneeling wasn’t a big deal.

“Tell me, what did you do wrong!” Edward Harper was still furious, glaring at Charles Harper. The lady beside him couldn’t bear to watch and turned her face away.

Charles Harper groaned inwardly. The original Harper was really carefree—he ate, drank, visited brothels, and gambled, but left all the mess for him to clean up. Charles Harper rolled his eyes and said sincerely, “I shouldn’t have neglected my proper duties, and even more so, I shouldn’t have spent my days…”

Before Charles Harper could finish, Edward Harper angrily interrupted, “You only realize this now? It’s too late! Hmph, your behavior has already reached the Lu family. Yesterday, they sent someone to break off your engagement with Miss Lu. Well, generations of friendship, and now it’s all ruined by you. Not only have we lost face, but do you know how important the Lu family is to us? In every aspect, we rely on them. And now, thanks to you, you unfilial son, you unfilial son!”

Edward Harper was so angry he pounded his chest and stomped his feet, and by the end, his words were almost incoherent.

Mrs. Harper’s embroidered brows furrowed even deeper, clearly showing her own worries about the matter.

Charles Harper suddenly remembered: the Lu and Hao families had been close for generations. Charles Harper’s grandfather had once served as the prefect of Yingtian, while the Lu family held a hereditary earldom. Though their paths were different—one civil, one military—their relationship was excellent. From the time Charles Harper was born, the two families had agreed to a marriage alliance.

But later, after the old master Hao passed away, the Hao family gradually declined, while the Lu family continued to prosper. Originally, the Lu family didn’t look down on them, and the two families still interacted. But recently, this young master Hao’s reputation had become so terrible—stories of his eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling had spread to Zhenjiang. The Lu family could no longer tolerate it. Their daughter was the apple of their eye, and of course they couldn’t let her marry such a scoundrel. So, a few days ago, they finally sent someone to break off the engagement.

Edward Harper couldn’t accept it. The family only had this one heir, and now the son was ruined. But at least there was a good daughter-in-law to look forward to. It was said that the future daughter-in-law was beautiful, well-educated, and deeply embodied the Lu family’s virtues. Who would have thought that even the daughter-in-law was now gone?

Charles Harper finally understood why the old man was so furious today. Years of pent-up resentment had finally exploded over the broken engagement with the Lu family.

“You beast, how have I treated you all these years? And yet you’ve brought such disgrace upon us. The Harper family’s reputation is completely ruined. Now you say you know you were wrong—what’s the use? Can Miss Lu come back?” Edward Harper was so angry his lips were trembling.

Charles Harper didn’t really agree in his heart. As a renowned love expert, was he afraid of not finding a wife? Besides, with such a big family business, what kind of girl couldn’t he find? The old man was just too narrow-minded, wanting to hang himself on a single tree. Charles Harper really wanted to tell him not to focus on just one tree, but to look at the whole forest. But he didn’t dare say that now—saying such things when someone’s angry was just asking for trouble, and Charles Harper didn’t want to die.

Mrs. Harper finally softened. “Old master, let’s see if there’s still a way to fix this. Why not go to the Lu family and plead? After all, our boy is still young and ignorant. What’s the use of scolding him like this?” With that, she began to weep, taking out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

Charles Harper felt his heart soften. He had never had parents before, only a master, and the master was a man—there was no motherly love. Seeing Mrs. Harper cry today, he couldn’t help but feel a bit sad. He quickly said, “Yes, why don’t I go to Zhenjiang and plead for forgiveness? Maybe there’s still a chance to make things right. I only ask that Father not be angry, and Mother not be sad or upset.”