Chapter 396: Chapter 346: Coming Clean to My Parents

In the restaurant.

Lu Li had just hung up the phone and slipped his mobile back into his pocket.

Liu Kexin frowned slightly and looked over, “Lu Li, are you… planning to reveal your real identity?”

Lu Li looked up and replied with a smile, “Do you think it’s better for me to reveal it or not?”

Liu Kexin glanced around, lowered her voice, and said, “Personally, I think it’s better not to reveal it.”

Lu Li blinked, “Why?”

Liu Kexin said, “I’ve said it before, if you reveal your identity, later on, whether it’s you or me, or your family and friends, there’s a great possibility that we’ll all be followed and photographed by reporters and people with ulterior motives. They might not dare to do anything, but being constantly surrounded by buzzing flies is actually quite troublesome. You and I might not care, but can your family and friends accept it?”

Lu Li understood this reasoning.

After saying this, Liu Kexin gently held the back of Lu Li’s hand and said, “Of course, if you decide to reveal your real identity, I will fully support you without reservation, so there’s no pressure on my side. You just need to make sure your family and friends are taken care of and not worried, that’s all.”

The feeling of being supported is wonderful.

Lu Li felt a warm sensation inside.

He used his other free hand to pat the back of Liu Kexin’s hand, “Don’t worry, I’m not planning to reveal my identity.”

Liu Kexin was taken aback, “Then why are you having Gu Wei prepare a press conference?”

Lu Li explained, “If I don’t come forward to prove where I’ve been recently, with the spread of rumors, everyone will surely conclude that I’m the Ancestor. At that point, Old Gu and his team will have a hard time, not just on their side, but for our country’s future tourism and trade outside. It’ll be affected, so I plan to attend this press conference, neither admitting nor denying being the Ancestor, just informing the public of my whereabouts during this time, leaving the rest for them to judge.”

Liu Kexin more or less understood and laughed, “You’re really considering Old Gu and all of Huaxia.”

Lu Li smiled helplessly and said, “To be honest, I actually want to reveal my real identity, but like you said, there are too many troubles after revealing it. I’m not afraid of these troubles, just that relatives and friends may not be able to handle them, also, Old Gu and his team have always been very good to me, and I’ve always believed in returning favors, so I’m willing to come forward to clarify.”

Yes, mainly because the outside world can’t fully verify it yet, there’s still room to hide my identity.

If the outside world had enough evidence, I’d definitely not hide it any longer.

Lu Li’s current thought is to ensure his own stability first, letting those around him feel settled.

As for when the identity is truly exposed, it’s not a big deal.

…

In the car.

Liu Kexin was driving back to the neighborhood.

Lu Li, sitting in the passenger seat, took out his phone and dialed his parents’ number who were far away in Shanghai.

With things reaching this stage, he felt it necessary to inform his parents of his real identity, so they could be prepared.

This time he avoided getting “caught red-handed,” so there’s no need to reveal his real identity, but it doesn’t mean unexpected situations won’t arise in the future.

By then, if his parents were caught completely unawares, they’d certainly be shocked and worried.

Rather than letting them hear it from external sources, it’s better for him to proactively disclose the full details to them so they can be mentally prepared.

Ring, ring ring.

The call rang two or three times before it was answered.

A mother’s voice came from the other end, “Xiaoli, why are you calling today?”

Lu Li replied helplessly, “What do you mean why am I calling today? Don’t I always call you?”

“Always?” Mother snorted with slight dissatisfaction, “Count the days yourself, how long’s it been since you last called?”

Before he could answer, his dad’s impatient voice came through, “Our son very rarely calls, do you have to respond like that? Be nice and talk to him.”

Hearing the contrasting attitudes of his parents, Lu Li couldn’t help but smile wryly.

For the past two weeks, he was busy dealing with the Morgan Clan matters abroad and indeed hadn’t called home.

As the saying goes, you worry about a child even when they are a hundred, so it makes sense that his parents are anxious.

Lu Li took the initiative to apologize, “Mom, it’s my fault for not calling home for so long.”

“I’m not trying to be on your case,” his mother nagged gently, “You and your dad only have one son. You said you were going to Ugly Country, and then the terrifying explosion incident occurred at Old Ugly’s side. How do you think your father and I could not be worried?”

Lu Li felt the deep concern from his parents, “I know. I’m sorry for making you and dad worry.”

As they spoke, Liu Kexin maneuvered the Panamera slowly out of the mall’s underground parking lot.

She glanced at Lu Li, who was on the phone, then turned her attention back to the road, driving carefully.

“Call home more often in the future,” his mother advised, then shifted her tone, “Did something happen today that made you call? It’s rare to hear from you, so there must be something up.”

Oh, you really know me too well.

Lu Li admitted, “Yes, there’s an important matter I need to tell you and dad for you to be mentally prepared.”

His mother perked up, “You’re getting married?”

Lu Li nearly fainted, and said with a laugh, “No, can you let me finish first?”

His mother’s tone was slightly disappointed, “Oh, it’s not? Go on.”

Lu Li spoke very earnestly, “Mom, the hottest topic recently is the Ancestor, and I’m sure you and dad are curious about who the Ancestor is, right?”

His mother replied, “A bit. What are you trying to say? That you’re the Ancestor?”

Lu Li confirmed, “Yes, I am the Ancestor.”

The other end fell silent.

Lu Li felt a bit nervous.

Unsure if his parents could accept this shocking fact.

He was afraid they might be too shocked and wouldn’t be able to take it in.

One second passed.

Three seconds passed.

Finally, Mom made a sound.

I just heard a chuckle over the phone.

Then, Mom seemed amused and laughed out loud: “Haha, you? Ancestral figure? Haha, you cheeky kid, you don’t even have a few ounces of meat on you, claiming to be someone who can withstand the explosion of a multi-megaton nuclear bomb and slaughtered tens of thousands of mercenaries?”

Lu Li said speechlessly, “I’m telling the truth.”

Mom couldn’t stop herself from laughing, “Alright, alright, if you say you’re an ancestral figure, then you are. I won’t argue with you. Your dad and I have to visit relatives, come home sometime later when you’re free.”

After saying that, she was about to hang up the phone.

Lu Li clearly heard Mom talking to Dad on the other side of the call.

Dad: “What did our son say? What ancestral figure?”

Mom, a bit annoyed, “He’s joking around, claiming to be that notorious ancestral figure.”

At this point, the call ended with a click.

I’m telling the truth!

Why won’t you believe me?

Lu Li, sitting in the passenger seat, looked speechless.

He knew why Mom didn’t believe him. It’s simple—it’s like someone still in college coming home to tell their parents they’ve become the world’s richest person. Who would believe that?

Forget it, I’ll just have a proper chat with them when I get back in a couple of days.

Lu Li understood that this kind of thing couldn’t be explained over the phone—it needed to be cleared up face to face.

Liu Kexin, who was driving, glanced over and blinked, “Uncle and Auntie don’t believe you?”

Lu Li shook his head with a smile, “Yeah, my mom thinks I’m joking.”

At this point, he changed the subject, “By the way, around five o’clock this afternoon, I need to go to the park area to attend a press conference. Will you go with me, or wait at home?”

Liu Kexin waved her hand, “I don’t like being in the spotlight, so I’ll wait at home.”

Lu Li said, “Alright, but make sure you’re cleaned up waiting for me, because I’ll want to eat you up as soon as I get back.”

…

Around 3:40 in the afternoon.

Gu Wei’s driver came to pick up Lu Li and headed to the park.

The traffic was relatively light, so there was no congestion.

After a thirty or forty-minute drive, Lu Li was received at the Expo Center.

This place is adjacent to Golden Rooster Lake and is a large exhibition complex that integrates exhibition meetings, dining, and hotels.

The exhibition hall covers an area of 100,000 square meters, with a total of nine halls.

The conference area is 50,000 square meters, with sixty meeting rooms.

Including an 8,000-square-meter pillarless banquet hall.

Considering that quite a few media reporters might be coming today,

Gu Wei arranged the press conference in the pillarless banquet hall.

Indeed, as soon as Lu Li arrived here, he saw many media vehicles coming from all directions.

A lot of journalists and photographers were getting off with their equipment and heading towards the elevator.

Not only were there local media reporters, but he also saw many international reporters of different ethnicities.

At a glance, there must have been dozens.

Lu Li knew this was just a small fraction; there should be more media on their way.

He discreetly got out of the car from the other end of the parking lot, then was greeted by a designated person and taken up a special elevator to a meeting room.

He knocked and entered.

Lu Li saw Gu Wei sitting at the end of the conference table, with a dozen or so people on either side.

At the head of the table was a spirited elderly man.

It was clear that this person’s status was very high.

Or rather, everyone present had a very high status, certainly higher than Gu Wei’s.

“Mr. Lu, you’re here.”

“Mr. Lu, please have a seat.”

The spirited elderly man voluntarily gave up the central seat.

During this time, through Gu Wei’s introductions, Lu Li got to know these people and confirmed his thoughts—all of them were indeed big shots.

Especially the spirited elderly man—his name was Liu Jiren, and it was said that his status was incredibly high, although he kept a low profile and rarely appeared in the media.

After brief introductions, Lu Li sat in the central seat and scanned the group.

At this moment, Liu Jiren leaned in and politely asked, “Mr. Lu, your preparation for the press conference this time—are you planning to reveal your identity or not?”

Gu Wei and the other dozen or so big shots all looked at Lu Li.

Lu Li turned his head slightly to glance at them, about to share his thoughts.

Unexpectedly, Liu Jiren added, “Actually, we’d prefer if Mr. Lu wouldn’t reveal his real identity. Otherwise, it would be difficult for us to handle, and you wouldn’t want your family and friends to be thrust into the limelight and live under media scrutiny, right?”

Hmm?

Are you teaching me how to do things?

Lu Li instantly caught the general meaning in Liu Jiren’s tone and couldn’t help but look at his face.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep