Alcohol Truth

Ryan quickly said, "Mom, just stick to drinks. There's no need for alcohol."

"Bullshit," Olivia retorted, waving him off dismissively. "A little drink won't kill you. Besides, it'll loosen you up. Just drink and say what's on your mind. Do you think I'd harm you? If you get drunk, I'll send you home myself. Let's see if Lily dares to complain then."

Olivia's generosity extended as she booked a private room, her face lit with the excitement of unearthing some juicy gossip. It was clear she wanted to get to the bottom of her son-in-law's unusually sullen mood, especially after the grand show he'd put on earlier in the day.

"Ding... Enter the Heart of a Woman skill activated. Would you like to proceed?"

The system's voice rang in Ryan's mind, startling him. He groaned inwardly. The system had a knack for delays, bugs, and an unsettling touch of personality.

As the prompt lingered, Ryan's scalp tingled with apprehension. He hadn't even negotiated a reward from the system yet, and now this skill suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

After a moment of hesitation, Ryan decided to proceed. He couldn't risk the system going silent again.

"Ding... Skill Enter the Heart of a Woman offers two modes:

Mode 1: Hypnotic State

Engage in direct soul-level conversation. Even if the subject denies their thoughts outwardly, you'll receive truthful answers. However, you'll retain no memory of the conversation upon waking.

Mode 2: Intimate State

Best paired with alcohol, this mode lowers the subject's internal defenses and ethical inhibitions step by step. The subject will speak openly, and both parties will retain full memory of the interaction, even when intoxicated."

Ryan's eyes narrowed as he absorbed the information. The system wasn't as flawed as it seemed—it simply worked in mysterious ways.

"Select Mode 2," Ryan decided firmly.

The skill Enter the Heart of a Woman disappeared from the system's inventory, leaving only an intriguing item labeled Ecstasy Fragrance (Male).

Olivia, who had been boisterous and carefree moments before, suddenly grew contemplative. She took a sip of her drink, her gaze leveling on Ryan. Her tone dropped, becoming unusually serious.

"Son-in-law," she began, her voice firm, "I know the money you spent on that bracelet came from a legitimate source. But tell me—are you regretting what you did tonight?"

Ryan felt his chest tighten, but before he could respond, Olivia pressed on.

"You've never liked my daughter, have you? From the start, you've kept your distance, ignored her feelings. Now, after spending all that money on her, is it guilt that's eating at you?"

Her words struck like a whip, cutting to the heart of the matter. Olivia, blunt as ever, seemed to have cast aside all pretense. Normally, her daughter's reputation might have tempered her bluntness, but the system's skill had clearly taken effect.

Ryan realized he was fully awake, and hypnotizing a woman's mind in such a state would be akin to inducing a dreamlike trance—ultimately pointless.

The second option, however, intrigued him. It allowed the subject to ask questions they normally wouldn't, bypassing their usual inhibitions. This direct and uninhibited exchange could reveal their unfiltered thoughts and make for a truly interesting interaction.

"Mom, you're overthinking it," Ryan said with a small laugh, taking a sip of his wine. He hesitated for a moment, then added, "It's just hard to explain everything to Lily. I've been investing in various things. Take the $100,000 I withdrew today—it's not as simple as it looks, and there are always things that weigh on my mind."

"What kind of investments?" Olivia asked, leaning forward with a concerned expression. "Lily mentioned you've been investing, but I don't really understand much about it. She doesn't either. I won't criticize you, but I do worry about you doing things like this."

Ryan saw an opportunity and smiled wryly. "Mom, I've been working hard to make money. I'm not as broke as you think."

He paused, setting his wine glass down before continuing, "Like today, with the stock withdrawal—I've had wins and losses. The initial investment was just a few thousand dollars, but overall, I made a profit."

"It's the same with other investments, like foreign futures. I started small, just a few thousand dollars, and it snowballed into over $100,000. The thing is, markets are volatile. Right now, it's a sure bet I'll make something, but how much? That's the real question. Based on past trends, I could turn it into $200,000, but if the market swings the wrong way, I might only see $20,000 or $30,000."

Olivia's expression softened as she leaned back in her chair. "Son-in-law, you're under too much pressure. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Ryan sighed and gave a helpless shrug.

"Mom, I didn't dare. It's hard enough to explain this stuff to someone who doesn't follow the market. Lily doesn't understand it at all. You've seen the old laptops and spare parts I keep around—I've been working on blockchain and Bitcoin for ages, but she just sees it as junk."

"Ah, that pile of old computers…" Olivia murmured, her expression shifting.

"I didn't realize they were important."

Ryan took another sip of wine, then dramatically slammed his hand on the table.

"Mom, it's so frustrating! I had stock accounts worth over $200,000 last year, but I didn't sell in time. Now I've only pulled out $100,000."

Olivia's brow furrowed as she shook her head. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I thought it was just a heap of scrap computers."

Ryan put on a wounded expression. "Mom, I didn't think you'd understand. And Lily…well, she actually laughed at me. When I told her I had Bitcoins, she thought I was falling for some kind of scam."

"Ridiculous!" Olivia snapped, her face flushing. "She knows nothing. You should've come to me! I know what a Bitcoin is worth these days."

Olivia's time in the teahouse had taught her one thing: the value of money.

While she may not understand the specifics of Ryan's investments, she knew enough to recognize that one Bitcoin was worth a fortune in real currency.