Chapter 6: This is sort of meeting the parents

Since Zhou Ming and Caitlyn travelled from Brighton to Charles Island, then to Richmond and finally to Bermuda, it can be said that they made a big detour. Therefore, when they finally arrived in Fort was already close to evening. This was a full flight, and the flight schedule was very good. In addition, Bermuda does not require a visa from the United States, otherwise it would have been delayed for at least one more day in Richmond before arriving.

In Harburg, Zhou Ming and Archduke Ferdinand had already moved to the castle restaurant to sit face-to-face, while Caitlin went to the kitchen at the back.

Ferdinand had dismissed all the servants at the castle half a month ago, so he had to cook everything himself. Fortunately, Ferdinand had learned how to cook, otherwise he would have been in real trouble. Ferdinand was going to cook today as well, but Caitlyn didn't want her father to cook anymore. She volunteered to cook herself, and Zhou Ming, not knowing whether this doll-like princess could actually cook, let her go and help her.

They went to the kitchen, and Ming and Ferdinand were left alone in the dining room. Ming felt a little pressure, after all, sitting opposite him was a grand duke, A hundred years ago, he would have been the king of a certain country. People in such positions will more or less have an innate pressure to be superior, even if they look haggard and just sit there without saying anything.

On the other hand, this is also considered another form of meeting a parent, and although Zhou Ming has experienced this in a previous life, it is incomparable to the present, so this also puts some pressure on Zhou Ming.

Ferdinand just sat there watching Zhou Ming without saying a word. Zhou Ming knew that he was waiting for him to speak first. Zhou Ming surveyed the surroundings. The restaurant had a very Rococo style of decoration, which is a kind of gorgeous and unique style of freedom. Even on one side of the living room, there is a black and white sketch hanging, the content of which seems to be a dinner.

'Is this Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting The Last Supper?' Zhou Ming asked curiously.

Ferdinand nodded and replied, 'That's Leonardo da Vinci's manuscript, or rather the draft of that famous painting. I think it suits the style of the restaurant, so I hung it there.'

Ferdinand spoke casually, as if he were describing an insignificant piece of decoration. However, Zhou Ming knew the difference between this so-called 'decoration', because it was the manuscript of Europe's most perfect genius, Leonardo da Vinci!

Although it is only a draft sketch, it is still an authentic work by Leonardo da Vinci. Especially the draft of the Last Supper, with such a famous painting as a bonus, if it were put up for auction, it would fetch a high price of at least one billion US dollars. No matter who buys it, they will have to go to great lengths to preserve and protect it. However, now, he is just casually hanging in the dining room as a piece of decoration that doesn't even qualify as such.

Since Harburg had now been taken over by the Bankmann Bank, Ferdinand could not just move anything in the castle at will, and naturally he could not do it on purpose either. The fact that he was always by his side meant that he did not have enough time to do it.

It is precisely for this reason that one can glimpse the profound heritage of the Harburg family from this perspective.

Zhou Ming let out a sigh and said, 'I never thought that the Harburg family, with such a background, could have fallen into such a state. I suddenly wondered if it was a mistake for me to be in such a hurry to come to Bermuda!'

Zhou Ming's sudden remark made Ferdinand feel a little surprised, but after taking a look at the draft of the Last Supper on the wall, he understood. However, he was very surprised: 'It seems that you don't think it's a mistake, right? Otherwise you wouldn't have said it, because I've seen too many people who can't say anything when faced with forces beyond their control.'

Zhou Ming shrugged, 'I really feel that I was too hasty, but I don't think there is anything to be ashamed of in saying this. After all, it has only been four years since I graduated from university and entered the financial industry. How could I possibly be compared to a family with a thousand years of history?'

'As you, Your Highness, have said before, the depth of a family's heritage is such that it is only natural for me to be amazed by the Harusburg family's heritage,' said Zhou Ming. 'In my opinion, the only people who are truly ashamed are idiots who refuse to face reality and try to put on airs.'

Ferdinand was impressed by Zhou Ming's words: 'You actually think like that? You know that many people can't get past their own problems. Whether they're noble kings or ordinary servants, they always think that their dignity won't allow them to admit their mistakes. They'll always find every excuse to deny it, or simply refuse to face it. You're the exception that proves the rule.'

Zhou Ming nodded: 'Yes, I used to be like that too. Whenever anyone disagreed with me in the slightest, I would feel like my dignity had been trampled on, and I would go berserk like a raging lion.'

Zhou Ming paused for a moment before continuing, 'But then I experienced something miraculous, and I was reborn. Looking back, I realise that my previous behaviour was actually very childish.'

'In that case, you really have been reborn, because as far as I know, many people are unable to truly understand this truth until the moment before they die.' Ferdinand looked at Zhou Ming and said, 'Perhaps this is the reason for your achievements today.'

Zhou Ming smiled and didn't say anything in response, because the rebirth he was talking about and Ferdinand's understanding of rebirth were completely different concepts. After all, he had been a human being in two lifetimes, which was equivalent to having died once. If he couldn't understand such a simple truth, and couldn't let go of some of the most simple things, and like some young people who know nothing, they think their so-called dignity is above everything, then they really have lived their previous life in vain. It was just Ferdinand's next words that made Zhou Ming even more interested.

'But what I find even more astonishing is your confidence. It's not a stubbornness you put on, and it's not a bravado, as you put it, but a certainty of your own abilities. Because you understand that even if you make a mistake, you can find a way to make it up for it. That is why you are not afraid to admit your mistakes. This is the most important thing,' said Ferdinand.

Among all the conversations in Harburg, only this sentence had the greatest impact on Zhou Ming. In his previous life, he actually did want to be confident, but he didn't have any abilities at the time, so once something went wrong, he didn't know what to do, so how could he be confident?

In this life, since I control my own future, and on the other hand, I also have the attitude of 'I'm going to live again anyway, so what's there to be afraid of?', I have full confidence in whatever I do and encounter no matter what difficulties I face. It is precisely because of this that I was able to remain calm when I first met Chairman Yang and Chairman Du, and this mentality has gradually influenced me to this day.

Thinking about this, Zhou Ming suddenly asked him, 'So, Your Highness, does that mean you believe I can help Harburg?'

'I'm sorry young gentleman, but I don't believe it. After all, the world is not as simple as you think.' Ferdinand shook his head. This answer took Ming a little by surprise, but it was reasonable. Ferdinand then added, 'But... I can look forward to it.'

Zhou Ming was a little speechless at this ambiguous answer, and just then, Caitlin's melodious voice suddenly came: 'What are you talking about? You seem to be having a good time.'

Zhou Ming looked over in response and saw Caitlin pushing a dining cart over, with several plates on it, with fried steak, cheese rolls and baked potatoes on them, and the aroma that drifted as Caitlin pushed the cart over proved that these dishes were really good. Zhou Ming also saw the soldier king who came with Caitlyn. From his expression, Zhou Ming also understood that this soldier king also really only helped out in the kitchen.

Zhou Ming was a little surprised: 'I didn't think you could really cook.'

Caitlyn gave a coy smile, very charming, and as she served the dishes on the table she said, 'Actually, I learned how to cook while I was at the White Mountain Forest Manor, in case one day she wasn't there and I had to go hungry.'

Zhou Ming knew that Caitlyn's Maria was the housekeeper who had always accompanied her at the Adams Manor. He thought that they also understood their situation. Maria could not guarantee that she would survive to leave with Caitlyn. After all, the world is a dirty place, and nothing is guaranteed in the face of profit. In order to allow Caitlyn to take care of herself, Maria taught her how to cook.

'I'm sorry, it's all my father's incompetence that has caused you trouble!' Ferdinand felt very guilty.

But Caitlyn smiled and reassured him: 'It's okay! Look, father, I'm fine now, aren't I? Didn't you always tell me that the suffering in the present is the path to future happiness? That's why I brought you Zhou Ming. You should be happy!'

Ferdinand looked up at Ming and nodded with a smile, 'Yes, I should be happy!'

Hearing this father-daughter conversation, Ming felt a little embarrassed, because it seemed that he had really become the Harburg family's designated son-in-law.

In this way, the dinner ended, and Zhou Ming and the others went back to their respective rooms. Zhou Ming was lying in bed, preparing to think back on what had happened today, when the door to his room was knocked on. Zhou Ming thought it was, after all, his personal bodyguard, who lives in a separate room, and he might be a little uneasy, but to save Ferdinand's face, he could only come back at night.

But what Zhou Ming never expected was that when he opened the door, it was Caitlin at the door, which made Zhou Ming freeze in his tracks.

Caitlin just stood there, head down, her pretty face flushed like a flower, her hands rubbing the corners of her clothes, as if she were a little shy.

'So... Caitlin, what do you want?' asked Zhou Ming.

When Ming asked her this, Caitlin's head suddenly buried itself even lower. After a long while, she mustered the courage to look up at Ming and say, 'My father gave me permission to come here. He said that since we are destined to get married, tonight I...can spend the night in your room.'

'What? Spend the night here?'

Zhou Ming was surprised. If before Zhou Ming was only a little surprised by Caitlin's arrival, then after hearing Caitlin's words, Zhou Ming was completely dumbfounded.

On the other hand, it seems that Caitlin had to summon up all her courage to say those words. After she had finished, she lowered her head again and didn't dare to look at Zhou Ming.