Take a Day Off

Upon hearing this, Shi Huanlian began to feel aggrieved. "Give up, give up, give up! Father, when did you teach me to give up? Didn't you say that I could do anything I wanted to do? Why is this one different?"

Mr. Shi held his forehead, feeling utterly overwhelmed.

"Huanlian, what I mean is, you have things you want to do, whether it's a career or ideals. I don't want you to live for others, spending your whole life just being a wife and mother. You can have things you want to pursue, and I will do my best to support you. However, feelings are not a game; they must be treated with care, and they can't be achieved just by wishing for them. It requires mutual affection."

"But as for you and Zhuang Yuan, I don't know how things are going for you now, but I imagine it's difficult for you to develop any emotional foundation in such a short time."

"Furthermore, the paths of humans and immortals are different. My child, you may not understand yet. It's not enough for two people to simply like each other; many practical factors must also be considered. He wants to become an immortal, he wants eternal life. If he becomes immortal, what will you do, Huanlian?"

As expected, experience is the best teacher. After all, Mr. Shi had been doing business for many years and had a clear understanding of many things. His words stunned Shi Huanlian, who hadn't thought of it at all.

She said, "Father, even so, I... I want to try!"

Father Shi shook his head, looking disappointed and saying:

"Try to win him over? How? Like last time, in front of everyone? Do you know that this has already spread throughout the streets and alleys of Mo City? My Shi family's young lady actually confessed her feelings and tried to win him back in public, but was rejected. He refused to admit that he was Zhuang Yuan, and even flew away on his sword!"

At this point, Shi Huanlian became angry. "That's Zhuang Yuan! He got away last time!"

Seeing his daughter's indignant expression, as if she wanted to bite her handkerchief right then and there, Mr. Shi placed his hands on her shoulders and said earnestly:

"Huanlian, I can let you have your way with small things on a daily basis. But marriage is a serious matter, and you can't be careless or willful. Do you understand? No matter what, you can't act impulsively on this matter!"

Shi Huanlian pouted and refused, "Father, I wasn't acting impulsively. I, I, I really like him!"

Mr. Shi was greatly surprised again:

"You, you, you like him, then why did you go to his house and reject him like that? You've completely disgraced our family and the Zhuang family. And now you want to come back?"

Shi Huanlian felt wronged. "Father, there's a reason for that. It's because all the young masters and ladies of Mo City laugh at my foolish fiancé, but who would have thought he wasn't foolish anymore? He... he's always been very good to me. Even when he's not thinking clearly, he still knows to protect me when others bully me. I... I just don't want to spend my life with a fool."

Stone's father shook his head and retreated repeatedly:

Even so, once you've said it, there's no going back.

Shi Huanlian insisted, "Father, as long as Zhuang Yuan and I feel there's no problem, what does it matter whether the engagement is called off or not?!"

Yes, that hits the nail on the head, but Mr. Shi still didn't quite believe it:

"Zhuang Yuan, does he... does he like you too?"

Shi Huanlian stomped her foot angrily and gritted her teeth, saying, "That brat keeps denying it. But your daughter is loved by everyone, and flowers bloom for her. Is there any reason why that brat wouldn't like me? Even if he doesn't like me, I'll make him like me!"

Upon hearing this, Mr. Shi understood the gist of it:

"If he likes you, you can feel it. Moreover, men and women are different; if he truly likes you, he will definitely take the initiative. Tell your father, did he really come back with you willingly? Don't lie to your father, and don't lie to yourself."

Shi's father spoke with great solemnity, and Shi Huanlian, looking into her father's incredibly earnest eyes, suddenly found herself speechless.

Their eyes met, and they were speechless.

Father Shi understood immediately. He shook his head and said:

"My dear girl, in the future, your father will find you a good one. He doesn't need to be from a poor family or be of low status. Even if he doesn't have the potential for immortality, he won't leave you. If he's an ordinary person, even if he travels far away, you'll still have a chance to find him. But if he's a cultivator, if he really leaves, you might never find him again."

Shi Huanlian shook her head, almost choking up:

"Father, I... I went to Yangzhou just to try my luck, but I... I really met him. Father, tell me, in this vast sea of people, how could it be such a coincidence? Isn't it destiny? I don't believe it, I don't believe it!"

The father said firmly, "That's just a coincidence, son. You'd better give up on those thoughts sooner or later!"

Shi Huanlian said, "Father, even if you say that, I still want to try."

Mr. Shi was breathing heavily, clearly very angry.

"I can't reason with you, Zhuang Yuan! Where is Zhuang Yuan? I'll talk to him! He should go back to where he came from. If he hadn't made up his mind and promised not to pursue immortality anymore, I would never have entrusted my daughter to him!"

Shi Huanlian said, "Father, even if you wanted to, he can't see you now."

"What's the meaning?"

"Father, he... he was drugged and brought back by me."

Even knowing his daughter was known for her boldness, Mr. Shi was still startled by her words, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.

"You, you're serious? You drugged him and forcibly brought him back? Huanlian, are you crazy? He's a cultivator, he cultivates the immortal path! Aren't you afraid he'll be angry when he wakes up, and if he's angry, he'll hold you accountable and try to kill you?!"

Mr. Shi slumped back into his chair, incredulous.

Shi Huanlian said, "Father, Father! I saw him last time. After he regained consciousness, he seemed to have forgotten everything from before. But, but I could tell that he wasn't such a rude and disrespectful person who didn't care about the lives of ordinary people."

Father Shi sighed, "It's good that someone has a good character, but if you go too far, people become difficult to deal with when pushed to the limit. Besides, he's a cultivator; if he really wants to punish you, how can we mortals possibly stand up to him?"

For some reason, Shi Huanlian recalled that face and how he used to foolishly protect her. Although he was sober now, her intuition told her that he was still the same kind person he was when he was not sober.

She said firmly, "Father, he won't. I believe him."

Father Shi said, "In your current state, not even eight horses could pull you back. I know that no matter what I say, you probably won't listen to me. This concerns your lifelong happiness... You're acting impulsively right now, and I can't reason with you."

"I'll only agree if the young master Zhuang comes to my door in person to persuade me. Otherwise, there's no room for discussion!"

The words have been spoken so bluntly that there is no room for negotiation.

Shi Huanlian snorted, clearly dissatisfied, and immediately said:

"Father, you're putting me in a difficult position! Besides, Zhuang Yuan isn't fully conscious either!"

Mr. Shi shook his head, clutching his chest, and corrected him, "Child, you're making things difficult for your father. It's truly painful when a father knows his child is doing something wrong but can't bring her back. Alright, if he's not clear-headed, then make him clear-headed, let him tell you the answer clearly."