Master Tong was startled by his daughter’s sudden actions and hurriedly bent down to help her up. “Youyou, what are you doing? Get up at once!”
But Tong Huanyou clung tightly to his pant leg, refusing to let go as she cried out tearfully, “Father, I truly want to go. Please, please agree to it. If you refuse… then I—I’ll go underground and accompany Mother instead!”
Cry, make a scene, threaten suicide! I refuse to believe this move won’t work!
Master Tong’s expression changed drastically, both shocked and angry. “Don’t speak such nonsense! If your mother knew of this in the afterlife, she would never wish to see you acting so willfully.”
Secretly pulling one hand free, Tong Huanyou pinched her thigh hard. Large tears instantly rolled down her cheeks as she sobbed, “Father, I’m not being willful. It’s just that if this wish of mine can’t be fulfilled, then there’s no joy left in living.”
Master Tong frowned deeply. After a long silence, he finally let out a helpless sigh. “Fine, fine. I’ll agree to it.”
“But remember this well—you may only follow those Daoist masters. And you must write home often. Be careful in everything you do, understood?”
Tong Huanyou immediately broke into a smile through her tears. She jumped up from the ground and hugged Master Tong tightly. “Thank you, Father! I’ll definitely be extremely careful and work hard in my studies.”
Master Tong gently patted her back, his eyes filled with reluctance and worry. “Youyou, being outside is nothing like being at home. Your father truly can’t stop worrying about you.”
“Steward He, go fetch my bank drafts.”
“Yes, Master.”
Before long, Steward He returned carrying several patterned paper drafts.
Master Tong took them and handed them to Tong Huanyou. “These are bank drafts from your father. Spend the silver inside however you wish. They can be redeemed at money houses everywhere. When you’re away from home, you absolutely mustn’t let yourself suffer.”
Tong Huanyou took the booklet, staring at it with wide eyes, her heart bursting with excitement.
This… this is the legendary “spend money however you want”?!
She looked up, struggling to suppress her joy. “Can I really spend it freely?”
Hearing this, Master Tong fondly rubbed her head. “Why else would your father work so hard earning money, if not to let my precious daughter live a life of luxury?”
For some reason, hearing those words made Tong Huanyou’s nose sting with emotion. At that moment, the Master Tong before her no longer felt like merely a minor character from a novel.
Having never received fatherly love before, she was now truly touching the warmth of a father who cherished her with all his heart.
“Father, you’re so good to me.” Tong Huanyou rubbed her nose and hugged him again instinctively.
Master Tong patted her shoulder gently. “If anyone ever wrongs you in the future, you must write to tell your father. Even if separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, I’ll still seek justice for you.”
Tong Huanyou nodded repeatedly, tears shimmering in her eyes.
The father and daughter chatted for quite a while longer before finally leaving the main hall.
As Tong Huanyou walked back along the path to her courtyard, her emotions still refused to settle. Her vision blurred with tears.
Just as she lowered her head to wipe them away, she accidentally bumped into something solid.
“Ow!”
She looked up through teary eyes and realized she had run into someone.
The man turned around—it was Xie Zhili.
He paused slightly. “Miss Tong.”
When he noticed the tear stains on her face, he paused again. “Miss Tong…”
Tong Huanyou hurriedly apologized. “Sorry, I didn’t see you…”
Xie Zhili smiled and shook his head gently. “It’s alright. Are you hurt?”
Taking a breath, Tong Huanyou tried her best to calm herself. “I’m fine.”
Looking at her like this, Xie Zhili recalled yesterday’s events—despite trembling in fear, she had still rushed forward without hesitation to protect him.
He couldn’t help but think that this young girl was actually quite brave.
So he took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to her softly. “Here, take this.”
Tong Huanyou froze for a moment before accepting it awkwardly. “Thank you…”
Xie Zhili comforted her gently. “Did something upsetting happen?”
【Congratulations, Host! Male Lead Xie Zhili’s affection has increased by 6.】
“What?!” Tong Huanyou looked utterly bewildered.
What the heck? I didn’t even do anything and his affection suddenly went up?!
“What’s wrong?” Xie Zhili asked in confusion.
“N-no, nothing.” Tong Huanyou snapped back to reality and laughed awkwardly. “Um… is Brother Xie’s injury any better?”
Xie Zhili nodded slightly. “It’s no longer serious. Speaking of which, I still haven’t thanked Miss Tong for spending money on us again.”
“Ah, it’s nothing~” Tong Huanyou waved her hand generously.
As the two spoke, a breeze drifted by. A plum blossom petal broke free from a branch and floated gently onto Tong Huanyou’s head.
Xie Zhili noticed it and instinctively reached out, lightly brushing the petal away.
Tong Huanyou was startled. In her dazed moment, she happened to spot Song Yingyue walking over nearby.
Tong Huanyou: Oh no! This cliché drama plot!
Sure enough, Song Yingyue’s steps halted, and the sparkle in her beautiful eyes dimmed instantly.
Tong Huanyou quickly retreated several steps, terrified of causing any misunderstanding.
But Xie Zhili sensed something strange. Following her gaze, he saw Song Yingyue standing there quietly.
A different sort of tenderness appeared in his deep eyes. “Yingyue, I was just about to buy some dried rations. Would you like to come with me?”
Song Yingyue took a deep breath and forced out a smile. “I need to go to the north side of the city later to recite prayers for Aunt Zhang’s passing, so I won’t be going.”
After speaking, an inexplicable bitterness welled up in her heart. Not wanting others to notice, she turned and left.
Watching her departing figure, a trace of disappointment appeared in Xie Zhili’s eyes.
Tong Huanyou sighed helplessly. “Why aren’t you chasing after her? Hurry up and explain!”
Xie Zhili looked puzzled. “Explain… what?”
Tong Huanyou anxiously replied, “Can’t you tell Sister Song is upset? She probably misunderstood something.”
“A misunderstanding?” Xie Zhili became even more confused. After thinking for a moment, he laughed openly. “You don’t know my junior sister well enough. She’s not the type to get angry easily. She’s probably just busy with something.”
“I also need to buy travel rations and a carriage. I’ll take my leave first, Miss Tong.”
With that, he strode toward the courtyard gates.
Tong Huanyou stared at his departing back, her smile stiffening as she slowly spat out two words:
“Damn impressive.”
Now I finally understand why you two only confessed your feelings halfway through the story. There’s definitely a reason for it…
After thinking it over, Tong Huanyou felt she couldn’t let Song Yingyue continue misunderstanding things.
“Girls shouldn’t go to bed angry. Any misunderstanding has to be resolved immediately, otherwise… fixing it later becomes twice as hard.”
Clapping her hands together, she decided she’d help Xie Zhili smooth things over properly.
However, after only taking a few steps—
Without warning, a silver sword suddenly descended from the sky.
With a loud clang, it stabbed directly into the ground right in front of her feet, kicking up dust.
“Holy crap!” Tong Huanyou jumped back in fright.
She raised her head anxiously and looked around.
There sat Yu Qingci leisurely atop the roof, looking utterly relaxed.
“Miss Tong, where might you be heading?” Yu Qingci rested his hands behind his head, a faint smile curling at his lips.