TheLazyDreamer
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63. Discussion With Parents
🕑 Added 2025-05-12 15:53:16 +0000 UTCSu Chen stepped closer, lowering his voice. “We need to talk about something important.”
She nodded curtly. Without another word, she turned and began walking, signaling for him to follow. But before she left, her gaze fell on Su Kang, who was watching from a distance.
“I’m not happy with your surprise, Kang'er,” she said, her tone cool, lacking its usual warmth. “Did you even think about the consequences of this?” she asked, her voice sharp, a hint of accusation in it.
Su Kang met her gaze without hesitation, his answer calm and unwavering. “Mother, I have already taken every steps to protect our family. My decision will not bring harm to us. I have considered all possibilities.”
Dong Yue studied him for a moment longer, searching for any flicker of hesitation, any crack in his assurance. She found none. With a heavy sigh, she turned away. “I will see that when the time comes.”
And with that, she followed Su Chen into their courtyard, leaving Su Kang alone with her words and the challenges that lay ahead.
Moments later, as night deepened and silence settled over the estate, the scent of damp earth and fading jasmine hung heavy in the air. Su Kang found Bai Yunxi sitting alone in the dimly lit courtyard. Her delicate figure trembled, each slight tremor magnified by the flickering lantern light as silent tears slipped down her cheeks, leaving glistening trails. His heart clenched with a sharp ache at the sight of her raw sorrow. "It seems my mother is just as worried about Li Fang as my father," he thought grimly.
A genius with boundless potential—how could they readily accept a marriage that risked making an enemy of him, a potential catastrophe for their lineage? The soft sound of Su Kang's steps on the floor made Bai Yunxi look up, her emerald eyes wide and startled. She hastily wiped her tears with the back of her hand, straightening her posture with a visible effort before forcing a faint, watery smile that didn't quite reach the sorrow lingering in her gaze.
"It seems… Mother-in-law didn't find me beautiful and sweet enough," she said, her voice laced with a strained attempt at humor, a fragile shield against the pain.
Su Kang didn't answer immediately. He moved with a deliberate quietness, kneeling before her on the floor. His warm fingers brushed against her damp cheek, a feather-light touch meant to soothe. The contrast between his comforting warmth and the chill of her tear-stained skin was stark, a silent testament to her inner turmoil.
"Xi'er, she isn't rejecting you," he murmured, his voice low and steady, an anchor in her distress. “She’s afraid: afraid of what will happen when the truth inevitably comes out.” He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in the quiet space between them, the rustle of unseen bamboo leaves the only other sound.
"If keeping our marriage a secret for now eases their fears, then so be it," he continued, his gaze unwavering. "As for Li Fang's reaction… that is a storm we will handle together. We have to convey our thoughts properly, give them assurance that this will not bring disaster upon the Su family."
Bai Yunxi exhaled slowly, a long, shuddering breath, as if some of the crushing weight pressing on her chest had finally begun to lift. The knot of anxiety within her loosened, just a fraction.
"We will speak with them again, together," Su Kang affirmed, his tone imbued with a quiet strength. "Tonight, we'll settle it."
She nodded, her head still bowed, then leaned slightly into his touch, drawing a small measure of comfort from his nearness. The turmoil within her hadn't fully subsided, but his presence, his unwavering support, steadied her. Without another word, Su Kang laced his fingers with hers, his grip firm and reassuring. A silent promise, a shared understanding, passed between them. And so, they waited—hands entwined, hearts braced.
...
In their private courtyard, illuminated by the soft, warm glow of spirit-stone lanterns, Su Chen and Dong Yue sat at a polished darkwood table. The faint, earthy aroma of high-grade spiritual tea mingled with the cooler scents of the night.
Su Chen poured his wife another cup, the amber liquid steaming gently. He watched as she took a slow, contemplative sip before finally breaking the heavy silence.
"What do you think?" Her voice was steady, but the slight furrow in her brow betrayed her deep unease.
Su Chen swirled the tea in his own cup, the movement slow, his gaze fixed on the vortex within. "Kang'er wouldn't have told us if he hadn't thought it through," he said, his voice a low rumble. "He knows Li Fang better than anyone."
Dong Yue pressed her lips into a thin line. "Even so, it's a dangerous choice. If Li Fang falls in battle against the demon cultivators, none of this will matter." She paused, the unspoken implication hanging heavy. "But if he survives, joins the Heavenly Sword Sect, and gains influence…"
Su Chen exhaled, a weary sound, rubbing his temples. He had turned that same thought over in his mind countless times. No matter how righteous a man might be, discovering that his closest friend had secretly pursued and married his mother behind his back would feel like the deepest kind of betrayal. The thought alone was enough to make anyone's blood boil.
"They want to keep it a secret for now," Su Chen murmured. "But what then? Will they tell Li Fang one day? Or bury it forever?" He shook his head. "We need to talk to them about this. We can't do much now, after all, rice is already cooked."
Dong Yue let out a long breath. After the exhausting journey home, she hadn't expected such a mess. "I never thought one day, I would be unhappy about my son's marriage." She sighed.
"So, how was she?" Su Chen asked, curiosity in his tone.
She lifted her cup, taking another sip. "She has suffered a lot. After hearing her story, I understood why she chose this relationship—even knowing how the world would see it."
Su Chen studied her expression. "And? What do you think of her?"
Dong Yue's fingers traced the rim of her cup. "She's good. Her cultivation isn't high, but… she has a certain regal air. More than anything, she truly loves Kang'er."
A faint smile touched Su Chen's lips. "Then our biggest problem is her son."
Dong Yue nodded. "If not for Li Fang, I wouldn't have minded. But her past… her identity… it can never be public."
Su Chen swirled the tea, watching the ripples. "Then let's see how Kang'er handles this."
Dong Yue placed her cup down with a soft clink. "I just want to end this discussion. Let's go to them and put this matter to rest."
Su Chen and Dong Yue stepped into the lantern-lit courtyard where Su Kang and Bai Yunxi waited, hand in hand. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension. Bai Yunxi's fingers trembled slightly, but Su Kang's firm grip steadied her.
Dong Yue's expression was unreadable, but the stiffness in her posture betrayed her emotions. She took a slow breath before speaking, her voice sharp and unwavering. "Su Kang, if you were already married to her, why are you only telling us now?" Her gaze darkened. "You didn't need our blessings, did you? You made your decision without us, and now that everything is said and done, you've come to inform us?"
The Su family allowed personal freedom, but Dong Yue was different. Filial respect was ingrained in her. Su Kang lowered his head, accepting his mother's reprimand without excuse. Stepping forward, he bowed deeply. "Mother, I was wrong." His voice was steady.
Beside him, Bai Yunxi bowed. "This was my decision as well. I will accept any punishment you see fit."
A flicker of emotion passed through Dong Yue's eyes—anger, frustration, fear. She let out a long sigh, her shoulders sagging. "Both of you, that's enough."
As they straightened, Dong Yue crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "Then tell me—why reveal her identity now? What was your purpose?"
Su Kang met her gaze. "This was never about making things public—I simply wanted you both to know the truth."
Su Chen's brows furrowed as he exchanged a glance with Dong Yue. After a pause, he asked, "Then what do you plan to do about Li Fang?"
The courtyard fell into silence. Su Kang glanced at Bai Yunxi, then back to his father. "I've considered many possibilities. There is no perfect solution, but I will create circumstances where Li Fang has no choice but to accept reality." He then turned to Bai Yunxi, his tone unwavering. "If I must deceive him, manipulate him, or mislead him, I will do so. But no matter what, the Su family will not bear the consequences of my choices."
Bai Yunxi understood. He was warning her. She tightened her grip, a silent show of support.
Su Chen's expression darkened. "You speak as if you have complete control. What if you're wrong?"
A faint smile touched Su Kang's lips, devoid of warmth. "Then I will not let him find out until I'm certain I can handle him."
Su Chen exchanged a glance with Dong Yue before she stepped forward, her sharp gaze locking onto Bai Yunxi. "What will you do when Li Fang tries to harm Su Kang?"
