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"Then what about Su'er? Have you considered her safety? If it weren't for Nan Wan's help this time, you would have probably already gone to another world," Cheng Yi couldn't help but feel a bit angry. "The war will never end; fighting against the Japanese is like hitting a stone with an egg. Instead of facing a tragic defeat and losing your life, why not spend the rest of your days with the one you love?"
He remained calm and composed. Although Cheng Yi's words were not wrong, he was very clear in his heart. He stood up and said, "Yes, my forces are currently scattered and indeed insufficient to confront Japan, but I can see their ambitions clearly. Father Yue, I believe that soon we will gather the strength of the entire nation to fight them. I absolutely cannot allow them to erode our country."
Every word he spoke was resolute, expressing his thoughts without reservation. Cheng Yi was taken aback; his discourse involved national affairs and was so meticulous that it left no room for rebuttal. After a moment, he said, "So you have decided to return to the country and no longer consider it?"
"Yes." His eyes, as dark as lacquer, shone brightly, with a heroic spirit ready to burst forth between his brows.
Cheng Yi sighed, looking at his daughter beside him, his voice hoarse. "Su'er, no matter what he does, you will support him, right?"
"Mm." She nodded gently, her gaze shifting between the two men. After a pause, her delicate fingertips touched Shaoyi's sleeve as she softly said, "Shaoyi, once the ship docks, we will buy tickets to go back home. What do you think?"
He turned his eyes to look at her; her gentle and serene smile made him feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia and peace. If there were a next life, he wished he would not be born into a warlord family again, free from so many constraints and responsibilities, just walking side by side with her. He remained silent for a while, filtering through Cheng Yi's words in his mind. In fact, Cheng Yi was right; no father would want his only daughter to suffer even a little pain.
He could not be... so selfish...
"Mo Su." He slowly opened his mouth, but her heart sank tightly as if she already knew what he was going to say. Her water-colored eyes stirred with ripples; he couldn't bear to look at her for fear of shaking his own resolve. "I can return home by myself; you and Father Yue can live in America."
He finally uttered those words. Her nose felt sour, and tears began to well up uncontrollably but she forced them down, still wearing that gentle smile. "Shaoyi, you are my husband. I have said it before: wherever you are, I will be there too; you cannot leave me behind."
"Wait for me. Once the situation stabilizes in the country, I will come find you and never leave again," he looked at her steadily, making a promise for eternity. But she shook her head; knowing full well that the future was fraught with danger and having prepared herself to live or die with him, hearing his words now filled her with mixed emotions and frustration.
She glanced at Shangguan Shaoyi and then at Cheng Yi; the emotions she could no longer suppress surged forth. "Dad, Shaoyi! You both keep saying it's for my good and thinking of me, but have you ever considered what I truly want?" She burst out of the door and stumbled slightly but almost fell. He hurried after her but was stopped by Cheng Yi who gently shook his head.
He furrowed his brows and said, "Father-in-law, what do you mean by this?"
"Have you made your final decision? Think it over before you talk to Su'er," Cheng Yi said quietly. His daughter's words seemed to have struck him like a wake-up call, making him realize that she had grown up and deserved the right to choose her own life.
Shangguan Shaoyi's gaze darkened as he looked at the blue-and-white porcelain bowl filled with beef brisket congee. The aroma of the congee still lingered in the corners of his lips, and her presence seemed to hang in the air. Could he really let go of her, whom he had worked so hard to regain? He asked himself but found no answer.
"Shaoyi, you might resent my actions and look down on them, but I have no regrets," Cheng Yi said as he moved aside and slowly sat down, gazing silently at him. "My son is gone, and Su'er is my only family; she is my deepest concern in this world. If she were to leave one day, I would have nothing left to hold onto."
Shangguan Shaoyi tightened his pupils, his deep gaze fixed on Cheng Yi. Cheng Yi smiled bitterly and continued, "I believe Su'er has already told you about these matters, so I won't repeat myself. You may not understand now, but when you become a parent, you will eventually comprehend my actions. I believe that if you were in my position, you would do the same."
Shangguan Shaoyi remained silent, his mind filled with the somewhat lonely figure of Cheng Yi. If Cheng Yi were to lose Mo Su again, he would truly become a solitary person. He understood the taste of loneliness but had never considered that solitude did not belong solely to him.
"Just pity this old man," Cheng Yi said, fading into darkness where his expression was unclear. "I resigned from my position and sold off my assets in the country; now I only have this one daughter left. I cannot lose her again. But I must also take responsibility for her happiness. The only way I could think of was this absurd method of bringing you to America. Whether you resent me or hate me, I just want you to seriously consider my suggestion."
He nodded silently as countless emotions swirled within him. He recalled a day from years ago when she had made him choose between the world and her; at that time, he thought it was amusing because he felt those two things were not in conflict. But now, that question lay deeply before him.
Indeed, one cannot have both fish and bear's paw; to be true to the world means letting her down. If one desires too much, all they might grasp is air.
"Father-in-law," he spoke softly, his voice tinged with rare fatigue, "no matter how I choose—whether to return home or stay—Mo Su will always be my wife for life; that cannot be changed."
"Naturally," Cheng Yi nodded. "If you truly wish to go back, I only hope that you leave Su'er abroad. When the day comes that you are tired or weary, return to her side."
"I understand your meaning," he said as he withdrew his gaze and looked into the distance. "I will carefully consider this during this time. Please rest assured that I will never involve Mo Su in danger again."
"That's good."
Shangguan Shaoyi turned around and walked towards the deck, while Cheng Yi did not try to stop him again. He stepped closer to the graceful figure, who seemed momentarily stunned, clearly sensing the smell of gunpowder growing nearer.
She rubbed her sore eyes and turned around, colliding into him. He tightened his grip, pulling her firmly into his embrace, leaving no space between them.
The two stood quietly in each other's arms, the Seamless Sky blending into one color as the lights flickered back on. Envious gazes from those around them were directed at the couple, their heartbeats slowly synchronizing, the rhythmic sound merging together until it became indistinguishable.
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