The Young Miss Refuse To Love-Chapter 187: Father Qi’s tears

"Chengfeng decided to marry into the Qi family." Qi Jianyi continued softly once her parents had finally quietened down, her tone steady yet gentle.

Mother Qi’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, her expression caught between disbelief and concern.

"Does his family allow that?" she asked, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

Father Qi, however, looked rather satisfied, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his lips. His reaction mirrored exactly how Mr. Qi had responded back then in the other world.

Seeing both of them react in the same way brought an odd warmth to Qi Jianyi’s heart. Their expressions, so alike despite being different people, filled her with an indescribable feeling. She smiled and nodded lightly, her heart touched by how even in separate worlds, her parents shared the same kind of thoughts and emotions.

"There was some disagreement, but in the end, his grandfather allowed it. Of course, under the premise that if we have a second child, that child would take Song Chengfeng’s last name." Qi Jianyi explained calmly, choosing not to mention the heated argument that had taken place between the elders. There was no need to recall how those old men had bickered. The result was all that mattered now.

Both Father Qi and Mother Qi nodded in understanding. They could see the fairness in the condition, and as long as the Song family had accepted their daughter with sincerity, they had nothing more to ask for.

"That’s good to hear," Mother Qi commented softly, though her smile wavered and slowly dimmed.

A faint shadow crossed her eyes as she added under her breath, "It’s a pity that we cannot witness your marriage."

Her tone was light, but her heart ached.

Father Qi remained quiet beside her, though the silence that fell over him spoke louder than any words could. It would be a lie to say he did not feel sorrow. His daughter, the one he had held since infancy, the one he had loved and watched grow up, would be married tomorrow.

Yet he could not be there to see it, nor walk beside her down the aisle. The thought alone was enough to twist something deep within his chest. He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a long, steady breath before opening them again, forcing his emotions to settle. When he looked at his daughter once more, his gaze was calm, though a faint glimmer of pain still lingered in his eyes.

While Father Qi silently composed himself, Mother Qi could no longer restrain her feelings. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks, her shoulders trembling slightly as she tried to hide her sobs.

"Mom..." Qi Jianyi called softly, her own eyes turning red as she rose from her seat and crossed the short distance to her mother’s side. She knelt beside her and gently wrapped her arms around her shoulders, holding her with quiet tenderness.

"I’m sorry," she whispered. Mother Qi immediately reached out and smacked her daughter lightly on the arm.

"Why are you apologising for?" she asked between tears, her voice firm despite the emotion behind it. Qi Jianyi looked up at her mother, her lips trembling.

The tears in her eyes sparkled under the morning light as she whispered, "I’m sorry for leaving you and dad."

In her heart, more words echoed that she could not bear to say aloud.

I’m sorry for falling in love with a man in another world. I’m sorry for choosing him. I’m sorry, Mom.

Those were words that remained unspoken, yet she knew her parents understood them. Even without saying it, they could feel what she meant.

"Jianyi." Mother Qi called softly as she cupped her daughter’s cheeks with both hands. Her palms were warm, filled with the tenderness of a mother who had waited too long for this moment.

"You do nothing to feel sorry for. Loving him and choosing him doesn’t mean you abandon us. Your father and I will always love you, and choose you. But that doesn’t mean we want to hold you by our side forever. Didn’t I tell you before that it’s time for you to chase your happiness?" Mother Qi raised her eyebrows slightly as she spoke, her tone gentle yet firm.

"You found it, and now you have to grab it and make it yours forever. Don’t feel sorry for us because you have done nothing wrong. You are just simply chasing your happiness. And we—" Mother Qi turned her gaze toward her husband, who was quietly sitting beside her.

Father Qi reached out and rubbed her shoulders with comforting hands, wordlessly urging her to finish.

"We will always be here rooting for you," she said at last, her voice breaking with a light sob. Father Qi pulled his wife into his arms and turned to their daughter with a faint, proud smile.

"Jianyi, your mother and I will always wait here for you. So enjoy your life and come back to tell us everything." His tone was calm but thick with emotion as he reached forward to pat Qi Jianyi’s head.

"And me! I will wait for you too!" a familiar voice suddenly chimed in from the side. It was Qi Jianning, the one who had long been forgotten in the warmth of the moment.

Qi Jianyi laughed softly at her sister’s interruption and nodded.

"Thank you, mom, dad. And you, little kid," she said, making sure not to leave her out.

"I’m not a kid anymore," Qi Jianning grumbled, her lips forming a stubborn pout that made the others laugh even more.

"I also wish for you guys to be there too," Qi Jianyi said after a short pause. Her voice grew quieter as she leaned into her mother’s embrace, letting her familiar scent calm the ache in her chest.

"Life is so unfair," she murmured.

"Not really. We still can see each other. So life is not entirely ruthless to us," Mother Qi coaxed, kissing the top of her daughter’s head before gently caressing her back in slow, soothing motions.

"Sister, when I get married one day, you should come and witness it. You and Sister Jianyi too. Both of you need to be there." Qi Jianning suddenly cut in, her tone turning cheerful as she shifted the somber atmosphere toward her own wedding that existed only in distant dreams.

Father Qi raised an eyebrow at his youngest daughter’s sudden words. "How are you going to make both of your sisters come to your wedding?" he asked, curious yet amused by her imagination.

After all, both Qi Jianyi and Miss Qi shared one body. Only one could appear at a time, so Qi Jianning’s words made little sense to her parents.

Rolling her eyes dramatically, Qi Jianning explained in a matter-of-fact tone, "It’s easy. My sister will come in the morning and in the afternoon, Sister Jianyi will come to see me. So both of them will come to my wedding."

Qi Jianyi couldn’t help but laugh at her little sister’s innocent arrangement. She nodded, her eyes soft with affection.

"Okay, I will do as you say," she promised, smiling warmly. After all, she truly did not wish to miss her sister’s wedding. If she ever had the chance to witness that day with her own eyes, she would not let it slip away.

...

"Marriage is not always a rainbow. There will be rain and painful times. But Jianyi, you should remember that it’s not you against him, but you and him against your problems. I hope you will always be happy and at peace." Mother Qi conveyed her feelings with a gentle voice as she carefully tucked her daughter into bed, her touch tender and filled with love.

The day of her stay had passed by swiftly, too swift to grasp. To Qi Jianyi, it felt as if she had only just been talking with her family when the sun began to set and the moon quietly took its place.

Time flowed softly, slipping through her fingers like water, and before she realized it, midnight had arrived. She wished she could hold onto that moment a little longer, but reality reminded her that it was time to sleep. Time to return to Song Chengfeng.

"Tell him that as a man, he should always listen to his wife’s words. Even if you’re wrong, you’re still right in front of everyone, and he should only correct you in private. He must defend you no matter what situation you are in. He must love and care for you like how I did. Jianyi, your dad only hopes that he will treat you right and never wrong you. My child, my miracle, should never shed heartbreaking tears. There should be only smiles and laughter in your life. Unfortunately, I failed to do so. So, dad hopes he can give you that." Father Qi finally spoke, breaking the silence that lingered in the room. His voice trembled slightly, yet each word carried the depth of his emotions and the weight of his paternal love.

Tomorrow, his beloved daughter will become someone’s wife. She would start a new life and build her own family. He had raised both of his daughters with all the strength and love he possessed. Though they might not have been spoiled with riches, they were spoiled with affection, warmth, and understanding.

He had always supported their dreams, no matter how small or uncertain they seemed. It was because of that love that both his daughters grew up to be strong and stubborn women—resilient, determined, and full of life. Everything they had become was because their father had given them everything he could offer within his humble means.

The tears that had already dried began to well up again in Qi Jianyi’s eyes. She blinked quickly, trying to chase them away, but they refused to listen. Her lips quivered as she tried to speak.

"Dad, you..." She sat up and threw herself into her father’s embrace. "You are the best father in the world. You have always been my hero."

The more she spoke, the heavier her sobs became. A small sniff soon turned into unrestrained weeping. Her words were filled with love, gratitude, and sorrow all at once.

Father Qi could no longer hold back his tears either. He wept silently, his arms wrapping tightly around his daughter, as though he was holding her for the last time. Mother Qi and Qi Jianning, who stood nearby, could not control their own emotions and soon joined the embrace.

What began as a father-daughter hug became a full family embrace. Warm, sorrowful, and unforgettable.

"I’ll see you next month," Father Qi murmured softly as he wiped away his daughter’s tears. "Until then, take care of yourself."

Qi Jianyi nodded, her throat tightening as she tried to hold back another wave of sobs.

"All of you also take care of yourselves," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Mother Qi smiled gently, nodding her head, while Qi Jianning puffed up her chest and promised she would take care of their parents in her sister’s absence.

After bidding her final farewell, Qi Jianyi laid down on her bed. She wiped the tears that continued to fall, her eyes drifting toward the closed door. In a voice as soft as the wind, she whispered, "Please be healthy and safe."

Her eyes grew heavier, her breathing slowed, and she knew that sleep was finally taking her away. She drew in one last deep breath, letting calmness fill her heart.

When morning came and she opened her eyes again, she would be a bride. And the man she loved—the one waiting for her—would finally see her again. With that gentle thought, Qi Jianyi drifted into sleep, her heart filled with both sorrow and anticipation.