To Hold One's Joy / Happy - Chapter 2 : A Forced Melon is Not Sweet

Translator : The proverb 'a forced melon is not sweet' means that trying to force something to happen, especially something related to relationships or personal feelings, will not be successful or lead to a positive outcome. It emphasizes the importance of allowing things to unfold naturally rather than trying to manipulate them.

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At the Su family, which was across the street from the Sheng Mansion, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

In the house, the Eldest Madam of the Sheng family and the Madam of the Su family were discussing marriage, and in the yard stood several young people, each with an angry look on their face.

"Second brother, why don't you go in and tell mother? What if she really agrees?" A girl in a green dress looked anxious and pulled a young man's sleeve.

The young man looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old. He was none other than Su Yao, the second son of the Su family. He was a well-known handsome man throughout Jinsha County and even in Jinling Prefecture, with a look similar to 'Pan An' and 'Song Yu'.

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Translator : Pan Yue, also known as Pan An (潘岳/潘安), and Song Yu (宋玉) were both figures of great importance in Chinese history, particularly known for their beauty and literary talent.
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Su Yao leaned against the magnolia tree in the yard that was full of flowers, and looked towards the door with calm eyes.

Another girl in a pomegranate skirt pouted and said angrily, "Sister, don't talk nonsense. How could mother agree to a girl like Luo Sheng?"

Eldest Miss Su, the girl in a green dress glanced at her younger sister and lowered her voice: "Don't forget Luo Sheng's identity!"

Second Miss Su, the girl in a pomegranate skirt was stunned for a moment, and stamped her feet angrily: "So what? Our Su family is not ordinary people. Does our second brother's marriage have to be forced by others?"

The Su family was a prominent family in Jinsha. Farming and studying had been passed down from generation to generation. Over the past hundred years, many imperial officials had emerged from them. No one in the local area dared to offend them.

But Luo Sheng's father was the Grand Commander and in charge of the Jinlin Guards. Why would he care about this?

Eldest Miss Su thought so and felt a little annoyed by her younger sister's naivety.

At this time, Su Yao spoke up: "My two sisters, please stop arguing. Marriage is a matter of parents' orders and matchmaker's words. Mother will make the arrangements for me."

His voice was gentle and his expression was calm, which made the two girls even more anxious.

"What if mother nods?" Eldest Miss Su asked, biting her lip.

Su Yao looked towards the door again, his eyes dark, "Then I'll listen to mother."

"Second brother!" the two girls shouted in unison.

They heard hurried footsteps and looked over. It was their younger brother standing at the gate who was running towards them.

Little Brother Su was only eight or nine years old, his cheeks flushed from running, and he shouted, "Oh no! Luo Sheng is here!"

It seemed as if the one coming was not a young girl, but a ferocious beast.

Su Yao stroked Little Brother Su's head and said gently, "Don't call her by her name, call her Miss Luo, or Sister Luo."

When Luo Sheng walked over, she just heard this sparse and faint voice.

Gentle, but not much warmth.

Second Miss Su rushed forward, stood in front of Su Yao, and shouted, "What are you doing here?"

Luo Sheng looked at her, as if she saw 'a righteous man standing in front of a beautiful woman and scolding a lecher who was trying to rob her'.

'Beautiful woman...'

Luo Sheng's eyes fell on Su Yao.

The young man was wearing a moon-white gown, his complexion was as white as jade, his hair was as black as crow, and he was so thin and more eye-catching than the magnolia flowers on the tree behind him.

Su Yao was about to frown when he found that Luo Sheng's eyes had moved away from him.

Luo Sheng stared at the door and said, "I heard that my Eldest Aunt was discussing my marriage with Madam Su, so I came here."

Second Miss Su was so angry that her hands were shaking. She pointed at Luo Sheng and cursed, "How can you say such a thing! It's not enough to threaten the Sheng family with death to propose marriage, but you actually came in person. How can there be such a shameless person like you in this world!"

There were tears in the little girl's eyes.

She was really going crazy, but the elders had warned her not to provoke Luo Sheng, saying it would bring trouble to the Su family.

Eldest Miss Su held her sister's hand and seemed to be a little calmer: "Miss Luo, the elders are discussing something right now, you should go back and wait for news."

The Su Mansion does not welcome you. If you stand here, you are polluting the Su family's place.

Eldest Miss Su did not say this aloud, but she had no idea how many times it had lingered in her mind.

"Come back with me!" Luo Chen chased after her and grabbed Luo Sheng's wrist angrily.

Luo Sheng didn't move.

Under the gaze of the Su brothers and sisters, Luo Chen's face flushed. He gritted his teeth and whispered, "Do you really have to stay here and embarrass yourself?"

Luo Sheng patted Luo Chen on the head and said calmly: "I'll go in to talk and then leave."

The thirteen-year-old boy had not yet grown taller and was an inch shorter than the tall Luo Sheng. Luo Sheng's movements seemed strangely harmonious.

Everyone forgot to react, including Luo Chen who was touched on the head.

It was not until Luo Sheng's back disappeared at the door that Luo Chen reacted and his face turned pale with anger.

She, how dare she touch his head!

The maid Hong Dou, who did not follow in, smiled and explained for Luo Sheng: "Our Miss likes the young master."

If the Young Master was ugly, her young lady won't even look at him, even if the Young Master was her own little brother.

Luo Chen's face turned from pale to red, and he said coldly: "Get lost!"

He wanted Luo Sheng to like him? If a sister like this could help him lost less face, he should be grateful.

Cough cough--
Luo Chen started coughing because he was too emotional.

Luo Chen was weak, so when he was young, he was sent to live in Jinsha County, where the climate was pleasant. Everyone who was familiar with the Sheng family knew this.

Seeing this, the Su brothers and sisters asked with concern.

At this time, Sheng Jia Yu arrived, looked around and asked, "Where is Luo Sheng?"

Eldest Miss Su said calmly, "Go in."

Second Miss Su had a good relationship with Sheng Jia Yu, and she spoke frankly: "Sister Jia Yu, why didn't anyone stop her from coming to our house like this? Oh, she was afraid that my mother would not agree, so she came to discuss the marriage in person."

Sheng Jia Yu's face turned red with embarrassment after hearing these words, and Luo Chen wished he could find a hole to crawl into.

"I'll take her back!" Luo Chen strode towards the door.

In the east room, Eldest Madam Sheng and Madam Su were also surprised by Luo Sheng's coming in.

"Why is my niece here?" Eldest Madam Sheng asked softly, but her heart was filled with disgust.

She had never seen a girl like this in her entire life!

The Sheng family and the Su family were good friends, and the two families had frequent exchanges. She had been a guest in this house countless times, but never once did she feel as uncomfortable and humiliated as she did now.

If someone told her son about a girl like Luo Sheng, she would want to pick up a vase and throw that person out.

But she was the one who was doing such disgusting things now.

But what could they do? Luo Sheng was willing to hang herself for the Second Son of the Su family. No matter whether it was true or false, if something unexpected happened, how would the Sheng family explain to General Luo?

By then, not to mention the Sheng family, even the Su family would probably not be able to escape the disaster of being destroyed.

Knowing the consequences, Madam Su almost nodded in agreement even though she was extremely reluctant.

What is Luo Sheng doing here at this time?

Luo Sheng knelt down and bowed to Eldest Madam Sheng and Madam Su, saying, "Eldest Aunt, I'm here to call you back home."

Eldest Madam Sheng was shocked by Luo Sheng's unprecedented courtesy and couldn't help asking, "Does my niece know why I'm here?"

Luo Sheng's lips curved slightly: "I know that my Eldest Aunt is here to discuss my marriage with the Su family's madam, but let's just call it quits."

"Why?" Eldest Madam Sheng and Madam Su asked in unison, extremely shocked.

At the door, there were also voices of surprise from Sheng Jia Yu and others.

Luo Sheng smiled and said, "Because a forced melon is not sweet. Eldest Aunt, let's go back."

Even after Luo Sheng and the others left, Second Miss Su still had an expression as if she had seen a ghost, and asked incredulously, "She also knows that a forced melon is not sweet?"