Fairy, Don't Be Afraid, I Am Blind

"Do you even know what you’re saying?"

You Su remained silent but extracted the stored-value gold talisman given to him by the Third Elder from the Qiankun Order. Inside were a thousand mid-grade spirit stones from the Exorcism Bureau, completely untouched.

The Third Elder held her breath, "Let’s not even discuss how I’m not prepared to let a man dabble in this women’s clothing business of Bihua Pavilion. Didn’t Lingruo tell you Bihua Pavilion is closing down today? You’re too late if you want in, go back."

As the words fell, the Third Elder turned, ready to leave.

"Third Elder... are you really willing to let it end like this?"

You Su performed a bow of respect, speaking in a gentle yet persistent manner.

The Third Elder paused, staring blankly at You Su, her beautiful eyes difficult to read.

She didn’t directly answer You Su’s question but instead asked:

"Why haven’t you spent a single spirit stone from this stored-value gold talisman?"

"Of course, it’s because I feel embarrassed to use it."

When the Third Elder handed over the stored-value gold talisman to You Su, she had emphasized that the money was hard-earned and shouldn’t be squandered. You Su remembered it well and was always reluctant to use it recklessly.

"If that’s the case, why are you willing to invest it in Bihua Pavilion now? How is that not a waste?!"

"Because You Su believes that not only will the money not be wasted, but it will also turn into a torrent of wealth!"

The Third Elder’s expression flickered with uncertainty, showing signs of anger.

She had finally resolved to sew the wound of Bihua Pavilion shut, yet this young man was stirring up trouble, insisting on reopening that wound of hers.

"You Su!"

The beautiful woman took several deep breaths, unwilling to argue with You Su, and said coldly:

"Don’t act smart. Bihua Pavilion won’t reopen, nor does it need your investment. Go back, I’m tired."

With a wave of her jade-like hand, the small flying rod at You Su’s waist flew out on its own, clearly signaling "you may leave now."

You Su finally stood up straight, bowed his head, and placed one hand on the small flying rod, preparing to depart on the cloud-topped bamboo.

As he was leaving, he mumbled softly:

"Stubborn, no wonder you can’t outplay Qianhua Venerable..."

?!

The Third Elder’s eyes widened, her tolerance for You Su reaching its limit. She couldn’t believe that an eighteen-year-old junior dared to be so disrespectful to her.

Before You Su could even settle on the small flying rod, he felt an inexplicable force pulling him back down. Fortunately, he’d braced himself when he spoke those words, and gracefully landed with a flip, avoiding an embarrassing fall.

"You Su! Do you think I am too kind to you on ordinary days that you’ve forgotten who I really am?"

The Third Elder’s chest heaved with anger, though sadly no one was there to appreciate the peaks and valleys.

"You Su wouldn’t dare! But if the Third Elder isn’t willing to see Bihua Pavilion shut, why not listen to You Su’s advice?"

The Third Elder snorted coldly, disdainful: "Fine! You think you can revitalize Bihua Pavilion, do you? I’ll give you this chance!"

"Thank you, Third Elder!"

You Su wore a slight smile. From knowing that the Third Elder stayed alone guarding Bihua Pavilion, he could see that she couldn’t bear to let it go. Reasoned persuasion fell on deaf ears, but this provocation finally caught the fish on the hook.

"Don’t celebrate too soon! I have no reason to trust you without justification! If your suggestion is feasible, I will not only apologize to you but also reward you handsomely; but if it isn’t..."

"What if it isn’t?"

"If it isn’t, you’ll move down from Lotus Peak! Go live with the outer disciples in the dormitory!"

You Su hesitated for a moment upon hearing this and asked, "Will I still be a disciple of Lotus Peak?"

"I am not so stubborn as to meddle with other people’s mentor-student relationships!"

You Su raised an eyebrow; this punishment was indeed severe for someone frequently conversing with his senior and junior sisters late at night but at least it didn’t touch the essentials, so he agreed decisively:

"Then it’s a deal."

The Third Elder looked at You Su, who was confident with a teasing smile, getting slightly angry yet knowing she shouldn’t be.

After all, this blind young man just wanted to help Bihua Pavilion.

You Su was the man she looked down upon, an outsider to Bihua Pavilion. Yet even he hadn’t given up on Bihua Pavilion, was she going to give up?

Giving up is difficult, and starting over after giving up is even harder.

She didn’t have the courage to open the wound again, yet she transferred her anger at her own cowardice to the one trying to help her deal with the injury.

Moreover, the other party was a youth over three hundred years her junior; it really shouldn’t be like this...

The Third Elder knew she had lost her composure, shook her head quietly, her demeanor no longer aggressive, and softened her voice:

"Speak."

"Yes."

You Su stood straight, one hand behind his back, the other folded across his chest, ready to begin his grand speech.

"Does the Third Elder know what’s the biggest reason why Bihua Pavilion’s stockings aren’t selling?"

"Of course, it’s due to the underhanded hindrance from Qianhua Pavilion."

"Rather than say it’s the underhanded hindrance of Qianhua Pavilion, it’s more that Bihua Pavilion’s own lack of preparation allowed itself to be easily manipulated."

"I thought you could present some real insights. I won’t blame you for being blind. The stockings I’ve made are as good if not better than Qianhua Pavilion’s, and competitively priced. How can you say we’re unprepared? If all you do is blindly speculate, I suggest you go pack your things now."

"Running a good store isn’t just about having quality goods. When I talk about lack of preparation, I mean the Third Elder made the mistake of oversimplifying the business of opening a store."

The Third Elder’s eyebrows raised slightly; this was no different than telling a devoted mother that her child’s poor grades were all due to her insufficient education—you’d have to be convinced, right?

But the Third Elder controlled her temper, "My Bihua Residence is renowned near and far, countless wine lovers travel miles just to buy the wine I brew, are you saying I don’t understand business?"