Chapter 319: What’s the difference between the two?

"I think... I like someone — a man. I think I just have a crush on someone."

Charles dropped his cutlery, staring at his daughter in disbelief. His brain automatically blocked this new information, resisting the idea.

No way was his daughter getting married! His thoughts immediately jumped to the worst.

Allison, on the other hand, opened and closed her mouth, but no words came out. They had been worried about Penny because ever since she came into the restaurant, she had been working nonstop. Whether as a server or in the kitchen, she even helped with the counter and the billing. Even the staff were amazed, thinking that if Penny could cook, she would have taken Jessa’s job too.

So, the older adults couldn’t help but speculate about what could make Penny want to work nonstop all day. However, they hadn’t expected this.

"Hahaha!" Jessa’s laughter suddenly broke the silence as she nodded approvingly at Penny. "Piglet, it’s about time you started dating! Hah! You’re not getting any younger! Even my daughters are already thinking of settling down, with one of them about to get married. Hahaha! I thought you contracted a disease or something was off. Hahaha!"

Lester, Jessa’s husband — who had been stuck in the kitchen all day helping his wife — was in disbelief at his wife. "My love, you shouldn’t be laughing like that."

Allison cast Jessa a helpless look while Charles glared at her.

"Jessa, what are you on about, huh?" Charles snorted at Jessa. "My Penny just came back, and in my eyes, she’s still my little baby."

Jessa snorted back at him and leaned forward. "Then you should get your eyes checked, Charles. There’s definitely something wrong with them."

Used to Jessa and Charles’s occasional banter, Allison shook her head.

"Stop arguing, you two," she said gently but firmly. "Can’t you see Penny is in a dilemma? And this is the first time she’s come to us about such a matter." — or rather, this was the first time she had actually come to them about anything because their daughter had a habit of resolving things on her own.

"Thanks, Mom," Penny said with a short smile, glancing at her elders. "I don’t actually know if I came to the right people..."

"Yes, honey, you did!" Allison cheered happily. "Mom is here, and your Aunt Jessa will understand. So, tell us about your... crush."

Jessa laughed again, only to earn a glare from Allison. "Ahem! I’m sorry, but this is hilarious. Penny, a grown woman who is more than capable and the most excellent among her peers, is having problems with a crush. My goodness, piglet. How come you didn’t flirt when you were younger? You should be dating at this age! At this age, your mom was already pregnant with her first child!"

"Jessa!" Allison gasped in disbelief while Charles’s face was engulfed with flames.

"Haha. Brother..." Lester laughed nervously as he patted Charles’s shoulder. "Please don’t kill my wife for me."

Penny, on the other hand, sighed heavily.

What Jessa said was true, though. People Penny’s age were already dating, while others were getting married. It wasn’t like Penny was that old, but she was at the age where she should be exploring relationships. Therefore, it did sound strange for her to say she had a crush at this age.

’Even in my first lifetime, I didn’t have such problems,’ she thought. ’But that was because I didn’t even experience such things before.’

Her first lifetime was akin to a straightforward arrow. With Penny spending all of her energy trying to please everyone around her, she didn’t have time to think about such a menial thing. Even when she ended up in prison, Penny didn’t have such thoughts or regrets about not dating at all.

Another sigh escaped her, drawing the attention of everyone around the table.

"Penny," Allison called, waiting for her daughter to look up at her. She smiled affectionately and asked, "What exactly is bothering you about your crush?"

"Well..." Penny hesitated, but seeing that they were ready to listen to her dilemma, she mustered her courage to share her thoughts. "I’ve known him for a long time."

"And?" Allison’s brows rose.

"And somehow, I find him a little attractive."

"What do you mean by you find him attractive?"

"He’s smart," she said. "And he makes me think."

Jessa tilted her head to the side. "And?"

"And... when I realized he’s actually a man, my heart suddenly leaped a bit." Penny placed her hand across her chest. "The feeling was temporary, but at the same time, I don’t know what to do with it. Should I tell him I like him and that we should date? But what if it’s not like that, and I’m just assuming I like him because I think he’s beautiful and a wonderful person?"

For a moment, everyone was speechless while listening to Penny. They didn’t need to ask what Penny wanted to do with her unfamiliar feelings. She had just told them, and it was so innocently direct!

"My princess, are you saying you want to pursue him?! No way!" Charles harrumphed after processing everything his daughter had told them. "I’d rather go blind than see my daughter pursue a man!"

"Actually, he’s losing his sight as well," Penny added. "He hasn’t seen my face, and he might go blind tomorrow or anytime, actually. He’s also been very sick his whole life, spending most of it in and out of the hospital."

"..."

This time, Charles opened and closed his mouth, but the arguments he had in mind rolled back down his throat. Now, he didn’t know whether to get angry at the man who dared seduce his only daughter or ask the heavens for forgiveness for having ill thoughts about a sickly person.

"Penny," Allison furrowed her brows slightly. "Do you really think you like him?"

"Hmm?"

Jessa cleared her throat and explained, "Your mother is asking if you like him because there’s something to like about him, or if it’s just pity."

"I would know if I just pity..." Penny trailed off. "What’s the difference between the two?"

Jessa and Allison exchanged a look before turning back to her, concern evident in their eyes.