Free Web NovelChapter 130: Chapter 130: The Answer
Meanwhile, Cao Qiu was pounding on the door, so frantically it was as if the house were on fire.
And here, Sun Jiaming was holding her hand, refusing to let go.
’If I don’t give him an answer, will he really not let go?’
"Brother Jia Ming, this is a big deal. Could you give me a couple of days to think about it?"
Gu’er really wanted to say yes, but it was all so sudden. Besides, with Cao Qiu still banging on the door outside, she was afraid they would attract attention soon. Now was not a good time to discuss this.
"Alright. Then think it over carefully. Tell me when you’ve made up your mind."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Sun Jiaming’s eyes. He had desperately wanted to see Gu’er nod, but he also knew this was a major, life-altering decision. His proposal had been abrupt, so it was only natural for her to need some time to think.
He could tell Gu’er had feelings for him. Otherwise, she would have rejected him outright. ’Since she feels the same, there’s no need for me to rush.’
Sun Jiaming released Gu’er’s hand, his face filled with reluctance. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"I’ll get going then."
Sun Jiaming gave Gu’er one last look.
"Okay. If you don’t go now, I think your mom might just tear the door down."
Gu’er joked, but inside, she didn’t feel as relaxed as she appeared.
Sun Jiaming chuckled. He knew what was going through his mother’s mind. ’But what could he and Gu’er possibly be doing? If they were really going to do *something*, they wouldn’t have picked a time when everyone was coming back. Besides, they weren’t married. He would never do anything like that. That was a matter of respect for Gu’er.’
Sun Jiaming went to open the door. Cao Qiu’s hand, which had been in mid-pound, nearly slapped him in the face. The shout she had been about to let out at the top of her lungs died in her throat.
"What’s wrong? Mom, what happened?"
Sun Jiaming asked.
Cao Qiu swallowed and asked, "What happened? Didn’t you hear me calling you?"
"I heard you."
Sun Jiaming nodded.
"If you heard me, why didn’t you answer? Tell me, what were you two doing in there? Did she..."
As Cao Qiu spoke, she tried to peer inside. She could only vaguely make out Gu’er standing near the doorway and nothing else.
"Mom. What are you thinking? Sister Gu’er and I were just talking. When we went to the city today, she asked me to look into something for her. The moment I got back, you and Grandma were arguing, so I didn’t have time to tell her. I just got a chance to say a few words to Sister Gu’er, and you started yelling nonstop. What could possibly happen?" ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Sun Jiaming’s expression was one of helplessness.
"Talking shouldn’t take that long."
Cao Qiu was still skeptical.
"Alright, alright, let’s go back."
Sun Jiaming closed the door for Gu’er and tugged on his mother’s arm. If they didn’t leave now, his mom might just barge right in.
Once the voices outside faded, Gu’er went to bolt the main gate. She hadn’t gone earlier because she couldn’t be bothered to face Cao Qiu.
After locking up, Gu’er went to the kitchen to light the stove.
The firelight from the stove flickered across Gu’er’s face as she stared, lost in thought.
She hadn’t expected Sun Jiaming to bring this up at a time like this.
’But I really do want to say yes.’
’But what happens after I agree?’
’Am I supposed to marry Sun Jiaming?’
’Sun Jiaming said he’d support me, but if I marry him, shouldn’t I stay home and take care of Grandma? Would I still be able to go out and do my own thing?’
’And then there’s Liu Yuan. Next year, that factory is going to explode, and Liu Yuan will die. My original plan was to go to the city, start a small business, and gather more information so I could prevent the explosion from happening and save Liu Yuan’s life.’
’I want to build a house in the village, one that’s my own, so that no matter what happens, I’ll always have a place to live.’
’I want to buy a house in the city, one that’s my own, a place to put down roots.’
’Even if I get married, I don’t want to be just someone’s wife. I’m still Gu’er. I’m still myself.’
’I’m only eighteen this year. I don’t want to get married so early. I want to work hard for two years and become independent. That way, no matter what happens in the future, I can support myself. I don’t want it to be like my last life. I don’t want to depend on someone else to survive.’
The more she thought, the clearer her gaze became.
Sun Jiaming was a good man, and she liked him. He treated her very well, but she couldn’t marry him right now.
When Gu’er woke up the next day, she went over to the Sun Family’s house. Sun Jiaming had just gotten up as well. He was taken aback when he saw her; he felt that something about her was different.
He studied her carefully, but she was still the same Gu’er. Nothing had changed.
The only change, if any, was the clarity in her eyes as she looked at him.
’Does Gu’er already have an answer?’
’Is she... is she going to reject me?’
The towel Sun Jiaming was using to wash his face suddenly dropped into the basin. Water splashed everywhere, soaking his clothes.
"Brother Jia Ming, why are you being so careless?"
Gu’er hurried over, fished the towel out, wrung it dry, and handed it to Sun Jiaming.
Sun Jiaming stared blankly at Gu’er’s smiling face.
Gu’er looked at Sun Jiaming, puzzled. ’What’s wrong with him? I didn’t do anything.’
"Gu’er, are you... are you unwilling?"
Sun Jiaming took the towel from her, his voice low and a little hoarse, perhaps because he had just woken up.
A pang of sympathy went through Gu’er’s heart.
"Let’s talk in the kitchen."
Gu’er gestured for Sun Jiaming to follow her. Cao Qiu wasn’t up yet, but if she woke up and saw them talking together in the courtyard, it would just cause more gossip.
Sun Jiaming followed Gu’er into the kitchen.
Gu’er didn’t speak first. Instead, she started the fire.
Sun Jiaming tended the stove while Gu’er made breakfast.
"Brother Jia Ming, I’ve thought about it. I... I feel the same way you do. I have feelings for you."
A faint blush rose on Gu’er’s cheeks. In two lifetimes, this was the first time she had ever said something like this to a man. In her past life, she had even become a mother-in-law, but she had never spoken such words.
Sun Jiaming gazed at Gu’er, his eyes shining brightly. ’Gu’er said she has feelings for me, that she feels the same way... Does that mean... she’s accepting?’
"Gu’er."
Sun Jiaming cried out her name. He wished he could stand up right now, pull her into his arms, and spin her around a few times just to show her how happy he was.
"Brother Jia Ming, listen to me."
Gu’er cut him off. "Brother Jia Ming, I’m only eighteen this year. Yes, a lot of girls my age in the village are already married, but I... I don’t want to get married so early. It’s not that you’re not good enough. It’s that I want to strike out on my own for two years. In two years, I’ll be twenty, old enough to marry. Brother Jia Ming, can you give me two years?"
Gu’er asked Sun Jiaming, fighting back her shyness. Though her face was red with embarrassment, her expression was completely serious. This wasn’t a game to her. She liked Sun Jiaming, and she wanted to marry him, but just not right now. If Sun Jiaming would give her two years, she would marry him then.
’I’m giving myself two years, not just to forge my own path, but also to overcome my own psychological barriers. Maybe in two years, I can overcome them. Maybe in two years, I won’t be afraid anymore and will be willing to have children.’
’If by then I’m no longer afraid, if I’ve worked through it, wouldn’t Sun Jiaming and I be even happier?’
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Thank you to Dong Han Yue for the peace charm, to Ning Zhihai for the kudos, and to Mingming Baobao Geda, Congcong Ma myc, Xiao Mi 020903, jx060519, Ningmeng Ningmeng, and 876839286 for the monthly tickets. Thank you all for your support.
