Free Web NovelChapter 99: Chapter 99: No Regrets
Gu’er took a long, deep breath. The memory of her past life made her heart ache so terribly it felt like a heart attack. But Gu’er knew she had developed that heart condition later in life; she didn’t have it now. The pain was just a subconscious reaction.
Gu’er looked at Liu Yuan. He had come all this way to find her and said he wanted to marry her. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t moved at all.
Especially now. She had cut ties with her family, was all alone, and had nothing. Yet, he was still willing to marry her. His intentions were so pure, so genuine.
"I’m sorry, Brother Liu Yuan. I don’t want to live in the city."
Gu’er’s eyes reddened slightly. The city held too many unhappy memories for her.
Liu Yuan let go of Gu’er’s hand. He had said so much, yet Gu’er was still unwilling. ’Saying she didn’t want to live in the city is just an excuse. The truth is she already has Sun Jiaming in her heart and looks down on me.’
Liu Yuan was devastated. His heart ached, and it felt so tight he could barely breathe. ’What was the point of all this?’ He had argued with his mom and refused to eat, all just to get her to agree to him marrying Gu’er. But Gu’er didn’t have him in her heart at all.
Liu Yuan felt aimless. He didn’t know what he had even come here for.
Seeing Liu Yuan looking so dejected, Gu’er felt a pang of guilt. But she couldn’t bring herself to say any words of comfort. It was better to let him be disappointed now than to give him false hope.
"I understand."
Liu Yuan lowered his head, feeling embarrassed.
"Brother Liu Yuan."
Gu’er called out his name, feeling uneasy. No man had ever pursued her in her past life. Despite her age, she was a stranger to matters of the heart and didn’t really know how to handle them.
"I’m fine, Gu’er. All that matters is that you’re doing well. Aren’t you going to the city to sell popsicles? If you need water, I’ll still bring you water. If there’s anything you need help with, just let me know. You call me ’Brother,’ so I can’t let you call me that for nothing. I’ll think of you as my little sister."
Liu Yuan gave Gu’er a smile, but it was a bitter one that made her want to cry.
"Alright, you should head back. I won’t go into the village. Tell Brother Jia Ming for me that I’m heading back now."
After speaking, Liu Yuan glanced at Gu’er, waved, and turned around.
Gu’er wanted to call him back, but what could she say if she did? She opened her mouth, then closed it again.
Liu Yuan took one step, then two. His stride grew more and more resolute. ’There’s nothing wrong with me liking Gu’er, and there was nothing wrong with making this trip. I like her, but she doesn’t have to like me back. As long as she doesn’t hate me, as long as she needs me, I’ll be there to help.’
’It’s enough that I know my own feelings. My efforts don’t have to be reciprocated.’
’This trip wasn’t meaningless. Gu’er rejected me, which means I’m not good enough yet, and it means Sun Jiaming entered her heart before I did. But I won’t give up. I have to work even harder. Even if Gu’er and I aren’t fated to be together, I will have tried, I will have fought for it. I won’t have any regrets.’
Having sorted through these thoughts, Liu Yuan straightened his back. Although his heart still ached, he was no longer lost. He decided he would start working properly next month, really focus on his job. He would support himself like a man, and in the future, support a family.
Watching Liu Yuan’s retreating figure, Gu’er finally let out a long breath. She got on her bike and started heading back, her mood no longer as light as it was on the way here.
As she passed the Zhou family’s home, Gu’er saw Zhou Mazi just returning from outside and about to go in. When he saw her, his jaw dropped in surprise.
Gu’er was riding fast and didn’t stop. She had no need to flaunt anything in front of Zhou Mazi, and she certainly didn’t want to talk to him.
"Gu’er, Gu’er."
Zhou Mazi shouted in disbelief, but Gu’er had already ridden far away.
’Gu’er is actually riding a bicycle! Did Sun Jiaming buy it for her? Just how rich is he? I only asked for fifty yuan, was that too little?’ Zhou Mazi felt a pang of regret, but when he thought about Sun Jiaming, he didn’t dare go to the Sun Family’s home to cause a scene.
’Gu’er left my house and her life is actually getting better and better?’
Zhou Mazi felt indignant. His mood, already foul from losing money gambling, soured even more.
He entered the courtyard, stormed into the house, and started throwing a tantrum, cursing at everyone.
Gu’er didn’t know any of this, nor did she care to think about it.
By the time she returned to the Sun Family home, Sun Jiaming had already planed the planks. He was using sandpaper to smooth each one. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"You’re back. You didn’t fall, did you?"
Sun Jiaming put down the wooden plank in his hand and went to greet Gu’er.
"Nope. I’m a pretty good rider."
Gu’er smiled at him, then went to look at the planks.
"They’re almost done. I’ll nail them together after lunch. I can finish it today, so you can go to the city and sell popsicles tomorrow."
Sun Jiaming knew what Gu’er was thinking and answered before she could ask.
"There’s no need to rush. A day or two later is fine."
Gu’er hadn’t expected it to be so fast.
"I don’t have anything else to do. The sooner it’s done, the sooner you can start making money."
Sun Jiaming gave an honest, simple laugh. He understood Gu’er, so he wouldn’t drag his feet.
Gu’er didn’t say anything else and went to make lunch.
Sun Jiaming watched Gu’er’s back, deep in thought. ’Gu’er went out for a bit, but she came back in a bad mood. Did something happen? Or did someone in the village say something to her?’
After they finished their meal, by the time Sun Jiaming had finished the box, the sky had already grown dark. Looking at the square box, Gu’er smiled sweetly. ’This thing is going to be with me all summer. I’m going to be pushing it through the streets and alleys.’
"I’ll make you a better one later." free𝑤ebnovel.com
Sun Jiaming said to Gu’er with a smile, his eyes full of tenderness.
"No need, this one is great."
Gu’er replied quickly, but Sun Jiaming just smiled without saying anything. ’That’s not what I was talking about. When a girl from around here gets married, her family always gives her a few chests as part of her dowry. A well-off family gives more, but even a poor family will give one or two.’
’Gu’er has no family now. When she gets married, there will be no one to prepare those things for her. So I’ll prepare them for her. In a few days, I’ll go to the city to see if I can find some good camphor wood. I’ll get some to make a few chests for Gu’er, and then I’ll find someone to get some red pine to make furniture.’
’Whatever other brides have, I’ll prepare for Gu’er. Whatever other brides don’t have, I’ll prepare for her too. I want Gu’er to marry in splendor, so no one can gossip about her.’
Of course, Sun Jiaming wouldn’t explain any of this to Gu’er. He would just do it.
Gu’er had no idea this was what Sun Jiaming was thinking. She was lost in her own thoughts. ’I have a bicycle, the box is ready, and I even have a small quilt. I can go sell popsicles in the city tomorrow.’ Although it wasn’t her first time selling things, selling wild vegetables before had been a business with no overhead. This required capital. Gu’er was still a little nervous, but more than that, she was excited. She believed that she could definitely make money through her own efforts.
That night, Gu’er went to bed very early. She placed the red dress by her pillow. Even though she wouldn’t wear it, it was nice just looking at it.
Gu’er drifted off to sleep with a smile on her lips. In her dream, she was wearing a beautiful red dress, joyfully running toward someone...
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Thank you to Haifeng sea·breeze and Zhang Wenyan for the sachets, and thank you to ann555141 for the four monthly tickets. Though it seems the system ate two of them, and only counted two. But I’ll remember, and once I have enough monthly tickets, I’ll post an extra Chapter. Thank you, everyone.
