“So it’s Dr. Gu who’s back?”
“Is that the Dr. Gu who was in the newspaper?”
“Exactly! I still have that newspaper saved. She’s the pride of our Qingshan County!”
…
Many people around recognized Gu Jianing. There was no helping it—when the news of her being featured in the paper broke, it caused a sensation across the entire county. And since Gu Jianing was from Huaihua Village under Qingshan County, it was hard not to remember her.
“Let’s leave first. There are too many people here.”
Seeing the crowd growing larger, Sheng Zexi suggested.
“Right, right, we should go.”
Gu Yunnan still had work to do at the grain station and couldn’t leave yet.
Meanwhile, Old Man Gu, holding Yueyue, got into the jeep.
Sheng Zexi asked, “Wife, are we heading straight back to Huaihua Village?”
Gu Jianing gazed out the window. “No, let’s go to the supply and marketing cooperative. Dad, Third Brother is at the cooperative, right?”
Her eldest brother worked at the factory, so seeing him might not be easy, but her third brother, who worked at the cooperative, would be much simpler to meet.
“Yes, your third brother works at the cooperative.”
“Alright, then let’s go to the cooperative.”
…
At the Qingshan County Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Gu Yunzhou was busy behind the counter, with a steady stream of customers coming and going.
He was so occupied that he didn’t notice the occasional glances from a pair of eyes fixed on him from across the way.
That person was Liu Yuan.
She stole glances at Gu Yunzhou from time to time, sometimes shyly lowering her head, her cheeks flushing red. Then, as if remembering something, a trace of bitterness would flicker across her face.
The female colleague beside her immediately picked up on her feelings and whispered, “Yuan Yuan, do you like Gu Yunzhou?”
The question startled Liu Yuan.
“Y-You’re talking nonsense.”
“How am I talking nonsense? It’s written all over your face.”
Liu Yuan fell silent.
“If you like Gu Yunzhou, why don’t you ask your parents to propose the match? He’s really quite a catch.”
“Plenty of people here at the cooperative have their eyes on him. If I weren’t already married with kids, I’d be eyeing him too.”
But Liu Yuan’s heart was filled with bitterness.
How could she not know how good Gu Yunzhou was?
Had she not asked her parents to propose to the Gu family?
She had.
Even her parents thought highly of Gu Yunzhou.
But the Gu family had turned them down.
At first, she thought it was his parents’ decision, but later she learned it was Gu Yunzhou’s own choice.
He said he wasn’t ready to marry yet.
Liu Yuan wondered—Gu Yunzhou was already in his twenties. At that age, most men were fathers to several children. So why didn’t he want to marry?
Before, Liu Yuan had always assumed that as the daughter of a leading family in the district, with her father being the county Party secretary, a city girl with a job at the cooperative, many would be eager to marry her.
She thought that once her parents sent someone to propose to the Gu family, the match would be quickly settled.
Yet she never expected reality to slap her hard in the face.
It was clear—Gu Yunzhou didn’t like her.
As for why Liu Yuan liked Gu Yunzhou?
Perhaps it was because, after working alongside him at the cooperative for so long, familiarity had bred affection.
Or perhaps it was because she’d learned that Gu Yunzhou had saved her.
That time, when she and Wen Zhuqing almost crossed the line, it was Gu Yunzhou who made a noise, snapping her back to reality and allowing her to escape—saving her life from ruin.
Gu Yunzhou had never mentioned this incident; she had only learned of it by chance.
She wondered, could it be that Gu Yunzhou knew about her past with Wen Zhuqing and thought her unworthy of love? That was why he didn’t like her?
Once, Liu Yuan had been bold in love and hate, unafraid to speak her mind.
But after what happened with Wen Zhuqing—and knowing Gu Yunzhou had witnessed it—she now felt inferior and timid in front of him.
Especially after being rejected outright, she didn’t dare approach him.
She could only watch him from afar.
Though Gu Yunzhou wasn’t from the city, his circumstances were no worse than any city dweller’s.
He was handsome, had a stable job, and his family was well-off. His father was the village head, his two older brothers also had respectable jobs—one worked as a clerk at the steel mill, the other at the grain station. And his only sister, Dr. Gu, had been featured in the newspaper, recognized by higher-ups for her medical skills, and married to a promising officer from the capital.
In short, the Gu family had excellent connections and a solid reputation.
So, Gu Yunzhou’s prospects were outstanding.
Was it that he hadn’t yet met the right girl? Or was there already someone in his heart—just not together yet?
What kind of girl could possibly win Gu Yunzhou’s favor?
Just as she was lost in thought, her colleague tugged at her sleeve urgently. “Hey, Yuan Yuan, look—that girl is so pretty!”
“She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, like a fairy descended from heaven!”
“Oh my, she’s walking toward Gu Yunzhou! Could she be the girl he likes?”
What?
Liu Yuan immediately looked up and, sure enough, saw an incredibly beautiful girl approaching Gu Yunzhou.
She was truly stunning!
Liu Yuan had always considered herself attractive, but now, compared to this girl, she felt utterly plain.
Meanwhile, the girl—who seemed like a celestial being in Liu Yuan’s eyes—had already reached Gu Yunzhou’s counter.
“Hello, I’d like to buy a hairpin.”
“Of course, which one—” Gu Yunzhou began, looking up—only to freeze when he saw the smiling face before him.
His eyes instantly reddened.
Usually composed, his voice now trembled with emotion.
“Little Sister? You… you’re back?”
The girl standing in front of him was none other than Gu Jianing.
“That’s right, I’m back. Third Brother, it’s been so long—I’ve missed you so much.”
Gu Yunzhou’s eyes glistened as he smiled. “You silly girl, really…”
He fought the urge to pull her into a hug.
Since the cooperative was busy, their reunion was brief.
Gu Yunzhou learned that Jianing had returned with her whole family—husband and children—and would stay for at least a month.
His face lit up with joy. “Alright, you take your husband and the kids home first. I’ll come straight back as soon as I finish work.”
“Okay.”
Though she longed to catch up, Gu Jianing said her goodbyes and left.
Gu Yunzhou watched her retreating figure, lost in thought for a long moment.
From across the room, Liu Yuan immediately noticed the change in Gu Yunzhou’s demeanor.
So… was that the girl he liked?
So beautiful, so elegant—whose family was she from?
Gu Yunzhou, of course, had no idea what Liu Yuan was thinking.
Right now, his heart was full of his little sister. All he wanted was to finish work quickly and rush home to see her.
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