Gu Yunzhou let out an "hmm," somewhat unclear about why Liu Yuan was here.

Was it because of him?

"Comrade Liu Yuan, you’ve come for...?" Unsure, Gu Yunzhou asked.

Liu Yuan paused, then looked at Gu Yunzhou’s face, and said, "Comrade Gu, I... I have something I want to say to you. Is it convenient for you?"

Gu Yunzhou realized Liu Yuan wanted to speak to him alone, but...

"Then let’s go to my backyard."

His backyard wasn’t open to outsiders, though his family was in the living room.

The family could see from a distance, but shouldn’t be able to hear.

So when Liu Yuan entered the courtyard of the small villa, she saw Gu Yunzhou’s mother in the living room.

Yao Chunhua was somewhat surprised by Liu Yuan’s appearance, but seeing that she came to look for her son, she nodded and then resumed her own tasks.

Liu Yuan, of course, Yao Chunhua knew her.

Previously, when the Liu Family sent matchmakers to propose, Yao Chunhua even went to the supply and marketing cooperative to look at Liu Yuan.

To be honest, her impression of Liu Yuan was good.

Having her as a daughter-in-law wouldn’t be bad.

But the third son didn’t like her, so nothing could be done.

Although Liu Yuan came now and she didn’t know the reason, Yao Chunhua believed the third son could handle it.

Meanwhile, Liu Yuan was internally smiling bitterly, Gu Yunzhou, you’re really leaving me no chance at all.

"Comrade Liu, you can say what you wanted to say." Gu Yunzhou didn’t know Liu Yuan’s inner thoughts, so he asked.

Liu Yuan composed herself and looked up at Gu Yunzhou, "It’s been a long time, Comrade Gu Yunzhou, you’re still so spirited."

"I heard you were selected to go on a government scholarship to study in Country A?"

Gu Yunzhou let out another "hmm."

"Will this be for 4-5 years?"

"Hmm."

"Then, what about your marriage? Won’t your parents urge you?"

Gu Yunzhou frowned slightly, feeling Liu Yuan’s question was a bit intrusive.

After all, he and Liu Yuan weren’t close, just acquaintances, colleagues really.

While working at the supply and marketing cooperative, they only had random interactions and weren’t familiar.

So, asking about someone’s marriage right off was indeed overstepping.

But Gu Yunzhou was exceptionally smart.

Listening to Liu Yuan’s questions and looking at her eyes,

He recalled Liu Yuan’s vague affection for him from long ago and instantly understood.

Could it be Liu Yuan still had feelings for him?

Sure enough, the next second, he heard Liu Yuan say, "If, if you’re in a hurry to get married, could you consider me?"

Watching Liu Yuan’s hands entangled together, nervous yet hopeful.

Gu Yunzhou thought to himself: Sure enough.

But...

"Comrade Liu, I’m not in a hurry to marry, my parents aren’t urging me, and I don’t have any plans to marry for now, so..."

Before he finished, Liu Yuan’s tears began to fall.

"So, I still have no chance at all?"

Gu Yunzhou nodded, "Comrade Liu, I didn’t think you hadn’t moved on, but I really don’t have those feelings for you."

Liu Yuan’s tears couldn’t be controlled, "Even if I wait for you these 4 or 5 years you study abroad, will I have a chance when you return?"

Gu Yunzhou was surprised Liu Yuan could say this, but...

"Sorry, even then, I wouldn’t change my mind, and Comrade Liu Yuan, doing so isn’t worth it."

Liu Yuan’s tears flowed even more fiercely.

She knew, whether it was worth it or not depended entirely on Gu Yunzhou’s thoughts.

As long as Gu Yunzhou gave her a definitive answer, no matter how long she waited, it would be worth it.

But Gu Yunzhou was unwilling.

No matter how long she waited, it would only lead to one conclusion: not worth it.

"Alright, I understand." Liu Yuan wiped her tears.

She knew, Gu Yunzhou’s heart was like stone, with words said like this, if she still clung onto those thoughts, it would really be too pathetic.

But...

"I have only one last question."

"Gu Yunzhou, do you think there’s something wrong with me? Is that why you reject me this way? Is it, is it because when you saved me back then, I was with Wen Zhqing..."

At that time, if not for Gu Yunzhou’s pebble that woke her up just in time,

Maybe, in a confused state back then, she and Wen Zhqing...

At that moment, Gu Yunzhou saw it, right.

So, did he despise her because of that incident?

Gu Yunzhou was surprised, he didn’t expect Liu Yuan to think this way.

Gu Yunzhou shook his head, "That matter, if you hadn’t mentioned it, I’d have forgotten it long ago."

"And Wen Zhqing, that person, is quite cunning. It’s not surprising you were deceived by him when you lacked life experience."

"I don’t have romantic feelings for you."

"I still want to find someone whom I mutually love and connect with on a spiritual level to spend my life with."

Liu Yuan understood.

She was relieved Gu Yunzhou didn’t despise her due to Wen Zhqing back then.

Yes, Gu Yunzhou is such a good person, otherwise, he wouldn’t have saved her back then.

Nor would he make her yearn for so long.

She was also saddened that she wasn’t the person who could have a spiritual resonance with Gu Yunzhou, one he could love.

She wondered, what kind of girl would Gu Yunzhou like in the future.

She thought that person would surely be very happy.

Today, Liu Yuan came here seeking a final answer.

Now, all questions too were answered by Gu Yunzhou.

So...

For this fruitless affection, she should let go.

"Comrade Liu Yuan, I sincerely wish you well in the future."

Liu Yuan nodded, accepting Gu Yunzhou’s blessings.

But she knew if she could stay by Gu Yunzhou’s side, that would truly be well.

However, it’s impossible now.

Impossible in this lifetime.

But if possible,

Hope in the next life, she can be a bit more outstanding.

Perhaps, then she and Gu Yunzhou might have some possibility.

Finally, Liu Yuan gave Gu Yunzhou a deep look, turned around, and left.

She didn’t look back, afraid that if she did, she couldn’t control herself, letting tears go with the wind.

After that, Liu Yuan indeed completely let go of Gu Yunzhou.

However, after all this was someone she genuinely loved, it took Liu Yuan nearly half a year to get over the emotions.

Afterward, she let her parents arrange blind dates for her.

Three months later, she got married.

Her husband is an engineer at a factory, with gentle looks and a kind, simple disposition.

He was very fond of Liu Yuan.

And Liu Yuan...

To say how much she liked him would be untrue, but she didn’t dislike him, and there was some affection.

She also knew she was of age, and couldn’t wait any longer.

So the two got married.

Liu Yuan thought that the days after marriage, living with him, shouldn’t be difficult, in life, even if you can’t live with a certain someone, you still need to live well.

Life, after all, is hard to come by, just a few short decades, it all ends.