Chapter 149 Let it be

Yao Mingzhu looked into her eyes.

"Those words were indeed hurtful, and I felt uncomfortable listening to them too."

She paused, then reached out and grasped Zhou Shufen's slightly cool hand.

"But you have to understand, your relationship is your own business. Others can comment, but the decision is in your own hands."

"I'll speak up for you over there; I absolutely won't let you suffer any injustice."

“I will talk to his mother and also persuade Guo Zhenyi to take responsibility. You deserve to be respected, not to live a life of hiding in the shadows.”

She knew that Zhou Shufen had had a difficult time over the years.

As her friend, what I hope for most is that she can have a peaceful and happy life.

“I understand, I’m not angry with him.”

Zhou Shufen said softly.

"I'm just... a little tired. We haven't done anything wrong, so why are we being judged like this?"

Yao Mingzhu felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this and quickly patted the back of her hand.

“Silly girl, you’re not wrong. The ones who are wrong are those who refuse to let go of their prejudices.”

The two chatted for a while longer, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Yao Mingzhu was relieved only after confirming that she really didn't take it to heart.

She knew that as long as Zhou Shufen could still smile, it meant that the knot in her heart was slowly untying itself.

There were things to do at home, the children were waiting for dinner, and my husband had called twice to urge them to eat.

Yao Mingzhu took her leave after sitting for a while.

Before leaving, she gave him one last piece of advice.

"If anything happens, be sure to call me. Don't try to handle it all alone. I'm here for you."

Not long after I saw Yao Mingzhu off, the doorbell rang.

Zhou Shufen opened the door and saw Guo Zhenyi standing in the doorway.

He was carrying a bunch of things, including a beautifully wrapped bouquet of lilies.

Zhou Shufen was stunned and speechless when she saw this scene.

"Shufen, I was really wrong this time."

Guo Zhenyi kept his head down.

"I didn't plan things out in advance, and I didn't consider your feelings, which made you feel wronged in front of her..."

"I'm sorry, I was too selfish and careless. If you're still willing to listen to my explanation, I'd like to have a proper talk with you."

Seeing his dejected appearance, Zhou Shufen felt as if something was blocking her heart.

"Don't be like this, it's really not your fault, and I won't take it to heart."

Zhou Shufen spoke in a gentle tone.

She genuinely wanted Guo Zhenyi to understand.

She wasn't angry, not at all.

She didn't want him to be caught in the middle and put in a difficult position because of his mother's attitude.

But what Guo Zhenyi saw in her eyes was her almost heartbreakingly tolerant understanding.

If I had been more resolute back then and communicated clearly with my mother earlier, perhaps I wouldn't have put her under such pressure.

"Shufen..." Guo Zhenyi called her softly.

His eyes were filled with self-reproach.

Seeing this, Zhou Shufen didn't say anything more.

Turning around, I walked to the kitchen, took a clean glass from the cabinet, and slowly filled it halfway with warm water.

“You are indeed a good catch, and I can understand your mother’s thoughts. What parent wouldn’t want their son to find someone ‘better’?”

As she spoke, she sat down in the chair opposite her, her expression calm.

She's lived through two lifetimes, so she doesn't care about those external formalities anymore.

Besides, Guo Zhenyi himself is also quite good.

She knew in her heart that she didn't need him.

But it is precisely because they know how to cherish it that they are even less willing to give up this relationship easily due to external pressure.

But as soon as he said that, Guo Zhenyi's expression changed immediately.

"Shufen, that's not how it is!"

He blurted it out almost without thinking.

"I've never thought of that! And don't think I'm not firm enough! I'm serious about you, always have been! I just want to spend my life with you, living a simple and peaceful life, I don't care about anything else!"

He doesn't usually use sweet words, and what he says is always clumsy and straightforward.

Seeing how anxious he was, Zhou Shufen felt a little embarrassed.

"I know that's not what you meant. Don't get agitated, let me finish what I have to say."

"Sit down and let's talk. Is there anything between us that we can't say? There's no need to be so tense."

Guo Zhenyi then reluctantly sat down.

Seeing his appearance, Zhou Shufen's heart softened a little more.

"My feelings for you are genuine, and I have never wavered. I really don't care about these formalities, whether we get married or register our marriage, it's not that important."

"I'm already this old, I've been through so much, and I've seen so many partings and reunions. As long as we can trust each other and support each other, that's more important than anything else. Nothing else really matters."

In her view, marriage is nothing more than a piece of paper.

As time goes by and feelings deepen, relationships become stronger than those held together by a marriage certificate alone.

But these words, spoken today, are like a bombshell.

With a loud bang, it exploded in Guo Zhenyi's ears.

Upon hearing this, Guo Zhenyi panicked, thinking she wanted to end the relationship.

It took a lot of persuasion before Zhou Shufen finally calmed him down.

She patiently explained her true thoughts, emphasizing again and again that she had no intention of leaving.

But Guo Zhenyi was still uneasy.

"Shufen, I know you've suffered a lot in the past. I really want to take care of you and give you a stable home. Trust me, I will definitely treat you well for the rest of my life."

In his mind, marriage is a big deal.

It is not just a marriage certificate, but also a determination for two people to face the storms together.

He didn't want her to suffer, nor did he want others to gossip.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shufen was momentarily at a loss for words.

She was touched by his sincerity, but also felt a heavy pressure.

She felt that Guo Zhenyi was too anxious and too serious.

But she also understood that times had changed.

Her ideas are indeed easily misunderstood right now.

In the end, she had no choice but to back down and not bring it up again.

"Let's just let things take their course, no need to rush."

The two then stopped arguing.

On the other side, after Huang Chuanzhen was sent home, he sat on the sofa with a gloomy face.

She thought about it over and over, and the more she thought about it, the more frustrated she felt.

She was determined not to let Zhou Shufen into the house!

If that woman really becomes Guo's daughter-in-law, how will she have any say in the family?

The position she had painstakingly maintained for half her life was about to be easily shaken by an outsider.

As Huang Chuanzhen pondered, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

In the end, I decided to contact Pan Yun.

After all, she was Zhenyi's lawfully wedded wife and the mother of his children.

Rather than letting Guo Zhenyi marry Zhou Shufen, it would be better to let him get back together with his ex-wife.

The moment the thought crossed her mind, she couldn't sit still.

She immediately took out her phone and dialed Pan Yun's number.

Pan Yun was a little surprised when she answered the phone.

She originally thought that Guo Zhenyi had regretted his decision and had his mother step in as a peacemaker to ease the tension between him and his mother.

“Pan Yun, I haven’t been able to sleep lately because of all this worry. If only you could get back together with Zhenyi…”

Huang Chuanzhen started rambling on and on as soon as she opened her mouth.

She poured out all the grievances she had felt that day.

Later, she simply revealed everything about how Guo Zhenyi had argued with her today because of Zhou Shufen.

Pan Yun, who had been clinging to a sliver of hope, was immediately jolted awake after hearing this.