Chapter 161 Just Be Yourself

Guo Zhenyi's breath hitched, and he gently placed his hand on hers.

From now on, just be yourself.

“Listen carefully, I, Zhou Shufen, am not anyone’s supporting role.”

Before she could finish speaking, Guo Zhenyi grabbed her hand.

That force wasn't meant to imprison her, but to let her know that this time, no one could pull her back.

“I remember.”

She suddenly remembered the year she was sixteen.

Her mother braided her hair into a shiny braid, saying that a woman should revolve around the stove and the children.

When she looked in the mirror then, she thought that her face would remain fair and clean for the rest of her life.

She raised her hand and gently stroked his brow bone with her fingertips.

There's a shallow scar there, from last year's flood relief efforts.

"Make sure you smile nicely on the day of the ribbon-cutting ceremony."

Guo Zhenyi suddenly grabbed her hand.

"I can laugh when you're next to me."

She didn't say anything, but used all her strength to hold him tightly in return.

The moment their palms touched, she suddenly felt

All the hardships and offenses I suffered over the years were swallowed down silently.

"At that time, I will assign some people to manage order."

Guo Zhenyi paused, then lowered his voice.

"Move the broadcasting equipment over there too, and Xiao Wu will host the ceremony for you, okay?"

Zhou Shufen's eyes suddenly lit up.

She could hardly believe her ears.

She originally thought that getting Guo Zhenyi to personally cut the ribbon was already a huge favor.

Unexpectedly, he even arranged the host, and considered every detail so thoroughly.

Xiao Wu's voice is the signature voice of the radio station; everyone in Ningcheng knows it.

She was in charge of the morning lifestyle segment on the radio.

Every household could hear her clear and gentle greeting as soon as they turned on their radios.

"This...this has gone to so much trouble for you."

She tried to say a few polite words, but before she could finish, her throat tightened.

In her past life, she had to make countless trips and wait repeatedly to ask for favors, and even then, she might not get what she wanted.

In this life, she didn't even have to open her mouth before Guo Zhenyi had everything arranged.

Such genuine care is not charity, but a heartfelt desire to make her feel better.

Seeing that her eyes were red, Guo Zhenyi gently raised his hand and wiped the corners of her eyes.

"Why are you talking to me like that, all formalities?"

He said in a low voice.

“Your supermarket is a legitimate project that benefits the people, and we need to make sure the whole of Ningcheng hears about it and sees it. Only when people dare to do it can this place have hope. As the district head, I'm not only doing this for you, but also for the sake of this place.”

Zhou Shufen's nose tingled, and she finally couldn't hold back her tears.

She suddenly remembered what Jiang Nanzhi had said a couple of days ago when she was sitting on a small stool doing accounts.

"Life is getting better every day now."

She nodded at that time.

Now, as she truly held Guo Zhenyi's hand, she suddenly understood.

That seemingly casual remark actually carries a great deal of weight.

"Then I need to stock up on more sugar."

She sniffed.

"Xiao Wu has a sweet voice, so her life should be sweet too. She needs to share in some good fortune."

Guo Zhenyi looked at her quietly, then suddenly chuckled softly.

"I am the one who should share in the joy."

These words, like a small pebble, gently landed in her heart.

She abruptly pulled her hand back, then pretended to be focused on arranging the pomelos.

Her ears were already as red as if they were on fire.

Guo Zhenyi neither exposed her nor said anything more.

He silently picked up a pastry from the table, broke off a small piece, and stuffed it into her mouth without saying a word.

"Come on, it's my treat. But we have to go to the cafeteria this time; I have a meeting this afternoon."

"No need, I'll eat at home."

Zhou Shufen gave a vague refusal.

"There are leftovers at home, we can just heat them up and eat them, it's no trouble at all."

Guo Zhenyi, however, refused.

"You need to show your face. I want my colleagues and friends to know that you're one of my people."

Zhou Shufen felt a pang of panic.

She subconsciously looked down at the faded floral shirt she was wearing.

I should have changed into something more presentable; I shouldn't have dressed so shabbily.

The cafeteria was indeed bustling, with the aroma of food mingling and rising in the air.

The moment they entered, countless eyes quietly lingered on her.

Guo Zhenyi, however, did not care at all and gently pulled her to sit down by the window.

"Shufen, have some of this. It's our cafeteria's specialty."

He had just placed a piece of pork rib into her bowl when a loud "bang" came from the side.

"Captain Guo..."

The young officer's face flushed red instantly.

Even so, he couldn't help but steal glances in this direction.

He had been working in the district for two years and had never seen Guo Zhenyi treat anyone like this.

Zhou Shufen became even more uncomfortable, lowering her head even further, almost burying it in the bowl.

"Eat quickly, it won't taste good when it gets cold."

Someone quietly nudged the person next to them.

"Did you see that? Captain Guo is actually quite gentle in private?"

Old Huang, who was by the window, slowly walked over with a bowl in his hand.

He was an old comrade-in-arms of Guo Zhenyi who transferred from the army to Ningcheng. The two had gone through thick and thin together and had a very close relationship.

“Zhenyi, who is this girl…”

Before he finished speaking, his eyes were fixed on Zhou Shufen, his face full of inquiry.

Guo Zhenyi interrupted him with a smile.

"Old Huang, this is Zhou Shufen, my wife."

Guo Zhenyi deliberately emphasized the words "wife".

His gaze shifted and landed precisely on Zhou Shufen's face.

"Shufen, this is Lao Huang. He's helped me a lot in the past."

Zhou Shufen immediately stood up, a genuine smile on her face, and generously extended her hand.

"Brother Huang, hello! I've heard so much about you, it's great to finally meet you today."

Old Huang felt a jolt when he grasped her hand.

The woman was pretty and quiet, looking delicate and frail, as if she had never experienced the hardships of life.

But her palms were covered with a thin layer of calluses, showing the marks of years of hard work.

Looking at Guo Zhenyi's expression, his gaze almost never left Zhou Shufen.

Old Huang immediately understood about 70-80% of it.

"Good, very good, Zhenyi, you're lucky. She's a truly virtuous and capable wife, so rare, so very rare."

Zhou Shufen felt extremely uncomfortable during the meal.

She always felt that people around her were subtly glancing at her.

But she knew in her heart that this was not an ordinary dinner party.

This is a symbolic ceremony in which Guo Zhenyi formally brings her into the depths of his life.

She is no longer the woman who hides behind and silently supports others.

Rather, it is someone who can stand openly and honestly beside him.

In the future, when she sets out to build her career in Ningcheng, having someone to back her up is always better than going it alone.

After the meal, Guo Zhenyi held her hand the whole way.

"Zhenyi, thank you."

Zhou Shufen said softly.

"You're still the same as before, so formal."

Guo Zhenyi smiled.

"On the day your shop opens, I will personally come to propose marriage, with gongs and drums, so that everyone knows who you belong to."

"Proposing marriage..."

She repeated it in a low voice.

The sarcastic remarks from my relatives when I got divorced in Peach Blossom Village last year still echo in my ears.

It's only been a little over a year. If she really holds a wedding with Guo Zhenyi, and the news gets back, won't her relatives go crazy?

Guo Zhenyi's heart clenched when he saw her face suddenly turn pale.

He instinctively wanted to hold her hand tighter and give her more strength, but she gently dodged away.

Unexpectedly, Guo Zhenyi grabbed her hand.