Chapter 227 is worth cherishing for a lifetime.

It's nothing like the thick, stiff sweaters I used to wear.

She was about to say "That's too much trouble" when he grabbed her hand.

"Try it first, and see if it looks good."

She paused for a moment.

Finally, I took the sweater and carefully draped it over my shoulders.

Then, he took out two pairs of jeans and handed them to Zhou Lijuan and Qi Changyu.

"Young people abroad wear this; it's durable and makes your legs look longer."

Zhou Lijuan took the pants, pinched the waistband with her fingers, and her brows relaxed.

"This cut is fantastic!"

Qi Changyu also came over and touched the fabric.

"People from other countries really know how to dress!"

He rubbed the fabric of his pants vigorously, but couldn't feel a single rough spot.

"This fabric feels so comfortable to the touch, it'll definitely feel great to wear!"

Zhou Liya was given a light pink dress.

The neckline is trimmed with delicate lace, and the skirt is draped with a layer of tulle.

"I know you love wearing skirts, this one was brought back from the land of perfume."

He explained with a smile.

"It's perfect for spring, and it would look absolutely stunning with your little leather shoes."

Zhou Liya immediately lifted her skirt and twirled around.

"It's exactly the same as the one I saw in the port city before!"

Her eyes reddened with emotion.

"So... there really is someone who remembers what I like."

Finally, Guo Zhenyi pulled out a pair of small black leather shoes from the corner of the box.

He squatted down and gently handed the shoes to Yang Qingyan's feet.

"Yan Yan, these shoes are soft and won't rub your feet when you run in them."

Yang Qingyan handed the bear to her sister and stood on tiptoe to let her try it on.

Her little feet were fair and tender, and she seemed a little nervous as she stepped into the shoes.

He only grinned when he heard a soft "click".

"Like princess shoes from a fairy tale!"

Watching the children chattering as they tried on clothes, Zhou Shufen lowered her head.

My fingertips caressed the wool sweater, and my heart felt warm and comforted.

She is indeed rich now.

But every item she received from Guo Zhenyi felt different to her.

That feeling of being treated with respect is more touching than any luxury.

Zhou Lijuan secretly winked at her younger sister.

A slight smile played on his lips as he pointed his finger toward the inner room.

Zhou Liya understood immediately and coaxed him with a smile.

"Come on, Qingyan, let me take you to see the new dolls I bought."

Yang Qingyan was still staring blankly in the direction of the main room when Zhou Liya pushed her into the side room.

The moment the door closed, the room became quieter.

Only Guo Zhenyi and Zhou Shufen remained, huddled around the brazier.

"Shufen".

He said softly.

"I am especially happy today."

She moved closer to him.

"Me too."

Guo Zhenyi looked down at her and gently tucked a stray strand of hair back into his hair.

My finger accidentally brushed against her red and hot earlobe.

"I used to think that I would propose marriage after I finished this busy period. But things just kept happening one after another, and it seemed like there would never be an end to it."

His tone was apologetic and regretful.

In those years, he traveled extensively, all for the sake of his future.

This is also so that I can give her a decent marriage in the future.

But time waits for no one.

As time went on, she ended up waiting for so long.

Even now, thinking about it still makes my heart ache.

I know you're busy.

Zhou Shufen looked up and smiled slightly.

“You’re doing something big, while I’m just keeping this little shop and hoping for a peaceful life.”

She spoke frankly, without a trace of grievance in her eyes.

"What you're saying..."

Guo Zhenyi grasped her hand.

"Shufen, you are the one with real skills. The country wouldn't be where it is today without business people like you who are shrewd, down-to-earth."

Her face flushed instantly, and she gently poked him.

"You're so good at sweet-talking people. What skills do I have? I just happened to be in a good period and earn some hard-earned money."

Although she said that, a sweet feeling welled up inside her.

"Hard-earned money is the most valuable."

Guo Zhenyi stroked the calluses on her palms.

"I've seen too much empty talk; it's people like you who are truly admirable."

These hands not only supported herself but also carried the family.

It even indirectly supported him all the way.

A woman like this deserves to be cherished for a lifetime.

He suddenly pulled a small notebook out of his pocket.

Turning to the inside pages, they were filled with densely packed writing.

"These are notes written by a friend of mine who works in foreign trade. He spent many years accumulating them, and they're full of real experience. I thought you might find them useful if you ever go into foreign trade, so I copied them down while I had some free time tonight."

Zhou Shufen subconsciously moved closer, her gaze falling on the pages of paper.

The handwriting was strong and clear, and the footer was filled with notes.

Which ports are most prone to cargo loss? Which docks have the most stable cold storage temperatures?

It turns out he had been worrying about her all along.

It wasn't just talk; I wrote down every detail that could help her.

She thought of things more thoroughly and comprehensively than she did herself.

"Zhenyi".

She slowly raised her head, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Why are you so good to me? I... I've never done anything for you."

Guo Zhenyi looked directly at her, his gaze calm.

"The first time I saw you was at the entrance of the residential compound. You were wearing a beige trench coat and carrying a cardboard box as you walked in, your hair fluttering gently in the wind. I stood at the entrance of the building, stunned."

"At that time, I thought, this woman is really beautiful. It's not just her face, but her whole being exudes a kind of spirit, stubbornness, and brilliance, like a wildflower that grows on its own in the wild. Once you look at her, you can't look away."

"So you've been eyeing me all along?"

She stopped crying and started to smile, but as soon as her lips curved into a smile, tears slid down her cheeks.

He reached out and gently wiped away the tears on her face.

“I used to think that this was how my life should be. Busy with work during the day, working overtime to write reports at night, and visiting my old boss during holidays. Marriage? I didn’t dare to think about it. My relationship with Pan Yun hurt me too deeply.”

"Until I met you."

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

"It's like a seed was planted in my heart. I didn't notice it at first, but it was there, quietly taking root. Later I realized that I started to notice that you like to eat sweets, are afraid of the cold, and always tilt the umbrella towards others on rainy days."

"Later on, whenever I passed by the foreign trade company in my car, I would take a second look and wonder if you were busy inside."

The firewood in the hearth was burning brightly, casting long shadows of the two people.

Reflected on the mottled earthen wall, they were pressed tightly together.

"Keep this notebook."

Guo Zhenyi stuffed the notebook into her palm.

“Take your time to read it. If you really encounter difficulties, don’t try to tough it out, and don’t think you can handle it all by yourself. Tell me. I don’t know much about business, but I know a lot of people at work, and I’ll definitely lend a hand if I can. You have to trust me.”

Zhou Shufen nodded and pressed the notebook tightly against her chest.

Then she carefully lifted her coat and put it in her pocket.

"Zhenyi".

She spoke softly, her eyes sparkling.

"I also brought you something."

As he spoke, he slowly took out a jade buckle from his spatial storage.

It has a smooth and warm texture and excellent water content.

Guo Zhenyi stared at it for a few seconds, then his heart sank.

She casually pulled out such a rare item.

And what about myself?

All we could give her was the small room allocated to her by her work unit.

His throat bobbed, and his voice was low.

"Shufen, this is too valuable, I can't accept it. I know you don't care about these things, but I can't bring myself to do it. I can't give you that much, yet I accept a gift like this from you, what kind of person am I?"