Chapter 54 Not Good Enough for Her

He spoke calmly, but his eyes were slightly unfocused.

He remembered how she repeatedly revised a single detail, how she would lean back in her chair and close her eyes for a while when she was tired, and then immediately straighten up and continue working.

He remembers those scenes clearly.

Yao Mingzhu's ears immediately perked up, but after waiting for a long time, there was still no further news, which made her extremely anxious.

"That's it? Can't things develop in your relationship? I'm really hoping for something more!"

She said the sentence almost word by word.

"Sigh..." Guo Zhenyi sighed softly and shook his head. "I always felt that someone like her probably wouldn't be interested in me."

He said this with his eyes lowered.

It's not that he didn't want to fight for it, but that he knew himself too well.

He was ordinary and unremarkable.

And she was so outstanding, so dazzling.

How could she possibly be interested in someone as ordinary as him?

This wasn't just polite talk; he genuinely meant it.

He genuinely felt he wasn't good enough for her.

He would see her in the company corridor every time.

When you see her confidently talking to clients or attentively explaining drawings, that sense of distance becomes particularly clear.

Yao Mingzhu understood immediately and patted his shoulder.

"Why are you so insecure? Look at yourself, you're good-looking, have a good figure, a stable job, and are a reliable person. What makes you unworthy of her?"

"And then there's Shufen. From knowing nothing to being able to draw independently, she persevered entirely on her own. That shows how resilient and intelligent she is!"

Yao Mingzhu became more and more excited as she spoke, and her voice rose a few decibels.

She knew about Shufen's past and how difficult it was for her to get started, but she never heard her complain once.

She had seen her work overtime until the early hours of the morning, and she had also seen her eating cold steamed buns while researching information.

"You two are both quite young, and it's not easy to meet someone you get along with and who appreciates you. If you miss this opportunity, you might not be able to find another one. I genuinely think you need to take the initiative and not just keep your feelings to yourself."

She wasn't just worrying unnecessarily; she genuinely considered them friends and truly hoped for a good outcome for them.

When it comes to relationships, sometimes a single misstep can mean the difference between life and death.

Yao Mingzhu finished speaking in one breath, and the more she spoke, the more she felt that it made sense; she had pointed out everything that needed to be pointed out.

The rest is up to them to decide how to proceed.

At the same time, Zhou Haiqing returned home from get off work.

I happened to run into Yao Mingzhu and Guo Zhenyi leaving together downstairs.

He had just stepped off the bus, his briefcase slung over his shoulder, and his steps were still a little tired.

Looking up, I saw the two of them walking out of the building entrance side by side, talking as they went.

He paused for a moment, then recognized them.

He knew both of them; they were friends his mother had been mentioning recently.

My mother mentioned it several times on the phone, saying that Yao Mingzhu is warm-hearted, straightforward, and loves to stand up for the underdog.

Guo Zhenyi is described as calm and honest, not talkative but reliable.

Since leaving her ex-husband, my mother's life has changed completely.

She used to always keep her head down and speak softly.

But now, she walks with a brisk pace, speaks with energy, and even the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes seem to be smiling.

She found something she loved to do, her life became stable, she felt more energetic, and she made close friends, no longer just revolving around her home.

Zhou Haiqing felt both gratified and bittersweet as he watched.

I never knew that mothers could live such a radiant life.

But in the past, no one gave her this opportunity.

Zhou Haiqing watched, genuinely happy for her.

Along the way, the streetlights had just come on, and the evening breeze was caressing my face.

He pushed open the door, and the familiar wooden frame creaked slightly.

Along with the sound, a fragrant aroma of food wafted over.

As soon as I entered the door, I heard my mother humming a little tune while wiping the table.

The melody was incomplete, even a bit off-key, but the notes had a light and cheerful quality.

She bent slightly over and wiped the dining table back and forth with a rag.

The last rays of the setting sun slanted in through the window, reflecting on her graying temples.

"Mom, you seem to be in a good mood today?"

Zhou Haiqing couldn't help but ask with a smile.

He put down his bag, took off his shoes, and walked into the house while looking at his mother's face.

"That's right, old friends are here, it's wonderful to see them."

Zhou Shufen raised her eyes, her eyes slightly furrowed, and her smile was sincere.

She tossed the rag into the basin, shook the water off her hands, and said, "Go wash your hands, it's time to eat. I've already heated up the food."

Zhou Shufen smiled and gave him a push, urging him to hurry up and go.

"Stop dawdling here. Guifang is about to get off work, and the food will get cold again."

"Wait a minute."

Zhou Haiqing waved his hand and stopped walking.

He bent down, unzipped his backpack, rummaged around inside for a while, and pulled out an envelope wrapped in transparent plastic.

He opened the envelope, took out a stack of brand-new hundred-yuan bills, carefully folded them, and handed them to his mother with both hands.

"Mom, this is my salary for this month. You can keep it and decide how to spend it."

In his mind, now that his mother lives with them, she is the person in the family he should talk to the most.

Since my mother moved in with us, the atmosphere at home has subtly changed.

In the past, the couple lived together as a couple, discussing everything together. Inevitably, there were arguments and exhaustion.

But now, with the mother's involvement, the mundane housework is taken care of silently.

The food on the table tasted even better, and even the air seemed to feel more peaceful.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Shufen waved her hand and pushed the money back.

"No, this money should be given to your wife; she's the head of this household."

She took a half step back, avoiding the stack of banknotes.

"Mom, what did you say?"

Zhou Haiqing paused for a moment, his brows furrowing involuntarily.

“You are our elder, it is appropriate for you to manage the money. Do you think you would mistreat us?”

In his view, his mother was older, more experienced, and had always been good at managing the household.

Giving the money to her is both reassuring and worry-free.

In the past, no matter how honest he was, he wouldn't have dared to hand over all his salary to his mother.

At that time, he and Guifang had just gotten married. The young couple were very independent and always felt that outsiders interfering in their family affairs was meddling.

Especially when it comes to money, they are as sensitive as a taut string.

He once felt resistant to a piece of advice from his parents.

But things are different now.

Mom has a special status in their family.

She was not an ordinary guest, nor was she simply an elderly person helping to take care of the children.

She is a mother and one of the pillars of this family.

"It's not about whether we're being treated unfairly or not."

Zhou Shufen shook her head, her tone remaining calm.

She walked to the sink, washed her hands again, and then slowly dried them with a towel, saying, "I'm living in your house now, but you still have to make your own decisions about your own home."

She paused, her gaze falling on her son's face, and said earnestly, "Money is a small matter, but rules are a big matter. You are the masters of this house, and I am just an elder temporarily staying here. Once I start managing the money, if there is a disagreement in the future, you will be unhappy, and I will also be in a difficult position."

Even the closest family members need to maintain appropriate boundaries.

She knew that interfering too much would inevitably cause problems sooner or later.

The worst thing about family relationships is blurred boundaries.