Chapter 86 Promise

He couldn't help but silently calculate in his mind, his eyes quietly sweeping over Zhou Shufen's slightly tired face.

"That's a good idea."

He paused.

"But are you short on funds? I have some money saved up here, and it's just sitting idle. Just tell me how much you need."

He spoke frankly, without the slightest hint of reluctance.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shufen froze for a moment, her eyelashes trembling violently.

How could someone borrow such a large sum of money out of thin air?

She instinctively gripped the hem of her clothes, her fingertips feeling slightly cold.

Opening a shop is not something that can be done with just a few thousand dollars.

Just consider the costs of renovation, inventory, staff salaries, and initial advertising.

Which one isn't a money pit?

She never imagined that one day she would stand at such a crossroads.

She was facing someone who was willing to cover for her.

She looked at Guo Zhenyi, her gaze lingering on his steady eyes for a long while.

There was no probing or calculation in those eyes.

That's precisely why she's even more hesitant to accept it easily.

After a moment of silence, the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.

In the end, he slowly shook his head.

"Thank you, but I'll figure out a way to handle the money myself."

She didn't want to owe him too many favors.

I may not be able to pay it back in the future.

It's not just a financial debt, but also an emotional and moral one.

It's better for everyone if we get involved less now.

Even if she had the slightest doubt in her heart, she had to suppress that emotion.

Their relationship was never formally defined, nor was there any written promise.

But they both knew what was really going on.

She knew what he was waiting for.

And he never pressured her.

"If you won't lend me money, how about I consider it an investment?"

When Guo Zhenyi saw that she refused, he did not back down. Instead, his eyes lit up and his tone quickly changed.

"I've decided on your project and I'm willing to invest. You decide the shareholding ratio, and you'll be fully responsible for all operational decisions; I won't interfere. What you do next is entirely up to you. Is that alright?"

I saw right through her concerns.

What she fears is not money, but the debts of gratitude she owes.

So he simply turned "borrowing money" into "investment" and "giving alms" into "cooperation".

It gave her confidence while preserving her dignity.

Zhou Shufen looked at him, her lips slightly parted, but she couldn't say anything immediately.

However, no.

There is only openness and support there.

In that instant, it felt like something was blocking her throat, a surge of heat rose from the bottom of her heart, rushed to her eyes, and her nose stung; she almost burst into tears.

If I refuse again, it seems like I'm being ungrateful.

She took a deep breath, tried to calm herself, and finally raised her head.

"I really don't know how to respond to you like this. I always feel that I haven't done anything for you and don't deserve your kindness."

From the moment they met, Guo Zhenyi first saved her life.

If he hadn't happened to be passing by and forcibly pried open the car door to pull her out, she might have perished in the fire.

Later, he helped her get into the design class by pulling strings and using connections, and even personally accompanied her to register and submit materials.

But looking back, it seems she never really helped him at all.

Why was he able to stand firmly on her side?

“You don’t need to worry about these things,” Guo Zhenyi said calmly. “I want to help you; it’s my own choice, and it has nothing to do with whether you deserve it or not. I’m not doing this so that you have to repay me, nor am I waiting for you to be moved and have to repay me someday. I just… think it’s the right thing to do.”

He paused, his gaze softening.

"I'm at ease as long as you're doing well. That's enough."

As Zhou Shufen listened, her heart felt as if it had been struck hard.

She opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't say anything.

But her eyes spoke volumes.

There was shock, there was emotion, and there was also a quietly growing sense of dependence.

"But I really haven't done anything for you."

“Our contributions are completely unequal. You have given me so much, while I… cannot even say ‘I do’.”

Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes.

In her previous life, and even after being given a second chance, she had never had a proper relationship.

The parts about love, in particular, are almost entirely barren.

That Zhou Dajun from before was a complete scumbag.

He not only betrayed her trust, but also shattered her expectations of the relationship.

He talked about the future, but then turned around and walked into the wedding dress shop hand in hand with someone else.

From then on, it became even harder for her to open her heart.

Every time someone gets close, she unconsciously takes a step back.

She was afraid to love someone wholeheartedly.

I'm afraid of giving too much, afraid that in the end I'll be left to clean up the mess all by myself.

She once thought that as long as she was sincere enough, she could be appreciated in return.

But reality slapped her in the face.

However, if I'm not fully engaged, I feel empty inside.

This contradiction left her stuck in the middle, unable to move.

They dared not move forward, nor could they truly retreat.

You're overthinking it.

Guo Zhenyi smiled, his tone calm.

He sat opposite her, his hands resting lightly on his knees.

"My feelings for you are my own business. This feeling doesn't require an immediate response from you, nor does it require you to bear any responsibility for it."

"Helping you now is a different matter."

He paused, then looked directly at her.

"It's because I want to help you, not because I want to use this feeling as a bargaining chip. If I like someone, do I have to use that as a condition to negotiate? That's not how I conduct myself."

"This is something I was willing to do."

He continued, his tone remaining calm.

"You don't owe me anything, and I won't make any demands on you because of it. If you insist on being clear about things and drawing a clear line, then let's just call it a partnership. We'll have clear goals for each other and not interfere with each other's inner thoughts. Business is business, and no one owes anyone anything."

He said this without a trace of grievance on his face.

Zhou Shufen listened, her mind going blank for a moment.

She was already sensitive, and his words made her even more flustered.

After a while, I realized he was right.

A moment later, I felt something was off.

She couldn't tell if he was too sincere or if she was just too oblivious.

I was completely confused.

That proposal is indeed tempting.

With this money, all the current problems can be easily solved.

The rent won't be due and I won't be chased for payment, and my daughter's tutoring fees can be paid on time.

No longer will we have to be so frugal with rice, flour, and oil that we can only afford to eat pickled vegetables at every meal.

She can finally breathe a sigh of relief and no longer have to lie in bed every night counting her bank account balance.

That alone was enough to make her waver.

She kept her head down, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, and remained silent for a long time.

The living room was so quiet that you could hear the ticking of the wall clock.

Finally, she raised her head, a hint of struggle flashing in her eyes.

"No, I still can't accept it."

In her mind, accepting this money would mean owing someone a debt she could never repay.

This is no longer just about money.

There seems to be something else involved behind this!

"You still disagree?"

Guo Zhenyi gave a wry smile, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.