A glint flashed in Gu Zhiyuan's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it, bowing only to Lin's father: "Thank you, Director Lin!"
He didn't say much, but Lin's father felt the weight of his gratitude in his words.
Thinking of Gu Zhiyuan's family background, how a top student from a prestigious university in Beijing was exiled to this remote and impoverished place, and how much suffering and hardship he endured, I couldn't help but feel my eyes well up with tears.
He sighed and patted Gu Zhiyuan on the shoulder: "Things will get better!"
After calming themselves down a bit, the two walked out together.
Before Lin's mother and Lin Hong could ask, Lin's father said, "It's getting late, you should go back and rest! Come again tomorrow afternoon."
Gu Zhiyuan nodded, took the handbag from Xu Ningyan, and bid farewell to the Lin family.
Once outside the Lin family's courtyard, although Gu Zhiyuan's expression was not clearly visible, one could sense his relaxation and joy.
The two walked silently for a short distance, their shadows stretching long and intertwined in the pale moonlight.
There were no buses running when I came out at that moment.
The two had no choice but to walk back to the department store.
Fortunately, the two of them had been eating and drinking well during this time, which improved their physical fitness, so walking back was just like an after-dinner stroll.
With Xu Ningyan occasionally cracking jokes along the way, and Gu Zhiyuan responding in turn, he didn't feel tired at all.
As they approached the department store, Xu Ningyan suddenly remembered something: "My dorm only has one bed. Where are you going to sleep? Are you going to sleep on the floor?"
Although they are officially engaged, they have always lived separately, okay?
Gu Zhiyuan ruffled Xu Ningyan's hair before speaking, "I'll take you inside. I'll stay at Sun Zhou's place tonight! I've been staying there for the past few days in the county town, it'll be more convenient!"
Xu Ningyan didn't say anything more.
After seeing Xu Ningyan to the door and watching her enter the dormitory, Gu Zhiyuan gave her a few more instructions, telling her to lock the doors and windows at night and that he would come over to bring her breakfast the next morning before turning to leave.
Loess Dam.
The lights were always on in Sun Zhou's small courtyard.
When Gu Zhiyuan knocked on the door, the inner door opened immediately.
Once inside, Sun Zhou eagerly asked, "How is it? Can we go in now?"
His eyes were full of anticipation.
Gu Zhiyuan shook his head: "Although Lin Xiang appreciates me and has agreed to suggest to the leaders of the machinery factory that I learn from him, I think it's still a bit uncertain! After all, my family background is a problem, so I'm afraid it's not the right time for me to actually enter the factory and become a formal employee."
Sun Zhou panicked: "Then what should we do?" He had finally found a glimmer of hope, and now he was told that his hope had been dashed. Who could bear that!
Gu Zhiyuan calmly uttered a single word: "Wait!"
They've waited almost a year, what's a little longer?
Seeing Gu Zhiyuan's calm and composed demeanor, Sun Zhou's initially anxious heart gradually calmed down.
"So you'll be staying with me for the time being?"
Gu Zhiyuan nodded.
Sun Zhou grabbed Gu Zhiyuan by the neck. "Take advantage of the fact that no one's around now and tell me honestly what's going on between you and that Comrade Xu? And what's with all the food and supplies you've been getting from the brothers of the Red Flag Commune lately? Confess and you'll be treated leniently!"
Gu Zhiyuan reached out and pinched Sun Zhou's acupoint. Sun Zhou's arm immediately went weak and he cried out as he swung his arm away a few steps.
After admiring Sun Zhou's disheveled state, Gu Zhiyuan slowly said, "Xu Ningyan and I are now engaged!"
"Ouch—" Sun Zhou lost his balance and his elbow hit the corner of the table, causing him to scream in pain.
But he quickly straightened up, baring his teeth as he rushed to Gu Zhiyuan's side: "Old Gu! Do you remember what you said that day? You've really contradicted yourself! Haha, an old cow eating young grass! Alright—"
Gu Zhiyuan's icy gaze swept over him, and Sun Zhou immediately swallowed back all his remaining sarcasm. However, the expression on his face was still not out of control, and his features were in disarray, making him look terrible.
Gu Zhiyuan felt his eyes burning, pushed away the face that was leaning towards him, and walked inside.
Sun Zhou already had his own room here, and he had already told them when he came during the day that it was cleaned up.
After a quick wash, Gu Zhiyuan lay down on the bed.
His conversation with Lin Xiang today had taken a toll on his mind and energy, and now, as soon as he lay down on the bed, sleepiness washed over him.
But he didn't dare to sleep. He forced himself to review the day's events in his mind and then went through tomorrow's schedule before finally relaxing and falling asleep.
Fortunately, his biological clock had adjusted, and he woke up as soon as it was light.
After getting up, Sun Zhou went out for a five-kilometer run as usual and came back just as Sun Zhou got up.
After taking a shower and changing his clothes, Gu Zhiyuan gave Sun Zhou a few instructions before heading out to the state-run restaurant.
I bought meat buns, fried dough sticks, and a lunchbox full of tofu pudding, and carried them towards the department store.
Xu Ningyan, carefree as ever, slept soundly. When she got up and opened the door to wash up, she saw Gu Zhiyuan standing under the camphor tree by the door, head down, seemingly lost in thought. Sunlight filtered through the camphor leaves, casting a circle of light and shadow on his face.
Gu Zhiyuan was already tall and straight. Today he was wearing a white shirt that was about 60-70% new, and a pair of dark blue pants. The shirt was tucked into the waistband and tied with a belt, which accentuated his slender waistline.
His white shirt was rolled up to his elbows, revealing his lean and muscular arms. His long hands held steamed buns and fried dough sticks, which did not look vulgar at all, but rather as if he were carrying some priceless treasure.
Hearing the door open, Gu Zhiyuan turned his head and looked at Xu Ningyan, whose hair was messy like a bird's nest and whose eyes were still sleepy.
Neither of them spoke for a moment, just watching each other quietly.
Then, Xu Ningyan yawned and waved to Gu Zhiyuan: "Good morning!"
Gu Zhiyuan couldn't help but soften his eyes. "Good morning!"
With my free hand behind my back, I couldn't help but rub her. The little girl, still a bit sleepy in the morning and with messy hair, looked so cute that I just wanted to reach out and rub her. She was just like a kitten that had just left the nest, so sleepy and adorable.
Xu Ningyan was unaware that Gu Zhiyuan was looking at her like she was a cat. She went inside to find toiletries and washed up by the sink on the wall. "Brother Gu, please come in and sit for a while. I'll be right there."
The two of them have lived under the same roof for so long, there's really no need to be polite.
Gu Zhiyuan readily agreed and went into the dormitory.
Seeing the thin blanket lying on the side of the bed, he, who suffers from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, took two steps forward to help tidy it up. When he got to the bedside, he smelled a faint, indescribable fragrance and suddenly realized that this was inappropriate.
She hurriedly took two steps back, her ears turning red, and sat down at the table, trying to remain calm, not daring to look at the bed again.
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