“Willing, of course, I’m willing!” The surprise came a bit too suddenly. After reacting, Sheng Zexi’s lips curled into a big smile, but fearing that Gu Jianing might see it, he quickly suppressed the curve of his mouth. He stood up and paced back and forth in the room for a while before sitting down again.

“I’m so great, and I’m an officer. Anyone with eyes would know to choose me. You’ve finally stopped being blind this time.”

Gu Jianing: This guy is good, but his mouth is really too sharp.

Sheng Zexi continued to feed her until Gu Jianing had eaten all the sweet wine boiled eggs.

Whether it was because of the painkillers or the sweet wine boiled eggs, Gu Jianing’s stomach no longer hurt, and her complexion wasn’t as pale as before.

“I’m leaving. Wait for me tomorrow.” He had come secretly and couldn’t stay too long.

With his rough hand, he gently touched the hair of Gu Jianing, who was already lying down. Then, just as he had come, Sheng Zexi leaped out of the window and left quietly.

Gu Jianing stared at the now-closed window for a long time before finally looking away.

Sheng Zexi didn’t leave immediately. He gazed in the direction of the educated youth dormitory, his eyes deep and contemplative.

By evening, when everyone had finished work, Wen Zhuqing limped back to the educated youth dormitory, his handsome face clouded with gloom.

At noon, he had been beaten. A sack had fallen from the sky, and before he could resist, punches and kicks rained down on him. By the time he managed to free himself from the sack, the assailant was gone.

Who could have beaten him?

Connecting today’s incident of Gu Jianing jumping into the river with the Gu family’s temperament, Wen Zhuqing locked onto one person: the hot-tempered, hard-fisted, and fiercely protective third son of the Gu family, Gu Yunzhou!

When his hand touched the corner of his eye, a sharp pain shot through him. Wen Zhuqing sucked in a breath, his eyes narrowing slightly. Once he secured Gu Yunting’s job, he wouldn’t let Gu Yunzhou off!

He thought it might take a day or two before Gu Jianing could come to see him and hand over the job. Unconsciously, he reached a secluded spot, where he was alone. Suddenly, for some reason, Wen Zhuqing had a bad premonition. As it turned out, his premonition was correct. In an instant, another sack fell from the sky, and he was subjected to another round of beating.

After what felt like an eternity, the beating stopped. There was no sound, but it seemed the assailant had left.

After struggling for a long time, Wen Zhuqing finally freed himself from the sack. Breathing in the fresh air, he felt as if he had come back to life.

His once handsome face was now swollen and bruised, resembling a pig’s head, completely unrecognizable from his former self.

Wen Zhuqing was absolutely certain that the assailant was jealous of his good looks. The punches had almost all been aimed at his face.

After recovering for a while, Wen Zhuqing leaned against a large tree and barely managed to stand up. His body and face were in pain everywhere.

His expression was dark, his eyes filled with malice.

This time, who was it?

He was sure it wasn’t Gu Yunzhou. Then who could it be? Was it someone else from the Gu family or someone from the educated youth dormitory who was jealous of him?

Wen Zhuqing wasn’t even sure if the assailant was a man or a woman. There had been no footsteps, not even the slightest sound.

If he ever found out who it was, he would…

Wen Zhuqing forced himself to return to the educated youth dormitory. The people there gasped at his pitiful state.

When others asked, he only said he had accidentally fallen and injured himself, while subtly hinting at Gu Yunzhou.

Many female educated youths liked Wen Zhuqing, and they were immediately indignant.

“It must be that third son of the Gu family, taking out his anger over Gu Jianing jumping into the river on you,” Zhao Weihong clenched her fists, her face tense as she speculated.

“It’s clearly Gu Jianing who keeps pestering you, making your life miserable. She’s the one who caused trouble by jumping into the river, yet the villagers blame you, Wen Zhuqing. How could you possibly force Gu Jianing to ask for the Gu family’s eldest son’s job?”

In Zhao Weihong’s heart, Wen Zhuqing was as gentle as jade, good-looking, with a kind and considerate personality. He was from Shanghai, with a good family background, making him the perfect husband material.

Even Zhao Weihong, who looked like a tomboy and had a rough voice, had fallen for him after he once gave her a white steamed bun. Since then, she had always stood up for him.

Whether among the female educated youths or in Huaihua Village, countless women liked Wen Zhuqing.

But Educated Youth Wen said that he came to the countryside to contribute to rural development and was not in a hurry to start dating or get married.

Zhao Weihong felt that Wen Zhuqing was not only good-looking and kind but also had high ideological awareness, which made her like him even more.

Among those who liked Wen Zhuqing, the one she disliked the most was Gu Jianing.

Always relying on her father being the village chief, Gu Jianing would frequently come to the educated youth point to harass Wen Zhuqing. Wen Zhuqing’s personality was too good; he didn’t know how to refuse, fearing he might hurt others’ feelings, so Gu Jianing became increasingly presumptuous.

Zhao Weihong was afraid that Wen Zhuqing might end up with Gu Jianing due to public pressure.

Li Juan, with two braids and a delicate appearance, came in carrying a basin of water. “Wen Zhuqing, use this water to wipe your face and then apply some medicine.”

Seemingly hearing Zhao Weihong’s indignation, she said, “We educated youths are at a disadvantage in the village. We can’t stand up to the villagers. Whatever they say goes, and we just have to endure the hardships.”

Then, as if casually, she mentioned another matter, “By the way, I heard something. Today, a matchmaker came to Huaihua Village, saying someone was coming to meet Gu Jianing, and Gu Jianing agreed.”

Wen Zhuqing, who was half-lying on the bed, had a flash in his eyes and slightly frowned before relaxing after a while.

It must be false.

Wen Zhuqing knew how devoted Gu Jianing was to him. She had even jumped into the river for him today, all to secure a job to please him and start a relationship with him. How could she suddenly agree to meet someone else?

The female educated youths didn’t dare to confront the Gu family over Wen Zhuqing’s beating, but they secretly had some thoughts. Wen Zhuqing was currently in poor health, and it was their chance to take care of him, leave a good impression, and get closer to him emotionally.

…

In the evening, Sheng Zexi drove back to the town hotel from Huaihua Village.

Lying on the bed, his hands behind his head, his tall frame almost filled the two-meter-long bed. His long legs were casually crossed, exuding a lazy and relaxed air. He turned his head, his gaze falling on the bag of gifts he had prepared early on the cabinet. Recalling his interactions with Gu Jianing during the day, the corners of his mouth curled slightly, and his phoenix eyes sparkled.

As if thinking of something, Sheng Zexi’s brows, which had just relaxed, furrowed again.

He could tell that Gu Jianing had truly liked that Wen Zhuqing before.

But now, she had changed her attitude and was willing to give him a try.

“Wen Zhuqing, that pretty boy!” Sheng Zexi muttered through gritted teeth, jealousy spreading like thorns, its sharp pricks piercing his heart.

After taking a deep breath, Sheng Zexi calmed down a bit.

He knew that Gu Jianing didn’t like him that much, or rather, she only had some good feelings toward him.

But it didn’t matter.

The only thing he needed to do now was seize the opportunity, get Gu Jianing to marry him quickly, take her with him to the army, and firmly tie her to his side.

Once she became his, he was absolutely confident that one day, he would take root in that silly girl Gu Jianing’s heart, grow into a towering tree, and kick out that dog named Zhuqing or Juqing.

Hmph, anyone who could persuade that silly girl to jump into a river in the middle of winter just to secure a job couldn’t be any good. Beating him up today was just collecting a bit of interest.

It’s just…

His physical condition—when he reveals it tomorrow, he wondered how the little girl and the Gu family would react. Would they reject him?