Chapter 129: Rejection

Chapter 129: Rejection

"…I’m really sorry."

The man in front of her was indeed attractive—tall, muscular, and with a sincere look that made her heart skip a beat.

Unfortunately, his position wasn’t right for her.

Though young, she was clear about what she wanted.

She could overlook his lack of education; after all, knowledge isn’t everything when it comes to a person’s value.

She could also accept that he came from a humble background, with generations of farmers and a large extended family to support.

After all, in this society, being poor was often seen as honorable.

However, what she couldn’t accept was that he was just an ordinary soldier.

The kind of partner she wanted was someone who could offer her security and protect her for life—someone she could truly rely on.

Like how her cousin’s husband treated her cousin, providing the kind of strength and status that made him a solid support for the family.

Someone who could protect both her and her family.

For him, those qualities seemed far out of reach.

There was no point in talking about waiting—time was too valuable for her, and she couldn’t afford to wait.

What if she waited, and he never developed the talent to reach those heights?

Rising from an ordinary soldier to the rank of captain was like trying to cross a narrow bridge while thousands of others competed for the same spot.

Only those with extraordinary courage, perseverance, and talent could stand out in such intense competition.

Did the man in front of her have that kind of talent?

Gao Yue wasn’t willing to take that gamble.

And she didn’t want to risk it.

The light in Xiao Fang’s eyes faded. “It’s okay, you don’t need to apologize.”

He hadn’t really expected much. The others who had come to meet her had already given up, and he was the only one who still wanted to try. Everyone had told him that Gao Yue had high standards and wouldn’t be interested in someone like him, just another low-ranking soldier…

He glanced at the sugar-coated chestnuts in his hand, then quickly grabbed her hand and shoved them into her palm. “Here, take these.”

Then, without another word, he turned and ran away.

Gao Yue watched him go for a moment before heading into the courtyard with the chestnuts in hand.

“Weren’t you supposed to be taking out the trash? What took you so long?”

Yu Huixin had just vomited again and was rinsing her mouth by the sink.

“I ran into Xiao Fang, who came to our house last time, and we chatted for a bit.”

“Xiao Fang? The driver?”

Gao Yue nodded. “Yeah, that’s him. He gave me a bag of sugar-coated chestnuts. Here, you can have them—maybe they’ll help with the nausea.”

Yu Huixin pulled two chestnuts out of the bag, peeled one, and popped it into her mouth. After chewing for a moment, she said, "They’re still warm. He must have come straight over after getting back."

As she spoke, she peeled another one and ate it. Seeing that Yu Huixin was enjoying the chestnuts, Gao Yue went inside, brought out a small table and a chair, and placed them under the eaves for Yu Huixin to sit and eat comfortably.

"You're so pretty, Xiao Yue. No wonder your brother-in-law turned him down flat, but he still came to flirt with you."

Gao Yue's cheeks flushed red as she shyly lowered her head, focusing intently on peeling the chestnuts in her hands.

Carefully handing the peeled chestnut to Yu Huixin, she said softly, "Cousin, I don’t think we’re a good match. I already told him that just now."

Yu Huixin took the chestnut and, looking at Gao Yue’s flushed face, said earnestly, "Xiao Yue, you’re still young, and you need to think carefully about this. Don’t let small acts of kindness or superficial attention sway your heart. Relationships are serious, and you shouldn’t rush into anything. After all, it concerns your future happiness."

"Given our situation, we need to be extra cautious when choosing a partner."

If she hadn’t listened to advice and married someone of equal standing, she wouldn’t know how difficult her life would be now.

Gao Yue nodded. "I understand, Cousin."

After a moment, she added, "Cousin, I’ve been here for a while now, and I haven’t met anyone suitable through these blind dates. I think... it’s time for me to head back home."

Yu Huixin looked at her. "Aren’t you worried your grandmother will send you to the Great Northern Wilderness? I heard that the first batch of volunteer settlers from Sea City hasn’t left yet."

"I’m scared, but I can’t keep imposing on you and Brother-in-law, living off your kindness."

"Don’t worry about being a bother. You’ve been such a help! Since you arrived, you’ve taken care of all the grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, and cleaning, which has saved me so much time. The neighbors even notice how hardworking you are. You’re earning your keep—heck, I should be paying you for all your help!"

Seeing Gao Yue’s concern, she quickly added, "I didn’t mean to make you feel like a servant."

"I understand, Cousin. I’m not ungrateful, but I’m just worried that if it causes any tension between you two, that wouldn’t be good. I feel really bad about the last blind date; your husband put in so much effort..."

Yu Huixin gently waved her hand and smiled warmly. "Your brother-in-law isn’t petty. You can stay here without worrying. As for finding a partner, there’s no need to rush. You can’t force fate. Now that I’m pregnant and having such strong reactions, I can’t take care of the household chores. If you leave, there’ll be no one to help me. So, you staying here is actually helping me out a lot!"

Hearing this, Gao Yue’s lips curled into a faint smile. She looked up cautiously at Yu Huixin and asked, "I heard from Brother-in-law that it seems like your mother-in-law is coming..."

Yu Huixin was far from enthusiastic. "Yeah, that’s true. My mother-in-law hasn’t visited since we moved here. Now that I’m pregnant, your brother-in-law wants to bring her over to help out."

When they first got married, she and Yan Guang went back to his hometown for a visit. During that time, she couldn’t eat or sleep properly and couldn’t stand the hygiene and lifestyle there. It was unbearable.

Since then, she never went back and forbade Yan Guang from taking Xiaowen there, fearing he’d pick up bad habits.

Though she objected, Yan Guang was adamant this time and insisted on bringing his mother over.

He talked to her at length, and eventually, Yu Huixin gave in. If she kept refusing, it would look like she was being unreasonable.

She then said to Gao Yue, "People from the countryside have different habits than we do. Once she arrives, we’ll definitely need your help to bridge the gap."

Gao Yue smiled and felt relieved.

Of course, she didn’t really want to leave. She was just trying to reassure herself.

If she left, who knew when she’d be able to come back?

She was determined to find someone here.