Chapter 213

The party ended, and Jiangzhou personally escorted the Su family back. Su Miaomiao, however, left alone with Gui Mengjun. No matter what happened next, some things had to be made clear face to face.

Late at night, beneath the brightest beacon in Hanoi, Gui Mengjun smoked a cigarette, watching the Third Sister under the moonlight, and softly asked, "Are you really planning to cut ties with me completely?"

Su Miaomiao appeared very serene today, sitting on a bench, head lowered, without revealing any overly agitated emotions.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Gui Mengjun asked.

Su Miaomiao remained silent for a long while, then calmly asked, "Mengjun, when you want to marry me, is it mostly because of feelings, or are there other factors involved?"

Gui Mengjun took a deep drag of his cigarette, "Did someone say something to you?"

Su Miaomiao raised her head, "Do I need someone to tell me? Am I stupid? After experiencing so much, can't I see things clearly?"

Gui Mengjun bent down and sat next to Su Miaomiao, looking at the surrounding scenery, and softly recounted, "The first time I saw you in The Dragon City Rises, I had a different feeling about you."

Su Miaomiao was silent.

"You look a lot like my first love," Gui Mengjun said to Miaomiao very frankly.

"That's actually quite upsetting for a woman to hear," Su Miaomiao also looked at him.

Gui Mengjun smoked his cigarette, "No, you didn't understand what I meant. I'm telling you this not because I'm substituting you for someone else. In fact, your personality and temperament are completely different from my first love. You're fiercer and more unrestrained. To be honest, Miaomiao, at my age, after experiencing so much, it's really hard for me to invest feelings in a woman. To be precise, even my feelings for family and friends have faded. Maybe it's because I've seen too much and believe in too little. But you're different. I feel relaxed and simple when I'm with you… I like your directness in the military supplies business negotiations, arguing straight to the point, scolding my people, and then scolding me again. I also like your carelessness, looking silly. Maybe that's how we complement each other. I'm already complicated enough, so God took pity on me and let me meet someone like you."

Su Miaomiao remained silent.

"I'm telling you very honestly, I really love you," Gui Mengjun frowned slightly, "But objectively speaking, there are indeed many other factors between you and me. I don't want to be a liar, and I don't want to coax you with sweet words. This is the reality."

Su Miaomiao looked at him, "Then…!"

"Let me finish," Gui Mengjun waved his hand to interrupt, "Women may see things differently from men. You might think that if our relationship is mixed with other factors, it becomes impure. But for me, it's a stroke of good luck. I love you very much, and being able to marry you can also strengthen our business. Isn't that a good thing?"

Hearing this, Su Miaomiao also fell into deep thought.

Gui Mengjun stood up, looking around with his hands behind his back, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Miaomiao, Gui's family has reached a stage where they don't lack money or so-called social status. In terms of material satisfaction, we might live better than some people in power. If I'm in a good mood one day and want to buy a private jet, I can do it in minutes, but those in power might not dare. But do you know why I'm still working so hard, even though my wealth is already secured? I've even almost lost my life several times!"

"Can't you quit?" Su Miaomiao replied.

"That's part of the reason, but not entirely," Gui Mengjun smiled, "You might think the reason I'm about to give is too grand and empty, or even think I'm pretending, but I still want to tell you honestly that I want to do something for my hometown in my life. My idol is Governor Pu, although he… he also made many mistakes, but I still admire him. My hometown used to be full of opium poppies, poor and backward, with constant civil wars. After the Common Era, resources were scarce, and our turmoil was even worse. Following the Five Districts, they treated us as cannon fodder. Batch after batch of young men in Hanoi went to the battlefield, left the country, and never returned, and their lives only bought enough supplies to barely survive. Later, we relied on the Hua District, but the relationship between the two sides was still one of dependence. The Old Triangle has submitted applications to the joint government several times to establish a major district, but they have all been rejected. We have never been formally recognized by anyone."

Listening to these words, Su Miaomiao's eyes were a little dazed. She found it hard to believe that these words came from the mouth of a businessman who only cared about profit.

"Our generation is going to take on the heavy responsibility of the nation. Once we are unified and no longer at war, we must develop and hold on to the Hua District's coattails, accumulating energy for our hometown," Gui Mengjun lit another cigarette, "If we lay a good foundation, our next generation will not be looked down upon, will not be bullied, and will be recognized. That's why I was so willing to accept the military supplies business in the first place. It can bring economic improvement to our hometown and strengthen our relationship with the Hua District. If The Dragon City Rises track is really opened up, perhaps Hanoi will become an important channel for exporting goods and trade. I'm willing to take a gamble for this, willing to give it a try."

Looking at Gui Mengjun's extremely serious face, Su Miaomiao sincerely responded, "I never thought you saw business this way."

"…Perhaps it's because I came from a relatively privileged family since I was a child, haha," Gui Mengjun grinned, "When people are full and living well, maybe they have the capital to talk about ideals."

Su Miaomiao nodded slowly, agreeing with Gui Mengjun's words in her heart.

Gui Mengjun reached out and grabbed Miaomiao's small hand, looking at her with deep affection, "These are the most real other factors besides love, but I must also tell you that I love you and want to marry you very much."

Su Miaomiao gazed at him, "I believe you."

"Uncle Su has opinions about me, and I can understand that," Gui Mengjun said very seriously, "But I promise him that as long as I'm alive, no one will be able to hurt you again!"

Su Miaomiao slowly opened her arms and hugged him, "I'll talk to my father, I'll convince him."

…

Inside the hospital.

Su Tianbei looked at his watch and walked uneasily to Su Tianyu's side, poking his ribs, "Sixth, do you think Miaomiao might have had too much to drink and been taken advantage of? It's so late, why isn't she back yet?"

Su Tianyu was stunned, "I've noticed, you're really worried and not getting any younger! How old is she? Doesn't she have any sense of propriety? Unless she's willing, with Gui Mengjun's skills, if he dares to force himself on her, then my Third Sister will definitely let him know what a gentle 'Yi Jian Mei' is!"