Chapter Nineteen: A New Hope Beyond the Gloom

Her heart brimmed with joy, as if all misunderstandings and shadows had been swept away by the breeze, leaving only the radiant light before her. The course of events was like a sharp turn on a mountain path—what she had feared to be a thicket of thorns ahead unexpectedly revealed a bright and flourishing village around the bend.

He Yuzhu’s response was like a spring of clear water, washing away the dust from her heart. He firmly denied any improper relationship with that widow, finally lifting the heavy stone that had weighed on Yu Haitang’s mind.

“I knew it. My judgment wasn’t wrong; you’re not at all like what Xu Damou said,” Yu Haitang said, her voice full of emotion. She couldn’t help but grasp He Yuzhu’s arm tightly, her trust and dependence evident without need for words.

Yet He Yuzhu merely cast a fleeting glance her way, his eyes seeming to hold countless unspoken words, elusive and inscrutable.

Sensing the subtle shift in atmosphere, Yu Haitang quietly withdrew her hand, a wave of awkwardness rising within her. Just as she was about to break the silence, He Yuzhu spoke first.

“What exactly did Xu Damou tell you?” His tone was casual yet laden with significance, as if probing and confirming at once.

“He said you and Qin Huairu have been together for a long time,” Yu Haitang replied, a hint of displeasure in her voice. Clearly, these rumors had already affected her view of He Yuzhu.

A cold smile curled at the corner of He Yuzhu’s lips as he mentally added another mark against Xu Damou.

Lost in his thoughts, He Yuzhu was brought back to reality by Yu Haitang’s gentle voice once more.

She lowered her head, her expression hidden from view, but her ears glowed a vivid red, like the sunset—radiant yet tinged with shyness.

These subtle details silently foretold the moment about to unfold.

“He Yuzhu, what do you think of me?” Yu Haitang’s voice trembled with a faint nervousness as she summoned the courage to voice the question she had long kept hidden in her heart.

“Would you... would you be willing to let me be your girlfriend?”

Silence enveloped the surroundings, broken only by the thunderous beating of He Yuzhu’s heart.

At that moment, a sudden creak shattered the stillness—the door was flung open, followed by a chorus of exclamations and complaints.

It turned out that Ma Hua and the others had accidentally burst in, tumbling onto the floor and causing a chaotic scene.

The unexpected disruption left Yu Haitang blushing deeply, wishing she could disappear into the ground.

Under so many watchful eyes, she could no longer bear it and turned to flee.

However, He Yuzhu was quick and caught her arm firmly, holding her in place.

Laughter and teasing erupted around them, the air thick with joy and a hint of intimacy.

“Xiao Yu, let’s be together,” He Yuzhu said casually. Yu Haitang’s cheeks flushed even deeper, yet a sweet smile crept upon her lips.

Later, his apprentice Ma Hua curiously asked why He Yuzhu had suddenly agreed to Yu Haitang’s request.

He Yuzhu merely smiled lightly and replied, “If I wanted to agree, then I just did.”

But the truth behind it was far more complex.

In fact, He Yuzhu’s consent was largely driven by the need to complete a task assigned by the system.

When he learned from Yu Haitang that Xu Damou and Qin Huairu were secretly interfering to sabotage the progress of their relationship, he couldn’t help but feel a quiet satisfaction.

He realized this might be another perfect opportunity to trigger a system reward.

Sure enough, after he officially agreed to start a romantic relationship with Yu Haitang, the system immediately granted him a valuable sewing machine ticket as a reward.

Though a sewing machine might seem trivial to a burly man like him, he knew this ticket could fetch a good price on the black market.

Thus, he could fulfill the system’s requirements while earning a little extra—what reason did he have not to?

Of course, beyond material gains, He Yuzhu also had to admit that Yu Haitang was truly a worthy partner.

She was warm, cheerful, kind-hearted, and deeply devoted to him—such a girl was not to be missed.

So, he was willing to give them both a chance to explore this unknown path together.

Moreover, dating Yu Haitang brought an unexpected benefit.

At her strong insistence, he had to sever ties with Qin Huairu.

To be honest, this demand suited him perfectly.

After all, he had long been troubled by those rumors. With Yu Haitang’s “strict prohibition,” he could now legitimately rid himself of unnecessary troubles.

What pleased him even more was that Yu Haitang not only made this demand but also personally confronted Qin Huairu to clarify matters.

In the workshop, in front of many coworkers, Yu Haitang spoke firmly to Qin Huairu, “Master Qin, let’s not dwell on the past. But now that He Yuzhu and I are officially a couple, there are some things I must make clear.”

“I’m straightforward and don’t tolerate any nonsense.”

“I especially can’t stand those who meddle in others’ affairs, helping tidy up someone else’s home—especially when it’s my boyfriend’s place! I think that’s nosy and annoying.”

Recently, Yu Haitang’s family had a similar “well-meaning busybody,” which made He Yuzhu uneasy.

However, the shrewd Qin Huairu saw through Yu Haitang’s intentions and smiled warmly, “Xiao Yu, don’t you know what kind of person I am? I never do thankless favors.”

“Besides, I’m truly happy that you and Yuzhu have gotten together and wish you a long-lasting relationship. Your coming to see me today was really unnecessary.”

He Yuzhu heard about the rivalry between Qin Huairu and Yu Haitang from Ma Hua.

He found himself growing even fonder of Yu Haitang.

He thought to himself, though Qin Huairu was formidable, Yu Haitang was no pushover either. If they truly clashed, no one could say who would win.

But for now, He Yuzhu had no time to dwell on such matters; his heart and eyes were fixed solely on Yu Haitang.

To spend more time with her, he had deliberately kept his day off free, planning a proper date.

On that day, the courtyard was bustling with life as everyone busied themselves with their own tasks.

He Yuzhu stepped out of his home, dressed in a new suit and polished leather shoes, looking vibrant and spirited.