Chapter 300: Enlightenment

Su Ruo said: "I've never bothered competing with anyone over a man, because if someone can steal him away, it only shows he was never mine to begin with!"

Moreover, Song Jingyu is a person, not an object—if you think you can take him, go ahead!

Zhang Wan's expression changed instantly: "Su Ruo, you speak so confidently now, but I tell you, you'll regret it someday."

"What you're so confident about relying on is merely that Song Jingyu likes you, but I tell you, love is worthless before power and influence. I believe, given Song Jingyu's intelligence, he will surely make the right choice—I'll let him know who he should marry, for that is what will truly benefit him."

After saying that, Zhang Wan left without looking back, and Su Ruo walked alone, aimlessly, through the midnight military camp.

Su Ruo had to admit that after several people's conversation, her heart was indeed in turmoil.

Su Ruo wasn't afraid that Song Jingyu would be taken by Zhang Wan, but she realized she must make a decision quickly—if she couldn't give Song Jingyu an answer, she couldn't keep delaying him, which would be unfair to him.

Su Ruo knew she liked Song Jingyu; otherwise she wouldn't have been entangled with him for so long, doing so much for him.

But if she were to marry Song Jingyu, Su Ruo never found the courage to take that step.

Although Su Ruo knew Song Jingyu was a good person.

Su Ruo had thought a lot, and when she came to her senses, she discovered she had actually arrived at the welfare institute.

Just as Su Ruo was about to leave, a soft, tender voice called out to her: "Do you have something worrying you?"

Er Ya looked up at Su Ruo, asking in a mature‑little‑adult manner.

Su Ruo looked at her, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her face: "Hmm, I'm thinking about something very, very important."

"Is it about that big brother?" Er Ya continued asking.

Su Ruo felt quite surprised—she didn't expect someone so young to have the ability to read people's hearts.

"Hmm! I'm considering whether to marry her." Su Ruo, as if possessed, blurted out her true feelings—perhaps precisely because Er Ya is young, she could speak so freely.

"Will he hit you after marriage?" Er Ya asked Su Ruo, looking at her; in Er Ya's mind men beat women—her own mother was beaten to death by her grandmother and father.

Men who hit women are terrifying; such men absolutely cannot be married.

Su Ruo shook her head, amused, and said: "No!"

Su Ruo trusted Song Jingyu's character—he would never do such a thing; even if one day his temperament suddenly changed, she had enough self‑defense ability and would never let him bully her.

Er Ya: "Will he give you money to support you?"

Su Ruo laughed and said: "Yes! But I don't need him to support me—I can support myself."

Er Ya: "Will he bully you?"

Su Ruo: "For now it seems unlikely, but I don't know about the future—after all, life is long and many things can change."

Er Ya crossed her little face and said: "Then just go ahead and marry him!"

Su Ruo amusedly rubbed her head and asked: "Do you know what marriage is?"

Er Ya's little face scrunched up; evidently Su Ruo's attitude made her unhappy: "My mother said, if you meet a man who gives you money to support you, doesn't hit you, and doesn't bully you, you should marry him—that's what a good man is."

Su Ruo thought of Wang Yi's former wife, the poor woman who died tragically giving birth to a son; perhaps she feared her daughter would follow the same path, so she left this advice.

But this standard might apply to most women today—it's what many women desire—yet it doesn't suit Su Ruo.

Da Ya saw Su Ruo silent, looked up and asked her: "You clearly like that uncle, so why don't you want to marry him? What are you afraid of?"

Upon hearing Er Ya's words, Su Ruo's heart jolted instantly—because of her past‑life experiences, she had always resisted and opposed marriage.

It seemed as if all her tragedies were caused by marriage; once she entered it, her life would become unfortunate.

Therefore Su Ruo had instinctively resisted and opposed marriage all along, but she forgot that Song Jingyu is not Wang Tufu—he would not do what Wang Tufu did, and Su Ruo is no longer the person she once was; she would not give anyone a chance to hurt her.

Moreover, given Song Jingyu's personality, even if they later had no feelings for each other, he wouldn't cling on; they could part peacefully.

Su Ruo's mind suddenly felt much clearer at this moment—yeah! What exactly has she been worrying and fearing about?

After rebirth, Su Ruo has always followed her heart in everything, but when it comes to marriage she hesitates and holds back.

The shadow left by her past life is too great; she has never gotten over it, nor does she dare to step in again.

Doing so avoids risk, but also sacrifices the happiness she might have gained.

At this moment, Su Ruo suddenly felt enlightened—whether fortunate or unfortunate, one must try to know; why would she lock her heart before even beginning?

"Thank you!" Su Ruo sincerely thanked Er Ya; she never imagined that one day she would be enlightened by a little girl.

Perhaps the adult world is too complex, overthinking makes one lose their original heart; children are the purest and also the clearest about what they truly want.