Su Hua tilted her face up slightly to look at him, her expression calm, "Yes, cousin."

There was a clear and transparent stubbornness in her eyes.

People accustomed to gentleness, even in rebellion, do so quietly.

Gu Beixian had intended to scold her, but suddenly he couldn't bear to, and his lips curled into a smile, "Alright, cousin it is."

With a lift of his hand, he pulled her into his embrace.

Caught off guard, Su Hua stumbled into his arms, her nose catching the pleasant masculine scent mixed with the smell of tobacco and alcohol, and an unfamiliar sweet fragrance.

That was Chu Suosuo's scent.

A wave of repulsion surged in Su Hua's heart, and she shook her shoulders, trying to pull away from his embrace.

Gu Beixian tightened his arm around her, his possessiveness clear, and spoke to Shen Huai with a polite yet distant tone, "Thank you for bringing her back."

Shen Huai said, "No need to thank me."

But his eyes were fixed on Gu Beixian's arm around Su Hua's shoulder, feeling that the cousins were too intimate, beyond the usual familial relationship.

Gu Beixian gave him a cool glance and led Su Hua to the elevator with his arm still around her shoulder.

While waiting for the elevator, he stared at the changing numbers on the panel and asked casually, "Is he pursuing you?"

"It's not that serious, just admiration."

"When a man says he admires a woman, his intentions are rarely pure," he said, changing the subject, "Have you been in contact with him for three years?"

Su Hua's face changed slightly as she struggled out of his embrace, "Are you investigating me?"

Gu Beixian raised his hand to ruffle her hair, his tone gentle, "Don't make it sound so unpleasant, it's concern."

Su Hua stepped back to avoid him, "His grandfather knew my grandfather, and three years ago he offered me a high salary to poach me."

"Oh, so our Su Hua is quite outstanding," he said affectionately with a teasing tone, a faint smile on his lips.

Su Hua's ears tingled.

After three years of marriage, they had always treated each other with respect, and this was the first time she had heard such an affectionate nickname from him, "Su Hua." She was a bit uncomfortable and a little sad.

With a "ding," the elevator doors opened.

They entered one after the other.

The elevator was empty.

Gu Beixian pressed the button for the 21st floor, then turned to look at Su Hua with deep eyes, a hint of sharpness flashing, as if suppressing some emotion that wanted to burst forth.

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The usually restrained man suddenly seemed more predatory.

Su Hua felt oppressed and instinctively moved towards the corner, her big dark eyes staring at him, "What's wrong?"

Gu Beixian blocked the camera with his back, looking down at her from above, "Did you call me your cousin on purpose to give him a chance?"

Su Hua understood, he was settling scores with her after the fact.

"I, um..." She was about to speak when her lips were suddenly sealed by his.

He was skilled at kissing, whether it was a light taste or a deep exploration, he could stir one's heart.

Su Hua's heart thumped wildly, as chaotic as boiling water.

Worried that someone would come in and see them, she raised her hand to push him away, annoyed with him for being so close to Chu Suosuo and yet kissing her.

But she was slender and weak, how could she push away a tall and strong man?

It was futile.

Instead, it gave the impression of a reluctant yet welcoming response, enticing without intent.

Gu Beixian held her restless hand, his other hand pinching her chin, kissing her more forcefully, even gently biting her.

It all seemed a bit vengeful.

Su Hua was kissed until she gasped for air, almost unable to breathe.

Then Gu Beixian finally let her go, straightening her tousled hair and collar, and threatened her playfully, "Dare you call me cousin again?"

Su Hua's ears turned red, and she rolled her eyes at him without speaking.

Gu Beixian chuckled softly, his gaze lowering to appraise her.

Her moist lips parted slightly, her big eyes wet like a fawn's, very alluring.

Earlier, in front of Shen Huai, she had stubbornly called him cousin, and he had wanted to teach her a lesson, to see if she would dare to call him that in front of others again.

People who are usually compliant, when they occasionally show some edge, easily arouse his desire to conquer.

The elevator soared upwards.

Suddenly, Gu Beixian asked out of the blue, "Do you regret marrying me three years ago?"

Su Hua was slightly taken aback, looking up at his excessively handsome features, her gaze a bit dazed, as if she was looking at him, yet not quite.

Her voice was low, yet firm, "No regrets."

"Three years ago, I was a cripple who couldn't walk, with a terrible temper, so much so that even the caregivers and servants despised me. You, a young lady as beautiful as a flower with a bright future, married me, and you never regretted it once?"

He stood there with one hand in his pocket, his features sharp, his posture as straight as a pine tree.

The noble aura emanating from within was enchanting under the cold white light.

No longer could one see the decadence of three years ago.

Su Hua said earnestly, "You arranged for my grandmother to find a kidney donor, saving her life. You bought a house for my family and gave a huge dowry, saving my whole family from disaster. I'm too busy being grateful to you. Since I was young, my grandfather taught me to be grateful and repay kindness."

Gu Beixian listened without a word, and after the last syllable, he lifted his eyelids, asking emotionlessly, "Is gratitude all you feel for me?"

Su Hua fell silent.

If it had been before, she would have said without hesitation that in addition to gratitude, there was also love born from long association.

But now, he had proposed divorce and was so close to Chu Suosuo, it would seem cheap for her to offer her heart to him again.

She pursed her lips and remained silent.

The elevator doors opened.

They walked out.

Su Hua took out her keys from her bag and unlocked the door.

They entered the house.

Gu Beixian watched her silently as she changed her shoes.

When she stood up, he suddenly leaned against the wall with one hand, encircling her in his arms, and looked down at her, asking stubbornly again, "Is it really just gratitude you feel for me, nothing else?"

Su Hua looked up at him.

His face was as calm as water, his deep black eyes seemed to hold galaxies, and just by looking at her softly, he could stir her soul.

Unfortunately, in his heart, she was just a substitute for Chu Suosuo.

Su Hua felt a pang of heartache, lowered her eyelids, and said softly, "Yes, just gratitude." There was a hint of defiance in her tone.

Gu Beixian curled his lips in self-mockery.

Indeed, her love was all for her beloved Brother Ah-Yao, leaving only gratitude for him.

What was the point of a marriage bound by gratitude?

Gu Beixian suddenly felt bored, the spark that had been ignited in the elevator extinguished.

He withdrew his hand, pocketing it, and glanced around the living room, asking absentmindedly, "Is your mother not home?"

"She's covering for my grandmother's caregiver who took leave, she'll be there for a few days. Have a seat, I'll go wash my hands and make you some tea."

Just as she was about to leave, Gu Beixian's phone suddenly rang.

He took it out of his trouser pocket, saw it was Chu Suosuo calling.

Close by, Su Hua also saw the name "Suosuo" on the phone screen.

Her heart felt as if she had swallowed a fly, and she turned towards the bathroom.

Gu Beixian watched her hurried departure, fell silent for a moment, answered the call, and walked to the window, asking, "Did you bandage your finger?"

Chu Suosuo's voice was a bit wet, as if holding back grievances, "It's bandaged, I just got in the car, heading home now. Sister Su Hua isn't angry, is she?"

"No, she has a good temper, she rarely gets angry."

Chu Suosuo pursed her lips, the voice coming through was very gentle, "She didn't say anything about me, did she?"

She was afraid Su Hua would spill the beans about the twenty million check.

Gu Beixian's expression was indifferent, "She didn't say anything, she's not very talkative."

Chu Suosuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feigning surprise, "She's not quiet. At the coffee shop at noon, she was eloquent when talking to me, saying a lot in one breath, and each sentence was so fierce."

Gu Beixian felt a bit annoyed listening, "Suosuo, Su Hua has never spoken ill of you in front of me. In the future, I don't want to hear this kind of talk from you."

Chu Suosuo was taken aback, quickly corrected herself, "I was wrong. Brother Beixian, I just don't want you to be deceived by Sister Su Hua."

Gu Beixian frowned, "If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."

"Don't hang up yet, tomorrow I..."

"Bang!"

A loud noise suddenly came from the bathroom.

Gu Beixian, phone in hand, strode over with long steps, and asked urgently, "What happened, Su Hua?"