Gu Beixian's expression grew even darker.

He picked up his phone and called the bodyguard assigned to protect Su Hua, "I asked you to keep an eye on Su Hua. Where is she?"

The bodyguard replied with utmost respect, "Madam said you've had us watching over her for many days and we were tired, so she gave us a couple of days off to rest, claiming it was under your orders."

Gu Beixian's lips curled into a half-smile, not quite reaching his eyes.

The usually docile and obedient woman was now issuing orders under false pretenses.

His voice cold, he asked, "Where did she go?"

Sensing his displeasure, the bodyguard cautiously answered, "Madam didn't say."

Gu Beixian hung up and dialed Sister Liu's number, only to find her phone switched off.

Frowning, he instructed his assistant, "Check the surveillance footage."

"Right away, President Gu." The assistant immediately headed to the hospital's surveillance room.

Ten minutes later.

The assistant called back, "President Gu, all the surveillance footage that could have shown Madam has been deliberately deleted."

Gu Beixian's grip on the phone tightened, nearly deforming it.

After a moment of thought, he stood up and walked towards the nephrology department.

He arrived at Su Hua's grandmother's hospital room, knocked, and entered.

Su Peilan was just tucking the elderly lady in with a blanket.

Upon seeing Gu Beixian, she lifted her eyelids and asked indifferently, "Is there something you need?"

Gu Beixian spoke calmly, "Mother, Su Hua has been discharged. Do you know where she went?"

Su Peilan chuckled, "You're her husband. If you don't know where she is, how would I?"

"She's misunderstood something about me and is acting out of spite. I don't know where she's run off to. It's dangerous for a young lady, especially with an injury on her hand, to be wandering around. Please tell me where she went, so I can go find her."

He spoke politely, but his tone carried an authoritative edge.

That inherent air of superiority was unmistakable.

Su Peilan, shrewd as she was, picked up on it.

She pulled up a chair, crossed her legs, and looked at him with disdain, "When you were ill and irritable, difficult to take care of, my daughter never left. She slaved away for you day and night, devotedly. Now she's run away, she must have been deeply wronged."

Gu Beixian's gaze was deep, his lips sealed in silence.

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Su Peilan laughed mockingly, "That's right, in your eyes, my daughter is just a nanny. Now that you're better, you don't need a nanny anymore, so naturally, you don't want her."

Gu Beixian's lips curved slightly, "I've never treated her as a nanny."

Su Peilan rolled her eyes at him, "Don't just say what sounds nice. If you want her, be faithful; if not, just divorce her quickly. My daughter is beautiful, has a good temperament, is smart, and has a skilled hand. She's only twenty-three; what kind of young man couldn't she find? Divorce is common these days; it's not a big deal."

Gu Beixian's smile didn't reach his eyes as he replied coolly, "You're busy, I'll keep looking."

He turned and left.

The sound of the door closing was not subtle.

Su Peilan clicked her tongue twice and said to the elderly lady on the bed, who was dozing off, "Mom, look at his temper. I only said a few words, and he stormed out angry. Who knows how much Su Hua has suffered behind his back."

The elderly lady moved her eyelids but said nothing.

"Back when she got married, all our relatives laughed behind my back, saying I sold my daughter for money to a cripple. Just when I thought her good days were coming because he could stand up, he became restless again. Marriages that are mismatched are looked down upon. People can bully and demean you as they please," Su Peilan turned away, secretly wiping the corner of her eye.

The elderly lady sighed, a beat too late, "I've been a burden to her."

"Mom, don't say that, it's my fault for not being capable," Su Peilan's voice was hoarse.

Next.

Gu Beixian had people search every place Su Hua could possibly be, searching until late into the night, but to no avail.

In the middle of the night, lying on the large bed in his bedroom.

He tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

After much thought, he suddenly remembered a place.

He immediately got dressed, took his people, and set off for Su Village overnight.

Su Village, located at the foot of Su Mountain, was Su Hua's maternal grandfather's hometown.

Su Hua had grown up there.

After a long journey.

They arrived at Su Village around three or four in the morning.

Gu Beixian got out of the car and pushed the courtyard gate, but it didn't budge.

Su Hua should be asleep at this hour; he didn't want to wake her. He opened the car door, reclined the seat, and lay down to close his eyes, hoping to catch a little sleep.

After all the turmoil, he was exhausted, and as soon as he closed his eyes, he fell asleep.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already broad daylight.

Gu Beixian stepped out of the car.

The bodyguard hurried over and said, "President Gu, there's someone talking inside the courtyard. It sounds a lot like Madam."

Gu Beixian nodded slightly and walked to the courtyard gate, pushing it open.

This time, the gate opened.

He scanned the large courtyard.

It had been a long time since anyone lived there, and weeds grew wild in the corners.

In the eastern corner, there was a pear tree blooming with lush flowers.

Beneath the tree sat a woman, graceful and serene.

She was wrapped in a long white knit sweater, her slender figure accentuated, her black hair flowing elegantly, her skin pale, her features delicate, and a faint smile on her lips.

A breeze passed by, scattering the snow-white petals of the pear blossoms onto the woman's hair.

She was as beautiful as a painting.

Beside her, a tall man in a light blue shirt was bending down to apply medicine to her hand.

The two of them chatted softly, so engrossed that they didn't even notice someone entering.

The woman was Su Hua, the one he had been searching for from day to night.

The man was the doctor and the young master of Ancient Treasure Studio, Shen Huai.

Gu Beixian's gaze shifted, taking on an indescribable sternness, his lips curled in self-mockery as he watched them coolly.

After a long while.

He suppressed his anger and said, "Su Hua, why didn't you tell me you were coming to your grandfather's house?"

Su Hua looked over as if she had just noticed him.

Her voice was devoid of any ripples, "You were too busy, I didn't want to disturb you."

She replaced 'you' with 'you', distancing herself from him.

Shen Huai turned and looked over, a hint of surprise in his eyes, and smiled, "Cousin, you're here? Come on in."

Gu Beixian glanced at him indifferently and approached Su Hua.

Standing before her.

He looked down at her, his lips curving, but his eyes devoid of any mirth, "I've been looking for you since yesterday noon, until now."

"There was no need for you to go to such lengths," Su Hua replied with a detached and cool smile.

Her dark eyes held a brittle defiance.

"That day, Suo Suo got up from bed to go to the bathroom and nearly fell. I helped her, and her lipstick smeared on my shirt. I didn't notice it at the time, and only saw it when I took off my clothes in the evening."

"You don't need to explain to me," Su Hua said, her tone slightly perfunctory.

These details disgusted her, and she instinctively resisted them.

Her sudden departure was due to an accumulation of emotions.

It wasn't just because of that lipstick mark.

Three years of marriage, and they had treated each other with respect. She didn't want to argue with him, but she was truly fed up and had to leave.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Gu Beixian paused for a moment, then said, "Suo Suo's hand was smashed by someone named Ah-Yao with a hammer. She was already severely depressed, and this injury made things worse. Worried she might harm herself again, I visited her a few more times."

Su Hua was silent for a long while, then slowly stood up and said, "Please follow me."

Gu Beixian hummed softly and followed.

The two left the gate, one after the other, walking towards the back of the village.

The path was a country dirt road, dusty in the spring breeze.

After about fifteen minutes, they arrived in front of a dense grove of willow trees.

The willows were thick and lush, their slender branches dancing in the wind.

Beneath the trees was a dense cluster of graves.

Even in broad daylight, the place felt eerily cold, noticeably cooler than elsewhere.

Occasionally, a crow would fly overhead, its cries piercing.

Su Hua showed no fear as she weaved her way to a small, old grave and stood still, staring at the mound, her gaze growing increasingly sorrowful.

After a long time.

She spoke softly, "Ah-Yao is here."