Su Hua dodged backward.

Gu Beixian's kiss landed on her chin instead.

She could feel his aura drop several degrees.

Gu Beixian's hand, which was pinching her chin, slid down her back and wrapped around her waist.

He asked with a questioning tone, "Why did you tell Shen Huai that I'm your cousin?"

Su Hua lowered her eyes and said softly, "Since we're about to divorce, there's no need to make a big deal out of it and tell everyone we're husband and wife. Besides, with your prominent family background, if my colleagues find out after the divorce, they'll look at me differently. I don't want to be labeled as 'the woman who was dumped by a wealthy family.' It's more convenient to say you're a distant cousin."

Gu Beixian looked at her meaningfully, "You've thought it through quite well."

Su Hua laughed at herself, "I have no choice, it's just the survival instinct of the little people."

"You're not a little person. There aren't many in the entire Capital City who can boss me around like you do." His lips curled into a teasing smile as he gazed at her with interest.

"Don't make fun of me. How could I dare to boss you around?"

Su Hua felt a bit embarrassed and turned her back to him, ignoring him.

Just as she finished speaking, Gu Beixian's phone rang.

He took it out of his trouser pocket and glanced at it, his expression changing slightly.

Curious, Su Hua turned to look, catching a glimpse of the words "Suosuo" from the corner of her eye.

A spasm of disgust clenched in her stomach, and she said, "You should answer it."

Gu Beixian raised an eyebrow at her, "You're not angry?"

Su Hua thought to herself: Would you not answer it if I were angry? You'd still pick up regardless.

"Answer it quickly, don't keep her waiting," she urged, pretending not to care.

Gu Beixian gave her a deep look, pressed the answer button, and asked, "Suosuo, what's up?"

Chu Suosuo's frail and pitiful voice came through the phone, "Brother Beixian, where have you been? You didn't come to the hospital to see me all day yesterday. Will you come today? I can't eat without you, I feel so sad."

A wave of revulsion surged through Su Hua.

She tiptoed closer to the phone, mimicking Chu Suosuo's tone, "Honey, I've already taken off my clothes, what are you dawdling for?"

The phone went silent as death!

Gu Beixian looked down at her with a half-smile.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Su Hua met his gaze without expression.

The two stared at each other, neither speaking.

After a long, long time.

Chu Suosuo's listless voice came through the phone, "Then you go ahead, Brother Beixian."

She hung up the phone.

Su Hua, her emotions indiscernible, said lightly, "You should go to the hospital and see her. With severe depression and a serious hand injury, if she takes sleeping pills to commit suicide again, it'll be my fault."

Gu Beixian raised his hand to ruffle her hair, "I'm going to make a call."

He took his phone and stepped outside, dialing Chu Mochen.

Once connected.

He said, "Keep an eye on Suosuo. She just called me and was a bit upset. I'm worried she might do something rash."

"Alright," Chu Mochen paused, then added, "Suosuo has been spoiled by us since she was young, and she's a bit willful. She always feels like she hasn't broken up with you and acts without boundaries, causing you trouble."

Gu Beixian was silent for a few seconds, "It's okay, her illness and depression are also related to me."

"Your wife isn't angry, is she?"

Gu Beixian's lips curled up slightly, "She's fine. She has a good temper and is understanding." And she doesn't care that much about me.

Of course, he didn't say the last part out loud; adults don't easily reveal their feelings to others.

Chu Mochen hesitated, then said, "I'll invite you and your wife to dinner to apologize."

"We'll see when we have time."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Gu Beixian returned inside.

He saw Su Hua leaning on the bed, reading an old book, her expression calm, showing no emotion.

He sat down beside her, touched her face, and nuzzled her hair with his nose, saying, "I'm leaving."

"Mhm."

"I'll come back to see you tonight."

"It's too far, and you have work. Don't bother coming back and forth."

"Then come back with me early. You're a young girl living out here in the wilderness; how can I not worry? Your hand is also injured, and eating is a problem." He picked up her injured hand and examined it.

Su Hua felt a little sad.

His actions made it very hard for her to completely give up on him.

He always pulled her back when she was determined to leave.

And always hurt her again when she softened.

The lingering attachment was the most torturous.

Su Hua withdrew her hand and said coolly, "You can go. Don't come tonight. I grew up here without you, and I lived just fine."

"That's true." Gu Beixian pinched her other hand, "You, this little girl, appear so pitiful on the outside, but you're actually quite strong inside, even tougher than my heart."

Su Hua pursed her lips slightly.

Thinking to herself: It's your heart that's tough, not mine. You're just too bad.

Gu Beixian stood up, "I'm really leaving. Aren't you going to see me off?"

Su Hua turned her head away, her heart a mix of emotions, wanting him to leave yet not wanting him to go.

Gu Beixian's gaze lingered on her for a while before he stepped out.

Seeing Shen Huai outside, his eyes turned cold, and he asked with a distant tone, "When are you leaving?"

Shen Huai smiled lightly, "I'm off for a few days, I'll go back the day after tomorrow. Su Hua's hand needs dressing changes, and as a doctor, it's more convenient for me to take care of her."

Gu Beixian's face darkened, and he looked into the distance.

Two bodyguards were sitting on stools, gobbling down instant noodles.

He instructed, "You two stay here and protect Su Hua well."

The bodyguards quickly set down their noodle cups and stood up, responding, "Yes, Mr. Gu."

Gu Beixian then turned to Sister Liu, who was washing dishes by the sink, "Sister Liu, come with me to the car."

Sister Liu hurriedly wiped her hands on her clothes and followed him to the car.

Sitting in the passenger seat, she twisted her fingers nervously and said, "Mr. Gu, Madam told me to turn off my phone yesterday, and I didn't dare disobey her."

Gu Beixian crossed his legs, resting his arm on the car window, his fingers lightly pressing against his temple, and spoke calmly, "Don't be afraid. I'm asking you about something else. What's Su Hua's attitude towards that Shen fellow?"

Sister Liu thought carefully and replied, "Madam is very polite to Doctor Shen and keeps her distance. She probably isn't interested in him. But Doctor Shen seems quite fond of Madam and takes good care of her. He's the one who had the hospital surveillance deleted, and he drove us here. Mr. Gu, should I tell Doctor Shen that Madam is your wife?"

"No need. If she wants to play, just let her be."

"Okay, Mr. Gu."

Gu Beixian handed her a check, "Take good care of her and don't let her be alone with Shen."

Sister Liu's face lit up with a smile as she took the check, "Don't worry, I'll make sure they don't spend time alone."

"Get out of the car."

Sister Liu opened the door and got out.

The driver started the car.

Gu Beixian lowered the window and looked out, not seeing Su Hua's figure, feeling a bit empty inside.

Ungrateful little thing, he had traveled long and hard to find her all night, and she didn't even come out to send him off.

As the car drove away, kicking up dust, Gu Beixian, unwilling to let go, looked back one more time before turning the corner.

He saw a slender figure at the crossroads, wrapped in a white knit sweater.

That small, delicate face belonged to Su Hua.

His lips slightly lifted into a smile, thinking she still had some conscience.

After the car turned the corner, Su Hua's figure completely disappeared from view.

Gu Beixian slowly closed the window.

He remembered the first time he saw her three years ago.

She was only twenty then, fresh out of college, still a young girl.

Her face was small and pale, fragile-looking, with big, fluffy eyes, more beautiful than he had expected.

She was quiet then, answering only when he asked, silent if he didn't, always smiling, but with a distant smile, like the eternal smile on an ID photo.

Beneath her beautiful appearance, there was a stubborn streak.

He remembered it was cold that day, and she had brought him a gift.

He couldn't remember what it was, only her slender fingers, red and tender from the cold.

Looking at those hands, he felt an inexplicable pang of heartache.

And on that day, they got married, becoming husband and wife.