Last night, Su Hua didn't sleep well at Grandfather Gu's old house, and tonight, she was thoroughly exhausted by Gu Beixian's antics, falling into a deep slumber.

She slept until dawn, too tired to even have nightmares.

Without that nightmare from thirteen years ago, she wouldn't talk in her sleep, nor would she call out "Brother Ah-Yao" in her dreams.

The next morning, she opened her eyes and looked beside her; Beixian had already gotten up.

Carefully avoiding her injured hand, she got dressed and climbed out of bed.

Entering the bathroom, she saw that Beixian had even prepared the toothpaste for her.

She smiled, picked up the toothbrush, and began brushing her teeth slowly.

After freshening up, Su Hua held onto the railing as she descended the stairs.

Beixian was setting a freshly prepared breakfast on the table.

Seeing her, his eyes crinkled with a handsome smile, his face a picture of spring as he called out, "Come and eat, it's all your favorites." He seemed to be in a great mood.

His handsome features were sculpted to perfection, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. When his thin lips curved into a smile, it was both tender and carefree, captivating the onlooker.

Su Hua couldn't help but smile back, "Why didn't you wake me? I could have cooked."

"You're still healing from your hand injury, and it's not like I can't cook. It's just a small effort."

Su Hua sat down at the table, and Beixian passed her a spoon.

The breakfast was lavish, a mix of Eastern and Western dishes: fried eggs, steak, salmon, tiramisu, toast, and even eight-treasure porridge, accompanied by a selection of fruit.

Su Hua sipped the porridge slowly, finding it well-cooked and delicious.

Then she heard Gu Beixian say, "Su Hua, let's have a child. If you get pregnant, we won't divorce."

Her hand holding the soup spoon paused, taken aback.

He had always been the one to insist on contraception, and he was the one who suggested divorce. Now, he suddenly wanted a child and didn't want a divorce.

After a moment of silence, Su Hua lifted her head and looked at him seriously, "Can you stay away from Chu Suosuo in the future?"

Beixian's eyes briefly faltered before he replied, "She's severely depressed, and it's related to me. I've asked the doctors; emotions are crucial with that illness. A moment of despair could lead to suicide. Besides, the Gu and Chu families have business dealings, and we live in the same city. It's inevitable to run into each other."

So much said, but the answer was just two words: No.

Su Hua laughed self-deprecatingly, lowered her gaze to the porridge, and said softly, "I can tolerate anything but sharing my husband with another woman. I'm really not as magnanimous as you think, sorry."

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Beixian paused, "To me, her and Nanyin's positions are about the same."

"Nanyin doesn't call you in the middle of the night, asking you to come over, nor does she cuddle with you."

Beixian took a sip of water, his tone indifferent, "There's no perfect marriage. Most couples tolerate each other and accommodate one another."

Su Hua felt there was more to his words.

After pondering for a while, she figured out what he meant.

Taking a deep breath, she said, "Ah-Yao has long passed away. You don't need to tolerate him, and I don't want to tolerate Chu Suosuo."

A cold smile played on Beixian's lips, his gaze deep as he looked at her for a long time, his meaning unclear, "Is that so?"

Su Hua didn't respond, just lowered her head and continued with her porridge.

To continue would lead to an argument, and she didn't want to fight with him.

Fighting was too damaging to a relationship already on thin ice. More arguing would only hasten its end.

Even now, she still loved him deeply.

She had never loved anyone this much before.

She was the type to warm up slowly to someone, but once she fell in love, it was hard for her to let go.

After the meal, Su Hua stood up to clear the dishes.

Beixian held her hand, "Let Sister Liu and the hourly worker take care of it. You can read at home or go shopping if you like."

He took out a card from his wallet and handed it to her, "Use my card."

Su Hua declined, "I have money."

Beixian stuffed the card into her pocket, "The PIN is your birthday, 618618. Call the driver when you go out and be careful on the road."

"Okay."

After Beixian left, Su Hua also went out to pick a birthday gift for her mother-in-law, Qin Shu.

Qin Shu was a renowned wedding dress designer with her own brand, ShuQin. She had focused her career in Paris but had shifted her focus to China this year.

Su Hua didn't interact much with her, only knowing that she was elegant and aloof, speaking very little.

She arrived at the Hermès boutique.

Su Hua went in to choose a bag for Qin Shu.

She picked out a 30cm amber yellow Birkin bag, worth over a hundred thousand, and needed to select items of equal value, like scarves and cushions.

While choosing, a coquettish voice came from behind, "Sis Su Hua, you're here to pick a bag too?"

Su Hua felt a slight tingle on her scalp and turned to see Chu Suosuo behind her.

Dripping in designer brands and glittering jewels, she held an expensive crocodile leather Birkin bag, her delicate frame strutting with arrogance.

Su Hua responded with a nonchalant hum.

Chu Suosuo, sticky as taffy, approached and asked the sales associate, "Which one did Sis Su Hua like?"

The associate picked up the amber yellow Birkin bag Su Hua had chosen and said, "This one, Miss Chu."

A sneer flickered in Chu Suosuo's eyes as she eyed the unbranded bag on Su Hua's shoulder and taunted, "Sis Su Hua, coming from a small village, you might not be too familiar with luxury goods. To buy a bag here, you need to spend over a hundred thousand to qualify. Do you have that much?"

Su Hua's eyes turned cold, "Of course, I do."

She wasn't obsessed with luxury goods; the bag she carried was just convenient for carrying things, and she couldn't remember the brand. But she often chose such items as gifts for Gu Nanyin and the elderly lady, who liked them.

Gu Nanyin especially loved Hermès bags, and Su Hua had given her several.

Chu Suosuo uttered an "Oh" with a sarcastic tone, "Sis Su Hua, you really don't hesitate to spend Brother Beixian's money."

Su Hua laughed, "He's my husband, I'll spend if I want to, it's none of your business, right?"

Chu Suosuo huffed, "I've been childhood sweethearts with Brother Beixian for over a decade, we grew up together. We share many common memories. If anyone's the outsider, it's you. You might not know, but my first Hermès bag was a gift from Brother Beixian."

Su Hua didn't want to waste her breath arguing. She picked out a few scarves, accessories, an ashtray, a blanket, and such, totaling over a hundred thousand.

She pulled out a card and handed it to the associate, "Please, go ahead with the card."

"Sure, just a moment," the associate took the card to the cashier.

Su Hua needed to sign, so she followed.

Chu Suosuo also came over, sneering, "That's Brother Beixian's card, isn't it? You refuse to leave him because you're after his money, right?"

Su Hua, unfazed, asked the associate, "Could you please tell Miss Chu whose name is on this card?"

The associate smiled at Chu Suosuo, "Miss Chu, this card is under the name of Su Hua, Miss Su."

Su Hua smiled lightly, "Could you check how much is left in the account?"

The associate looked at the computer and respectfully said, "Miss Su, your account balance is one hundred and fifty-six million."

Chu Suosuo's face turned pale, alternating between red and white, speechless.

Su Hua watched her face, a faint smile on her lips.

She was never one for competition, but dealing with a social climber like Chu Suosuo, this method was incredibly satisfying!

The one billion in the account was the severance fee Gu Beixian had given her not long ago, and the fifty-six million was what he had given her sporadically over three years.

Every time he lost his temper, he would compensate her generously with money.

Su Hua used to complain that he was fobbing her off with money, but today, she found his habit of throwing money at problems absolutely charming!

Sending flowers and bags to Chu Suosuo, how much could that cost?

Every card and check he gave her was never less than a million.

After the transaction, Su Hua took the pen from the associate and signed gracefully.

The associate returned the card to her.

Holding the bank card, Su Hua waved it in front of Chu Suosuo, taunting, "Miss Chu, I'm afraid your account doesn't even have fifty million, right? In the future, don't try to flaunt your ignorance in front of me, it's really low. And about that twenty million check to make me leave Beixian, don't do it again, you look like a clown."

Chu Suosuo's face was twisted with anger, her voice sour, "What's there to be arrogant about? If I hadn't been taken abroad by my mother three years ago, there would be no place for you as a stand-in."

"Stand-in, huh, stand-in," Su Hua's face paled, her fingers digging into her palm.

That was a thorn in her heart, painful at the slightest touch.

Suddenly, a cold voice came from behind, "Miss Chu might not know, but you are the stand-in."