Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Su Hua looked up at him slightly, her expression calm. “Yes, Cousin.”

There was a clear, transparent stubbornness in her eyes.

Someone who was used to being gentle remained quiet even when resisting.

Gu Beixian had originally intended to scold her, but he suddenly couldn’t bring himself to do it. The corners of his lips quirked up. “Fine. Cousin it is.”

He raised his hand and pulled her into his arms.

Caught off guard, Su Hua fell against his chest. Her nose caught the pleasant scent of his cologne mixed with the smell of tobacco and alcohol-and a strange, sweet fragrance.

That belonged to Chu Suosuo.

A wave of revulsion rose in Su Hua’s heart. She shifted her shoulders, trying to pull away from his embrace.

Gu Beixian tightened his grip, holding her firmly with an air of dominant possessiveness. He spoke to Shen Huai in a tone that was polite yet distant. “Thank you for bringing her back.”

“Don’t mention it,” Shen Huai replied.

His eyes, however, stared doubtfully at the arm draped over Su Hua’s shoulder. He couldn’t help but feel that these two cousins were a bit too intimate, exceeding the boundaries of a typical family relationship.

Gu Beixian swept a cold, indifferent glance over him. Keeping his arm around Su Hua’s shoulder, he led her toward the elevator.

While waiting for the elevator, he stared at the changing numbers on the display and asked nonchalantly, “Is he pursuing you?”

“Not really. He just appreciates my work.”

“When a man says he appreciates a woman, his motives are rarely pure.” He shifted the topic. “You’ve been in contact since three years ago?”

Su Hua’s expression changed slightly as she struggled out of his arms. “You investigated me?”

Gu Beixian reached out to ruffle her hair, his tone gentle. “Don’t make it sound so harsh. It’s called caring.”

Su Hua ducked back to avoid him. “His grandfather knew my grandfather. Three years ago, he tried to headhunt me with a high salary.”

“Oh, so our Huahua is actually that impressive.” His tone was intimate and teasing, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Su Hua’s ears tingled.

They had been married for three years, yet they had always treated each other with the formal respect of guests. This was the first time she had heard him call her by the intimate nickname “Huahua.” She felt a bit out of place, and a little bit of heartache.

With a *ding*, the elevator doors opened.

The two of them walked in one after the other.

The elevator was empty.

Gu Beixian pressed the button for the 21st floor and turned to look at Su Hua. His eyes were dark, a sharp glint flickering within them, as if some suppressed emotion was about to be released.

The man who was usually refined and abstinent suddenly seemed a bit more predatory.

Su Hua felt a sense of pressure and instinctively moved toward the corner. Her large, dark eyes watched him. “What is it?”

Gu Beixian blocked the security camera with his back. He stood tall, looking down at her. “Telling him I’m your cousin-were you intentionally giving him a chance?”

Su Hua understood; he was settling scores with her now.

“I-mmph…” Just as she was about to speak, her lips were suddenly blocked by his.

He was a skilled kisser. Whether it was a light taste or a deep exploration, he could make one’s heart flutter.

Su Hua’s heart thundered, as chaotic as boiling water.

Worried that someone might come in and see them, she raised her hands to push him away. She was also annoyed with him-how could he kiss her when he was clearly so close to Chu Suosuo?

But she was slender and delicate; how could her strength move such a tall, powerful man?

It was futile.

Instead, it gave the impression of playing hard to get, an unintentional provocation.

Gu Beixian pinned her restless hands down while his other hand tilted her chin up. His kiss grew more forceful, and he even nipped at her lightly.

No matter how one looked at it, there was a hint of venting his frustration.

Su Hua gasped under his kiss, nearly unable to breathe.

Only then did Gu Beixian release her. He straightened her messy long hair and adjusted her collar, intentionally threatening her, “Do you still dare to call me ‘Cousin’ recklessly?”

Su Hua’s ears turned red. She gave him a slight, silent glare.

Gu Beixian chuckled softly, looking down at her.

Her watery, glistening lips were slightly parted, and her large eyes were misty like a startled fawn’s. She was incredibly alluring.

Earlier, when she had stubbornly called him her cousin in front of Shen Huai, he had felt a strong urge to teach her a lesson. He wanted to see if she would dare to call him that in front of outsiders again.

A person who was usually submissive could easily ignite a man’s desire for conquest when they occasionally showed a bit of an edge.

The elevator ascended rapidly.

Gu Beixian suddenly asked out of the blue, “Do you regret marrying me three years ago?”

Su Hua was slightly taken aback. She looked up at his excessively handsome features, her gaze a bit dazed, as if she were looking at him, yet also looking through him.
Her voice was low but firm. “I don’t regret it.”

“Three years ago, I was a useless cripple who couldn’t walk. I had a terrible temper, and even the nurses and servants detested me. You were a beautiful young girl with a bright future. Did you really never regret marrying me, not even once?”

He stood there with one hand in his pocket, looking clean and elegant. His features were sharp, and his posture was as upright as a pine tree.

That noble aura radiating from him was truly captivating under the cool white light.

There was no longer any trace of the despondent man from three years ago.

Su Hua spoke earnestly. “You sent people to help find a kidney donor for my grandmother and saved her life. You bought a house for my family and gave us a massive bride price, rescuing us from a desperate situation. I haven’t even had enough time to properly thank you. My grandfather taught me from a young age that one must repay kindness.”

Gu Beixian listened impassively. When she finished her last word, he looked up and asked without much emotion, “Is gratitude all you feel for me?”

Su Hua fell silent.

In the past, if he had asked this, she would have said without a second thought that besides gratitude, there was the love that had grown over time.

But now, he had already brought up divorce and was staying so close to Chu Suosuo. If she were to offer her heart to him so eagerly now, it would only make her look cheap.

She pursed her lips slightly and remained silent.

The elevator doors opened.

The two of them walked out.

Su Hua took her keys out of her bag and opened the door.

They entered the house.

Gu Beixian watched her silently as she changed her shoes.

When she straightened up, he suddenly braced one hand against the wall, trapping her in his arms. He looked down at her and stubbornly asked again, “Is it really just gratitude? Nothing else?”

Su Hua looked up at him.

His face was as calm as water, and his deep, dark eyes seemed to hold a galaxy within them. Just a simple look from him was enough to make her heart race.

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

Su Hua felt a pang in her heart. She lowered her gaze and said softly, “Yes, only gratitude.” There was a hint of spite in her words.

Gu Beixian let out a self-deprecating smirk.

It made sense. All her love had been given to her precious Ay Yao. By the time it reached him, only gratitude was left.

What was the point of a marriage held together by obligation?

Gu Beixian suddenly felt that everything was dull and meaningless. The spark that had been ignited in the elevator was completely extinguished.

He withdrew his hand, shoved it into his pocket, and glanced around the living room. “Your mother isn’t home?” he asked absentmindedly.

“The nurse looking after my grandmother took some leave, so my mother is filling in for a few days. Have a seat, I’ll wash my hands and make some tea for you.”

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

He pulled it out of his trouser pocket and glanced at it. It was a call from Chu Suosuo.

Because she was close by, Su Hua also saw the name “Suosuo” on the screen.

Feeling as though she had swallowed a fly, she turned and headed straight for the bathroom.

Gu Beixian watched her hurried departure, paused for a moment, then answered the call. He walked over to the window and asked, “Is your finger bandaged?”

Chu Suosuo’s voice sounded a bit watery, as if she were aggrieved. “It’s done. I just got in the car and I’m heading home. Sister Su Hua isn’t angry, is she?”

“No, she has a good temper. She doesn’t get angry easily.”

Chu Suosuo pouted, though her voice remained extremely gentle. “She didn’t say anything about me, did she?”

She was afraid Su Hua would reveal the matter of the twenty-million-yuan check.

Gu Beixian’s expression was indifferent. “No. She doesn’t talk much.”

Chu Suosuo breathed a secret sigh of relief and feigned surprise. “She talks plenty. When she spoke to me at the cafe at noon, she was quite sharp-tongued. She said so much in one breath, and every word was so mean.”

Gu Beixian felt a bit annoyed listening to this. “Suosuo, Su Hua has never said a single bad word about you to me. I don’t want to hear things like that from you in the future.”

Chu Suosuo was stunned and quickly changed her tune. “I was wrong. 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-”

*Crash!*

A loud noise suddenly erupted from the bathroom.

Clutching his phone, Gu Beixian took off with long strides, rushing over as he called out urgently, “Su Hua, what happened?”