Chapter 26

Chapter 26

“Why would I make things difficult for Su Hua?” Qin Shu asked, her brow furrowed.

Gu Beixian spoke without emotion. “You know your own temperament.”

Qin Shu said nothing more. She hung up immediately, opened WeChat, and sent him a location pin.

Returning the phone to Su Hua, she gave a self-deprecating laugh and grumbled, “That brat. To think he actually thought I sought you out to give you a hard time. Do I really look like such an evil mother-in-law?”

Su Hua recalled the scene at the Hermès boutique earlier, where Qin Shu had coldly and fiercely rebuked Chu Suosuo. Her lethality was indeed quite high.

But because the target was Chu Suosuo, Su Hua had only felt a sense of satisfaction and gratitude.

She smiled. “No, you are the most beautiful mother-in-law.”

Qin Shu’s anger turned to joy. “At least you know how to talk. That brat… his wife is nearly driven away by his antics, and here I am, kindly helping him coax her back. Instead of being grateful, he bites the hand that feeds him-like the dog that bit Lü Dongbin.”

Su Hua understood everything now.

Grandmother or Gu Nanyin must have said something to Qin Shu.

That was why the usually cold and aloof woman had returned to the country and immediately started gifting her bags and dresses.

Su Hua felt quite overwhelmed by the favor.

In wealthy, prestigious clans like the Gu Family, social status and matching backgrounds were always of paramount importance.

Back when Gu Beixian couldn’t stand and was confined to a wheelchair, he was considered a broken man, making them a somewhat suitable match.

But now, Gu Beixian’s legs were healed. He had returned to the company as the CEO of a listed corporation like the Gu Group. He was a man of immense power and influence, standing high above the masses in the spotlight.

As for her, even with her skills in restoring ancient paintings, she lacked the backing of a powerful family. Her strength was meager in comparison.

She felt this way herself, let alone others.

That was why Chu Suosuo, with her status as a wealthy socialite, dared to provoke her so brazenly time and time again.

It wasn’t long before Gu Beixian arrived.

He pushed the door open and stood at the entrance, scanning the cafe.

Upon seeing Su Hua, he took long strides toward her. He grabbed her hand, pulled her up from her chair, and said in a low voice, “Let’s go.”

Su Hua pulled her hand back and looked up at him with a smile. “Go where? I’m having a wonderful time chatting with Mom.”

She pointed to the bags and gift boxes on the table. “Mom gave all of these to me.”

Only then did Gu Beixian’s expression soften slightly. He asked, “She didn’t say anything to make you uncomfortable, did she?”

“No, Mom is very good to me.”

Gu Beixian arched an eyebrow. “You’re not lying to me?”

Su Hua found it baffling. “Why would I lie to you?”

“As long as you’re not lying. Since the coffee is finished, let’s head out.”

“Mom and I finally had a chance to meet; we haven’t talked enough yet.” Su Hua didn’t really want to leave.

Qin Shu held her coffee cup and said with a beaming smile, “Go on, leave with him. If you don’t, there’s no telling how much he’ll be cursing me in his heart.”

Su Hua laughed. “He wouldn’t dare.”

Qin Shu shot Gu Beixian a look. “You don’t understand. Men always forget their mothers once they have a wife. To him, you’re the only one who exists; where is there room for his mother?”

Though it was a complaint, it made Su Hua laugh.

But as she laughed, a touch of sadness crept into her heart. If only what she said were true.

The last day of the month arrived.

It was Qin Shu’s birthday.

In the evening, Su Hua changed into the blue starry-sky dress Qin Shu had given her. She meticulously applied light makeup and was driven to the Gu residence by a chauffeur.

The villa was brilliantly lit.

The spacious, bright living room with its nine-meter-high ceiling was decorated magnificently. A long, luxurious table was laden with a variety of high-end buffet dishes-delicacies from the mountains and the seas were all present, alongside an array of drinks, fruits, and exquisite desserts.

The male guests were all in suits and ties, while the female guests were dressed in evening gowns, adorned with sparkling jewels.

Everyone raised their glasses and chatted merrily; the atmosphere was incredibly lively.

Though Qin Shu appeared cold and aloof on the outside, she was very socially adept. She moved through the crowd, socializing with ease, talking and laughing with sophisticated grace.

This was the first time since Su Hua had married into the Gu Family that such a grand birthday party had been held.

Previously, when Gu Beixian was in a car accident and couldn’t walk, the entire Gu Family had been shrouded in a shadow.

Even when the old matriarch had a birthday, they didn’t hold a large event. Only the closest relatives would gather at the old manor for a simple meal to celebrate.

The moment Su Hua entered the room, everyone’s eyes turned toward her in unison.

Regardless of gender, their eyes were filled with admiration.

Su Hua was already beautiful without makeup, but with a little enhancement, she was stunning. In her formal attire, she looked like a fairy who had descended to the mortal realm.
Her snow-white, oval face was framed by two dark, elegant brows, and her large eyes shimmered like ripples on water, radiating brilliance with every glance.

Her figure was tall and slender. Her midnight-blue, floor-length evening gown was adorned with countless tiny diamonds that sparkled like a sea of stars. As she walked, the glow from the chandeliers danced with the starlight on her dress, giving her an ethereal, otherworldly aura.

Qin Shu spotted Su Hua and immediately hurried over to greet her warmly. Taking her arm, she introduced her to the crowd. “Everyone, let me introduce you. This is my daughter-in-law, Su Hua.”

The crowd was taken aback. “When did your son get married? Why weren’t we notified?”

Qin Shu smiled graciously. “They’ve been married for three years. We’ll be holding the wedding ceremony in a while.”

A middle-aged socialite in a purple evening gown stood nearby. She looked Su Hua up and down, clicking her tongue in admiration. “She’s so beautiful and has such wonderful poise. She must be a young lady from a prominent family, right?”

Su Hua’s eyes dimmed slightly. Just as she was about to speak, Qin Shu squeezed her hand.

“Su Hua is the granddaughter of the ‘Restoration Master’ of ancient paintings, Su Wenmai,” Qin Shu said. “She comes from a long line of scholars.”

The socialite in purple didn’t dabble in antiques, so she naturally didn’t know of Su Wenmai’s prestige. Her expression underwent a subtle shift. “A family of scholars? Well, that’s nice too,” she said, her tone becoming noticeably dismissive.

The smiles on the faces of the others also turned ambiguous.

Su Hua was sensitive and noticed the change. She felt a twinge of discomfort, though she didn’t let it show on her face.

Qin Shu led her further inside and whispered in her ear, “Don’t mind those people. They’re all vulgar, reeking of money and ignorance.”

A warm feeling spread through Su Hua’s heart. She gave Qin Shu a radiant smile. “Thank you, Mom. I’m fine.”

Qin Shu patted her shoulder. “Good. Sit here for a while. Get whatever you’d like to eat, and call a servant if you need anything. Beixian will be here soon. I’ll go look after the guests now.”

Su Hua bowed slightly. “Please, go ahead. Don’t worry about me.”

Once Qin Shu had walked away, Su Hua found a seat. Having lived a quiet, secluded life for the three years she had been married to Gu Beixian, this was her first time being exposed to the public eye. Aside from Qin Shu, she didn’t know a single person there, which made her feel somewhat out of place.

Su Hua took a glass of juice, sipped it gently, and pulled out her phone to scroll through it.

Suddenly, a snide female voice came from behind her. “Oh, so Su Hua came today too. Put on a little gown and the sparrow turns into a phoenix. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

The words were incredibly harsh.

Su Hua’s scalp prickled. She turned her head to look.

Standing not far away was a tall, thin woman in a black evening gown. She was well-preserved, making it hard to tell her real age, but her face was long and narrow with high cheekbones, giving her a sharp, mean-spirited look.

It was Gu Beixian’s aunt, Gu Fengjiao.

Su Hua stood up and greeted her with a tight smile. “Hello, Aunt.”

Holding a glass of red wine, Gu Fengjiao walked over in her high heels. She squinted, looking Su Hua up and down. “You must have hit the jackpot in eight past lives to marry my nephew. He has everything-wealth, family background, looks, and grace. He’s exceptional in every way.”

Su Hua’s lips curled into a faint smile. Neither servile nor overbearing, she replied, “Beixian is indeed excellent, but I am not lacking either.”

“You might not be lacking, but your maiden family is simply too embarrassing. Tsk, there’s no comparison to our Gu Family.” Gu Fengjiao curled her lip in disdain and took a sip of her wine.

Su Hua suppressed her frustration and said calmly, “It doesn’t matter what my maiden family is like as long as Beixian treats me well. And it’s not just Beixian-Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, and Nanyin all treat me with great respect.”

Gu Fengjiao hadn’t expected Su Hua, who looked so gentle on the outside, to be such a tough nut to crack. For every word she said, Su Hua had a retort ready, refusing to back down.

Fury rose within Gu Fengjiao. “That’s because they have good breeding! If you don’t belong, you don’t belong. Stop trying to paint yourself in gold!”

Suddenly, a cold, stern male voice rang out. “Su Hua doesn’t need to paint herself in gold. She is gold herself, and she is more than a match for me!”

Su Hua turned at the sound of the voice.

A tall, upright man in a dark formal suit approached. His features were deep and strikingly handsome. He walked with long, confident strides, drawing closer.

Stopping beside them, he looked down at Gu Fengjiao with a piercing gaze. He enunciated every word: “My woman is not for an outsider like you to gossip about, Aunt!”

Gu Fengjiao’s face turned ashen, and she couldn’t squeeze out a single word.

“Hubby, you’re here!” Su Hua’s eyes crinkled into crescents as she lifted her skirt and ran toward him.