Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Su Hua’s heart skipped a beat.

She hadn’t expected Gu Beixian to figure it out so quickly. Remembering Gu Aoting’s warning not to let him know-that it would damage their father-son relationship-she feigned nonchalance.

“You were the one who brought up divorce first,” she said lightly. “And I’ve told you, I can’t stand Chu Suosuo.”

Gu Beixian’s fingers traced the line of her spine, his touch light and lingering. “Liar. I’ve been very careful to keep my distance from her lately.”

Su Hua’s lips curled upward, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “The two of you were childhood sweethearts, a perfect match in status. I was nothing more than a nanny you hired. Now that your legs are better, it’s time for this nanny to retire.”

Her self-deprecation caused Gu Beixian’s heart to sink. He pulled her even closer.

He was exceptionally tall, standing as straight as a pine tree. His features were sharp and handsome, etched with masculine lines. Such a cold, imposing man was now whispering softly against the top of her head.

“I have never thought of you as a nanny. Truly. You are my lawful wife, and I have always respected you in my heart.”

Su Hua felt a sharp, bitter pang of pain, yet she maintained her smile. “You were the one who wanted a divorce before, and now you’re the one dragging your feet. I really don’t understand how men think. What do you take me for? You order me around and then claim to respect me. Is this what you call respect?”

Usually gentle to a fault, she was rarely this biting.

Gu Beixian fell silent for a moment. “I brought up the divorce because you…”

“Let’s just do it. Let’s divorce,” Su Hua interrupted him hurriedly, terrified she might lose her resolve. “A clean break is better than a long, drawn-out agony. This back-and-forth is like being carved up with a blunt knife. It’s torture.”

Gu Beixian slowly released her. He looked down, quietly studying her pale, delicate face.

“Grandmother won’t agree,” he said, his voice low.

Su Hua turned her head away, not daring to meet his gaze. “As for Grandma… I’ll go with you this weekend to visit her and try to talk her around.”

Gu Beixian leaned down to kiss her forehead. He held her for a long while before finally saying, in a faint voice, “Fine.”

That single word was like a stone dropped into the center of a lake, sending ripples through Su Hua’s heart. She felt no sense of relief; instead, she was overwhelmed by a tidal wave of conflicting emotions.

Wriggling out of his embrace, she reached up to unbutton the suit jacket to return it to him.

Gu Beixian pressed his hand over hers. “Keep it on. The car has air conditioning.”

Su Hua’s hand stilled on the button.

Gu Beixian tucked the strands of hair the wind had mussed behind her ears. His eyes were dark and deep as he gazed at her. “Take care of yourself.”

Su Hua felt her nose prickle. “You too. Don’t let your right hand get wet; be careful of infection. Smoke less, drink less, and eat your meals on time.”

Gu Beixian gave a low hum of affirmation. “Go back inside. The wind is picking up.”

Su Hua forced a smile. “Okay.”

Gu Beixian opened the car door and slid inside. Su Hua didn’t turn back until the car had vanished from sight.

Her fingers traced the buttons of his jacket. Though she was smiling, her heart ached terribly. That profound sense of powerlessness washed over her once again.

Since she was a child, her grandfather had told her that as long as she worked hard, she would succeed. But the massive chasm in their social status was something no amount of hard work could change.

If you don’t belong in a circle, there’s no need to force your way in.

When she returned to the ward, Su Peilan had stepped out for something. Shen Huai was still there.

Su Hua looked at him with slight confusion. “My grandmother’s attending physician is an elderly man named Dr. Qiu,” she asked with polite friendliness. “Why has it been changed to you?”

Shen Huai clipped his pen into the pocket of his white lab coat and smiled. “Dr. Qiu hasn’t been feeling well the past few days, so I’m covering his shifts for a while.”

Su Hua gave a small nod. “My mother was just joking earlier. Please don’t take it seriously.”

Shen Huai’s lips quirked. He looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he simply replied, “Alright.”

Saturday evening.

Su Hua and Gu Beixian arrived at the Gu Family Old Residence together.
As soon as they entered the house, Grandma greeted them with a beaming smile and a warm welcome. “Hua’er is here!”

Su Hua called out obediently, “Hello, Grandma.”

“Good, good, good. Come sit, sit down quickly.” The old lady affectionately took her hand and led her to the sofa. Her eyes darted toward Su Hua’s flat stomach as she asked mysteriously, “Girl, are you pregnant yet?”

Su Hua shook her head and gave an apologetic smile. “Grandma, Beixian and I are getting a divorce. I’m sorry.”

Grandma froze, her smile stiffening on her face as disappointment clouded her eyes. “Didn’t you promise me last time that you’d give me a big, healthy great-grandson? It hasn’t been that long-how could you change your mind?”

Su Hua lowered her gaze and remained silent.

She had originally felt that not having children was the right choice. But facing Grandma’s disappointed gaze, she was filled with immense guilt.

Grandma was a reasonable person. Seeing Su Hua’s expression, she guessed a few things.

She patted Su Hua’s head, then looked up and glared at Gu Beixian. “Is it because you’ve been messing around with that Chu Suosuo girl again and upset Hua’er?”

Gu Beixian slightly curled his lips, his expression indifferent. “Su Hua and I have been on good terms lately. My mother likes Su Hua very much, and Nanyin goes without saying.”

The implication was clear: You can guess for yourself who’s causing the trouble.

Grandma frowned and thought for a long while before saying, “It couldn’t be your father meddling, could it?”

Gu Beixian nodded.

The old lady’s temper flared instantly.

She snatched up her phone and called Gu Aoting. “You brat, I have something to say to you. I’m giving you half an hour to get back here and see me!”

Gu Aoting was currently entertaining clients at a dinner party. The old lady’s shout was so loud it made his ears ring.

He stood up and walked out the door, holding the phone far away from his ear. “Mom, are you serious? I’m with clients right now; I can’t just leave. I’m busy every day, unlike you who has nothing but free time.”

“Don’t you have plenty of subordinates? Hand it over to them and get over here right now!”

The old lady hung up immediately after speaking.

Half an hour later, Gu Aoting returned, not a second late.

When he entered and saw Su Hua, his face darkened instantly, his expression turning extremely sour. He made no effort to hide the deep-seated disdain and disgust in his eyes.

Su Hua’s self-esteem was crushed into dust, and she felt so humiliated she was on the verge of tears.

She had always been a person with strong self-respect, her skin as thin as paper. Because she had been well-behaved and sensible since childhood, excelled in school, and possessed the skill of restoring ancient paintings and calligraphy, she had never been so bluntly despised in all her life.

Gu Beixian noticed.

He placed his palm over hers, his long, slender fingers gripping her hand. With his other hand, he supported her face and pulled her into his embrace, shielding her from Gu Aoting’s sharp gaze.

Su Hua leaned into his chest, her fingers instinctively clutching his shirt. Her nose was filled with his clean, pleasant scent, radiating a warmth she could rely on. The ache in her heart seemed to ease significantly.

She pressed her face deeper into his chest, seeking more comfort.

Grandma gently patted Su Hua’s back and glared at Gu Aoting with sharp eyes. Dropping her usual kind demeanor, she scolded him, “Who do you think you’re showing that sour face to? Hua’er didn’t tell me; I guessed it myself. I knew you wouldn’t stay quiet. Why are you making trouble for such a wonderful granddaughter-in-law? When Beixian was in a wheelchair, you didn’t force them to divorce. Now that Beixian can stand, you’re trying to drive the girl away. You heartless, ungrateful thing-are you even human?”

Gu Aoting had held a high position for many years. When had he ever been lectured like this, right to his face? To be scolded so mercilessly in front of the younger generation-especially in front of Su Hua-made his old face burn with embarrassment.