Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Su Hua’s vision was blocked by the umbrella, making it hard to see the path. Noticing that the umbrella was shifted entirely over her, leaving Gu Beixian’s clothes soaked by the rain, she reached up and pushed the handle back toward him.

Gu Beixian instinctively looked toward the broken bridge first.

The man named Ah Yao was gone. He had vanished like a ghost, appearing as briefly as a night-blooming cereus, or perhaps he had been nothing more than a phantom.

Gu Beixian let out a silent sigh of relief and pulled Su Hua closer into his arms.

Only in hindsight did he realize that in that moment, he had actually been afraid she would be taken away.

It was the first time in his life he had ever felt this way, and even he was surprised by it.

By the time they returned to her grandfather’s house, it was already noon. The two of them shared a quick, simple meal.

Exhausted and drowsy, Su Hua went into the bedroom and began to undress, wanting to sleep for a while. She had barely closed her eyes over the past few days while keeping vigil for her grandmother.

Gu Beixian followed her in, took off his jacket, and draped it over a chair by the bed, intending to sleep with her.

Su Hua’s voice was raspy as she whispered, “Go sleep in the next room. I haven’t showered in three days; I probably smell.”

Gu Beixian leaned in, bending down to sniff her hair. “You do smell a bit.”

Su Hua was mortified and quickly covered her head with her hands to stop him.

Gu Beixian gave a faint smile. “It’s fine. I don’t mind.”

He pulled back the covers, tucked her into bed, kicked off his shoes, and lay down beside her. Holding her, he said softly, “Your relatives are all watching. If we sleep in separate rooms, people will definitely gossip.”

Su Hua thought about it and realized he was right.

When she married Gu Beixian three years ago, some relatives who knew the circumstances had whispered behind her back that her mother had sold her to a cripple for money. Now that Gu Beixian’s legs were healed, those people were likely waiting for any excuse to mock her.

Everyone cared about appearances. Even if they were truly going to divorce, they had to maintain the facade in front of outsiders.

Su Hua stopped protesting. She had pushed herself too hard these past few days; the moment her head hit the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep.

As she slept, she began to have nightmares.

In her dream, the night was pitch black. Fierce winds whipped up a raging fire, and thick smoke filled the air. Searing flames licked at her skin, and the heavy scent of gasoline and acrid smoke filled her nose.

A lean youth struggled to push her out of the fire, but his own legs were pinned by a burning roof beam that had collapsed.

She reached out, grabbing and pulling at him with all her might, trying to drag him out of the inferno, but he wouldn’t budge.

She cried out loudly, “Ay Yao, Ay Yao…”

Gu Beixian was woken by her cries. He saw her eyes tightly shut, her face twisted in pain, and her lashes soaked with tears.

He frowned slightly, pulled some tissues from the nightstand, and gently wiped the tears from her face.

Once finished, he watched her in silence for a moment before pulling her into his arms. He began to stroke her back and pat her gently to soothe her, just as he always had.

Yet, his heart felt as if it were weighed down by a stone, aching with a sharp, rubbing pain.

His long eyelashes cast a shadow beneath his eyes. That shadow made his handsome face look indescribably gloomy, and the atmosphere around him grew incredibly heavy.

Over the past few days, he had dropped everything to stay by her side without rest, taking care of her. He felt he had done more than enough. Yet here she was, lying in his arms, calling out for her Ay Yao in such agony.

He felt as though his sincerity had been misplaced.

This wasn’t the first time; he had endured this for three whole years. He had never been a man of good temper or much tolerance for others, yet he had restrained himself for her sake time and again.

Endurance comes with emotions; while one endures, resentment inevitably builds. This was an invisible crack between them.

Days of sleep deprivation pushed his emotions to the brink of collapse, and his patience was at an all-time low. He wanted to snap at her, to lose his temper and walk away.

But she was too good-intelligent, beautiful, gentle, and sensible. And right now, she was so vulnerable. He found that he couldn’t even bring himself to be angry with her, let alone start a fight.

After taking several deep breaths, Gu Beixian managed to suppress the anger in his heart. He held the woman trapped in her nightmare tightly, gradually soothing her until she settled, then tucked the covers around her.

He got out of bed, put on his jacket, and walked out, wanting a cigarette.

There were still people in the courtyard, so he walked out the main gate. In front of the house was a derelict pond. Across the pond was a sparse grove of poplar trees, with messy power lines threading through the upper branches, swaying slightly in the wind.

Gu Beixian took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and pulled one out. He flicked his lighter, shielding the flame from the wind to light it, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled a cloud of blue-white smoke.

He narrowed his eyes, staring at the woods across the way as he smoked one cigarette after another. His usually refined and stoic face carried a trace of coldness.

He smoked from the time the sun began to set until the night turned pitch black. The ground was littered with discarded cigarette butts.

Even after smoking half a pack, his restless heart could not find peace.
His phone suddenly rang.

Gu Beixian held his cigarette between his lips as he pulled the phone from his trouser pocket. He glanced at the caller ID: it was Chu Suosuo.

Frowning, he cut the call immediately.

A few minutes later, the phone rang again.

This time, it was his father, Gu Aoting.

He pressed answer.

“When are you coming back?” Gu Aoting asked.

Gu Beixian replied tonelessly, “Su Hua’s grandmother was buried today. I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”

Gu Aoting’s voice carried a hint of reproach. “Why have you been gone so long? It’s been nearly four days altogether.”

“Her grandmother passed away, and she’s devastated. I didn’t feel right leaving her alone.”

“Doesn’t she have a mother? Doesn’t she have relatives?”

“Her mother is also grieving and can barely look after herself. As for those relatives… they are what they are. Right now, I’m the only one she can lean on.”

Gu Aoting let out a huff of air through his nose. “You’re getting a divorce anyway, so why be so good to her? Just give her more money. Your time is far more valuable than money. Several projects you’re involved in have been delayed because of your absence. Do you have any idea how much loss that’s caused the company?”

Gu Beixian lowered his eyelids slightly and said indifferently, “Deduct the losses from my personal account.”

Gu Aoting said displeasurably, “This isn’t about the money; it’s about the company’s reputation!”

Gu Beixian remained silent for a moment. “Just this once. It won’t happen again.”

Gu Aoting gave a low grunt of affirmation before saying in a commanding tone, “Remember to finalize the divorce when you get back. You’ve been dragging your feet; it shouldn’t be this much trouble.”

Back in the bedroom.

Su Hua rolled over in her sleep, instinctively reaching out for Gu Beixian, but her hand met empty space.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she woke up.

She opened her bleary eyes. Finding him gone, she felt a hollow ache in her chest, mixed with a faint worry for him.

She rubbed her eyes to clear her groggy mind.

Throwing back the covers, she dressed and got out of bed to look for him.

After checking several rooms and the courtyard without success, panic set in. Su Hua hurried out the front gate.

By the light of the entrance lamps, she spotted a tall, proud figure standing by the pond in the night. He stood as straight as a pine tree, currently on a call.

A faint orange glow flickered at the tips of his left fingers.

The man wore a long black trench coat, his aura noble yet detached, possessing a natural, refined strength.

It was Gu Beixian.

He was so distinct from everyone else. Even from behind, one could pick him out from a crowd instantly.

Su Hua’s frantic heart suddenly settled.

Afraid of disturbing his call, she lightened her steps and slowly walked toward him.

As she drew closer, she heard him say into the phone, “I’m a human being, not a beast. Su Hua stayed by my side during my darkest times. Now that she’s this vulnerable, there’s no way I can just abandon her. Let’s just forget about the divorce.”

Su Hua’s heart burned with emotion, and her nose prickled with a sudden sting.

She quickened her pace, stepped forward, and threw her arms around him, burying her face against his back.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

It was as if she feared he would vanish the moment she let go.

Gu Beixian’s eyes flickered. When he turned and saw it was her, his gloomy expression softened slightly.

Being held by her like this, the frustration pent up in his chest actually dissipated by more than half.

I’m so pathetic, he thought.

She hadn’t said a single word, yet he was already nearly coaxed out of his mood.

After giving Gu Aoting a few perfunctory words, Gu Beixian ended the call, dropped the cigarette butt, and crushed it under his foot.

He took Su Hua’s hand and asked in a softened voice, “Why did you come out? It’s cold, and you didn’t put on enough layers.”

“I thought you left,” Su Hua whispered, her raspy voice sounding particularly helpless.

Gu Beixian stroked her head and pulled her into his arms with tender affection. “I would at least say goodbye before leaving. I won’t disappear without a word, don’t worry.”

Su Hua looked up at him, her eyes moist. “Are you going back tomorrow?”

“Yes. Come back with me tomorrow.”

Su Hua shook her head. “I want to stay here for a few more days, at least until the seventh-day memorial service is over.”

Gu Beixian paused. “That’s fine. I’ll leave two men here to protect you.”

“Okay.”

Su Hua noticed the cigarette butts scattered on the ground. “Why did you smoke so much?”

Gu Beixian said dismissively, “I was just a bit frustrated. It’s fine now.”

Su Hua stared into his eyes. “Is it because of the divorce?”

“No, work matters.” Gu Beixian shifted his gaze, avoiding her eyes.

Looking up, he caught sight of a tall, sharp figure standing by the edge of the woods on the other side of the pond. The person wore a black windbreaker and a face mask over their short, dark hair.

It was that Ah Yao again!

His gaze instantly chilled several degrees. He stared coldly at the figure for several moments, his lips curling into a dark, brooding smirk.

He pinched Su Hua’s delicate chin, tilted her head back, and leaned down to kiss her forcefully.