Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The Tall and Thin Man hit the concrete floor with a heavy thud. His body, looking like a discarded sack of rags, twitched a few times before his legs went limp and his eyes closed. Dark red blood began to pool slowly beneath his head.

The dogs in the courtyard barked incessantly.

The Bald Man tried to flee amidst the chaos, but the police swarmed him, pinning him to the ground. They seized the painting and slapped handcuffs on his wrists.

Su Hua’s hands were still gripping the window frame. She stared blankly at Gu Beixian, who was holding the gun.

In the three years she had been married to him, she never knew he could handle a firearm, let alone with such deadly precision.

In that split second, if the shot had been a moment faster or slower, or just a fraction off-target, it would have been fatal for her.

Gu Beixian tossed the gun aside. With a stride of his long legs, he walked toward her and lifted her down from the windowsill.

He carefully tended to the wound on her neck.

Then, he pulled her into a fierce, tight embrace. His slightly cool fingertips rubbed her pale, terror-stricken face as he asked softly, “You must be terrified, aren’t you?”

Su Hua gave a dazed “Mm.”

Just moments ago, she had thought she was dead. She hadn’t expected to escape with her life.

Her heart was pounding wildly, and her ears were ringing. Even with a silencer, the gunshot had been incredibly loud.

The entire ordeal felt like a scene from a movie-thrilling and heart-stopping.

She was drenched in a cold sweat.

The police carefully collected the ancient painting, placing it in a protective bag before locking it in a safe.

Su Hua mechanically cooperated with the police to finish her statement before getting into Gu Beixian’s car.

Even now, her legs felt like jelly and her head was spinning.

The night was pitch black, and the country roads were narrow.

The driver started the engine and began the drive toward the city.

Su Hua remained in Gu Beixian’s arms.

He stroked her thin back over and over, comforting her. “It’s over. It’s okay now. Don’t be afraid.”

His embrace was warm. Su Hua instinctively burrowed deeper into his chest. Her heart felt heavy and bitter, yet there was a faint trace of sweetness.

He still felt some sense of duty toward her as his wife.

Feeling her response, Gu Beixian held her even tighter. His gentle voice fell against her ear, tinged with a hint of reproach. “Why didn’t you call me when things went wrong? Your mother is so scatterbrained; she only realized something was off yesterday and called to tell me.”

His throat felt tight. He buried his chin in her hair, his hand gripping her clothes as he whispered, “What would I have done if something happened to you?”

Su Hua was slightly stunned.

At this moment, she felt that he cared for her-more than she had imagined.

She lifted her arms and slowly wrapped them around his waist, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

He radiated a dependable scent that put her heart at ease.

A warm current surged through her, and her eyes began to redden.

Halfway through the journey, Gu Beixian’s phone rang.

He glanced down at the screen and hung up.

Su Hua had a feeling it was Chu Suosuo calling.

Not long after, the assistant’s phone in the passenger seat rang as well.

After answering and speaking a few words, the assistant handed the phone back. “President Gu, it’s Miss Chu.”

Gu Beixian took the phone. “Is something wrong?”

Chu Suosuo’s delicate voice sounded anxious. “Beixian, have you found Sister Su Hua yet?”

“I found her.”

“She must be terrified, right? You should stay and keep her company. Don’t worry about coming to the hospital to see me for the next few days.”

Gu Beixian gave a curt “Mm.”

Being so close, Su Hua heard everything clearly. Her warmed heart instantly turned cold.

They weren’t divorced yet, so he was still her husband. For her husband to stay with her only because of a third party’s “charity”-what a humiliation.

She gently pushed Gu Beixian’s arms away and shifted back to her own seat.

Turning her head to look out the window, she caught her reflection in the glass and offered it a small smile. Both the smile and her lips were cold.

The tenderness from a moment ago had been nothing but an illusion.

Yes, it was all in her head.

The car entered the city.

Su Hua said to Gu Beixian, “Drop me off at my mother’s house. Please make an excuse for me with Grandma.”

Gu Beixian was silent for a moment. “Alright.”

When they arrived home, Su Peilan pulled Su Hua into her arms the moment she stepped through the door. “Daughter, are you okay?” she sobbed.

“I’m fine.”

“It’s good that you’re fine, it’s good… I was scared to death. It’s all my fault for being so careless. I didn’t realize you were trying to tell me to take the diabetes medicine, and it didn’t click until a day later. Thank goodness Beixian took people to find you. If it wasn’t for him, who knows what would have happened? You’re my only child. If something happened to you, how would I go on?” The usually boisterous woman was now a weeping mess.

Su Hua reached up to wipe away her mother’s tears, coaxing her softly, “Don’t cry, Mom. Haven’t I returned safe and sound?”

***

A week later, at night.

Gu Beixian had drunk too much at a business function.

The driver helped him home and settled him onto the sofa.

As the driver got up to fetch a towel, he heard Gu Beixian, eyes closed, calling out indistinctly, “Su Hua… Su Hua, get me a glass of water.”

The driver hesitated for two seconds before taking out his phone to call Su Hua. “Young Mistress, President Gu is drunk. He keeps calling your name.”
Su Hua pursed her lips and remained silent.

Su Peilan, who had been listening nearby, said, “Go and take care of him. As long as the divorce papers haven’t been processed, you’re still husband and wife. Don’t let things get too strained.”

Su Hua gave a soft “mm” of agreement and told the driver, “I’ll be there right away.”

“Thank you, Young Mistress,” the driver said before hanging up.

Back at the apartment, the driver poured a glass of water and helped Gu Beixian take a few sips. He was only halfway through when the doorbell suddenly rang.

Setting the glass down on the coffee table, the driver got up to open the door. Standing outside was Chu Suosuo, dressed all in white and carrying a fruit basket.

“Miss Chu,” the driver said apologetically. “President Gu has had too much to drink. I’m afraid he’s in no state to receive guests.”

Chu Suosuo smiled sweetly. “That’s perfect, then. I’m here to take care of him.”

She slipped past him into the room, placed the fruit basket on the shoe cabinet, and turned to the driver. “You can head back now. Beixian will be fine with me.”

The driver looked conflicted. “I just called the Young Mistress. She’ll be here soon.”

Chu Suosuo gave a faint smile. “It’s fine. Sister Su Hua and I know each other. She has a very good temper; she won’t mind.”

The driver hesitated for a moment. “Alright then.”

He took his car keys and left.

Rounding the foyer, Chu Suosuo walked over to the sofa and sat down. She picked up the water glass and began feeding it to Gu Beixian.

Catching a whiff of a familiar perfume, Gu Beixian slowly opened his eyes. When he realized it was Chu Suosuo, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. He braced himself against the sofa to sit up and asked, “What are you doing here?”

Chu Suosuo fluttered her lashes and gave a flirtatious smile. “I missed you so much I couldn’t help myself. You won’t blame me, will you, Beixian?”

Gu Beixian’s brow furrowed slightly. “I’ve had too much to drink and can’t host you. Go home.”

Chu Suosuo froze, her eyes turning red as she said aggrievedly, “Beixian, you still haven’t truly forgiven me. I already told you, that breakup text three years ago was sent by my mother using my phone. She dragged me abroad and had people watching me twenty-four hours a day to stop me from contacting you. Do you have any idea how much I suffered these past three years? I missed you so much I thought I’d go crazy, but I couldn’t see you. I was literally tortured into severe depression…”

She buried her face in her hands and began to sob.

“I’ve already forgiven you, really.” There was a hint of irritation in Gu Beixian’s eyes, but his voice remained gentle. “Stop crying.”

Chu Suosuo looked at him with tearful, pitiful eyes, her expression a mix of resentment and longing. “Then why are you still chasing me away?”

“I’m not divorced yet. It’s the middle of the night; it’s not appropriate for you to be here.” He pinched his leg hard, trying to use the pain to regain some clarity.

Chu Suosuo caught the gesture. She slowly leaned toward him, her soft arms winding around his shoulders like vines. Her cheeks were flushed as she gazed at him, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I don’t mind.”

Gu Beixian turned his body aside to avoid her. “I do.”

A flash of disappointment crossed Chu Suosuo’s eyes. Her reaching hands froze in mid-air for a long moment before she finally pulled them back.

Suddenly, they ran out of things to say.

A heavy, stifling silence filled the entire room.

Unable to bear the quiet, Chu Suosuo looked around the room, her gaze finally landing on a painting on the wall. Searching for a topic, she asked, “Is that ink bamboo painting an original by Zheng Banqiao?”

“No, it’s a copy by Su Hua.”

“Is it? It’s painted so well; I thought it was the real thing.” Chu Suosuo said wistfully, “I didn’t realize Sister Su Hua was so talented.”

Gu Beixian’s dark eyes softened. “Indeed, she is very talented.”

“But you’re even more talented, Beixian. In my eyes, you’ll always be the most exceptional man.” Chu Suosuo stared at him with glowing eyes, her adoration plain to see.

Gu Beixian lowered his thick lashes, a thin layer of frost coating his gaze.

In Su Hua’s heart, the most exceptional man was surely her Ay Yao.

Suddenly, Chu Suosuo heard faint footsteps outside the door. Remembering what the driver had said, she knew Su Hua was about to arrive.

Her eyes flickered as a plan formed in her mind.

She stood up and grabbed Gu Beixian’s arm, her voice turning sultry and provocative. “Beixian, let me help you take a shower. Once you’re asleep, I’ll leave.”

“No need.” Gu Beixian raised a hand to push her away.

“It’s fine. It’s not like I’m a stranger.”

“I said no need. Just leave!” His tone was growing agitated.

Hearing the sound of the lock turning at the door, Chu Suosuo steeled herself. With a small cry of “Oh!”, she feigned a trip and fell onto him. She used the momentum to wrap her arms around his waist and pressed her lips toward his.

Gu Beixian grabbed her neck, trying to push her head away.

However, Chu Suosuo clung to him like a snake. Having drunk far too much, his muscles felt weak, and for a moment, he couldn’t push her off.

As soon as Su Hua entered the house, she saw Chu Suosuo and Gu Beixian locked in an intimate embrace, kissing!

Those hands that had once tenderly caressed her waist were now intimately gripping Chu Suosuo’s neck!

Su Hua felt as if she had been struck by lightning; her entire body went cold.