Chapter 67

Chapter 67

This was the first time Su Hua had heard Gu Beixian speak in such a tone, and she found it quite novel.

For a moment, she thought his aggrieved expression was actually a little bit cute.

It was completely at odds with his usual noble and cold image.

This faint trace of vulnerability only made her like him more.

She reached out to wrap her arms around his neck, staring at the bloodshot veins in the whites of his eyes. She gently poked the corner of his eye with her fingertip and said, “Look, your eyes are all bloodshot from staying up. You aren’t allowed to come again tomorrow, do you hear me?”

Gu Beixian rubbed his nose against hers but didn’t make a sound.

He didn’t want to come either.

However, Gu Jinyao was staying here and refused to leave, watching over her like a hawk.

Gu Jinyao had played the hero saving the beauty last night, and tonight he had played the flute for her. It made Gu Beixian feel very insecure.

Su Hua waited for a while without getting an answer, knowing he wouldn’t agree.

She sighed softly and said, “Once the materials arrive, I’ll talk to Professor Gu and see if I can take the ancient silk painting back to Jingdu to restore it there.”

She was worried Gu Beixian would keep doing this every day.

Making two round trips a day would eventually wear him out.

Finally, Gu Beixian spoke up. “Fine. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow night.”

Su Hua didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “There’s really no need. Don’t plane tickets cost money? Isn’t your time valuable?”

Gu Beixian lowered his head and nibbled on the tip of her ear. “As long as you know. Next time, you’re not allowed to be so far away from me.”

Su Hua rubbed his face. “President Gu, you’re really quite clingy.”

Though her tone was complaining, her heart felt sweet.

When other people went through a divorce, the couple would fight tooth and nail, grow sick of the sight of each other, or even become enemies.

The two of them were different; despite the looming divorce, their relationship was actually better than before.

She snuggled into his arms, finding a comfortable position to lie down.

His embrace was as warm and powerful as ever, radiating a dependable heat that gave her a great sense of security.

This time, she quickly fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Su Hua slept until the sun was high in the sky before waking up.

She thought Gu Beixian had already left.

She stretched her waist casually, only for her hand to bump into a firm, powerful body.

Rubbing her bleary eyes, she saw that Gu Beixian was still lying beside her.

She was slightly surprised. “Why haven’t you left yet?”

Gu Beixian reached out an arm to pull her close, resting his forehead gently against hers.

In a slightly lazy tone, he said, “I pushed back today’s itinerary. I’ll go back with you tonight.”

Su Hua was caught between laughter and tears. “I have to wait for Shen Yuan to deliver the materials before I can leave. I also have to apply to Professor Gu, and it might not even be approved.”

“As for Professor Gu, I’ll call his superiors. He’ll have to approve it whether he wants to or not.”

Su Hua had no way to deal with him, so she could only agree.

Then there was the matter of Hua Tianshou wanting to take her as an apprentice.

She felt she should discuss it with him, as it was quite a significant matter.

She said softly, “Once we’re back in Jingdu, I’ll be busy again. I’ve found a new master who wants to teach me how to restore ancient ceramics.”

Gu Beixian’s eyes darkened as he lifted his eyelids. “Male or female?”

Su Hua answered honestly, “Male.”

Gu Beixian’s expression changed, becoming indescribably cold and stern. The arm around her waist tightened slightly.

“How old? Why does he want to take you as an apprentice? Does he have ulterior motives?” His face remained calm, but his tone betrayed his tension.

Before Su Hua could even answer, he said flatly, “Turn him down.”

Su Hua smiled helplessly. She looked at him with a pensive gaze. “Truly, men are the stumbling blocks on a woman’s path to success. Look at you, not letting me do this or that-how much of an impact is this having on my future?”

Gu Beixian fell silent for a moment before rubbing her hair. “You have fame and money now; you’re already a winner in life. How much more successful do you want to be?”

“I want to learn ancient ceramic restoration, and I also want to learn how to restore bronzeware, lacquerware, and clocks. There are so many things I want to learn. I want to be so excellent that your father never dares to look down on me again.”

The words Gu Aoting had said to her were like needles to the heart, every word dripping with blood. They were firmly engraved in her mind. She feared she would never be able to forget that sense of humiliation for the rest of her life.

Gu Beixian’s eyes dimmed. He lowered his head, kissing her eyes tenderly, and said in a low voice, “Don’t worry about him. After what happened to Chu Suosuo, he’ll be quiet for a long while.”

Su Hua stopped beating around the bush and said directly, “The person who wants to take me as an apprentice is Hua Tianshou, Old Expert Hua.”

“Hua Tianshou?” Gu Beixian pondered for a moment before saying, “He’s fine. Go ahead and learn.”

Su Hua arched an eyebrow. “You said it yourself. Once I formally become his apprentice, you aren’t allowed to make a fuss or keep picking faults.”

Gu Beixian pinched her chin dotingly. “I won’t. I know Hua Tianshou; his character is decent enough.”
Most importantly, the man was over eighty years old.

He posed no threat whatsoever.

After speaking, Gu Beixian’s hand moved from her chin, sliding down her arm to wrap around her waist.

He gave her soft waist a squeeze, his touch lingering with a suggestive, sultry heat.

Leaning close to her ear, he whispered provocatively, “You’re not busy today, and I have nothing to do either. Why don’t we do something interesting?”

Su Hua felt her body go weak under his touch. She deliberately challenged him, “Who was it that said last night they traveled all this way but not for this?”

Gu Beixian rolled over to pin her down, nipping at the tip of her nose before kissing her lips. He replied absently, “Last night that was true. Today is different.”

Su Hua fell silent.

At a time like this, she wasn’t in the mood to argue logic with him.

His kisses left her mind a complete blank.

Her entire being felt light and airy, as if she were walking among the clouds.

Gu Beixian continued his trail of kisses down from her chin.

When he reached her snowy white shoulder, he gave it a gentle bite, sending a tingling sensation through her. His long fingers caressed her waist.

His touch felt like it came from heaven-soft and gentle.

Everywhere he touched, it felt as if clusters of white clouds were blooming on her skin.

Su Hua’s clear, large eyes gradually became misty and hazy.

It felt as if countless soft flowers were blossoming in her heart.

Her pale face began to flush.

She slowly closed her eyes.

She could hear their breaths-one heavy, one shallow-intertwining.

They breathed into each other, fanning the flames of desire, constantly drawing closer to the core of pleasure.

The two of them didn’t get out of bed until nearly noon.

They hadn’t eaten breakfast, yet they didn’t feel hungry.

The guesthouse had sent food over early that morning, which the bodyguards had accepted, not daring to disturb the couple.

After washing up, the two began to eat.

Once they finished, Su Hua started tidying up.

Gu Beixian’s phone suddenly rang.

It was his assistant calling.

“President Gu,” the assistant reported, “that Niu Mang we caught the night before last has gone mad.”

Gu Beixian’s tone turned displeased. “Mad?”

“Yes,” the assistant said. “However, the police found five hundred thousand in cash in his cellar. Since he got out of prison three years ago, he’s been lazy and shiftless, earning a bit of pocket money through farming and helping out with local weddings and funerals. He also has a gambling habit. It would have been impossible for him to save up five hundred thousand.”

Having reached this point, the truth of the case was beginning to surface.

Niu Mang definitely had someone pulling his strings.

Gu Beixian knit his brows. “Who has this Niu fellow seen recently?”

“The village doesn’t have surveillance, so it’s hard to check. I sent people to ask his neighbors, but they might be afraid of offending Niu Mang; they all claimed they didn’t know. We checked his phone, and there were no suspicious numbers in his call logs. Now that Niu Mang is insane, it’s going to be very difficult to get anything out of him.”

Gu Beixian gripped his phone tighter. “Is he truly mad, or is he faking it?”

“It seems to be real,” the assistant replied. “According to the police, he keeps slamming his head against the wall, shouting ‘There are ghosts, there are ghosts.’ He seems to have suffered some kind of severe shock.”

Gu Beixian’s gaze turned cold. “Why would he be shocked?”

“The police are tight-lipped about the cause of the shock, and it’s not easy to investigate further,” the assistant explained. “After all, Mr. Gu Jinyao did beat him. If we dig too deep, it might implicate him.”

“We’ll talk when I get back,” Gu Beixian said before hanging up.

Around one or two in the afternoon, Shen Yuan arrived with all the necessary materials for the restoration of the ancient silk painting.

Professor Gu had also been notified.

Su Hua and Gu Beixian left the guesthouse and took a car to the city to catch their flight.

At six in the evening, the two returned to Jingdu.

Gu Beixian had the driver take Su Hua home.

He got into another car and headed straight for the Chu Group.

When Gu Beixian knocked and entered the office, Chu Yanru was in the middle of giving instructions to his assistant.

Seeing Gu Beixian’s sudden arrival-and noting his hostile eyes and grim expression-Chu Yanru was taken aback.

He looked like he had come to demand an explanation.

Greatly surprised, Chu Yanru waved his hand to dismiss his assistant.

He stood up and greeted him with a smile. “Beixian, why didn’t you let me know you were coming? I would have sent someone down to meet you. Would you like something to drink? I’ll have someone prepare it.”

“No need.” Not a trace of a smile touched Gu Beixian’s handsome face.

The smile on Chu Yanru’s lips stiffened. “Then… is there something you need?”

Gu Beixian’s eyes were icy as he spoke each word with deliberate weight: “Longyao Village. Guesthouse. Niu Mang.”

Chu Yanru was stunned. “What do you mean by that?”

Gu Beixian looked down at him with disdain. “Whether it was you who sent someone or your wife, this is the only time. If there is a next time, don’t blame me for being ruthless toward Chu Suosuo.”

Leaving those words behind, he turned and walked away.

Watching his departing figure, Chu Yanru was so enraged he nearly choked on his own breath.