Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Su Hua finally realized that Hua Tianshou was actually Chu Suosuo’s maternal grandfather.

Gu Beixian had previously told her not to tell Hua Tianshou that she was married, let alone mention his name.

So that was the reason.

Su Hua found it both funny and annoying, though she couldn’t help but admire his calculating nature.

In his own subtle way, he had dealt Chu Suosuo a heavy blow.

Chu Suosuo felt like she was about to suffocate with rage. It was like having a fishbone stuck in her throat-she couldn’t get it out, and it hurt like hell.

Her own grandfather had actually taken her rival as his disciple and was holding her in such high regard.

How could she possibly endure this?

Chu Suosuo bent down to pick up her bag from the floor, slapping the dust off it with unnecessary force as if venting her anger.

Afterward, she looked up and shot Su Hua a contemptuous glare.

Su Hua tilted her chin slightly, her back straight and elegant. She met the other woman’s gaze with clear, bright eyes, neither humble nor arrogant.

Losing ground in the battle of presence, Chu Suosuo let out a cold snort and turned to Hua Tianshou. “Grandpa, I won’t allow you to take her as your disciple!”

Hua Tianshou’s smiling face immediately darkened. “Suosuo, what do you mean by that?”

Chu Suosuo said huffily, “I don’t like her!”

Hua Tianshou gave a dry chuckle. “I’m the one taking a disciple. It’s enough that I like her; I don’t need you to like her.”

Chu Suosuo pouted. “Do you even know who she is?”

Hua Tianshou stroked his beard and said leisurely, “Of course I do. Her name is Su Hua, she is Su Wenmai’s granddaughter, and now she is my disciple.”

Chu Suosuo stamped her foot. “She’s also Beixian’s wife!”

Hua Tianshou’s expression froze for a moment. He glanced at Su Hua but quickly replied, “Whose wife she is has nothing to do with me taking her as a disciple. I chose her for her talent, not for her husband.”

Even her own grandfather was siding with Su Hua at every turn.

Chu Suosuo was so livid she felt like she might explode. Her features twisted into a distorted grimace.

Losing all patience, she snapped, “Beixian and I grew up together as childhood sweethearts. I’m the daughter-in-law his family recognized! Su Hua stole my Beixian from me!”

Hua Tianshou looked at her with a confused expression. “Didn’t you and Gu Beixian break up three years ago?”

Chu Suosuo argued stubbornly, “I only went abroad to study and couldn’t take care of Beixian. The Gu Family just found him a nanny-that’s Su Hua-to help look after him temporarily.”

Su Hua couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.

In all her years, she had never met someone so unreasonable and capable of twisting the truth. The person involved was standing right there, yet Chu Suosuo dared to lie through her teeth.

Her skin was truly as thick as a city wall.

Su Hua cleared her throat and said to Hua Tianshou, “Master, when Gu Beixian and I registered our marriage three years ago, he was single. Anyone can testify to that. Our marriage certificate was issued by the Civil Affairs Bureau, complete with the red seal and steel stamp, recognized by law. I am his wife who has shared his hardships and joys, not the ‘nanny’ Miss Chu claims I am.”

She paused for a moment before adding, “The reason I didn’t tell you was that you never asked, and I don’t like broadcasting my private affairs everywhere.”

Hua Tianshou didn’t respond immediately after hearing this.

He raised a finger and slowly stroked a lock of his beard, falling into a heavy, contemplative silence. It seemed as though he was thinking, weighing his options.

Everyone in the room went silent.

The atmosphere was eerily still.

After a long while, Hua Tianshou braced his hand against the tea table and slowly stood up.

Chu Suosuo was overjoyed and asked hurriedly, “Grandpa, are you going to cancel your apprenticeship with Su Hua?”

Hua Tianshou gave her an expressionless look before slowly shifting his gaze to Su Hua.

Su Hua’s heart leaped into her throat.

To be honest, she was quite afraid that Hua Tianshou would sever their master-disciple relationship. Learning the craft from him was one reason, but after spending over two months together every day, she had already developed a genuine bond with him.

Beyond that, it was a matter of pride.

If Hua Tianshou gave in to Chu Suosuo now, she would lose too much face. Su Hua did not want to lose to Chu Suosuo. She didn’t want to lose to anyone, but especially not her.

Hua Tianshou looked down, staring at Su Hua for a moment, then said, “Disciple, let’s go.”

That one word, “Disciple,” sounded like heavenly music to Su Hua’s ears.

Her heart, which had been hanging in her throat, thudded back into her chest.

Hua Tianshou had chosen her over Chu Suosuo.

Su Hua smiled slightly, her voice sweet and clear as she said, “Yes, Master.”

Hua Tianshou started walking toward the door.

Su Hua followed his lead, clutching the Yuhuchun Vase in her arms.

Chu Suosuo panicked.

She dashed after them, grabbing Hua Tianshou’s arm and wheedling, “Grandpa, my dear, wonderful Grandpa, I know you love me the most. Please, I beg you, kick Su Hua out of your school!”

Su Hua felt goosebumps break out all over her body from the display.

However, she said nothing, quietly watching Hua Tianshou’s back.
Hua Tianshou lowered his eyelids and looked at Chu Suosuo with a gravity he had never shown before.

“Su Hua and I have performed the formal apprenticeship ceremony; I drank the tea she offered. Once a master, always a father-the bond between master and disciple is a serious matter, not a game. She has neither broken the law nor committed any wrong. If I were to expel her from my tutelage for no reason, I would be the laughingstock of the entire industry.”

His tone was simple yet firm, resolute and final.

It carried the weight of someone who had burned his bridges.

After speaking, Hua Tianshou pulled his hand away from Chu Suosuo, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked out.

Su Hua shot a fleeting glance at Chu Suosuo before following him.

Watching the elder and the younger woman walk out one after the other, Chu Suosuo’s face contorted with rage.

She lashed out, kicking a nearby flowerpot.

Crash!

The Money Tree that Chu Daisong loved most was kicked over.

Soil from the pot spilled all over the floor.

Chu Daisong frowned, unable to stop himself from scolding her. “You girl! Be as angry as you want, but why take it out on my tree? This is a consecrated Money Tree. Knocking it over will ruin the feng shui of my shop!”

He hurried to call the shop assistants. “Quick, pick the tree up! Put the soil back in, hurry, hurry!”

Having been rebuffed by her maternal grandfather and then scolded by her paternal grandfather, Chu Suosuo was nearly dying of rage as she stomped upstairs in a huff.

Su Hua followed Hua Tianshou back to Tianshou Pavilion.

She handed the Yuhuchun Vase in her hands to a shop assistant.

Hua Tianshou walked over to the tea table by the window and sat down.

He didn’t say a word, remaining perfectly still.

Seeing his solemn expression, Su Hua hesitated before saying, “Master, perhaps I should leave. It would save you the trouble of being caught in the middle and feeling conflicted.”

Hua Tianshou didn’t speak, merely gazing at her in silence.

Su Hua bent down and gave him a deep, respectful bow. “Thank you, Master, for your dedicated cultivation over these past two months. I have learned a great deal from you, and I am truly grateful for everything you have taught me without reservation.”

With that, she turned to leave.

She had only taken a few steps when Hua Tianshou’s voice came from behind her: “Girl, come back.”

Su Hua stopped and slowly turned around.

Hua Tianshou’s stern expression softened into a kind one. “My taking you as a disciple is between you and me; it has nothing to do with Suosuo. Don’t mention leaving ever again. We are master and disciple for a day, and we shall be so for a lifetime. Do you understand?”

Su Hua’s eyes grew misty, and she said with a smile, “Thank you, Master.”

That evening, after returning home, Su Hua told Gu Beixian everything that had happened that day.

After listening, Gu Beixian curled his lips into a smile. “I knew this would happen. That’s why I didn’t want you to tell Hua Tianshou about your marriage or mention my name.”

Su Hua gave him a playful look and chided, “Then why didn’t you warn me sooner?”

“One can never have too many skills; it’s always good to learn another craft. I wouldn’t feel easy with you learning from anyone else, but Hua Tianshou’s character is decent enough.”

Most importantly, the old man was over eighty years old.

He felt secure about that.

Su Hua knit her brows slightly. “But it’s a bit awkward now.”

Gu Beixian ruffled her hair. “It’s fine. You paid a million in tuition; you have every right to learn. If Chu Suosuo dares to make things difficult for you, just tell me. I’ll deal with her for you.”

I’ll deal with her for you.

What a wonderful thing to hear.

It instantly gave Su Hua a sense of having someone to lean on, a pillar of support.

She was momentarily stunned, but a jolt of pleasant surprise hit her heart.

A thick warmth coursed through her.

The feeling of being favored was truly wonderful.

She leaned in, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her head deep in his chest.

She wanted to say something to express her happiness, but despite searching her mind, she simply didn’t know what to say.

So, she did something quite unexpected.

She pushed Gu Beixian down onto the sofa, straddled his lap, held him down, and began to kiss him fiercely.

She was rarely this proactive.

When she did take the initiative, it was particularly delightful.

Within a few moments, she had set Gu Beixian’s blood on fire.

With a powerful roll, he pinned her beneath him, lowering his head to peck at her lips before kissing her neck and collarbone intensely.

Su Hua giggled and tried to dodge his kisses, reaching out to push him away.

The two of them rubbed against each other intimately.

In the blink of an eye, Gu Beixian’s body was burning hot.

He reached out to pinch the soft flesh at her waist, staring at her with burning eyes. “Su Hua, you really are a little vixen.”

Because of his arousal, his voice carried a slight nasal quality, sounding lazy, sexy, and incredibly seductive.

Su Hua’s heart felt sweet and airy.

She never expected that a word as charming as “vixen” would ever be applied to a straightforward woman like her who usually lacked any sense of romance.

In response, she reached for his belt and unbuckled it.

The consequence of her being so proactive was that Gu Beixian wore her out “miserably”-the kind of misery where her legs remained sore for three whole days.