Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Chu Suosuo listened to the dial tone on her phone, nearly exploding with rage.

She couldn’t understand it. What kind of spell had Su Hua cast on these people?

Why did every single one of them like her so much? Why were they so biased in her favor?

It was completely nonsensical!

Su Hua was just a country bumpkin who grew up in some remote mountain gully. She came from a family of no standing, didn’t know how to dress herself, and had never even been abroad.

Meanwhile, she was the heiress of the Chu Family-a refined lady of high society, a pampered princess, stylish, sophisticated, and an elite who had studied overseas!

In every single aspect, she was a hundred times better than Su Hua!

Chu Suosuo refused to accept it. She felt that everyone who liked Su Hua must have something wrong with their eyes-including her own grandfather!

At the same time, having received Hua Tianshou’s permission, Su Hua took Gu Jinyao’s genealogy record home to repair it.

Tianshou Pavilion lacked the necessary tools for restoring ancient calligraphy and paintings. At home, Gu Beixian had set up a private study specifically for her restoration work.

The genealogy record Gu Jinyao had sent was quite old. Judging by the age of the paper, it had been passed down since the Ming Dynasty.

The head and tail of the book were severely frayed, and the inner pages were riddled with insect holes of various sizes. There was also mold erosion, acidification, aging, and wear and tear from use.

Repairing a genealogy record was just like restoring any ancient text; the process was incredibly complex.

It required dozens of steps, including analyzing the damage, dismantling the book, separating the pages, selecting the right paper, washing, patching holes, pressing, and rebinding.

Su Hua kept various types of old, antique paper at home year-round, all purchased at high prices from cultural relic stores. She selected paper from the Ming Dynasty and set it aside for use.

Then, following a secret recipe passed down from her grandfather’s ancestors, she went out to buy the necessary materials. Buying everything took her most of the day.

Once everything was ready, Su Hua began carefully separating the pages of the genealogy record to prepare them for cleaning.

As she took it apart, she realized that the Gu Family was truly a massive clan. They had been wealthy and influential since the Ming Dynasty, with an endless stream of scholars and refined gentlemen appearing in every generation.

The names of the Gu Family members were all elegant and grand, carrying profound meanings.

As she approached the last few pages, she suddenly saw a familiar name: Gu Xiaoxiong.

That was the name of Gu Beixian’s grandfather.

Then, she discovered a major coincidence.

Gu Xiaoxiong and Gu Jinyao’s grandfather, Gu Luanxiong, were actually cousins.

This was shocking.

Su Hua stared at Gu Xiaoxiong’s name, falling silent for a long while.

She felt she had to tell Gu Beixian about this major discovery.

Setting down the genealogy record, she looked up at the clock on the wall. It was nearly nine o’clock.

Gu Beixian had called earlier to say he had a business dinner tonight and would be back by nine.

Su Hua stood up, opened the door, and walked out.

As she headed downstairs, she saw Gu Beixian just arriving home. He smelled strongly of cigarettes and alcohol.

A faint expression rested on his handsome, noble face. His brow was set in a cold, hard line, and his dark eyes were deep and somber, making him impossible to read.

Su Hua walked over and asked, “Why did you drink so much?”

Gu Beixian gave a low grunt of acknowledgment. He didn’t look at her as he reached up to take off his suit jacket.

Su Hua took the jacket from him and hung it on the rack.

For some reason, she felt he was in a very bad mood tonight.

“Did the business dinner not go well?” Su Hua asked.

“It went fine,” Gu Beixian said indifferently, his eyes cold. He still didn’t look at her.

Su Hua stood still.

Gu Beixian lowered his lashes as he changed his shoes. His long fingers slowly and methodically loosened his tie before he tossed it onto the shoe cabinet.

He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, revealing his sexy collarbones.

Su Hua’s gaze lingered briefly on his neck. Above the shirt collar, the lines of his neck were long and powerful, and his jawline was sharp and defined.

As he spoke, his Adam’s apple moved slightly, exuding a certain raw magnetism.

Even though he wasn’t doing anything-just standing there-her heart began to race like a trapped deer, and her throat felt parched.

Snapping out of it, Su Hua said, “I’ll go make you some hangover soup.”
She turned around and headed for the kitchen, but Gu Beixian grabbed her arm.

He tilted her chin up, lowered his head, and nipped at her nose before sliding down to her upper lip for a very shallow kiss.

After a brief pause, he let her go.

Su Hua felt a twinge of disappointment.

He had never been like this before. In the past, as long as his lips touched hers, it would lead to a deep kiss. He wouldn’t just graze her upper lip like a dragonfly skimming the water and call it a day.

“What’s wrong with you today?” Su Hua asked, surprised.

Gu Beixian raised a hand to rub his brow, his eyes flickering with a hint of irritation. “You’re trying to conceive, and I’ve been drinking. I don’t want to pass the smell of alcohol to you.”

Su Hua found that reason incredibly forced.

Gu Beixian took a long-legged stride toward the bathroom to shower. Fearing he might slip on the bathroom floor after drinking, Su Hua hurried after him, supporting his arm as they walked.

“I took on a job today to restore a family tree,” she said. “I saw your grandfather’s name on it, Gu Xiaoxiong. It turns out your grandfather and Gu Jinyao’s grandfather were actually cousins. Doesn’t that mean you and Gu Jinyao are…”

“It’s just a common name,” Gu Beixian interrupted her curtly. “I have no relation to Gu Jinyao.”

His voice sounded quite cold.

Su Hua paused. “Alright then.”

Gu Beixian stepped into the bathroom. Su Hua was about to follow him in to help out, but to her surprise, he shut the door.

Staring at the cold door, Su Hua felt a lump in her throat.

Soon, the sound of splashing water came from inside. Gu Beixian had started his shower.

Su Hua stood there in silence for a moment before turning to go downstairs to brew him some hangover soup.

She took a handful of mung beans, added ten grams of licorice root and a suitable amount of brown sugar, then set it to boil.

Once it was ready, she poured the soup into a bowl and carried it directly into the bedroom.

Not long after, Gu Beixian finished his shower and walked out. He was wearing a black belted robe, his expression still cold and stern. His deep eyes were like bottomless pools, his emotions hidden so far beneath the surface that she couldn’t tell if he was angry or not.

Su Hua stared at him for a while, feeling stifled. It would be better to just speak openly, even if he lost his temper or started an argument. Anything was better than this silence; it was unbearable.

Su Hua picked up the hangover soup and handed it to him. “The temperature is just right. Drink it.”

Gu Beixian took the bowl and drained it in one go. Afterward, he pulled back the covers and lay down on the bed.

Su Hua also got into bed and lay down beside him, resting her hand on his waist as she held him. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” he said tonelessly.

But the atmosphere was clearly heavy. He didn’t look like nothing was wrong at all.

Su Hua sat up, took a deep breath, and said, “When you’re like this, it makes me feel uneasy. We’re husband and wife; it’s better to talk things out. If we don’t speak and let things fester, small misunderstandings will escalate into major conflicts. I cherish our relationship-I really do. I’m trying very hard to maintain our marriage.”

Gu Beixian paused.

Soon, he lowered his eyelashes, discreetly masking the complex emotions in his eyes. “I cherish our relationship too,” he said softly.

Su Hua looked into his eyes. “I think you have something on your mind tonight.”

Gu Beixian did have something on his mind, but he didn’t want to say it.

Su Hua and Gu Jinyao had been getting too close lately, even if it was strictly for work. Every time, she explained everything clearly, and rationally, he couldn’t find any fault with her actions. But it still made him feel uncomfortable.

Especially after receiving that call from Chu Suosuo today, saying that Gu Jinyao had paid Su Hua one million for the restoration.

Did his woman really need another man to play the part of the generous benefactor? Who was he to think she lacked money?

But Gu Beixian couldn’t bring himself to say those things. Saying them would make him look petty, or even like he was making a scene over nothing. More importantly, it would make Su Hua feel like he was too controlling.

He didn’t want to push her too hard. He was afraid that if he pushed too hard, she wouldn’t be able to take it and would leave.