Chapter 89

Chapter 89

“Let’s get a divorce!”

Those four words were like a bolt from the blue.

Gu Aoting froze instantly.

He had spent many years fighting battles in the business world, long ago mastering the ability to remain unfazed by either honor or disgrace. Even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him, he wouldn’t flinch.

But at this moment, he felt a surge of panic.

Though he was panicking inside, his exterior remained sharp and severe.

“Qin Shu, what kind of joke is this?” he demanded harshly.

Qin Shu gave a cold, detached smile. “I’m not joking. I am giving you a very serious notification.”

Gu Aoting was in disbelief. “We’re an old married couple. Our son has been married for three years, and now you want a divorce? Over a trivial matter like today? I accidentally spilled yogurt on Suosuo and helped her wipe it off. That’s just common courtesy.”

Seeing that she had been mentioned, Chu Suosuo quickly stood up from the sofa.

She habitually pursed her lips, looking aggrieved as she said, “Auntie Qin, you’ve misunderstood.”

Qin Shu hated that aggrieved look of hers more than anything.

Clearly, the girl was in the wrong, yet she acted as if she were the one suffering a great injustice.

Qin Shu didn’t even bother to look at her.

Addressing Gu Aoting directly, she said, “I’ve long since lost all feelings for you. Once the divorce agreement is drafted, I’ll have my assistant deliver it to your office.”

With that, she reached for the door handle.

Gu Aoting took a quick step forward and locked the door. “You aren’t leaving until we clear this up!”

Qin Shu’s smile was icy as she tilted her chin toward Chu Suosuo. “Do you want to talk about it in front of her?”

Only then did Gu Aoting realize how inappropriate the situation was. He turned to Chu Suosuo and said, “Suosuo, go out for a bit. Find my driver and have him take you to the hospital to get your hearing checked.”

“Okay, Uncle Gu,” Chu Suosuo replied obediently.

As she passed by Qin Shu, she said with a face full of guilt, “Auntie Qin, Uncle Gu and I really aren’t what you think.”

Qin Shu looked elsewhere, disdaining even to glance at her.

Finding no purchase for her act, Chu Suosuo left the room.

Once the door closed, Gu Aoting said sternly, “I do not agree to a divorce!”

A faint trace of mockery flashed in Qin Shu’s eyes. “That’s not up to you. If you won’t agree, I’ll file for divorce in court.”

Gu Aoting frowned. “Qin Shu, don’t act on impulse!”

Qin Shu’s expression turned cold. “Gu Aoting, you have no feelings for me at all. You only care about interests.”

Gu Aoting grew irritable. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Don’t think I don’t know. You only married me back then because you had your eye on my family’s assets and the fact that I was an only child. After my parents passed away, you used backroom deals to transfer the Qin family’s company and assets to your own name. Now that I have no utility left for you, why keep up this hypocritical act?”

Gu Aoting raised a hand to rub his brow. “Qin Shu, you’re at an age where you shouldn’t be so headstrong!”

Qin Shu’s expression was calm. “I am serious. I’m not speaking out of anger.”

Seeing that she truly meant it, Gu Aoting played his trump card.

“Given my status, I cannot get divorced. It would have a terrible impact on the company.”

Qin Shu remained indifferent. “Then keep it low-profile. We’ll divorce and keep it private.”

Gu Aoting said impatiently, “We’ll talk about this when we get back. I’m in no mood to consider it right now.”

Qin Shu gave him a fleeting, dismissive glance, opened the door, and walked out.

After she left, Gu Aoting immediately called for his assistant.

The moment the assistant entered, Gu Aoting raised his hand and slapped him across the face.

“Who gave you permission to give Qin Shu my key card?”

The assistant clutched his face, utterly dazed by the blow.

It took him a long moment to find his voice. “The Madam said you left your key card at the venue. She told me to give her the spare and said it was your wish.”

Gu Aoting paused, then barked, “Why didn’t you call me to confirm?”

“The Madam said she had your phone with her, so there was no need to call.”

Realizing he had been played by Qin Shu, Gu Aoting was fuming.

He took a deep breath and snarled, “Get out!”

The assistant, his head spinning from the sudden reprimand, scrambled to leave.

Just as he opened the door, Gu Aoting gave another order.

“Send two people to follow Qin Shu secretly. See if there’s anything unusual about her lately-especially regarding other men.”

“Yes, Chairman Gu.”

Meanwhile, after leaving Gu Aoting’s room, Qin Shu went straight to Gu Beixian and Su Hua’s room.

Su Hua opened the door and greeted her warmly, “Mom.”
Qin Shu curled her lips into a smile and patted her shoulder, praising her. “My daughter-in-law is getting more beautiful by the day.”

Su Hua felt a bit embarrassed by the compliment. “You’re the beautiful one, Mom. You have such great poise, and you’re looking younger and younger.”

Qin Shu laughed. “Listen to the two of us, just showering each other with flattery.”

Su Hua smiled softly. “I’m telling the truth. Mom, with your energy, people would believe it if you said you were thirty.”

Qin Shu’s smile deepened. “It’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I love hearing it.”

She walked over to the sofa, sat down, and tossed her bag onto the coffee table. “Where’s your husband?”

Gu Beixian was in the bedroom, handling business matters on his laptop. Hearing the commotion, he walked out.

“How did things go?” he asked.

Qin Shu shrugged. “Exactly as you expected. When I walked in, Chu Suosuo was blubbering away. She must have complained to your father long ago. Your father was even bent over, wiping yogurt off her pants. Tsk, tsk.”

The memory of that scene made her skin crawl. It felt like she had been forced to swallow a handful of dead flies. It was absolutely revolting.

Gu Beixian’s lips curved slightly. “And then?”

“He panicked when he saw me come in. Guess what I did?”

Gu Beixian raised an eyebrow. “What move did you make?”

Qin Shu rested her fingers casually on the armrest of the sofa. In a languid tone, she said, “I said, ‘Let’s get a divorce.’ I dropped those four words and turned to leave. It scared the life out of him.”

Gu Beixian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Do you actually intend to divorce him, or are you just trying to scare him?”

Qin Shu raised a hand to rub her temples, saying nonchalantly, “I’m serious.”

“Are you sure?”

Qin Shu gave a hum of affirmation. “I’ve put up with him for nearly thirty years; I don’t want to endure it anymore. I stayed abroad before precisely because I didn’t want to see him.”

Gu Beixian had seen the signs long ago, so he wasn’t particularly surprised. In his memory, his parents’ relationship had always been strained, and they spent more time apart than together.

He asked calmly, “Is there someone else you like?”

Qin Shu shot him a look. “You brat, what are you talking about?”

“If there is, I’ll help you.”

Qin Shu scoffed at him. “You should worry about yourself first. You can’t even handle your own affairs, yet you have the spare energy to worry about me.”

Gu Beixian choked on his words, pursing his lips in silence.

Su Hua sliced some fruit and brought it over, placing it in front of Qin Shu. “Mom, have some fruit.”

A bright smile bloomed on Qin Shu’s face. She picked up a piece of cantaloupe with a fruit fork, put it in her mouth, and chewed slowly before swallowing. “The fruit my daughter-in-law cuts is just so sweet.”

Su Hua couldn’t help but laugh.

Qin Shu had always lived abroad. Throughout the year, they would only see each other once or twice during holidays. Even then, it was always at family banquets where a crowd of people gathered, making it impossible to say more than a few words.

Qin Shu looked quite cold and aloof on the outside. Su Hua hadn’t expected her to be such a warm person in private. It seemed appearances truly were deceiving.

After eating a few pieces of melon, Qin Shu wiped her mouth with a tissue and stood up. “I came to Haicheng on business. I have a contract to sign this afternoon, so I’m heading out.”

Gu Beixian gave a quiet nod. “Thanks for today.”

“Don’t mention it.” Qin Shu shot a tender glance at Su Hua. “I was just venting some frustration on behalf of my daughter-in-law.”

Su Hua felt a surge of gratitude. “Thank you, Mom.”

Qin Shu smiled. “If this brat dares to bully you, just tell me. I’ll help you straighten him out.”

Su Hua glanced at Gu Beixian with a beaming smile. “With Mom around, he wouldn’t dare.”

Gu Beixian lowered his gaze, looking down at her tenderly. His expression clearly said: I could never bring myself to bully you.

Qin Shu wore a satisfied smile. She said to Gu Beixian, “In this world, the only person who can stay by your side for a lifetime is your wife. Treat her well; it’s worth it.”

Gu Beixian agreed. “You’re right, Mother.”

“I’m off.” Qin Shu picked up her bag and headed for the door.

Su Hua and Gu Beixian rose to see her out.

At the door, Qin Shu suddenly turned around. She studied Su Hua for a few moments.

She said to Gu Beixian, “Once you’re back in Jingdu, find some time to take Xiao Hua to see your Aunt Qinwan. I wonder if her condition might improve a bit after seeing Xiao Hua.”

Gu Beixian paused for a moment, then took hold of Su Hua’s hand and replied, “Alright.”