Chapter 90

Chapter 90

After seeing Qin Shu off, Gu Beixian said to Su Hua, “My mother and Aunt Qinwan grew up together; they’re as close as sisters. When we return to Jingdu, find some time to come with me to visit her.”

Su Hua was quite curious about Hua Qinwan herself, so she agreed.

Gu Beixian had to head back to the conference venue that afternoon. Su Hua had flown over personally to see for herself, and now that she had confirmed it was all a misunderstanding, her heart was completely at ease. She was about to have the driver book a flight back to Jingdu, but Gu Beixian couldn’t bear to let her leave.

“Go back with me tomorrow instead,” he urged.

Su Hua told him honestly, “I still have work on my hands.”

Gu Beixian’s eyes cooled slightly. “Is he in such a hurry for that genealogy book?”

Su Hua thought for a moment. “It’s not that urgent, I suppose.”

Gu Beixian reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her in a loose yet firm embrace. His lips brushed against her hair as he murmured, “Then tell me, who is more important? Me, or the genealogy book?”

What he really wanted to ask was: Am I more important, or is Gu Jinyao?

Even though he didn’t know why Gu Jinyao had changed his name, he knew that the man was Lu Yao-the same Ay Yao from Su Hua’s dreams.

Su Hua, however, was completely unaware of all this. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “You’re a grown man. Why are you competing with a genealogy book?”

“Tell me,” Gu Beixian insisted, demanding an answer.

Su Hua reached up to touch his sharp, well-defined jawline, her bright eyes fixed on him. “You are, of course.”

Gu Beixian was very satisfied with this answer. His dark eyes seemed to shimmer with starlight. He lowered his head and kissed her temple tenderly. “Wait for me here at the hotel. Watch some TV if you get bored. I’ll come back as soon as the meeting is over.”

“Okay.”

After seeing Gu Beixian off, Su Hua couldn’t find any TV programs she liked and felt restless staying in the hotel. She had the driver accompany her to a nearby museum.

The Haicheng Museum had quite a rich collection. There were several ancient paintings from the Ming and Qing dynasties that her grandfather had restored in collaboration with the museum’s own conservators.

Seeing her grandfather’s name displayed beneath the ancient paintings brought a pang of sorrow to Su Hua’s heart, yet she felt immensely proud of him.

She waited until evening to return and had dinner with Gu Beixian. After they showered that night, Gu Beixian picked her up and carried her to the hotel’s bay window.

The window was curved and cantilevered, covered with a thick, white sheepskin rug. From there, one could look down upon the entire night view of Haicheng-a sea of thousands of lights, dazzling and enchanting. Haicheng was a beautiful city that never slept.

Gu Beixian drew the curtains. With practiced ease, he slipped the robe off Su Hua’s body, peeling it away like the shell of a hard-boiled egg. He nipped at her fair shoulder flirtatiously and asked, “Are you ovulating?”

Su Hua replied, “Yes.”

“I didn’t drink today,” he said, his kisses trailing along her collarbone.

Su Hua felt a numbing sensation spread through her body from his kisses. She tilted her chin up, her head leaning back slightly as she gazed at him with watery eyes. “The night before last… it wasn’t actually because you drank that you didn’t touch me, was it?”

Gu Beixian gave her chin a punishing little nip. “I just can’t stand other men being good to you. If you say even one extra word to them, I’m unhappy.”

It was strange. He hadn’t been able to say it no matter what that night, yet today the words came out effortlessly.

After this misunderstanding, the two of them seemed to have grown even closer. Su Hua’s mind went blank under his kisses. She instinctively gripped his waist, looking at his handsome face with a gentle yet somewhat helpless expression. “You… this problem of yours needs to be cured.”

“Mm, and only you can cure it,” Gu Beixian replied absently, his voice incredibly languid. He took her earlobe into his mouth, nibbling and kissing it with familiarity before moving down her neck.

His kisses were provocative and fiery.

Su Hua stopped talking. Absence makes the heart grow fonder; though they had only been apart for a day and a night, it felt like a long-awaited rain after a drought.

However, at the critical moment, Su Hua suddenly became unwilling. Without warning, she pushed him away. Without a word, she hopped down from the bay window, grabbed her robe, and threw it on.

She walked into the bathroom and, with a click, locked the door from the inside.

Gu Beixian was left with the arrow notched on the string. He hadn’t expected the usually submissive Su Hua to suddenly pull a move like this.
He was left hanging in mid-air.

It was quite uncomfortable.

He simply threw on a bathrobe, walked to the bathroom door, and knocked. Controlling his impatience, he said, “Su Hua, open the door.”

Su Hua stood inside, her back against the door. “Does it feel good?” she asked emotionlessly.

Gu Beixian looked down at himself, feeling rather helpless. “What do you think?”

Su Hua asked again, “Have you memorized this feeling?”

Gu Beixian raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?”

“The night before last, that’s how you shut me out of the bathroom and left me hanging. Then, after we got into bed, I tried to kiss you, but you just rolled over and ignored me again.”

Gu Beixian couldn’t help but chuckle. “Are you settling old scores with me now?”

Su Hua spoke with clear, deliberate emphasis. “I want you to remember: never offend a woman, or things will end badly for you.”

Someone who was habitually gentle didn’t carry much weight even when issuing a warning. She was like a little kitten showing its claws-fierce, but in an adorable way.

Instead of being intimidated, Gu Beixian found her increasingly cute.

The corners of his lips curled slightly as he spoke in a coaxing tone. “Alright, I’ve learned my lesson. Now, open the door.”

Su Hua felt that letting him off the hook just like that was a bit too easy. That night, she had been so frustrated she could hardly breathe. She had to make sure he remembered this.

After a moment’s thought, she said, “Beg me.”

Gu Beixian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I’ve never begged anyone before. I don’t know how.”

Su Hua hardened her heart and said, “Then just stay hanging.”

Staying like this was not a pleasant experience, especially for a man.

Gu Beixian paused for a moment before deciding to yield. “I beg you.”

Su Hua stifled a laugh. “I don’t know… that didn’t sound very sincere to me.”

Gu Beixian said with strained patience, “Be good. Open the door.”

Su Hua said solemnly, “President Gu, if you’re asking for a favor, you need to have the right attitude. That was an order, not a plea.”

Gu Beixian took a deep breath.

His chin was tilted slightly, his gaze cool and distant. He stood as straight as a pine tree, yet his voice was lethally tender.

“I beg you to open the door. Please, open the door. Is that enough? My little ancestor.”

A man who had always been so proud was actually begging so submissively.

That “little ancestor” in particular shattered Su Hua’s defenses instantly. She couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.

However, she quickly composed herself and said in a cool voice, “Will you dare to use the cold shoulder on me again next time?”

Gu Beixian frowned slightly. “How did this escalate to the ‘cold shoulder’?”

“You were definitely giving me the cold shoulder the night before last.”

“I was just-forget it. I won’t do it again. Open the door.” His tone deepened slightly.

Sensing the shift in his mood, Su Hua knew when to stop. After all, he had the temperament of a young master; if she pushed him too far, he might actually get angry.

Su Hua turned and unlocked the door.

As soon as it opened, Gu Beixian grabbed her by the waist, swept her up into his arms, and headed for the bed.

Without a word, he pinned her down. Suppressed emotions definitely had a way of rebounding. Earlier, he had been patient and soft-tempered while begging her. As soft as he had been then, he was just as hard now.

By the end of it, Su Hua was so exhausted by his antics that she actually fell asleep. Even in her dreams, she was still murmuring, “No more…”

The next day, she physically couldn’t get out of bed. She had to call room service for everything she ate and drank. Her legs were incredibly sore, and her waist ached. She felt more sour than a lemon.

When they left that afternoon, Gu Beixian had to support her as they entered the elevator. Su Hua decided that she was going to “starve” him for a month. She wanted to see if he would dare to be so relentless again. When this man turned into a wolf, he was practically inhuman.

Upon returning to Jingdu, Gu Beixian called Chu Mochen to schedule a time to see Hua Qinwan.

Hua Qinwan was staying at the city’s psychiatric hospital. When the two arrived, Chu Mochen was already waiting at the door of the ward.

Gu Beixian handed the bags of ginseng and bird’s nest he was carrying to Chu Mochen. Su Hua also handed over the bouquet of fresh flowers she was holding.

Chu Mochen took them one by one and said politely, “Thank you for coming.”

Su Hua replied courteously, “Aunt Qinwan is my Master’s daughter. It’s only right that I come to visit her.”

Chu Mochen pushed the door open, and the group walked inside.

When Su Hua finally got a clear look at the woman sitting on the hospital bed, she was stunned.