Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Gu Beixian had sent the clothes to Gu Jinyao because the man had saved Su Hua during their trip to Longyao Village.

He didn’t want to owe him any favors.

Returning to Su Hua, Gu Beixian sat down beside her and reached out to pull her into his arms.

He held her in silence, not saying a word.

Whenever he acted like this, Su Hua felt like he had something on his mind.

Since he wouldn’t speak up, it left her feeling rather bewildered.

Her fingers brushed against his neck, moving upward to gently stroke his hair.

His hair carried the faint scent of shampoo-thick, dark, and coarse, much like his personality.

Yet, such a hardened man had gradually become as gentle as jade in her presence.

It seemed that ever since her grandmother passed away, his entire demeanor had warmed, and he had become increasingly considerate.

After several minutes of hugging, Gu Beixian still hadn’t let go.

Su Hua couldn’t help but ask softly, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just suddenly felt like holding you,” he replied, his voice low, concealing a subtle unease.

Su Hua couldn’t help but smile, asking tentatively, “Do you like me that much? You want to hug me all the time.”

Gu Beixian’s lips curled into a very slight smile. His tone was tender and doting, tinged with a hint of mock reproach. “Don’t you already know the answer to that?”

Su Hua paused for a moment before asking, “Then what is it about me that you like?”

Gu Beixian lowered his head to find her lips. Once he did, he gently parted them, giving her a deep kiss before quickly pulling away. “I like this.”

Su Hua’s smile deepened as she feigned a bit of anger. “So you’re just obsessed with my body. You big pervert.”

“It’s not just the body. It’s the soul, too. I want to get to know it… deeply.”

He deliberately emphasized the word “deeply.”

No matter how one heard it, it was easy to let one’s mind wander.

Su Hua couldn’t help but let her imagination run wild, and the tips of her ears turned red.

She gave his waist a hard pinch and said, “Let’s go. If we don’t leave now, Master will get impatient waiting for us.”

“Alright.” Only then did Gu Beixian release her.

Su Hua looked up at the clock on the wall.

He had held her for a full ten minutes.

Gu Beixian stood up, adjusted his collar, and smoothed out the creases in his trousers from sitting.

Su Hua finished dressing and got off the bed.

Noticing his damp hair, she picked up the hairdryer and said, “Your hair is still wet. Let me dry it for you before we go out.”

Gu Beixian brushed the wet hair off his forehead with a casual swipe of his hand. “No need. My hair is short; it’ll dry quickly.”

Su Hua’s expression cooled slightly as she said in a commanding tone, “Sit down.”

She occasionally showed this side of a little bossy wife, and Gu Beixian actually found it quite endearing. He leaned over and sat by the bed, crossing his long legs.

Su Hua smiled as she began to blow-dry his hair.

As she worked, he reached behind him and took her hand, interlacing their fingers.

Su Hua smiled to herself.

She felt that he was becoming more and more dependent on her.

This feeling of being deeply relied upon was both sweet and a bit of a burden.

After drying his hair, Su Hua put down the hairdryer.

She leaned over to hug him from behind, pressing her face against his neck. “For some reason, I always feel like you’re particularly insecure,” she said softly.

To the outside world, he appeared to be an arrogant and self-assured man.

Gu Beixian admitted it frankly. “I am insecure. My wife is just too outstanding.”

The real reason was something only he knew clearly.

His love rival was right there, following them like a shadow.

Su Hua burst out laughing. “I’m not as outstanding as you think. It’s just because you all keep praising me. Actually, you’re much more impressive than I am. Your business talent and ability are top-tier-something I could never hope to reach.”

Gu Beixian was dismissive. “Being born into a family like ours, business ability is an instinct. It’s nothing to be proud of.”

“You’re also very… outstanding… in that area,” Su Hua said, then quickly turned her head away, her face as red as an apple.

Gu Beixian paused.

He hadn’t expected her to suddenly come out with that.

He asked knowingly, “Which area?”

“Just… that area. You’re really good at it, really.” Su Hua’s face grew even redder.

Gu Beixian said meaningfully, “You’ve become quite naughty, Student Su Hua.”

Su Hua refused to admit it. “This is just normal marital playfulness.”

The two lingered for a while longer before finally heading out.

The sun was setting, and night was falling.

Dinner had already started.

The group headed to the banquet hall.

The Hua Family home had a massive room specifically dedicated to entertaining guests.

Hua Tianshou had changed into a new outfit-a wine-red Tang suit.

He sat solemnly in the head seat of the banquet hall.

Due to the near-drowning incident, his normally ruddy face was somewhat pale.

However, his condition seemed fine; he was holding a glass, chatting and laughing with the guests.

Chu Suosuo was huddled in a corner like a frightened quail, her eyes downcast as she silently ate.

After this incident, she had become much more subdued than before, and that arrogant streak of hers had vanished.

Her eyes were red, suggesting she had been crying quite hard earlier.

Gu Jinyao was sitting at Hua Tianshou’s table.

When he saw Su Hua enter, he looked up slightly, casting a deep, inscrutable gaze toward her.
He took only a single glance before looking away, nonchalantly raising his wine glass and taking a sip to mask his thoughts.

Gu Beixian’s keen eyes caught this fleeting moment.

A wave of discomfort washed over him.

He reached out and ruffled Su Hua’s hair, asking softly, “Would you like to go to the ladies’ table, or sit with me?”

Su Hua glanced at the women’s table. Aside from Hua Qirou and Chu Suosuo, she didn’t recognize anyone else.

She had no desire to sit with that mother-daughter duo, so she said, “I’ll sit with you.”

No sooner had she spoken than Hua Tianshou beckoned to them. “Hua’er, Beixian, come over here. Sit by me.”

There happened to be two empty seats beside him, clearly reserved for Gu Beixian and Su Hua.

After a brief exchange of polite refusals, the two sat down.

Hua Tianshou patted Su Hua’s shoulder and addressed the guests at the table. “Let me introduce you all. This is my last disciple, Su Hua. She is also Su Wenmai’s granddaughter. If this young lady ever needs a hand in the future, you must look out for her.”

Most of the people at this table were over sixty years old.

They were either his disciples or his close friends, and all of them were prominent figures in the antiques industry.

Hearing Hua Tianshou’s words, the group nodded repeatedly. “Since the Old Master has given the word, we will certainly do so.”

Gu Beixian raised his glass to toast everyone. “If any of you have needs in the business world, feel free to find me. I’ll be counting on you to look after Su Hua in the future.”

The Gu Group was ranked among the top companies in Jingdu.

Gu Beixian was the second young master of the Gu Group. He was young, promising, and his abilities and appearance were among the best of his generation-a true leader among men.

Very few people didn’t know who he was.

The guests raised their glasses one after another, saying to Gu Beixian, “President Gu, you’re being too modest. Since both you and the Old Master have spoken, it is our honor to look after Su Hua.”

This group of people in their sixties were all titans in the world of antiques.

Yet, they addressed the twenty-something Gu Beixian with such profound deference and formal respect.

Su Hua was secretly astonished.

She marveled at the power of capital; indeed, money made one the master of the house.

The atmosphere at this table was harmonious, filled with eating, drinking, and laughter.

Meanwhile, at the ladies’ table…

Three pairs of sinister eyes were secretly fixed on Su Hua.

One belonged to Chu Suosuo, one to Hua Qirou, and the third belonged to Hua Qirou’s mother, Di E.

Though Su Hua wasn’t particularly savvy in matters of romance, she was sharp in other areas and noticed the stares immediately.

She followed the gaze and met their eyes with a calm, dignified expression.

Hua Qirou and Chu Suosuo quickly looked away, lowering their heads to pick at their food.

Di E, however, did not.

Her sinister gaze softened in an instant.

Offering Su Hua a slight smile, she picked up the wine glass beside her and made a toasting gesture toward her.

Her expression was warm and sincere.

Su Hua was privately amazed. It turned out some people really could switch between two faces so seamlessly.

Hua Tianshou noticed and introduced her to Su Hua. “That is my wife. Her surname is Di, Di E. You should address her as Shimu from now on.”

Su Hua stood up and greeted Di E respectfully, “Hello, Shimu.”

Di E nodded slightly. “Hello.”

As Su Hua sat back down, she couldn’t help but study the woman a bit more.

She was an elderly lady who still retained her charm, and she was very well-preserved. She looked to be in her early fifties, significantly younger than her actual age.

Di E shared some resemblance with Hua Qirou, having a pointed chin and a high bridge to her nose.

However, she was more beautiful than Hua Qirou, with fine eyebrows, large eyes, a fair and bright complexion, and high cheekbones. There was an irrepressible air of seductive glamour in her eyes.

Neither wrinkles nor sagging skin could hide that particular brand of allure.

She had a very slender frame and wore a forest-green cheongsam with jade earrings. Her hair was dyed jet black and pinned into a bun at the back of her head.

Su Hua had heard from the shop assistants earlier that Hua Tianshou was an opera enthusiast.

Di E had been a performer of female roles in a traveling Peking Opera troupe.

One thing led to another, and the two had met.

After Hua Tianshou’s first wife passed away, he had brought her home and married her as his second wife.

For some reason, Su Hua felt that Di E was likely a formidable character. She carried an aura that suggested she was anything but kind, reminiscent of the demon matron from A Chinese Ghost Story.

Compared to her, Hua Qirou and Chu Suosuo’s schemes were amateurish.

When Su Hua retracted her gaze from Di E, she happened to lock eyes with Gu Jinyao.

He lowered his eyelids imperceptibly and looked down to pick up his wine glass.

Su Hua’s heart sank slightly.

She always felt as though he harbored some special sentiment toward her.

Then again, she thought she might just be overthinking things. Perhaps he simply had a pair of naturally soulful eyes that made him look affectionate toward everyone.

Gu Beixian silently observed the exchange of glances between the two.

After a pause, he gripped his wine glass and stood up, addressing the group. “My wife and I are planning to have a child, so it’s not suitable for us to drink too much. We’ll leave it at this for today. I’ll host a banquet for all of you another time.”

Gu Jinyao’s hand tightened slightly around his glass.

But in an instant, he returned to normal.