Just as the car drove out of the gates of the Gu Family's ancestral mansion, Gu Shaoting's face, which had appeared calm when bidding farewell to Grandpa Gu a moment ago, suddenly lost all expression.
Watching his cold face, he drove the car at high speed, then abruptly slammed on the brakes after making a turn. The screeching sound of the wheels rubbing against the ground accompanied his sudden stop. These actions happened too quickly, and Shu Pan struggled to keep up with the pace. With wide, dark eyes, she looked at him.
Seeing him silent, Shu Pan finally gathered the courage to speak up, "If it's inconvenient, I can take a taxi home by myself."
"What? Don't you know that I was just putting on an act in front of Grandfather? Do you actually believe it? Did you think I would especially drive you home?" Gu Shaoting's tone carried a hint of mocking sarcasm in his last sentence.
"I didn't believe it. If it's so painful to be around each other every day, why don't we get a divorce?" Shu Pan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she instinctively tightened her grip on her bag strap.
She didn't dare to move, afraid that tears would start falling if she did.
"Don't even think about it. Whether you find a new partner or not, I won't agree to a divorce. Let me tell you the truth, it's out of the question!" Gu Shaoting's voice resounded again, sharp and harsh.
Because of Shu Pan's words, Gu Shaoting took a deep breath. How could this woman have such naive thoughts? Didn't she know that he felt happy seeing her and her father in pain, suffering?
"I have something to do later. I made plans with a friend. You can take a taxi home by yourself." At this moment, he just wanted to have a drink to calm his anger.
Silently, Shu Pan tried to open the car door, but she couldn't find the handle after feeling around for a while. Seeing her struggle, Gu Shaoting's patience ran out. He got out of the car directly, walked around to the passenger side, pulled open the door, and after Shu Pan got out of the car, he forcefully closed the door. He swiftly circled around the front of the car, returned to his seat without any hesitation or pause, stepped on the accelerator, and the car sped away like an arrow released from a bowstring.
Shu Pan stood by the roadside, trembling in the cold wind. This place was in the suburbs, with few pedestrians and even fewer cars. She took a few deep breaths, and Gu Shaoting's car was no longer in sight. Only a variety of different vehicles flashed by with their red lights, passing in front of her intermittently.
After waiting for a while, a taxi finally arrived. Shu Pan hailed it like she had found a savior, and the car finally stopped.
"Driver, to Shuimu Qinghua residential area." Shu Pan's anxious heart finally relaxed. Fortunately, a car came. She placed her hand on her stomach and couldn't help but silently criticize Gu Shaoting in her heart, "Baby, you have a bad father."
Because of her father's situation, even if Gu Shaoting treated her this way, she would willingly endure it. She felt that she owed him.
Somehow, Shu Pan suddenly thought of the scene at the Gu Family's ancestral mansion during dinner. Gu Shaoting, acting like a gentleman, pulled out her chair, personally served her favorite soup, and picked the dishes she liked. That indulgent tone truly made Shu Pan unable to distinguish between reality and falsehood.
He behaved impeccably, just like the image of a loving husband who dotes on his wife. It delighted Grandfather, who dreamed of seeing them live happily together. Seeing Master's delight, the servants in the Gu Family's ancestral mansion were also happy, and she maintained a smile, appearing happy and satisfied. But no one knew how much she was suffering inside.
Because she knew he was only acting.
But even though she knew it was just an act, her heart couldn't help but tremble.
Because she loved him, loved him dearly.