Like in a dream, Su Huo stood there with her hands and feet ice-cold, her mind a blank canvas.
Upon seeing Su Huo, Gu Beixian was instantly three parts awake. He forcefully pushed away Chu Suosuo and stood up, supporting himself on the sofa.
Chu Suosuo turned her head, looking back with feigned surprise, "Sister Su, you're here?"
Su Huo, now resembling someone abruptly awakened from a dream, felt her heart pounding.
She turned and left, forgetting even to close the door.
Sometimes when things are too overwhelming, too unexpected, one doesn't have the time to react.
She didn't cry or make a scene, just felt her steps faltering, the scenery surreal.
The brisk spring wind blew on her face, chilling as ice.
Su Huo, gradually awakened by the cold wind, became angrier as she contemplated.
Did Gu Beixian ask her to come over just to witness his intimacy with Chu Suosuo?
The day he proposed a breakup, she had readily agreed. Why did he choose to humiliate her in this manner?
Is it acceptable to inflict harm just because there is no love?
Anger surged through every pore.
Su Huo walked straight ahead, becoming more resolute with each step, eventually leaving with unwavering determination.
Out of the villa gate.
The chauffeur waited at the entrance, opening the car door and saying, "Madam, Mr. Gu asked me to take you back."
Su Huo remained silent for a while, then bent down and got into the car.
The chauffeur closed the door and called Gu Beixian, "Mr. Gu, I've found Madam; I'll be sending her back immediately, rest assured."
"Good."
Gu Beixian put down his phone, his gaze slightly cold as he looked at Chu Suosuo, "Was that intentional just now?"
Chu Suosuo lowered her head, appearing aggrieved, "I didn't expect Sister Su to come so coincidentally. I slipped just now and accidentally fell on you..."
"I may be drunk, but I'm not foolish!"
Chu Suosuo pouted, tears streaming down, "It's my fault. I'll call Sister Su to explain."
She reached into her pocket to fetch her phone.
Gu Beixian raised his hand to stop her, sounding a bit impatient, "No need. The more you explain, the worse it gets. Just go back."
"But what about you..."
"Just a bit drunk; I won't die." Gu Beixian bent down heavily on the sofa, his hand pinching his forehead.
An expression of considerable annoyance.
Chu Suosuo didn't move, standing there with her head lowered, looking like a submissive wife who had suffered.
Because she suppressed her crying, her shoulders trembled.
Seeing her like this, Gu Beixian, feeling somewhat guilty, said, "I'm not blaming you entirely. Su Huo did nothing wrong. I shouldn't have hurt her like this."
"But you asked her for a divorce; that's already hurting her, isn't it?"
"I'll try to minimize the harm, rather than humiliating her in this way."
"Long pain is better than short pain. Doing this way will hurt her even more deeply." Chu Suosuo added in a soft voice, "And it hurts me too."
"Divorce is temporarily not possible; Grandma disagrees." Gu Beixian raised his eyes, glanced indifferently at her, and said, "Me divorcing her is not entirely because of you; mentioning you is just a diversion."
Like a sudden blow, Chu Suosuo was stunned.
Her face turned pale, and her lips trembled slightly as she asked, "Brother Beixian, is this just an angry outburst or are you speaking the truth after drinking?"
Gu Beixian raised his hand to his forehead, somewhat irritably saying, "I've had too much to drink. I might say things that upset you. Go away quickly."
Afraid that he might say something more cruel, and fearing the situation might escalate irreversibly, Chu Suosuo, with tears in her eyes, reluctantly left.
After she left, Gu Beixian made a call to her father, asking him to keep an eye on his daughter and prevent her from attempting suicide again.
The next day at noon.
Gu Bao Zhai.
Su Huo received a bank card sent by Gu Beixian's messenger.
The messenger said, "Madam, this is Mr. Gu's compensation. The password is your birthday."
Su Huo looked at the card, laughing bitterly.
Money is a good thing, but sometimes giving money is a kind of veiled insult.
She pushed the card back, saying, "Tell him I don't lack money."
"Mr. Gu insists you accept it. He asked me to convey a message: Appearances can be deceiving; no matter what decision you make, he agrees."
"I understand."
After the person left, she sat silently for a while, then got up to pack her things and went to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
As soon as she stepped out, she ran into the pitiful Chu Suosuo in white attire.
She held a bouquet of white roses in her hands and softly said, "Sister Su Huo, could we have a conversation?"
Su Huo restrained her emotions, glanced at her indifferently for a few seconds, and said, "Certainly."
The two proceeded to a nearby Western restaurant.
After seating themselves, Chu Suosuo placed the flowers on the dining table.
Gently caressing the velvety rose petals, she blissfully remarked, "I never expected Brother Beixian to be so romantic. Early in the morning, he sent someone to deliver flowers to me. After three years, he still remembers my fondness for white roses. Twenty roses represent unwavering love."
Su Huo's heart was filled with mixed feelings.
Having been married for three years, on various occasions, Gu Beixian had only given her cards, never once sending her flowers, not even a single one.
It turns out he wasn't unaware of romance; he simply chose not to be romantic with her.
Twenty roses, symbolizing unwavering love; their love would never change—how touching.
The waiter brought the coffee.
Chu Suosuo picked up the spoon, slowly stirring her coffee, and coquettishly said, "Brother Beixian and I have known each other since childhood; he has always cared for me..."
Su Huo raised her coffee cup, took a sip, and calmly said, "Miss Chu, please get to the point. I am quite busy and don't have time for idle talk."
Chu Suosuo shrugged, "So, Sister Su Huo does have a temper, but you manage to hide it well in front of Brother Beixian."
Su Huo sneered, "I am still Gu Beixian's wife. You barging into my home, clinging to my husband, and nibbling on him—I refrained from splashing coffee on your face, that's my composure. Miss Chu, please maintain some decency."
"Wow," Chu Suosuo stuck out her tongue, making a surprised expression, "Sister Su Huo looks like a tigress in this state."
Su Huo's hand holding the coffee cup trembled slightly; she truly wanted to splash it on Chu Suosuo's face.
Chu Suosuo waited for a moment, disappointed when Su Huo didn't act. She had to resort to the next move.
Staring intently at Su Huo's face, she said, "Sister Su Huo is a smart person. Seeing my appearance, you should be able to guess that you are a substitute chosen by Brother Beixian. Now that the real master has arrived, shouldn't you leave?"
"Real master?" Su Huo chuckled, "Miss Chu seems uneducated or legally ignorant. Gu Beixian and I are legally married, protected by the law. I am the rightful wife."
Chu Suosuo made a clicking sound, mocking, "Almost divorced, and you still act so arrogantly?"
Su Huo straightened her back, "As long as we are not separated for a day, you cannot act arrogantly."
Chu Suosuo snorted, playing her trump card, "Three years ago, you married Brother Beixian for ten million. I'll give you double."
She took out a check from her wallet, slapped it on the table, "This is twenty million; please take the money and leave him immediately!"
Su Huo, lightly glancing at the check, said, "When I married Gu Beixian back then, it wasn't solely for money."
Chu Suosuo burst into laughter, "Playing both hard to get and innocent, how hypocritical of you."
Su Huo pursed her lips, coldly looking at her, really wanting to slap her.
Chu Suosuo, with a disdainful tone, said, "Three years ago, your grandmother suffered from uremia and urgently needed a kidney transplant. To fund her treatment, your family sold their house and became extremely poor. Only after being with Brother Beixian for a few years, you forgot your own background? Just a wild girl crawling out of a poor mountain ditch. No matter how high you climb, you can't change your poor and humble appearance!"
She pushed the check forward with an arrogant lift of her chin, adopting a condescending tone, "Take it; don't pretend to be high and mighty!"
Su Huo surprisingly remained calm.
She glanced at the stamp on the check and calmly said, "This check was obtained from your father, right? When you needed money, I'm sure it took a lot of persuasion. Does your whole family support you being a third party? A truly peculiar family. What use is your family's wealth? It still can't cover up your ugly hearts."
Chu Suosuo's face turned red and pale alternatively, "You're talking nonsense!"
Su Huo stood up, looking down at her, "I restore ancient books and paintings. If I wanted to make money, it wouldn't be difficult. Three years ago, if I hadn't married Gu Beixian, relying on my own hands, I could have earned a million."
She grabbed the check and threw it onto Chu Suosuo's face, "Take your money and stay where you feel comfortable, don't come out to disgust people!"
The check hit Chu Suosuo's face, making her furious!
She suddenly pounced in front of Su Huo, reaching out to grab her face!
In the nick of time, a figure rushed out from the side, grabbed Chu Suosuo, and delivered a solid beating to her face!