Caught off guard, Chu Suosuo received several resounding slaps, leaving her bewildered.
Her face stung fiercely, ears ringing, and she saw stars before her eyes.
Having lived for so long, no one had dared to lay a finger on her.
Frustrated, she seized the other person's arm and started scratching wildly.
The two engaged in a tumultuous struggle.
Chu's family driver, who had been hiding in the corner, hurried over and forcefully pulled them apart.
Chu Suosuo then recognized that it was Gu Beixian's younger sister, Gu Nanyin, who had slapped her, leaving her stunned.
Su Huo, surprised to see Gu Nanyin, hurried over, shielding her behind.
Catching a glimpse of her wrist, scratched and bleeding by Chu Suosuo, Su Huo felt a twinge of pain. She carefully took out a band-aid from her bag and gently applied it, asking softly, "Does it hurt?"
Gu Nanyin winced in pain, saying, "It's okay, Sister-in-law. Did she manage to scratch your face just now?"
Su Huo shook her head, "No."
Gu Nanyin glared angrily at Chu Suosuo and said, "With someone like her, there's no need to be polite. A direct slap is more effective than reasoning. She's not someone who understands logic!"
Chu Suosuo, upon hearing this, was instantly furious.
Suppressing her anger, she forced out two teardrops, saying with a grievance, "Nanyin, we grew up together like sisters. How could you..."
Gu Nanyin gave her a disdainful look, "Cut it out. I don't have a sister like you. My brother treated you so well, our entire family treated you well. Yet, when my brother had an accident, you ran away faster than a rabbit. Now that my brother's leg is better, everything is normal again, you come back to vie for attention and bully my sister-in-law. Have you no shame?"
Chu Suosuo's face alternated between pale and red, "I had my difficulties..."
"Difficulties, my foot! My brother might believe you, but I don't!" Gu Nanyin retorted.
As soon as Gu Nanyin finished speaking, Su Huo's phone rang.
Glancing at the caller ID, it was Gu Beixian calling.
Su Huo hesitated for a second before answering.
Gu Beixian asked, "Where are you?"
"At the main entrance to the antique street, at a south-facing Western restaurant."
"I happen to be passing by. I'll be there in three minutes." He hung up.
Images from last night of him and Chu Suosuo embracing flashed in Su Huo's mind, making her uneasy. Seeing the white roses he had given to Chu Suosuo on the table intensified the discomfort, like a heavy stone pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
In a few minutes, Gu Beixian entered the restaurant with his subordinates.
He was tall and straight, with cold, fair skin. His features were exceptionally handsome. Beneath his black trousers, his long legs created a breeze as he walked, exuding an aristocratic air that captivated onlookers. The restaurant's patrons, initially drawn by the commotion between Chu Suosuo and Gu Nanyin, now shifted their gaze collectively to him.
Seeing him, Chu Suosuo's eyes lit up. She ran towards him and tearfully exclaimed, "Brother Beixian!"
Gu Beixian furrowed his brows, "Why are you here too?"
With teary eyes, Chu Suosuo, pitifully rubbing her swollen cheeks, said, "I came to find Sister Su Huo. I wanted to explain last night's situation, but after just a few words, she scolded me, and Nanyin even hit me."
She pointed to her own reddened cheek, pouting, "It hurts."
Gu Beixian glanced at Su Huo and asked, "Is what she said true?"
Su Huo smiled.
She hadn't expected that the beloved white moonlight he pined for would be such a person—heartless and unscrupulous, fabricating lies. Indeed, those favored enjoyed undue confidence.
Just as Su Huo was about to speak, Gu Nanyin spoke first, "Brother, have you ever thought about it? My sister-in-law, who usually has such a good temper, would she scold her if it weren't for Chu Suosuo's provocation? During the two years when you were unwell, with such a bad temper, did she ever quarrel with you? I hit Chu Suosuo because she was about to scratch my sister-in-law's face; I even think I went too easy on her."
Gu Beixian turned to Chu Suosuo, "Why did you provoke Su Huo? Why did you try to scratch her face?"
Chu Suosuo turned pale, tears streaming down her face. She said, with a touch of grievance, "I didn't. Su Huo and Nanyin misunderstood me, Beixian, you have to believe me."
Reaching out, she tried to grab Gu Beixian's hand, leaning towards him.
Steps forward, Gu Nanyin seized her arm, forcefully pulling her aside, rebuking, "Are you spineless or just insane? My brother is a married man, and you're still trying to cuddle up to him? Shameless!"
Chu Suosuo, in agony, clutched her chest, tears falling like disconnected pearls.
Gu Beixian frowned slightly at Gu Nanyin, "You could refrain from speaking harshly. Locklock suffers from severe depression; don't exacerbate her condition."
Gu Nanyin sneered, "Don't use depression as an excuse for being a wretch. I've met many people with depression who remain dignified, kind, and lovely. Unlike her, willingly disrupting peace. "
Chu Suosuo cried in pain, covering her mouth, and stumbled out.
Her driver quickly picked up her bag and the check, chasing after her.
Gu Beixian turned to his bodyguard, "Follow them and keep an eye out. Make sure she doesn't harm herself again."
"Yes, Mr. Gu," the bodyguard followed.
Gu Nanyin clicked her tongue, "If you really want to die, find a secluded place and do it. What's the point of crying and making a scene?"
Gu Beixian's gaze turned slightly cold, rebuking, "Nanyin, you've gone too far!"
Su Huo shielded Gu Nanyin behind her and said, "Blame me if you must; Nanyin is venting her anger for me."
Looking at Su Huo, Gu Beixian's gaze softened. He took out an imported scar removal ointment from his bag and handed it to her, "This is scar removal ointment sent from abroad. Follow the instructions and apply it; don't let any scars form on your neck."
Su Huo stared at the ointment, feeling a mix of emotions.
She knew he didn't love her, but sometimes it seemed like he still cared. Soon, she self-mockingly smiled. If he truly cared, how could last night's incident have happened?
The pain from last night was too much.
It was painful to the point where she lost the courage to question.
Gu Nanyin took the ointment, shoved it into Su Huo's hand, and stared at Gu Beixian, saying, "Brother, if you dare to let my sister-in-law down, I won't recognize you as my brother!"
Gu Beixian calmly stated, "Adult matters, children should not meddle."
"I'm only a year younger than my sister-in-law; I'm not a child!"
Ignoring her, Gu Beixian took Su Huo's hand, saying gently, "Have you eaten? If not, let me take you."
Su Huo withdrew her hand as if shocked, "I'm full."
Gu Beixian looked at her, his gaze unusually gentle. "I mentioned yesterday was a misunderstanding. Do you believe me?"
Su Huo straightened her neck, her usually gentle voice carrying a hint of aggression, "It was an unfortunate coincidence for me to be there, disturbing you both."
Gu Beixian smiled, a touch of helplessness in it, "Forget it, let me escort you home."
Su Huo picked up her bag and walked out.
Gu Beixian took long strides, catching up, with his assistant following from a distance.
Exiting the Western restaurant, passing by a flower shop, Su Huo pushed open the door and walked in.
Surveying the surroundings, she pointed at a bouquet of white roses, "Give me a bunch."
The clerk asked, "How many would you like?"