Su Huan stared blankly at the ceiling, as if she hadn't heard anything.
Gu Beixian sighed, gently patting her shoulder before turning away.
As he left, he instructed the bodyguard at the door, "Protect Su Huan, and call me immediately if anything happens."
The bodyguard responded, "Yes, Mr. Gu."
Once in the car, the assistant reported to Gu Beixian, "I had people check all the surveillance along the route, and with the help of various forces, we finally located Huang Que. When we caught her, she was in a black taxi, trying to escape to the countryside."
Gu Beixian's gaze turned cold, "Who is this person?"
"Huang Que is Huang Guang's sister. Huang Guang is the bald guy who previously took Mrs. Shao to restore the ancient painting. After that incident, it was revealed that he was involved in a tomb-robbing gang and was sentenced to seven years. Surveillance shows that Huang Que, in recent days, disguised herself as a delivery person, lurking around the antique city, waiting for an opportunity to retaliate against Mrs. Shao."
Gu Beixian clenched his hand by his side, his knuckles turning white.
Arriving at the small building where Huang Que was detained.
Huang Que, with short hair, a waxen complexion, red eyes, and dry, peeling lips, resembled her bald brother, presenting a rather neutral appearance.
Gu Beixian walked to the sofa, sat down, raised his eyes, and cast a cold, disdainful glance at her, "Why did you injure Su Huan's hand?"
Huang Que looked resentful, gritting her teeth, "She caused my brother to go to jail!"
Gu Beixian sneered, "Your brother engaged in tomb-robbing, kidnapped Su Huan, and deserved to go to prison."
Huang Que glared at him but remained silent.
Gu Beixian half-lifted the corner of his lips, seemingly smiling, and said leisurely, "I never hit women, but you are despicable."
As the words fell, he grabbed the ashtray on the coffee table and smashed it towards Huang Que's head.
Huang Que tried to dodge but was held down by the assistant and couldn't escape.
"Bang!"
The ashtray broke her eyebrow bone, and blood flowed down her face.
The glass ashtray fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
The assistant kicked Huang Que's leg.
"Thump!" She knelt on the glass shards, shaking in pain, sobbing non-stop.
Gu Beixian stood up from the sofa, stepped on her hand, and crushed it several times. Sharp glass shards pierced into her fingertips.
Huang Que, in pain, begged, "My hand, it hurts, it hurts."
Gu Beixian just laughed, "You know pain too. When you used the door to clamp Su Huan's hand, did you ever think about whether she would feel pain?"
That was the pair of hands she considered more important than her life.
In the past two years, those hands tirelessly massaged his legs and gently comforted his body and soul.
Such a good girl, gentle and unassuming, had her most precious fingers broken by this scum.
Gu Beixian suppressed his anger, inserted his hand into his pocket, and said indifferently, "These hands are too cheap, just cut them off."
The assistant hurriedly responded, "Yes, Mr. Gu."
Gu Beixian turned and left.
As the door closed, the woman's voiceless screams echoed behind him.
The assistant raised the knife.
Huang Que fainted in a pool of blood, four fingers on her left hand cut off at the roots.
Back at the hospital, Gu Beixian sat by Su Huan's bedside.
Seeing her vacant and stunned expression, Gu Beixian felt a tug at his heart. Just as he was about to speak to tell her that revenge had been taken, her sleeve suddenly caught his attention.
Externally gentle, internally resilient, she rarely revealed her vulnerable side.
Now, she looked fragile and helpless, filled with dependence on him.
Gu Beixian softened, feeling needed.
He comforted her gently, "Don't be afraid, I won't leave. I'll be with you these days."
Su Huan slowly released his sleeve.
Gu Beixian carefully tucked her disheveled hair behind her ear and suggested, "Close your eyes and rest for a while. I'll watch over you."
However, Su Huan couldn't sleep. Her four swollen and throbbing fingers, with fingertips bleeding, made every heartbeat a painful reminder.
Her fingernails had turned entirely black and purple, a horrifying sight.
With closed eyes, she endured each passing second, feeling an overwhelming sadness.
Her fingers were broken, and if they didn't heal properly, it would be a disservice to her grandfather, who had cultivated her diligently for over a decade.
"Bang Bang," someone knocked on the door.
Gu Beixian stood up to open it.
Outside stood Shen Huai, tall and slender in a white coat, holding a bouquet of white roses.
He called out, "Cousin," and said, "I just got out of the operating room and heard that Su Huan injured her hand. I came to see her."
Gu Beixian's expression remained unchanged, but his tone was quite indifferent, "Shen Shao has many professions."
Shen Huai smiled and said, "My primary profession is that of a physician; Ge Baozhai is my grandfather's establishment."
Gu Beixian ignored him, walking over to sit beside Su Huan.
Shen Huai placed the flowers on the bedside table and came to inspect Su Huan's hand, gently asking, "Is your finger still in pain?"
Su Huan nodded.
"Don't worry too much. I heard that Bai Lao performed the surgery on you, and his medical skills are quite extraordinary. Moreover, you are so young; your fingers will undoubtedly heal well."
"Thank you," Su Huan whispered.
Shen Huai stared at her discolored and bruised nails, saying, "Your fingers have developed bruising; they need to be bled. When the blood is released, the pain will diminish somewhat."
He made a call to have a nurse bring a needle.
Gu Beixian raised an eyebrow, looking at him, "Are you capable?"
Shen Huai flashed his work badge, "Attending physician, experienced in surgery, bleeding is not difficult."
Soon, the nurse brought the needle and disinfectant cotton.
Shen Huai sterilized the needle and pierced it along the nail seam of Su Huan, squeezing out a lot of bruised blood.
After the bleeding, Su Huan felt a lighter sensation in her fingers.
Shen Huai tidied up, gently patting her arm, "It's getting late; rest well. I'll come to see you again tomorrow."
Gu Beixian stood up and casually said, "I'll see you off."
The two walked out one after the other.
Gu Beixian closed the door, and Shen Huai gave him a cool glance, indifferently saying, "Su Huan doesn't fancy your type; in the future, refrain from harboring intentions towards her."
Shen Huai's expression changed slightly, and he smiled, "Then, what type does Su Huan fancy?"
Gu Beixian, unable to imagine Ah Yao's appearance, couldn't figure out which type he was referring to. So, he said, "She fancies my type."
Shen Huai's smile deepened, "Unfortunately, you're her cousin."
Gu Beixian's gaze turned cold, freezing over, "I am her..."
"Ding Ling Ling," Shen Huai's phone rang.
He took out his phone from the white coat, shook it at Gu Beixian, "Cousin, let me take this call."
Answering the call, he walked away.
Gu Beixian held back his anger, his face darkening and not looking pleasant. Returning to the ward, he saw Su Huan in discomfort, and his anger dissipated.
Checking his wristwatch, it was getting late.
Gu Beixian called the maid, Aunt Liu, to bring three basins of hot water.
He used a towel to wipe Su Huan's face and lifted the corner of the blanket, taking her feet in his hands, intending to give her a foot bath.
Su Huan drew her feet back, not allowing him to do so.
Gu Beixian spoke gently, saying, "Those two years when I couldn't stand, you took care of me for a whole two years. Now, it's my turn to take care of you."
Su Huan remained motionless, her eyes slightly reddened.
After finishing her feet, Gu Beixian was about to remove her pants.
Su Huan suddenly realized what he intended to do, tightly closing her legs to prevent him.
Gu Beixian smiled faintly, "We are husband and wife. You are so particular about cleanliness; not washing will surely make you uncomfortable. Let me help you."
Su Huan looked at him with a somewhat resentful gaze.
"Divorce," the two words, even if there was no official divorce certificate, their relationship was somewhat different now. Having him wipe such an intimate area felt awkward.
Seeing her reluctance, Gu Beixian fell silent for a moment and said, "Shall I have Aunt Liu do it for you?"
After a few seconds of silence, Su Huan slowly relaxed her tightly closed legs.
Compared to Aunt Liu, Gu Beixian was obviously closer.
Aunt Liu had good judgment and quickly retreated.
Gu Beixian wiped diligently.
Su Huan blushed like a burning coal.
After wiping, Gu Beixian wiped her legs and upper body.
Aunt Liu came over and removed the basin.
As it approached midnight, Su Huan finally fell asleep.
Gu Beixian lay beside her, not daring to sleep. He was afraid that if she moved her hand while sleeping, it might cause the finger bones to dislocate. So, he continued to support her.
After an unknown period, Su Huan had another nightmare, shivering and curling up.
Gu Beixian hugged her gently, patting her like one would pat a child.
Su Huan felt a sense of security, subconsciously snuggling into his embrace and murmuring, "Ah..."
Gu Beixian raised his hand to cover her lips, blocking the last two words. After a while, seeing her calm down, he removed his hand from her mouth and whispered, "Ungrateful little one."
In her dreams, Su Huan turned over gently.
Naturally, she couldn't hear his words, unaware that she had uttered "Ah Yao Ge" countless times in her nightmares.