"He had long departed; a deceased individual is incapable of causing harm. The one responsible for shattering Chu Suo's finger is someone else entirely. As for the identity of this person and the reason behind seeking retribution against her, I am truly unaware," Su Huai's voice remained remarkably composed, but a layer of teardrops slowly clung to her lower lashes.
Gu Beixian lowered his gaze, observing the mound of earth.
It was an ordinary grave, as mundane as could be. It seemed to have aged, with a wilted bouquet of wildflowers placed before it, and burnt ashes scattered on the ground.
The grave was so rudimentary, constructed solely from yellow soil, without even a tombstone.
It was impossible to discern whose final resting place it marked.
Gu Beixian faintly curled his lips. Previously, when he inquired about Ah Yao's identity, she evaded the question.
After retrieving surveillance footage of Ah Yao's silhouette, she casually chose a small grave to appease him.
She was oblivious that when she uttered the first call of "Brother Ah Yao" in her dream, he had already dispatched someone to this small village to discreetly investigate Ah Yao.
In the entire village of ninety-eight households, regardless of age or gender, everyone uniformly claimed that there was no such person as Ah Yao in the village. Hence, it was utterly implausible for Ah Yao to be buried in this grave.
Known for her sincerity, Su Huai had resorted to lying to protect her "Brother Ah Yao."
Gu Beixian felt uneasy, a hint of anger rising within him. He was about to expose her lie when he noticed her eyes, moist with tears, fixed on the grave, her expression sorrowful.
As the wild wind blew, her frail figure seemed on the verge of collapse, evoking pity.
Suddenly, a surge of protective instinct welled up within him.
His heart softened, the anger dissipated, and he raised his hand to pull her into an embrace, gently saying, "Enough, I won't pursue this further. Don't cry."
Su Huai's face pressed against his collar, tears silently streaming down, dampening a small area. Her slender shoulders trembled slightly.
Gu Beixian caressed her thin back, his tone a mix of reproach and indulgence, "Next time you go out, inform me in advance, understood?"
Su Huai softly acknowledged.
Suddenly, a series of gurgling sounds echoed distinctly in the silent wilderness.
Gu Beixian chuckled lightly, only now realizing his hunger.
Su Huai, slow to react, raised her hand to wipe her eyes and, coming out of his embrace, looked up at him. "Is your stomach growling? Are you hungry?"
"Yes, from yesterday noon until now, I haven't eaten a single meal. Can I not be hungry?" His tone carried a hint of grievance.
"Why didn't you eat? You disappeared, and I was busy searching for you everywhere. How could I have the mood to eat?" Su Huai couldn't help but feel a bit sad.
He easily gave her the illusion that he cared for her. However, the last time she thought so, he, under the name of Chu Suo, proposed a breakup.
"Let's go back and have a meal. Mrs. Liu should have cooked by now," Su Huai suggested in a soft voice.
"Okay."
The two walked side by side towards the village.
Upon returning home, Shen Huai was setting up a table in the yard, and Mrs. Liu carried a bowl out from the kitchen.
Seeing Shen Huai, Gu Beixian reached out, holding Su Huai's hand.
Su Huai wanted to pull it away but couldn't.
Shen Huai's gaze fell on the intertwined hands, and the expression in his eyes slightly darkened.
Mrs. Liu, upon seeing Gu Beixian, exclaimed, "Mr. Gu, my phone ran out of battery yesterday, so I didn't receive your call."
Gu Beixian didn't mind, saying, "It's alright. Let's eat."
They all took their seats.
Gu Beixian picked up an egg, peeled it, and placed it in front of Su Huai. "Eat."
Su Huai handed it back to him, "You're hungry. You eat first."
Shen Huai lightly smiled, "Your cousin and cousin are really close."
Gu Beixian's eyes turned slightly cold, his tone indifferent, "I am her…"
"Cousin, he is my distant cousin," Su Huai interrupted Gu Beixian, daringly saying, "I am his poor relative from the countryside. I worked as a nanny in his house for three years, responsible for his daily life."
Shen Huai looked somewhat regretful. "You have such excellent skills, but you worked as a nanny. It's a pity."
Su Huai glanced meaningfully at Gu Beixian and said, "Fortunately, the salary at his house was relatively high."
Just as she finished speaking, she felt a hand suddenly appear on her thigh.
Subsequently, the hand beneath the table kneaded her leg, tickling and somewhat inappropriate, causing her heart to race.
Su Huai's ears turned red, and she shot Gu Beixian a sideways glance, signaling him to remove his hand.
However, his expression was solemn, sipping porridge with the spoon in a refined manner, displaying no trace of his covert actions.
Unable to escape from his grip, Su Huai, with one hand injured and the other held by Gu Beixian, couldn't partake in the meal. She could only sit there motionless.
Gu Beixian turned to look at her, a smile in his eyes, and teasingly asked, "Miao Miao, why aren't you eating? Are you waiting for your cousin to feed you?"
People who usually addressed her as Su Huai now intentionally called her "Miao Miao."
Su Huai pretended to be annoyed and glared at him.
Gu Beixian laughed, "Not eating? Are you waiting for your cousin to feed you?"
He scooped up a spoonful of porridge, tested the temperature with his mouth, and brought it to Su Huai's mouth. "Open your mouth, let your cousin feed you."
The tone was both ambiguous and seductive.
Su Huai's face instantly turned red.
Refusing to open her mouth, she bit her lips and chewed the porridge he had fed her.
Shen Huai shrugged helplessly, "You two cousins have a really good relationship."
Gu Beixian, glancing at Su Huai with a gentle gaze, softly spoke, "Of course, cousins are meant to be cherished."
Mrs. Liu, witnessing the scene, couldn't help but shake her head. Rich people really knew how to play, clearly husband and wife, yet pretending to be cousins for excitement.
After barely finishing the meal, Mrs. Liu cleared the table.
Su Huai, attempting to withdraw her hand from Gu Beixian's grasp, failed to do so and remained captured by him.
Gu Beixian looked at her, his gaze tender, "Go back with me. It's inconvenient in these desolate mountains. Your cousin
can't bear a day without seeing you."
Su Huai, teased by his words, didn't expect her attempt to resist, thinking that she would end up embarrassing herself.
After a pause, she looked at her injured hand and said, "My hand can't work for three months. Going back is unnecessary; I'll rest here."
"That's fine. I'll come find you tonight."
He deliberately emphasized the words "tonight" and "find you," as if planning something important.
Su Huai hurriedly said, "No need. It's quite far from the city. It takes several hours by car, affecting your rest."
Gu Beixian raised his hand, affectionately pinching her nose, "You, becoming more stubborn. Please don't resist my advances."
"I am your cousin. Isn't it normal for cousins to make such gestures?" He raised his hand to touch her cheek, gently rubbing her crimson lips with his thumb, smiling somewhat dangerously.
His face, usually reserved and abstinent, now appeared mischievous.
Having been teased, Su Huai blushed and averted her head in embarrassment.
At this moment, Shen Huai's expression had become quite unpleasant.
Unable to endure any longer, he stood up and left.
Su Huai, feeling uncomfortable, stood up and walked towards the room.
Gu Beixian followed.
Entering the bedroom, Gu Beixian embraced her from behind, turning her around, and lowering his head to kiss her.