Su Huai evaded backward.
Gu Beixian's kiss landed gracefully on her jaw.
Su Huai distinctly felt the atmospheric pressure around him drop several degrees.
With the hand that pinched her chin, Gu Beixian slid down her back, encircling her waist, and questioned, "Why did you tell Shen Huai that I am your cousin?"
Su Huai lowered her eyelids and softly replied, "Since we are on the brink of divorce, there's no need to make a big fuss and proclaim our marital status everywhere. Moreover, your family is prominent. If colleagues were to find out about our divorce, they might cast judgment upon me with a biased view. I'd rather stick to the convenient label of a distant cousin."
Gu Beixian looked at her meaningfully, "You've thought this through quite thoroughly."
Self-mockingly, Su Huai smiled, "I have no choice. It's the survival instinct of a small individual."
"You are far from being a small individual. You have me dancing at your command, a rarity in the entire city of Kyoto." He sported a teasing smile, intriguingly gazing at her.
"Don't use me as your amusement. How dare I command you?" Su Huai felt a bit embarrassed, turning away from him.
As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Beixian's phone rang.
He took it out of his pocket, glanced at it, and his eyes subtly changed.
Curious, Su Huai turned to look, catching sight of the words "Lock Lock." Her stomach tightened, and she said, "You should answer it."
Gu Beixian raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you angry?"
In her mind, Su Huai thought, "I am angry. If you don't answer, will you stop?"
"Answer quickly; don't keep her waiting." She pretended to urge him nonchalantly.
Gu Beixian looked at her with deep eyes, answered the call, and asked, "Lock Lock, what's the matter?"
From the phone, Chu Suosuo's voice sounded pitiful, "Brother Beixian, where did you go? You didn't come to the hospital all day yesterday. Can you come today? I can't eat without you; I feel so sad."
A wave of disgust surged within Su Huai.
Standing on tiptoes near the phone, she mimicked Chu Suosuo's tone, "Darling, I've already taken off my clothes. What are you still lingering for?"
A deathly silence filled the phone!
Gu Beixian lowered his eyes, looking at her with a smile that seemed to hide deeper meanings.
Expressionless, Su Huai locked eyes with him.
The two stared at each other, neither uttering a word.
After a long while, the voice of Chu Suosuo, filled with weak frustration, came from the phone, "Well then, you go about your business, Brother Beixian."
She hung up.
Su Huai, masking her emotions, said casually, "You should go to the hospital and check on her. Severe depression and a serious hand injury, in case she takes more sleeping pills and attempts suicide again, I wouldn't want that guilt on my conscience."
Gu Beixian raised his hand, ruffling her hair, "I'll make a call outside."
Holding the phone, he walked out and dialed Chu Mochen's number.
After the call connected, he said, "Keep an eye on Suosuo. She called me just now, seemed a bit disturbed. I'm afraid she might do something reckless."
"Sure." Chu Mochen paused for a moment and added, "Suosuo has been spoiled by us since childhood, a bit indulgent in temperament. She still thinks of herself as not entirely separated from you, causing trouble for you."
Gu Beixian fell silent for a few seconds, "It's okay. Her illness and depression are related to me."
"Your wife won't be angry, right?"
Gu Beixian faintly curled his lips, "Luckily, she has a good temper and is understanding." He didn't express the latter half of his thoughts; adults wouldn't easily confide their innermost feelings to others.
After hanging up, Gu Beixian returned to the room, finding Su Huai leaning on the bed, reading an old book, her face calm and devoid of emotion.
He sat down beside the bed, touched her face, rubbed his nose against her hair, and said, "I'm leaving."
"Okay."
"I'll come to see you tonight."
"It's too far, and you have work. Don't trouble yourself."
"Then you should come back with me soon. A young girl like you, living in this desolate mountain area, how can I feel at ease? Your hand is still not healed, and even eating is a problem." He picked up the injured hand, examining it with a lowered head.
Su Huai felt a bit melancholic.
His actions make it truly challenging for her to completely let go of him.
Whenever she is determined to leave, he comes and pulls her back.
And always, when her heart softens, he thrusts another dagger into it.
The lingering sentiment in a relationship is the most tormenting.
Su Huai withdrew her hand and calmly said, "You should go. Don't come over tonight. I grew up here without you, and I've lived just fine."
"Well, that's true." Gu Beixian pinched her other hand. "You, this young girl, may have a pitiable appearance, but deep down, you're stronger than my heart."
Su Huai pursed her lips slightly, thinking, "Clearly, it's your heart that's unyielding. You insist on turning things around. Too devious."
Gu Beixian stood up. "I'm really leaving. Won't you see me off?"
Su Huai turned away, not looking at him. Her heart was a mix of emotions, wanting him to leave yet not wanting him to go.
Gu Beixian's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he walked out.
Outside, he encountered Shen Huai. His gaze turned cold, and he asked in a distant tone, "When are you leaving?"
Shen Huai smiled faintly, "I have a few days off. I'll leave the day after tomorrow. Su Huai's hand still needs dressing, and as a doctor, it's more convenient for me to take care of her."
Gu Beixian's face darkened, and he looked into the distance.
Two bodyguards were sitting on chairs, devouring instant noodles.
He instructed, "You two stay here and protect Su Huai properly."
The bodyguards hastily put down their instant noodle boxes, stood up, and responded, "Yes, Mr. Gu."
Gu Beixian then looked at Mrs. Liu, who was washing dishes by the sink. "Mrs. Liu, come with me to the car."
Mrs. Liu quickly wiped her hands on her clothes and followed him towards the car.
Seated in the front passenger seat, she anxiously twisted her fingers and said, "Mr. Gu, Mrs. Liu told me to turn off my phone yesterday. I didn't dare to disobey her."
Gu Beixian crossed his long legs, rested his arm on the car window, and lightly pinched his forehead bone, saying, "No need to be afraid. I called you for a different reason. What's Su Huai's attitude toward that surnamed Shen?"
Mrs. Liu thought for a moment and said, "Mrs. Shen is very polite to Dr. Shen, keeping her distance. It seems she isn't interested in him. However, Dr. Shen seems quite fond of Mrs. Shen and takes good care of her. He had the hospital surveillance footage deleted, and he's the one who drove her here. Mr. Gu, should I let Dr. Shen know that Mrs. Shen is your wife?"
"No need. If she wants to play, let her go along with it."
"Alright, Mr. Gu."
Gu Beixian took out a cash cheque from his bag and handed it to her. "Take good care of her. Don't let her be alone with that surnamed Shen."
A smile appeared on Mrs. Liu's face as she accepted the cheque. "Rest assured, I promise not to let them be alone together."
"Get off the car."
Mrs. Liu opened the car door and got out.
The driver started the car.
Gu Beixian lowered the car window and looked outside. Not seeing Su Huai's figure, he felt a bit empty inside.
The ungrateful girl, he searched for her all night after traveling a long distance, and she couldn't even come out to see him off.
As the car moved forward, kicking up dust along the way.
Near the turning point, unwilling to accept it, Gu Beixian glanced at the rear of the car again. At the intersection, he caught sight of a slender and straight figure wrapped in a white knit sweater.
That petite exquisite face belonged to Su Huai.
He slightly raised the corner of his lips, smiling. Credit to her, she still had a bit of conscience.
The car turned around the corner, and Su Huai's figure disappeared completely.
Gu Beixian slowly raised the car window, reminiscing about three years ago, the first time he saw her.
She was only twenty years old, just graduated from university, still a young girl.
Her face was small, appearing delicate and fair. Her big eyes were fluffy and unexpectedly beautiful.
At that time, she wasn't much of a talker. She would speak when asked, and if not asked, she wouldn't say a word. A perpetual smile adorned her face, but it carried a sense of distance, akin to the eternal smile in an ID photo. Beneath the beautiful appearance, there was a touch of stubbornness.
He remembered it was a cold day, and she even brought a gift for their first meeting.
What she brought, he couldn't recall, but he remembered her slender fingers freezing red.
Looking at those hands, he felt an inexplicable heartache.
It was also on that day that they registered their marriage, becoming husband and wife.