"Why do I have to make things difficult for Su Huai?" Qin Shu asked, furrowing her brows.
Gu Beixian replied emotionlessly, "Your personality, you know it yourself."
Qin Shu said nothing, directly hung up the phone, opened WeChat, and sent him a location.
Handing the phone back to Su Huai, she self-deprecatingly smiled and scolded, "Stinky kid, actually thinking that I wanted to trouble you. Do I really look like a wicked mother-in-law?"
Su Huai recalled the cold and powerful confrontation between Qin Shu and Chu Suosuo in the Hermès store just now. The impact was indeed significant.
But because it was directed at Chu Suosuo, Su Huai felt pleased and touched.
She grinned, "No, you are the most beautiful mother-in-law."
Qin Shu's anger turned into joy, "You know how to speak. Stinky kid, my son's wife is almost driven away by him. I kindly tried to help him appease his wife, but he, biting the hand that feeds him, doesn't recognize a good deed."
Su Huai now fully understood.
It must be Grandma or Gu Nanyin who said something to Qin Shu.
So, the usually aloof Qin Shu, on her return to the country, not only sent a bag but also a dress to her.
Su Huai felt unexpectedly favored.
In families like the Gu family, they always paid attention to social status and background.
In the past, when Gu Beixian couldn't stand up due to his leg injury, sitting in a wheelchair, he was considered somewhat compatible with her.
Now that Gu Beixian's leg was healed, returning to the company as the CEO of Gu Group, a listed company, commanding attention and respect, she, even with her skill in restoring ancient paintings, lacked the support of a prominent family, making her influence relatively weak.
She felt this way herself, let alone others.
So, Chu Suosuo, with her status as the heiress of a wealthy family, would boldly challenge her time and time again.
Before long, Gu Beixian arrived.
Opening the door, standing at the entrance, he scanned the coffee shop.
Seeing Su Huai, he strode over, took her hand, pulled her up from the chair, and said in a deep voice, "Let's go."
Su Huai withdrew her hand, tilted her head, and smiled at him, "Go where? I'm having a great chat with Mom."
She pointed to the bags and gift boxes on the table, "These are all gifts from Mom."
Gu Beixian's expression slightly eased, and he asked, "She didn't say anything that made you uncomfortable, did she?"
"No, Mom is good to me."
Gu Beixian raised an eyebrow slightly, "You're not lying?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
"As long as you're not lying, finish your coffee, and let's go."
"I finally get to meet with Mom after a long time. I'm not ready to leave yet."
Holding her coffee, Qin Shu said with a smile, "You better go with him. If you don't leave soon, he might be cursing me in his heart."
Su Huai laughed, "He wouldn't dare."
Qin Shu glanced at Gu Beixian, "You don't understand; men, once married, forget their mothers. In his eyes now, there's only you, his wife, no longer a place for me, his mother."
Clearly a complaint, but it made Su Huai laugh.
As she laughed, she felt a bit sad in her heart. How nice it would be if what Qin Shu said was true.
On the last day of the month.
Qin Shu's birthday arrived.
In the evening, Su Huai changed into the navy blue starry sky dress she received from Qin Shu, carefully applied light makeup, and was driven to the Gu family by the driver.
The villa was brightly lit.
The spacious and bright living room, with a high ceiling of nine meters, was beautifully decorated. The luxurious long table was filled with various high-end buffet dishes, delicacies from the mountains and the sea, a wide variety of beverages, fruits, and exquisite desserts.
Male guests were all dressed in suits with ties, and female guests were in elegant evening gowns, exuding a luxurious and dazzling charm.
Everyone raised their glasses, enjoying the feast, making it lively.
Qin Shu, who appeared calm and cold, was adept at socializing, shuttling through the crowd, entertaining with laughter, and being very versatile.
This was the first time Su Huai, who married into the Gu family, had such a lively birthday party.
Before, when Gu Beixian had a car accident and couldn't stand up, the entire Gu family was shrouded in a shadow.
Even when the old lady celebrated her birthday, it was not a big event. Only a few close people came to the old house for a simple celebration.
As soon as Su Huai entered, everyone looked at her.
Regardless of gender, everyone's eyes revealed amazed looks.
Su Huai was already beautiful without makeup, and with a little makeup, she could be described as stunning. In the gorgeous dress, she looked like a fairy fallen to the mortal world.
On her snow-white oval face, two black delicate eyebrows, big watery eyes, and a radiant gaze.
With a slender and graceful figure, the long navy blue floor-length evening gown was adorned with countless small diamonds, resembling twinkling stars.
The light spots from the lamps and the starlight on the dress complemented each other, creating a full fairy-like aura as she walked.
Qin Shu also saw Su Huai and immediately warmly approached, took her arm, and introduced her to everyone, "Let me introduce, this is my daughter-in-law, Su Huai."
Everyone looked at Su Huai in surprise, "When did your son get married? Why didn't you inform us?"
Qin Shu smiled, "It's been three years since they got married. The wedding will be held in a while."
A middle-aged wealthy woman in a purple evening gown, who was closer, looked her up and down, praised, "She's so beautiful and elegant. She must be a great lady from some prestigious family, right?"
Su Huai's eyes darkened slightly, about to speak.
Qin Shu squeezed her hand and said, "Su Huai is the granddaughter of the 'Master of Antique Restoration,' Su Wenmai, from a literary and scholarly family."
The wealthy woman in the purple evening gown, unfamiliar with antiques, naturally didn't know Su Wenmai's reputation. Her expression immediately underwent a subtle change, saying, "A scholarly family, that's quite good." Her tone became noticeably less enthusiastic.
The smiles on the faces of others also became somewhat ambiguous.
Sensitive to the situation, Su Huai felt uncomfortable, but it didn't show on her face.
Qin Shu brought her inside and whispered in her ear, "Don't mind those people; they are all vulgar and ignorant."
Su Huai felt warm inside and smiled at Qin Shu, "Thank you, Mom. I'm fine."
Qin Shu patted her shoulder, "Good that you're fine. Sit here for a while. If you want something to eat, help yourself, and if
you need anything, call a servant. Beixian will be here soon. I'll go and greet them first."
Su Huai nodded slightly, "You go ahead, Mom, don't worry about me."
As Qin Shu walked away, Su Huai found a seat.
Having been married to Gu Beixian for three years, she had always kept a low profile and rarely appeared in front of people.
Except for Qin Shu, she didn't know anyone at the party, making her somewhat uncomfortable.
Su Huai took a glass of juice, sipped it gently, and took out her phone to check messages.
Suddenly, a strange and sarcastic female voice behind her said, "Oh, Su Huai is here today too. Wearing this little dress, a sparrow turns into a phoenix. I almost didn't recognize you."
The words were too harsh.
Su Huai's scalp tingled slightly as she turned to look.
Standing not far away was a woman in a black evening gown, tall and thin, well-preserved with an age that couldn't be easily determined. Her face was long and thin, with slightly high cheekbones, and a touch of sharpness in her eyebrows and eyes.
She was Gu Beixian's aunt, Gu Fengjiao.
Su Huai stood up, smiled politely at her, and greeted, "Hello, Aunt."
Gu Fengjiao, holding a glass of red wine, walked over on high heels, looked her up and down, and said with a sneer, "The little girl must have burned incense for eight lifetimes to marry my nephew. Anything she wants, she has it all – money, family background, appearance, and demeanor, all outstanding."
Su Huai faintly raised her lips and said without being humble, "Beixian is outstanding, but I am not inferior."
"You are not inferior, but your family background is not impressive. Tsk, tsk, it's not comparable to our Gu family." Gu Fengjiao disdainfully curled her lips and took a sip of wine.
Su Huai restrained herself and calmly said, "The family background doesn't matter; Beixian treats me well. Not only Beixian, but Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, and Nanyin all respect me a lot."
Gu Fengjiao hadn't expected Su Huai, who seemed gentle, to be a tough one.
She said a word, and Su Huai immediately retorted, unyielding.
Gu Fengjiao was furious, "That's just their good upbringing. You don't match up. Don't try to embellish yourself!"
Just as Su Huai was about to respond, a cold and stern male voice came, "Su Huai doesn't need to embellish herself; she is a gem, more than worthy of me!"
Su Huai turned her head at the sound.
A tall and handsome man in a dark suit, with deep contours, handsome features, and long legs, approached from a distance.
When he came closer, he stood still, looked down at Gu Fengjiao condescendingly, and said word by word, "My woman doesn't need comments from an aunt like you!"
Gu Fengjiao's face turned iron-gray, unable to utter a word.
"Husband, you're here." Su Huai raised her eyes, ran over to him with her dress in hand.