Su Huai's heart sharply ached, as if gripped by an invisible force, the discomfort unbearable. She longed to say to him, "Don't leave, let's not part ways."
Yet, considering what Gu Aoting had mentioned, choosing her as Gu Beixian's wife initially was because Chu Suosuo had gone abroad, and she happened to resemble her.
This person could be her or anyone resembling Chu Suosuo. In an instant, Su Huai felt that she wasn't that important anymore.
With any other woman, spending three years with Gu Beixian day and night, he would find it hard to part ways.
It was like raising a kitten or a puppy; if it suddenly went missing, there would be sorrow for a while, but soon it would be forgotten. Occasionally, when remembered, it would only be with a sigh.
Su Huai restrained her tears, gently touched his jaw, and smiled, "It's getting late; you should go back."
Gu Beixian held her hand, "I'll escort you downstairs."
Su Huai didn't refuse.
The two got off the car and entered the residential area.
The night breeze was gentle, tree shadows swayed, and the crescent moon hung in the sky like a wound.
On this short path, they walked very slowly.
The shadows on the ground, elongated by the pale streetlights, clearly paired but looking lonely.
Neither of them spoke.
At times like this, anything said would feel redundant.
Once downstairs, when Su Huai's figure completely disappeared, Gu Beixian turned and left.
Back in the car, he picked up his phone, dialed the assistant's number, and instructed, "No need to find the person who injured Chu Suosuo's left hand."
Previously urging to find, suddenly calling it off, the assistant was puzzled and asked, "Mr. Gu, what happened?"
"Nothing." Gu Beixian hung up the phone.
The person who injured Chu Suosuo's hand was undoubtedly Yao.
Once they divorced, it wouldn't take long for Yao to return to Su Huai.
If he sent someone to harm her beloved Yao, she would surely hate him.
Gu Beixian didn't want her to hate him.
Silently finishing a cigarette, he started the car.
The next day at noon, at the hospital.
Su Huai carried her mother's prepared meal to deliver to her grandmother.
Her elegant temperament, graceful figure, and radiant white skin, even with a simple shirt and long skirt, made her a stunning sight on the road, attracting onlookers.
Passing through a sparsely populated tree-lined path, Su Huai suddenly heard a female voice behind her, "Sister Su Huai, what a coincidence."
The familiar voice made Su Huai's scalp tingle slightly.
She turned to look.
Chu Suosuo, dressed up extravagantly, walked quickly toward her, waved her left hand, and said sarcastically, "Thanks to you, I'm here today to remove the splint."
Su Huai indifferently glanced at her hand, saying coldly, "Your hand is injured, it has nothing to do with me. As for my hand, whether it's related to you or not, I don't know."
Chu Suosuo paused, then sneered, "Present the evidence. Don't slander people without evidence."
Su Huai smiled faintly, "The same words apply to you."
Chu Suosuo raised her eyebrows, circled around her, and said, "I heard you've signed the divorce agreement?"
Su Huai tightened her grip on the thermos in her hand.
It seemed that Gu Aoting had told her already.
Chu Suosuo, looking complacent, said, "I've said it before; I will snatch Beixian from you. Grandpa, grandma, Aunt Qin, and Nanyin all like you. So what? You'll still end up kicked out sooner or later."
Sometimes, Su Huai felt that Chu Suosuo was quite clever, and sometimes she felt that she was too impulsive.
Just like now, she had firmly decided to divorce Gu Beixian.
However, Chu Suosuo's provocation stirred up an impulse in her to snatch Gu Beixian back.
Su Huai said calmly, "I've just signed on the divorce agreement. I haven't processed the paperwork at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Even if I do, there's a one-month cooling-off period. Only after that can we get the divorce certificate. The night is long, and dreams are many. I advise Miss Chu not to be too pleased too soon; be careful not to slap yourself in the face."
Chu Suosuo laughed, "Does it make a difference whether it happens sooner or later when it's a done deal?"
Su Huai smiled, "Is that so? But with your current actions, it's clear that you're nervous. It's understandable; after all, you snatched a man with your rich dad. Once the Gu family finds a better match, you might be eliminated immediately. Miss Chu, being a stepping stone and feeling self-satisfied, is quite admirable."
Chu Suosuo's smile disappeared from her face in an instant.
She raised her hand suddenly, slapping Su Huai across the face.
Unprepared, Su Huai was left ringing in the ears, and stars danced before her eyes.
She paused, placed the thermos on the ground unhurriedly, and calmly adjusted her tousled hair.
Suddenly, she raised her hand and delivered a resounding slap to Chu Suosuo's face.
During those two years of close care for Gu Beixian, she had done a lot of physical work, and over time, she developed considerable strength. Someone as delicate as Chu Suosuo couldn't compare.
Chu Suosuo was struck by this slap, and her face immediately swelled. She took several steps backward, supporting herself on a nearby tree to regain stability.
Wincing in pain, she covered half of her face and began to cry.
Amidst her tears, her eyes suddenly lit up. She called out with a sense of grievance towards the direction behind Su Jian, "Brother Beixian, Sister Su just hit me..."
Su Jian turned around.
She saw a tall and elegant man with long strides approaching, carrying a specially made takeaway box from the hotel, an exceptionally large one.
It was Gu Beixian.
Su Jian felt a mix of emotions.
When Chu Suosuo hit her, Gu Beixian might not have seen it.
But when she retaliated against Chu Suosuo just now, Gu Beixian undoubtedly witnessed it.
She was a bit afraid that Gu Beixian might be angry with her and more afraid that he would defend Chu Suosuo. That would be a blow to her pride and heart.
Nevertheless, she said nothing, standing silently with a calm expression, looking at Gu Beixian.
Gu Beixian's handsome face remained cool and indifferent, revealing no signs of joy or anger.
Approaching, he nodded faintly at Chu Suosuo and placed the takeaway box on a nearby table. Then, he took Su Jian's right hand, examined it, and noticed the redness in the palm. He asked, "Does it hurt?"
Su Jian was momentarily stunned, thinking she might be hallucinating.
Clearly, Chu Suosuo was his childhood sweetheart and the future candidate for marriage, but he chose to care for Su Jian.
Feeling a bit dazed, she quickly shook her head. After the shake, feeling something amiss, she corrected herself, "Yes, it hurts."
Gu Beixian held her hand, massaged it gently, and scolded, "If it hurts, why use your hand? Silly."
Implicitly: Couldn't you use your foot?
Chu Suosuo was instantly petrified, staring blankly at the two people. It took her quite some time to react, raising her voice, "Brother Beixian, my face was hit by Sister Su..."
Su Jian, unwilling to appear weak, said, "She hit me first, and I just retaliated."
Gu Beixian pursed his lips without saying a word, continuing to massage her hand. After a while, he let go and lifted his chin slightly, pointing to the nearby takeaway box, saying, "I had dinner with a client just now. The Buddha Jumps Over the Wall at that hotel is quite good. I packed a three-person portion for you. Hurry back and enjoy it while it's hot."
If Chu Suosuo weren't present, Su Jian would have politely told him, "We are getting divorced on Monday, don't do this; it's confusing."
But now, Chu Suosuo was watching eagerly.
Su Jian smiled sweetly, looking at him with crescent-shaped eyes, like a crescent moon. She slightly raised her chin.
Her face, red and swollen from the recent altercation with Chu Suosuo, didn't matter anymore.
She really wanted to kiss him, hug him, but it remained a mere thought.
Gu Beixian lowered his gaze, inspecting her face, gently touched it, and said, "Your face is a bit red. Remember to apply ice when you go back."
"Okay." Su Jian smiled even sweeter, her big eyes curved like a crescent moon, slightly lifted.
Chu Suosuo, whose face was both red and swollen, completely ignored, tearfully ran away.
Once she was far enough, Su Jian returned to normal and politely said, "Don't bring me food next time."
Gu Beixian gave a low "hmm," concealing the gentleness in his eyes. He said emotionlessly, "I remembered about our divorce on Monday only after arranging the hotel dinner. I'll try to be more careful in the future."
Feeling a sourness in her heart, Su Jian said, "Thank you for earlier."
Gu Beixian remained composed, "She hit you first, I saw it."
Su Jian paused for a moment, "Still, thank you."
He left after picking up the takeaway box and her thermos.
He escorted her to the entrance of her grandmother's room.
Gu Beixian turned and left.
Early the next morning.
As soon as Su Jian opened her eyes, she received a WeChat message from Gu Nanyin, along with a photo.
Curious, she opened it and was startled.
The photo showed the face of a young woman, both cheeks red and swollen, resembling a plucked pig's head.
Her forehead was also swollen, giving a somewhat birthday cake-like appearance.
Upon careful examination, one could recognize the disfigured face as Chu Suosuo's.