Gu Beixian's hand, clutching the documents, gradually tightened as he continued to peruse them.
Gu Jinyao is the vice chairman of Zengrong Auction House, and his father is named Gu Zengrong.
Gu Zengrong, a prominent figure, is the primary founder of Zengrong Auction House and holds the majority shares. The auction house is under the umbrella of Kyoto Zengrong Arts and Crafts Import and Export Trading Company, boasting an annual turnover in the billions and standing as one of Kyoto's largest antique auction houses.
Perhaps due to Gu Zengrong's low-profile nature or absence from domestic activities, Gu Beixian had scarcely heard of this individual.
Nevertheless, such a family naturally lacks no financial means.
He stared at the documents, lost in contemplation.
Three years ago, Su Huai chose him over her brother, Yao.
At that time, due to a spinal nerve injury from a car accident, he was paralyzed from the waist down, with nothing but money to his name.
Su Hui married him primarily because of the family's financial constraints, leading him to believe that Yao was a penniless young man.
However, looking at the information now, Gu Jinyao didn't seem to be lacking in funds.
Gu Aoting noticed him gripping a stack of documents, furrowing his brows in silence. He turned and asked, "What are you looking at?"
Gu Beixian casually responded, "Nothing much, just reviewing some documents."
He calmly folded the documents and set them aside.
Gu Aoting, with keen eyes, caught sight of the words "Gu Zengrong" and, after a brief pause, said, "Gu Zengrong, I know a bit about him. According to our family hierarchy, I should address him as cousin. His grandfather and my grandfather were cousins, but their branch emigrated abroad many years ago, gradually drifting apart."
To Gu Beixian, it sounded like distant relatives.
Due to Su Hui's reasons, he had no desire to connect with Gu Jinyao.
Gu Aoting asked, "Why are you investigating him?"
"Helping a friend with some inquiries," Gu Beixian casually found an excuse to deflect.
With the business concluded and dinner nearly finished, the group started to leave.
Gu Aoting stopped Gu Beixian, "You can drop Luo Luo home."
Gu Beixian subtly furrowed his brow, "When you called earlier, you said Luo Luo was near the company, so I could pick her up on the way. Since she's going home now, let her take Uncle Chu's car; they are family, and it's on the way."
Gu Aoting's face instantly darkened, but in the presence of Chu Yanru and other subordinates, he couldn't react strongly.
Being bluntly rejected by Gu Beixian in front of so many people made Chu Suosuo lose face, and she grew even more resentful towards Su Hui.
If it weren't for her grandmother's timely death, the two would have divorced long ago.
In her mind, she cursed Su Hui and her grandmother.
Exiting the hotel, Gu Beixian instructed his assistant, "Check Su Hui's recent call records, see if there are any unfamiliar numbers."
The assistant was efficient.
By the time Gu Beixian was close to home, he received a call from his assistant.
Upon answering, he said, "General Gu, Madam's call records involve only a few individuals, aside from family members, there are calls from Shen Huai, Shen Yuan, Madam Liu, property management company, and courier service. No other unknown numbers."
Gu Beixian's gloomy expression eased slightly.
It seemed that the two of them hadn't been in contact privately.
Back at home, Su Hui was sitting on the sofa, engrossed in an ancient book. Upon hearing the door opening and detecting the scent of alcohol, she thought Gu Beixian had been drinking.
Quickly standing up, she approached the shoe cabinet, ready to fetch his slippers.
This was a habit she had developed.
Gu Beixian steadied her, gently preventing her, "I haven't had much to drink, and my legs have long since recovered. You don't need to take care of me like before; you are my wife, not a servant."
Of course, he didn't say the latter part out loud, as Su Hui had been doing the job of a servant.
Su Hui pursed her lips, standing still. She was holding back her frustration, especially at the fact that Gu Beixian and Chu Suosuo shared a car.
Gu Beixian changed his shoes by himself.
Su Hui helped him remove his wristwatch and then proceeded to help him take off his suit jacket.
Although taking off the suit was a pretense, she actually wanted to see if there were any ambiguous traces left by Chu Suosuo.
As she undressed him, she subtly checked his collar for any lipstick marks and even lightly sniffed, trying to detect any fragrance that might indicate where Chu Suosuo had hugged him.
She thought she concealed her actions well, but Gu Beixian saw through her.
Amused, he leaned down, lightly brushing his nose against hers and teasing, "Why are you sniffing around like a little dog?"
Exposed on the spot, Su Hui felt a bit embarrassed.
Without saying a word, she turned around, hanging his jacket on the nearby coat rack.
Gu Beixian sensed her little scheme and said, "When we went to the hotel, my father called to arrange for Chu Suosuo to ride in my car. The moment she got in, I told her that I have a family and advised her to keep her distance to avoid unnecessary trouble. During dinner, when she wanted to sit with me, I found an excuse to avoid it. After the meal, my father asked me to take her home, and I refused. Huai Huai, I am a man of principles. If you don't believe me, check the car's recorder or ask my assistant."
With such an explanation, it was evident that he was sincere.
All the frustration that Su Hui had been holding back dissipated, and she even felt a bit touched.
Touched that he was willing to go against Gu Aoting for her sake.
Gu Aoting was his father, a person who determined his future.
Su Hui extended her arms, silently hugging him. She wanted to say something affectionate, but the more she tried, the more unsure she became of what to say.
Flirting wasn't her strong suit.
Her grandparents' relationship was subtle, expressing love silently.
Her parents divorced early, and her mother's fiery personality made it more satisfying for Su Hui to slap her than to say sweet words. She was better at confrontations.
Influenced by her grandparents, she learned some things but mostly used them when dealing with Chu Suosuo.
She hugged Gu Beixian for a while, racking her brain but couldn't manage to utter a word.
Gu Beixian knew her character, reaching out to touch her head and gently saying, "It's okay. Love isn't something said; it's something done."
His words were easily misinterpreted, causing Su Hui's ears to turn red.
She turned away and left.
After taking a shower, the two went to bed.
Gu Beixian unbuttoned Su Hui's
nightgown, starting to kiss her shoulders gently.
Although Su Hui said "no" with her mouth, her whole body felt tingly, as if electrified, and she softened in an instant.
Pushing against his hands, she managed to say, "Don't."
But her hands, which were supposed to resist, had somehow wrapped around his waist.
As the two intertwined...
Afterwards, Gu Beixian embraced her, saying, "These days, I've started to quit smoking and drinking. How about we plan for a child?"
This was the second time he brought up the idea of having a child.
Su Hui didn't want children.
She no longer felt secure in this marriage.
However, thinking about her mother's advice to make an effort now and avoid regret later, she nodded and said, "Okay."
Gu Beixian's dark eyes suddenly lit up, like specks of starlight.
He pulled her into his arms, seeming somewhat incredulous, "Are you really willing to have a child for me?"
Su Hui hesitated for a moment, "Let's give it a try."
Gu Beixian, embracing her, kissed her forehead and said with a smile, "Let's have a son. If the first child is a boy, we won't need a second one. Childbirth is too painful."
Su Hui cooperatively agreed, "Sure."
Gu Beixian tousled her hair, laughing, "Thank you for your hard work."
"It's my duty," Su Hui snuggled into his arms. However, in her mind, she couldn't shake off the image of Gu Aoting's dark, coal-like face.
She feared that if she gave birth to a child, Gu Aoting might tear them apart. It would be tough for the child to grow up with an absent father and mother.
After falling asleep, Su Hui began to dream.
She dreamed of thirteen years ago when she went to the hospital to see Aoyao for the last time.
He lay on the hospital bed covered in injuries, wearing an oxygen mask. His deep, black eyes looked at her with a melancholic and painful gaze.
Su Hui, distressed, was about to walk towards him.
Suddenly, Aoyao disappeared.
Frantically searching for him, she couldn't find Aoyao, but Gu Beixian appeared out of nowhere.
He held her, cupped her face gently, and kissed her tenderly, saying, "Come home with me. Let's have a child, and I will treat you well."
In her dream, Su Hui instinctively nestled into Gu Beixian's embrace, embracing his waist, and softly murmured, "Beixian..."
The ever-awake Gu Beixian, hearing this soft call, felt the ice that had formed in his heart over the past three years instantly melt away.
For the first time in three years, she called his name in a dream.
Finally, she no longer uttered that cursed phrase, "Aoyao Ge."
He extended his arm to envelop her in his embrace, a smile playing on his lips, with his eyes shimmering like stars.