Reclined on the surgical gurney, Chu Suosuo tightly shut her eyes, her complexion pallid, the safety helmet removed from her head.
With hair obstructing the view, the extent of her injuries remained invisible to the naked eye.
Upon seeing her emerge, Chu Yanru swiftly discarded whatever he held in his hands and rushed over, seizing her hand and calling out, "Suosuo, Suosuo!"
"Please make way," the nurse pushed the surgical gurney towards the emergency room.
Chu Yanru hurriedly caught up.
The results of the brain CT scan would take ten minutes to arrive.
Gu Beixian remained still, awaiting the results here.
After all, this matter concerned him.
Watching Chu Suosuo depart, Gu Aoting, in a tone of reproach, remarked, "Look how kind Suosuo is to you, risking her life to save you. If it weren't for her shielding you, you would have been the one lying there."
Gu Beixian replied indifferently, "I didn't ask her to shield me."
A flicker of anger rose in Gu Aoting's chest. "What nonsense are you speaking? Your relationship with Suosuo used to be so good. What's changed recently?"
After speaking, he cast a cold glance at Su Huai.
The implication was clear: she was the one inciting trouble between them.
Gu Beixian sensed it and pulled Su Huai to the side, his gaze slightly darkened as he said, "Is it wrong for me to keep a distance from women other than my wife? Must I embrace them left and right to satisfy you?"
Gu Aoting choked back his words, his expression darkening.
Whatever he wanted to say, he ultimately didn't say, just snorting coldly before leaving.
Once he departed, Gu Beixian raised his hand to tousle Su Huai's hair, scrutinizing her complexion, and said, "I'm sorry for causing you distress."
His voice, chilly yet tinged with guilt.
Su Huai, initially angered by Gu Aoting and Chu Yanru's frosty demeanor, felt all her anger dissipate upon hearing Gu Beixian's words.
She gently grasped his fingertips and said, "It's okay."
It wasn't the first time anyway.
She had heard worse things before.
In front of Gu Beixian, Gu Aoting's words were much more tactful.
Ten minutes later, they received Chu Suosuo's brain CT results: a mild concussion.
Su Huai breathed a sigh of relief.
She had been afraid that Chu Suosuo might have suffered severe injuries or even become vegetative from the impact.
With the temperament of their families, they would surely cling to Gu Beixian.
Gu Beixian checked his watch and said, "It's getting late. You should go home first; I might be back late tonight."
Su Huai reluctantly said, "Don't forget to have dinner."
"I won't. You too."
Su Huai turned to leave, but on the way, she encountered Gu Beixian's assistant and instructed him, "Don't forget to order dinner for Mr. Gu and remind him to eat."
The assistant respectfully replied, "Yes, Madam."
Su Huai returned home, freshened up, and went to bed.
Late into the night, Gu Beixian still hadn't returned.
She woke up from her sleep, feeling her heart skip a beat upon seeing the empty space beside her bed.
She looked at the clock on the wall; it was past two in the morning.
Gu Beixian still hadn't returned.
Anxious, she picked up her phone to call him.
But his phone was turned off.
Su Huai's heart pounded in her chest, fearing that something might have happened.
She trusted Gu Beixian, but she couldn't shake off her worries about Gu Aoting, Chu Yanru, and the mother-daughter duo.
Two cunning old foxes, along with two scheming minds.
With the four of them together, what sinister plots couldn't they hatch?
What if they stirred up trouble and tarnished Gu Beixian's reputation?
Should she go or not?
Su Huai put on some clothes, contemplating a visit to the hospital.
But it was too late; the driver must have already gone to sleep.
And it wouldn't be safe to go out late at night, especially since she wasn't skilled at driving.
Pacing around her bedroom, Su Huai finally dialed Gu Nanyin's number.
Gu Nanyin, still half-asleep, answered without checking the caller ID and impatiently asked, "Who is this? Why are you calling so late, disturbing my sleep?"
Su Huai said, "Nanyin, it's me, Su Huai."
Gu Nanyin's voice immediately softened, "Ah, sister-in-law, what's wrong?"
"Theodore's phone number, can you give it to me? Chu Suosuo was hit by a heavy object on the head, and your brother took her to the hospital. He hasn't come back home yet."
Gu Nanyin suddenly woke up, "What? My brother's itching for trouble again, isn't he? How did he get mixed up with that green tea bitch again?"
"The situation is a bit special this time."
"Don't defend him; he's just asking for trouble. Let me send you Theodore's number right away."
"Thank you."
After jotting down Theodore's number, Su Huai called him.
It rang once, and he picked up.
Su Huai politely said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Chu, for calling you so late."
Mr. Chu replied courteously, "It's no problem. Please, go ahead."
"I just wanted to ask, is Gu Beixian with you?"
With a hint of apology, Mr. Chu said, "He is. Please wait a moment; I'll give him the phone."
"Thank you."
Not long after, Gu Beixian's voice came through the phone, "My phone ran out of battery and automatically shut down. Why are you still awake?"
Clutching her phone, Su Huai said, "I'm worried since you haven't come home."
Gu Beixian paused for a moment and said, "Suosuo still hasn't regained consciousness. I can't leave. Go to sleep; don't worry about me."
Su Huai puzzled, "On the way back, I checked on my phone. With a mild concussion, she should wake up after a few hours of unconsciousness. Why is it so serious?"
"The doctor said the same, but she's still unconscious. After all, it
was my injury, and the Gu and Chu families have a cooperative relationship."
"Then take some time to rest somewhere. It's too damaging to stay up all night."
"Okay."
After hanging up, Gu Beixian returned the phone to Theodore.
Glancing at his watch, Theodore said, "It's too late; you should go back. You still have work tomorrow. Staying here won't make a difference."
Gu Beixian looked at Chu Suosuo on the hospital bed and said, "Alright, I'll come to see her tomorrow."
Before he could finish his sentence, Hua Qirou's resentful gaze shot over, saying with a strange tone, "Beixian, Suosuo is injured because of you. It's unacceptable for you to abandon her like this, isn't it?"
Gu Beixian pursed his lips, not responding.
Taking a cigarette from his pocket, Theodore handed it to him, "Let's go out for a smoke and clear our heads."
Gu Beixian took it and went out with him.
The two of them stood by the window.
Gu Beixian put the cigarette in his mouth.
Theodore flicked the lighter, lit it for him, patted his shoulder, and said, "Dealing with someone like my stepmother, even if you have a point, it's hard to explain. You're in a tough spot."
Gu Beixian took a deep breath, slowly exhaled a smoke ring, staring at the white smoke ring, lost in thought.
Some things were difficult to explain, whether they were justified or not.
Mainly, he was worried that Su Huai would overthink.
She had just called, surely she was overthinking things.
Gu Beixian stayed until dawn before leaving. Chu Suosuo was still unconscious when he left.
In the evening.
After Theodore finished his business, he came to the hospital to see Chu Suosuo.
Approaching the ward, just about to push the door.
He heard Chu Suosuo's irritable voice from inside, "Dad, how could you arrange for someone like that? Throwing a heavy object down, throwing it so hard, were you trying to kill me? Even with a safety helmet on, I was almost killed, my head still hurts, I feel nauseous, my mind is hazy, it's so uncomfortable."
Theodore paused, retracting the hand he had placed on the doorknob.
He heard Chu Yanshu say, "Do you think Dad doesn't care? But we have to act convincingly. In this way, Gu Beixian and Gu Aoting will both feel indebted to you, and your reconciliation with Beixian is just around the corner."
Chu Suosuo warned, "Don't let my brother know about this. He's being led by that Gu Nanyin; he's always taking their side."
Chu Yanshu hmm-ed, "You don't need to remind me."
Just as Theodore was about to leave.
He heard Chu Suosuo's coquettish voice, "Dad, have you noticed that my brother's temperament is so different from our family? Take some time to do a paternity test with him. If he's not from our family, it's a waste of emotions."
A momentary shadow crossed Theodore's face, and he turned and left.
Descending the stairs, he ran into Gu Beixian.
Theodore said, "You should go back. She won't die. Don't come to see her anymore."