After Divorce, She Astonished the World - chapter 1

After an intense and passionate night, Su Hua was drenched in a fine sheen of sweat.

Unlike before, Gu Beixian didn’t go to shower. Instead, he held her tightly from behind, his embrace firm and unyielding, as if he wished to press her right into his own body.

Su Hua felt as if she was about to melt in his arms. Her heart surged with a strange mixture of surprise, nervousness, excitement, and a touch of sorrow.

They had been married for three years, and this was the first time he had ever held her like this.

She felt, for the first time, as if she was deeply loved.

Her heart pounded wildly, like a startled fawn. Slowly, she turned around and hugged him tightly, her face blooming with a sweet, radiant smile, as if she was holding the whole world in her arms.

They stayed in that embrace for a long time.

Eventually, Gu Beixian let her go, got dressed, and sat up. He took a box of cigarettes from the drawer, skillfully flicked one out, lit it, and took a deep drag.

White smoke curled around him, blurring the contours of his handsome, striking face. His expression was obscured, his thoughts unreadable. The cigarette between his fingers burned dangerously close to his skin, but he didn’t seem to notice.

Su Hua cleared her throat lightly. “Didn’t you already quit smoking?”

Gu Beixian stubbed out the cigarette, his gaze deep and steady as he stared into her eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he said, “Su Hua, let’s separate.”

It was like a thunderclap on a clear day!

Su Hua froze. The warmth in her heart instantly turned to ice.

Her face went pale as she stared at him in a daze, her voice trembling, “Did I do something wrong?”

“No.”

“Then why do we have to separate?”

“Suosuo is back. I’m sorry.”

Chu Suosuo, his ex-girlfriend.

Su Hua felt as if her heart was being sliced apart. Three years-three full years of living together, supporting each other through thick and thin-yet she couldn’t compete with the return of that woman!

He didn’t love her. That was her greatest mistake!

Despair, defeat, and sorrow swept over her. Su Hua bit her lip hard, her whole body rigid.

With trembling hands, she pulled on her clothes and prepared to get out of bed.

Gu Beixian pressed her shoulder, his voice gentle, “Where are you going?”

Su Hua fought back her tears. “To make breakfast.”

“You always make it. Let me do it today. You should sleep a bit more,” he said, his voice low and tender.

Su Hua murmured an agreement, lay back down, and pulled the covers over her damp eyes.

After he left, she got out of bed, ran into the bathroom, and finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Her tears fell like broken pearls, unstoppable.

She had never known that loving someone could hurt this much-as if a piece of her own heart had been carved away.

Her pain was so great that she couldn’t stand. Leaning against the wall, she wept until she trembled.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before Gu Beixian called her for breakfast from downstairs.

Su Hua answered, splashed her face with cold water again and again, washing her eyes.

But no matter how much she washed, her eyes remained red, as if filled with blood.

When she went downstairs, Gu Beixian was waiting for her in the dining room.

He wore a perfectly tailored, high-end suit. His long legs looked straight beneath his dark trousers, and an air of elegant refinement surrounded him. Even just standing there, he was dazzling.

Su Hua walked silently to the table and sat down.

Gu Beixian leaned forward slightly, looking at her reddened eyes with unusual tenderness. “Have you been crying?”

Su Hua raised her face and forced a smile at him. “I got some cleanser in my eyes while washing my face. It’ll be fine in a moment.”
“Be more careful next time. Let’s eat.” Gu Beixian sat down beside her and handed her a pair of chopsticks.

Su Hua reached out to take them, lowering her gaze to watch his elegant fingers resting on the chopsticks.

The sumptuous breakfast gave off a tempting aroma, yet neither of them picked up their chopsticks.

Never in her life had she eaten a meal so sorrowfully.

Half an hour later, the food remained untouched.

Su Hua put down her chopsticks, steadied herself against the edge of the table, and said softly, “I’ll go pack my things.”

Gu Beixian’s grip on his chopsticks tightened slightly. “There’s no rush.”

Su Hua gave a bitter smile. Things had come to this-if she didn’t leave now, was she supposed to wait to be thrown out?

She turned and went upstairs, tossing her belongings into the suitcase one by one. After packing for quite a while, she finally zipped it up and carried it downstairs.

Gu Beixian came to meet her, reaching out for the suitcase. “Let me take it.”

“No need.” Su Hua pulled the suitcase herself, straightened her back, and walked out.

Passing through the courtyard, she looked at the familiar flowers, plants, and trees, unable to help feeling sentimental. People are not plants or trees-who can truly be without feelings?

Three years. So-called affection born of time had, in the end, been hers alone.

She had loved him so much, wholeheartedly, with both passion and tenderness. But what did it matter?

Let go. Let go.

The two walked one after the other to the gate, where a car was already waiting outside.

Gu Beixian handed her a check. “Thank you for your companionship these past three years.”

Su Hua stood stubbornly, unsure whether she should accept it.

Gu Beixian forced the check into her suitcase. “Take it. You’ll need money for many things in the future.”

“Mm.”

Su Hua responded dryly, then lifted her head, greedily taking in his beautiful lips, high nose, and handsome brows and eyes.

She recalled how, in bed, he would cover her eyes with his own gaze, and from then on, the whole sky was filled with stars. Her heart twisted in agony, pain beyond words.

She thought, someday in this life, she would finally be able to stop loving him.

Three years? Ten years?

Maybe a lifetime.

Falling in love with someone seems so easy. Forgetting them, though, is so very hard.

Gu Beixian looked at her for a moment, then suddenly pulled her into his arms. His face was calm, but his eyes surged with emotion. “It won’t be easy for you alone from now on. If you ever have trouble, call me.”

Tears welled up, but she swallowed them back. Su Hua said, “Alright.”

“I wasn’t well the past two years, my temper was bad. I made things hard for you.”

“It was alright.”

“Take care of yourself.”

“You too.” Su Hua slowly raised her arms and hugged him, as if it were a final farewell.

Suddenly, she let go.

She pushed him away, quickly wiped her face, grabbed her suitcase, and turned to leave.

After a few steps, she suddenly heard Gu Beixian ask, “Who is Ah Yao?”

Her heart trembled slightly, and the foot she had lifted slowly came down.

The buried past crashed down on her like a tidal wave.

She was so sad she couldn’t speak.

Then she heard Gu Beixian say again, “He must be very important to you, right? Sorry for occupying you these three years. I wish you happiness.”