After Divorce, She Astonished the World - chapter 8

Caught off guard, Chu Suosuo was slapped several times, leaving her stunned.

Her face burned with pain, her ears buzzed, and golden stars danced before her eyes.

All her life, no one had ever dared to lay a finger on her.

Furious and flustered, she grabbed the other person’s arm and scratched wildly.

The two of them wrestled together.

The Chu Family’s driver, who had been hiding in the corner, hurried over and forcefully pulled them apart.

Only then did Chu Suosuo see clearly that the one who hit her was Gu Beixian’s younger sister, Gu Nanyin, and she was instantly dumbfounded.

Su Hua was also surprised to see Gu Nanyin.

Afraid she’d be bullied, Su Hua quickly ran over and shielded her behind.

Catching a glimpse of Gu Nanyin’s wrist, scratched and bleeding from Chu Suosuo’s nails, Su Hua felt a pang in her heart. She took out a band-aid from her bag and carefully applied it, asking gently, “Does it hurt?”

Gu Nanyin inhaled sharply from the pain, but said, “It’s fine, Sister-in-law. She didn’t manage to scratch your face, did she?”

Su Hua shook her head. “No.”

Gu Nanyin glared angrily at Chu Suosuo, saying, “With people like her, there’s no need to be polite. Just slap her. Why bother reasoning with her? Reason is for people, and she’s not one!”

Hearing this, Chu Suosuo was furious.

She forced down her anger, squeezed out two tears, and said aggrievedly, “Nanyin, we grew up together. I’ve always treated you like my own sister. How could you…”

Gu Nanyin rolled her eyes at her. “Oh, please. I don’t need a sister like you. My brother treated you so well, our whole family treated you so well, and when my brother had an accident, you ran faster than a rabbit. Now that his leg is healed and everything’s back to normal, you come running back to steal him away and bully my sister-in-law. Don’t you have any shame?”

Chu Suosuo’s face flushed and paled. “I have my reasons…”

“Reasons, my ass. My brother might believe you, but I sure don’t!”

As soon as Gu Nanyin finished speaking, Su Hua’s phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID-it was Gu Beixian.

Su Hua hesitated for a second before answering.

Gu Beixian asked, “Where are you?”

“At the western restaurant south of the main entrance of Antique Street.”

“I’m passing by. I’ll be there in three minutes.” He hung up.

The image of Gu Beixian and Chu Suosuo hugging last night flashed through Su Hua’s mind, making her feel uncomfortable.

Seeing the white roses on the table that he had given to Chu Suosuo, her chest tightened even more, as if a huge stone was pressing down, making it hard to breathe.

A few minutes later, Gu Beixian entered the restaurant with his men.

He was tall and slender, with pale skin and striking features. His black trousers accentuated his long legs, and his every movement exuded an air of nobility and elegance, making it impossible to look away.

Originally, the restaurant’s patrons had been drawn by the fight between Chu Suosuo and Gu Nanyin.

But as soon as Gu Beixian appeared, all eyes turned to him.

Seeing him, Chu Suosuo’s eyes lit up. She ran over, choking back tears, and called out, “Brother Beixian!”

Gu Beixian frowned slightly. “Why are you here too?”

Chu Suosuo’s eyes were red, and she said pitifully, “I came to find Sister Su to explain about last night, but we barely spoke before she started scolding me, and Nanyin even hit me.”

She pointed to her swollen cheek, pouting and whining, “It hurts.”

Gu Beixian glanced at Su Hua. “Is what she said true?”

Su Hua smiled.

She hadn’t expected his beloved ‘white moonlight’ to be such a person-not only heartless and ungrateful, but also quick to lie and play the victim.

Indeed, those who are favored always act with impunity.

Just as Su Hua was about to speak, Gu Nanyin cut in, “Brother, think about it. My sister-in-law has such a good temper. If Chu Suosuo hadn’t provoked her, would she have scolded her? Those two years when your health was bad and your temper was terrible, did she ever lose her temper with you? I hit Chu Suosuo because she tried to scratch my sister-in-law’s face. Honestly, I think I went too easy on her.”

Gu Beixian looked at Chu Suosuo. “Why did you provoke Su Hua? Why did you try to scratch her face?”

Chu Suosuo’s face turned pale, tears streaming down as she said in a wronged voice, “I didn’t. Sister Su and Nanyin misunderstood me. Brother Beixian, you have to believe me.”

She reached out to grab Gu Beixian’s hand, leaning toward his chest.

Gu Nanyin stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and yanked her aside, scolding, “Are you spineless or just sick? My brother is a married man, and you’re still trying to throw yourself at him? Spineless crab! Shameless!”

Chu Suosuo clutched her chest in pain, tears falling like broken pearls.

Gu Beixian frowned slightly and said to Gu Nanyin, “Enough. Suosuo has severe depression. Don’t provoke her.”

Gu Nanyin snorted, “Don’t use depression as an excuse for being shameless. I’ve seen plenty of people with depression-they’re self-respecting, kind, and decent. Unlike her, who insists on being a troublemaker!”

Chu Suosuo burst into tears, covering her mouth as she stumbled out.

Her driver quickly grabbed her bag and checkbook and chased after her.

Gu Beixian turned and instructed the bodyguard, “Go after her and keep an eye on her. No more suicide attempts.”

“Yes, President Gu.” The bodyguard followed her out.

Gu Nanyin snorted, “If she really wants to die, she should just find a quiet place and do it. Who’s she trying to scare with all that crying?”

Gu Beixian’s gaze grew cold. “Nanyin, you’re going too far!”

Su Hua shielded Gu Nanyin behind her and said, “If you want to blame someone, blame me. Nanyin was just standing up for me.”

Looking at Su Hua, Gu Beixian’s gaze softened. He took out a tube of imported ointment from his bag and handed it to her. “This is scar cream sent from abroad. Apply it as directed so the wound on your neck doesn’t leave a scar.”
Su Hua stared at the tube of ointment, her heart a jumble of emotions.

She knew full well he didn’t love her, yet sometimes it felt like he actually cared about her.

Soon, she laughed at herself-if he truly cared, how could last night have happened?

What happened last night was too painful.

So painful she’d lost the courage to even question him.

Gu Nanyin reached out, took the ointment, stuffed it into Su Hua’s hand, and glared at Gu Beixian, saying, “Brother, if you dare let my sister-in-law down, I won’t recognize you as my brother!”

Gu Beixian replied coolly, “Grown-ups’ business. Kids shouldn’t interfere.”

“I’m only a year younger than Sister-in-law, I’m not a kid!”

Gu Beixian ignored her, took Su Hua’s hand, and said gently, “Have you eaten? If not, I’ll take you to eat.”

Su Hua pulled her hand away as if shocked by electricity. “I’m full.”

Gu Beixian lowered his eyes to look at her, his gaze unusually gentle. “If I said last night was a misunderstanding, would you believe me?”

Su Hua straightened her neck, her usually gentle voice a little sharp. “I just happened to show up at the wrong time and disturbed you two.”

Gu Beixian’s smile deepened, tinged with helplessness. “Forget it, I’ll take you home.”

Su Hua picked up her bag and walked out.

Gu Beixian strode after her, his assistant trailing from a distance.

After leaving the western restaurant, they passed a flower shop. Su Hua pushed open the door and went in.

She glanced around, pointed at a bouquet of white roses, and said, “I’ll take a bunch of these.”

The shop assistant asked, “How many would you like?”

Remembering that Gu Beixian had given Chu Suosuo twenty roses, Su Hua said out of spite, “Two hundred.”

The shop assistant paused, then smiled, “Please wait a moment.”

After a long wait, the flowers were finally wrapped up, and Su Hua understood why the assistant had hesitated.

Two hundred roses, once wrapped, were nearly a meter in diameter.

Huge and heavy.

She struggled to carry them, but it felt satisfying-if she wanted flowers, she could buy them herself. Why wait for someone else to give them? It’s not like she couldn’t afford it.

Gu Beixian took out his card to pay, but Su Hua handed over her own card. “I have my own money.”

She said it with pride.

The money came from her own work.

Gu Beixian smiled faintly, knowing she was acting out of spite.

After paying, Su Hua walked out carrying the enormous bouquet of white roses.

The bouquet was so big it made her look even more slender, like a tall, straight bamboo-delicate yet resilient.

Gu Beixian reached out to take it.

Su Hua dodged to the side, avoiding his hand.

Gu Beixian’s hand froze in midair, then slowly withdrew after a second.

The two walked side by side.

Looking at the dense roses in her arms, Gu Beixian asked, “Do you like white roses too?”

“No.”

“Then why buy so many if you don’t like them?”

“Mm.”

A smile flickered at the corner of Gu Beixian’s eyes. “I didn’t expect you to like flowers. I thought you only liked painting.”

“I’m a woman too!”

He was used to her good temper, but seeing her puffed-up and angry for the first time, Gu Beixian found it refreshing. “Then what kind of flowers do you like? I’ll give them to you next time.”

Su Hua pursed her lips and said nothing.

She’d grown up with her grandparents at the foot of the mountain, loving the wild asters and dandelions in the hills, and the irises, pink beans, and sunflowers planted under the window.

She had feelings for these hardy, unpretentious little flowers, but none for the expensive, delicate imported roses in her arms.

Buying so many was purely out of spite.

As they neared Antique Studio, Su Hua suddenly stopped and said, “You don’t need to walk me any further.”

Gu Beixian raised his brows slightly. “Afraid your colleagues will see me?”

“We’re going to get divorced sooner or later, aren’t we?” Her voice trembled, her heart quivering.

This in-between state, neither together nor apart, was like being cut by a dull knife-painful and lingering.

Gu Beixian was silent for a moment, then stopped, quietly watching her figure fade into the distance, his eyes deep as a calm sea.

Su Hua walked to the entrance of Antique Studio and ran into the Young Shop Manager, Shen Huai.

He smiled, “Such a big bouquet-did your boyfriend give it to you?”

“No, I bought it myself.”

Shen Huai’s smile deepened. “It must be heavy. Let me help you.”

Su Hua handed him the flowers, smiling. “Thank you.”

Shen Huai joked, “You’re the backbone of our shop. Helping you carry flowers is nothing.”

“Young Master Shen, you’re teasing me.”

The two chatted and laughed, walking into the shop side by side.

Gu Beixian stood tall and handsome in the distance, watching with a cold, frosty gaze.

He couldn’t quite describe the feeling.

It was as if the little cabbage he’d carefully tended for three years was suddenly about to be snatched away by a pig.

He almost instinctively wanted to chase the pig off.

Only then did he realize he wasn’t as magnanimous as he’d imagined.

His tongue lightly swept his jaw. Gu Beixian instructed his assistant behind him, “Have someone look into that man.”

“Yes, President Gu.”

The two got into the car and headed back to the company.

Half an hour later.

The assistant took a call and reported to Gu Beixian, “President Gu, that man’s name is Shen Huai. He’s a doctor, and Antique Studio belongs to his grandfather. Three years ago, he and Young Madam already had phone records.”

Gu Beixian looked up, a cold light flashing in his eyes. “Check Shen Huai’s Childhood Name. See if it’s Ah Yao.”