Chapter 10

Thinking that Gu Beixian had something happen to him, Su Ke grabbed her coat and stood up, not even saying goodbye as she rushed out.

Shen Huai was eating with her at the same table. Seeing her expression was off, he picked up his car keys and chased after her, asking, "What's wrong?"

Su Ke forced a smile, "I'm going to Jinzhaozui. You guys continue eating."

Shen Huai shook the car keys in his hand, "I'll drive you."

Su Ke, feeling anxious, didn't refuse and thanked him softly.

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in front of Jinzhaozui.

Su Ke got out of the car and quickly walked toward the hotel entrance, the wind lifting the hem of her coat, revealing her beautiful, slender legs.

She took the elevator and hurried to the third floor, Zui Xiang Ge.

Su Ke pushed the door open directly.

She saw Chu Suosuo holding a soup spoon, about to feed it to Gu Beixian's lips.

The two were shoulder to shoulder, her cheeks flushed, her eyes filled with affection, gently feeding him soup, her expression full of tenderness.

Su Ke froze.

Her fingers gripping the doorknob turned white, and her heart felt like it was pierced by a thorn.

It hurt, bloodily.

Her gaze wavered as she looked at Gu Beixian.

Although he held a wine glass, his eyes were clear, his demeanor composed, showing no signs of drunkenness.

Seeing her, Chu Suosuo leaned closer to Gu Beixian provocatively, her smile smug.

Su Ke smiled bitterly.

"Sorry to interrupt." She said this and turned to leave.

Xiao Yi quickly pushed his chair and chased after her, grabbing her arm and pulling her to Gu Beixian's side, pressing her into a seat, "Sister-in-law, you should be sitting next to Xian. Calm down."

He patted her shoulder lightly, hinting that she shouldn't act impulsively.

Gu Beixian stared at the spot on Su Ke's shoulder where Xiao Yi had patted, paused for a second, then took a disinfectant towel and wiped her shoulder.

Su Ke smiled.

When Xiao Yi patted her shoulder, he thought it was dirty.

What about him?

He and Chu Suosuo were cuddling and feeding each other affectionately. Who was dirtier?

Su Ke pressed her lips tightly, afraid that if she opened her mouth, all sorts of harsh words would come out.

They had been married for three years, and she had never argued with him, never had a single quarrel, even when he couldn't stand on his legs for the first two years, feeling depressed and irritable, throwing things and losing his temper, she never said a word.

Now that they were about to divorce, there was no need to break her rule.

She blamed herself.

When she heard he was in trouble, she shouldn't have panicked and rushed here, only to humiliate herself.

After a moment of tension,

Gu Beixian turned to Chu Suosuo, "Suosuo, you should go home first."

Chu Suosuo pouted slightly, a bit unwilling, but she stood up and said to Su Ke, "Sister Su, don't be angry. I was just having dinner with Brother Beixian. Brother Xiao Yi can vouch for us."

Xiao Yi, sitting on the side, rolled his eyes.

Eating a shrimp could turn into a live erotic scene, feeding water and soup. This was just having dinner?

If he hadn't been watching them closely, these two would have ended up in a passionate embrace.

Seeing no one was going to stop her, Chu Suosuo picked up her coat from the back of the chair and was about to leave.

With a "clatter," the corner of her coat knocked a teacup off the table, shattering it into pieces.

Chu Suosuo quickly bent down to pick it up, her index finger scraping a sharp piece of porcelain, instantly cutting and bleeding.

"Ahh!" she screamed, holding her index finger, tears welling up in her eyes, her finger trembling.

She leaned on the table, her lips quivering, and said to Gu Beixian, "It hurts, my hand hurts so much. Brother Beixian, can you take me to the hospital to get it bandaged?"

Xiao Yi pursed his lips, "I'll take you. Sister-in-law is here, don't make her uncomfortable."

Chu Suosuo's eyes hardened, her bloody hand tightly gripping Gu Beixian's sleeve, refusing to let go, her eyes red, staring at him like a little rabbit, pitifully, "Brother Beixian, I want you to take me."

Gu Beixian was silent for a moment, then stood up and said to Su Ke, "Let Xiao Yi take you home. I'll take Suosuo to the hospital and come find you."

He picked up Chu Suosuo's bag and supported her shoulder, walking out.

Su Ke was surprisingly calm.

She calmly called a waiter and signed the bill.

After signing, she packed up the untouched dishes.

After packing, she politely thanked the waiter and gave him a hundred-dollar tip.

Carrying the packed dishes, she walked out with Xiao Yi.

She did this to avoid Gu Beixian and Chu Suosuo.

She didn't want to see them being affectionate and intimate.

It was too painful.

While waiting for the elevator, Xiao Yi silently watched the unusually calm Su Ke and sighed, "Sister-in-law, you're a good woman."

"Thank you." Su Ke stood straight and gracefully, her face wearing a smile like a portrait.

"A good woman is great in every way, but being too good can be a bit boring. Men like women to be dignified and graceful in public, but at home, you should be a bit more wild, more playful, more cunning, and more adaptable. You should know when to be coquettish and when to be weak, when to be thick-skinned, and when to use your charm. Sister-in-law, you need to put more effort into it, or you won't be able to compete with Chu Suosuo." Xiao Yi spoke from the heart.

"Is Chu Suosuo wild?" Su Ke asked softly.

"Damn, she's wild as hell." Mentioning this, Xiao Yi got angry, "If I hadn't been sitting there, those two would have been all over each other by now. Sister-in-law, you have to find a way to keep Xian's heart."

Su Ke gripped the handle of the packed dishes tightly, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She thought that loving someone meant being sincere and good to them, but it turned out to be far from enough.

But being wild and playful was something she couldn't do.

She grew up with her grandparents, her grandfather being serious and her grandmother dignified, and her mother was straightforward and impulsive.

Being wild and playful was something she lacked from the beginning.

They went downstairs.

Gu Beixian hadn't left, standing by the car smoking, waiting for her.

Seeing them come out, he stubbed out his cigarette, came over, and gently held her shoulder, leaning down to look at her, his demeanor exceptionally gentle, "I'll be back soon. Don't overthink it."

Su Ke was so sad that she laughed.

He might as well hurt her thoroughly, so she could have a reason to hate him.

But he was so polite and gentle, she couldn't even hate him.

She could only say half-heartedly and half-resentfully, "Take her to the hospital quickly."

"Okay." Seeing she didn't care, Gu Beixian got into the car.

The driver started the car and drove toward the hospital.

Su Ke said to Xiao Yi, "I came with my colleagues, and the gathering isn't over yet. You don't need to take me. You can go."

"Alright, don't forget what I said. We all only recognize you as our sister-in-law."

"Thank you."

Su Ke walked to Shen Huai's car and got in.

Shen Huai started the car and, while reversing, asked, "Who is that man?"

"Which one?"

"Gu Beixian, the second son of the Gu family."

Su Ke didn't know how to answer.

If she said ex-husband, they weren't divorced yet.

If she said husband, he had already proposed divorce, given her a settlement, and his heart was already with Chu Suosuo.

Su Ke was silent for a moment and said, "Relative."

"You're surnamed Su, and he's surnamed Gu. Is he your cousin?"

Su Ke vaguely nodded.

Three years ago, because Gu Beixian's leg was injured and he could only use a wheelchair, they didn't have a wedding ceremony and only got a marriage certificate. Apart from close friends and family, no one knew they were married.

Now that they were about to divorce, there was no need to announce it widely. Cousin was fine.

Seeing her low spirits, Shen Huai asked, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Lying, you're clearly troubled."

"Shao, what kind of women do men like?" Su Ke had a knot in her heart.

Shen Huai smiled, "Everyone has different tastes. Some like plump, some like slim. As for me..."

He glanced at her profile.

Her oval face was fair and symmetrical, her big, watery eyes, and long lashes like butterflies.

The light from the street lamps cast a soft glow on her face, making her look like a painting.

His heart skipped a beat, "I admire women like Miss Su, gentle and calm, beautiful without being aware of it, talented but not showy, not restless."

Su Ke smiled faintly.

So there were still men who appreciated her.

Being liked didn't have to be so exhausting.

She didn't need to be wild, playful, cunning, or thick-skinned. She could still be liked.

"Just a restorer of antiques, not as exaggerated as you say," Su Ke felt a bit better.

"Without exaggeration, your skills in restoring ancient paintings and calligraphy are top-notch in the industry. Many so-called experts can't match your level in their entire lives."

"Shao, you flatter me. I've been learning from my grandfather since I was young, one-on-one, and with my young age, I learned quickly and had many opportunities to practice. If I didn't do well, wouldn't I be letting him down?"

"Talent and effort are important, as well as personality. Restoring ancient paintings and calligraphy is a tedious process, and few young people are willing to learn it, almost making it a lost art."

"True."

When the car turned, Su Ke said, "Can you take me home? I don't want to go back to the hotel."

"Sure."

Arriving at Su Ke's neighborhood,

Su Ke got out of the car with the packed dishes.

Shen Huai also got out, "It's late, I'll take you upstairs."

"Thank you."

Taking the packed dishes from Su Ke, Shen Huai smiled. He had grown up around rich kids and had never seen anyone pack their leftovers before.

Restoring ancient paintings and calligraphy was a niche but valuable profession, with a shortage of talent. He paid her a very high salary, so she shouldn't be so frugal.

After seeing Su Ke to the building, Shen Huai didn't want to leave, chatting with her for a while, mostly about work.

The moonlight was beautiful, and even just talking to her made him feel inexplicably good.

Suddenly, Su Ke's eyes stiffened.

She saw a tall, straight figure approaching them.

The man was very tall, with a strong build, walking with a confident stride, very charming. Even from a distance, Su Ke recognized him as Gu Beixian.

She was puzzled. Didn't he take Chu Suosuo to the hospital? How could he be back so quickly?

Noticing her change, Shen Huai turned to look and said with a smile, "Your cousin is here."

Su Ke paused and nodded faintly.

As Gu Beixian approached, Shen Huai extended his right hand, politely saying, "You're Su Ke's cousin, right? Nice to meet you, I'm her colleague, Shen Huai."

Gu Beixian looked down at Su Ke, his eyes cold and icy, "I'm your cousin?"