Chapter 4

Chu Suosuo's face, pale and small like a palm, was so similar to her own.

It was hard to pinpoint exactly what made them look alike, but at first glance, they were strikingly similar.

It took a second look to tell them apart.

Upon closer inspection, Chu Suosuo had a more delicate appearance, with arched eyebrows, a slightly furrowed brow, a small nose, and cherry lips, giving her features a fragile, glass-like quality.

Su Ge had a bit more serenity and composure, as well as a resilience that radiated from within.

Only at this moment did Su Ge realize that she was a substitute in Gu Beixian's heart.

She gave a self-deprecating smile. No wonder three years ago, he had agreed to get married after just one look at her. The reason was right here.

"Beixian, you're here." Chu Suosuo's mother, Hua Qirou, greeted them with a forced smile.

Her gaze swept over Su Ge, and her eyes were not very friendly.

Gu Beixian nodded slightly in response.

Hua Qirou walked to the bedside and gently patted Chu Suosuo's shoulder, "Suosuo, your Beixian brother is here to see you."

Chu Suosuo slowly opened her eyes, her gaze passing over Su Ge's face. She wasn't particularly surprised, as if she had known they looked alike all along.

She looked at Gu Beixian, tears welling in her eyes, and said softly, "Beixian brother, I didn't try to kill myself. I just couldn't sleep and took a few more sleeping pills. My mom overreacted and insisted on bringing me to the hospital for a stomach wash. It's so late, and you and Sister Su Ge had to come all the way here. I'm really sorry."

Hua Qirou, with red eyes, scolded, "A few more? You took half a bottle! If I hadn't found you in time, you would have..."

She covered her mouth and sobbed.

Gu Beixian sat down by the bed, looking down at Chu Suosuo with a doting yet reproachful tone, "You mustn't do such foolish things again, understand?"

"Um." Chu Suosuo pouted, nodding with teary eyes, looking obedient and pitiful.

Gu Beixian took a handkerchief and carefully wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his movements as gentle as if he were handling the most precious porcelain.

His gaze was soft and full of tenderness.

Su Ge stared at Gu Beixian in a daze.

In their three years of marriage, he had never been so tender with her.

This was probably the difference between love and no love.

Even though Chu Suosuo had abandoned him in his most difficult times, he still loved her.

Perhaps for some men, no matter how deeply another woman loved them, it was useless if she wasn't the one who had hurt them.

Her throat felt like it was stuck with a fish bone, and Su Ge couldn't stay any longer. "You two chat slowly. I'll leave."

Hearing this, Gu Beixian turned to look at her, his expression very calm. "Explain to Suosuo before you go."

Su Ge took a deep breath and said, "Miss Chu, Beixian and I only got married to avoid upsetting Grandma..."

Her throat tightened, and she couldn't continue, turning to leave.

This was the first time she had defied Gu Beixian and the first time she had lost her composure in front of him.

After the door closed, Chu Suosuo said to Gu Beixian, "Beixian brother, you should go after Sister Su Ge. She seems upset."

Gu Beixian was silent for a moment. "It's fine. She won't be angry."

"She must have a really good temper," Chu Suosuo said softly. "I didn't expect Sister Su Ge to be so graceful and poised, not at all like someone from a small mountain village. I thought she wouldn't be a match for you."

Gu Beixian felt a bit uncomfortable. "Although she grew up in a small mountain village, her mother and grandmother were teachers, and her grandfather was a retired ancient book and painting restorer at a museum. They come from a scholarly family."

"I see."

They fell silent for a while.

After a moment, Chu Suosuo tentatively asked, "Sister Su Ge is beautiful and has such a good temper. You must love her a lot, right?"

Gu Beixian was looking down at his phone, slightly distracted. Hearing her voice, he looked up and asked, "What did you say?"

A hint of disappointment flashed in Chu Suosuo's eyes. "Beixian brother, you should see Sister Su Ge off. It's late, and it's not safe for a girl to be out alone."

Gu Beixian stood up. "I'll take her back and then come to see you."

Chu Suosuo said softly, "Go quickly."

Gu Beixian left.

Watching his back, Chu Suosuo's eyes darkened.

When he was far enough away, Hua Qirou scolded, "You child, you finally got him here, and now you let him go?"

Chu Suosuo frowned. "Didn't you see how restless Beixian brother was? He was here in body but worried about that Su Ge. It's better to let him have his way. If anything happens to that woman on the way, he'll blame himself, and maybe even blame me."

Hua Qirou clicked her tongue. "You, though young, have more cunning than your mother."

By the time Gu Beixian found Su Ge, she was almost at the hospital entrance.

Her slender, straight figure, standing in the chilly spring wind, looked like a bamboo branch in an ink painting.

Gu Beixian quickened his steps to catch up with her.

Neither of them spoke, walking side by side in silence, like the dark night.

At the entrance, Su Ge turned to wait for a taxi by the roadside.

Gu Beixian grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the parking lot.

They got into the car.

Gu Beixian took out a card from his bag and slipped it into Su Ge's coat pocket. "I was a bit harsh tonight. This is a small compensation. The password is your birthday."

Su Ge felt humiliated.

In his eyes, she was someone who could be easily bought off, not even worth the effort to comfort.

He only knew how to comfort Chu Suosuo.

Reaching into her pocket, Su Ge tried to take out the card.

Gu Beixian held her hand, his tone deep and unyielding. "Keep it. Apart from money, I can't give you anything else."

Su Ge felt like her heart was filled with sand, making her uncomfortable.

What she wanted was never his money.

On the way, Gu Beixian received a call from Grandma Gu: "Are you ignoring my words? Come back immediately."

"We're almost home," Gu Beixian said calmly and hung up.

Back at the old Gu residence.

As soon as they entered, they saw Grandma Gu sitting on the sofa, pale but with sharp eyes, looking at them.

She held out her hand. "Give me your phone."

Gu Beixian took out his phone and gave it to her.

The old lady found Chu Suosuo's number and called her.

When she answered, the old lady said sternly, "Miss Chu, Beixian is a married man. Please be mindful and don't call him unnecessarily! Since you broke up three years ago, don't try to come back, and don't have any delusions about Beixian!"

Without waiting for Chu Suosuo to respond, she hung up and threw the phone on the coffee table.

Gu Beixian frowned. "Suosuo has severe depression and can't handle stress."

The old lady sneered. "Even if she had cancer, it wouldn't be your concern. You should be more concerned about your wife!"

Gu Beixian's eyes turned cold. "Grandma, you..."

The old lady started coughing violently, covering her mouth.

Su Ge hurried over to help her up.

After settling the old lady in bed and calming her down, Su Ge returned to the guest room.

She saw that Gu Beixian had just finished a call and was putting his phone on the bedside table.

Probably comforting Chu Suosuo.

Su Ge silently took a long pillow from the sofa and placed it between them.

She also took a blanket from the closet, one for each of them.

She took off her coat, pulled back the blanket, and lay down.

It was already three in the morning, and she was extremely tired, her mind like a fog, wanting nothing but to sleep.

As soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep.

She slept until the sun was high in the sky.

When she opened her eyes, she was startled to see a beautifully sculpted face, with deep, intense eyes, looking at her.

They were so close, close enough to feel each other's breath.

His warm breath brushed against her forehead, and his eyes were deep and hazy.

She was nestled in his arms, her hands tightly around his waist, her legs entwined with his, in an intimate position.

The atmosphere was charged with tension, and the air felt hot.

Su Ge, as if electrocuted, hastily released his waist and scrambled out of his arms, half angry and half resentful. "How did I end up in your arms?"