Su Hua's heart skipped a beat.

She hadn't expected Gu Beixian to guess so quickly.

Remembering Gu Aoting's words not to let him know, as it would affect their father-son relationship, she feigned nonchalance, "You've mentioned divorce before. I've said it, I can't stand Chu Suosuo."

Gu Beixian's fingers traced her spine, gently caressing, "Lies. I've been very careful to keep my distance from her lately."

Su Hua's lips curved, but her eyes were devoid of mirth as she said coolly, "You and she are childhood sweethearts, a perfect match. I'm just a nanny you paid for. Now that your leg is healed, it's time for this nanny to leave."

Her self-deprecation made Gu Beixian's heart sink, and he held her tighter.

He was tall and straight as a pine.

His features were sharp and masculine.

Such a stern man whispered tenderly above her head, "I've never seen you as a nanny, truly. You are my legitimate wife, and I've always held great respect for you in my heart."

A sharp pain pierced Su Hua's heart, but she laughed it off, "You were the one who brought up divorce before, and now you're the one dragging your feet. I really can't figure out what goes on in men's minds. You call this respect, ordering me around?"

She was usually gentle and rarely so harsh.

Gu Beixian fell silent for a moment, "I wanted a divorce because you..."

"Let's divorce, let's do it," Su Hua hurriedly cut him off, fearing her own soft heart, "Better a short pain than a long one. This indecision is like a dull knife cutting flesh, too torturous."

Gu Beixian slowly let go of her and looked down.

His gaze quietly took in her pale face.

His voice was low, "Grandmother Gu won't agree."

Su Hua turned her head away, avoiding his eyes, "I'll go with you this weekend to see Grandmother Gu and try to persuade her."

Gu Beixian kissed her forehead and held her for a while before saying faintly, "Okay."

That "okay" rippled through Su Hua's heart like a stone dropped into a lake.

She felt anything but relieved, instead overwhelmed with emotion.

Breaking free from his embrace, she reached up to unbutton the suit jacket to return it to him.

Gu Beixian stayed her hand, "Keep it on, the car has air conditioning."

Su Hua's fingers paused on the button.

Gu Beixian tidied her windblown hair behind her ears, his eyes deep as he gazed at her, "Take care of yourself."

Su Hua's nose tingled, "You too, keep your right hand dry, be careful of the wound getting infected. Smoke less, drink less, and eat on time."

Gu Beixian hummed lowly, "Go back, it's windy."

Su Hua forced a smile, "Okay."

Gu Beixian opened the car door and bent to get in.

Only when the car had disappeared from sight did Su Hua turn and walk back.

Her fingers caressed his button, her face smiling, but her heart ached terribly.

That deep sense of powerlessness washed over her again.

Since she was little, Grandfather Gu had told her that as long as she worked hard, she would succeed. But the vast gap in family background was something she could never change, no matter how hard she tried.

Different circles, no need to force integration.

Back in the hospital room, Su Peilan had gone out.

Shen Huai was still there.

Su Hua looked at him curiously and asked politely with a smile, "My grandmother's chief physician is a Dr. Qiu. How come it's you now?"

When you're just trying to make great content at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

Shen Huai placed his pen in the pocket of his white coat and smiled, "Dr. Qiu hasn't been feeling well these past few days, so I'm covering for him."

Su Hua nodded, "My mother was just joking earlier, don't take it seriously."

Shen Huai's lips lifted in a would-be comment, but he simply responded with an "Okay."

Saturday evening.

Su Hua and Gu Beixian arrived at the Gu Family's old house together.

As soon as they entered,

Grandmother Gu greeted them warmly, "Hua'er is here."

Su Hua called out dutifully, "Hello, Grandmother Gu."

"Good, good, come sit down," the elderly lady said warmly, pulling her hand and leading her to the sofa. Her eyes glanced at Su Hua's flat belly and asked with a hint of secrecy, "Girl, are you pregnant?"

Su Hua shook her head and apologized with a smile, "Grandmother, I want to divorce Beixian, I'm sorry."

Grandmother Gu was taken aback, her smile freezing on her face as disappointment filled her eyes, "Didn't you promise me last time that you'd give me a great-grandson? It hasn't been that long, why the change of heart?"

Su Hua lowered her eyes, silent.

She had thought it right not to have children.

But facing Grandmother Gu's disappointed gaze, she felt extremely guilty.

Grandmother Gu was a reasonable person.

Seeing Su Hua's demeanor, she guessed a part of the story.

She patted Su Hua's head and glared at Gu Beixian with a lifted eyelid, "Has it been you messing around with that girl Chu Suosuo again, upsetting Hua'er?"

Gu Beixian's lips curved slightly, his expression indifferent, "My relationship with Su Hua has been quite good lately, my mother likes her a lot, and so does Nanyin."

The implication was clear: guess for yourself, Elderly Lady.

Grandmother Gu frowned, thought for a while, and said, "It couldn't be your father causing trouble, could it?"

Gu Beixian nodded.

The elderly lady was livid.

She grabbed her phone and called Gu Aoting, "Brat, I need to see you, get here within half an hour!"

Gu Aoting was entertaining clients at a dinner.

The elderly lady's shout left his ear ringing.

He stood up, stepped outside, and held the phone at arm's length, impatiently saying, "Mom, are you mistaken? I'm with clients and can't leave. I'm busy every day, not as leisurely as you."

"You have plenty of subordinates, don't you? Let them handle it, come here right now!"

The elderly lady hung up after speaking.

Half an hour later.

Gu Aoting arrived on the dot.

Entering the house and seeing Su Hua, his face darkened instantly, his expression extremely ugly.

The disdain and disgust in his eyes were undisguised.

Su Hua's self-esteem was crushed to dust, and she was on the verge of tears.

She had always been proud and thin-skinned.

Having been well-behaved and academically excellent since childhood, and skilled in restoring ancient paintings and calligraphy, she had never been so openly scorned before.

Gu Beixian noticed.

His palm flipped over, and his slender fingers held her hand.

His other hand cradled her face, pulling her into his embrace, away from Gu Aoting's sharp gaze.

Su Hua nestled in his arms, her fingers instinctively clutching his shirt.

His scent was fresh and pleasant, exuding a dependable warmth.

The discomfort in her heart seemed to lessen.

She pressed her face deeper into his chest, leaning in again and again.

The elderly lady gently patted Su Hua's back, her eyes fiercely glaring at Gu Aoting, her tone shifting from kind to stern, "Who are you scowling at with that sour face? It wasn't Hua'er who told me, I figured it out myself. Always up to no good, you. Such a wonderful granddaughter-in-law, and you're messing around. When Beixian was in a wheelchair, you didn't force them to divorce. Now that Beixian is standing, you're driving this young lady away. You heartless thing, are you even human?"

Gu Aoting, accustomed to authority, had never been scolded so bluntly.

Especially in front of the younger generation, and particularly in front of Su Hua, without any consideration for his feelings.

His face couldn't hold the embarrassment.