After a passionate and intense night, Su Hua was drenched in fragrant sweat.
Gu Beixian didn't go take a shower as usual. Instead, he hugged her tightly from behind, holding her so close as if he wanted to press her into his body.
Su Hua felt like she was melting in his arms, a mix of surprise, nervousness, excitement, and a hint of sadness swelling in her heart.
They had been married for three years, and this was the first time he held her like this.
She felt deeply loved.
Her heart pounded wildly like a startled deer. She slowly turned around, hugging him tightly with a sweet smile on her face, as if she held the whole world in her arms.
They stayed like that for a long time.
Gu Beixian released her, put on his clothes, and sat up. He took a box of cigarettes from the drawer, deftly flicked one out, lit it, and took a deep drag.
White smoke curled around him, blurring the sharp contours of his handsome face. His expression was unreadable, and he seemed lost in thought, oblivious to the cigarette burning near his fingers.
Su Hua cleared her throat lightly. "I thought you quit smoking long ago?"
Gu Beixian crushed the cigarette, his deep eyes fixed on hers. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "Su Hua, let's separate."
Like a bolt from the blue!
Su Hua froze. Her burning heart suddenly cooled, turning to ice in an instant.
Her face pale, she stared blankly at him, her voice trembling slightly. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No."
"Then why do you want to separate?"
"Suo Suo is back. Sorry."
Chu Suosuo was his ex-girlfriend.
Su Hua felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife. Three years of living and struggling together, but she still couldn't compete with that woman's return!
He didn't love her—that was her greatest mistake.
Overwhelmed by loss, defeat, and sorrow, Su Hua bit her lip hard, her whole body stiffening.
She shivered as she slipped into her clothes, preparing to get out of bed.
Gu Beixian pressed her shoulder gently. "Where are you going?"
Su Hua fought back tears. "To make breakfast."
"You always made it before. Today, let me do it. Go back to sleep for a while." His voice was low and gentle.
Su Hua replied with a soft "Mm" and lay down, pulling the blanket over her damp eyes.
After he left, she got up and ran to the bathroom, unable to hold back her sobs any longer.
Tears poured down like broken pearls, unstoppable.
She never knew love could hurt so much, like a piece of flesh torn out of her heart.
She trembled as she leaned against the wall, crying until she shook.
After a long time, Gu Beixian called her downstairs for breakfast.
Su Hua answered, splashed cold water on her face repeatedly.
But no matter how much she rinsed, her eyes remained bloodshot.
Downstairs, Gu Beixian stood waiting in the dining room.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, dark trousers highlighting his long, straight legs, his refined and noble aura made him shine just by standing there.
Su Hua silently sat at the table.
Gu Beixian leaned slightly, looking at her reddened eyes with unusual tenderness. "You cried?"
Su Hua looked up and forced a smile. "I accidentally got some facial cleanser in my eyes. It'll be fine soon."
"Be more careful next time. Let's eat." He sat beside her and handed her the chopsticks.
Su Hua reached out, lowering her gaze to look at his handsome fingers holding the chopsticks.
The sumptuous breakfast smelled delicious, but neither moved a chopstick.
Never had a meal felt so sad.
Half an hour later, the food remained untouched.
Su Hua put down her chopsticks, steadied herself on the table edge, and said softly, "I'm going to pack."
Gu Beixian's grip on the chopsticks tightened slightly. "No rush."
Su Hua smiled bitterly. After all this, shouldn't he just leave quickly? Was he waiting to be kicked out?
She turned and went upstairs, tossing her belongings into the suitcase one by one. After a long while, she zipped it up and carried it downstairs.
Gu Beixian met her and reached for the suitcase. "Let me."
"No need." Su Hua pulled her suitcase, straightening her back and walking out.
Passing through the courtyard, looking at the familiar flowers and trees, she couldn't help but feel melancholic. Humans are not plants—who can be without feelings?
Three years. The so-called "familiarity breeds affection" was only her delusion.
She loved him so much, wholeheartedly, with passion and care—but what use was it?
Let go. Let go.
They walked to the front gate, one after the other. The car was waiting outside.
Gu Beixian handed her a check. "Thank you for these three years."
Su Hua stood stubbornly, unsure whether to take it.
He shoved the check into her suitcase. "Take it. You'll need money in many places."
"Mm."
Su Hua responded curtly, lifting her head to greedily look at his handsome lips, high nose, and noble brows.
Recalling how, in bed, he covered her eyes with his, filling her world with stars while her heart was torn apart, painfully beyond words.
She thought, someday, in this life, she would finally stop loving him.
Three years? Ten years?
Maybe a lifetime.
Falling in love is easy. Forgetting is hard—very hard.
Gu Beixian looked at her for a moment, then suddenly pulled her into his arms. His face calm, but his eyes surged with emotion. "From now on, life will be hard alone. Call me if you have trouble."
Tears welled up but she swallowed them. "Okay."
"I was unwell and short-tempered those first two years. Sorry for making you suffer."
"It's okay."
"Take care of yourself."
"You too." Su Hua slowly raised her hand and hugged him, as if embracing life and death.
Suddenly, she let go.
She pushed him away, wiped her face quickly, grabbed her suitcase, and turned to leave.
After a few steps, she heard Gu Beixian ask, "Who is A Yao?"
Her heart trembled slightly. Her lifted foot slowly fell.
Old memories crashed down like a tidal wave.
She was so upset she couldn't speak.
Hearing Gu Beixian say again, "He must mean a lot to you, right? Sorry for keeping you for three years. I wish you happiness."