Chapter 1: Who is A-Yao?
After a session of intense passion, Su Hua was drenched in a fine sweat.
Gu Beixian didn’t head for the shower as he usually did. Instead, he pulled her into a tight embrace from behind, holding her with such force it felt as if he wanted to press her into his own body.
Su Hua felt herself melting in his arms. Her heart was a chaotic mix of surprise, nervousness, and excitement, tinged with a faint bitterness. They had been married for three years, yet this was the first time he had ever held her like this.
For a moment, she felt truly loved.
Her heart raced like a trapped fawn. She slowly turned around and hugged him back, a sweet, radiant smile gracing her face. It felt as though she was holding her entire world.
They stayed like that for a long time.
Eventually, Gu Beixian let her go. He dressed and sat up, pulling a pack of cigarettes from the drawer. With practiced ease, he flicked one out, lit it, and took a deep drag.
The white smoke swirled around him, blurring the sharp, handsome contours of his face. His expression was unreadable, lost in thought. He didn’t even seem to notice the cherry of the cigarette burning down toward his fingers.
Su Hua gave a small cough. “Didn’t you quit a long time ago?”
Gu Beixian stubbed out the cigarette. His gaze was deep and inscrutable as he looked into her eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke. “Su Hua, let’s separate.”
It was like a bolt from the blue.
Su Hua froze. Her burning heart turned cold, freezing over in an instant.
Her face went pale. She stared at him, dazed, her voice trembling as she asked, “Did I do something wrong?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Suosuo is back. I’m sorry.”
Chu Suosuohis ex-girlfriend.
Su Hua felt as if a knife had been driven into her heart. Three years. Three years of living together day and night, supporting each other through everything, and yet she couldn’t compare to that woman’s return.
He didn’t love her. That was her greatest mistake.
Loss, failure, and a crushing sadness overwhelmed her. Su Hua bit her lip hard, her entire body stiffening. With shaking fingers, she pulled on her clothes, intending to get out of bed.
Gu Beixian pressed a hand to her shoulder and asked softly, “Where are you going?”
Su Hua fought back her tears. “To make breakfast.”
“You always did it before. Let me do it today. You should sleep a bit longer,” he said, his voice low and gentle.
Su Hua gave a muffled “mm,” lay back down, and pulled the covers over her damp eyes.
Once he was gone, she got up and ran into the bathroom. She couldn’t hold it back anymore; she broke down in tears. Her tears fell like beads from a broken string, refusing to stop.
She had never known that loving someone could hurt this mucha pain so sharp it felt as if a piece of her heart had been carved out. She was so weak from the pain she couldn’t even stand, leaning against the wall as she sobbed, her body trembling.
After an unknown amount of time, Gu Beixian called her from downstairs for breakfast.
Su Hua answered and splashed her face with cold water over and over. No matter how much she washed, her eyes remained bloodshot.
When she went downstairs, Gu Beixian was waiting in the dining room. Dressed in a perfectly tailored, high-end suit, his long legs looked straight and powerful under his dark trousers. He carried an air of refined nobility, standing there as if bathed in an invisible radiance.
Su Hua walked silently to the table and sat down.
Gu Beixian leaned in slightly, looking at her reddened eyes. His gaze was exceptionally tender. “Have you been crying?”
Su Hua looked up and forced a smile. “I accidentally got some facial cleanser in my eyes while washing up. It’ll be fine in a bit.”
“Be more careful next time. Let’s eat.” Gu Beixian sat beside her and handed her a pair of chopsticks.
Su Hua took them, her eyes dropping to his elegant fingers resting on his own chopsticks.
The breakfast was lavish and smelled delicious, but neither of them moved. Never in her life had she shared a meal that felt this tragic.
Half an hour passed, and the food remained untouched.
Su Hua set her chopsticks down, gripped the edge of the table to steady herself, and said quietly, “I’ll go pack my things.”
Gu Beixian’s grip on his chopsticks tightened. “There’s no rush.”
Su Hua smiled bitterly. Things had already reached this point; why stay? Was she supposed to wait for someone to kick her out?
She went upstairs and began throwing her belongings into a suitcase one by one. It took her most of the morning. Finally, she zipped it shut and hauled it downstairs.
Gu Beixian met her at the bottom and reached for the handle. “Let me.”
“No need.” Su Hua pulled the suitcase away, straightened her back, and walked out.
As she passed through the courtyard, looking at the familiar plants and trees, she couldn’t help but feel a wave of sorrow. Humans weren’t inanimate objects; how could she not feel anything? Three years. It turned out that the “growing affection over time” had only ever happened on her end.
She had loved him so much, with every fiber of her beinga love that was both passionate and familiar. But what was the use?
Let go. Just let go.
They reached the front gate one after the other. A car was already waiting.
Gu Beixian held out a check. “Thank you for your company over the last three years.”
Su Hua stood there stubbornly, unsure if she should take it.
Gu Beixian forced the check into a pocket of her suitcase. “Take it. You’ll have many expenses in the future.”
“Okay.”
Su Hua gave a dry response and looked up, greedily taking in the sight of his lips, his straight nose, and his handsome eyes. She remembered how he had looked at her in bed, his eyes reflecting a sky full of stars. Her heart twisted in a pain beyond words.
She wondered if there would ever come a day in her life when she finally stopped loving him. Three years? Ten? Or perhaps a lifetime.
Falling in love was easy, but forgetting was so, so hard.
Gu Beixian watched her for a moment, then suddenly pulled her into his arms. His face was calm, but his eyes were churning with emotion. “It won’t be easy for you on your own. If you run into trouble, call me.”
Tears welled up again, but she swallowed them back. “Okay,” she said.
“My health was poor the first two years, and I had a terrible temper. I put you through a lot.”
“It was alright.”
“Take care of yourself.”
“You too.” Su Hua slowly raised her hands and hugged him back, as if they were parting for eternity.
Suddenly, she let go.
She gave him a slight push, wiped her face quickly, and turned away with her suitcase.
She had only taken a few steps when she heard Gu Beixian ask, “Who is A-Yao?”
Su Hua’s heart skipped a beat. Her foot hovered mid-air before slowly touching the ground. Buried memories came crashing back like an overwhelming tide.
She was so overwhelmed with grief she couldn’t speak.
Gu Beixian spoke again. “He must be very important to you. Sorry for taking up three years of your life. I wish you happiness.”
