Su Huan slightly tilted her face up to look at him, her expression very calm, 'Yes, cousin.' Her eyes were filled with a clear and stubborn determination. Those accustomed to gentleness even rebel in such silence. Gu Beixian originally wanted to scold her a few words, but suddenly he couldn't bear it, and the corners of his lips lifted, 'Alright, cousin it is.' With a raise of his hand, he pulled her into his embrace. Su Huan was caught off guard and fell into his arms, her nose catching the pleasant male scent mixed with the smell of tobacco and alcohol, as well as an unfamiliar sweetness. That was from Chu Suosuo. Su Huan felt a wave of disgust and shook her shoulders, trying to extricate herself from his embrace. Gu Beixian's arm tightened, holding her firmly, his gesture full of domineering possession, and said politely yet distantly to Shen Huai, 'Thank you for bringing her back.' Shen Huai verbally replied, 'You're welcome.' But his eyes were puzzled, staring at the arm resting on Su Huan's shoulder, feeling that the relationship between these cousins was too intimate, beyond the usual kinship. Gu Beixian glanced at him with a cool gaze, hooked Su Huan's shoulder, and led her to the elevator. While waiting for the elevator, he stared at the constantly changing number keys and asked casually, 'Is he pursuing you?' 'It's not like that, just admiration.' 'When a man says he admires a woman, his intentions are rarely pure,' he shifted his tone, 'Did you two have contact three years ago?' Su Huan's expression changed slightly, and she broke free from his embrace, 'Are you investigating me?' Gu Beixian raised his hand to rub her head, his tone gentle, 'Don't put it so unpleasantly, it's concern.' Su Huan dodged backward to avoid him, 'His grandfather knew my maternal grandfather, and three years ago he offered me a high salary to join him.'

“Oh, so our Huanhuan is so outstanding,” he said affectionately with a hint of teasing, his lips curling into a faint smile. Su Huan's ears felt tingly. They had been married for three years, always treating each other with respect, but this was the first time she had heard him call her 'Huanhuan,' a term so intimate. It was somewhat uncomfortable and also a bit poignant. With a 'ding,' the elevator doors opened. The two entered one after the other. There was no one else in the elevator. Gu Beixian pressed the button for the 21st floor, then turned to look at Su Huan. His eyes were deep, with a hint of sharpness flashing, as if some suppressed emotion was about to be released. The usually refined and restrained man suddenly seemed to have an air of wolfishness. Su Huan felt a bit oppressed and instinctively moved to the corner, her big eyes looking at him darkly, “What's wrong?” Gu Beixian stood with his back to the surveillance camera, looking down at her from above, “Did you tell him I was your cousin on purpose, to give him a chance?”

Su Huan understood; this was him settling accounts after the autumn harvest. 'I, um...' She was just about to speak when her lips were suddenly sealed by his. He was very good at kissing, whether it was a light taste or a deep one, he could stir a person's heart and soul. Su Huan's heart pounded wildly, as chaotic as boiling water. Worried that someone might come in and see, she raised her hand to push him away, feeling annoyed with him in her heart. He was so close with Chu Suosuo, yet he still came to kiss her. But she was so slender and weak, how could she possibly push away a tall and strong man? Futile. Instead, it gave off an impression of being reluctant yet receptive, seducing invisibly. Gu Beixian held down her restless hands, his other hand pinching her chin, kissing her more and more forcefully, even gently biting her. It looked like he was venting his anger. Su Huan was kissed until she gasped for breath, almost unable to breathe. Gu Beixian finally let go of her, straightened her disheveled long hair and collar, and deliberately intimidated her, 'Will you dare to call me cousin again in the future?' Su Huan's ears turned red, she glanced at him lightly, not speaking. Gu Beixian chuckled softly, looking down at her. Her dewy, moist lips were slightly parted, her big eyes as wet as a deer's, very seductive. Just now, in front of Shen Huai, she stubbornly called him cousin, and he really wanted to teach her a lesson, to see if she would dare to call him cousin in front of others again. People who are usually docile, when they occasionally show a bit of an edge, can easily stir his desire to conquer. The elevator sped upwards. Gu Beixian suddenly asked out of the blue, 'Do you regret marrying me three years ago?'

Su Huan was slightly taken aback, tilting her head back to look at his excessively handsome brows and eyes, her gaze a bit hazy, as if looking at him, yet not really. Her voice was very low, but firm: 'I have no regrets.' 'Three years ago, I was a useless cripple unable to walk, with a violent temper that even the caregivers and servants despised. You, a beautiful young lady with a bright future, married me and never regretted it even once?' He stood there with one hand in his pocket, clear and upright, his features sharp and his posture as straight as pine and cypress. The air of nobility that radiated from within him, under the cold white light, was truly captivating. No trace of the decadent appearance from three years ago could be seen. Su Huan said earnestly, 'You sent people to find a kidney for my grandmother, saving her life. You bought a house for my family, and also gave a huge dowry, rescuing my entire family from danger. I am too grateful to you. Since childhood, my grandfather has taught me to be grateful and repay kindness.' Gu Beixian listened impassively, and after hearing the last word, he lifted his eyelids and asked emotionlessly, 'Is it only gratitude you feel for me?'

Su Huan fell silent. If it had been in the past, when he asked her like this, she would have replied without a second thought that aside from gratitude, there was also the love that grew over time. But now, he had already proposed a divorce, and he was getting so close to Chu Suosuo. If she were to eagerly offer her heart to him again, it would only make herself seem cheap. She pursed her lips slightly and didn't speak. The elevator doors opened. The two walked out. Su Huan took out her keys from her bag to unlock the door. They entered the house. Gu Beixian watched silently as she took off her shoes. When she straightened up, he suddenly placed a hand on the wall and enclosed her in his arms, looking down at her and stubbornly asked again, 'Do you only feel gratitude towards me, nothing else?' Su Huan raised her head to look at him. His face was calm as water, his dark and deep eyes seemed to contain a galaxy, just a simple gaze from him could shake her to the core. Unfortunately, in his heart, she was just Chu Suosuo's substitute. Su Huan felt a bit heartbroken, she lowered her eyelids and said softly, 'Yes, just gratitude.' There was a hint of petulance in her voice. Gu Beixian curled his lips in self-mockery. Indeed, her love had all been given to the brother Yi Yao she cherished so much, and by the time it came to him, all that was left was gratitude. What's the point of a marriage bound by gratitude? Gu Beixian suddenly felt disinterested, the spark that had been ignited by her in the elevator had completely gone out. He withdrew his hand, tucked it into his pocket, and looked around the living room absentmindedly, asking, 'Is your mother not at home?' 'The caregiver taking care of my grandmother took leave, and my mom has been filling in for her these days. Please have a seat, I'll go wash my hands and brew you some tea.'

Just as she was about to leave, Gu Beixian's phone suddenly rang. He took it out of his trouser pocket, glanced at it, and saw that it was a call from Chu Suosuo. Being close by, Su Huan also saw the name "Suosuo" on the phone screen. Feeling as if she had swallowed a fly, she turned her head and walked towards the restroom. Gu Beixian watched her hurried departure, paused silently for a moment, then answered the call and walked to the window, asking, "Is your finger wrapped up?" Chu Suosuo's voice was a bit moist, as if holding back grievances, "It's wrapped up, I just got in the car and I'm about to go home. Is Sister Su Huan angry?" "No, she has a good temper and doesn't get angry easily." Chu Suosuo pouted, but her voice came across extremely gentle: "She didn't say anything bad about me, did she?" She was afraid that Su Huan would reveal the matter about the twenty million check. Gu Beixian's expression was indifferent, "No, she doesn't talk much." Chu Suosuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said with feigned surprise, "She doesn't talk much? At noon in the coffee shop, she spoke to me sharply and said a lot of things, each sentence was so fierce." Gu Beixian felt a bit annoyed, "Suosuo, Su Huan has never said a bad word about you in front of me. In the future, I don't want to hear such things from your mouth." Chu Suosuo was taken aback and quickly changed her tune, "I'm wrong. Brother Beixian, I just don't want you to be deceived by Sister Su Huan." Gu Beixian frowned, "If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up." "Don't hang up yet, I tomorrow..." "Bang!" Suddenly, a loud noise came from the restroom. Gu Beixian, holding his phone, strode over quickly like the wind and asked anxiously, "What happened, Su Huan?"