Gu Beichen paused for a moment, then let out a soft laugh. “Sheng Sheng, stop joking.”
He reached out to pinch Jiang Yousheng’s cheek before using the towel to dry her hair. “You’re tired today. Go take a shower; I’ll have someone drive you away in a bit.”
Her cheeks were ice-cold, and though his fingertips were warm, they only made her heart feel colder.
It wasn’t as if he didn’t know about the history between her and Su Mumu. After the Jiang family went bankrupt, everyone had been eager to trample on her—and Su Mumu, the woman Jiang Yousheng had once looked down upon, was no exception. That woman had even ordered her lackeys to drug Jiang Yousheng, intending to sell her off into the deep mountains.
Back then, Jiang Yousheng’s temper wouldn’t allow for a single insult. She had immediately hunted Su Mumu down, dragged her to the police station by her hair, and vowed to make her rot in prison. But to protect the woman, Gu Beichen had sent her abroad.
Now that he had brought Su Mumu back, was it not enough for him to bully her alone? Did he need a partner?
Jiang Yousheng shook her head. “Gu Beichen, I’m serious. The agreement has expired, and it’s time for us to end this.”
She didn’t feel she owed him anything anymore.
The gentle smile on Gu Beichen’s face vanished instantly. He narrowed his eyes at her, his expression darkening. “Have you thought this through?”
Jiang Yousheng’s face turned deathly pale. She bit her lip and remained silent. The last time he had asked her that was a year ago at the Civil Affairs Bureau. He had worn the exact same expression.
“Speak,” Gu Beichen said expressionlessly.
He had always been a cold person, silent and reserved since childhood. It was only later that she realized how deeply he hid his true nature. Now, with his face clouded and his cold gaze fixed on her, it made her skin crawl.
“Humiliating me for over a year… isn’t that enough?” Jiang Yousheng didn’t want to be oppressed by him any longer. Giving up on all pretenses, she straightened her back.
Gu Beichen watched her quietly and let out a scoff. “Wasn’t it you who delivered yourself to my door?”
“…”
Jiang Yousheng’s eyes turned red as she glared at him. “Don’t forget, if you hadn’t taken advantage of my misfortune, the person I would have married was your uncle, Gu Jin.”
He didn’t love her, yet he had been despicable enough to ensure she and Gu Jin never had a chance to be together.
“If it were Uncle, he would never be this mean to me.”
Gu Beichen’s pupils constricted. He stared at her without blinking. In this moment, there was not a trace of the submissive, well-behaved girl left in her. She was suddenly covered in thorns.
He knew she had been faking it.
“Still thinking about Gu Jin, are we?” He smiled, but his eyes were grim.
Jiang Yousheng’s brow twitched. She felt a flicker of regret for shouting at him. She knew Gu Beichen loathed this uncle who was the same age but a generation above him. If she dared to mention Gu Jin in front of him, he would torment her until she couldn’t get out of bed for three days.
Her father was bedridden, and the Jiang family’s assets were still in Gu Beichen’s hands. If she wanted to take them back, she had to endure a little longer. After lurking by his side for so long, she was no longer the naive girl she used to be. She intended to seize the Jiang Group back from him.
“You suddenly abandoned me and now you’re kicking me out… Am I not even allowed to feel hurt?”
Tears streamed down Jiang Yousheng’s face, crystal droplets clinging to her lashes. “I’m sorry. I’ll leave right now… I won’t make things difficult for you.”
His gaze remained icy, completely devoid of the tenderness he showed Su Mumu. “Why didn’t you join the entertainment industry? The film world owes you an Oscar.”
Jiang Yousheng felt a pang of guilt but feigned ignorance. Having acted the part of the gentle, devoted lover for so long, she even admired her own performance. But she had no choice; Gu Beichen liked women who acted exactly like Su Mumu.
“I’m leaving now. I won’t trouble you.”
She avoided his gaze, turning around to limp toward her things to pack.
“Are you hurt?” Gu Beichen’s face darkened as he finally noticed the blood on her heels.
In a few strides, he was over to her, picking her up and placing her on the bed. He took a first-aid kit from the drawer to tend to her wounds. Just as he sat down, a panicked cry of “Beichen!” erupted from the dining area. Su Mumu’s voice was laced with tears.
Gu Beichen immediately stood up to go to her.
“I’m injured. Can I wait until tomorrow to move out?” Jiang Yousheng grabbed his arm and blinked, a tear tracing a path down her cheek.
Gu Beichen’s gaze shifted. He stared at her for a long time, saying neither yes nor no. He simply turned and went to check on Su Mumu.
Su Mumu had knocked over the bowl of porridge and burned her hand. It must have been painful; her eyes were brimming with tears. She clutched Gu Beichen’s sleeve and said timidly, “Did my coming back… disturb you and Miss Jiang?”
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Gu Beichen carefully scooped the woman up. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”
It seemed he had made his choice.
Jiang Yousheng felt an overwhelming exhaustion. She didn’t have the energy to deal with them when they returned. She applied a bandage to her heel and finished packing her bags.
Without waiting for Gu Beichen to return, she called Lin Yang to come and pick her up.