“Love?” Li Tingshen let out a cold laugh as if hearing some ridiculous joke. “The foundation of our marriage is an exchange of interests where we each get what we need. When did it ever involve love? When you married me, what you wanted was money – the Li family’s resources to treat your grandmother. Now that Grandma has passed away, you immediately ask for a divorce, with the reason being that I haven’t given you love. Don’t you find yourself laughable?”
Gu Mian’s fingertips trembled slightly, her heart feeling as if pierced by some sharp weapon, the pain making it hard for her to breathe.
She was indeed laughable. In Li Tingshen’s mind, she had married him only to covet the Li family’s medical resources for her grandmother’s treatment. Their marriage had nothing to do with love, and she should never dream of seeking love in this marriage.
Li Tingshen continued, “Gu Mian, you were the wife Grandma chose for me, so I accepted you. Although our relationship can only be considered a partnership, when this relationship ends is up to me to decide. Understood?”
Gu Mian smiled bitterly.
If she told him now that she had loved him for ten years, he wouldn’t believe her anyway.
Under the warm lighting, Gu Mian looked at the face she had loved for ten years. “Did you really accept me just because I was Grandma’s choice? Wasn’t it because I have panda blood and can donate blood to Yin Luoxue?”
Li Tingshen frowned, looking at her deeply.
“Ting Shen, I won’t donate blood to Yin Luoxue anymore,” Gu Mian said resolutely. “I’d rather die than do it.”
Suddenly, a phone rang. Li Tingshen picked it up and answered, “Grandma.”
“You two aren’t asleep yet, are you? I’ve prepared some nourishing soup for you and am bringing it over now.”
Li Tingshen said, “We’ve already gone to bed.”
“I still need to come over. No more talking – I’ve already set out. See you soon.”
After hanging up, Li Tingshen looked at Gu Mian. “You heard.”
Gu Mian closed her eyes and compromised, “I’ll go back with you, but I want to sleep in the guest room.”
“Fine.”
After packing simply, Gu Mian followed Li Tingshen back to Yun Yue Bay.
Fortunately, she lived close by and arrived before Madam Li.
The two returned to the master bedroom and had just changed into their pajamas when Madam Li knocked and entered. “Mian Yatou?”
“Grandma,” Gu Mian responded sweetly. “Why are you coming so late?”
“Grandma couldn’t sleep, so I brought you some soup. Drink it while it’s hot.”
“Thank you, Grandma.”
Sitting at the small table, Gu Mian drank the soup while chatting with Madam Li.
On the sofa, Li Tingshen watched the two of them talking and laughing, feeling somewhat dazed.
In the past, Gu Mian had been just as warm and enthusiastic toward him.
He still remembered waking up after his car accident – the first person he saw was Gu Mian.
She had been wiping his body when he woke up. Seeing him conscious, she became so flustered with excitement that she immediately called for others.
But when he saw a strange woman undressing him and wiping his body, he lost his temper on the spot, demanding to know who she was.
Grandma rushed in to explain that this was the bride they had married to him for “fortunate revival,” attributing his awakening to Gu Mian.
She was very obedient, usually quiet and never noisy. Even when Li Xingze gave her a hard time, she would endure it silently without complaint.
He didn’t like living in the Li Family Old Mansion – with many people around, it was inevitably noisy. After fully recovering, he moved back to Yun Yue Bay.
Naturally, Gu Mian followed.
Every day when he returned from work, she would be waiting at the door, smiling as she asked if he was tired from work.
His responses were always cold, but she never tired of it.
On several occasions when he worked overtime without calling to inform her, she would wait on the sofa until she fell asleep.
Later, for some inexplicable reason, he instructed his assistant to always call home immediately whenever he had to work late.
He didn’t know when it started, but he had grown accustomed to her presence.
She was like a servant who attended to his every need, though clearly, she was far more devoted than an ordinary servant.
He thought to himself, people always get used to being taken care of.
The turning point in their relationship came two months after they moved back to Yun Yue Bay. It was Yin Luoxue’s birthday, and he had been persuaded to drink a few extra glasses.
When he returned home, Gu Mian woke up on the sofa.
He had left work early to celebrate Yin Luoxue’s birthday. Unaware of this, his assistant assumed he had gone home and didn’t call to notify her.
Gu Mian asked why he had been drinking. He didn’t hide it and directly told her it was Yin Luoxue’s birthday.
She froze for a moment. Though clearly hurt, she still asked if he was feeling unwell and hurried to make him a sobering soup.
Suddenly, he felt the urge to tease her. He held her in his arms on the sofa and kissed her.
Nervous and shy, her face turned as red as a tomato, inexplicably adorable.
He no longer wanted to restrain himself and carried her upstairs.
That night was the first time in his life he had lost control.
When she woke up the next morning, Gu Mian was too embarrassed to look at him directly. With her head lowered, she whispered that she understood he had been drunk and didn’t blame him.
But that very night, he took her again, this time completely sober.
She stared at him as if she couldn’t believe it.
Her eyes were too pure and clear, making him feel as though he were committing a crime.
He raised his hand to cover her eyes and possessed her once more, deeply…
“Ting Shen… Ting Shen?”
Madam Li’s voice pulled Li Tingshen out of his thoughts.
He looked up at her. “Grandma, what is it?”
“What were you so lost in thought about? Could it be Mian Yatou?”
Gu Mian smiled to herself. How could he be thinking of her? He must be thinking of Yin Luoxue.
Sure enough, the next moment, she heard Li Tingshen clear his throat lightly. “No.”
“Alright, I won’t disturb you two lovebirds anymore,” Madam Li said as she stood up. “Get some rest early, but if you’re energetic and want to do something, that’s fine too.”
Gu Mian stood up as well. “Grandma, let me see you downstairs.”
“No need, it’s not like I’ll get lost. You two stay and rest.”
After Madam Li left, Gu Mian immediately gathered her clothes and prepared to leave.
Li Tingshen stood up and grabbed her arm. “Where are you going?”
“I already said I’ll stay in the guest room.”
His eyes darkened. He wanted to say something but held back, then said, “You don’t have to leave. You take the master bedroom. I’ll sleep in the guest room.”
Before Gu Mian could react, Li Tingshen had already opened the door and left.
Gu Mian stood quietly for a moment, then took the bowls from the table downstairs. She didn’t see Aunt Yang anywhere.
Assuming Aunt Yang had already gone to rest, she didn’t call for her and washed the bowls herself.
…
Meanwhile, in an ordinary residential area in the city.
Aunt Yang shielded her son in panic. “Yin Xiao Jie, I beg you, have mercy! Please don’t cut off my son’s hand!”
Yin Luoxue sat in her wheelchair, admiring her freshly done manicure. “He was caught cheating at my cousin’s casino. By the rules, both his hands should be cut off. But out of respect for our acquaintance, I pleaded for him and saved one of his hands. You should be grateful.”
“Yin Xiao Jie, if his hand is chopped off, his life will be ruined! I beg you, please plead for mercy on my behalf. I can give you money—I’ll ask the master for an advance on my wages. I’ll pay any amount you want!”
“Do you think I’m someone who lacks money?” Yin Luoxue raised an eyebrow. “If you want to save your son, there’s one thing you must tell me truthfully in every detail.”
“What is it?”
“Gu Mian is pregnant, isn’t she?”