Chapter 11

“I know, Big Brother Gu said the same thing,” Xia Chu Wei said gratefully, glancing at him.

“As long as you can figure things out, that’s good. I just hope Bei Chen has better taste—otherwise I’m afraid I won’t get to eat your cooking anymore,” Lin Zi An teased.

When Xia Chu Wei stepped inside, she noticed the place looked just like him—cold and unwelcoming. The few warm, homely touches were ones she had added herself, though he’d even complained about those before.

She placed the lunch box on the table, spotted a shirt thrown over a chair, and picked it up to wash.

That’s when she saw the lipstick stain on the collar. Xia Chu Wei gave a bitter smile, biting her lip to stop the tears from falling.

There was no need to ask any more questions. Just thinking about yesterday’s intimate display between him and Xiao Bei Chen was enough to show that he had already made his choice.

Silently, she put the shirt back on the chair, then slowly picked up the lunch box from the table and placed it back into its bag.

After doing all this, she walked toward the door like a puppet without a soul, her steps unsteady.

She trudged to the bus stop, head hanging low, as if the entire world had nothing to do with her.

Suddenly, the sharp sound of a car horn broke the stillness around her, pulling her out of her daze.

She looked up blankly, and her eyes met someone’s gaze through the car window.

When she saw who it was, her eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up as if they would spill at any moment.

Originally, when Gu Shi Sheng saw Xia Chu Wei bringing food to Xiao Bei Chen, he already felt a twinge of displeasure and had driven after her.

But now, seeing her with red eyes and a pitiful expression, that irritation vanished completely, replaced by an overwhelming tenderness.

He quickly opened the car door, strode over to her, and said softly, “Let me take you to the park for a while.”

He gently opened the passenger door for her, helped her into the seat, and carefully fastened her seatbelt.

Once the car started, Gu Shi Sheng drove straight toward the park.

The whole way, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the hum of the tires against the road.

When they arrived, Gu Shi Sheng led Xia Chu Wei to a secluded pavilion, and they sat facing each other.

He studied her lowered head and sorrowful look, and sighed helplessly.

“Weren’t you bringing food to Xiao Bei Chen? Why didn’t he eat it? Was it because he didn’t like it, or was there some other reason?”

Unable to hold back his curiosity any longer, he finally asked.

After a long pause, Xia Chu Wei slowly pulled the lunch box from the bag and answered awkwardly, “I… I didn’t give it to him.”

Hearing this, Gu Shi Sheng’s heart secretly leapt with joy. “Well, that’s just perfect—I haven’t eaten yet. Why don’t you give it to me?”

Without waiting, he leaned forward eagerly, looking at her expectantly.

Xia Chu Wei hesitated. This food was prepared according to Xiao Bei Chen’s tastes—she wasn’t sure if Gu Shi Sheng would like it.

But since he had asked so directly, she couldn’t refuse. She nodded. “Alright then. I hope it suits your taste.”

Gu Shi Sheng took the lunch box happily and opened it. A wave of delicious aroma rose up.

Without a word, he began eating in big bites, glancing at her with praise. “This tastes great. That Xiao Bei Chen really doesn’t know what he’s missing.”

Hearing his praise, Xia Chu Wei couldn’t help but smile faintly.

She thought back to how Lin Zi An had always complimented her cooking, and how others who’d tried it had done the same.

But Xiao Bei Chen? He had never once praised her cooking—only ever responded with a simple “thank you.”

“As long as you like it,” Xia Chu Wei said softly.

“Big Brother Gu, what you said before—I agree.” Her voice was quiet.

The hand holding Gu Shi Sheng’s chopsticks paused, a flash of joy in his eyes, quickly followed by a touch of bitterness. It seemed she must have been hurt at Xiao Bei Chen’s place just now.

But no matter the reason, as long as she was willing to marry him, that was enough.

“I already had my father apply for our marriage yesterday. It should be approved soon,” he said.

“Have you told the Mu family yet?” Gu Shi Sheng asked. “If you feel awkward, I can tell them.”

Xia Chu Wei shook her head. “I only told them I plan to break off the engagement with Xiao Bei Chen.

“Uncle and Auntie asked me to talk to him again today, and if I still insist on breaking it off, they’ll support my decision.

“They even said if I really insist, they’ll find me a suitable partner.”

Gu Shi Sheng wasn’t surprised—the Mu family’s love for Xia Chu Wei wasn’t for show.

“Suitable partner?” he said with a half-smile. “So you’re considering someone else?

“Am I not enough? You’re going to pick someone else? Chu Wei, that’s a little heartless.” He rested his chin in his hand, lips curved, clearly expecting a good answer.

Xia Chu Wei shook her head. “No, I never thought about anyone else. I promised you—if I’m not with Xiao Bei Chen, I’ll be with you.”

She knew she was soft-tempered and indecisive, so she always preferred people she was already familiar with.

Rather than slowly building feelings with a stranger, she’d rather be with someone she already knew.

“So why didn’t you give the food to Xiao Bei Chen? Did he make you mad again?” Gu Shi Sheng circled back to the earlier topic.

He was already wondering if he should put a sack over Xiao Bei Chen’s head and give him a beating tonight.

Thinking of that lipstick stain, Xia Chu Wei’s eyes dimmed. She felt as if all her careful efforts over the years had been nothing but a joke.

“Someone else cooks for him. And he’s never really liked my food,” she said with a helpless smile.

Gu Shi Sheng thought immediately of that woman from yesterday.

“Because of Xu Xue Qing?” he guessed.

Xia Chu Wei nodded. “Bei Chen never liked me from the start. I should have realized it earlier.

“When we were kids, if others called me his little wife, he would always deny it and say I was just a younger sister.

“But with Xu Xue Qing, he’s never denied it.”

She truly was ready to let go.