Chapter 19: The Banquet Su Nian's eyes widened, her expression odd.

"You're not jealous, are you?"

The words slipped out before she could stop herself, and she couldn't help but laugh. How could that possibly be true?

"Jealous? Of you?"

Gu Yichen startled, reflexively retorting. How could he be jealous over Su Nian? Didn't he despise her? Yet how else could he explain today's loss of control, all those abnormal words and actions? Su Nian let out a dry chuckle, suppressing the sourness flooding her heart. She extended her slender fingers toward the door.

"Get out."

This dog of a man—every interaction with him felt like seeking pain. Gu Yichen walked out in silence, his gaze slightly blurred and dazed. Su Nian's words echoed repeatedly in his mind. You're jealous? You're jealous? You're jealous? Impossible! Su Nian had abandoned him once; now she lied to him again, even divorcing him for another man. How could he possibly fall in love with such a woman? Gu Yichen steadied himself, cast a cold glance at Su Nian lying on the bed, then strode away without a trace of attachment. So Su Nian was counting on him to grant a divorce, take his money, and fly off happily with some wild man? Hah! In her dreams! Mrs. Zhang cleaned up the shattered bowl and spilled porridge, then mopped the floor thoroughly. Taking advantage of the moment when no one else was around, she advised Su Nian gently, "Madam, please don't keep quarreling with Master. It took so long for him to change his mind. If you carry on like this, aren't you just pushing him further away?"

Su Nian remained silent. They belonged to different generations; there was an unbridgeable gap in their values.

"Madam, which man doesn't prefer a gentle, tender woman? Especially Master, who works so hard and wishes only for relaxation upon returning home."

Mrs. Zhang finished tidying the trash.

"From what I've seen, Master does have feelings for you, but even the strongest affection cannot withstand constant turmoil. Marriage requires careful nurturing."

Su Nian didn't argue either. With such differing perspectives, genuine communication was impossible. Still, she knew Mrs. Zhang meant well, hoping she and Gu Yichen could live harmoniously. After all, everyone knew about her long, painful love for Gu Yichen.

"As for Miss Shen Wanrou, please don't dwell on it too much,"

Mrs. Zhang continued persuading.

"These days, how many men don't secretly indulge outside…"

Su Nian frowned, feeling increasingly irritated. She cut her off decisively, "Mrs. Zhang, I'm hungry. Please bring me something to eat."

Sensing Su Nian's displeasure, Mrs. Zhang awkwardly agreed, picked up her mop, and left. But within moments, she hurriedly knocked and reentered, hesitating.

"Madam…"

"What is it?"

Su Nian, scrolling through her phone, glanced up briefly, her gaze pausing slightly. Mrs. Zhang stood empty-handed, looking troubled.

"Master instructed that since Madam overturned the porridge bowl, you must not be hungry, so no dinner needs to be prepared for you."

Su Nian tried breathing deeply, but anger surged violently within her chest, reddening her eyes. Gritting her teeth, she asked, "Has he eaten?"

That dog of a man was tearing off all pretense, deliberately opposing her now, wasn't he?

"After leaving Madam's room, Master returned to his study to work and ordered that no one disturb him,"

Mrs. Zhang replied, her lips twitching slightly.

"Madam, perhaps you should soften your stance toward Master? Continuing this conflict will surely end badly."

Struggling out of bed, white gauze still wrapped around her head, Su Nian headed straight for the kitchen.

"Madam, Master instructed…"

Two servants hesitated. They were merely chefs employed by the Gu family and dared not interfere in their masters' disputes. Expressionless, Su Nian stepped forward, drew out a kitchen knife, and, under the terrified gazes of several servants, smiled faintly.

"Don't worry. I won't make things difficult for you."

Carrying the knife, she ascended the stairs. The servants stood downstairs, stunned, watching her stop before the study door.

"Is this serious?" one asked anxiously.

"Madam!"

Butler Cheng rushed upstairs, accompanied by two security guards. Su Nian pushed open the door. Under the bright, stark light inside the room, her eyes gleamed with icy coldness. She looked toward the desk, meeting Gu Yichen's frigid gaze.

Suddenly tilting her head, she offered him a smile. Gu Yichen, however, froze momentarily, frowning as he asked, "What are you doing?"

As for the kitchen knife in Su Nian's hand, he paid it no mind. There was no way she could hurt him.Su Nian ignored Gu Yichen, went straight to the bookshelf, rummaged through it, and pulled out a small pink gift box. Inside was a wooden sketchbook. She had carved every page by hand, each one documenting moments between her and Gu Yichen; she had given it to him as a wedding present. The box had never been opened. If Su Nian hadn't dug it out today, Gu Yichen would have almost forgotten it existed. On their wedding night, an important company project had come up; he had stayed up late working in his study. Su Nian had come in holding the gift box, and he had casually tossed it into a drawer, where it had gathered dust until now. Su Nian opened the box and turned to the first page of the wooden sketchbook.

It depicted her first encounter with Gu Yichen. On that cold, lonely night, a little boy had given her a lollipop, kept her company, comforted her, and warmed her heart. Who was that little boy? A flicker of confusion crossed Gu Yichen's face; he was about to ask when Su Nian turned the page. All the drawings that followed were related to him. Except for that first page, the rest showed him and Su Nian together in the same frame. Su Nian closed the sketchbook, set it upright on the table, raised a kitchen knife, and brought it down hard. The wooden sketchbook was thin, the knife razor-sharp; one strike sliced clean through to the bottom. She tossed the knife aside, shot a glance at Gu Yichen's grim expression, then strode away, refreshed and unburdened. To hell with the gentle big brother, to hell with that dog of a man—did he really think a single lollipop could trap her for a lifetime?

"My apologies, sir."

Butler Cheng hurried into the room, ready to take the sketchbook and the knife away.

"Wait—"

Gu Yichen spoke, his gaze fixed on what Butler Cheng held, his voice low and cutting.

"Give it to me."

He examined the first page of the sketchbook carefully, frowning.

"Find out who this boy is."

Why was he mixed in among the frames of him and Su Nian? A shadow darkened Gu Yichen's eyes. He vaguely felt he might have finally uncovered the reason Su Nian loved lollipops. Had she mistaken someone else for him? An inexplicable irritation rose within him. He snapped the cracked sketchbook shut and flung it at Butler Cheng.

"I'll find out as soon as possible," Butler Cheng said, catching the book.

After a hesitant pause, he asked, "And regarding Madam's dinner…"

Gu Yichen rubbed his brow, impatient.

"Send it to her."

※ As soon as Su Nian returned to her room, she headed to the bathroom. With a wound on her head that couldn't get wet, she eased herself carefully into the water, sinking into the large bathtub. In the earpiece, the sound of rippling water faded. Shen Yuhuan removed his headphones and switched off the surveillance system. A faint, ambiguous smile played on his lips.

"The main event is about to begin, little Nian Nian…"

The Chen family's business gala proceeded as scheduled. However, due to Hu Tianyu's death, security had been tightened considerably; without an invitation, no one was allowed entry. Moreover, several plainclothes officers were in position, their eyes never straying from Chen Yiqi.

"President Gu, please, come in!"

The Chen family's butler bowed and smiled obsequiously. He dared not show the slightest disrespect toward this young CEO who dominated the business world. Gu Yichen was in a foul mood. According to Butler Cheng's report, three hours earlier, Su Nian had gotten into a luxury car and disappeared, destination unknown.

"Yichen, why do you seem so unsettled?" Shen Wanrou asked with a graceful, shallow smile.

Dressed in a white evening gown and adorned with a sapphire-blue gemstone necklace, she looked even more noble and elegant. She accepted the admiring glances cast her way with effortless poise. At any business party, she always stood by Gu Yichen's side.

"They make such a perfect couple," a few girls whispered in the crowd.

"A golden pair, truly a match made in heaven."

"It's just poor Su Nian. She's the one who's legally President Gu's wife."

"What's there to pity? She knew full well that President Gu and Miss Shen were a couple, yet she relied on Mrs. Gu's favoritism to forcibly break them up. If her marriage is unhappy, she has only herself to blame!"

Gu Yichen halted mid-step and turned to look toward the source of the voice. The last speaker, the one harboring malice toward Su Nian, was Su Xin, Su Nian's half-sister.

"Brother-in-law," Su Xin stammered, her smile faltering, unease flickering across her face.Gu Yichen said calmly,

"Whether you acknowledge Su Nian as your sister is your own affair, but she is my wife. I hope you remember that. Furthermore, Miss Shen and I are merely friends."

His voice was loud enough for everyone around to hear. Many were surprised; this was the first time Gu Yichen had publicly acknowledged Su Nian's status as his wife and clarified his relationship with Shen Wanrou. Su Xin's face burned with humiliation, her hands clenched tightly beneath her sleeves. Shen Wanrou's expression also stiffened slightly; unused to such awkward situations, she felt somewhat embarrassed. Yet, accustomed to grand occasions, she deftly changed the subject, smiling helplessly.

"Yichen, it seems I should keep my distance from you. Look, so many people have misunderstood us."

"It doesn't matter…"

Gu Yichen had spoken only three words when his pupils suddenly contracted, his gaze turning utterly dark. Su Nian entered wearing a vibrant crimson gown, a gentle smile gracing her lips, her makeup exquisitely applied. Naturally striking, her elaborate attire now fully accentuated her radiant beauty. In her presence, all the other female guests seemed dull by comparison. Most notably, Su Nian entered the hall arm-in-arm with Shen Yuhuan. The woman, dazzlingly beautiful, and the man, strikingly handsome, became the undeniable focal point of the entire gathering.