Chapter 27: The Scent of Gunpowder "Shen Yuhuan!"

Gu Yichen's eyes burned with fury, veins bulging on his clenched fists. By now, how could he not guess that the mastermind behind all this was that detestable man? Shen Wanrou, Shen Yuhuan, and even Shen Yuxi—was he simply fated to clash with anyone surnamed Shen in this life?

"Mr. Gu, are you satisfied?"

Shen Yuhuan tilted his head slightly, his smile innocent and pure. The two men stared at each other through the screen, the air thick with the scent of gunpowder and impending war. Su Nian shrank back, covering her face with her hands; none of this had anything to do with her. In fact, she secretly hoped Gu Yichen would keep Shen Yuhuan occupied long enough for her to slip away unnoticed.

"What exactly is going on?"

Xu Qing was equally bewildered. One moment they spoke of a plane crash with no survivors, the next they claimed she wasn't even on board—it all sounded utterly confusing. Gu Yichen took a deep breath, forcing down the surging rage within him, and calmly instructed, "Mom, please keep calling Niannian without interruption."

Su Nian, still angry with him, refused to answer his calls, but Xu Qing was different. In the past, Gu Yichen had strongly resisted the harmonious relationship between his mother and daughter-in-law, often annoyed whenever Xu Qing intervened on Su Nian's behalf. Now, however, their roles had reversed, and he felt immensely grateful for having such a mother. Unfortunately, Su Nian's phone remained unreachable. After carefully questioning Tang Shi, Xu Qing finally eased her worries somewhat. Looking at her son's stern expression, every word she meant to say dissolved into a single sigh. If only they had known today's outcome, why bother with yesterday's struggles? After a moment's hesitation, she gently advised, "If you and Niannian truly aren't meant for each other, perhaps it's best to let go? Marry others if you must, but remain friends—it's far better than ending up as enemies."

Gu Yichen stiffened slightly, his lips pressed into a thin line, remaining silent for a long while. * "Good girl, open wide."

Throughout the entire flight, Su Nian sat with drooping spirits, cradled in Shen Yuhuan's arms. He fed her snacks, then fruit, saying, "I asked Miss Tang; these are all your favorites."

Was he trying to fatten her up like a pig? Su Nian burped from overeating, casting him a resentful glance.

"I'm too full; it's uncomfortable."

Her appetite was never large; to maintain her slender figure, she usually ate only until sixty percent full.

"My apologies; I was only thinking about feeding you."

Shen Yuhuan paused, wiping crumbs from his fingers.

"Let me rub your stomach for you."

Su Nian tried to block his hand slightly but failed, so she simply sat still obediently. The atmosphere grew quiet, making her feel uneasy, so she casually struck up a conversation: "Where are we going once the plane lands?"

"I have matters to attend to and will be busy for two days," Shen Yuhuan replied with a smile, tapping the tip of Su Nian's nose.

"I'll arrange someone to keep you company. Just wait patiently for my return."

Su Nian quickly nodded with an "Mm-hmm,"

suppressing a smile with great effort. Things were finally looking up; with Shen Yuhuan gone, her chances of escape seemed quite high. However, Su Nian never expected that the person Shen Yuhuan arranged to accompany her would turn out to be Shen Yuxi. Only then did she finally breathe a true sigh of relief. The two brothers shared equally handsome features yet possessed entirely different aura, drawing countless gazes from people at the airport. Especially as they stood flanking Su Nian on either side, she received admiring looks from women all around the world.

"I'm traveling abroad on official business; bringing Miss Su along would be inconvenient,"

Shen Yuxi explained helplessly, glancing at Su Nian who stood obediently nearby, a subtle ripple passing through his eyes. Shen Yuhuan smiled lazily.

"I'm leaving for two days. Only by placing her in your care can I feel at ease. Your official matters can wait a little longer."

"Take good care of Niannian. Don't let her disappear before I return."

His words carried hidden meaning. Before departing, he glanced at Su Nian with an ambiguous smile.

"Be good."

That final remark carried heavy undertones of threat. Su Nian mentally rolled her eyes but outwardly agreed enthusiastically, behaving impeccably. As soon as Shen Yuhuan left, Su Nian prepared to say goodbye, but Shen Yuxi noticed the corner of her forehead and spoke in a gentle tone, "First, let me take you to change your dressing; the wound needs proper treatment."

The injury Su Nian sustained from hitting her head the night before last had not yet fully healed. After a brief hesitation, she nodded with a bright smile.

"Alright."

"Changing the medication won't take long anyway; Shen Yuhuan will be away for two days."

Shen Yuxi had booked an appointment by phone in advance. As soon as they arrived at the hospital, the two headed straight for the elevator lobby. The queue was long; only when the second elevator arrived did Su Nian step inside, leaning her back against the wall. The car was rather crowded. Shen Yuxi stood beside Su Nian, his hand resting on the railing behind her, using his body to create a small private space that shielded her from being jostled by others. Su Nian blinked and noticed Shen Yuxi's Adam's apple bob. Instinctively, she tilted her head to look at him, only to collide with his deep gaze. She froze for a moment. It was Shen Yuxi who looked away first. He swiftly turned his eyes elsewhere and murmured, "I apologize. That was improper."

Su Nian sensed something amiss and didn't know how to respond. Her eyes darted about aimlessly until, accidentally, they landed on Shen Yuxi's ear. It was actually turning red. Looking at his face and recalling Shen Yuhuan's mischievous nature, she suddenly felt like playing a prank.

"Yuxi, your ear is red."

Remembering that the book mentioned the twins shared a kind of telepathy, she curiously reached out and pinched Shen Yuxi's ear.

"You're running a fever too."

Shen Yuxi was slightly taken aback, his gaze flickering rapidly.

"Miss Su, please don't do that."

After composing himself, he assumed an expression that was somewhat cold and stern. But Su Nian wasn't afraid in the least; that ear was so red it looked as if it were dripping blood—who was he trying to intimidate? She deliberately leaned closer and, mimicking Shen Yuhuan's manner, blew a soft breath beneath his ear. It was soft, warm, and carried a girl's fresh scent. Shen Yuxi stiffened for an instant; the palm gripping the railing grew slightly sweaty. Fortunately, the elevator reached their floor. After some people exited, the car became more spacious. Shen Yuxi withdrew his hand and stood properly side by side with Su Nian, looking straight ahead. Su Nian glanced at the man standing rigidly, his entire body tense, and couldn't help but stifle a laugh. Compared with Shen Yuhuan's flamboyant charm, Shen Yuxi was simply too innocent. Just as they stepped out of the elevator, Shen Yuxi's phone rang.

Su Nian glanced at the screen and saw the character "Huan"

displayed; her expression immediately turned peculiar as she pricked up her ears to eavesdrop.

"Teased by Niannian?"

On the other end, Shen Yuhuan sighed, though his voice carried a smile.

"She's far too unruly. When I return, I'll help you save face."

Su Nian snorted inwardly. By the time he returned, she would have already dashed off carefree. With a billion in hand, she could rent a manor, tend to some flowers and plants, occasionally travel, and if boredom or loneliness struck, raise an obedient little puppy. What a wonderful life!

"Don't bully Miss Su," Shen Yuxi said, his tone slightly firmer.

"She did nothing to me, and you must not use my name as an excuse to treat her disrespectfully."

He glanced at Su Nian and cautioned the Shen Yuhuan on the other end, "Mind your boundaries; don't follow in someone else's footsteps."

That "someone else"

naturally referred to Gu Yichen. Some wounds, once inflicted, become lifelong cracks. Shen Yuhuan, however, seemed casual and asked with a smile, "From childhood until now, our likes and dislikes have always aligned, so we've shared everything."

"I want Niannian. What about you—do you want to share her?"

he lowered his voice. Shen Yuxi's gaze faltered briefly; he instinctively cast a quick glance at Su Nian and replied gravely, "Don't talk nonsense!"

Su Nian was not an object to be casually shared; moreover, such an idea violated folk customs as well as ethical and moral principles. Their voices dropped lower, and Su Nian couldn't make out the words, so she leaned closer to listen. But Shen Yuxi hurriedly said, "I'm hanging up. Goodbye."

"Miss Su, let's go," Shen Yuxi said, striving for naturalness.

Seeing that she couldn't glean any more, Su Nian withdrew her gaze. The two proceeded down the corridor. As they passed a corner, an elevator on their left opened, descending from above. Inside stood a young man and woman, both exceptionally handsome. Especially the man—every gesture he made exuded the refined dignity of someone accustomed to power.His gaze fell on Su Nian's profile, and for a moment he froze, something deep within his mind struggling to break free.

"What's wrong?" the young woman asked anxiously, rushing to support him.

But though his head pounded violently, he still pushed her away. When he looked again, Su Nian was already gone from the corner. He stood stunned, two characters from the depths of his memory slipping softly from his lips: "Nian Nian…"

Qiao Yaqing's expression stiffened briefly; she bit down inwardly.

"It's our turn now. Let's go."

Five years had passed, yet she still couldn't erase that name. It haunted her day and night like a nightmare. Qiao Yaqing would never forget: back then, she had orchestrated Su Nian's mistake. When Su Nian refused to admit it and faced accusations from everyone, Su Xingye had stepped out of the villa and said calmly, "If Nian Nian says she didn't do it, then she didn't. Anyone who disagrees, step forward."

Every noble young lady present fell silent. Su Xingye's protection of Su Nian had bordered on the obsessive; who would dare invite trouble upon themselves? After the scan, Shen Yuhuan went upstairs to collect the results. Su Nian sat waiting in a chair when a woman with Eastern features pushed the door open.

"Hello, I'm number 1158, Su Nian."

Su Nian was just turning on her phone and glanced curiously at the woman. In a foreign land, encountering someone of the same ethnicity with the same name felt like a奇妙 twist of fate. The woman was pregnant; she had accidentally bumped her head and come for imaging as well. The phone powered on, displaying dozens of missed calls and messages, pulling Su Nian's attention back. She replied selectively to a few, saving Xu Qing for last, sending only a brief text: "Mom, I'm fine. Don't worry."

Within ten seconds, the phone rang. On the first ring, Xu Qing urgently asked, "Nian Nian, where are you?"

Su Nian mumbled a few vague replies, revealing nothing about her location. It wasn't that she distrusted Xu Qing; rather, she was guarding against Gu Yichen. At present, she lacked the strength to confront him. If he found her, it would turn into a melodramatic soap opera.

"Nian Nian,"

Xu Qing understood her intention. Glancing at her son beside her, whose gaze was intensely pressing, she hesitated before asking, "If A-Chen truly regrets his mistakes, could you give him a chance to make amends?"

She had deliberately put the call on speakerphone and held her breath slightly. Honestly speaking, Xu Qing opposed the idea, but Gu Yichen's eyes made her heart ache, so she asked on his behalf. Ultimately, the decision rested with Su Nian. Beneath his sleeve, Gu Yichen's hand clenched tightly, his lips pressed into a thin line. Rarely prone to nervousness, he now resembled a prisoner awaiting judgment. Uncertain of Su Nian's attitude, this very unpredictability made him even more anxious. Just as Su Nian prepared to answer, her thoughts suddenly shifted several times. On the plane, until the very last moment, Xu Qing had remained with Gu Yichen. Could it be the same now? This question was likely asked by Xu Qing on Gu Yichen's behalf. Su Nian smiled silently, her eyes sparkling, then deliberately sighed with feigned melancholy, "Actually…"

She paused again, prolonging the silence. Both ends of the call grew quiet; even breathing sounds were faintly audible. Gu Yichen grew increasingly restless, his brows knitted tightly. The blade hovering just before falling inflicted greater torment than a swift strike; he was utterly on edge. Let him stew a little longer—let that damn dog of a man die of anxiety! Su Nian covered her mouth, afraid she might accidentally laugh aloud. She clearly heard the breathing on the other end grow heavier.

"Nian Nian?"

Seeing her son at his limit, Xu Qing helplessly prompted again. Su Nian sighed once more, her voice heavy with sorrow: "If he truly regrets and is willing to make amends, Mom, you know I've always felt toward him…"

She paused slightly again. The implication was already unmistakable. Gu Yichen's heart suddenly relaxed; his tension replaced by joy. He tried hard to control his emotions, yet his lips still trembled slightly.He wanted to tell Su Nian that he had already lost her once and would not allow himself to miss her again. For the rest of his life, he would do everything in his power to make her happy! But Su Nian burst out laughing, saying, "Oh, I can't keep up this act anymore,"

which stuck all his words in his throat. Gu Yichen's expression stiffened slightly.

"Mom, I'm no longer interested in him. We're divorced; once divorced, it's over."

Su Nian spoke each word clearly and firmly.

"Whether he genuinely regrets his actions or is merely unaccustomed to life without me, it has nothing to do with me. I don't hate him; I only spare him this much because of the lollipop we shared back then."

At this point, a hint of melancholy touched her voice.

"But when we were children, he gave me two days of warmth, and as adults, I returned eight years to him. That was more than enough."

She spoke slowly, word by word, like a dull knife slicing repeatedly. Gu Yichen's face turned pale, especially when Su Nian mentioned their childhood and that lollipop, making his heart clench tightly in an instant. He had hurt Su Nian for so long, treating her with cold violence. Because of his appearance alongside Shen Wanrou on their wedding anniversary, Su Nian had lost all hope in him, which was why she insisted so firmly on divorce. Now, the only bond Su Nian felt toward him might be that childhood lollipop. But that boy wasn't him. What if Su Nian ever learned the truth…

"Nian Nian, I won't give up on you," Gu Yichen said in a deep voice, with unprecedented sincerity.

"When Shen Yuhuan orchestrated things so that I completely lost you, I realized I cannot live without you. If you could fall in love with me once, I will make you fall in love with me again, no matter how long I must wait or how much I must sacrifice."

After all, they shared eight years together; his relationship with Su Nian was something no random outsider could ever compare to. He had both confidence and determination to mend their broken mirror and win Su Nian back. This time, he would wait for her; this time, he would pursue her. Su Nian glanced at her phone screen, confirming Xu Qing's number and Gu Yichen's voice. Had Gu Yichen been possessed? Given his personality, he had always treated her with aloof superiority, coldness, and arrogance. How could he possibly say such things?

"Nian Nian, considering…"

Gu Yichen paused, slight embarrassment crossing his face, but he pressed on regardless.

"Considering our childhood bond, will you give me a chance?"

He, who had always scorned telling such lies, broke his own rule for the first time, just to seize an opportunity. Gu Yichen certainly had many tactics at his disposal, but he dared not use them, fearing they would only push Su Nian further away. He wanted her willingness, not merely her empty shell. Seeing Su Nian remain silent on the other end of the line, Gu Yichen felt a spark of hope, his voice losing some of its previous heaviness.

"Nian Nian, didn't you say I gave you warmth when we were children? Trust me; I will surround you with that warmth once again."

Su Nian ground her teeth, feeling both anger and suffocation in her heart, and bluntly cursed, "Get lost!"

Her white moonlight, that warm little boy with the lollipop—how had he grown into such a twisted tree? Seriously, was this even human speech? Using their childhood bond to demand a chance from her? Then why hadn't he remembered that same bond when he was hurting her? Su Nian hung up immediately, yet the fury in her chest refused to subside. That cancerous presence had completely ruined her good mood after landing from the flight. Still seething, Su Nian pulled up all of Gu Yichen's contact information. Phone number—blocked. Weibo account—unfollowed and blocked. WeChat—blocked. … Yet, even after these small actions, the fire in Su Nian's heart refused to die down.

Just then, Shen Yuxi returned after picking up his medical results. Her eyes instantly lit up; she hurriedly rushed over and nestled affectionately against him.

"Yuxi, do me a favor."

Click! Su Nian sent a photo of their intimacy to Gu Yichen, along with a text message: "On a date. Ex-husband, do not disturb, or my dear will get jealous."

Upon reading her message, the three words "my dear"

burned Shen Yuxi like flames, forcing him to quickly avert his gaze.

"Beep… beep…"

The dial tone was piercing. Gu Yichen lowered his gaze. It seemed that ever since Su Nian had proposed divorce, she was always the one hanging up on him, rejecting him. Their positions appeared to have reversed. His sincere heart had been trampled underfoot; he was now experiencing everything she once endured.

"Help me locate a phone number," Gu Yichen said, calling his assistant.

He never gave up easily, and certainly not when it came to Su Nian. If Su Nian had waited eight years for him, what harm was there in him waiting eight years for her? Just as Gu Yichen ended the call, two messages from Su Nian arrived. He paused before opening them. They had just argued, so he didn't expect kind words from her. Yet the content of the messages still stung his eyes. In the photo, Su Nian smiled brightly and charmingly, leaning against a tall, handsome man—a scene that pierced his heart like a knife. Gu Yichen's lips turned pale. Was Su Nian deliberately trying to provoke him, or was she truly with that man named Shen? The more he thought about it, the worse he felt. Unable to restrain himself, he called Su Nian again, bracing himself for her to hang up, just as he had once ignored her calls.

Yet what happened next still shocked him. After several attempts, he finally accepted the truth: Su Nian had blocked him. Her phone number, WeChat, Weibo… every possible contact method, without exception.

"Nian Nian is truly angry with you. Don't disturb her anymore,"

Xu Qing advised, having witnessed everything with a heavy heart and helplessness.

"With time, perhaps you can become friends. That's better than being enemies."

It was all Gu Yichen's fault; she couldn't force Su Nian to change her mind either. After a long silence, Gu Yichen's pupils suddenly contracted. He immediately pulled out an app he hadn't used in ages. Logging into his Xianyu account, he found, as expected, that Su Nian had forgotten to block him there. Back then, Su Nian had impulsively wanted to sell some items at a low price. She had begged him for a long time, and with Xu Qing pleading on her behalf, he had finally created an account to help her. Su Nian's profile picture was a photo of herself. Gu Yichen gently moved his finger across her image on the screen, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. His heart was filled with complex emotions—a faint刺痛 accompanied by bitterness. He opened Su Nian's chat window and typed: "Nian Nian, no matter how long it takes, I will wait for you."

Sending one message each day, accumulating over time, would surely win back her heart eventually. He clicked send. However, the message failed to deliver. Gu Yichen's fingers froze.

"Done," Su Nian said, logging out of her Xianyu account.

She owned quite a few pieces of jewelry; carrying them around wasn't safe, so she decided to sell them for cash. After photographing and pricing the jewelry, she glanced at her friends list and casually blocked Gu Yichen. * "Everything looks normal," the doctor replied.

Since she had injured her head, Su Nian underwent a comprehensive examination at the hospital. Only after confirming there were no issues did she leave the radiologist's office. As soon as she reached the doorway, she unexpectedly bumped into someone familiar. Qiao Yajing's eyes widened, panic flickering in their depths.

"Su Nian?"

Being in a foreign country, she never expected to run into Su Nian here.

"What a coincidence," Su Nian replied, equally surprised, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Are you here for scans too?"

She had originally planned to find Su Xingye privately given the opportunity, but since they had crossed paths, it must be fate. Qiao Yajing quickly regained her composure, smiling warmly and affectionately.

"I'm already done. Since we've met by chance, Nian Nian, let's grab a meal. I know a great Chinese restaurant nearby."

Seeing Su Nian lingering without moving, a hint of anxiety appeared in Qiao Yajing's eyes.

"What's wrong? Are you still upset with me? Nian Nian, I'm sorry. Please let me make it up to you, okay?"

"No rush. Let's just chat first. We've hardly communicated since our fallout," Su Nian said, feeling excited, her heartbeat quickening.

This confirmed her suspicion: Su Xingye was indeed in this hospital; otherwise, Qiao Yajing wouldn't be so anxious. Originally, she, Tang Shi, and Qiao Yajing had been best friends.

Later, however, Qiao Yajing had plotted against her, causing their friendship to shatter. Su Nian hadn't known the reason at the time, but after recalling the novel's plot, she realized it was an absurdly melodramatic motive—all because of a man. Su Xingye had treated her too well, making Qiao Yajing jealous.Qiao Yajing steadied herself.

"What's past is past. Please forgive me."

She glanced deliberately at her phone, brimming with apology.

"It's mealtime; let's go eat…"

Her words caught in her throat as Su Xingye stepped out of the room.

"Miss Su, I've picked up the medication."

Coincidentally, Shen Yuxi also emerged from the doctor's office, carrying a small bag. His gaze flickered slightly upon seeing Su Nian beam with joy as she threw herself into the arms of a tall, handsome man—a happiness he had never witnessed before, at least not directed toward him. Shen Yuxi looked at Su Xingye. The man possessed sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, exuding an innate nobility befitting someone long accustomed to authority. Hearing Su Nian call out excitedly, "Brother!"

he immediately understood. Su Xingye, missing for five years. So he was merely her brother. Su Xingye appeared momentarily stunned, his sharpness softened by confusion. Instinctively, he embraced Su Nian. Gazing at her radiant smile, a faint female voice suddenly echoed in his mind: "Xingye, you are the elder brother. You must protect Nianan, safeguard her at all costs…"

"Nianan?" Su Xingye murmured softly.

In that instant, numerous fragmented, disjointed memories surged through his thoughts, overwhelming his consciousness.

"That's me! Do you remember me now?" Su Nian replied happily.

It was undeniable that Su Xingye had doted on her, indulging her every whim and shielding her from all harm, yet this very protection had turned her into an innocent naif. After Su Xingye disappeared, she found herself utterly incapable of self-preservation, fortunate only because Xu Qing had supported her during those times.

"I'll take you home," Su Nian said with a bright smile.

After all, she now had money; the two of them could live freely, far removed from conflict. Clarity gradually returned to Su Xingye's eyes.

"Home?"

Though his memories remained chaotic, he could still discern Su Nian's immense importance to him.

"A home belonging only to us,"

Su Nian affirmed with a firm nod. Shen Yuxi glanced at Su Nian, a subtle ripple stirring in his eyes. His gaze wasn't oppressive, yet it couldn't be ignored. Su Xingye raised his eyes; the two men's gazes met briefly. Lowering his head to look at Su Nian's expectant smile, Su Xingye returned a gentle, faint smile.

"Alright. Just us."

He then turned to Shen Yuxi, his唇角 curling into an ambiguous smile. Receiving that look, Shen Yuxi approached calmly, his tone mild: "Miss Su, may I borrow your phone?"

Puzzled but compliant, Su Nian unlocked her phone and handed it over. Shen Yuxi opened her photo gallery, tapped on one image for merely two seconds, then exited and returned the device.

"Thank you."

Due to the angle, Su Nian didn't see the photo, but Su Xingye did clearly: in it, Su Nian leaned intimately against Shen Yuxi. Su Xingye's smile faded; he fixed his gaze steadily on Shen Yuxi.

"Hello, Shen Yuxi," Shen Yuxi said, extending his hand with somewhat formal courtesy.

Su Xingye remained silent for three seconds before extending his own hand.

"Su Xingye. Pleasure to meet you."

Su Nian glanced oddly between the two men, sensing something amiss.

"Alright, now that you've met, let's go. We shouldn't occupy space in the hospital corridor."

Qiao Yajing, who had been silently observing, finally spoke in a low voice: "Do you really intend to take him back to the Su family? Don't you know the Su household is a den of dragons and tigers? In his current state, can he possibly regain control over the Su family again?"

She knew it well: Su Nian would always be her nemesis. As long as Su Nian existed, she would forever remain overlooked.

"Didn't you contribute to him becoming like this?" Su Nian asked expressionlessly.

"Weren't you involved in the accident targeting my brother? Su Xin and her mother and son were the masterminds, but you were an accomplice. You hid him for five years yet never won him over. Why keep struggling?"

Her tone grew strangely pointed with those last few sentences. Qiao Yajing's face twisted uglily. Regaining her composure, she said grimly, "Let's talk somewhere else."

Shortly after the four of them left, a man rushed over, inquired about some details from the doctors and nurses, then immediately called Gu Yichen.

"Mr. Gu, your wife received treatment at the hospital and departed half an hour ago."

"Is her injury serious?" Gu Yichen asked with concern.

The man smiled.

"Your wife is perfectly fine. Moreover, congratulations are in order, Mr. Gu—you're about to become a father."

"What?"

Gu Yichen froze for a moment.

"Your wife is pregnant, two months along. I saw her registration form and medical records."

Author's note: Ahem, while Nian Nian was waiting on that chair, wasn't there conveniently another pregnant woman who happened to share her name?