Chapter 4 This was given to me by my mother when she was dying
"Go ahead."
Lu Zhenzhu heard her own voice was as flat as water.
Gu Huai's Adam's apple rolled against her forehead: "But I promised you..."
It's funny that he pretends to struggle even though he really wants to go.
"She needs you more, doesn't she? Go."
Lu Zhenzhu looked up at him.
The rain outside the window suddenly became heavier, and the raindrops hitting the glass were like her broken heartbeat at the moment.
"Go ahead, I'm fine."
When Gu Huai stood up, the strap of her pajamas brushed against the back of her hand.
He walked to the door and turned back. The desk lamp cast a light and dark boundary on his profile: "I'll be back soon." Gu Huai took the broken comb with him when he left.
The rain outside the window hit the glass, just like the night when they hugged each other in the rain.
But now, the only sound in the rain was her heartbeat and the breathing coming from the distant master bedroom, which did not belong to her.
The news that Gu Huai asked Lu Zhenzhu to apologize to Jiang Sese quickly spread throughout the circle.
Everyone said that he was about to leave her.
But Lu Zhenzhu could only pretend not to hear and just tried her best to play the role of his obedient wife.
Lu Zhenzhu received a call from the auction house at three in the morning.
She held the receiver and listened to the other party's clear voice saying, "The restored version of "The Blue Bird" will be the finale of the auction tomorrow night."
Her nails dug deep into her palms, and at that moment she had only one thought in her mind - she must get this painting.
For this reason, Lu Zhenzhu turned her attention to the old things that Gu Huai had given her that she had sorted out some time ago.
But now, without love, the only option left for them is to sell them for money.
On the day of the charity gala, the dazzling light of the crystal chandeliers fell on the venue, reflecting the gorgeous dresses and exquisite makeup.
Lu Zhenzhu was wearing a plain white cheongsam and standing alone in the corner. Her eyes were calm but hinted at loneliness as she watched the guests laughing and chatting with each other.
At this time, at the revolving door, Gu Huai walked in with Jiang Sese.
Jiang Sesu was wearing a bright yellow evening dress, dazzling, and her diamond earrings swayed gently with her steps, the light piercing Lu Zhenzhu's eyes.
Gu Huai was wearing a neat suit, with a faint smile on his face. He greeted the people around him, but his eyes never looked at Lu Zhenzhu.
As the auction began, the atmosphere gradually became heated.
When the painting "Blue Bird" was pushed onto the display stand, Lu Zhenzhu's breathing suddenly stopped.
On the canvas, the bluebird that has escaped from the cage is running towards freedom under the reflection of the blue sky. The signature "Luqin" in the lower right corner is like a sharp knife, piercing straight into the softest part of her heart.
That was her mother's handwriting.
Apart from the comb that was broken by Jiang Sesur, this was the only relic of her mother left in the world, so she had to get it!
"Ms. Lu, your deposit..." the staff member's voice was apologetic.
Lu Zhenzhu took out an envelope, which contained all her assets from selling the jewelry Gu Huai had given her and mortgaging the old house.
"Five hundred thousand." Lu Zhenzhu was the first to raise the number plate. Although her voice was steady, her slightly trembling hands revealed her inner nervousness.
Jiang Sesu turned to look at her, a provocative smile on the corner of her mouth, and raised her fingers with red nail polish elegantly: "One million."
There was a slight chatter in the meeting room. Lu Zhenzhu saw Gu Huai leaning on the sofa, smoking casually, his eyes sweeping over her with a hint of amusement.
"Three million." Lu Zhenzhu gritted her teeth and clenched the license plate tightly, her palms full of sweat.
Jiang Sesu smiled even more, and said in a clear voice: "Five million."
The venue fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes flickered between the two of them.
Lu Zhenzhu's heart was beating like a drum. She looked at the painting and seemed to see her mother's gentle smile - it represented the past time between her and her mother, and was also the last beautiful memory in her mother's life.
Lu Zhenzhu stared at her fingers painted with bright red nail polish, remembering the marks on the torn canvas at the charity gala: "Don't touch it."
She warned, suppressed anger in her voice.
"I want it." Jiang Sesu smiled and continued to raise the price.
Lu Zhenzhu took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and walked towards Gu Huai.
The high heels made crisp sounds on the smooth marble floor, but to her it sounded like heavy drumbeats.
"Please, lend me some money. I don't want anything but this painting!" She stood in front of Gu Huai and lowered her voice. "This painting is very important to me."
Jiang Sesu's hand around Gu Huai tightened instantly, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes.
Gu Huai raised an eyebrow and looked at Lu Zhenzhu. Cigarette ash fell on her cheongsam, leaving a small black spot. "How important is it?"
Lu Zhenzhu looked at him, tears in her eyes: "This is what she left for me, her last..." Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by sobs.
She remembered that before her mother died, she weakly held her hand and said that she hoped this painting would always be with Lu Zhenzhu.
Gu Huai stared at her red eyes, silent for a moment, then reached out and gently tidied the hair around her ears: "But, I have to be fair, don't I? I won't help any of you, and Sese spent her own money. If she takes the picture, it's hers."
"This is not an ordinary painting!" Lu Zhenzhu burst into tears. "This is the only relic my mother left me. How could you be so cruel?"
"Have you had enough of this?" His tone was filled with impatience. "It's just a painting. Just buy another one."
"This is not an ordinary painting! This is the only thing my mother left me. How could you be so cruel?"
Gu Huai shook off her hand, his eyes cold: "Cruel? I just made the most fair decision."
Fair? In fact, the balance in his heart had long been tilted towards Jiang Sese.
The moment the auctioneer brought down the hammer, Lu Zhenzhu watched the battle end.
But she still wanted to struggle one last time, so she immediately ran to the backstage.
However, when she went backstage to get the painting, she saw a heartbreaking scene - Jiang Sesu was holding a pen and scratching hard on the canvas. The bright ink marks tore at the blue bird, just like tearing at Lu Zhenzhu's heart.
She didn't get angry when she saw Lu Zhenzhu coming: "Sister Zhenzhu, you like this painting so much, but I don't want you to get what you want."
Jiang Sesu smiled, threw the painting into the trash can, and threw the pen aside casually.
Lu Zhenzhu rushed forward, but was grabbed by the wrist by Gu Huai who arrived shortly afterwards.
He warned her coldly: "Lu Zhenzhu, just try and touch her."
"Ah! Ah Huai, it's all my fault for being clumsy. I accidentally scratched my sister's painting just now, but I really didn't mean to. It's only natural that my sister wants to hit me..."
Sure enough, Gu Huai felt distressed when she cried.
He held her behind him and protected her: "Stop making a fuss, it's just a painting, just buy another one."
"This isn't an ordinary painting! This is my mother's legacy!" Lu Zhenzhu yelled at him, tears welling up in her eyes. "You promised me!"
Gu Huai pinched her chin with his fingertips, a cruel smile on his lips: "It's just a painting, why are you crying like this? Isn't it just something left by a dead person...?"
Jiang Sesu hid behind Gu Huai and said hypocritically: "Sister Zhenzhu, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I just trembled for a moment..."
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