Chapter 88 The Secret.
Over the next few days, Gu Sui's spirits improved, and once he had recovered enough, he was eager to go home with Shang Shu.
She didn't like staying in the hospital, and probably no one else did either. Even though the ward was beautifully decorated and looked like a hotel, it still evoked some unpleasant memories. Most importantly, she knew that as long as she stayed here, Shang Shu wouldn't be able to get a proper rest.
Finally back home on their soft, large bed, they both couldn't help but let out a comfortable sigh, exchanged a smile, and then lay down in each other's arms.
The afternoon sun was warm, not as cold as dawn, nor as restless as midday; it was like the lingering warmth of freshly baked bread, still carrying a pleasant aroma.
"My hand is swollen from the IV drip." Shang Shu leaned softly against Gu Sui's chest, wrapping her arms around her wrist and stroking her fingers one by one.
Gu Sui's breath twitched slightly, and he smiled gently, "Left hand, it won't affect anything."
"?" Shang Shu looked up at her suspiciously.
This guy is just starting to recover, what's going on in his head? Besides, this isn't right either.
"You're so arrogant, Gu Sui." The punishment entered through the hem of her clothes, climbing up warmly, teasing her until she couldn't help but gasp, before ending with a gentle pinch.
Not daring to go too far, I could only vent my dissatisfaction in this way for now.
Gu Sui also grabbed her wrist at the right time, not because he was worried about himself, but because he was afraid that she was too tired.
Shang Shu lay half-lying on Gu Sui, tracing her outline with her fingers, from the tip of her nose to her chin and then to her neck. She could see that Gu Sui had lost half a size of weight, and she couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
“You have no idea how scared I’ve been these past few days,” she murmured slowly, brushing her eyelashes, her voice choking as she spoke, “I was so afraid that you would leave me alone again.”
“I’m not afraid anymore,” Gu Sui sighed, gently stroking her back. “How could I bear to do that?”
She knew how scared she was, because she was just as scared, so she tried her best to wake up quickly so her little girl wouldn't cry anymore.
Shang Shu rubbed her eyes, rested her head on her arm again, and offered her her wrist: "Do you remember when you asked me why this flower?"
"Hmm, you said it's just because it looks good." Gu Sui gently stroked it with his fingertips.
Shang Shu smiled and shook her head: "These are your birthday flowers."
Gu Sui hesitated, staring at her silently.
"You probably don't remember anymore. Back then, we weren't together yet. The Psychology Society of Ai University was holding an event, and I heard you were there, so I went to run into you. When I found you, I heard you guys discussing this."
Shang Shu smiled faintly as she recalled these past events.
Did you know that in Greek mythology, the marigold symbolizes the pain of parting, but it also has another meaning: light and salvation?
"So when I got the tattoo, I was thinking, I've already endured the pain of separation, is there any possibility that you will come back to save me?"
Shang Shu threaded her fingers through Gu Sui's fingers, stared into her eyes, and clenched her fist tightly: "You're back, so I'll never let you leave again."
No more, never again.
While Gu Sui was unconscious, she thought about many things. When did she start to be superstitious? She became superstitious about gods and Buddhas, about many things, and even refused to let go of a small tattoo.
She thought that from the moment she, like a drifting duckweed, tied herself to Gu Sui, they were destined to be together for life. Blood and tears had proven it, and so had the heart that was pounding fiercely in her chest.
The light filtering through the gauze curtains painted the marigolds with color, just like that afternoon, yet somehow different.
Their hands clasped together, their pulses pressed against each other, and through the two layers of delicate, thin skin, the veins on their wrists seemed to intertwine and merge.
Gu Sui's collarbone rippled as he reached out and pulled Shang Shu closer, resting his chin on the top of her head, his brows furrowed as he let out a bittersweet sigh.
"Ah Shu, I love you."
Shang Shu nestled into her arms, nuzzling against her with equal contentment: "I love you too."
With the arrival of the Spring Equinox, the sea fog brings the blooming season, and Macau is once again in its gentlest season of the year.
Chaobai Cemetery remained as tranquil as ever, and the shrubs on both sides of the driveway were trimmed exactly as before. However, this time, Shang Shu was no longer alone.
Knowing that she was coming, Gu Sui got up very early this time. When Shang Shu opened her eyes and didn't see her, she was worried that she might not be feeling well. After searching around to the dressing room, she found that Gu Sui had even combed her hair. It was a neat low ponytail, and even the stray hairs were neatly arranged.
She was leaning against the door watching, feeling a little touched, so she asked Gu Sui half-jokingly, "What's up? Trying to show off?"
Gu Sui paused, buttoning his shirt, walked to her side, and pulled her into his arms: "Hmm, you want to show off."
With two lilies in her hand, Shang Shu led Gu Sui to He Landai.
Shang Shu suddenly became a little awkward, as if she had returned to her teenage years and was shy when she first talked to someone about the person she liked. Looking at the photo in the niche, she grabbed Gu Sui's hand and squeezed it again and again.
Just as she hesitated to speak, Gu Suiqing's gentle voice drifted into her ears and towards the niche; it was a few words in Portuguese.
Shang Shu turned her head to look at her in surprise, her heart pounding. Gu Sui also turned her head to look at her, paused slightly, and then turned her head back to continue.
Gu Sui spoke Portuguese beautifully, clear and gentle, like water droplets sliding off glass, soothing Shang Shu's heart.
"When...did you learn that?" Shang Shu's eyes welled up with tears.
Gu Sui squeezed her hand: "From the moment you said you wanted to bring me here."
She had this idea since the New Year; a few months of spare time was enough for her.
"Then, what did you say?" For the first time, Shang Shu felt a pang of regret that she didn't know Portuguese.
Gu Sui pondered for a moment: "It's a secret."
A secret called wanting to cherish her and take good care of her for the rest of my life.
Shang Shu gently pinched the back of her hand: "You're bullying me in front of Mommy."
Gu Sui smiled and helped her arrange the flowers and add candles, then quietly listened to her and He Landai recount the events that had occurred during this time.
Happy and peaceful days are without sharp edges, like pages of a book turned by the wind, rustling as they turn, leaving only close-up shots in memory, as if time itself has lost its weight.
Shang Shu rejected the board's proposal to bring S&S under the group and insisted on operating independently.
Although Gu Sui didn't mention it again, Shang Shu still sorted out her work as she had been instructed before, trying to give Gu Sui more favoritism while maintaining a balance. The most important thing was to accompany her to recuperate. Shang Shu often took great effort to pull her out of her manuscripts and accompany her for a walk in the garden.
Gu Sui always gave her whatever she wanted. The only thing he needed to be careful about was the kisses he couldn't help during walks, because this would sometimes turn the walk into something else entirely.
At Yunxiu Manor, the custom-made furniture that had been waiting for half a year finally arrived one after another. Shang Shu liked to stand upstairs with Gu Sui to "supervise" the construction, as if watching their own little world being built bit by bit and then painted with a warm and cozy color.
Gu Qi sent a pair of expensive crystal champagne glasses as a housewarming gift in advance, and his words implied something else entirely.
Gu Sui looked at Shang Shu's flushed cheeks, smiled but said nothing. She thought that everything should be based on Shang Shu's wishes. It was not too late to wait until she was ready. After all, she knew that their honeymoon period would never end.
After several months of reflection, Gu's parents finally relented openly. According to Gu Qi, they went to stay at their third aunt's estate in Italy. It seemed that Gu Xi had suggested and invited them. Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, they could recuperate and have some peace of mind, which would probably reduce their worries. Perhaps, when faced with some unsolvable problems, keeping a distance and not interfering with each other is the most peaceful solution.
Before they knew it, it was August or September, and Gu Xiangyi was about to start school. Shang Shu and Gu Sui went to the airport to see her off. Unexpectedly, Lin Lang was also with her.
Gu Xiangyi was pulled aside by Gu Qi to give him some instructions, while Shang Shu also pulled Lin Lang aside to gossip.
"How come you change your mind faster than turning the pages of a book?" Shang Shu was overjoyed to hear that they were together. Who was it that was pretending to be magnanimous and unwilling to be the one flying the kite?
Gu Sui put his arm around her, and subtly curled the corners of his lips.
Lin Lang clicked her tongue and glanced at Gu Sui: "Isn't it all because of your wife in the ward making such a big fuss? Life is short, you should be more carefree. Why make things difficult for yourself and the other person? You might as well enjoy life while you can."
Shang Shu chuckled, turned her head to look at Gu Sui, who was also smiling, and said to Lin Lang relentlessly, "You watch us learn so many life lessons every day, shouldn't you give us some reward?"
I didn't want to break up because of them, and I got together because of them. I used them as a cautionary tale in my relationship. I've been treating them for free for so long, I'm quite generous.
"Your wife is getting more and more greedy for money," Lin Lang said to Gu Sui with a forced smile, tilting his head.
Gu Sui raised an eyebrow, rubbed Shang Shu's arm, and replied, "Keeping the household in good shape is a good thing."
Fortunately, Shang Shu has been learning to desensitize herself to these terms of address, and her reaction is now relatively controllable, with only her ears turning slightly red.
However, after glancing at Lin Lang, she immediately thought of something amusing, so she suppressed her mischievousness and calmly called out to her.
"Lin Manman".
"what?"
"Call me 'Auntie' and let me hear it."
"You're asking for it, Shang Shu!" Lin Lang immediately bristled and reached out to slap her.
Shang Shu was overjoyed and kept dodging behind Gu Sui, spinning around to avoid him, almost pulling him down before finally stopping.
"How old are you, hmm?" Gu Sui pulled the panting Shang Shu over and brushed her hair aside.
Although she said that, Gu Sui always smiled as she looked at Shang Shu. No matter what happened elsewhere, at least to her, she hoped that Shang Shu could always be a happy little girl.
After all the commotion, it was time for the reluctance to part. Gu Sui went over to say a few words to Gu Xiangyi, and Shang Shu was also feeling sentimental. Before, Lin Lang had seen her off, and now it was the other way around. But this time, there was no need to be so sad.
"Aunt Hui is willing to let you go?" Shang Shu stood next to Lin Lang and spoke to her politely.
“A daughter is no longer under her mother’s control once she grows up,” Lin Lang said, putting his hands in his pockets and nudging her with his elbow. “Besides, I don’t go to school anymore, so I can come back anytime.”
That's how she convinced her mother—reasoning with her and appealing to her emotions. After all, she was her girlfriend, and she had to spend time with her.
"You're the one who wouldn't want to leave Gu Xiangyi behind." Shang Shu laughed. She wouldn't do it if she really had to leave Gu Xiangyi behind and come back on her own.
Having her thoughts exposed, Lin Lang ignored her and only looked at Gu Xiangyi not far away, laughing along with her.
-----------------------
Author's Note: The next chapter will conclude the story, returning to where it all began, to the autumn day when they first met and missed each other!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
