Gu Qingshuang had just switched off the bedroom lights.
As twilight deepened, the massive floor-to-ceiling windows on the balcony reflected the glow of the streetlights outside. It was a warm orange hue, yet when it filtered into the room, it only made the shadows seem deeper.
Ming Li stood in the hallway directly beneath a small recessed ceiling light. The brilliant white glow made her complexion appear even paler.
Gu Qingshuang remained at the door, her figure shrouded in the dimness.
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how inappropriate they were.
They were on the verge of a divorce; what reason did she have to ask the other woman to stay for one more night?
A flush of crimson rapidly crept up Gu Qingshuang’s neck, yet she did not retract her request.
Ming Li was stunned for a few seconds, but she quickly found an excuse for her.
To Gu Qingshuang, efficiency was paramount. If she stayed at the Gu Manor tonight, they could simply wash up and head straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau in the morning. It was convenient and fast.
“No, thank you,” Ming Li declined gently. “I’ll be at the Civil Affairs Bureau on time tomorrow.”
Gu Qingshuang pursed her lips. She wanted to say something more, but she lacked the standing to speak.
After a moment of silence, Gu Qingshuang picked up the suitcase and walked out, closing the bedroom door behind her. “Let’s go.”
Ming Li had walked the distance to the stairs countless times—and she had walked it with Gu Qingshuang just as often.
There were many mornings where they had descended side-by-side for breakfast, and many evenings where they climbed them together after dinner.
Ming Li assumed Gu Qingshuang would leave once she reached the car, but as they stood before it, Gu Qingshuang spoke again. “It’s still early. I’ll see you off.”
She reached out, asking for the car keys.
Ming Li tilted her head, studying her for several seconds as if seeing her for the first time.
Gu Qingshuang felt self-conscious under that gaze. She tucked a stray lock of wind-blown hair behind her ear and looked away. “It’s the last time, anyway.”
Ming Li felt that this was perhaps Gu Qingshuang’s unique sense of ritual.
A ritual for parting.
It was the same reason she had the servants prepare ten dishes, why she accompanied her while she packed, and why she walked her down the stairs.
Gu Qingshuang was a rigorous, meticulous woman with a streak of perfectionism. She had her own stubborn insistences.
But Ming Li had hers, too.
She withdrew her gaze and answered at a measured pace, “There’s no need. I’ve driven this road many times.”
Their eyes met. Ming Li’s gaze was soft but carried an unyielding firmness.
Ultimately, Gu Qingshuang stayed where she was. She watched as Ming Li got into the car and the headlights flared to life. Ming Li sat in the driver’s seat, pressed the accelerator, and the white Mercedes slowly pulled away from the Gu Manor.
Seeing Gu Qingshuang standing perfectly straight in the rearview mirror, Ming Li suddenly hit the brakes and rolled down the window.
As soon as the window opened, the cold wind rushed down her collar. Ming Li leaned over and called out, “Gu Qingshuang!”
Gu Qingshuang kept her hands in her coat pockets. “Yes?” she replied tonelessly.
“See you tomorrow,” Ming Li said with a small smile, then drove out through the main gates.
Gu Qingshuang watched the white car slowly recede until only its red taillights were visible. In the pitch-black night, those lights looked like a warning line.
They completely cordoned her off from Ming Li.
Driving along the familiar road, Ming Li’s state of mind was vastly different.
Looking at the shrinking Gu Manor in her rearview mirror, she suddenly felt it wasn’t so terrifying anymore.
In the past, whenever Ming Li saw these buildings, she felt they were a man-eating monster.
Perhaps it was the architectural style that looked intimidating, or perhaps it was her own psychological projection.
She used to stand far away from the Gu Manor, terrified that it would swallow people whole, leaving not even a bone behind.
But now, looking back, Ming Li only saw a black dot.
A black dot being consumed by the night.
“She’s gone?” Gu Fei’s voice rang out lazily from nearby.
Gu Qingshuang exhaled slowly, trying her best to ignore the discomfort in her chest. “Yes.”
Gu Qingshuang was not close with Gu Fei.
To be precise, she wasn’t close with many people in this household.
Withdrawing her gaze, she glanced at Gu Fei, who was standing with her arms crossed. “What is it?”
“Just checking things out,” Gu Fei said. “Mother wants to see you.”
Gu Qingshuang paused. “Does Grandmother know?”
Gu Qingshuang had only told Gu Xueqiang about Ming Li’s request for a divorce. She believed her mother wouldn’t tell anyone else until the matter was settled—including the Grandmother.
That left Gu Fei as the prime suspect.
With just one look from Gu Qingshuang, Gu Fei knew what she was thinking. She shrugged. “I didn’t say anything.”
“In this place, once a word is spoken, it can’t be hidden.” Gu Fei looked up at the sky, her gaze landing first on the building. It was beautiful and ancient, yet possessed an inviolable majesty.
Gu Fei turned and started walking ahead. “Your grandmother isn’t very happy.”
It served as a warning.
Gu Qingshuang, however, remained indifferent.
Perhaps “indifferent” wasn’t the right word; she simply hadn’t processed it yet.
Days of insomnia had left her in a poor mental state. She was drinking three cups of coffee a day like it was water. Because she wasn’t at her best, she had already postponed all her surgeries for the week.
Having just sent Ming Li off, her heart felt like a water bag sloshing around, dragging her entire being down. Yet, her face remained expressionless.
When she arrived before the Grandmother, the old woman had just finished a small bowl of bird’s nest soup served by a maid. She sat on the sofa, fingering a string of dark brown prayer beads, looking relatively energetic.
Gu Qingshuang stepped forward and gave a low greeting. Only then did the elderly woman slowly open her eyes.
Those eyes were cloudy yet sharp. Upon seeing Gu Qingshuang, a hint of a smile appeared. “Ah, Shuangshuang is here.”
Gu Qingshuang naturally sat beside her. “Yes. How has your health been lately?”
“Alright,” the old lady laughed. “I’m not dead yet, at least.”
“You aren’t at that age yet.” Gu Qingshuang was exceptionally patient with her grandmother. They chatted for a long while until the conversation eventually meandered back to her marriage.
“Why the sudden divorce? Has Ming Li grown restless? Or did you do something to wrong her?” The Grandmother’s voice was deep, as if she were telling a story. There was no hint of reproach; she was simply inquiring about the details.
But Gu Qingshuang couldn’t answer. She could only deny both possibilities before coming up with a middle-ground explanation. “We just aren’t compatible.”
The Grandmother stared at her.
The Grandmother had seen all kinds of people in her life—the good, the bad, and everything in between. She was a keen judge of character.
“There is no such thing as being perfectly compatible in a marriage.” The Grandmother took her hand. Feeling that it was as cold as a block of ice, she frowned and ordered a servant to bring a hot water bottle. Once Gu Qingshuang was sitting there holding the bottle, the Grandmother dazed out for a moment. “What was I just saying?”
She had already forgotten.
As one aged, it became hard to remember things.
After a long while, she finally recalled the topic. Seeing that Gu Qingshuang was in a bad mood and didn’t want to discuss it, she sighed softly. “Shuangshuang, if someone like Ming Li isn’t right for you, then there really isn’t anyone more suitable.”
Gu Qingshuang didn’t know why her grandmother said that. There were clearly many differences between her and Ming Li. They weren’t exactly complementary, so they certainly weren’t a match made in heaven.
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