By the time Gu Jun and Xu Yao rushed to the hospital, Gu Haishan was experiencing a final burst of strength.
The old man gazed at the marriage certificate in their hands, and a long-lost smile spread across his face, ravaged by illness for so long.
"Good... very good... you two must take good care of each other..."
With those final words, Gu Haishan drew his last breath.
Gu Jun knelt beside the hospital bed, weeping bitterly.
Childhood poverty had not broken Gu Jun. Material scarcity never diminished Gu Haishan's love for his grandson. The conviction to "give Grandpa a good life" fueled Gu Jun's relentless drive to succeed.
Gu Jun succeeded.
Sadly, Gu Haishan didn't get to enjoy his blessings for long.
From that day onward, Gu Jun had no family left in this world!
Xu Yao, standing by the bedside, couldn't help but tear up. Though she'd only met Gu Haishan yesterday, the bonds between people could be strangely fated—she was now his granddaughter-in-law.
Xu Yao deeply empathized with Gu Jun's grief.
Three years ago, when Xu Qinghua vanished on the high seas, Xu Yao still clung to a sliver of hope.
A year ago, the police declared Xu Qinghua dead, shattering Xu Yao's last shred of illusion. That day, Xu Yao and her mother, Lin Meixian, wept bitterly in each other's arms.
The agony of losing a loved one is beyond consolation. Without a word, Xu Yao simply sat quietly beside Gu Jun.
While others would celebrate lavishly on their wedding day, Xu Yao and Gu Jun had rushed into a whirlwind marriage. She didn't know how to comfort Gu Jun. All she could do was steel herself to help handle Gu Haishan's funeral arrangements.
Gu Jun wept for a long time until his eyes grew dry and no more tears could fall. Only then did he stagger to his feet.
Xu Yao reached out to steady him, but Gu Jun nearly pulled her down with him.
"...Thank you."
Unaccustomed to Xu Yao's touch, Gu Jun swiftly withdrew his hand.
Xu Yao felt a little awkward.
They were husband and wife in name only, yet as distant as strangers!
Gu Jun's voice was hoarse. "I need to handle Grandfather's funeral arrangements. I won't be able to look after you tonight. You should go home and rest."
>Xu Yao shook her head. "I'm not tired. I'll help you handle everything."
Regardless of their reasons for marrying, the certificate was official—Xu Yao was Gu Jun's wife.
When her husband's grandfather passed away, how could his wife not accompany him to handle the arrangements?
Seeing Xu Yao's persistence, Gu Jun relented.
Xu Yao was the wife his grandfather had wanted him to marry. With her by his side for the funeral arrangements, his grandfather would surely be pleased in the afterlife.
For that reason alone, Gu Jun felt no pang of regret about giving Xu Yao an apartment when they eventually divorced!
Only after obtaining Gu Jun's permission did someone come in to help change Gu Haishan's clothes. Gu Jun stepped outside the ward to make a phone call. Having relied solely on each other for years, with no other immediate family in the Gu household, Gu Jun had no intention of holding a wake. At dawn, he would take Gu Haishan to the funeral home for cremation.
The burial plot had been arranged long ago by Gu Jun. Gu Haishan would be laid to rest alongside Gu Jun's deceased grandmother and father.
Xu Yao took several more days off work to accompany him.
At the cemetery, only the graves of Gu Jun's grandmother and father were visible. Xu Yao didn't press him about his mother's whereabouts.
Gu Jun had suffered enough; Xu Yao didn't want to stir up more painful memories.
A light drizzle fell on the day of Gu Haishan's burial. Both Xu Yao and Gu Jun wore all black. The chaos of recent days had left them both exhausted.
Xu Yao held the umbrella for Gu Jun. He stood silently before the tombstone for a long time before turning away.
"Let's go."
Gu Jun took the umbrella from Xu Yao's hand. "You've been through a lot these past few days." Gu Jun was a man who remembered favors.
A man like him wouldn't spout empty words of "thanks." A hollow "thank you" meant little. Gu Jun's gratitude was tangible—he handed Xu Yao a key.
"This is..."
"The key to Shenghai Garden. Keep it for now."
Gu Jun paused before adding, "It's the apartment that might be yours according to the agreement."
Over these days together, Xu Yao had gone from pitying Gu Jun to admiring him. Even in profound grief, he'd maintained his composure to handle Gu Haishan's funeral arrangements. No wonder he'd been the top student at school back then. A man like this could make something of himself even if he came from humble beginnings... Gu Jun's words abruptly pulled Xu Yao back to reality.
What did Gu Jun's excellence have to do with her? This was nothing but a marriage of convenience!
Gu Jun had agreed to marry her solely to allow Gu Haishan to pass away without regrets. Now that Gu Haishan was buried, Xu Yao couldn't help but worry that Gu Jun might pull the rug out from under her.
"I can't divorce him yet."
Three years of upheaval had thickened Xu Yao's skin. She still needed Gu Jun as a shield. "You know why I agreed to the marriage certificate. My ex still can't accept the breakup, and my mother needs..."
Gu Jun cut her off. "You're overthinking it. I'm not asking for a divorce. I gave you the keys so you could get familiar with the place. We're already husband and wife—are you planning to keep living out there?"
Xu Yao's mind buzzed.
Married. She really couldn't keep living alone in a rented apartment anymore.
A newlywed couple living apart wouldn't fool Shen Yan or Lin Meixian!
Xu Yao took the keys Gu Jun handed her. "I have some belongings to pack. I'll move in after I'm ready. I'll call you then?"
Days after their whirlwind marriage, Xu Yao finally obtained her new husband's contact information!
Of course, Gu Jun had also saved Xu Yao's number.
Just as Gu Jun was about to ask if she needed help packing, the lawyer who'd drafted their prenuptial agreement arrived.
Xu Yao sensed the moment. "You two talk. I'll wait in the car."
Gu Jun gave a slight nod.
Xu Yao needed time to adjust to being married, and Gu Jun was no different. During the funeral arrangements, Xu Yao had also made a favorable impression on him. Everyone had their reckless youth; he shouldn't dismiss Xu Yao based on past negative perceptions.
Only after Xu Yao got into the car did the lawyer hand Gu Jun a document.
"The information you requested about Miss Xu."
Their marriage registration had been rushed, leaving Gu Jun no time to scrutinize details. Now that they were legally wed, he needed to understand his wife thoroughly.
Though they'd signed a prenuptial agreement—preventing Xu Yao from claiming his assets unless he consented—what if her motives weren't purely financial?
Gu Jun opened the documents provided by his lawyer.
It turned out Xu Yao's family had gone bankrupt.
Three years prior, Gu Jun's own career had reached a critical juncture. Moving forward meant ascending to new heights, while retreating would make him a stepping stone for rivals. He had no energy to spare for other matters.
The Xu family's collapse, Xu Qinghua's death declared by police—the phoenix that once soared freely had plummeted to the ground. Xu Yao was clearly suffering.
No wonder she'd changed so drastically!
Seeing that Xu Yao had signed new IOUs with creditors days prior, then immediately broken off her engagement to Shen Yan, Gu Jun's gaze turned icy.
"Xu Yao's former fiancé—is he from the Shen family of South City?"
The lawyer's expression grew grave. "Perhaps it's coincidence. Shen Yan isn't considered part of the Shen family's core lineage in South City."
Gu Jun countered, "Do you believe in coincidences like that?"
The lawyer found it difficult to defend Xu Yao any further.
Gu Jun never appeared in public, and few recognized this newly wealthy tycoon. Yet the Shen family of South City certainly knew him. Three years prior, Gu Jun had fought a capital war against the Shen family and others, his company barely surviving the onslaught... Now it seemed the Shen family hadn't given up?
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)