Reborn as a Fake Heiress Marrying the Tycoon

Chapter 1238: Silencing Her

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Gu Zi felt a quiet satisfaction with the outcome.

Youthful love, after all, was often an immature bloom that bore fruit prematurely—fruit lacking the proper nourishment, destined never to become a first-rate harvest. Such early affections should serve as nourishment instead, feeding the soul, allowing the flower to mature fully, and eventually yielding fruit that was large, ripe, and sweet.

That very day, Gu Zi received a letter from Guangcheng, sent by Yang Zhen. Along with the letter came a small wedding gift.

The note cheerfully announced that Yang Zhen had married her military officer husband. Even more heartening was news of Yang Zhen’s brother, Yang Tao, who had pulled himself together, found steady work away from home, and now sent regular remittances to Aunt Yang, who was taking care of both herself and little Yuanyuan, who had just started kindergarten.

Reading the letter, Gu Zi’s heart warmed with relief and happiness for Aunt Yang. With Yang Zhen around, her later years were surely secured; everything was moving in a promising direction. Just as she set the letter aside, Su Shen returned home.

Gu Zi found herself momentarily lost in thought, gazing at him. The years had refined Su Shen’s presence—his maturity deepened like fine wine. Attending countless business banquets had made tying a necktie, slipping into a tailored suit, and arriving in a luxury car second nature to him. He had truly transformed into a picture of a business magnate.

Gone was the harsh aura of his past; the rough edge had long vanished. His demeanor was calm, restrained. His hair cut short and neat, his beard always clean-shaven, his skin growing clearer by the day.

Each time Gu Zi looked upon his increasingly handsome face, she felt a flush of warmth rising in her cheeks. This moment was no different. She awkwardly stood, attempting a graceful escape.

"I’m going to call Sun Yi and ask about the project," she said.

Before she could take a step, Su Shen closed the distance in strides, wrapping her in a protective embrace. His voice dropped low and smooth: "Mrs. Su, where are you running off to? Your husband isn’t going to eat you."

Gu Zi pushed gently against him, feigning annoyance. "You don’t eat people, true. But you do cling. I know I’m irresistible, but you don’t have to be so desperate all the time."

Watching her adorable, tsundere act, Su Shen thought fondly that their daughter, Su Le—the little tyrant—was surely her mother’s carbon copy. That same confidence, that same commanding air, perfectly molded in miniature. Indeed, it was true what people said: children often resembled those who raised them.

He adored this side of Gu Zi. She was his treasure, his whole world. For this lifetime and every lifetime after, he would willingly fall head over heels for her.

After a moment of quiet contemplation, Su Shen tightened his hold, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder and chuckling softly. "Gu Zi, your charm is undeniable. I can never fully restrain myself around you. But as long as you don’t want me to, I’ll do my best to hold back. I often think... I arrived late in your life. But from now on, I want to be part of everything."

Every time he held her close, shared these intimate moments, he felt overwhelming happiness—and a twinge of jealousy toward Gong Zhan. How foolish Gong Zhan had been, to have such a genuine, sincere girl like Gu Zi adore him, only to lose her heart. If Su Shen had been Gong Zhan, he would have cherished her, protected her fiercely.

Still, he was glad he wasn’t Gong Zhan. Glad that Gong Zhan had pushed Gu Zi away with his own hands, because it gave Su Shen the chance to meet her.

Gu Zi sensed the regret in his voice and turned to face him, tilting her head up. She reached out, gently caressing his cheek. "I want you in my future, Su Shen. But I’m suddenly curious—what was your childhood like?"

She imagined someone as handsome and capable as Su Shen must have been remarkable even as a child, surely as impressive as Su Bing. Otherwise, how else would he have been chosen to join the military?

Su Shen said nothing. In his mind, their timing was just right. Had Gu Zi met him as a child, she would never have looked twice. When their parents left, he and his sisters were left to fend for themselves in a house so poor it echoed with emptiness. He wore patched clothes, grass sandals barely holding together, constantly mocked as a wild child.

Sometimes, to save time, he even slept near the pigsty, waking only when it was time to cut fodder. His face was grimy, hair wild and tangled. Gu Zi, with her neatness and order, he didn’t want her to know about that ragged boy.

Catching her curious gaze, Su Shen lowered his head and kissed her lips, silencing her with a deep, tender kiss. Afterward, Gu Zi felt light-headed, her thoughts swirling in a daze. He carried her to the sofa, peeling a tangerine for her while deftly changing the subject.

"To avoid future complications, I’m planning to go into business separately from Chen Yu."