Upon this thought, Gu Qixiao spoke coldly, "Song Xuan, Ji Yu is the only person in the world who can permanently repair the large scars on your body. Stop playing childish games and come with me to the hospital."
Song Xuan felt fear when she saw Gu Qixiao angry. She knew that what happened last night was her acting impulsively, and it would push this man away. But wasn't Gu Qixiao supposed to be hers all along?
She slept with her man—wasn't that only natural?
"Xiao, don't be mad. I'll change my clothes right now, and then we'll go to the hospital."
Being able to restore her looks naturally made Song Xuan happy. Over the past few years, her mental state had worsened, all because she couldn't bear looking at her repugnant face in the mirror.
And she heard that Gu Qixiao's wife was as stunning as a goddess…
After changing her clothes, Song Xuan clung excitedly to Gu Qixiao's arm. "Xiao, once my face is restored, will you marry me then? Once I look pretty again, I won't tarnish the Gu family's reputation anymore. You will marry me, right?"
Gu Qixiao pushed her hand away and replied with measured, deliberate words, "Song Xuan, I have said this many times—I will not marry you."
"But you divorced her for me!" Song Xuan shrieked.
"That was her decision. During our three years of marriage, I failed to fulfill my responsibilities as her husband. She had every right to leave me."
Gu Qixiao's gaze grew cold.
Three years ago, Gu Qixiao's father had arranged a marriage for him, claiming he'd chosen a suitable girl in the country to be his daughter-in-law.
By nature, Gu Qixiao was always aloof, and although in his twenties, he was wholly devoted to his work and uninterested in romance. When he heard his father had selected a woman named "Ji Yu," he agreed without hesitation.
He had intended to return to the country to register their marriage, but during that time, he encountered a terrorist attack. If not for Song Tingdong, a company employee who risked his life to shield him from a bullet, Gu Qixiao would have died.
To repay the debt, Gu Qixiao investigated and discovered that the Song family had dwindled to only one surviving member—Song Tingdong's sister, Song Xuan.
He stayed behind to take care of her, and unknowingly, three years slipped by. Gu Qixiao fully understood how neglectful and irresponsible he had been as a husband, so when Ji Yu filed for divorce, he agreed without hesitation.
Perhaps this was his fate—to be unable to fall in love like ordinary people. But Song Xuan couldn't comprehend this.
She lashed out with unbridled fury, "I don't care! Now that you're divorced, why can't you be with me? My brother died saving you. You owe my family a life. You have no choice but to marry me!"
Sobbing, Song Xuan cried out again, "Xiao, I only have you left. My family is dead; I only have you! Is it because you find me ugly? I'll soon be beautiful again. I love you so much—how can you not like me?"
Gu Qixiao knew the woman had suffered another episode. Impatient, he restrained her flailing fists and administered a sedative.
He then summoned his assistant, "Chen Yu, take Miss Song to Renew Plastic Surgery Hospital."
Forcing Song Xuan into the car, Gu Qixiao issued another warning. "Song Xuan, I owe you a debt, which is why I haven't pressed charges for drugging me or for obstructing me from going back to meet Ji Yu these past three years. I will take care of you for life, but don't even think about marriage. I will never love you."
With the sedative taking effect, Song Xuan's limbs were temporarily weak. Lying in the back seat of the car, her expression grew sinister and venomous as she muttered to herself.
"It's all because of this face. You don't like me because I'm ugly. But you will. Gu Qixiao, you'll fall in love with me…"
That evening, at Renew Plastic Surgery Hospital, Ji Yu waited for Gu Qixiao for quite some time.
"President Gu, I thought you weren't planning on being treated anymore. I was about to contact my next client."
Ji Yu had intended to joke with Gu Qixiao but noticed his foul mood and blinked curiously.
At this moment, Song Xuan caught sight of Ji Yu's appearance, and her face turned pale.
Ji Yu… she was unbelievably beautiful?!
Ji Yu's beauty was flawless. Born an orphan, she grew up in the orphanage until her adoptive parents—the Ji family—brought her home. They hadn't intended to raise her seriously, but no one expected Ji Yu to grow into such a breathtakingly gorgeous woman.
Her petite, sharp face, well-defined nose, pouty lips, and a curvy 168 cm figure reminiscent of a neighboring country's girl-group idols…
What stood out most were her almond-shaped eyes, which managed to appear both innocent and alluring. Though elders typically disapproved of statuesque, commanding women like Ji Yu, her youthful, endearing face made it impossible for them not to soften toward her.
Song Xuan's chest heaved uncontrollably as jealousy threatened to consume her, though Ji Yu remained unaware.
She continued drafting Song Xuan's diagnosis on paper.
"I've reviewed all your records, including photos of what you looked like before your scars—back when you were twelve. Based on bone structure growth, I've reconstructed your appearance at age twenty-four. I'll perform the surgery to restore your skin and help you reclaim the face that should belong to you."
Ji Yu smiled warmly while presenting Song Xuan her illustration.
The case file held a lifelike portrait, resembling an ID photo that depicted Song Xuan with uncanny realism.
Ji Yu was exceptionally gifted in art. It was her skill in drawing that inspired her to open a cosmetic restoration clinic where she could repair human faces much like archaeologists who restore ancient relics.
Ji Yu prided herself on tailoring every surgery to accentuate the client's unique features rather than altering their natural essence. She enhanced their strengths, removed imperfections, and maximized the appeal of every individual face.
If these clients sought generic procedures at mass-market plastic surgery centers—like jaw slimming, eyelid incisions, or nose augmentation—Ji Yu would consider it a desecration of her "craft."
This was why Ji Yu opposed patients undergoing secondary modifications from other clinics.
However, the revision Ji Yu designed clearly didn't satisfy Song Xuan.
The face on the sketch could only be described as delicate. But compared to a beauty like Ji Yu, how could Song Xuan possibly accept looking so unremarkable?
Gu Qixiao didn't seem to care and prepared to sign the surgical consent form. Just then, Song Xuan interrupted:
"No, I don't want this face."
"I want—"
"Your face."