Inside the restaurant, half of Mu Cheng’s bowl was piled with food. She ate in small bites.
She thanked Qi Heng.
“Thank you. Eat your own food, I already have enough.”
When Zhang Qingqing saw Qi Heng enthusiastically serving Mu Cheng, a smug smile appeared on her lips, but Gu Yunche noticed it immediately.
She quickly lowered her head and continued eating, no longer looking at Mu Cheng or Qi Heng.
After the meal, Gu Yunche intended to escort Mu Cheng back, but Qi Heng said that he was heading toward the guesthouse anyway, so there was no need for Gu Yunche to trouble himself.
However, Gu Yunche stepped in front of Mu Cheng, blocking her path as he stared sharply at Qi Heng.
In a cold tone, he said,
“I’ll take Mu Cheng back. You can leave first.”
Looking at Gu Yunche carrying the thermos container, Mu Cheng felt he was being unnecessarily troublesome.
Wasn’t he supposed to deliver food to Bai Lin at the hospital?
Why insist on sending her back first?
Could it be because she got emotional earlier and hugged him, and now he wanted to lecture her about it?
Compared to Gu Yunche, Qi Heng was much shorter and slimmer, and his personality was gentler as well.
“Alright then, I’ll go first.”
After Qi Heng left, Gu Yunche turned toward Mu Cheng.
“We need to talk.”
A serious talk?
In her era, a hug meant practically nothing. But now, hugging the highly respected Commander Gu was practically rebellious behavior.
Mu Cheng’s imposing aura instantly shrank from towering confidence to timid obedience as she quietly followed behind Gu Yunche.
Gu Yunche assumed her slow footsteps meant she felt guilty.
Turning around, he said,
“Come here.”
Seeing that Gu Yunche would not let the matter go, Mu Cheng walked over and apologized directly.
“I didn’t hug you on purpose earlier. I thought you had left me behind. When I saw you come back for me, I got emotional and hugged you!”
Then she explained further,
“It was like finding something very important that I thought I had lost!”
“Finding something after losing it?”
Gu Yunche clearly knew how to summarize.
But she could only continue pretending to be clueless.
“Huh?”
Gu Yunche curled his fist near his lips and coughed lightly twice.
“Be more careful next time. You can’t just… hug other men because you’re excited or happy.”
Other men?
Gu Yunche actually had a strong sense of boundaries. He consciously categorized himself as “other men.”
“I understand now!”
Mu Cheng answered obediently. She took out a small handful of sunflower seeds from her pocket and cracked them open as she walked, carefully tossing the shells into a trash bin whenever they passed one.
Seeing her act completely unconcerned only made Gu Yunche more irritated.
“Do you still remember what you said yesterday?”
Mu Cheng had said quite a lot yesterday. Which sentence was he referring to exactly?
Gu Yunche never expected Mu Cheng to be the type who only enjoyed talking for the moment—speaking one second and forgetting it the next. Her confused expression showed no sign of trying to recall it at all.
She genuinely did not remember.
“You said you wouldn’t casually marry just any man. You said you didn’t want that kind of life.”
Gu Yunche spoke through gritted teeth.
That… she did remember.
“I remember saying that,” Mu Cheng frowned in confusion. “What about it?”
Gu Yunche tightened his grip on the thermos, veins standing out visibly on his hand.
“Then remember your own words. Stay away from Qi Heng.”
He had already asked Zhang Qingguo about Qi Heng’s family background.
Qi Heng’s family conditions were decent, but his mother was extremely domineering, and Qi Heng obeyed her in everything. His previous relationships had all ended because of his mother. If Mu Cheng got involved with someone like him, she would definitely suffer.
Mu Cheng stuffed the sunflower seeds back into her pocket and dusted off her hands helplessly.
The impression she left on Gu Yunche back in Gucheng Village was deeply rooted—someone who clung to men and tried to climb into their beds to change her fate.
Stuffing both hands into her pockets, Mu Cheng spoke calmly.
“Liu E’s foolish son already made me afraid of men, so I’m not getting married anymore. I’m going to stay single, stay childfree, and stay far away from men.”
The way she swore it sounded completely sincere.
But her ability to lie convincingly had always been exceptional.
Otherwise, how had she managed to trick him into drinking drugged wine?
Gu Yunche smiled faintly.
“Mm. I’ll trust you this once.”
Mu Cheng rolled her eyes.
The two stood together at the bus stop waiting for the bus.
Seeing Mu Cheng silently watching the busy street traffic, Gu Yunche assumed she had finally taken his advice seriously.
So he added,
“Once your household registration and work are settled, I’ll ask my parents to help arrange a marriage for you. That Qi Heng… isn’t suitable for you.”
Mu Cheng immediately waved both hands frantically.
“No, no, no! Men only make life miserable. I truly don’t need one.”
Why did those words sound so strange?
Gu Yunche raised an eyebrow.
“Where did you learn to say things like that?”
Mu Cheng fell silent.
She had already been trying very hard to speak plainly and simply enough for the times, but she still slipped up.
“Brother Gu, the bus is here!”
Luckily, the bus arrived just in time, and Mu Cheng hurriedly urged Gu Yunche to board.
When they reached the guesthouse, Mu Cheng got off first. Gu Yunche watched as she happily waved goodbye to him—
Only for Qi Heng to suddenly appear out of nowhere carrying two bottles of orange soda.
From inside the bus, Gu Yunche watched helplessly as Mu Cheng accepted the orange soda from Qi Heng.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Zhang Qingqing had just left.
Before school that morning, she deliberately ran to the hospital to tell Bai Lin about Mu Cheng hugging Gu Yunche.
On the surface, Bai Lin remained calm and composed, but beneath the blanket, her hands tightly clenched the bedsheets.
Zhang Qingqing knew her cousin liked Gu Yunche.
Every time Bai Lin received one of Gu Yunche’s letters, she would stay happy the entire day.
Since she knew Bai Lin secretly loved him, of course she wanted Bai Lin to know about Mu Cheng hugging Gu Yunche.
That way, Bai Lin would cling even more tightly to Gu Yunche, making tonight’s plans proceed more smoothly.
After Zhang Qingqing left, Bai Lin’s expression finally collapsed.
She was already feverish and dizzy, and hearing this news only made the fire in her chest burn hotter. She became restless and agitated.
Suddenly, Gu Yunche pushed open the door.
“Bai Lin, get up and eat.”
A layer of tears covered Bai Lin’s watery eyes.
“Brother Yunche, I delayed your return to the capital. I’m sorry.”
Gu Yunche’s tone remained neutral.
“This isn’t your fault. You were burning with fever. How could you possibly travel like that?”
He took the dishes out of the thermos for Bai Lin.
Wanting Gu Yunche to feed her personally, Bai Lin deliberately spoke weakly.
“Just leave it there. I don’t have any strength right now.”
Gu Yunche nodded slightly.
“Alright.”
Bai Lin: “……”
Gu Yunche sat there awkwardly for a while. Feeling bored, he stood up and asked a nurse for a newspaper to read.
Bai Lin frowned as she looked at the extraordinarily handsome man before her.
Her heart felt sour.
Did he really have nothing to say to her?
“Brother Yunche, I’ve been worried lately that after going to the capital, my grades might decline. I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep up.”
Her lowered eyes made her appear gentle, pitiful, and full of worry.
“It’s alright. When I come home during holidays, I can tutor you.”
Then Gu Yunche remembered he rarely had much time off.
“If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can also ask Gu Yunting. He’s usually at home.”
Bai Lin paused.
She definitely did not dare provoke that terrifying devil.
After she finished eating, Gu Yunche prepared to leave, only for Bai Lin to grab his arm.
“Brother Yunche, stay with me a little longer. Being alone in the hospital is really boring.”
Gu Yunche rolled up his shirt sleeve and checked his watch.
“Alright.”
He sat back down and peeled an apple for Bai Lin.
Around dinnertime, Zhang Qingqing arrived.
The moment she entered, she said,
“I already delivered Sister Mu Cheng’s meal. Brother Yunche, after dinner, can you help me solve a few problems?”
Looking at the lively and energetic Zhang Qingqing, who seemed to have completely forgotten yesterday’s unpleasantness, Gu Yunche did not think too deeply about it and agreed.
That night, after dinner, Mu Cheng was sitting in the guesthouse eating sunflower seeds and reading a newly purchased newspaper when she suddenly heard a knock at the door.
Cautiously, she asked,
“Who is it?”
Qi Heng answered nervously,
“It’s me, Qi Heng!”