In the restaurant, Mu Cheng's bowl was half-filled with food as she ate in small bites.
She thanked Qi Heng, "Thank you, but please focus on your own meal. I have enough."
Zhang Qingqing noticed Qi Heng showering Mu Cheng with attention and couldn't hide a smug smile, which was caught by Gu Yunche.
She quickly lowered her head to continue eating, avoiding further glances at Mu Cheng and Qi Heng.
After the meal, Gu Yunche intended to escort Mu Cheng back, but Qi Heng mentioned that his return to the guesthouse was along the way, making Gu Yunche's escort unnecessary.
However, Gu Yunche blocked Mu Cheng's path, his gaze sharp and fixed on Qi Heng.
His tone was cold and firm, "I'll take Mu Cheng back. You may leave first."
Mu Cheng watched Gu Yunche holding the thermal container and thought he was being unnecessarily persistent.
Wasn't he supposed to be delivering food to Bai Lin at the hospital?
Why insist on seeing her home first?
Qi Heng fell short in both height and build compared to Gu Yunche, and his demeanor was relatively meek.
"Alright then, I'll take my leave."
After Qi Heng left, Gu Yunche turned to Mu Cheng. "We need to talk."
A serious talk?
In her own time, that ambiguous half-embrace she'd accidentally given him would have been trivial. But here, having embraced the esteemed Regiment Commander Gu, it felt almost sacrilegious.
Mu Cheng's confidence shrank dramatically, and she followed behind Gu Yunche with a meek, cautious air.
Gu Yunche interpreted her lingering as a sign of guilt.
He turned around. "Come here!"
Seeing his insistence, Mu Cheng approached and apologized directly.
"I didn't mean to grab or hug you earlier. I thought you'd left me behind, and when I saw you come back for me, I was just overwhelmed!"
She added, "It was like losing something very important to me and then finding it again!"
"Regaining what was lost?"
Gu Yunche was adept at summarizing, but she had to play dumb. "Huh?"
Gu Yunche cleared his throat lightly, fist pressed to his lips.
"Be more careful next time. Don't just… hug any man because you're excited or happy."
Any man?
Gu Yunche clearly maintained boundaries, categorizing himself as "any man."
"I understand!"
Mu Cheng complied readily, pulling a handful of sunflower seeds from her pocket. As they walked, she shelled them, collecting the husks in her palm to discard in a trash bin they passed.
Seeing her act as if nothing had happened only fueled Gu Yunche's irritation.
"Do you remember what you said yesterday?"
Mu Cheng had said plenty yesterday. Which specific statement was Gu Yunche referring to?
He hadn't expected her to be all talk—quick to speak, quick to forget. Her blank expression showed no effort to recall; she simply didn't remember.
"You said you wouldn't marry just any man casually, that you don't want that kind of life."
Gu Yunche's words were laced with frustration.
She had said that!
"I remember saying that," Mu Cheng frowned, puzzled. "What about it?"
Gu Yunche tightened his grip on the thermal container, veins bulging on his hand. "Then remember your own words and keep your distance from Qi Heng."
He had inquired about Qi Heng's family situation from Zhang Qingguo.
Qi Heng came from a well-off family, but his mother was domineering, and he obeyed her in everything. His previous relationships had ended because of her. Mu Cheng would only end up hurt if she associated with someone like Qi Heng.
Mu Cheng stuffed the melon seeds into her pocket, dusted off her hands, her eyes filled with helplessness.
In Gucheng Village, she had left Gu Yunche with the deeply ingrained impression of "clinging to men, trying to climb into bed to change her fate."
With both hands in her pockets, Mu Cheng wore a calm expression. "Liu E's foolish son made me wary of men to this day, so I'm not getting married. I plan to remain unmarried and childless, staying far away from men."
Her earnest demeanor didn't seem like she was lying at all.
Except, her skill at deception had always been exceptional—otherwise, how could she have tricked him into drinking that spiked liquor?
Gu Yunche responded with a faint, ambiguous smile. "Hmm, I'll believe you for now."
Mu Cheng rolled her eyes as she waited with Gu Yunche at the bus stop.
Seeing Mu Cheng fall silent, staring at the flow of people and traffic on the street, Gu Yunche thought she had taken his words to heart. He added, "Once you settle your residency and find a job, I'll have my parents help arrange a match for you. That Qi Heng… isn't suitable for you."
Mu Cheng quickly shook her head, waving her hands vigorously. "No, no, no—men bring misfortune to life. I really don't need one."
Why did her words sound so odd?
Gu Yunche raised an eyebrow. "Where did you learn to say that?"
Mu Cheng, "……"
She had been careful with her words, trying to be blunt to the point of alienation, yet she had still slipped up.
"Eldest Brother Gu, the bus is here!"
Just as the bus arrived, Mu Cheng hurriedly called Gu Yunche to board.
When they reached the guesthouse, Mu Cheng got off first. Gu Yunche watched as she cheerfully disembarked and waved at him, while Qi Heng unexpectedly appeared with two bottles of orange soda.
Sitting inside the bus, Gu Yunche could only watch as Mu Cheng accepted the orange soda Qi Heng handed her.
At the hospital, Zhang Qingqing had just left. Before heading to school, she had rushed to the hospital to tell Bai Lin about Mu Cheng hugging Gu Yunche.
On the surface, Bai Lin remained composed, but beneath the covers, her hands clenched the sheets tightly.
Zhang Qingqing knew her cousin was in love with Gu Yunche.
Every time Bai Lin received a letter from him, she would be elated all day.
Knowing Bai Lin's secret crush, Zhang Qingqing naturally wanted her to learn about Mu Cheng hugging Gu Yunche—so Bai Lin would cling to him, making the evening's plans proceed more smoothly.
After Zhang Qingqing left, Bai Lin's face fell.
Already feverish and disoriented, hearing this news fueled the fire in her heart, leaving her restless and agitated.
Suddenly, Gu Yunche pushed the door open and entered.
"Bai Lin, time to get up and eat."
Bai Lin's bright, dewy eyes welled with tears. "Yunche-ge, I've delayed your return to the city. I'm sorry."
Gu Yunche's tone was indifferent.
"It's not your fault. You're burning up with fever—how could you travel?"
He took out the food from the thermal container for Bai Lin to eat.
Bai Lin, hoping Gu Yunche would feed her, deliberately spoke weakly, "Just leave it there. I don't have the strength right now."
Gu Yunche gave a slight nod. "Alright!"
Bai Lin, "……"
Sitting idly, Gu Yunche grew bored and stood up to ask a nurse for a newspaper to read.
Bai Lin frowned, watching the exceptionally handsome man before her.
Her heart ached with bitterness—did he have nothing to say to her?
"Yunche-ge, I've been worried lately that my grades might slip after going to the capital. What if I can't keep up?"
Her eyes downcast, Bai Lin appeared gentle, pitiable, and full of melancholy.
"It's fine," Gu Yunche thought about how little time he spent at home. "If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask Gu Yunting. He's often around."
Bai Lin paused. She didn't dare provoke that tyrant.
After she finished her meal, Gu Yunche prepared to leave but was stopped by Bai Lin.
"Brother Yunche, stay with me a little longer. I get so bored alone in the hospital."
Gu Yunche rolled up his shirt sleeve to check his watch.
"Alright."
He sat down and peeled an apple for Bai Lin.
When dinnertime arrived, Zhang Qingqing came over.
As soon as she entered, she said, "I've already delivered Sister Muchen's meal. Brother Yunche, after dinner, could you explain a few problems to me?"
Gu Yunche looked at the energetic Zhang Qingqing. She seemed to have forgotten yesterday's unpleasantness, and without much thought, he agreed.
At night, after finishing dinner, Muchen was eating sunflower seeds and reading a newly bought newspaper when she heard a knock at the door.
She tentatively asked, "Who is it?"
Qi Heng nervously replied, "It's me, Qi Heng!"