He seems to be alone.
Qin Mingzhu asked curiously, “Are you working?”
“No.” Gu Jingchen initiated a call and said calmly, “Aunt Li isn’t home today. I’m asking her what’s going on.”
Qin Mingzhu had never realized she could react so fast.
The instant the call connected, she, in a lightning-quick motion, precisely hit the hang-up button.
Gu Jingchen slowly lifted his gaze, his obsidian-like eyes fixed on her, and said firmly, “You’d better give me an explanation that makes sense.”
Qin Mingzhu tried hard to stay calm. “I think if I explain it, it would be closer to the truth than Aunt Li’s version.”
“Is that so?” Gu Jingchen flipped his phone, leaning back against the chair. “Go ahead, tell me.”
Qin Mingzhu realized a truth: whether it’s good fortune or misfortune, if it’s trouble, you can’t avoid it.
But she genuinely felt she was in the right this time. “Aunt Li’s son was sent here specifically to mess with me.”
Gu Jingchen narrowed his eyes. Qin Mingzhu immediately pointed at him. “Don’t ask me why Aunt Li wants to target me I don’t believe you don’t know!”
“I’ll talk to her alone about this,” Gu Jingchen said, pressing his fingers to his forehead.
“You’d better do it soon, or who knows what she’ll send next time to irritate me,” Qin Mingzhu put on a dramatic act, covering her eyes and whining, “If I hadn’t reacted quickly, I’d be the one leaving the villa now.”
Gu Jingchen pulled her hand away, and as expected, not a single tear fell.
“Your acting needs work,” he said softly.
It seemed the matter with Aunt Li had been lightly brushed aside.
Qin Mingzhu felt relieved and, looking back, thought her earlier state of alertness had been a bit ridiculous.
She adjusted her pillow and said thoughtfully, “I thought you’d side with Aunt Li.”
Gu Jingchen looked at her as if she were crazy. “I think I just vouched for you.”
He leaned over to tuck the blanket around her and instructed, “I’m leaving. Behave tonight; tomorrow you’ll be discharged.”
The familiar scent from him made Qin Mingzhu’s heartbeat uncontrollable again. She closed her eyes, feeling the blanket being tucked in around her bit by bit.
When the man reached the door, she whispered softly, “Gu Jingchen, you seem… lonely.”
Gu Jingchen’s brows twitched; his eyes turned cold. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking of some ex-boyfriend.”
“No, I’ve never dated,” she said, opening her eyes. The gentle light in her eyes was warm, like spring water shimmering.
Even Gu Jingchen was momentarily distracted.
Then she said, “You’re like my grandma.”
Gu Jingchen: …
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to resist the urge to slam the door. “Goodbye.”
The door closed slowly, and the room returned to quiet.
Qin Mingzhu hugged the blanket, thinking he really did remind her of her grandmother.
He would tuck her in and make her behave, not run around.
Perhaps because she had thought of her grandmother before sleep, Qin Mingzhu actually dreamt of her that night.
She slept deeply and woke up feeling completely restored.
“Madam, get up and have breakfast,”
The advantage of a VIP ward was the private bathroom.
Qin Mingzhu finished washing up and changed into the clothes Xu Yan had brought, then sat at the table and lifted the lid of the thermal container.
“Millet porridge?” She frowned.
Xu Yan apologized, “Your gastritis hasn’t fully recovered. The doctor said this is best for your stomach.”
“But I can’t swallow millet porridge,” Qin Mingzhu complained, making a silly gesture with her tongue out.
Xu Yan couldn’t help but smile.
“You can smile?” Qin Mingzhu exclaimed, as if discovering a new world.
Since meeting Xu Yan, this was the first time she’d seen him smile.
Xu Yan awkwardly lowered his gaze. “Madam, you flatter me. I’m human too, of course I can smile.”
“You look so good when you smile. Smile more from now on,” Qin Mingzhu said, stirring her steaming porridge.
Unknowingly, her casual words made Xu Yan’s ears flush.
Xu Yan’s task for the morning was to accompany Qin Mingzhu.
Though they’d only been married three days, Gu Jingchen already had a sense of her personality.
For example, she could never stay idle in the hospital.
Less than half an hour after breakfast, Qin Mingzhu was already clamoring to be discharged.
“I’ve been observed overnight. Nothing’s wrong,” Qin Mingzhu pleaded, holding Xu Yan’s arm. “Just take me shopping I won’t eat anything bad, I promise.”
Xu Yan felt overwhelmed. He eventually hid in the bathroom to call Gu Jingchen. “Sir, I think Madam has mostly recovered.”
Gu Jingchen was speechless. If he could push someone as patient as Xu Yan to this point, it said a lot.
He rubbed his forehead. “Fine. Keep an eye on her. Don’t let her buy street food.”
Xu Yan breathed a sigh of relief. “Don’t worry.”
“Thanks for your hard work,” Gu Jingchen said sincerely.
If Qin Mingzhu had any talent, shopping would definitely be in her top three.
Wearing seven-centimeter heels, she walked for three full hours through the bustling streets…
Xu Yan looked down at his own flat shoes and finally realized the gap between people.
Her legs must have been killing her, yet Qin Mingzhu seemed ready to go for another three hours.
Even scarier, she hadn’t even sat down except for brief rests in soft chairs most of the time, she never touched a seat!
Madam Gu was… terrifying!
“Xu Yan why are you standing there doing nothing?”
Qin Mingzhu ran over excitedly.
She was so happy this morning. Had she known Gu Jingchen had almost every high-end membership, she would have gone shopping immediately after the wedding!
Everything she picked could be delivered to her home; she just needed to browse, nod, and have her favorite bags, dresses, and shoes appear in her closet!
She reached Xu Yan and noticed he looked pale.
“Ah!” Qin Mingzhu felt guilty and patted her palm. “Sorry! I forgot to ask if you could handle this.”
“It’s fine,” Xu Yan said, shaking his head nervously. “Accompanying Madam shopping is my duty. Let’s continue.”
“Never mind, I’m a bit hungry. Let’s go pick some cakes at the bakery.”
The bakery had a seating area. Qin Mingzhu picked a corner and said, “I’ll get a chocolate cake. What do you think?”
“Well…” Xu Yan hesitated and closed his notebook. “Sorry, Madam, I just checked my notes. You’ve just recovered; you probably shouldn’t eat sweets yet.”
“Ah!” Qin Mingzhu sighed. “Fine, I’ll order one for you too, so it counts as me eating it.”
The shop happened to offer DIY cakes. Qin Mingzhu’s eyes sparkled. “You eat first, I’ll go make one in the back.”
Consider it repayment for Gu Jingchen’s “rescue” last night.
Xu Yan, exhausted from the morning, didn’t argue and quietly waited.
Less than twenty minutes later, Qin Mingzhu emerged from the kitchen.