In the afternoon, Liu Xing’an and Qin He went inside.
Qin He studied under Liu Xing’an for a while on simple structures when the phone on the table rang.
She picked it up and glanced at it. It was from Gu Qichen, containing those golden thread patterns that were mentioned in the "Wanfang Theory of Patterns."
Those golden thread patterns had all been scanned. She had told Gu Qin Shen before that she wanted a copy, and it seemed Gu Qichen had sent them to her now.
Qin He frowned as she looked at the patterns on her phone. Due to the special scanning method, the patterns on the phone were not very clear.
Qin He spread out a few sheets of paper on the table and picked up a small brush to meticulously sketch the patterns.
She intended to draw them clearly and then give them to Qian Zimo to research their origin.
While drawing, Qin He was exceptionally focused, her eyes cast down as she sketched stroke by stroke.
A moment later, the phone on the table rang again. She picked it up and looked.
It was a message from Gu Qichen: 【Where are you now?】
Qin He replied: 【At Master’s place for a while. You?】
Gu Qichen’s reply was brief, just two words: 【In a meeting.】
Qin He chuckled softly, recalling Gu Qichen’s serious expression while checking his phone during meetings.
She stayed with Liu Xing’an until evening, taking photos of all the patterns she had sketched for archival purposes.
In the evening, they had dinner at the courtyard house.
After dinner, Qin He and Liu Xing’an sat on the steps of the courtyard house, eating slices of watermelon.
Liu Xing’an ate while looking at Qin He with disdain, "You're even spitting out watermelon seeds."
Qin He smiled. It was already summer, and the evening breeze was cool and comfortable. Life in the small courtyard was truly pleasant.
If only life could continue like this forever.
However, a heavy stone still weighed on her heart.
As long as Shen Yicong was not found, she could not feel at ease.
After finishing their fruit, Qin He accompanied her master’s wife to finish the chores before leaving.
Back at the Qin family home, Qin He washed up and lay in bed, contemplating recent events.
Her intuition told her Shen Yicong was definitely not dead, but she was unsure of his current whereabouts.
After pondering for a long time, Qin He frowned. It was better to live their own lives well, as Gu Qichen had suggested, rather than thinking about these things now.
She rested at home for two days before going to Gu’s Corporation.
Qing Sui was developing quite well. With Qin He's reputation as a master perfumer and Qing Sui's team of skilled perfumers, the company had already launched several best-selling fragrances shortly after its establishment.
Qin He spent the morning at Qing Sui, writing down several perfume formulas she had researched over the past few years for Li Ai.
These formulas were enough for Qing Sui to release this year, and she didn’t need to manage much else.
After answering a few questions from the perfumers and smelling a few new fragrances planned for launch, Qin He left Qing Sui and took the elevator to the top floor.
The top floor was Gu Qichen’s office. As Qin He approached the door, she saw an elegant woman carrying coffee walking from the opposite direction.
The woman glanced at Qin He: "Who are you?"
Qin He felt the strong hostility emanating from the woman.
"I'm looking for Gu Qichen."
The woman pursed her lips and sized Qin He up: "What's your name?"
"Qin He."
"Mm, wait here, I'll inform him." The woman pushed the door open and went inside.
Qin He's brows furrowed. She had been to Gu's Corporation more than once and had never seen this woman before.
She was wearing the uniform of the General Secretariat office, but the skirt of the uniform was not that short. It was clear the woman had altered it herself.
Qin He let out a cold laugh. The intention behind the alteration was quite clear.
Before the woman could speak, she opened the door, and Qin He followed right behind her into the office.
The woman clearly didn't notice. Upon entering the room, she accentuated her already graceful waist, walking to Gu Qichen's desk with the coffee.
"Mr. Gu, your coffee."
Qin He’s brows creased slightly. Gu Qichen, seated at his desk, was looking at documents and did not lift his head. "Put it down."
The woman looked somewhat unwilling, slightly bending over. The two unbuttoned buttons on her collar opened even wider with this movement.
"Mr. Gu, there's a woman at the door looking for you."
"A woman?" Gu Qichen's voice was crisp. "Does she have an appointment?"
"I don't know, but since she's already at the door, she probably doesn't have an appointment." The woman's voice was syrupy sweet.
Gu Qichen looked up, his dark brows furrowed. His handsome face was cold and emotionless. "Please leave and don't let people in casually."
The woman smiled in response. Gu Qichen then saw Qin He standing at the door.
Qin He stood with her arms crossed, looking at him with a half-smile.
Gu Qichen's eyes softened: "Why are you here?"
The woman turned around when she saw Qin He and her eyebrows knitted. "When did you get in? Didn't I tell you to wait at the door for me to announce you?"
Qin He lazily pointed at Gu Qichen: "He doesn't have an issue, do you?"
The woman froze and looked over.
Gu Qichen had already stood up and walked to Qin He's side. When he looked at her, his gaze was still warm. "Leave."
The woman gritted her teeth and turned to leave.
Qin He watched her, then shifted her feet, blocking her path.
"When did you start working at Gu's Corporation?"
The woman glanced at Gu Qichen. Seeing that he remained silent, she replied, "I joined three days ago and am still in my internship period."
Qin He nodded. "You graduated from a prestigious foreign university, right?"
"How did you know?" The woman raised her chin with a touch of arrogance. "I graduated from M University."
Qin He smiled. "I figured if you had graduated domestically, you would have recognized me."
"Then let me introduce myself." Qin He raised a hand, tugged at Gu Qichen's tie, and turned to the woman with a provocative smile. "I am your CEO's girlfriend, and his future wife."
The woman's expression changed, and she dared not utter a sound.
Qin He swept her gaze meaningfully over the woman's altered skirt. "Everyone in Gu's General Secretariat office is a graduate of a renowned university. Since you're here at Gu's, work hard and don't harbor unrealistic ideas."
The woman responded with a murmur and turned to leave.
Qin He watched the door close, then smiled playfully. "Do you think she regrets being caught by the main wife due to her carelessness, or will she truly realize her mistake and focus on her work from now on?"
Gu Qichen lowered his dark eyes, watching her playful demeanor.
Especially her possessive declaration just now, which made his heart stir.
"I don't know, and it doesn't matter." Gu Qichen reached out, lifted her up, and placed her on the desk behind him. "What made you decide to visit me?"
"What, if I don't come, you might be eaten by a temptress," Qin He pouted.
Gu Qichen stared at her slightly protruding lips, his gaze deepening.