The next day.
Since it was the weekend, Qin He arrived at the Joint Department early.
In the conference room, she and Gu Qichen sat side by side.
The head of Gu’s company made a suggestion: “The artificial lake we planned has a complex underground network of gas and water pipelines. We are verifying with various departments to reroute them.”
Qin He frowned. Rerouting would be troublesome if there were so many pipes.
She thought for a moment, “Are you sure there are no other pipelines?”
Gu Qichen spoke from the side, “I will go to the site with President Qin this afternoon. Let’s proceed to the next item.”
Qin He silently turned to look at him. When did she say she would go in person?
However, a site visit might be necessary.
After the meeting ended, Qin He returned to her office.
Not long after, someone knocked on the door. Qin He called out, and Yu Jing stood smiling at the door.
“President Qin, these are pastries sent from the old residence for you. The old lady heard you were at the Joint Department and specifically had them made for you.”
Sent by Grandma Gu.
Qin He thought for a moment, “Put them down. How has Grandma Gu been lately?”
She had promised to visit Grandma Gu every week, and she hadn’t gone this week yet.
Yu Jing replied respectfully, “She’s in good spirits and hasn’t had an episode recently.”
“That’s good.”
After Yu Jing left, Qin He opened the food basket and took a look.
They were all her favorite pastries. Grandma Gu must know her tastes very well.
A warmth spread in Qin He’s eyes. She tasted a small pastry and found a drama on her tablet, sitting down to watch.
It was the end of the month, and Qin’s company had a lot of work to do. Although she was stationed at the Joint Department on the weekend, there wasn’t much else happening.
Qin He narrowed her eyes, searching for a Korean drama, a romance.
After watching two episodes, there was movement at the door again.
Qin He thought it was Yu Jing, “Come in.”
The door opened, and Gu Qichen walked in.
Qin He looked up, “Didn’t the meeting end? Does President Gu need something?”
Gu Qichen’s voice was calm, “The air conditioner in my office is broken. I’ll borrow your space.”
The air conditioner was broken?
It was summer, and the temperature had soared to thirty degrees today. Qin He thought for a moment, “You can sit here.”
She got up and offered her desk, then sat down on the sofa.
In the office, the sound of the drama occasionally came from Qin He’s tablet, while Gu Qichen perused documents.
Qin He looked up from her tablet, secretly glancing at him.
The man sat upright, his sleeves rolled up, revealing half of his arm.
A white shirt, tanned skin, an expensive watch…
Every detail exuded a noble aura.
Seeing Gu Qichen occasionally reviewing documents, Qin He quietly turned down the volume of her tablet.
The afternoon sun was fierce, shining through the window behind.
Qin He yawned. Gu Qichen, behind the desk, had already stood up.
“Are you free for lunch?”
Qin He lazily asked, “Is something wrong?”
“You lent me your desk, so I’ll treat you to lunch.”
Qin He wanted to say no, but met his businesslike expression.
It was lunchtime anyway, so Qin He got up, “Let’s go then.”
The two of them came out of the Joint Department, and Yu Jing was already waiting by the door in his car.
The West District was undergoing renovation, and half of the restaurants and eateries were closed.
Yu Jing drove, with Gu Qichen and Qin He in the back seat.
She subtly scanned the interior. The man’s presence was undeniable, and in the small car, she felt a constant sense of being encroached upon.
“Where are we going to eat? Is it far?” Qin He asked after half an hour.
Gu Qichen shifted his gaze, “Hungry?”
His voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of indulgence.
Qin He pursed her lips, perhaps she had misheard, “A little.”
“Yu Jing, how much longer?”
“President Gu, another twenty minutes.”
Qin He listened to their conversation, her brow furrowing slightly, “Anything will do.”
Gu Qichen’s lips curved slightly for a moment, then he said, “Yan Chen recently opened a restaurant around here and has been wanting to invite people to try the food and offer suggestions.”
Qin He raised her eyebrows slightly, “So President Gu is passing on the favor from someone else.”
Gu Qichen chuckled softly, “Then I’ll treat you again next time.”
No need!
Qin He narrowed her eyes. Last time at the bar, Yan Chen had helped her and Xu Wanwan.
If they were going, they were going.
Yan Chen’s restaurant was located in the prime location of South City.
It was a Japanese restaurant. Qin He followed Gu Qichen inside. After they were seated and had ordered, the atmosphere became much more relaxed.
Qin He was already hungry and only had eyes for the food.
Gu Qichen picked up a slice of fish and placed it on the small plate in front of her, “Grandma called today and said she wants to see you. Aren’t you supposed to visit her once a week?”
Qin He nodded, “It’s been busy with month-end at the company, I almost forgot. I’ll go this afternoon.”
Gu Qichen hummed, “I’m also going back to the old residence this afternoon. I’ll give you a ride.”
“No need.” Qin He frowned slightly, “I can drive myself there.”
“Your car is at the Joint Department. If you go back to get it and then go to the old residence, it will waste a lot of time on the road,” Gu Qichen said with a calm expression. “I happen to be going back to the old residence to pick up some documents, and I’ll be returning to the West District afterward.”
That made sense, so Qin He said no more.
After they finished eating, the two of them walked out side by side.
Yan Chen wasn’t there, so Qin He gave Gu Qichen her feedback on the dishes.
As they walked towards the door, a young couple who were paying looked over.
The woman stared at Gu Qichen, and Qin He subtly heard a gasp.
She glanced sideways and silently mused that when Nuwa created people, she must have spent years sculpting Gu Qichen.
A darling of heaven.
The two of them left the restaurant and got into the car.
“Back to the old residence,” Gu Qichen told Yu Jing.
The restaurant was not far from the old residence. As the car drove into a small city square, Yu Jing got out, “President Gu, I’m going.”
Qin He watched Yu Jing walk towards the small square, “What is he doing there?”
Gu Qichen’s gaze deepened, “Buying chestnuts. Grandma really likes the candied chestnut shop here. I always bring some back for her when I visit.”
Qin He looked out at the small square. It was surrounded by small shops, with well-maintained greenery and a beautiful grove of trees.
She rested her chin on her hand, feeling like she had been here before, the place seemed familiar.
After more than ten minutes, Yu Jing returned carrying two bags of chestnuts.
A rich aroma filled the car. Qin He narrowed her eyes, the smell was sweet and fragrant.
Gu Qichen seemed to sense her craving, asked Yu Jing for one bag, and handed it to Qin He.
Qin He took it. The surface of the candied chestnuts was still slightly sticky. After peeling a few, her fingers were already a little black.
Qin He ate happily, the familiar taste making her eyes crinkle with a smile.
“Have I eaten this before?” Qin He asked.
Gu Qichen’s gaze deepened, with a hint of probing in his eyes, “Yes.” The maid at home said that Qin He often bought chestnuts from this shop.
“No wonder this taste feels so familiar.”
Qin He didn’t think any further.