Gu Qichen's eyes flickered, "Seven o'clock tonight. The afternoon staff from the Joint Department will be off work, and we can go straight there."
Qin He asked with enthusiasm, "Okay, do we need to prepare formal attire?"
"Business casual is fine." Gu Qichen gazed at Qin He's radiant little face, "Your family has a conflict with the Vinson family, right? The Vinsons were in the mafia in Italy years ago. Aren't you scared?"
Qin He tugged at the corner of her lips, "A small conflict. It's just that the rumors outside are a bit exaggerated."
Gu Qichen's lips curved slightly, "Since I'm taking you, in return, I'd like to know what this 'small conflict' is about."
Qin He pondered for a moment, "There's nothing that can't be said. The Vinson family's young master, Solly Vinson, pursued me. Their Italian way of pursuing people is too passionate, and my brother beat him up."
At that time, the Vinson family had just moved to Qingcheng from Italy. Her brother's actions weren't overly harsh, but by coincidence, when Solly fell, he hit his head and almost didn't survive.
Qin He explained the matter.
Gu Qichen's brow furrowed, "You almost beat the Vinson family's only son to death. You call that a small conflict?"
Qin He smiled brightly, "Yes, it was an accidental injury after all. Although the Vinson family still holds a grudge, since we're both in Qingcheng, they won't say anything even if I attend the banquet."
Gu Qichen was silent for a few seconds. This woman's thick skin was quite something at times—
Having received Qin He's consent, he stood up to leave.
Qin He walked him a couple of steps to the door. Gu Qichen turned and glanced at her wrist.
"This bracelet is nice."
"Mm, Yi Lin gave it to me," Qin He replied casually.
Gu Qichen's gaze dimmed slightly, "Qin He, Shen Yi Lin isn't a child anymore."
"I know, he's a university student."
Gu Qichen felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest. Did she truly not understand?
Yet, her beautiful face held an expression of genuine openness.
...
After spending the afternoon at the Joint Department, Qin He listened to a few reports, and it was already five o'clock.
She was already wearing business attire, so she didn't need to change. When it was time to get off work, she went to Gu Qichen's office.
He was still reviewing a document, "Sit down, please. Wait five minutes."
"It's alright, I'm not in a hurry." Qin He sat on the sofa in the office. Yu Jing brought her tea.
The office was minimalist. As Qin He drank her tea, she found herself unconsciously looking at Gu Qichen through the rising steam.
When this man was focused, there was a hint of coldness in his deep eyes.
Qin He silently sighed, thinking that some people's existence was perhaps the creator's malice towards ordinary people.
During her time as Gu Qichen's colleague, Qin He had come to know the man's talent, his meticulous thinking, and his strategic foresight.
The wealth accumulated over generations of the Gu family had instilled in him an air of noble demeanor in his every movement.
With all these advantages, he was also blessed with a handsome and distinguished appearance.
Such a person, in olden times, would have been a ruler. But in the present day, he created a sense of insurmountable distance.
Qin He found herself staring, lost in thought. She could probably understand how she had been infatuated with him over the past two years.
If she hadn't known Gu Qichen was a scumbag now, she might have chosen a man of this type as her boyfriend.
As Qin He was lost in her thoughts while staring at him, the man she was observing suddenly looked up.
She almost dropped her teacup, coughed lightly, and averted her gaze.
Gu Qichen was punctual. He finished reviewing the document precisely in five minutes and noticed Qin He "peeking" at him.
His mood inexplicably improved slightly. A faint smile touched his lips, "Sorry to have kept you waiting."
Yu Jing entered from outside the door, "Mr. Gu, the car is arranged."
Gu Qichen stood up, "Let's go."
The Vinson family's banquet was held at a manor in the suburbs, a pure Baroque-style architecture, exuding utmost luxury.
Along the way, Gu Qichen told Qin He about the theme of the banquet.
The Vinson family's daughter, Doris Vinson, was turning eighteen, and it was a coming-of-age ceremony.
Qin He was indifferent, "I'm not interested in Miss Vinson. As long as I can meet that mortise and tenon master, that's all that matters."
But as the car approached the manor, she realized she had oversimplified things.
The long red carpet was enough to make one's scalp tingle.
"Is this a banquet or a fashion show?" she turned to Gu Qichen, "And this is what you called 'business casual is fine'?"
Gu Qichen nodded, "There's no strict rule that requires formal wear. I think you look better than them."
Rarely hearing this man compliment someone, Qin He felt somewhat taken aback.
But he had already gotten out of the car, walked to the other side, and gracefully opened the door for her.
Qin He gritted her teeth as she got out, lowering her voice, "If I didn't know you, I would think you deliberately brought me here to embarrass me!"
The phrase "If I didn't know you" seemed to melt some of the ice from Gu Qichen's eyes.
Qin He placed her hand on Gu Qichen's arm, a faint smile on her face, and walked forward with him.
She was wearing a fitted black suit jacket today. Her tall and slender figure, paired with the dignified and cold man, made them appear like a perfect couple.
The media on both sides of the red carpet began to whisper.
"Is that Gu Qichen and Qin He? Didn't they get divorced?"
"Yes, it's them. I just wrote a gossip piece about them a few weeks ago!"
"Qin He is actually prettier in person than on screen. I still think they look more suited to each other, and their social statuses are comparable."
Standing together, Qin He and Gu Qichen were both people with strong auras, neither overpowering the other. There was a strange sense of compatibility.
"I think Gu Qichen and Song Nuan are more like a hero and a beauty. A delicate little wife is more romantic, don't you think? I prefer Song Nuan's type," a male reporter whispered.
A female reporter beside him scoffed, "If you like 'green tea,' you'll never know how you'll be cuckolded in the future!"
Amidst the low murmurs, Gu Qichen and Qin He had already entered the manor.
Upon entering, a waiter guided them into the castle, and at that moment, the guests in the hall all turned to look.
Expressions of surprise flickered briefly, and then some people eagerly stepped forward to greet them.
"Mr. Gu, long time no see." Soon, several men surrounded Gu Qichen.
Qin He was happy to have a moment of respite and stepped back a few paces.
Not far away, a group of women in formal attire approached.
"Miss Qin, hello, I'm Bai Qingqing from the Bai family," one of the women said with a seemingly enthusiastic smile. "I've always heard about the eldest daughter of the Qin family and have wanted to befriend you, but I've never seen you out socializing."
"You can't call her Miss Qin anymore. I heard you're managing the Qin Corporation now, so you should be addressed as Ms. Qin."
"Qin He is truly capable. Unlike me, I only know how to shop and spend money. My father often scolds me, saying if I had half of Miss Qin's ability, he could wake up laughing in his dreams."
The group of women chuckled and chatted, their words laced with flattery towards Qin He.
Qin He maintained a gentle smile. She rarely attended banquets, precisely because she feared this!
Gu Qichen, surrounded by several men, glanced in Qin He's direction.
She stood amidst the crowd, her posture elegant. While being held by the arm by a woman and chattered at incessantly, she remained unhurried, her expression still smiling.
He couldn't help but inwardly chuckle.
Given Qin He's flamboyant personality, she must be extremely annoyed internally right now, right?