Qin He's heart settled. If Gu Qishen stayed in Haicheng, her purpose for coming here would be meaningless.
However, hearing that Gu Qishen was returning tonight, she felt an inexplicable sense of loss.
"I can come back tomorrow afternoon."
Qin He was stunned. "Ah?"
Gu Qishen's gaze was calm, as if stating something ordinary. "For the next two and a half months, I can handle company matters every morning and pick you up around three in the afternoon to go out."
Qin He: "..."
That's completely unnecessary!
If that were the case, she'd have no way to hide the matter of the child!
The two sat by the creek for a while. Qin He felt a bit hungry and drove with Gu Qishen to a restaurant in the city center.
The Ming Residence.
In the living room, Ming Yuzhu and Fang Meiyan were chatting.
Ming Chi walked in from the outer room.
"Aunt, Mom."
Ming Yuzhu saw the pastry box in his hand and smiled. "Did you go out to buy pastries?"
"He'er used to love pastries from this shop the most. I queued up specifically for it today," Ming Chi said with a smile. "Where is He'er?"
Ming Yuzhu checked the time.
"At this hour, she should have finished her walk and be resting in her room."
Ming Chi nodded, carrying the pastry box into the first-floor corridor and to Qin He's door. He knocked gently.
"He'er?"
There was no response from inside.
Ming Chi knocked twice more.
The knocking here also alerted Ming Yuzhu and Fang Meiyan in the living room.
Ming Yuzhu frowned and looked up at a maid.
"Has Miss returned?"
The maid looked confused. "I was cleaning in the corridor just now and didn't see Miss come back."
Ming Yuzhu's expression darkened, and she stood up.
He had thought Qin He had finished her walk in the garden and returned to her room.
"Butler, have someone search the garden for Miss!" Ming Yuzhu said.
The butler hurried off.
Fang Meiyan advised from the side, "He'er has been feeling cooped up indoors lately. Perhaps she's just playing in the garden a bit longer. Don't be so anxious."
Ming Yuzhu's face showed a hint of worry.
"Lately, the Lin family has been increasingly at odds with us. How can I not worry? I'll only be at ease if she's under my watch."
Ming Chi had returned to the living room with the pastry box.
"Don't worry, Aunt. He'er must be playing in the garden."
Fang Meiyan looked at the weather and gestured to Ming Chi.
"It's getting cooler. Ming Chi, go get a jacket for your sister."
Ming Chi put down the pastry box and responded.
After leaving the living room, Ming Chi walked a dozen steps before taking out his phone to call Qin He.
Six in the evening.
Qin He, accompanied by Gu Qishen, had spent the day out and was now strolling through the night market.
Haicheng was a tourist city, and many places had vibrant night markets in the evening.
This was something Qingcheng didn't have. Qin He was in high spirits, pulling Gu Qishen through the various night markets, picking up interesting trinkets to show him.
At this moment, Qin He was stopped at a small stall, looking at a hairpin. These hairpins were carved from wood and were very interesting.
Just as she raised her hand to hand it to Gu Qishen, her phone rang in her pocket.
Qin He took it out and glanced at it. It was Ming Chi calling.
She looked at Gu Qishen, who was standing at the stall, and walked aside, answering the call as she went.
"Brother, what's wrong?"
Ming Chi's voice on the other end was anxious. "He'er, where did you go? Aunt is about to get angry."
Qin He winced, recalling Ming Yuzhu's angry demeanor, and sighed.
"I was really bored at home, so I just came out for a walk."
"I know you ran out. The security guard at the back door already told me. Where are you now? I'll come pick you up," Ming Chi said anxiously.
Qin He looked at the night market, then at Gu Qishen not far away.
"Cousin, I'll be back on my own later. Don't worry."
Saying this, Qin He checked the time. It was 6:10. She calculated the distance and earnestly promised, "I'll be home before seven."
"Hurry back. When you return, I'll tell you about the situation in Haicheng. It's not as safe as you think outside. It's not that Aunt wants to restrain you," Ming Chi said.
Qin He sighed softly and looked at Gu Qishen not far away.
Many of the lights in the night market were strung up by themselves. Amidst the colorful lights, Gu Qishen stood out in the crowd. He always had a way of making others seem like a mere backdrop, no matter where he appeared.
Thinking about how they had spent the entire day, Qin He's expression gradually softened.
She had once thought Gu Qishen was annoying, then that he was cold and unfeeling. But she hadn't expected him to rush to Haicheng at a single phone call and then spend the entire day with her like this.
Qin He took a deep breath. She felt something in her heart melting, like frozen earth cracking, and a nameless emotion began to stir within her.
Qin He took another deep breath. She suddenly made a decision.
It was impulsive, but the decision was made in an instant.
She walked towards Gu Qishen. Sometimes, one's choices should be bolder.
She wanted to tell him that the child in her belly was his.
A dozen steps away, Gu Qishen was standing at the stall, paying for the hairpin Qin He had been admiring.
Qin He's steps quickened. She was only a few steps away from the stall.
Suddenly, a person appeared in the crowd and rushed directly towards Qin He.
She immediately dodged, protecting her belly. The person brushed past her.
Qin He patted her chest. That was close. The night market was so chaotic.
As Qin He was thinking this, she saw out of the corner of her eye that the person was turning back and rushing towards her again!
Her heart suddenly jolted. This person wasn't just blindly stumbling; they were coming for her!
Ming Chi's words from the phone call flashed through Qin He's mind: Haicheng is very dangerous now!
The person's skill was clearly high. As Qin He tried to sidestep again, her heavy belly made her body unable to dodge as nimbly!
Something flashing with cold light streaked past her eyes!
Qin He cried out urgently.
"Gu Qishen!"
Gu Qishen had just finished paying with his phone when he heard a scream!
Then came the continuous exclamations from the people in the surrounding night market!
He immediately turned around, his gaze sharp as he swept over, and strode towards Qin He!
Qin He was covering her belly, slumped on the ground.
Gu Qishen rushed forward and pulled her up. He glanced casually at the fleeing figure disappearing into the crowd.
He didn't have time to pursue. He squatted down and immediately picked Qin He up. "Are you alright?"