Qin He walked the man to the window, only then did she feel something was amiss.
Although Gu Qichen had climbed through the window to get in, it wouldn't be appropriate to have him climb out again.
"Never mind, I'll take you out," Qin He whispered. "This is the second floor, after all. If you get hurt again, I can't be responsible."
She directly took Gu Qichen's hand, intending to stop him from jumping out the window.
But upon touching his warm palm, Qin He's face flushed.
Immediately, his hand tightened its grip on hers.
Qin He quietly opened a crack in the door, remembering the lesson from being caught by Di Shishi at the villa last time!
She poked her head out halfway, and after confirming the corridor was empty, she pulled Gu Qichen outside.
Ten minutes later, Qin He had avoided all surveillance and patrolling personnel, and escorted Gu Qichen to the front gate of the Qin family residence.
"Alright, you should hurry back now." Qin He felt much more energetic.
Gu Qichen's gaze was deep. "The next time I return, it will be after the contract is signed."
"En," Qin He nodded. "It's only a few more days. I'll keep an eye on the West District."
She used the West District to change the subject.
Gu Qichen smiled. "I'm not talking about the West District. What I care about is, will you miss me?"
Qin He's face flushed slightly. "It's only a few more days in total."
After she spoke, she saw Gu Qichen still staring at her.
"I'll try to miss you."
Gu Qichen chuckled, amused by Qin He's somewhat shy and flustered answer.
"Since we're dating now, what do couples usually do when they part ways?"
Qin He glared. "Say goodbye!"
She knew what Gu Qichen was hinting at. A farewell kiss or something similar, which she was still too shy to do.
Gu Qichen chuckled again and reached out, pulling Qin He into his arms.
It was only a gentle hug before they parted.
"I won't pressure you too much. I'll wait for you to accept me bit by bit."
With that, Gu Qichen turned and walked back to his car.
Back at the Qin residence, Qin He touched her chest. Her heart had been beating very fast whenever she was with Gu Qichen tonight.
It felt like a palpitation, spreading from her chest.
She and Gu Qichen were now officially dating.
This thought kept resurfacing, and Qin He sighed softly. Had she been too impulsive?
Why did she agree?
But then she remembered him flying back from Country Y overnight when he appeared in her room.
A smile touched Qin He's lips.
She silently told herself that since she had made up her mind, she wouldn't look back.
The next day.
Qin He only woke up at ten-thirty in the morning. When she went downstairs, her mother, Old Mrs. Ming, and Fang Meiyan were already sitting in the living room.
"Grandma, Aunt, good morning."
"Good morning, He'er," they replied with smiles.
Ming Yuzhu glanced at Qin He. "Why are you waking up so late today? Didn't you go to your room to rest very early yesterday?"
"I've been feeling sleepy lately," Qin He said guiltily.
"It's alright, what's wrong with a child sleeping a little more?" Old Mrs. Ming smiled and then looked at Qin He tenderly. "He'er, we've already eaten breakfast. Hurry to the dining room and eat yours."
Qin He happily agreed.
"Mom, you just spoil her. She's not a child anymore. In just over two months, she'll be a mother herself."
Ming Yuzhu's voice came from behind. Qin He's face was filled with a happy smile. If only Grandma could always stay at the Qin residence.
After breakfast, Qin He tidied herself up and planned to go to the West District United Department.
Before she left, Ming Yuzhu said a few more words. Old Mrs. Ming immediately chimed in, and then reminded Qin He to be careful on the road.
Qin He drove to the West District United Department and first went to Liu Xinan's office.
Liu Xinan was carving wood in his office. He looked up as Qin He entered and immediately waved. "You're here at the right time. Master will teach you something else today."
Qin He was mainly there to oversee things at the West District United Department, with not much official business. She didn't return to her own office and instead learned how to craft the Hundred Treasure Box in Liu Xinan's office.
The making of the Hundred Treasure Box was very complex. Although called a Hundred Treasure Box, it was more like a large secret box.
Its concealment was much better than a secret box.
"Master, this thing is truly excellent for hiding things," Qin He praised, looking at the finished Hundred Treasure Box.
Liu Xinan stared at the completed box with great pride.
"Of course. I have one at home. I've been using it to hide my private savings for decades, and my wife has never found out."
Qin He snorted with laughter, feeling like she had uncovered a big secret.
"It will look even better after being oiled and painted," Liu Xinan mused. "Actually, this kind of box would look even better with mother-of-pearl inlay, but the craft of mother-of-pearl inlay is also declining now. Most of it is done by machines, completely losing its soul."
"Things that cannot be mass-produced will eventually be abandoned by capital," Qin He sighed softly.
She fiddled with the Hundred Treasure Box.
From the outside, this Hundred Treasure Box looked like a two-layered antique dressing case.
Even when pulling open a drawer, the depth of the drawer appeared to fit perfectly with the box, making it completely impossible to imagine there was a hidden compartment.
This was something new Liu Xinan had taught her. It used the combination and stacking of wood to create visual deception.
What appeared to be a thin bottom layer could actually accommodate something an inch thick beneath it.
Qin He stared for a moment, and a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
Wan Fang Lun was currently on her bedroom bookshelf. Although she had completely hidden it within another book, just having it placed there made her uneasy.
Just as Qin Yun had said last time, even if they didn't know where it was, if someone stole all those books, Wan Fang Lun would be lost.
This Hundred Treasure Box would be a good place to hide Wan Fang Lun.
Qin He thought for a moment.
"Master, teach me to make another Hundred Treasure Box."
Liu Xinan looked at Qin He suspiciously.
"It's rare for you to be this diligent today."
The master and apprentice worked until the afternoon. The mobile phone on Qin He's desk rang. She walked over, picked it up, and glanced at it. It was Gu Qichen calling.
Qin He glanced at Liu Xinan and walked to a corner to answer the phone.
Gu Qichen's voice on the other end was deep and filled with concern. "You went to the West District United Department?"
"Yes. While you're away, I have to oversee things here. The matters at the United Department are nearing completion, and nothing can go wrong now," Qin He said softly.
Gu Qichen acknowledged. "Take care of yourself. Call me anytime if anything comes up."
Qin He checked the time. "At this hour, shouldn't you be playing golf with Wilson?"
"We're playing, I just took a break to call you." Gu Qichen's voice was low. "I felt like calling because I miss you."
Qin He blushed.
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's. "Then come back early."
For someone as aloof as Gu Qichen, a simple "I miss you" was probably already a very direct expression of affection.