Qin He chuckled sheepishly, following Liu Xing'an's instructions to dismantle the small box.
As she worked, she said, "I was thinking we could all have dinner together in the next couple of days when you and Auntie have some free time. I'll invite Director Shen from Qingcheng First Hospital, and it would be a good opportunity for him to check on Auntie too."
Liu Xing'an sighed softly. He had been getting along well with Gu Qishen and Qin He lately.
Especially his wife, who couldn't have children due to her health. Qin He had been visiting frequently to help her with her condition. They shared similar personalities, and his wife had come to regard Qin He almost as a daughter.
Under Liu Xing'an's guidance, Qin He managed to disassemble the small box.
When Liu Xing'an reassembled it, she was once again stumped, chuckling sheepishly, "I forgot the steps."
Liu Xing'an said with mock exasperation, "With a mind like that, how do you run a business?"
Qin He replied, feeling wronged, "You're the master in this field. If I could remember how to unlock it after just one try, wouldn't that make you lose face?"
Liu Xing'an was amused, "So, it's your masterful skill that's the problem?"
"Exactly, your supremely high level of skill."
As they bantered, someone pushed open the door and entered.
Qin He turned her head and saw Gu Qishen walking in.
No matter how many times she saw him, she was always struck by his appearance the first moment.
He possessed the cold, composed aura of ice and jade, yet his face was exceptionally handsome, with his dark eyes holding him captive.
Qin He was silent for a moment, thinking that Gu Qishen must have accumulated immense good karma over his past lives to be blessed with such looks, a prestigious family, and a sharp mind.
Gu Qishen, unaware of Qin He's thoughts, met her gaze for a moment. Seeing her peculiar expression, he turned to Liu Xing'an.
"Uncle Liu."
Liu Xing'an waved happily, "Come, Qishen, I made a little puzzle box. Xiao He can't figure it out, why don't you give it a try!"
Gu Qishen walked over to Qin He and sat down naturally.
He took the small box reassembled by Liu Xing'an, rested his arm on the table, and examined it from all four sides.
Qin He sat to the side, her gaze shifting from the small box to Gu Qishen's hands.
His fingers were long and slender, with clearly defined joints. His nails were trimmed impeccably clean and neat. As he applied slight pressure, the bones on the back of his hand subtly protruded.
Qin He quietly looked at her own hands, feeling a slight sense of balance. Her hands were also quite nice.
After examining the box from all sides, Gu Qishen quickly began to attempt its disassembly.
Qin He watched as Gu Qishen, within three minutes, tried each piece one by one. He suddenly had an idea and managed to dismantle the intricate little box, which was composed of twenty-one small wooden pieces.
"How did you do that?" Qin He's eyes widened.
Liu Xing'an mocked her from the side, "It's just because you're slow-witted."
Qin He gritted her teeth but didn't argue back, "Gu Qishen, your brain is indeed very useful."
Pleased by the compliment, Gu Qishen's lips curved into a rare smile, "I've been disassembling similar small boxes every day recently."
Qin He glared angrily at Liu Xing'an.
There wasn't much happening at the West District Joint Department today. The initial difficulties had all been resolved, and the project had entered a phase of rapid progress.
Qin He and Gu Qishen stayed in Liu Xing'an's office.
Liu Xing'an had a chessboard and a tea table.
Qin He and Liu Xing'an decided to play chess to pass the time.
As they played, Liu Xing'an glanced at Qin He's abdomen, "Are you due soon?"
Qin He gently stroked her belly and smiled, "Seven months along. Soon."
Liu Xing'an nodded, then asked the question that had been bothering him, "Xiao He, where is your child's father?"
It was already seven months, yet he had never seen him or heard Qin He mention him.
Gu Qishen's eyes deepened slightly.
Qin He thought for a moment and said, "We broke up before."
This way, she wasn't lying to Liu Xing'an and could also make Gu Qishen understand that she had kept her promise and broken up with Lu Mingxi.
"Then the father of this child is a complete scumbag!" Liu Xing'an, usually casual, cursed directly.
Qin He froze, her eyes darting towards Gu Qishen.
Gu Qishen, uncharacteristically, nodded in agreement, "You are right."
Qin He let out a chuckle.
Liu Xing'an seized the opportunity, "Stop laughing. Being a single mother is so hard!"
As he spoke, his gaze flickered towards Gu Qishen, "Actually, it wouldn't be bad to find a father for the child."
Gu Qishen wore a faint smile.
Qin He tutted, "The baby has me, having a father isn't very useful."
Her words were blunt, causing Liu Xing'an to scold her, "What do you know? Although your Qin family will certainly not lack for the child's needs, the child's psychology is more important. If someone unscrupulous says something to the baby later about not having a father, even if you beat them up, the child will still have psychological scars. And when they grow up, they'll realize everyone else has a father."
"Yes, a father is usually a girl's protector in childhood, and a hero and role model in a boy's eyes," Gu Qishen added calmly from the side.
Qin He gritted her teeth, "Gu Qishen, the way you say that, have you given birth? Humph, you know quite a lot."
Gu Qishen chuckled softly and glanced at her belly, "I haven't eaten pork, but I've seen pigs run."
Qin He strongly suspected that Gu Qishen was referring to her as the pig.
On this matter, she knew she couldn't argue with Liu Xing'an.
However, she didn't want to casually find a father for her baby. With someone targeting the Qin family from the shadows, she didn't want to drag anyone else into such a precarious situation.
Seeing Qin He's silence, Liu Xing'an didn't press further.
The small teapot on the tea table whistled. He called to Gu Qishen, "You play for me."
Liu Xing'an went to make tea, and Gu Qishen and Qin He played chess.
When Qin He was younger, her maternal grandparents lived in Haicheng for a period, and she learned chess from her grandfather, achieving some proficiency.
"Check!" Qin He saw Gu Qishen make a move and felt her position was advantageous. She was about to move her cannon over.
Her hand was quick, and Gu Qishen hadn't retracted his piece yet.
Their hands met, separated by a hard cannon chess piece.
Sensing the warmth of his hand, Qin He abruptly withdrew hers, chuckling sheepishly, "You lost."
Gu Qishen's eyes flickered, "Mm."
Liu Xing'an brought over the tea from the side, "Xiao He, didn't you say you'd treat me to dinner in the next couple of days? Your aunt called just now while I was making tea. She's bored at the villa and has nothing to do all day. Ask Director Shen if he's available, and if so, let's have a gathering tonight."
Qin He had no objections. Her face was still slightly flushed from what had just happened.
She immediately stood up and took out her phone, "Okay, I'll contact Director Shen and tell you later."
Using the excuse of making a phone call, Qin He slipped out of Liu Xing'an's office.
Shen Bin was available, so the gathering was set for that evening.
Qin He returned to her office to inform them. Liu Xing'an's face lit up with joy, "Great, then tonight it is."
Gu Qishen stood up, "I'll have Yu Jing pick up Auntie Liu."
His gaze swept over Qin He, and she avoided his eyes, "I'm going back to my office. I still have some documents to process."
Gu Qishen gazed at Qin He's retreating back, his eyes catching sight of her slightly flushed earlobes.
Liu Xing'an suddenly let out a laugh, "The road is long and winding."
Gu Qishen's mood was suddenly illuminated by a beam of light, "I will seek knowledge both high and low."
At least, she was starting to care about him.