Di Shishi drove, taking Qin He back to the Qin family home.
Before they even entered the house, they heard a familiar voice from the living room.
"Aunt Qin, I think this outfit suits you perfectly. When you attend the wedding the day after tomorrow, you'll surely outshine everyone."
Ming Yuzhu's low laughter chimed in, clearly pleased by the flattery.
"The bride will be the main focus then. I still think this哑白色 (yǎ báisè - muted white) one looks better."
"White is good too. It makes you look elegant and noble, perfectly highlighting your strengths."
Qin He's lips twitched. She now understood why her mother had asked her to come back for lunch.
Entering the living room, she saw Lu Mingxi sitting beside Ming Yuzhu on the opposite sofa, looking like a well-behaved, exemplary young man.
He looked somewhat surprised when he saw Qin He return.
"He'er is back."
Ming Yuzhu also looked up. "He'er, Mingxi just returned from the Jiangcheng branch. You two should chat."
With that, Ming Yuzhu rose and headed towards the dining room.
As soon as Ming Yuzhu left, Lu Mingxi dropped his pretense.
His formerly upright posture became more relaxed, and a playful smile stretched across his lips, revealing a canine tooth. His handsome face held a mischievous glint. "He'er, have you missed your Lu gege?"
Qin He glared at Lu Mingxi. "You need to rein it in. If Mom saw you like this, she'd definitely give you a good scolding."
"Auntie likes me very much. She just praised me for being more mature and steady lately."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Qin He's belly. "It's already over seven months, isn't it? Our baby must be missing its dad terribly."
Di Shishi's eyes widened. She looked from Lu Mingxi to Qin He.
Qin He gritted her teeth. "You need to keep your mouth shut. Everyone outside thinks it's only over six months. Besides, we explicitly agreed that you don't need to pretend to be the baby's father anymore. Stop taking advantage of me."
Lu Mingxi raised an eyebrow. "I never agreed to that."
Qin He was used to his behavior and knew that arguing with Lu Mingxi would only lead to more complications.
Qin Yun did not return for lunch.
Ming Yuzhu, Qin He, Lu Mingxi, and Di Shishi had lunch together.
"He'er, it's best if you don't run around too much lately. Your brother's wedding is almost ready," Ming Yuzhu said to Qin He.
"So soon? Aren't there many things to prepare?"
Mentioning this, Ming Yuzhu was quite satisfied.
"Many things have already been prepared by Wanwan. She said I don't need to worry about them."
Ming Yuzhu's face lit up whenever she spoke of her future daughter-in-law, Xu Wanwan.
"Our family is already too small. Once Wanwan marries into the family and has a baby with your brother, I'll have grandchildren to play with, and I won't need to keep you cooped up," Ming Yuzhu said with a smile.
When the topic of having babies came up, Qin He's hand holding the chopsticks faltered slightly.
She looked up, and Lu Mingxi was also looking at her, both with somber expressions.
Qin Yun's physical condition could definitely not be revealed to Ming Yuzhu.
Qin He felt the burden on her shoulders grow heavier.
After lunch, Lu Mingxi still had no intention of leaving. He sat in the living room, chatting with Ming Yuzhu.
Before long, Ming Yuzhu felt sleepy and went upstairs for her nap. Only Qin He, Lu Mingxi, and Di Shishi remained in the living room.
"He'er, is there anywhere you'd like to go recently? I'll take you."
Qin He glanced at Lu Mingxi. "Have you been back to the Lu family since returning from Jiangcheng?"
Mentioning the Lu family, Lu Mingxi's expression shifted slightly.
Qin He sighed softly. "Is your relationship with your family still so strained?"
Lu Mingxi chuckled. "They don't approve of me, and they want to maintain this distance. What can I do?"
Since Lu Mingxi's younger brother passed away, Qin He had occasionally heard about Lu Mingxi from her brother. Even though they were both sons, the Lu family parents seemed reluctant for Lu Mingxi to take over the Lu Corporation, always trying to hinder him.
Qin He found it somewhat incomprehensible.
Lu Mingxi was no worse than his brother.
Since they had already decided to hand the company over to Lu Mingxi, why the continued opposition?
"Alright, don't keep dwelling on my family matters," Lu Mingxi said with a smile. "You just focus on taking care of yourself and having this baby. Then you can think about other things."
Lu Mingxi stayed at the Qin residence until the afternoon before leaving.
Over the next two days, Qin He did not go out.
She was kept at home by Ming Yuzhu, spending her days helping her mother choose dresses and flowers for the banquet.
Saturday arrived in a blink.
Qin He deliberately woke up early, avoided Ming Yuzhu, and quietly drove out of the Qin family home.
Her car drove all the way to the small villa where she kept her medical equipment.
As soon as her car stopped in the courtyard, a red dot appeared on it.
It was a sight from a targeting scope.
Her heart leaped, and she immediately turned to look.
The targeting scope was coming from the third floor.
The red dot vanished instantly, and the window on the third floor slid open.
Qi Yang, the younger of the brothers from Bashin, stood at the window and waved.
"Boss, you're finally here!"
Qin He gritted her teeth—
In the living room.
Qin He sat on the sofa, while Qi Zhen and Qi Yang stood respectfully opposite her.
"I asked you to look after this place primarily to protect the safety of the future research scholars! If you're pointing a targeting scope over there, we'll likely have the police knocking on our door in a few days!" Qin He said angrily.
Qi Yang looked rather wronged.
"Boss, I didn't expect it to be you! A car suddenly drove in, so I had to be cautious."
Qi Zhen raised his hand and smacked his brother on the head. "But you still can't aim at the boss!"
Qin He rubbed her forehead, looking helpless.
Thanks to Di Shishi, both of them still sported buzz cuts.
Coupled with the fact that they had both spent a long time on missions in Qingyan Mansion, they carried a certain aura of menace.
Or rather, their appearances made them seem like troublemakers.
With their hairstyles, it was especially easy to mistake them for just having been released from prison.
Qin He waved her hand.
"The reason I'm here today is to interview a few medical researchers. Most of them are dedicated to their research."
"So, Boss!"
Qin He pursed her lips. "So the first thing I need to tell you today is that from now on, you can call me Miss Qin. Never call me Boss!"
"Okay, Bo—Boss, Miss Qin!"
Qin He nodded and smiled. "The people coming today, if they pass the interview, will likely be living under the same roof as you for a considerable amount of time. So, please be friendly to them."
Qi Yang waved his targeting scope.
"Boss, don't worry. I'll treat them like my own brothers!"