Gu Qichen received a message from Qian Zimo when he woke up that day.
Qian Zimo told him everything that happened last night, including the investigation that the lost small country might be in Shazhen.
Qian Zimo: [It's a good thing to have such specific clues, but Qin He didn't intend to do anything after knowing this and didn't reply to my message anymore.]
Qian Zimo: [This is somewhat abnormal.]
Given Qin He's previous behavior of acting on her own, both Gu Qichen and Qian Zimo thought of this possibility.
Then he received a WeChat message from Qin He saying she was going to see Lele.
Qian Zimo immediately notified Di Shishi, and with the "efforts" of the three parties…
Di Shishi found the notebook Qin He had compiled in Qin He's study.
As for the route planning, Gu Qichen, who was familiar with Qin He's whereabouts, analyzed two possible routes.
Qian Zimo and Di Shishi would intercept one, and he would intercept the other.
Everything that happened in the morning flashed through his mind, and he looked at Qin He, who was acting guilty.
Gu Qichen's lips pressed into a thin line, and he pulled Qin He into the house.
He felt he needed to have a good talk with her, at least to make her understand that she shouldn't just leave him when facing danger.
As soon as they entered, the housekeeper of Senyuan respectfully walked over.
"Sir, Miss Qin."
Gu Qichen glanced at the housekeeper and pulled Qin He towards the study on the second floor.
In the study, Qin He's guilt had reached its peak. She coughed lightly.
Looking at Gu Qichen's expression, it was clear he knew something.
"Gu Qichen, actually I was planning to—"
"You were planning to face the danger alone again? Since you found Shazhen, why didn't you notify me?" Gu Qichen closed the double doors of the study and turned to look at her.
Qin He's words were directly interrupted.
She pursed her lips and immediately thought of Qian Zimo.
It seemed she had been "betrayed," but she also thought that she was the one who planned to keep it from Gu Qichen and Qian Zimo in the first place.
Seeing Qin He remain silent, Gu Qichen's brows furrowed. He strode up to her.
"Have you ever thought about what would happen if you encountered danger on the way, or if you were kidnapped by Shen Yizong again?"
Qin He lowered her head and after a long pause, explained dryly, "I made full preparations this time, Gu Qichen. I was scared."
"Scared of what?" Gu Qichen lowered his head.
They were very close, and Qin He sighed inwardly.
"I'm afraid you'll get hurt. This matter is risky," Qin He clenched her fists.
Gu Qichen narrowed his eyes, anger surging: "So you planned to go alone, just like that, abandoning me? Did you ever think about what I would do if I found you missing?"
Qin He was silent.
Gu Qichen's face was tense, and he frowned, "He'er, we're getting engaged in two months, why do you still exclude me when something really happens?"
"Whatever happens, we should face it together," Gu Qichen sighed softly.
The moment he knew Qin He intended to leave him and go to Shazhen alone that morning, his mood had completely collapsed.
"You still don't understand what it would mean to me if you disappeared," Gu Qichen lowered his gaze, staring at Qin He.
Qin He had been silent, her head bowed, looking very pathetic.
After a few seconds, the hand clenched at her side trembled.
"I know that if something happened to me, it would be a great blow to my family and to you. But I can't help it. I don't want another Qi Yang."
Qin He's voice trembled as she looked up at Gu Qichen.
Her face was somewhat pale.
When Qi Yang died, she had been blaming herself, thinking that Qi Yang had died for her.
Now, Qi Zhen was still guarding the master's place every day, solely focused on finding Shen Yizong's whereabouts.
"I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me, especially you!" Qin He gritted her teeth.
She met Gu Qichen's gaze.
The man, who had been full of anger, saw Qin He's somewhat fragile and pale face. His anger, like an overinflated balloon poked with a hole, deflated instantly.
He became a little flustered: "I don't mean to blame you."
Qin He bit her lower lip, "And I thought my plan was foolproof. By the time Shen Yizong discovered I wasn't in Qingcheng, it would probably be a week later. For your sake, I would definitely ensure my own safety."
"No."
Gu Qichen pulled Qin He into his arms.
"He'er, I won't let you face this danger alone."
His voice was muffled and husky in Qin He's ear.
"If something really happened to you, and I was left alone in Qingcheng, I don't know how I would get through the following days. Your choice is cruel."
"I'm sorry," Qin He said softly.
She wanted to explain further, but Gu Qichen had already turned his face and kissed her lips.
Their lips met, and the friction between their soft lips made their hearts skip a beat.
Qin He tried to push him away: "This is the study—uh—"
Gu Qichen's kiss was fierce, with a hint of release.
When he knew Qin He had left alone, and before he actually saw her, he wasn't sure if Qian Zimo's two routes were correct.
Now that Shen Yizong was lurking in the shadows, he couldn't monitor all the routes out of Qingcheng.
If Shen Yizong's attention was drawn, and Qin He couldn't be found, Shen Yizong would immediately realize Qin He was missing.
As he sat in that van, his heart was filled with unprecedented unease and fear.
It was only when he saw her that he finally relaxed.
"Don't ever think about facing everything alone again," Gu Qichen moved his lips away, his voice filled with deep affection.
Qin He was dazed by the kiss, her face flushed. This was a study, after all, and she felt like someone could walk in at any moment.
So, no matter what Gu Qichen said, she nodded first, wanting to appease his emotions.
But they had been together for a long time, and Gu Qichen could see her intentions through every subtle expression and small gesture.
Seeing through her perfunctory response, Gu Qichen let out a low laugh, a dangerous sound.
"It seems you haven't seriously considered my suggestion."
"I have. Didn't I come back?" Qin He said shamelessly.
Gu Qichen narrowed his eyes and leaned in, "If I hadn't appeared in that van, you would probably have reached Fengcheng next door by now."
Qin He's eyes widened. After their recent kiss, her large black eyes were dewy.
Gu Qichen gritted his teeth, "Let's settle this account properly."
He had tried both "tough" and "soft" approaches, but Qin He still held onto the hope of getting away with it.
He felt he needed to show her how much he loved her now, and how "restrained" his love was.
"Ah!" With a startled cry.
Qin He was picked up by Gu Qichen and placed on the sofa beside them.
Watching Gu Qichen, who was in front of the sofa, slowly unbutton his shirt, Qin He's heart pounded.