Qin Beiting listened, feeling a pang of sympathy. He hadn't realized Yu He's past life had been so difficult.
She couldn't even afford to eat meat and had to risk going into the mountains to hunt wild boars.
No wonder she was so thin, her waist could be clasped by one hand.
And in such harsh conditions, she still managed to become a top scholar and a divine doctor. She must have suffered a great deal.
Qin Beiting secretly vowed to cherish and dote on Yu He in his arms from now on, ensuring she would never suffer hardship again.
After Qiao Qiao finished speaking, she noticed Qin Beiting's handsome, furrowed brows and assumed he was disgusted.
After all, Yu He's ethereal beauty and her cool, distant demeanor made it hard to imagine she came from the mountains and had done such rough and reckless things.
"Yu He isn't just brave; she's the village flower because she's so beautiful. Many boys liked her and often asked me to pass love letters to her.
"But Yu He never read them, she just threw them to my brother, letting him handle them.
"My brother would use those love letters as tinder to cook, saving him quite a bit of effort in chopping firewood."
Qiao Qiao continued to speak with a smile, her enthusiasm growing.
"Later, the boys who secretly admired Yu He found out and ganged up to cause trouble for my brother. It was Yu He who stepped in to protect him, making those boys give up.
"It caused quite a stir back then. The villagers joked that Yu He was protective of her brother and liked him, saying she'd marry him in the future and that I should call her sister-in-law, hahahaha~"
Saying this, Qiao Qiao burst into laughter, deliberately glancing at Qin Beiting again.
"Yu He hasn't told you any of this, has she? And please, whatever you do, don't tell her I said any of this, okay?"
Qin Beiting's handsome face turned cold. Hearing her constantly link Yu He with her brother felt like a deliberate reminder:
Yu He and Qiao Wei were childhood sweethearts.
Hmph, if not for the incident back then, he would have been the one to grow up by the little girl's side!
He was the one who watched the little infant in the swaddling clothes slowly grow into a little girl, the one who held her and slept beside her, the one the innocent and romantic little girl said she wanted to marry when she grew up!
He was Yu He's true childhood sweetheart!
That rough driver Qiao Wei, the white lotus's brother, the pauper, actually wants to marry Yu He?
Hmph, dream on!
Qiao Qiao suddenly felt the temperature around her drop. The man sitting beside her exuded an imposing aura. Even the listless little piglet sensed the danger and looked up, wanting to run, but its head was held down by a large hand.
Qiao Qiao quickly explained, "Brother Ting, please don't misunderstand. I meant they were just joking..."
Seeing that he had inadvertently frightened the little piglet, Qin Beiting reined in his aura.
Qiao Qiao thought her explanation had worked and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you usually busy in the evenings?" Qin Beiting suddenly asked.
Upon hearing this, Qiao Qiao's cheeks flushed.
When a man asks a woman this question, does it have a hidden meaning?
Is he asking her out?
Qiao Qiao was startled by this sudden thought. Seventh Master Qin is Yu He's boyfriend; how could he do such a thing?
Yet, deep down, there was a flicker of anticipation, a hope that he would.
"After finishing work at the clinic, I usually either stay home with Grandma Yu watching TV or reading, or take her for a walk in the park downstairs. Then I'll wash up and go to bed. There's usually nothing particularly busy."
After she finished speaking, she subtly looked up at Qin Beiting expectantly.
However, she heard him say, "Since you're not busy, I have something for you to do. Write down everything you know about Yu He's past and send it to me."
Qiao Qiao: "...Huh?"
Wasn't he going to ask her out?!
"Can't do it?" Qin Beiting glanced at her.
Qiao Qiao immediately shook her head, "N-no. I can do it. I'll write it tonight when I get home."
"Mhm," Qin Beiting replied with a faint hum. Seeing that the drip bag for the little piglet was almost empty, he called the veterinarian over to remove the needle.
After the veterinarian finished and prescribed some medicine, Qin Beiting opened his phone and paid with a scan.
Seizing the opportunity, Qiao Qiao took out her phone and said, "Then I'll add your WeChat. I'll send it to you when I'm done writing."
She had wanted to add Qin Beiting on WeChat for a while, but she didn't dare ask him directly, nor did she have a good reason to ask Yu He for it.
Now, she finally had a chance to add him openly.
"Send it to Yu He and have her forward it to me," Qin Beiting said, and then left with the little piglet.
Qiao Qiao: "..."
This way, she wouldn't be able to fabricate anything!
She quickly chased after him, wanting to go back with Qin Beiting.
However, as they went outside, she saw Qin Beiting place the little piglet on the back seat, get into the driver's seat, and drive away, clearly with no intention of giving her a ride.
Qiao Qiao: "........................"
---
Meanwhile, at the Qin family's old residence.
Qin Xinhong's prenatal care medicine was tampered with, and she almost miscarried. Madam Song was furious and confined herself to thoroughly investigate the culprit.
Yu He, with proof from Gu Sinian and the pharmacist, was cleared of suspicion. Furthermore, because she stabilized Qin Xinhong's pregnancy, she became a benefactor and received an apology from Madam Song for her previous poor attitude.
"Old Madam Yu, Shu... Miss Yu."
Madam Song looked at Yu He, her tongue slipping to her former name, but she quickly corrected herself.
After all, Yu He was not of the sixth branch's bloodline.
"Earlier, out of concern for Hong'er, I was too hasty and may have offended you. Please forgive me. Dinner has been prepared. Please follow me to the dining room. The patriarch is also here, and he wishes to thank you in person for saving our grandchild."
She said politely, her previous ill temper gone.
"Alright!" Yu He readily agreed.
Since she had come back, why wouldn't she get a good look at these people's faces?
Old Madam Yu's face flashed with a hint of resistance.
"Yu He has to rush back to the clinic to see patients. I can go with you."
She said to Madam Song, then pulled Yu He aside and whispered, "Don't go! I'll go alone."
The Qin family was a place that devoured people. If it weren't for Yu He asking her to save someone, she truly didn't want to step foot in this place she hated again.
Her precious daughter had married into this family and was ultimately framed to death.
Now that the patriarch himself was extending an invitation, he was surely going to question her about faking Yu He's death and helping her escape all those years ago.
Yu He was no longer her biological granddaughter, and she didn't want her to incur the wrath of the Qin family because of her daughter, especially since she was currently dating Qin Beiting.
"Don't worry, they can't do anything to us now. If you don't want me to have any further ties with them, shouldn't you at least let me reveal my identity to them in person?"
Yu He knew her grandmother's worries and comforted her by stroking her back.
Madam Song was worried that Yu He wouldn't go, but then she heard Yu He say, "Lead the way."
The three of them walked towards the banquet hall.
The banquet hall was a place specifically for the Qin family's old residence to entertain distinguished guests. Qin Yongchao had already arrived, accompanied by the Qin family's Fourth Master, Qin Yongyi.