Qin He and Gu Qichen had lunch at the West City Joint Department.
Gu Qichen was reluctant to part, cherishing every moment he spent with Qin He.
"Don't worry, when you return, I will take care of this baby as if it were my own," Gu Qichen whispered into Qin He's ear, holding her close.
This is your own child, Qin He thought silently.
No matter how reluctant they were, time continued to tick by.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, Qin He received another call from Ming Yuzhu.
"Didn't you say you had a meeting at noon? Has the meeting gone on this long?" Ming Yuzhu sounded suspicious.
"What exactly are you doing? You just hung up my call earlier."
Qin He glanced at Gu Qichen guiltily.
Gu Qichen looked nonchalant, as if he weren't holding her in his arms.
"Mom, I'm heading back now. I should be home before three o'clock," Qin He said.
Gu Qichen personally saw Qin He out of the West City Joint Department. Qin He had driven herself, and Gu Qichen watched her leave.
Looking at Qin He's receding figure, the man stood in front of the West City Joint Department, his expression gradually turning cold.
Not seeing her for over two months was truly… unbearable.
Liu Xingan walked out of the West City Joint Department and saw Gu Qichen standing by the entrance with a cold expression. He teased,
"Young Gu, what are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about how to be with her forever," Gu Qichen replied indifferently.
...
Leaving the West City Joint Department, Qin He drove, arriving home precisely at three o'clock.
Two large suitcases had already been packed in the living room.
Ming Yuzhu stood by the suitcases. Seeing Qin He enter, she immediately said,
"You should have told your brother and me if you were going to the West City Joint Department. You disappeared early this morning."
Ming Yuzhu frowned slightly as she spoke.
"He'er, you didn't go to see Gu Qichen, did you?"
Qin He's heart skipped a beat.
She feigned an indifferent expression, "I went to the West City Joint Department to handle work, so it was inevitable that I would see him."
Ming Yuzhu was finally reassured.
"I'm telling you, you can't be with Gu Qichen anymore."
Qin He's heart skipped another beat.
"Mom, you're overthinking it."
She lowered her gaze, realizing that it would take a long time for her mother and brother to accept Gu Qichen.
Qin He and Gu Qichen had previously bought many necessities for the baby. She packed these items to be sent to Haicheng, only taking some clothes with her.
"Alright, the flight is at eight in the morning tomorrow."
Ming Yuzhu finished speaking and reminded Qin He, "No sleeping in."
"I know, don't worry. I'm not a child anymore."
Back in her room, Qin He sat on the bed.
She gently stroked her abdomen, her eyes filled with tenderness as she thought of what Gu Qichen had said that day.
But in the next moment, the scene from her dream suddenly flooded her mind.
Gu Qichen looked at her coldly, his gaze unusually unfamiliar and indifferent.
Qin He's heart lurched.
Don't think too much, it was just a dream.
She comforted herself.
The next day, at eight in the morning.
Qin He, carrying a small suitcase and her bag, went downstairs.
Qin Yun had woken up very early today.
"Listen to your maternal grandmother and aunt when you get to Haicheng. Don't go out too much. The Lin Group you offended last time still hates you, grinding their teeth." Qin Yun's instructions were rambling.
Qin He chuckled, "I know, I know. Brother, you're so wordy."
Qin Yun gave her an exasperated look.
"It's because you've always been a bit of a worry."
Qin Yun's words were full of implied meaning, and he sighed.
Qin He fell silent.
"I did cause a lot of trouble these past two years. Brother, you've worked hard."
This was a heartfelt sentiment from Qin He. Although she couldn't remember what happened in those two years, she knew her brother had gone through a difficult period alone.
"Brother, while I'm away, you and Wanwan should also take good care of yourselves," Qin He earnestly urged.
Qin Yun was somewhat embarrassed by his sister's sudden maturity.
"Alright, alright. I'll take you to the airport. We're going to be late for the flight."
On the way to the airport, Qin Yun continued to instruct,
"A week before your due date, I'll come to Haicheng. I'll use the excuse of discussing cooperation, so it won't arouse suspicion from Gu Qichen's side."
Qin He nodded. She had no intention of being polite about this, mainly because she herself felt a vague sense of fear.
Some people say childbirth is a woman's gate of hell. Although technology is advanced now, this was her first time, and she still felt some dread.
Having her family by her side would give her peace of mind.
Qin Yun saw Ming Yuzhu and Qin He into the airport and only left after they had passed through security.
In a corner of the airport hall, Gu Qichen sat on a chair, quietly watching Qin He's receding figure.
Qingcheng and Haicheng were not far apart.
Two hours later, Qin He landed.
As Ming Yuzhu led her out of the airport, they spotted her maternal uncle, Ming Yusheng, from afar.
His wife, Fang Meiyan, stood beside him.
Qin He's eyes curved, and she quickly walked towards them.
"Aunt, I missed you so much."
Fang Meiyan smiled and hugged Qin He, carefully avoiding her belly.
"Alright, how old are you to still be clinging to your aunt like this?" Ming Yuzhu said from the side.
Fang Meiyan smiled and took Qin He's hand.
"Stop acting spoiled, or your mother will get jealous."
Ming Yuzhu gave Qin He a dismissive look.
"I won't get jealous. Let her cling to you; in a few days, you'll have enough of her."
Fang Meiyan chuckled.
Ming Yusheng spoke from the side, "Alright, let's go home first. He'er, your maternal grandmother is waiting at home."
Ming Yusheng had driven a RV again this time.
After the three got into the car, Fang Meiyan sat beside Qin He, her gaze anxiously fixed on Qin He's belly.
"It hasn't been that long since I returned from Qingcheng, and He'er's belly has already grown another size."
Ming Yuzhu pursed her lips, feeling both joy and worry.
"Are the doctors at home all arranged?"
"Everything is arranged. The main doctor is Yusheng's friend, an internationally renowned gynecologist. Don't worry, not a single piece of news will leak out!"
Ming Yuzhu nodded.
Qin He, sitting nearby, also felt relieved.
She had come to Haicheng precisely to change the birth time of this child.
There were ten days left until her due date. Ten days later, she would give birth at the Ming family's residence and conceal the news.
After forty days, she would then announce to the public that she had given birth.
This way, in terms of time, this child would have no connection to Gu Qichen.
The driver drove ahead, and Ming Yusheng poked his head out from the front.
"Have you named the baby yet?"