"I had no idea a new secretary had arrived," Gu Qichen said in a low voice.
Qin He reached out, placing her hand between Gu Qichen's face, which was leaning in.
"Are you sure? That skirt is so short it barely covers her thighs!"
A smile played on Gu Qichen's lips. Though his mouth was hidden, the predatory gleam in his dark eyes sent a jolt of fear through her.
"I haven't seen it."
Qin He felt her hand being wettened. It was a gesture like a puppy, but when she met his serious gaze, she felt a pang of unease.
Five minutes later, Qin He sat, breathless, beside the desk.
Gu Qichen had already rolled up his sleeves and was reviewing documents, a smile still lingering on his thin lips.
Qin He shot him a glare. "How's Ranran lately?"
"She's run away from home," Gu Qichen stated calmly.
Qin He raised an eyebrow. "What? They've already reached this point?"
She had expected Gu Ranran to run away from home because her family disapproved of her relationship with Yang Hao, but she thought it would happen later.
"Then what are your plans now?" Qin He asked.
Gu Qichen pinched his brow. "I'll let her have her tantrum for now, as long as she doesn't cross the line."
Having been with Gu Qichen for so long, Qin He understood the unspoken threat in his words.
As long as she didn't cross the line, he would make Yang Hao disappear immediately.
This approach wouldn't work in the end, Qin He shook her head. "You promised before that you'd let me handle this."
Gu Qichen put down the documents. "I didn't want you to be too tired."
"I'm not tired. Besides, I'll definitely ask for your help when needed," Qin He said with a smile. "But right now, I need you to do me a favor."
"What favor?"
Qin He narrowed her eyes. "Cancel all of Gu Ranran's credit cards."
After having lunch with Gu Qichen, Qin He left the Gu Corporation at two in the afternoon.
She got into her car and called Gu Ranran, intending to visit her.
After a few rings, Gu Ranran answered the phone.
"Ranran, where are you?" Qin He asked with a smile.
Gu Ranran's voice on the other end was defensive. "Why are you asking?"
Qin He smiled. "I want to come and see you."
There was a moment of silence from Gu Ranran's end. "Qin He, you found out I ran away from home from my brother, and you're here to persuade me, right?"
The smile on Qin He's face faded slightly. "Ranran, you're an adult now. You should know how worried your mother and brother are about you. You can discuss your relationship slowly. There's no need to hurt them like this. Think about how worried your mother will be if you leave."
Gu Ranran's voice turned sharp. "Qin He, don't lecture me. When you liked my brother back then, weren't you even more excessive? I didn't see you putting Aunt Qin and Qin Yun's feelings first then either!"
Qin He sighed deeply. She had a "record."
"It's precisely because I've been through it that I want to persuade you not to regret it later!"
"I'm willing!" Gu Ranran shouted. "You don't have to tell me that this definitely won't work out. My mother and my friends have told me this countless times. Qin He, you said you've experienced it. Now you're telling me it's wrong after you've gone through it. What right do you have? I want to walk my own path. You can't strip me of my right to freedom in love!"
Qin He's head began to ache. Nothing could get through to a rebellious teenager!
Sometimes, people only turn back after hitting a wall.
Even if she had regretted it countless times, it wouldn't change Gu Ranran's current decision.
Qin He sighed. "Alright, I support your relationship with Yang Hao, but you have to let me know how you're doing now, right?"
There was another period of silence on the other end, followed by Yang Hao's voice, trying to persuade Gu Ranran.
Qin He felt a wave of disgust. Any responsible man would not let an unmarried girl abandon her family and run away with him.
She had made a foolish mistake back then, but at least she had married Gu Qichen.
Even so, she later regretted that her passion had hurt her family.
Soon, Gu Ranran's voice returned. "In short, when I reach the age to get married, I'll get registered with Hao Ge. After getting registered, I'll come home."
Qin He frowned. "Okay."
Since Gu Ranran was unwilling to say where she was, Qin He wouldn't press further.
After all, if she wanted to find out, she could do it in an instant.
However, going to her now would likely be counterproductive and only make Gu Ranran more rebellious.
Qin He drove home directly. At this time, only Ming Yuzhu and Xu Wanwan were at home.
They were sitting in the living room watching a TV show. When they saw Qin He enter, Xu Wanwan called out to her.
"He'er, come and watch a movie with us?"
Qin He sat down and took Xu Wanwan's hand to check her pulse.
Ming Yuzhu smiled and looked over. "How is Wanwan's health?"
Qin He smiled and released her hand. "She's in good health. Keep it up, Wanwan. You've worked hard."
Xu Wanwan patted her belly. "I don't feel like I've worked hard, but your brother told me to watch my diet and not eat spicy strips or ice cream, which is a bit difficult. I've finally gotten through the morning sickness phase."
Qin He thought for a moment. "You can have a little bit of ice cream, but not too much."
Ming Yuzhu also pondered. "Wanwan, why don't I have the maid melt some ice cream, and we can eat it at room temperature?"
Qin He chuckled. "Is that still ice cream?"
She sat with Ming Yuzhu and Xu Wanwan for a while, but still reminded them, "Wanwan, I know you're bored at home all day, but for safety reasons, you should go out less."
After all, Shen Yizong had not been caught yet.
Xu Wanwan nodded. "It's okay. My mom brings her friends over every few days, and they play mahjong with Grandma. I'm not bored."
Qin He smiled. "I'm going upstairs now. I have some documents to handle."
"Go ahead."
After going upstairs, Qin He opened Weibo, intending to repost Qing Sui's latest perfume brand. With her millions of followers, she could do some promotion.
After reposting, Qin He looked at the recent comments.
Many people were tagging her and Shen Yilin's accounts, asking when they would go live.
Seeing Shen Yilin's account, Qin He pursed her lips tightly. She clicked on his account to take a look.
The updates on his account were permanently frozen at their last live broadcast.
There would be no more Shen Yilin helping her with the setup from now on.
Qin He sighed deeply, sat at the computer for a while, and posted another Weibo.
Diligent Little He: [Resuming beauty and wellness live broadcasts this weekend.]
After posting, Qin He closed the computer.
It was five-thirty in the afternoon.
At Gu Corporation, Yu Jing hurried into the office with some documents.
"Mr. Gu, this is the report from the finance department. They asked you to review it when you have time."
Gu Qichen took the report and put it in a drawer. "We're off. Let's go back to the old house."
"Yes."
As the two of them left the office, and Yu Jing opened the door for Gu Qichen, Gu Qichen paused as if he remembered something.
"Is there an intern from Harbin University in the Secretary's office?"
"Yes."
"Let her resign."