The atmosphere in the living room was tense.
Song Nuan’s eyes widened, her teeth clenched. “Aunt, I’m not doing this for money, you know that!”
Madam Gu was furious. “Either you get rid of the baby now!”
Although she was reluctant, a Gu family child could not be left to wander outside, nor could it be used by Song Nuan as a stepping stone to marrying into the Gu family!
Song Nuan’s hands tightened, and she stared at Madam Gu, unwilling to yield.
This Wang Yingzi! When Qin He was around, she had been incredibly kind to Song Nuan, using her to deal with Qin He.
Now, she had turned her back on her!
“If you agree, you can stay and have your pregnancy monitored at the old house,” Madam Gu said, looking at Song Nuan. “Otherwise, I’ll have someone take you for an abortion right now!”
Song Nuan’s gaze sharpened. “I agree!”
If they sent her for an abortion now, it would immediately reveal the truth!
Madam Gu looked at Song Nuan, frowning. “Butler, have a room prepared for her in the small building next door. Find two maids to look after her, and tell them not to let her come to the main house unless necessary.”
Song Nuan couldn’t believe it. “Aunt, isn’t the small building next door for the servants?!”
“What else do you expect? Do you want to stay here?” Madam Gu said coldly and stood up. “If the old madam and Ran Ran see you, how am I supposed to explain?”
The butler called two maids, who approached with respectful attitudes.
Song Nuan stood frozen, unable to comprehend how she had ended up in this situation.
Originally, she had thought that after her “one night” with Gu Qichen, as long as she claimed to be pregnant, Madam Gu would give her another chance to approach Gu Qichen.
As long as she was at the old house, Gu Qichen would eventually return, and she could then find an opportunity to make the fake real!
But now, she couldn’t even get close to the main house!
The test report was fake. If she didn’t show any signs of pregnancy in two or three months, Madam Gu would investigate and find out the truth!
Song Nuan followed the two maids back to the small building.
The decoration and facilities in the small building were not bad, but she felt utterly humiliated.
This path might not lead anywhere!
If that was the case, it would be better to leave Qingcheng!
But before she left, she couldn’t let go of those who had humiliated her!
Qin He had the assassin on the dark web to deal with. As for the Gu family—
Song Nuan quietly clenched her fist. She had been so attentive to Wang Yingzi back then, and she knew her personal habits very well—
…
The next day.
Qin He ate breakfast at home. After Qin Yun had left, she called Di Shishi.
She asked Di Shishi to accompany her to the Western District Joint Department.
On the way, Qin He sat in the back seat, while Di Shishi drove and chatted with her.
“Little President Qin, last time I went to Qingda with you, I saw how skilled you were at accessing school surveillance. Are you a hacker?” Di Shishi asked casually.
Qin He glanced at her in the rearview mirror, a slight smile on her lips. “I understand some code.”
Di Shishi hummed. “When I was in college, I also knew a very skilled hacker, but he was a middle-aged man.”
Qin He knew Di Shishi was likely referring to her.
She chuckled. “Perhaps you can introduce us sometime.”
Di Shishi responded, “Sure, but that person is also quite busy. I’ll contact him tonight.”
Di Shishi’s mission was to become a frequent visitor to the Qin family. With Qin He’s cooperation, she was close to succeeding.
She estimated that she would soon receive her next instructions.
She picked up her phone in the back seat and logged into the Qingyan Mansion forum.
In the management group chat, Mo and Jueqing Liulang were chatting.
Mo: Why haven’t I seen Di Shi lately? Is the mission that busy?
Jueqing Liulang: Isn’t she in Qingcheng? I wonder if she’s met Qing Xie in person. What if Qing Xie kidnapped her?
Qin He glanced at Di Shishi in the front and casually chatted in the group.
Qing Xie: I didn’t, don’t slander me.
Mo: Qing Xie, you’re finally here. What have you been busy with lately?
Qin He curved her lips and typed: Busy dating Di Shi.
Jueqing Liulang: You said you didn’t kidnap anyone!
The group chat was lively. When they arrived at the Western District Joint Department, as Qin He got out of the car, Gu Qichen’s car also pulled up.
Qin He glanced towards the intersection. She didn’t see the usual black commercial vehicle that followed her, and she had a slight realization.
The Joint Department was facing a difficult problem.
There was a precious ancient building in the Western District, a pavilion entirely constructed with mortise and tenon joints, which had stood in the Western District for several hundred years.
It was also a key focus for restoration this time.
The project team on both sides was struggling.
“We simply cannot proceed with the repairs. The internal structure is incredibly complex, and we don’t dare to start dismantling it.”
As Qin He listened to the report, she looked at Gu Qichen. “I recall you knew a mortise and tenon master. Perhaps you could contact him and ask?”
She had been tricked into visiting the Vinson family for that master before.
“I’ll have Yu Jing try to contact him tonight. However, it’s best to have a backup plan ready. This master is eccentric, and it’s unlikely he’ll agree to take the job.”
The matter of the mortise and tenon pavilion was temporarily set aside. Several managers from the Joint Department finished their reports.
Qin He returned to her office.
She had lunch with Di Shishi. After lunch, Yu Jing came to pick her up.
As soon as Di Shishi saw Yu Jing, her face stiffened.
“President Qin, it was him who caused our car to be towed last time!”
Yu Jing gave a sheepish smile. “Miss Di, have you misunderstood something?”
Qin He sneered from the side. “She saw the surveillance footage. You caused her car to be towed. There’s no misunderstanding.”
Yu Jing had been acting on Gu Qichen’s orders last time. Now that he had been exposed, he remained unfazed, smiling even more elegantly.
“This was my mistake. I’ll treat Miss Di to a meal sometime to apologize.”
Yu Jing readily admitted his fault. After apologizing, he turned to Qin He. “Miss Qin, President Gu’s car is broken. He asked if he could ride with you to the old house for lunch today.”
Qin He had called Di Shishi to drive today precisely to avoid sharing a car with Gu Qichen and being in the same space.
Di Shishi had parked her car in the parking lot today, and there were no unexpected circumstances.
She hadn’t expected Gu Qichen’s car to be broken?
Qin He was speechless.
Yu Jing smiled elegantly. “Thank you, Miss Qin. I’ll go and report back to President Gu.”
Qin He was furious: she hadn’t agreed yet!
Seeing Yu Jing leave with a smile, Qin He and Di Shishi exchanged glances.
“He truly is Gu Qichen’s assistant!” Qin He gritted her teeth.
Half an hour later.
Qin He sat in the car, watching Gu Qichen get in calmly beside her.
His dignified demeanor gave no indication that he was hitching a ride.
In the front seat, Di Shishi was driving and glared at Yu Jing, who sat beside her with a gentle smile.
The car headed towards the Gu family’s old house, and the atmosphere inside was peculiar.
Qin He kept her gaze fixed on the window. Being in the same space as Gu Qichen made her feel uneasy.
As the car stopped at a traffic light, Qin He glanced back.
The black commercial vehicle that usually followed her car was still nowhere to be seen.
She understood.
“Gu Qichen, did you send people to follow me?”