When it was time to get off work, Qin He drove Liu Xing'an to the courtyard house.
The road was quiet, and she hesitated before breaking the silence, "Master, can you not tell Gu Qichen about me leaving Qingcheng for now?"
Liu Xing'an frowned, "What's wrong? Is there something that can't be said?"
"I truly don't want to be disturbed," Qin He said softly.
Liu Xing'an thought for a moment, "I can not say it, but as you said, you won't be back for a while, and Gu kid will definitely know soon."
"We'll deal with it then," Qin He smiled. Her current thought was simple: delay it for a day if possible.
Qin He drove with Liu Xing'an back to the courtyard house. Madam Liu hadn't seen Qin He in a long time, and seeing her arrive, she immediately beamed with joy.
"Xiao He is here, oh my, you're still out and about with that belly, honestly."
Madam Liu's voice was gentle, filled with concern, "I'll make you something to eat. You haven't had dinner yet, have you?"
Qin He nodded, "Not yet, Teacher's wife. I want the egg noodles you make."
"Alright, you wait here. Teacher's wife will go make them for you now," Madam Liu said with a gentle smile.
Qin He's eyes flickered slightly, and she smiled, stepping forward to take Madam Liu's arm.
Her fingers silently rested on Madam Liu's pulse.
"Teacher's wife, I'll help you."
Madam Liu didn't notice anything unusual, chuckling softly as she patted Qin He's hand.
"You're in no condition to help with chores. Just wait in the courtyard."
Qin He had already taken her pulse.
With a clear understanding, she withdrew her hand and obediently replied, "Okay."
Knowing that Madam Liu wouldn't let her help, Qin He sat in the courtyard and drank tea with Liu Xing'an.
Liu Xing'an kept glancing at her, "He'er, what's going on between you and Gu Qichen? Did Gu Qichen bully you, which is why you plan to go to Haicheng?"
Liu Xing'an narrowed his eyes as he spoke, looking indignant, as if he would immediately go deal with Gu Qichen if Qin He said yes.
Qin He felt a warmth spread through her heart, "No, I want to go to Haicheng to give birth."
"Why go to Haicheng to give birth?"
Liu Xing'an frowned, "Isn't Qingcheng okay?"
Qingcheng really wasn't okay, Qin He sighed inwardly. Apart from wanting to avoid Gu Qichen,
the group of people who had been searching for the mastermind behind Wan Fang Lun were likely also in Qingcheng.
She wouldn't feel at ease giving birth in Qingcheng.
"Master, I definitely have my reasons for doing this. Don't worry. I'll take care of my safety," Qin He smiled.
"It's fine as long as you've made up your mind," Liu Xing'an sighed and stopped persuading her.
The two discussed the structure of mortise and tenon joints for a while.
Not long after, Madam Liu brought out the egg noodles. After Qin He finished eating, she drove back to the Qin family home.
Upon arriving home, Qin He heard a notification chime from her phone. She took it out and saw a message from Gu Qichen.
Gu Qichen: [He'er, what are you doing?]
Qin He thought for a moment and replied: [Just got home.]
Gu Qichen: [I heard from staff at the West District United Department that you went there today.]
Qin He paused, [Yes, I went to see my master.]
Gu Qichen: [Why didn't you call me?]
Qin He felt a bit guilty and tightened her grip on her phone.
Qin He: [I was just going for a short visit and coming back. I thought you'd be busy with work today, so I didn't call you.]
After chatting with Gu Qichen for a few sentences, Qin He returned to the small study in the inner bedroom.
She opened the Qing Yan Fu forum and entered the elder group, where Di Shishi and Qian Zimo were arguing.
Qin He sent a private message directly to Di Shishi.
Qing Xie: [What have you been busy with lately?]
Ever since Qin He had asked Di Shishi to look after the medical research lab and was refused, Di Shishi, as her assistant, had been in a state of prolonged absence.
Di Shishi replied, [Busy playing every day. What's up?]
Qin He thought for a moment and sent a message, [I plan to leave Qingcheng for Haicheng for the next two months.]
Di Shishi: [Why are you going to Haicheng? Did you offend someone? Are you going into hiding?]
Qin He chuckled. This young girl had quite an imagination.
She typed, [No, I'm going to Haicheng to give birth.]
Di Shishi's reply came back immediately: [I'll go with you.]
[That's not necessary. I don't think the people behind the scenes can reach Haicheng. Also, I have something else to ask of you.]
Qin He sent a voice message, "Although Qi Zhen and Qi Yang are currently responsible for the security of the medical research lab, I still can't feel at ease if I'm not here. I'm thinking that you can stay in Qingcheng these days and go to the lab from time to time to report their progress to me."
Di Shishi eventually agreed, and Qin He was relieved.
She chatted with Qian Zimo in the elder group of the Qing Yan Fu forum for a while.
Qian Zimo had previously discovered that a group of people were secretly investigating her, and they had offered a high price to Di Shi to infiltrate her side under Di Shishi's name.
But now, since Di Shishi knew her true identity and had saved her life, those people in the dark had been silent lately.
It seemed they had discovered something was amiss.
Qin He knew that it was likely the same group searching for Wan Fang Lun. Unfortunately, she hadn't yet deciphered the secrets within Wan Fang Lun.
Qian Zimo's search was also very slow, almost stagnant. Those people were too well hidden; even with the strength of Qing Yan Fu, there were no clues.
Qin He sighed inwardly.
After chatting in the group, Qin He left the small study and entered the bedroom.
A treasure chest was conspicuously placed by her bedside.
Qin He opened the hidden compartment and found the Wan Fang Lun, which was hidden within the pages.
Flipping through the book, Qin He considered whether to take it to Haicheng.
Taking it to Haicheng would be very risky.
Qin He frowned. She had felt most secure keeping it in the treasure chest.
Even if someone broke into her room, they wouldn't be able to find it easily.
But she would be gone for two months, which was a different matter.
Qin He thought about it and decided to entrust the book to Qin Yun for safekeeping during her two-month absence.
In the evening, Qin Yun returned to the Qin family home after work.
Qin He was lounging on the sofa.
Qin Yun looked up and asked, "Where's Mom?"
Qin He said, "Mom is getting a beauty treatment and hasn't returned yet."
Holding the disguised book in her arms, she called out to Qin Yun, "Brother, come here. I need to discuss something with you."
Qin Yun walked over, "What is it?"