Lin Xihe didn't speak to Gu Qinghuai at all along the way, and Gu Qinghuai could only silently stay by her side.
Upon arriving at the Lin residence, the carriage came to a smooth stop. Gu Qinghuai got out first, then turned around and reached out to help Lin Xihe down. After she got out, he took her hand and walked into the residence.
Lin Xihe stopped in her tracks, looked up at Gu Qinghuai with a hint of doubt in her eyes, and asked, "Don't you have a home?"
Gu Qinghuai's lips curled up slightly as he said nonchalantly, "If you're willing to get married, I'll have one soon."
Lin Xihe's gaze faltered for a moment, then she pursed her lips slightly and said, "Then you still don't have it."
After saying that, she shook off Gu Qinghuai's hand, turned around and walked straight ahead.
Seeing this, Ling Shuang quickly ran after her and said with concern, "Miss, go back to your room and lie down for a while. I'll have Qingyu go and serve you some food."
It was past noon, and the carriage returned slowly, taking twice as long as it had gone there.
Ling Shuang secretly glanced at Gu Qinghuai, only to see that his eyes were fixed on Lin Xihe, his gaze full of doting affection, as if he wished he could carry the girl in his arms all the way back.
As Lin Xihe walked, she said, "Hmm, I want to eat ham and bamboo shoot soup today. Bamboo shoots are the most delicious at this time of year. Also, cherry pork, osmanthus shark fin soup, West Lake vinegar fish, and pork tenderloin."
She rattled off a string of dishes, her words brimming with anticipation for the food, and her face beaming with delight.
Ling Shuang replied, "Alright, I'll make you a sweet soup too, Miss."
Lin Xihe urged, "Hurry up, my stomach is growling."
Gu Qinghuai followed silently behind with a smile on his face, thinking to himself that it would be great if the two of them got married, so that he could see her like this every day.
Lin Xihe slowly returned to her courtyard. As she looked up, she saw that the apricot tree in the courtyard had blossomed overnight, with flowers blooming in profusion, like countless dots of rouge, stretching freely in the spring breeze. In an instant, the entire courtyard seemed to be surrounded by a sea of flowers.
Looking at the magnificent scene before her, Lin Xihe couldn't help but murmur to herself, "Why are they blooming so brilliantly this year?"
In previous years, probably due to damage to the root system during transplanting, the apricot blossoms, though slowly blooming, were far less abundant and vibrant than they are this year.
Looking at the trees full of blossoms, Lin Xihe seemed to see a little girl in plain clothes. She smiled and said sweetly to the man beside her, "Brother Qinghuai, peach blossoms are too vulgar, pear blossoms are too sad, only you gave me apricot blossoms, which are pure and elegant, white and fragrant, and uniquely belong to the spring breeze."
"The flowers haven't even bloomed yet, and you're already praising them like this?" Thirteen or fourteen-year-old Gu Qinghuai smiled slightly as he looked at the girl in front of him.
"It will bloom soon. I will water it every day and take good care of it." The little girl's eyes were full of anticipation.
From then on, eight-year-old Lin Xihe watered the apricot tree every day, almost drowning it in the process.
Year after year, under her meticulous care, the apricot trees finally began to bloom, one by one.
Three years later, the apricot tree gradually recovered its vitality, and eight years later, the entire courtyard was filled with a rich fragrance.
"Do you still remember this tree? You once said that peach blossoms are too vulgar, pear blossoms are too sorrowful, but I gave you apricot blossoms, which are pure and elegant." Gu Qinghuai looked intently at Lin Xihe, who was lost in thought, and asked softly.
Lin Xihe gazed at the apricot blossoms, a slight smile playing on her lips, and said leisurely, "That was just what Lin Xihe used to say to you. In my opinion, whether it's peach blossoms, pear blossoms, or apricot blossoms, they all have their unique beauty. If you ask me, I would say on behalf of peach blossoms and pear blossoms, 'Each is beautiful in its own way, please don't compare them.'"
Upon hearing this, Gu Qinghuai couldn't help but smile, his eyes filled with doting affection, and said, "What you say is not wrong, but it's a bit lacking in romantic understanding."
Lin Xihe turned to look at Gu Qinghuai, a complex look in her eyes, and said, "Gu Qinghuai, although the apricot blossoms are beautiful, the fruit they produce is extremely sour, and the apricot kernels are even more bitter."
Gu Qinghuai understood the deeper meaning in Lin Xihe's words, but ever since he learned that Lin Xihe was pregnant, he was determined not to give up no matter what.
"The fruit is sour and astringent because it has not been properly cared for. As long as I take good care of it, it will surely be as sweet as before. Besides, this apricot tree is a sweet apricot variety."
"Even if the fruits that grow in the future are all sour and the almonds turn bitter, I will still accept it with relish."
Seeing that Gu Qinghuai was still so persistent, Lin Xihe sighed helplessly, turned around and walked to the apricot tree, where she sat down by herself.
Gu Qinghuai followed closely behind her, step by step.
As soon as Lin Xihe sat down, the family's big yellow dog wagged its tail and ran over.
"Oh, my dear Yellow, did you miss me?"
"Don't rub against me, you shed."
Lin Xihe reached out and gently rubbed the dog's head, and Da Huang happily licked Lin Xihe's hand.
Lin Xihe gently pushed it away, but Dahuang shamelessly came closer and continued to lick it.
Gu Qinghuai watched Lin Xihe play with the dog quietly. The scene before him was like a warm and cozy painting, making him feel a sense of peaceful happiness.
He looked at Lin Xihe, a happy smile unconsciously spreading across his face.
Feeling Gu Qinghuai's burning gaze, Lin Xihe thought it best to try again, and so she spoke:
"Gu Qinghuai, do you know a saying about dogs where we're from?"
"I'd like to hear the details," Gu Qinghuai replied with great interest.
"A simp, a simp, in the end, he gets nothing." Lin Xihe muttered as she rubbed Da Huang's head.
After speaking, Lin Xihe looked up at Gu Qinghuai, only to see him leaning on the stone table with one hand supporting his temple, the smile on his lips undiminished.
Lin Xihe felt that her words had been wasted.
"Gu Qinghuai, don't you understand what I mean?" Lin Xihe asked, tilting her head with a helpless expression.
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