The next morning, Lin Xihe slept until noon. When she got up, apart from her slightly swollen eyes and some dark circles under her eyes, she looked natural and showed no signs of anything amiss.
As for why she was swollen, Lin Xihe only said that she drank too much water before going to bed. However, seeing Lin Xihe chatting and laughing in this state, Ling Shuang and Ling Xue did not notice anything wrong.
After the court session, Gu Qinghuai hurriedly rode back to his residence.
Just outside the gate, they ran into Ling Shuang, who was about to go out.
Upon seeing Gu Qinghuai, Ling Shuang quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, General Gu."
Gu Qinghuai asked anxiously, his face full of worry, "How is Xihe today?"
Ling Shuang was slightly taken aback, wondering why she suddenly looked so worried.
She replied, "You're very kind, young lady. You said you're craving osmanthus glutinous rice cake from Jingsi Lane, and I'm just about to go buy some."
Gu Qinghuai was surprised that Lin Xihe still had the appetite to eat, and wondered to himself, "Does she not know what happened?"
So he asked directly, "Did Ji Zhuo come yesterday?"
Ling Shuang thought to herself: How could you ask me that? Don't you even know who I work for?!
But she avoided eye contact for a moment before quickly replying, "She didn't come."
Seeing Ling Shuang's reaction, Gu Qinghuai understood, nodded, and said to Ling Shuang, "Go ahead. Buy a few more things."
After saying that, he walked straight towards the courtyard where Lin Xihe was.
At this moment, Lin Xihe was lying on a mahogany rocking chair, basking in the sun, with a thin veil covering her face.
Ling Xue was peeling pine nuts on a stone table nearby.
Upon seeing Gu Qinghuai enter, Ling Xue immediately bowed.
Gu Qinghuai waved for her to step back, and Ling Xue retreated to the courtyard gate, where she stood and waited.
"If you send Ling Xue away, who will peel pine nuts for me?" Lin Xihe said lazily, her face still covered by a veil.
Gu Qinghuai sat down in the spot where Ling Xue had just been sitting, grabbed a handful of pine nuts, and remained silent for a long time before starting to shell them.
"Xihe?" Gu Qinghuai's voice was hesitant.
Lin Xihe could roughly guess what Gu Qinghuai wanted to say from his hesitation.
However, given their relationship, it seems inappropriate to discuss Ji Zhuo's arranged marriage.
Gu Qinghuai ultimately didn't say anything, and silently continued peeling pine nuts.
A moment later, Lin Xihe removed the veil from her face, stretched out her hand to Gu Qinghuai, and said, "Give me the peeled ones."
Gu Qinghuai placed the peeled nuts in Lin Xihe's hand, then got up and moved the rocking chair and Lin Xihe on it to the apricot tree before sitting down again.
That way, Lin Xihe won't get her face exposed to the sun.
"When I come tomorrow, I'll bring you some walnuts and cashews," Gu Qinghuai said softly, his eyes full of tenderness as he gazed at Lin Xihe.
“That’s for tomorrow. Don’t be lazy now, peel some more,” Lin Xihe said.
Upon hearing this, a look of joy immediately appeared on Gu Qinghuai's face.
He thought to himself that Lin Xihe had neither told him not to come tomorrow nor to leave today, which meant that her attitude towards him had changed significantly.
With that thought in mind, he quickened his pace.
Seeing the happiness radiating from Gu Qinghuai's face, Lin Xihe sat up slightly and asked casually, "Gu Qinghuai, do you prefer boys or girls?"
"Um?"
Gu Qinghuai was stunned. He even wondered if he had misheard.
Lin Xihe suddenly brought up the topic of children with him, which was completely unexpected.
After a long while, he excitedly said, "What...what did you say?"
"I asked you, is it a boy or a girl?" Lin Xihe repeated.
"I like them all! I like any child that is with you!" Gu Qinghuai replied without hesitation.
Seeing Gu Qinghuai's excited expression, Lin Xihe felt a sudden pang in her heart. She turned her head away from Gu Qinghuai's face and looked up at the apricot blossoms above her.
"Could you name the children? A boy's name, a girl's name, and I'll choose their nicknames." There was a hint of sadness in Lin Xihe's voice.
"Should I get up?" Gu Qinghuai asked.
However, Gu Qinghuai was so immersed in joy that he did not notice the unusual emotion in Lin Xihe's heart.
“Well, I can’t be the only one working so hard while you can’t even be bothered to come up with a name,” Lin Xihe said.
"I'm willing to name any number of your children, no matter how many you have."
"Do you think I'm a pig? One child isn't enough for you? How many more do you want?" Lin Xihe said, giving Gu Qinghuai a reproachful look.
A glint of anticipation flashed in Gu Qinghuai's eyes as he eagerly asked, "You admit the child is mine?"
Lin Xihe's gaze was calm, her tone indifferent. She gently shook her head and said, "No, I just wanted you to come up with a name."
"Not to mention, he was originally mine. Even if he wasn't, I'm willing to do whatever you say."
Lin Xihe was speechless: "Tsk tsk tsk. You're done for, bro. You're a level 10 simp now."
"I never thought about running away."
Lin Xihe sighed softly. She had nothing to say. She decided to eat some pine nuts to nourish her brain.
Gu Qinghuai was very surprised by Lin Xihe's sudden change in attitude.
He wondered if it was because he knew Ji Zhuo was engaged that he planned to live a good life with him.
Even if Lin Xihe chose him because it was impossible for her to be with Ji Zhuo, Gu Qinghuai didn't care, as long as Lin Xihe could stay by his side in the end.
Lin Xihe looked at the apricot blossoms and remained silent for a long time.
Since then, Lin Xihe no longer rejected Gu Qinghuai, and she no longer deliberately resisted his company.
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