As night quietly fell and the streetlights came on, servants deftly brought in the meals, arranging them neatly.
Once everything was settled, Gu Qinghuai slightly raised his eyes, looked at the servant waiting beside him, and asked softly, "When will the medicine be ready?"
"Reporting to the General, Physician Qin instructed that this medicine should be taken after dinner." The servant who brought the meal hurriedly stepped forward and answered respectfully, his eyes revealing a hint of caution.
Gu Qinghuai frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then instructed, "Go ask Doctor Qin if this medicine can be taken several times a day."
Upon hearing this, the servant looked puzzled and wondered to himself, "There are always rules about the use of medicine, so why is the general making such a request today?"
But he dared not question it, and could only nod obsequiously and reply, "Yes, this servant will go and ask." After saying that, he was about to walk out.
Just as Lin Xihe picked up her chopsticks, ready to enjoy her dinner, she paused upon hearing Gu Qinghuai's words and quickly told the servant who was about to leave, "Don't ask."
The servant's face immediately fell, and he stopped abruptly. He looked at Lin Xihe and then at Gu Qinghuai, standing there at a loss.
"Gu Qinghuai, don't go too far." Lin Xihe glared angrily at Gu Qinghuai.
"I just wanted to get better sooner so you could be free, right?" Gu Qinghuai looked innocent, but the smug look on his lips betrayed his true intentions.
Seeing this, Lin Xihe was so angry that she could barely speak. Pointing at Gu Qinghuai, she repeatedly said, "You're simply unbelievable!"
"Otherwise, I'll just take one dose of medicine a day, and slowly get better, so we can stay together every day," Gu Qinghuai continued to tease, shamelessly.
"hehe."
Lin Xihe was speechless. She rolled her eyes at Gu Qinghuai, then turned to the servant and said in a gentle tone, "Go down. Drink your medicine as prescribed."
The servant dared not act rashly. He looked up at Gu Qinghuai with trepidation, as if waiting for his final instructions.
"I'll listen to the young mistress." Gu Qinghuai noticed the servant's hesitation and spoke up to defuse the situation.
Upon receiving his young master's order, the servant immediately felt relieved and respectfully replied, "Yes, young mistress."
Having said that, he hurriedly withdrew.
"Gu Qinghuai, you're so childish," Lin Xihe finally couldn't hold back and blurted out.
“You didn’t say that before,” Gu Qinghuai said, a smug look instantly spreading across his face. He raised his eyebrows slightly, and his eyes sparkled as if they held a galaxy of stars.
“You say that’s being quick-witted.” As he spoke, he winked at Lin Xihe, looking exactly like a child begging for a reward.
However, as the floodgates of memory slowly opened, Gu Qinghuai from the past seemed to have always been this childish and naive.
Strangely enough, it was precisely this naiveté that was the original owner's favorite trait and also Gu Qinghuai's most genuine nature.
Lin Xihe stared at Gu Qinghuai in front of her, her mind suddenly went blank, and images from the past and present intertwined and overlapped, finally settling on this heroic and handsome face.
She thought to herself, this is not a matter of taking care of someone who is ill, but a carefully planned scheme to have Gu Qinghuai "seduce" her every day and cultivate feelings for her without making a sound.
Lin Xihe hurriedly closed her eyes, silently repeating in her heart: Ji Zhuo, Ji Zhuo, I only love Ji Zhuo.
She tried to suppress the inexplicable ripples in her heart with these silent recitations.
Gu Qinghuai clearly caught the fleeting spark of excitement in Lin Xihe's eyes, but at this moment she bit her lower lip, trying her best to suppress it.
He felt as if a huge rock was blocking his heart, making him feel suffocated, and his expression unconsciously darkened.
Lin Xihe took a deep breath, adjusted her mindset, slowly lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the white rice in the bowl, and said softly, "You said you would arrange a room for me yesterday, don't forget."
"I'm not making any more arrangements. You're staying here with me, and you're not allowed to go anywhere." Gu Qinghuai put down his chopsticks, slightly raised his chin, and his eyes revealed a hint of domineering.
"Why?" Lin Xihe suddenly raised her head, her eyes full of confusion.
Gu Qinghuai did not answer directly, but instead picked up a piece of tempting-looking duck meat and placed it in Lin Xihe's bowl before slowly speaking:
"There will be no official business tonight. You can stay in my room; no one will disturb you tonight."
"I don't want to." Lin Xihe frowned slightly, pushed the duck meat back into the bowl, and said in a stiff tone.
“You have no choice. If you don’t want to sleep on the small couch anymore, I’ll have it removed and you can go directly to my couch.” Gu Qinghuai’s tone became increasingly firm, but his eyes revealed a hint of grievance and resentment, like a wounded little animal seeking comfort from its master.
"Don't be unreasonable!" Lin Xihe said, both angry and anxious.
“I do want to reason with you,” Gu Qinghuai’s voice suddenly rose, his eyes slightly red, “but I’ve been away on the front lines for a year, and my fiancée, who said she would live and die with me, has fallen for someone else. Who can I reason with?” As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks and mechanically began to eat, but the food tasted like cardboard.
Lin Xihe was well aware of Gu Qinghuai's grievances, but when she thought that things would not have turned out this way if his family hadn't broken off the engagement, she couldn't help but say, "Your parents also bear some responsibility for how things have turned out."
“My mother died when I was eight years old. Zhou Shi is not my mother. After Zhou Shi entered the family, I was essentially without a father. If you are resentful, then I will sever all ties with them.” Gu Qinghuai’s voice was as calm as a still pond, but his slightly trembling hands betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks and continued eating, each bite seeming to swallow endless bitterness.
Over the years, he has either been studying diligently in his study or sweating profusely in the training ground. All his remarkable achievements were earned through hard work.
My mother and Lin Xihe's mother were once close friends, so when the Lin family had a daughter, they arranged this marriage.
Unfortunately, fate played a cruel trick on them, and both mothers passed away at a young age.
The two are already engaged, but this marriage can only be maintained by the Emperor's decree and Gu Qinghuai's strong and stubborn insistence.
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