Chapter 169: A Seed

Thanks to the efforts of Xie Qingtang and Zhao Xianglan, dinner was ready in no time. Song Qing stayed for the meal as well, and together with Ah Xiang, a large group of people gathered around the table to enjoy a lively evening.

"Ah Xiang, this is a prenatal medicinal porridge specially made for you." Xie Qingtang placed a bowl of porridge in front of Ah Xiang and said with a smile.

Ah Xiang took it with a look of awe and trepidation, then bit her lip shyly and said, "Thank you so much, Divine Doctor Xie. I never expected you to take such good care of me. Once Ah Ben wakes up, we will definitely pay back all the expenses we've incurred during this time."

"Let's not talk about that for now. Just eat well." Xie Qingtang brushed aside the costs of Ah Xiang's stay, urging her instead to eat well and take good care of her pregnancy.

This deeply moved Ah Xiang, whose emotions were already running high, and tears welled up in her eyes, stirring a wave of sympathy among everyone present. Gu Xiujin, sitting directly across from Xie Qingtang, watched this kind-hearted young woman, and his heartstrings were plucked once again.

As they ate, Gu Xiujin seemed to have a particular fondness for the glutinous rice stuffed lotus root. Seeing this, Grandpa Xie laughed heartily, a sweet smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he turned to Gu Xiujin and said, "Well, how do you like the lotus root made by Tangtang? Delicious, isn't it?"

"It is indeed very good." Gu Xiujin nodded faintly, then cast a sideways glance at Xie Qingtang.

Though it was just a fleeting glance, it made Xie Qingtang's heart skip a beat. She looked up at Grandpa Xie and said with a touch of embarrassment, "Grandpa, please stop praising me. You're making me blush."

"What's there to be embarrassed about? Our Tangtang is simply outstanding. Whoever manages to marry our Tangtang in the future will be blessed for eight lifetimes. Am I right, Xiujin?" Grandpa Xie said this deliberately, signaling Gu Xiujin with a meaningful look.

The sharp-witted Gu Xiujin immediately grasped the underlying meaning of Grandpa Xie's words, but he merely nodded and remained silent.

Amidst Grandpa Xie's not-so-subtle matchmaking, the group finished their dinner.

"Let me help you." As Xie Qingtang began clearing the dishes, Gu Xiujin unexpectedly walked over, took the tableware from her hands, and headed toward the sink.

Seeing this, Grandpa Xie nodded with profound satisfaction as he sat in his wheelchair, turning to Zhao Xianglan behind him and saying, "Push me back to my room. Let's give the two of them some space alone."

"Certainly, sir." Zhao Xianglan smiled and nodded. As she watched the two of them walking toward the sink together, a gentle, contented smile touched the corners of her mouth. If the young mistress could truly find someone to lean on, it would be a wonderful thing—only, Mr. Gu's health...

At this thought, Zhao Xianglan sighed inwardly. Yet, despite her worries, some bonds were predestined and impossible to escape.

"Your health isn't good; you shouldn't touch cold water. I'll take care of it," Xie Qingtang said, seeing Gu Xiujin reach for the dishes, and quickly urged him to step aside.

After all, Gu Xiujin had just returned from the forbidden grounds, having inhaled toxic gas, leaving his body even weaker. It was better for him to be cautious about such things.

Gu Xiujin was momentarily stunned by the care shown to him. He was unaccustomed to it; although his health had always been frail, ever since his grandfather passed away, no one had ever cared for him sincerely.

The occasional inquiries from his relatives were merely expressions of impatience for his death so they could inherit the Gu family fortune. Having grown up surrounded by such ulterior motives, he could easily tell the difference, yet Xie Qingtang's casual remark of concern was entirely genuine.

It had been so long since he last received such heartfelt care that he stood frozen by the sink for a long moment, completely lost in thought.

"Hey, are you alright? Is something hurting again?" Seeing Gu Xiujin's dazed expression and the deepening pallor of his face, Xie Qingtang grew anxious. She quickly wiped her hands with a cloth, stepped closer, and gently pressed her fingers to his pulse to check it carefully.

The cool touch of her fingertips against his wrist instantly pulled Gu Xiujin back to reality. He looked at Xie Qingtang as she lowered her head before him, stray locks of hair resting lazily against her fair cheek, her slightly turned profile possessing a breathtaking, heart-stopping beauty.

"Well, your body is still quite weak. The toxins inside haven't been completely cleared out. Make sure to take your medicine on time, get plenty of rest, and try to avoid anything that causes drastic emotional swings. Keep your spirits up," Xie Qingtang murmured to herself after finishing the pulse check, then raised her gaze to look at Gu Xiujin.

Gu Xiujin's eyes were fixed directly on hers, meeting her upward gaze. A wave of warmth and natural intimacy instantly surged into both of their hearts.

"Well, Assistant Li? Don't you think the atmosphere between the two of them is off? I feel like there's just a thin layer of paper left between them waiting to be poked through," whispered Zhou Jinfan, peeking his head out from the front hall. He nudged Li Zhao, who was watching along with him, with his finger.

Having served by Gu Xiujin's side for so long, Li Zhao had rarely seen his boss wear such an intense, burning gaze. To be precise, he had never seen his boss look at a young woman with such fierce and helpless longing.

Therefore, although he didn't say a word, he nodded vigorously like a pounding pestle.

"Um... I've finished washing the dishes. Could you help me put them back in the kitchen?" Xie Qingtang asked, suddenly feeling flustered beneath such a naked and burning gaze.

Recovering his senses, Gu Xiujin lowered his gaze to hide the glimmer in his eyes, nodded, picked up the bowls from the sink, and walked toward the kitchen without uttering a word.

"What on earth is wrong with me? Am I running a fever? That's impossible. My master fed me so many Chinese herbs growing up that my body is practically immune to poisons; I rarely even get sick, so how could I have a fever?" Just moments ago, Xie Qingtang had felt as though a fire were raging within her. After Gu Xiujin left, she hurriedly pressed the back of her hand to her forehead, muttering to herself in bewilderment.

Convinced that the root cause of her physical abnormality was none other than Gu Xiujin, Xie Qingtang intentionally or unintentionally began to avoid the man. It wasn't until he finally left Cuntang Hall that she let out a slow breath of relief.

Yet, a tiny seed had already taken root deep within her heart.