Bo Xichen, too exhausted, lay on the sofa and pulled her into his arms, rasping a soft "good."

Gu Anxi compliantly lay there; after a tiring day and night followed by a major surgery, both were truly exhausted and fell straight asleep, waking up only at noon.

When Gu Anxi woke up, she heard her uncle talking. She looked up to see him making a phone call.

Feeling she was awake, he looked down at her, gave a warm smile, and continued speaking to Madam Bo on the other side: "Mm, Anxi just woke up. We’ll come back for dinner later."

Gu Anxi, not fully awake yet, lay there groggily, listening to him talk.

After Bo Xichen finished speaking, he put down the phone and pinched her cheek: "Get up and freshen up. I’ll go to the ward to check on Little An first."

She let out a yelp but still clung to him.

He chuckled, pulled her up to his chest, and gently kissed her forehead.

Now fully awake, she sat up and yawned, "I still feel like sleeping a bit more."

"Get some rest after thinking it over." His voice was hoarse, "I’m arranging things in the ward for now."

The post-operative care for Little An was quite crucial, and indeed he couldn’t rush back to Jiangcheng, so Wang Jingyao’s suggestion to handle the wedding plans now seemed fitting.

He got up, buttoned his shirt, washed his face, put on the white coat, and went to inspect the ward, while Gu Anxi hastily put on some clothes, brushed her teeth thoroughly, and ate a little at the desk.

In the ward, Bo Xichen was somewhat surprised upon entering: "Director Hao, you’re still here? Wasn’t Director Li supposed to take over for you?"

Director Hao looked a bit embarrassed, clearing his throat after a while: "I was... just a bit worried."

Bo Xichen nodded slightly, discreetly glancing at Qin Siling but said nothing, merely checked on Little An to ensure everything was fine.

Qin Siling was quite nervous: "Professor Bo, is there any problem?"

Bo Xichen smiled gently: "No problem, just take good care after discharge."

Qin Siling thanked him several times, and Bo Xichen smiled faintly, saying it was unnecessary: "Anxi and I are both just doctors."

Qin Siling fell silent for a moment, then spoke softly: "I was wrong in the past; I was too opportunistic and only realized my mistakes when I hit a dead end. I misjudged Anxi and did many things that hurt her. Please help me apologize, Professor Bo."

At her words, Bo Xichen lightly smiled: "Anxi really doesn’t mind those things."

Qin Siling murmured, "Yes, she’s different from me."

After a moment of daze, she gave a weak smile: "Anyway, thank you both."

Bo Xichen didn’t refuse her gratitude further and turned to Director Hao, saying, "You should go rest now and be on duty tonight. I’ll be staying in Beicheng for a few days."

Director Hao was puzzled: "You’re not going to Jiangcheng?"

Bo Xichen coughed lightly: "The wedding is just a few days away; might as well finish the marriage then head back."

Realizing this, Director Hao understood: "Oh, I almost forgot, congratulations in advance."

Bo Xichen lightly patted his shoulder: "You should also find time, you’re not young anymore, almost forty."

This made Director Hao blush, stuttering, "These things can’t be rushed."

"Academics are important, but so is personal life." Bo Xichen smiled faintly, then glancing at Qin Siling and looking back, "When you find the right person, seize the moment, or the opportunity will pass by."

He had noticed it, whether out of sympathy or something else, Director Hao seemed concerned about Qin Siling; otherwise, how could one endure a night-long surgery at this hour?

With these implicit and explicit hints, Director Hao understood, his old face turning red, but Qin Siling, focused only on her son, wasn’t aware.

Not until Bo Xichen left did she say to Director Hao, "You’ve been busy for a long time. There’s now a doctor on duty, why don’t you take a rest, Director Hao?"

Director Hao adjusted his glasses, thought for a moment, and then stably said, "Alright then."

He then added, "I’ll ask the nurse to get you a meal."

Qin Siling, unable to leave Little An and also unwilling, agreed.

About half an hour after Director Hao left, the nurse brought over a lunch box, a wooden one, with three vegetables and one meat dish inside, looking unlike the hospital’s cafeteria food. Qin Siling looked at the young nurse.

The nurse smiled, "Director Hao personally ordered this for you, Miss Qin. He often eats from this place himself; it’s quite hygienic and tasty. Oh, and he ordered something different for you every day for twenty days."

The nurse clearly understood the situation but didn’t mention it, maintaining a businesslike demeanor, and Qin Siling, no longer a naive young girl, immediately understood.

She felt both flattered and at a loss.

In the past six months, she had been busy with Qin family affairs with Siyuan, leaving no time for relationships and feeling somewhat disheartened. Now, with Little An sick and the other as the attending physician, she didn’t know how to refuse when kindness was shown.

Although she only had the impression that Director Hao was a skilled, ethical doctor and generally gentle, this matter weighed on her mind.

In the evening, Director Hao came by again, and seeing him, Qin Siling didn’t know what to say and, after a pause, awkwardly said, "Little An is doing fine today."

Director Hao acted as if nothing had happened, going over to carefully examine Little An.

Little An, already awake, quietly watched the doctor, looking very well-behaved.

After the check-up, Director Hao patted Little An’s cheek gently and pulled a candy from his pocket, "You can eat it when you’re all better."

Little An nodded obediently, eyes full of trust.

Qin Siling felt a pang in her heart but held it back.

Not wishing to stay long, as he was still the attending doctor, Director Hao stood up, "I’ll be in the office; call me if there are any problems."

Qin Siling agreed and saw him to the door. After some thought, she stepped out and closed the door.

Director Hao turned, "Something wrong?"

Qin Siling hugged herself, lowering her head, "The meal expenses, I want to pay you."

Director Hao was silent for a moment before speaking, "Let’s settle it when Little An is discharged."

She looked up at him.

His eyes were gentle, perhaps from long years of academic work or being a doctor, without noticeable emotional fluctuation.

And since he was already in his forties, he seemed much steadier compared to Qin Siling in her early thirties, despite her having been married and having a child.

Under such a gaze, she couldn’t withstand it and softly said, "I’m not a good woman; I’ve been married and divorced, you’ve seen my situation. With your credentials, you could find a very good girl."

Director Hao gave a slight smile, "Haven’t met the right one yet."

He checked the time, "It’s getting late; you should rest well. The ward nurse will be on duty; you don’t have to watch Little An all the time."

She thanked him softly, thinking he would leave, but Director Hao gently said, "Let’s talk about it later."

He wasn’t an impatient man, nor a hot-blooded young one anymore; he had plenty of patience, after all, having been single for forty years.

Qin Siling watched him leave, and it took quite a while before she returned to her senses, feeling a bit cold, probably due to the air conditioning being too strong.

She didn’t go back to the ward immediately but instead walked to the end of the corridor where there was a window. She opened it and looked at the night outside.

The night, stretching endlessly.

The sky over Qingcheng was also filled with an infinite night, even while a lively wedding was taking place.

When family is absent, there’s always a slight sense of regret.

Qin Siyuan received the call from Qin Siling, and she said Little An was well, nothing to worry about, and would be returning with them once discharged from the hospital in Qingcheng. Gu Mingzhu overheard this and softly said, "I can take care of Little An later."

Qin Siyuan smiled, "Alright, consider it practice."

She glanced at him once.

After hanging up, they stood together in front of the large window. Behind them, the guests were as plentiful as clouds; Qingcheng’s elites were present, and even quite a few prominent people from Beicheng were there. Yet Gu Mingzhu couldn’t help but feel a bit of regret: "Qin Siyuan, is Anxi really not coming?"

He reached out to hold her and smiled, "I’ve already said, it’s inconvenient for her."

Gu Mingzhu mumbled softly, "What’s inconvenient about that? I wouldn’t mind."

She gave him a look and whispered, "Even if you have that thought, she wouldn’t. You don’t know how infatuated she is with Brother Xichen."

Qin Siyuan grasped her hand, "Are you sure you want to say things that might upset me?"

Gu Mingzhu looked pitiful, "I’m in a bad mood, you have to accompany me."

After speaking, she seemed lacking in confidence.

Qin Siyuan chuckled softly and gently said, "How can you have no confidence at all? It seems right for Anxi not to come."

She lowered her head, her voice barely audible, "She is much better than me."

Qin Siyuan’s heart softened slightly, "Finding a wife isn’t like finding a business partner, why would I need her to be outstanding?"

She lifted her eyes to look at him.

He smiled gently, "Do I need to say those three words?"

She became flustered, "No need, no need."

After a pause, she said again, "Shouldn’t we be toasting?"

He replied with a hum and began to release her hand to move away. At that moment, outside the large window, a champagne-colored rose suddenly exploded in the night sky, blooming spectacularly, followed by the second, the third.

Gu Mingzhu, who loved romance and poignant literature, was immediately taken aback, standing there dumbfounded, murmuring softly, "Qin Siyuan, did you arrange for these fireworks?"

Qin Siyuan shook his head, then laughed, "I can probably guess who it was."

Gu Mingzhu quickly rushed to the large window, watching the fireworks bloom boldly and defiantly, just like a certain someone, always flamboyant. Like or dislike, it was always clear.

She choked slightly, "It’s Anxi, it’s Gu Anxi, right?"

Qin Siyuan slowly walked behind her, gently encircling her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder, "Yes. So don’t always feel like she’s abandoned you."

Gu Mingzhu’s eyes glistened with moisture, watching the fireworks quietly and greedily, counting them one by one, which Qin Siyuan found somewhat silly but also adorable.

He smiled lightly, gently holding her in his arms.

This was perhaps the best gift tonight.

At some point, people had crowded in front of the large window, all watching this extravagant display of fireworks. Later, the hotel manager personally came over to hand Qin Siyuan a box, "Mr. Qin, this is a wedding gift from Mrs. Gu; she said she wouldn’t come over herself."

Mrs. Gu?

Qin Siyuan was a bit surprised, somewhat puzzled.

But he accepted the box, opened it, and upon seeing the rare snow amber jewelry inside, he guessed it was from Wang Keru. He stared at it for a long time before handing the box to Gu Mingzhu, "This is a gift from my stepmother to the daughter-in-law."

Gu Mingzhu was stunned for quite a while before quietly asking, "Is it from Gu Anxi’s mother?"

He nodded, then continued watching the fireworks outside with her, the dazzling display healing them tonight, making them finally come to terms with things.

Some things might never be retraced, but there’s so much more to look forward to.

Because Gu Mingzhu insisted on watching all 999 fireworks, it was already one in the morning when they returned to the villa. Qin Siyuan was somewhat speechless, and when the car stopped in front of the villa, he unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to look at her, "You wasted our wedding night."

Gu Mingzhu’s heart housed a princess, and she was somewhat displeased upon hearing this, "Anxi is very stingy, you know, it’s rare for her to send a gift."

She still guarded the jewelry from Wang Keru, cherishing it.

Actually, the Gu family and Min Xin had gifted quite a few things, but she felt Wang Keru’s gift was different for Qin Siyuan, so she valued it highly too.

Qin Siyuan turned his head, smiled, got out of the car, and then walked around to open the car door for her. As Gu Mingzhu was about to get out, he scooped her up.

It was a princess carry.

Afraid of falling, she clung to his neck, a bit flustered, "Qin Siyuan."

He hummed in response, turned on the lights along the path, and the villa was illuminated brightly. As she adjusted to the light, she looked over his shoulder to see the villa filled with pink roses, her nose a bit sore, "Qin Siyuan."

He lowered his head, lightly touching her small nose, his voice hoarse, "What’s wrong?"

She buried her face in his neck, "You don’t have to do this."

He smiled faintly, placed her on the sofa, letting her admire the decor in the living room, as he casually undid his jacket, revealing only a white shirt and trousers. Then, he picked her up again, heading straight upstairs. The stairs also had large vases filled with her favorite roses.

At this point, she finally felt a bit nervous, her heartbeat quickening, "Qin Siyuan."

He seemed distracted, lowered his head to look at her, "Scared?"

She wanted to say no, but after a moment, she obediently lay on his shoulder, speaking softly, "Qin Siyuan, I can live without a princess life, but I can’t stand betrayal."

From a young age, she had everything she wanted, until later, betrayal surrounded her time and again, and she was afraid.

Qin Siyuan paused, one hand on the master bedroom’s doorknob, his voice husky as he spoke, "I won’t."

With that, he pushed the door open and entered, closing it behind them.

She was pinned against the door, looking at him pitifully.

She was just a twenty-something girl who had only known him for a month, getting married so quickly seemed crazy, yet no one around objected.

She still feared him; after all, just the thought of it made her a bit angry, impulsively kicking him, "Qin Siyuan, you’re not allowed to bully me just because you have that."

"What do you mean by bully?" His voice was unbearably husky, his breath on her ear.

She instantly felt lost, helplessly turning her face away, her voice trembling, "I don’t know."