Gu Youyou paused for a moment and said, "Besides, your sister is essentially a hermit from another realm, how about it? Don’t you believe me?"
Qin Changlin seemed to have an epiphany and chuckled mischievously, saying, "Exactly as sister said, you’re right, Changlin understands now!"
Looking at his expression, Gu Youyou felt as though she was seeing a charlatan peddling fake medicine!
It wasn’t until the next day that she learned Qin Changlin had indeed boasted about her as if she were a fairy from the beyond, and Gu Youyou had felt her face burn with how he praised her.
She thought that making Qin Changlin a doctor was a waste of his talent. He had chosen the wrong profession; it was such a misplacement of his abilities.
That evening, Jin Zijin came back a bit late. It was already pitch dark when he returned, carrying a food container.
Gu Youyou had heard his footsteps from afar and hurried out to open the door.
"Zijin, you’ve had a hard day, let me do it!"
Gu Youyou reached out to take the food container. Jin Zijin was slightly startled but didn’t refuse, although there was a trace of surprise in his eyes.
Having been alone for so many years, it seemed he had never before received such consideration for his hardships!
After setting the table, they sat opposite each other, eating their separation without speaking, and it wasn’t until they were almost finished that Jin Zijin couldn’t help but ask, "Aren’t you going to ask why I came back so late today?"
He felt she should ask, given that she was usually quite talkative, especially during meals. Even when she had just arrived at his home in a poor state of health, she would still manage to speak a few sentences while eating.
Today, her silence made Jin Zijin feel uncomfortable.
Gu Youyou had almost finished eating when she heard Jin Zijin’s question. She wiped her mouth, nodded, and said, "Didn’t you say you were going to build a house? Wasn’t that why you came back late?"
Jin Zijin was taken aback for a moment, then smiled faintly, "Yeah, it looks like it might rain tonight. I covered the building materials before coming back, so I was a bit late. Are you hungry?"
"Not too bad!" She was used to being hungry with this dreadful two-meal-a-day regimen.
Gu Youyou narrowed her eyes and smiled, "Have we started building our house?"
"Didn’t you just say I came back late because of the house?"
Gu Youyou was momentarily taken aback and replied, "I was asking whether the construction has begun? Or are we still in the phase of preparing materials?"
"We’re preparing materials and building at the same time!" Jin Zijin’s expression darkened, "The things we need... are all in the back mountain!"
The back mountain! Every time the back mountain was mentioned, Jin Zijin became especially sensitive. What exactly was he looking for that was so important to him, making him hide in Lotus Village for five years?
This year must be the sixth, right?
Gu Youyou licked her lips and pulled out a cloth package, handing it to Jin Zijin.
Jin Zijin took the package with a skeptical look. After opening it, he appeared mildly astonished and asked, "Is this the money leftover from selling your dowry?"
Gu Youyou smiled and shook her head, "No, this is what I earned today from treating the residents of Qingshui Town. Sigh! That’s all I got for an afternoon of work. I’m getting worse off as I live on, turned into cheap labor. Don’t you think I’m..."
Gu Youyou continued talking to herself but finally noticed Jin Zijin’s increasingly unpleasant countenance across from her.
Startled, she cautiously asked, "Zijin, what’s wrong?"
There was a coldness in Jin Zijin’s eyes, revealing emotions he rarely showed.
"If you’re not well, you should rest at home, and it’s best not to go out!"
His voice was calm, betraying no hint of his emotions, but Gu Youyou knew he was angry.