Gu Qiaoqiao touched her chest, her eyes suddenly lighting up. She understood the meaning behind Qin Yize’s words and murmured in disbelief, "Really, it’s been a few hours, and I haven’t thrown up..."

Gu Qiaoqiao finally uttered the word, because mentioning vomiting in the past would immediately make her nauseous.

It was always accurate, almost every time.

So, they never even mentioned the word.

After Gu Qiaoqiao finished speaking, a brief silence engulfed the room, and they gazed at each other, as if waiting for something.

A moment later, Gu Qiaoqiao closed her eyes and then slowly opened them again. Feeling her own body, at that moment, she looked at Qin Yize in surprise, "Ah Ze, I’m better!"

Her morning sickness had magically disappeared.

Qin Yize’s face lit up with joy. His little wife had become too thin these past few days, but now, she could finally eat well.

"What do you feel like eating now?" Qin Yize asked enthusiastically.

Gu Qiaoqiao hadn’t eaten much dinner, and it was only a bit past eight, so she suggested, "How about we have a small hotpot?"

Qin Yize immediately nodded, "You rest for a bit, I’ll go prepare."

The small hotpot was a great choice, nutritious and convenient, and on a winter night, cooking a pot was warm and delicious. There was plenty of usable ingredients left.

"I don’t want to rest; these past few days it’s been either lying down or sitting, I’m sick of it. Let’s go downstairs together; I can help."

Gu Qiaoqiao hurriedly grabbed Qin Yize’s hand. Now that she felt comfortable, she didn’t want to spend all her time cooped up in the bedroom or on the sofa.

Qin Yize pondered for a moment, then held Gu Qiaoqiao’s hand in reverse, "Then let’s prepare the midnight snack together..."

Saying this, they both headed downstairs.

Talking as they walked...

"Qiaoqiao, you can’t eat overly spicy food for now. Let’s make a three-flavored broth for the hotpot."

Qiaoqiao had a bit of a sore throat these days and naturally had to avoid certain foods.

"Ah Ze, without chili, the flavor is much weaker."

"Qiaoqiao, as long as the seasoning is done well, any broth will taste good."

"Then I’ll make the broth, and you cut the meat and wash the vegetables." Gu Qiaoqiao didn’t insist further; now that she wasn’t vomiting, she could eat whatever she wanted later.

Just as her mother had said.

She counted herself very lucky, as some expectant mothers were known to vomit all the way till labor.

Qin Yize nodded happily and suddenly stopped, gently pulling Qiaoqiao into his arms with a sigh, "Qiaoqiao, you’ve had a hard time."

Getting pregnant and giving birth was indeed a very grueling task. Even if they were allowed more children, he wouldn’t want Gu Qiaoqiao to go through this pain again.

When she’s uncomfortable, he feels even worse than she does.

Gu Qiaoqiao leaned into his chest, listening to the steady and strong heartbeat of her man, and said coyly, "It is very tough, you need to treat me better in the future."

"Yes, I’ll definitely treat you better," Qin Yize agreed readily, adding, "And when the baby is born, we should let him treat you well too."

Gu Qiaoqiao leaned against Qin Yize’s chest and couldn’t help but laugh softly.

The faint shadow looming over the Qin Family finally began to quietly disperse.

Gu Qiaoqiao’s reactions lessened, allowing Qin Yize to finally relax a bit. Outside of work, he started packing up what needed to be taken away.

Though Gu Qiaoqiao was feeling better, Qin Yize still wouldn’t let her do anything; organizing was too easy for him, and Qiaoqiao only needed to direct him.

They actually didn’t have too many things, despite living here for over a year, it added up to just a few months, and since there were only the two of them, they hadn’t acquired much. With so much help, Gu Qiaoqiao didn’t need to do anything; she only needed to manage some personal items for herself and Qin Yize.

Old Grand Master Qin returned the same day and instructed Uncle Wang and Xiao Yuan to start organizing the five rooms facing Chaoyang in the main courtyard.

This space is about three hundred square meters, a two-story building, spacious and bright.

Being the largest residential area in the Qin Family’s Courtyard, it was originally prepared by Old Grand Master Qin for Qin Yize. Since it’s a classical building, the furniture inside is also ancient in style. However, Old Grand Master Qin had foresight and remodeled it this summer when he returned from abroad.

Thus, the living room in this courtyard is not only large but also spacious and bright, with modern features, yet it strangely blends perfectly with the surrounding classical carved railings and ancient fragrant wood—a place ready to live in, needing only some curtains and bedding.

Because it’s for Gu Qiaoqiao, she naturally got to choose what she liked, entrusted with this task by Qin Yize, with no need to involve herself further.

Therefore, during the two weeks when Qin Yize managed the handover and moved into the Qin Family’s Courtyard, Gu Qiaoqiao was rather leisurely, eating well and sleeping well, a bit of chubbiness appearing on her cheeks, easing Qin Yize’s mind just a bit more.

When the baby is born, only then can he completely put his mind at ease.

Before they knew it, the beginning of the year 1990 had arrived.

Entering the rapidly changing 1990s.

Qin Yize finally resigned from his job at the base and moved with Qiaoqiao into the Qin Family’s Courtyard.

The Qin Family’s business was formally transferred into Qin Yize’s hands.

During this time, Gu Qiaoqiao came to understand that the Qin Family’s businesses were indeed quite scattered, mostly concentrated in Haicheng City, with some in Yanjing, and a small portion in Imperial Capital, all managed by people Old Grand Master Qin trusted, which Gu Qiaoqiao listened to only briefly before it drifted out of her mind.

Qin Yize didn’t travel to inspect the businesses; taking advantage of being home, having just assumed responsibility, everything was in the familiarization stage, he made no moves, just stayed with Qiaoqiao, who was no longer working, in the Qin Family’s Courtyard.

At the hot springs near North Mountain, which has now become a hot spring resort, it was built by a grandson of the Old Patriarch’s old friend, operating on a VIP membership basis, giving Old Master Qin ten cards to distribute as he wished.

Old Master Qin gave one card each to Qin Yize and Gu Qiaoqiao, allowing them to enjoy at their leisure, and another to the Old Patriarch. These two old men would go soak in the hot spring and play chess when they had nothing else to do. Qin Yize had yet to take over the business, and the Old Grand Master was acting like he had already washed his hands of the matter. Gu Qiaoqiao realized he had been prepared for this all along.

Once they were settled, it was almost time to celebrate the New Year.

The Old Patriarch also reclaimed the North Mountain Villa, where Ning Wanru used to live.

And transferred it to Gu Qiaoqiao.

This villa was very close to the courtyard, just a ten-minute walk.

Old Master Qin was unhappy but had no choice, feeling like the Old Patriarch was always at odds with him, leading to a week without inviting the Old Patriarch over to play.