CHAPTER 1538: CHAPTER 1442: HEART BOOKSTORE

But after staying by Gu Qichen’s side for so long and meeting so many people I used to know, I feel like I’m handling it quite well now.

"You’re here. It seems you’ve gotten even more handsome since the last time we met."

The young man suddenly burst into laughter. "I never thought you’d tease me like this, Sis."

"Stay for dinner," Xia Yangyang said.

The young man quickly waved his hand. "Not today, I still have something to finish that Second Brother instructed me to do. Next time, I’ll come for your specialty dishes. I have to leave now."

After saying that, the young man left.

Xia Yangyang watched his figure disappear in the distance before she turned back and walked into the room.

She approached Gu Qichen’s desk and asked, "Who is he?"

Gu Qichen looked up and glanced at her. "You actually don’t remember him, yet you could chat so naturally with him?"

Xia Yangyang replied earnestly, "I’ve already adjusted to my old life again, but I still don’t remember the people and events from the past. I can’t possibly explain to everyone I meet that I’ve lost my memory, right? Besides, I was just exchanging casual pleasantries earlier."

Gu Qichen smiled faintly. "He’s Ah K, the technical department manager at the company. A somewhat gifted hacker, actually. Kind of like your fifth sister from the underworld—both are one of a kind."

Even though Gu Qichen had told Xia Yangyang about this part of her past, it still felt very distant to her, including her godfather and those unrelated siblings.

But Xia Yangyang figured there was still plenty of time ahead.

She changed the subject. "You just got back, and you’re already busy with work? Aren’t you tired?"

"It’s not really about work. There’s some personal matters I need to handle quickly."

Xia Yangyang didn’t press further.

Gu Qichen suddenly closed his laptop. "You must be hungry. Let me take you to eat something."

The two of them went to the dining room.

On the table sat a heated food container.

Inside were dishes that Gu Qichen had already prepared in advance.

Layer by layer, the container revealed a few simple, light, homemade dishes.

And a large bowl of fragrant chicken porridge.

Gu Qichen’s chicken porridge was Xia Yangyang’s favorite—sweet, soft, and comforting with every bite.

Xia Yangyang ate a lot.

She felt like she had never had such an appetite before.

Gu Qichen accompanied her, but didn’t eat anything himself.

He sat opposite Xia Yangyang, watching her eat, as though he was admiring something amusing.

Since returning this time, Xia Yangyang felt like Gu Qichen seemed noticeably gentler.

He even liked to smile.

There was always this faint, almost indiscernible smile at the corner of his lips.

That faint smile...

Xia Yangyang couldn’t help but feel it was oddly captivating.

Being stared at like this by Gu Qichen, Xia Yangyang felt slightly uncomfortable.

She pushed the bowl of porridge toward him and said, "Why don’t you have some too?"

Gu Qichen shook his head lightly. "No need. You should eat more. Once you’re done, I’ll take you somewhere."

"Where are we going?"

Xia Yangyang asked curiously.

"You’ll know when we get there."

After finishing their meal, Gu Qichen drove Xia Yangyang and the two children away from Maple Villa.

During the journey, Xia Yangyang kept asking where Gu Qichen was taking her.

But Gu Qichen didn’t say a word.

The car drove into the city center, eventually stopping in front of a bookstore.

When Xia Yangyang saw the charmingly literary and vintage-looking bookstore, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Especially the name of the bookstore.

The bookstore was called "Heart Bookstore."