After becoming a widow, I became the apple of a rough man's eye.

Once inside the courtyard, he sensed something was wrong and turned back to shout, "Third brother, don't bully Qingqing while I'm not around!"

"Don't worry, what kind of person does Second Brother take me for?!"

Gu Qiangying replied and then closed the door behind her.

He walked to the table, looked at the bowl of dark medicine, and reached out to test the temperature of the bowl: "It's almost ready, drink it."

Lin Qingqing made a bitter face; this medicine looked so bitter!

She stared at the bowl of medicine: "Third Brother, how about we take the medicine tomorrow? I feel like I can eat and sleep well..."

"Anyone who can eat and sleep like a pig is like that." Gu Qiangying pulled out a chair and sat down opposite her. "If you don't drink, I'll feed you in other ways. Like... mouth-to-mouth?"

Lin Qingqing quickly picked up the bowl, held her breath, and took a big gulp.

The bitterness seemed to have grown legs, rushing straight up her tongue to the top of her head, making her face scrunch up like a bun.

She felt like vomiting, but was afraid that Gu Qiangying would really use some "other method," so she could only grit her teeth and swallow it down.

After drinking the bowl of medicine, Lin Qingqing felt like she was half dead. She gasped for breath with her mouth open, and tears welled up in her eyes.

A peeled candy was brought to my lips.

Open your mouth.

Lin Qingqing subconsciously took it in her mouth.

The sweet, milky flavor melted on her tongue, instantly suppressing the overwhelming bitterness. She puffed out her cheeks, sucking on the candy, and looked longingly at Gu Qiangying.

Seeing her like this, Gu Qiangying's expression softened. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the medicine stains from the corner of her mouth.

"You must drink it every day from now on, and stick to it for three months."

"Three months?!" Lin Qingqing almost swallowed the candy. "Wouldn't I turn into a pickled bitter melon by then?"

"Good medicine tastes bitter." Gu Qiangying stood up, walked to her side, and said, "Stand up."

Lin Qingqing was confused and obediently stood up.

"Go to bed."

Lin Qingqing glanced outside through the small window, somewhat wary: "Third Brother, everyone's still awake..."

"What are you thinking about?" Gu Qiangying flicked her forehead with her finger. "I'll give you an abdominal massage to help you distribute the medicine. Your cold uterus is a chronic problem. If you just drink the medicine without it circulating through your meridians, it'll be a waste of time."

Lin Qingqing covered her forehead, her face slightly red.

She found that she couldn't think straight in front of Gu Qiangying.

She shuffled to the bedside, took off her shoes, and lay down.

Gu Qiangying rolled up her sleeves, revealing a section of her smooth forearm, rubbed her hands together to warm them, and then lifted a corner of Lin Qingqing's hem.

When the dry palm touched the warm skin, Lin Qingqing trembled and instinctively wanted to pull away.

"Don't move," Gu Qiangying's voice lowered. "Relax."

His large hands, dry and steady from years of handling needles and medicine, rested on her lower abdomen. He first gently massaged her in a clockwise direction, with just the right amount of pressure and a reassuring warmth.

Lin Qingqing pursed her lips slightly, staring at the roof beam, not daring to breathe loudly.

The hand circled her stomach, occasionally pressing on acupoints, causing a sore and tingling sensation mixed with a strange numbing feeling.

"It's very cold here," Gu Qiangying said softly as she massaged the area. "It must have been very tough for you before, right?"

Lin Qingqing felt a lump in her throat, but she didn't say anything and just nodded.

"It won't happen again." Gu Qiangying's hand stopped in the center of her lower abdomen, the warmth of his palm flowing in continuously. "I'll take care of it for you."

"Thank... thank you, Third Brother," Lin Qingqing muttered softly.

Gu Qiangying chuckled softly and gently tapped around her navel with her finger. "Qingqing."

"Um?"

"If this land is properly fertilized..."

Gu Qiangying leaned down, his nose almost touching hers, his eyes behind his glasses unfathomable. "If you're really pregnant, that's good too."

Lin Qingqing's heart skipped a beat; the milk candy melted in her mouth, leaving only a trace of sweetness.

"But...but then we won't know who it is..." she whispered.

"What does it matter?" Gu Qiangying's fingers slid up her waistline an inch, pinching her slender waist through the fabric. "As long as it comes from your belly, it's a Qin family seed. My brother can protect it, and I can raise it too."

He paused, then pressed his lips to her ear, his warm breath washing over her:

"If he looks like me, I'll teach him to be a doctor; if he looks like the second son, I'll make him a blacksmith; if he looks like Dongye, I'll teach him to drive; if he looks like Xiao Wu... then I'll throw him in the pigsty."

Lin Qingqing was extremely nervous, but when she heard the last sentence, she burst out laughing, her body trembling.

Gu Qiangying smiled as she looked at her, and the darkness in her eyes melted away.

His fingers were long and slender with distinct knuckles. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing half of his pale forearm, with slightly protruding blue veins, exuding a restrained sensuality.

Lin Qingqing felt a little dizzy from watching. Before she could react, the hand that had been circling around her lower abdomen suddenly slid down.

Lin Qingqing shuddered and instinctively tried to sit up, but Gu Qiangying pressed her shoulder down with his other hand and gently pushed her back onto the pillow.

"Don't move." His tone became sterner, his eyes behind his glasses narrowed slightly, but his voice was gentle. "Are you feeling unwell, Qingqing?"

"Second brother is still outside..."

"Don't move." His voice deepened, carrying an undeniable command. "I've locked the door. As long as you don't scream, no one will know what we're doing."

no one knows.

These four words seem to possess a magical power, both frightening and exciting.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Good girl." He lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

Lin Qingqing gasped for breath, her chest heaving violently. She felt as if she had died once, completely drained of strength.

Gu Qiangying was in a great mood. She slowly and methodically straightened her clothes, buttoning them back up one by one. Then she went to the outer room to fetch a basin of warm water, wrung out a towel, and carefully wiped Lin Qingqing's face and hands.

His movements were unusually gentle, as if the madman from just moments ago wasn't him at all.

"Are your hands sore?" Gu Qiangying asked softly as she wiped her fingers.

Lin Qingqing buried her face in the pillow, not wanting to pay attention to him.

That's terrible.

This person is absolutely wicked.

Gu Qiangying chuckled, helped her cover herself with the blanket, and then took out the hot water bottle that had long since gone cold and replaced it with a new one.

"Go to sleep early." He sat by the bed for a while, running his fingers through her hair. "What do you want to eat for breakfast tomorrow? I'll make it for you."

Lin Qingqing mumbled from under the covers, her voice barely audible: "I'm not eating."

"How can you not eat?" Gu Qiangying chuckled. "I'll make you poached eggs with brown sugar tomorrow."

Lin Qingqing remained silent.

Gu Qiangying stopped teasing her, leaned down and kissed her exposed ear, then took the basin of water and went out.

Lin Qingqing didn't peek her head out from under the covers until she heard the door lock click shut.

My face was burning hot, as if I had a fever.

She touched her lips; the taste of Gu Qiangying still seemed to linger there.

……

Tomorrow's Boss