Chapter 27

Chapter 27: She Loves Me, That's Why She Slapped Me At the door. Secretary Shen hesitated. He didn't know how long had passed, but when he heard that there seemed to be no movement inside, he finally knocked cautiously and said, "Boss, I've brought Dr. Yue over." Actually, this was him acting on his own initiative—he had called Dr. Yue over without the boss's permission. Inside the room. Yu Jianghai finally tore his gaze away from Lin Meiyan's face. His Adam's apple bobbed as he stood up and took a moment to steady his emotions before speaking toward the door. "Come in." Secretary Shen took a deep breath before leading Dr. Yue inside. Dr. Yue wanted to grumble a bit, but seeing how serious Secretary Shen looked, he held it in. When Dr. Yue came in and saw that there was actually a woman lying on Yu Jianghai's bed— His eyes nearly bulged out of his head. It was simply unbelievable! A woman lying on Yu Jianghai's bed? Who would dare believe that if they heard it? Dr. Yue even thought he might be going blind. He rubbed his eyes, then rubbed them again, but no—he wasn't mistaken. She really was lying there. He desperately wanted to exchange glances with Secretary Shen. Unfortunately, Secretary Shen kept his head lowered and eyes downcast at this moment, as if he hadn't received his signal at all. Dr. Yue let out an "aiyo aiyo" exclamation. "No wonder Secretary Shen insisted that even if it were raining knives, I had to come today." "It's not for nothing that I specially swapped shifts with someone to come here." This trip wasn't wasted. The hospital where Dr. Yue worked was very famous, but even more famous was his exceptional medical skill. Back when Yu Jianghai first returned and established Jianghai Dicai, it had affected many people's interests. To say he was "always walking by the river" during those first two years would be an understatement. Yu Jianghai and Lu Qingyuan were frequently injured, and Dr. Yue was the one responsible for treating them. Once, twice, three times—after enough visits, Dr. Yue couldn't help but marvel that Yu Jianghai was truly tough and lucky to be alive. But in all these years of coming and going, he had never once seen any woman appear by his side. While Dr. Yue was lost in his thoughts, Yu Jianghai spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse. "Dr. Yue, please take a look at her." Dr. Yue nodded and set down his medical bag beside him. In his early years, he had studied traditional Chinese medicine, but later discovered that Western medicine worked faster. He then went on to study Western medicine as well—in simple terms, he practiced integrated Chinese and Western medicine. So he could both take a pulse like a Chinese medicine practitioner and prescribe medication like a Western doctor. He sat down and first took Lin Meiyan's pulse. When he placed his fingers on her slender, fair wrist, he could clearly feel Yu Jianghai's piercing gaze on him. It was almost oppressive—as if he wished he could chop off the hands that had touched Lin Meiyan. Dr. Yue turned his head, the corner of his mouth twitching. "How about it, President Yu? Would you like to take the pulse instead?" That remark was certainly pointed. Yu Jianghai's expression didn't change. He spoke clearly, "Just examine her." He withdrew his gaze and stopped looking at Dr. Yue's hand on Lin Meiyan's wrist. He must be sick. He couldn't bear to see any other person have physical contact with Lin Meiyan. Even if that person was a doctor. With his remaining willpower, Yu Jianghai stood up and walked to the window. He didn't turn around, didn't watch. This way, he could firmly lock away the beast deep inside his heart. Not let it out again. And not scare her again, causing her to disappear from his sight once more. While Yu Jianghai wasn't watching, Dr. Yue continued taking Lin Meiyan's pulse. The more he felt it, the more alarmed he became. Finally, his brows knitted tightly together. "This patient has deficiency of both qi and blood, damage to both heart and spleen. The pulse is thin and weak, with a slow and irregular rhythm." As soon as he said this, the bright room fell silent. Yu Jianghai frowned slightly. Secretary Shen blurted out, "Dr. Yue, please speak in plain language." Who could understand all that technical jargon? Dr. Yue stroked his non-existent beard and sighed. "This young lady has been suffering from long-term fatigue and exhaustion, with inadequate nourishment of the heart and spirit. Her constitution has been weak for a long time and needs proper care and recuperation." Now everyone understood. Secretary Shen secretly glanced at Yu Jianghai's expression. Yu Jianghai's face showed a hint of worry—a rare display of emotion. "And her condition right now?" "She needs rest and quiet recuperation." Just as Dr. Yue finished speaking, Lin Meiyan seemed to be roused by the surrounding noise. She opened her eyes and looked around. Dr. Yue noticed this too. He was the closest to Lin Meiyan, and the moment he saw her open her eyes, he had only one thought: this young lady has such beautiful eyes. Apricot-shaped eyes like autumn water, as clear and clean as a spring. Lin Meiyan frowned slightly. She clearly didn't know where she was. She looked around, and when she saw Yu Jianghai standing nearby, She felt a moment of relief. Even Lin Meiyan herself didn't notice that her mindset seemed to have shifted somewhat. At the very least, for her, being in a place where Yu Jianghai was present might make her feel awkward and embarrassed, but it was absolutely safe. "Comrade, you're awake." Dr. Yue's voice also startled Yu Jianghai, who was standing by the window. He turned around, and their eyes met. He could clearly see his own reflection in Lin Meiyan's eyes. Yu Jianghai strode over to the bedside in a few quick steps, his gaze locking with hers. "You fainted. Let's hear what the doctor has to say." One sentence explained everything. Lin Meiyan was momentarily stunned. She instinctively looked at Dr. Yue, who said, "Comrade, I can see your body is severely depleted. You need proper rest." For all these years, Lin Meiyan had hardly rested a single day. She had lived under her uncle's roof with her child, dependent on others' kindness, and she was too proud to burden him with too much trouble. To support her daughter, to open Linji, to save up money to buy a house so Qiaoqiao could have a registered residence. She had long grown accustomed to this life. But she couldn't say that now. She knew and understood Yu Jianghai's temperament well—if she refused, he would not let the matter go. With that in mind, Lin Meiyan chose to comply with Dr. Yue's advice. She nodded. "Doctor, I'll rest properly." A lie. She was lying. Every time Lin Meiyan lied, she would unconsciously blink. Yu Jianghai had known this habit of hers for many years. So when it came to deceiving people—she had been deceiving him all along. Realizing this, Yu Jianghai's expression turned cold and grim, even a bit sour. "Dr. Yue, just prescribe her the medicine directly." Hearing this, Dr. Yue—despite his youthful face—revealed a hint of aged weariness. "Big brother, how about I prescribe something for you instead?" Was this a question of medicine? When treating illness, medicine most of the time only played a supplementary role. Hearing Dr. Yue's teasing, Yu Jianghai's face grew even colder by a few degrees. Only Lin Meiyan, lying in bed, let out a soft laugh. "Doctor, I know my own body. I'll take care of myself." Seeing her smile, Yu Jianghai's expression softened somewhat. Dr. Yue liked obedient, well-behaved patients like this. He immediately said, "Let's combine dietary and medicinal supplements." "Eat more meat on a daily basis to replenish your nutrition, and don't stay up too late at night—remember to rest. I'll also prescribe you a few rounds of Chinese medicine. Take it on time and you should be fine." Lin Meiyan hummed in acknowledgment. This time, she didn't refuse. Dr. Yue worked quickly. He immediately wrote out a prescription and handed it to Lin Meiyan. "Take this prescription to get the medicine. Take it three times a day on schedule." Lin Meiyan glanced down at it, nodded, and thanked him. Yu Jianghai said, "The medicine outside is poor quality. Have it filled directly from the hospital for her." The hospital where Dr. Yue worked was the best in all of Jiangcheng, and their medicines were different from what was sold outside. Dr. Yue sighed. "It's the same, it's all the same. I didn't bring any medicine with me this time. If I go back to the hospital to fill it, it'll take at least an hour round trip." "Have Secretary Shen drive you back, and bring the medicine along while you're at it." The arrangements were made quite smoothly. Secretary Shen agreed readily. "I was just about to take Dr. Yue back to the hospital anyway." He had been roped in at the last minute to drag Dr. Yue out of the hospital. Dr. Yue relented. "Fine then. I'll fill the prescription and have Secretary Shen bring it over to you." He was already at the door when he suddenly poked his head back in. "President Yu, are you about to have some good news soon?" "If so, you must invite me to a glass of wedding wine." At those words, Lin Meiyan's face showed a hint of embarrassment. She wanted to explain, but the situation she was in was far too ambiguous—she had woken up in Yu Jianghai's bed. Yu Jianghai, however, remained composed. He said to Dr. Yue, "Certainly." The agreement came easily. As if his marriage to Lin Meiyan was an inevitability. Once Dr. Yue and Secretary Shen left, the spacious room was left with only Lin Meiyan and Yu Jianghai. For Lin Meiyan, it felt like sitting on a bed of needles. She was just about to get up from the bed when Yu Jianghai suddenly pressed down on her wrist. He was above, she was below. Their breaths intertwined. This position was far too intimate. Lin Meiyan froze for a moment. Forced to look up at him, they were so close that their breathing mingled. She could even smell the faint scent of cedarwood on Yu Jianghai—fresh and pleasant. This position made Lin Meiyan deeply uncomfortable. She paused, trying to break free, but after three attempts, she couldn't get loose. "President Yu." Lin Meiyan had no choice but to steel herself and call out, "Let go." That address of "President Yu" seemed to ignite something in Yu Jianghai. He didn't release her. Instead, he looked down at her from above, his tone cold and heavy, as if laced with a shard of ice. "When you need him, he's Yu Jianghai. When you don't, he's President Yu." "Lin Meiyan, since when did I not know you wore such a mask?" At those words, Lin Meiyan's face suddenly turned pale. Her skin was already fair, and from Yu Jianghai's angle, he could even see the pale purple veins on her eyelids tremble violently. Seeing her like this, Yu Jianghai regretted what he had said. But spilled water could not be gathered back. Lin Meiyan lowered her eyes, avoiding Yu Jianghai's sharp, burning gaze. Her voice was faint. "Whatever President Yu says is whatever it is." "After all, I don't have any chance to resist, do I?" Yu Jianghai's jaw was taut, his chest heaving violently for a moment. Then, he raised his head and stared at her face, not missing a single trace of expression. He sneered coldly, "Is that so?" "Then if I want to do something, you'll agree to it too?" Lin Meiyan was taken aback. She looked up, about to ask what he meant— The next second, Yu Jianghai seized her chin, his gaze locked tightly on her lips. Then, he lowered his head and kissed her fiercely. His kiss was urgent and rough, with a force bordering on biting, sinking his teeth into her lips. Lin Meiyan nearly lost her footing in that overwhelming kiss, but what surged through her more was anger. She bit back hard with her teeth, biting until she broke the corner of his mouth, and a hint of metallic blood mingled with their intertwined breaths. Even so, Yu Jianghai didn't let go. He kissed her as if no one else existed, utterly absorbed and greedy. Seeing that she couldn't break free, Lin Meiyan, furious and frantic, raised her hand and slapped Yu Jianghai hard across the face, her cheeks flushed, her lips glistening. "Yu Jianghai, what are you doing?" Suddenly slapped, the two finally pulled apart. A handprint instantly appeared on Yu Jianghai's face—bright red, obvious, even harsh. Yu Jianghai didn't get angry. He raised his hand to touch the cheek Lin Meiyan had slapped, as if tracing the handprint. He lifted his gaze to Lin Meiyan, his eyes dark and obscure, even laced with an indescribable emotion. But Lin Meiyan could be certain—it was definitely not anger. Instead— Instead, she had seen that look on her uncle's face before. Every time her aunt slapped her uncle, her uncle would have that exact expression—excitement, savoring. Lin Meiyan instinctively stepped back two paces, putting distance between herself and Yu Jianghai. She grabbed her bag and turned to leave. Her high heels made a series of clacking sounds in the room—a sound only a woman could leave behind. This time, Yu Jianghai didn't stop her. He simply raised his hand to touch his own lips, smiling enigmatically, his voice low and muffled. "What am I doing?" "Kissing you." Those last two words were hoarse to the point of being raw, and unbearably alluring. Lin Meiyan, already at the door, froze in her steps, then clutched her bag and hurried away. When Secretary Shen came in, he was startled by his boss's smile, nearly dropping the medicine packet in his hands. "Boss." He kept his head low and submissive. "This is the medicine Dr. Yue prescribed for Youth Lin." He didn't dare look, and he couldn't look. Because on his boss's face, there was now a distinct handprint. Who would dare slap his boss in the face? Other than Youth Lin, he couldn't think of anyone else. "Old Yu, all the planning blueprints have been approved. You need to set a date—the second phase of Jianghai Dicai is about to break ground." Lu Qingyuan came in carrying a briefcase, travel-worn and hurried. The moment he entered, he spotted the five finger marks on Yu Jianghai's face. He froze for a moment, then said with a hint of disbelief, "Holy shit, who hit you?" "No wait, who slapped you?" "With over two hundred people in Jianghai Dicai, who would dare slap you?" Who was Yu Jianghai? He was the god of all of Jianghai Dicai. He had led Jianghai Dicai to where it was today, and it could be said that everyone from top to bottom worshipped him. Yu Jianghai touched his face. He didn't acknowledge Lu Qingyuan, but instead said to Secretary Shen, "Deliver the medicine to her." Secretary Shen kept his head low. "I'll go right away." He didn't even dare raise his head, nor did he dare respond to Lu Qingyuan. He was afraid that if he joined the conversation, he'd become the scapegoat. So Secretary Shen stayed hunched over the entire time, like a eunuch from ancient times, desperately trying to minimize his presence. When he left, he even remembered to close the door behind him. The moment the door shut, Secretary Shen let out a soft sigh of relief. He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, only then realizing his back was completely soaked. He muttered to himself, "Good thing I was quick on my feet." As for President Lu, let him face the boss's wrath. He wouldn't dare get close to the spectacle of the boss being slapped by Youth Lin. With that thought, Secretary Shen quickened his pace even more, clutching the medicine packet as if a wolf were chasing him. He left, but the office was far from peaceful. Lu Qingyuan, seemingly unaware he was courting disaster, set his briefcase down on the desk and turned to step closer to Yu Jianghai. No—he leaned in closer. "Seriously, Yu Jianghai, you got slapped right in your own office?" Yu Jianghai touched his slightly burning cheek. He wasn't angry; instead, he hummed in acknowledgment. Lu Qingyuan wondered if he was imagining things—he even detected a faint, barely perceptible hint of pride. Was he seeing things? Getting slapped and not being angry, but instead somewhat proud? What kind of emotion is this? Yu Jianghai didn't answer the question. He simply took the planning blueprint and asked, "Has everything been approved? No problems?" "Answer me first—who slapped you? Who's bold enough to slap you?" Lu Qingyuan had completely forgotten about the real matter at hand, instead focusing entirely on gossip. Yu Jianghai ignored him, looking down at the blueprint. His superior bone structure and handsome features were now marred by that bright red handprint. He didn't respond, but Lu Qingyuan had his own guess. "Lin Meiyan?" "She slapped you, didn't she?" "That's not right—if Lin Meiyan really slapped you, why would you have Secretary Shen rush over to deliver medicine to her?" "Yu Jianghai, are you out of your mind?" Other people get rewarded for doing well. But here with Yu Jianghai—he gets slapped by someone, and then he goes out of his way to send her medicine. What? Is this his way of rewarding Lin Meiyan for slapping him? Yu Jianghai lifted his gaze, his eyes cold and distant. "You talk too much." It was rather noisy. Lu Qingyuan refused to give up. "Old Yu, Old Yu, what do you want me to say? She slapped you, and instead of getting back at her, you send her medicine?" "Tsk, tsk, tsk." Three consecutive tsk-tsk-tsks carried an indescribable meaning. Yu Jianghai abruptly tossed down the blueprint, which landed with a sharp crack on the desk, making Lu Qingyuan instinctively look over. Anyone familiar with Yu Jianghai knew this was a precursor to his anger. "Why didn't she slap you?" "What?" Lu Qingyuan couldn't keep up with Yu Jianghai's words. "Why didn't she slap you?" Yu Jianghai touched the fresh five-finger mark on his face and said slowly, "Why did she slap me and not you?" This question left Lu Qingyuan dumbfounded. "Wait, how could Lin Meiyan possibly slap me?" "We're not even close, alright?" "Exactly." Yu Jianghai's voice remained cold and indifferent. "She slapped me because she loves me." "Otherwise, why do you think she didn't slap you?" Lu Qingyuan: "..." Lu Qingyuan: "..." Thunder rolled overhead—what a huge bucket of melodrama! Dear heavens, let a bolt of lightning strike him dead! He never wanted to hear the cold and ruthless Yu Jianghai say such love-crazed words again. He took a deep breath, still carrying a hint of disbelief, and raised his hand to point at the red five-finger mark on his face. "You think Lin Meiyan slapping you means she loves you?" Yu Jianghai's jaw tightened, and his voice was indifferent. "What else?" Even this slap was something he'd barely managed to earn. Lu Qingyuan: "..." Lu Qingyuan lay on the sofa, momentarily wanting to part ways with Yu Jianghai. With such a love-struck partner, he even felt that the future of Jianghai Dicai was in jeopardy. Unfortunately, Lu Qingyuan needn't have worried—Yu Jianghai rarely had these love-struck moments, and even when he did, they were fleeting. He quickly threw himself into work, evaluating the approved blueprint with an extremely picky and harsh gaze. "There are three problems in the review report. Go talk to Director Wang again." Lu Qingyuan's attention was immediately diverted. "Where are the problems?" Yu Jianghai held a black fountain pen, his well-defined fingers set against the pen's dark surface, creating an elegant and refined contrast. "Here, here, and here." "Also, this spot." "Once the planning blueprint for Phase Two of Jianghai Dicai is finalized and approved, all plans will follow it. Do you think if they set a trap for you, you'd walk right into it?" "What?" Lu Qingyuan couldn't keep up with Yu Jianghai's mind. He didn't understand—he'd just gone to pick up an approved planning blueprint. How did it become someone setting a trap for him? Yu Jianghai pointed to a line in the review report. When Lu Qingyuan saw it clearly, the color drained from his face completely. "I didn't catch this one." Yu Jianghai uttered a single word from his thin lips. "Change it." "There's something fishy going on at the Planning Bureau. Go investigate who's putting obstacles in the way of Phase Two of Jianghai Dicai." From land acquisition to planning, Phase Two of Jianghai Dicai had always been the center of attention. There was no way such a major problem could appear at the final step before construction began. If the planning blueprint had issues, everything could collapse in one fell swoop. "Yes." Lu Qingyuan immediately stood up, gathered the blueprints, and turned to leave. He'd already reached the door when he suddenly looked back and said, "Old Yu." "I shouldn't have called you love-struck." No—even a love-struck Old Yu was still terrifyingly formidable. Yu Jianghai gave a noncommittal smile. He lowered his head, picked up a cigarette, and lit one. A straight wisp of smoke rose, tinging his eyes with a hint of red. "Tell Director Wang that whatever chips the other side offered, we can offer double." Lu Qingyuan froze, then suddenly realized. "You mean that bastard Xue Jianshe is causing trouble?" Yu Jianghai didn't answer the question. He simply stood up, picked up his suit jacket, and pushed open the door first, offering a conclusion. "I'll go with you." Lu Qingyuan snapped back to attention, muttering under his breath, "If you come with me, I'll feel much more at ease." "If the plans go smoothly, what's the earliest we can start work?" "September." "That's less than half a month away, then." Yu Jianghai didn't respond, even finding it noisy. He stood in the elevator with his eyes closed, resting, but what came to mind was the way Lin Meiyan had looked standing in the elevator, afraid. Yu Jianghai touched his face, then suddenly smiled. He wondered if she'd made it home yet. Lin Meiyan came down from the top floor of Jianghai Dicai. Because she was so angry, she'd rushed straight into the elevator, which meant that from the fourteenth floor to the first, it was a long minute. By the time the elevator dinged as it reached the first floor, she only then realized she'd already come down. She'd even forgotten to be afraid. Because the anger itself had overshadowed the fear. Lin Meiyan stood at the elevator entrance on the first floor of Jianghai Dicai, calmly looking back at that elevator that had frightened her so many times. At this moment, she actually felt that this dark elevator box didn't seem so scary anymore. Lin Meiyan left carrying her bag, taking the bus all the way back to Linji. The moment she stepped through the door, Gu Kaihua was the first to look up. "Back?" He still had a rag clutched in his hand, a towel draped over his shoulder, clearly having been waiting for her absentmindedly. Ye Qiuju was slicing lotus root in the back kitchen. Hearing this, she also poked her head out for a look. Qiaoqiao had been squatting on a small stool counting change, but the moment she saw her return, she immediately stuffed those few coins into the small iron box and ran over on her short little legs. "Mom." She tilted her face up, eyes bright and sparkling. "Did you return the shoes?" Gu Kaihua also joined in the nosiness. "And the braised lotus root? Did you deliver it?" Lin Meiyan's steps paused. She'd been thinking the whole way back about what she'd say if she was asked. But now that the moment had actually arrived, those prepared words seemed to get stuck in her throat. She lowered her eyes, set her bag on the counter, and her voice was soft, with no discernible ups and downs. "Returned." "And the things were delivered too." Qiaoqiao blinked. "Then what did Uncle Yu say?" Lin Meiyan's fingertips curled. Almost immediately, her mind conjured up the image of him pressing her down and lowering his head to kiss her. And that last sentence of his, low and terribly hoarse. Kiss you. The roots of Lin Meiyan's ears grew hot, but her expression became even more composed. She didn't look at Qiaoqiao, only said quietly, "He didn't say anything." "The shoes were returned, and everything was made clear." Gu Kaihua dug deeper. "Made what clear?" Ye Qiuju didn't say anything, only stood at the back kitchen door watching her. That gaze of hers was too perceptive, as if it could see right through the calm Lin Meiyan was forcing herself to maintain. Lin Meiyan gripped her bag strap and said softly, "I told him that from now on, bridges are bridges, and roads are roads." "Jianghai Dicai is Jianghai Dicai, and Linji is Linji." "In the future, we won't have any more relations either." When she said this, Lin Meiyan herself didn't look up. She was afraid that if she looked up, someone would see the panic in her eyes. Gu Kaihua and the others were stunned, unable to put into words what they felt. "Yanyan." "Really—" He hadn't even finished asking. Lin Meiyan said firmly, "Really, there's no more relations." But just as her words fell, a sudden screech of brakes came from outside. Tires scraped across the ground, letting out a harsh, grating sound. Everyone in Linji instinctively looked toward the door. The next second, Secretary Shen came in carrying a large bag of medicine, practically at a jog. "Youth Lin." He was sweating on his forehead from running, and before he'd even caught his breath, he set the medicine bag on the counter. "Finally caught up with you." Seeing Secretary Shen appear, Lin Meiyan froze in place. Gu Kaihua looked at the medicine bag, then at Lin Meiyan, his mind struggling to keep up. "This is?" Secretary Shen had always been good at handling people, and now he put on a perfectly polished smile. "This is the traditional Chinese medicine that Dr. Yue prescribed for Youth Lin." "The boss happened to have something urgent come up—he had to go handle the second-phase planning matters with President Lu and couldn't get away—so he had me rush it over to you." "Dr. Yue is very skilled, one of the most renowned in Jiangcheng. He said that Youth Lin has worn down your constitution from overwork over the years, so you must take the medicine on schedule." "The medicine is a bit bitter, I'll admit, but after a few rounds, it'll do a lot to help regulate your health." The air suddenly went quiet. There had been two customers sitting in the front area resting, and now they stopped talking, just looking over curiously. Gu Kaihua opened his mouth, staring at Lin Meiyan, as if asking, "This is what you meant by no more relations?" The medicine had been delivered right to their door. How could there be no relations? Qiaoqiao's eyes went wide too. Even the cleaver in Ye Qiuju's hand paused on the cutting board. Everyone looked at Lin Meiyan in unison. Lin Meiyan's throat tightened. Almost without thinking, she said, "Secretary Shen, sorry to make you go to all this trouble." "But I could just as easily get this medicine myself." "It's not the same at all." Secretary Shen immediately waved his hand, correcting her. "This is a prescription personally written by Dr. Yue, the head of Jiangcheng Hospital, and he personally prepared the medicine too, with all the portions measured out." He was afraid Lin Meiyan might refuse, so he added, "The boss said your health is your own—no matter how busy you are, you need to take care of yourself." At those words, Gu Kaihua's expression became even more interesting. The rag on his shoulder nearly slipped off. Ye Qiuju glanced up at Lin Meiyan, saying nothing with that look, but Lin Meiyan understood perfectly—her aunt was teasing her! Lin Meiyan felt her face grow warm. She truly wanted to sew Secretary Shen's mouth shut. Secretary Shen, however, was completely oblivious to any tension in the air and dutifully continued, "There are three doses of medicine. When you get home, use a clay pot to decoct them first. Remember to mix the first and second decoctions together, and take it three times a day." "It's best to drink it after meals—don't take it on an empty stomach." "Dr. Yue also said you need to rest earlier and stop staying up late." With each sentence, Lin Meiyan felt the room grow quieter. She could only steel herself and nod. "I understand." "Good, good." Only after finishing his instructions did Secretary Shen seem finally at ease. He stepped back two paces and added with a smile, "Then I won't disturb your business." "The boss is waiting for me to get back." With that, he left, but at the doorway he turned back to wave. "Don't forget to drink the medicine!" Lin Meiyan was speechless. She could only nod again. Once Secretary Shen was completely out of sight and the doorway fell quiet again, Gu Kaihua slowly shifted his gaze back. He looked at the large bundle of Chinese medicine on the counter and finally managed to say, "Yanyan." "So this is what you meant by 'it's nothing'?" The look on his chubby face was unmistakably one of someone enjoying the drama. That was the big boss of Jianghai Dicai, and he cared for his niece like this. How could this possibly be nothing? Lin Meiyan was momentarily at a loss for words. Ye Qiuju set down her cleaver and wiped her hands on her apron, her tone calm. "He really did spell it out clearly." The words sounded plain, but they carried a distinct flavor when they landed on one's ears. Qiaoqiao stood by the counter, her little head tilting left, then right. Finally, she looked at the medicine, then at Lin Meiyan, and asked softly, "Mommy, is Uncle Yu worried about you?" Lin Meiyan's heart skipped a beat, and she answered almost instinctively, "No." "It's just medicine the doctor prescribed." Even she felt the explanation was weak. Gu Kaihua clicked his tongue but didn't press further. He simply reached for the medicine bundle. "It's pretty heavy." "Where should this go?" Ye Qiuju took it from him and said directly, "Put it in the back kitchen. I'll decoct it for Yanyan in a bit." She paused, then glanced at Lin Meiyan. "Let's get back to business first—there are customers waiting outside." Those words spared her some face. Lin Meiyan gave a soft "mm," but as she looked at the bundles of Chinese medicine on the cutting board, her head began to ache again. Her original intention in returning the shoes was to draw a clear line between herself and Yu Jianghai, but now those ties seemed impossible to sever, tangled beyond sorting. She could only lose herself in work and push those thoughts aside. By evening, Linji gradually grew busy again. Around six, during dinner time, more customers began to arrive. Some came back from work to buy braised goods, while others stopped by for mung bean soup or dinner. Gu Kaihua bustled around the dining area, complaining loudly about being run off his feet, yet his movements never stopped. Ye Qiuju chopped vegetables and mixed lotus root in the back kitchen, occasionally glancing up to check the heat out front. Qiaoqiao, as usual, guarded her bucket of mung bean soup, collecting money while carefully noting in her little notebook who overpaid and who got shortchanged. On the surface, nothing seemed to have changed. But Lin Meiyan knew something had. Her mindset had shifted again. As she stood at the stove cutting duck necks, the knife nearly slipped from her hand. When she reached for the soy sauce, her peripheral vision kept drifting, almost involuntarily, toward the bundle of medicine in the corner of the back kitchen. Even when ladling mung bean soup for customers, a scene would suddenly flash through her mind. The man standing before her, his gaze deep and burning. He said, "Then if I were to do something, would you agree?" And then, that unreasonable kiss. At the thought, Lin Meiyan's hand trembled, nearly spilling the mung bean soup. "Yanyan." Ye Qiuju called from behind. "What are you thinking about?" Lin Meiyan answered in a daze, "Nothing." She lowered her head and forcibly suppressed the churning emotions. They worked until dark, and only after the last table of customers left did Linji finally quiet down. Gu Kaihua was so exhausted he could barely straighten his back, collapsing onto a bench and gasping for air. "I can't, I can't—this old body of mine is going to give out right here." Qiaoqiao was also fighting sleep, her little head bobbing up and down. Lin Meiyan fetched some hot water, wiped her face and hands, and coaxed her softly, "Go upstairs and sleep first, okay?" Qiaoqiao's voice was soft with drowsiness. "What about Mommy?" "Mommy will come up in a bit." "Really?" "Really." Only then did Qiaoqiao feel reassured. She reached out her little hands to hug Lin Meiyan's neck and said in a childish voice, "Mommy has to obediently take her medicine too." Lin Meiyan paused mid-motion. Before she could say anything, Gu Kaihua chuckled from the side. "See, even Qiaoqiao knows she has to keep you in line." Ye Qiuju shot him a look. "Say less. Go carry Qiaoqiao upstairs." Gu Kaihua gave a quick "alright" and got up to take Qiaoqiao away. Downstairs, only Lin Meiyan and Ye Qiuju remained. After Ye Qiuju finished tidying up the kitchen, she went to the corner, pulled out the packet of medicine, and opened it to take a whiff. The medicinal smell immediately spread out. Bitter, astringent, and carrying an indescribable scent of herbs and grass. "I'll brew it for you." Lin Meiyan said instinctively, "Aunt, there's no need." Ye Qiuju didn't even look up. "The doctor prescribed it. Why wouldn't there be a need?" She was always quick and efficient in her work—washing the clay pot, pouring in water, adding the herbs, handling each step without delay. The fire on the coal stove slowly picked up, and before long, the smell of medicine grew stronger and stronger. Gu Kaihua came downstairs to get some water, and when he caught the smell, his whole face scrunched up. "This medicine smells way too bitter." Ye Qiuju tapped the edge of the pot with her ladle. "If you can't stand the bitterness, then don't drink it." "I never said I was going to drink it." Gu Kaihua shrank his neck and immediately grabbed his enamel mug and scurried off. After a while longer, the medicine was done brewing. Ye Qiuju set a bowl of pitch-black medicine in front of her. "Drink it." Lin Meiyan looked down at it. The liquid was thick and dark, and just the smell alone made her mouth feel bitter. She didn't take it. Ye Qiuju was a little surprised. "What's wrong?" Lin Meiyan was silent for a moment, then suddenly said in a low voice, "Aunt, I don't want to drink it." Ye Qiuju was taken aback. "Too bitter?" Lin Meiyan kept her eyes lowered, her voice very soft. "Mm." "I don't want to suffer bitterness anymore." The moment those words fell, the room went quiet. The fire on the coal stove crackled on, its glow casting flickering light and shadow across half her face. Ye Qiuju looked at her, and her heart suddenly ached. Over the past few years, Lin Meiyan never said it out loud, but how much hardship she had endured—Ye Qiuju, as her aunt, had seen it all. A woman raising a child on her own, pushing through day and night—pushing to earn money, pushing to open the shop, pushing to prop up Linji again. It wasn't that she wasn't afraid of hardship. It was that she had no other choice. Ye Qiuju pushed the bowl of medicine a little closer to her and softened her voice. "Even if you don't want to suffer bitterness, you still have to drink it." "Yanyan, you're not alone anymore." "You have to think for yourself, and you have to think for Qiaoqiao too." "She's still so young, and she depends on you for everything. Linji has only just gotten on its feet, and the whole family relies on you to hold it together. You're the pillar of this family." "How can a pillar just collapse?" "We can lend you a hand, but no one can take your place." Lin Meiyan sat there, silent for a long time. After a moment, she reached out and took the bowl of medicine. "I know," she said softly, then tipped her head back and drank it down. The moment the liquid touched her lips, the bitterness spread instantly—from the tip of her tongue to the root, then all the way down her throat, until even her chest seemed to ache with it. Lin Meiyan couldn't help but furrow her brow. But it was in that very bitterness that she suddenly thought of what had happened during the day. She thought of the ruthlessness forced into Yu Jianghai's eyes when he pressed down on her wrist. She thought of how he had asked her, low and cold: when you need someone, it's Yu Jianghai; when you don't, it's President Yu. And she also thought of how, later, when he leaned down to kiss her, the warmth and force of his lips. That had clearly been a kiss far too fierce. But in the end, standing by the door, his voice had been hoarse beyond belief. He said, I kissed you. Just a few words, yet they carried fire, burning her so badly she still hadn't recovered. Lin Meiyan set the empty bowl on the table, her fingertips trembling slightly. Ye Qiuju looked at her expression and had already guessed a fair amount. She didn't press further, only handed over a piece of rock sugar she had prepared in advance. "To take the bitterness out of your mouth." Lin Meiyan put the sugar in her mouth. The sweetness slowly dissolved, but it didn't suppress the turmoil inside her. If this continued, she would eventually fall back into the same situation as back then. She wasn't young anymore, and she no longer had the courage of her youth to burn all bridges—to bravely leave the island with a child in her belly, to leave Yu Jianghai. If she had to do it all over again, she truly didn't have that courage anymore. Lin Meiyan sat there holding the empty medicine bowl for a long while. Ye Qiuju sensed something and ventured, "About—Yu Jianghai, what are you thinking?" Lin Meiyan looked up. Her expression was dazed, but the words that came out carried a certain weight. "What if I said I hate him?" She hated Yu Jianghai. She had desperately fled from Yu Jianghai. But after only five years of peace, he had appeared again—and in such a simple, crude way, he had thrown her life into chaos. Hearing this, Ye Qiuju let out a heavy sigh. "Where there's no love, how can there be hate?" Lin Meiyan gave a bitter laugh, as if she had finally made up her mind about something. She looked up at Ye Qiuju, her voice very soft, yet carrying an indescribable resolve. "Aunt, now that Linji is on the right track, I want to go on a blind date."