As soon as Shen Xifan stepped through the door, the phone started ringing, confirming her expectations. Even with her eyes closed, she could anticipate the caller. Opting for comfort, she kicked off her high heels and casually collapsed onto the bed, allowing the phone to persistently ring until it became nearly unbearable, only then did she reluctantly pick it up.

Holding the receiver at arm’s length, she braced herself for the incoming tirade. An angry voice bellowed from the other end, berating her, “Shen Xifan, you wretch! You claim to be sick? I believe you’re mentally deranged, completely unhinged!”

With a resigned sigh, she confessed candidly, “Yes, I am sick. Mentally unwell.”

Her father could be heard in the background trying to calm her mother down, “Why are you yelling at her? If she doesn’t want to go on blind dates, she doesn’t have to. Why do you keep worrying about it? She’s an adult, not a child!”

Her mother, even more infuriated, retorted, “Am I wrong? I’m doing this for her good, and both of you treat me like the bad guy. Do I even have a say in this house? Am I still considered a person?”

Her father fell silent immediately. Shen Xifan’s mother continued her tirade, “Shen Xifan, I’m telling you, forget about that scoundrel Dai Heng. Stop pining for him. Do you think you’re some sort of martyr?”

Feeling a mix of emotions, Shen Xifan picked up the receiver and explained, “Mom, I’ve been over him for a long time. Can we just not talk about him anymore?”

“Refusing to discuss him won’t change anything. Even if I refrain from mentioning him, you’re still fixated on him. Let me be clear: either find a boyfriend promptly or comply with these blind dates. If you dare to repeat today’s behavior, I’ll disown you, you ungrateful daughter!”

Her mother persisted in scolding her for an extended period before eventually hanging up.

Shen Xifan stared blankly for a moment, sighed, and got out of bed to heat her medicine. The microwave released a thick, rich scent, a blend of bitterness and sweetness.

She tried a small spoonful; it was slightly sweet. The Huang Qin (Scutellaria) was likely in a small quantity, and the sweetness of licorice and red dates masked the bitterness. Pinching her nose, she gulped down the entire bowl and quickly rinsed her mouth with water.

The lingering sweetness of the licorice stayed on her lips and tongue. After the initial bitterness, the sweet aroma of the licorice gradually took over. She felt a slight warmth spread through her body, making her a bit drowsy. After days of accumulated fatigue, she finally succumbed to sleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

The next day, she woke up feeling rejuvenated and went to work with renewed energy. Though winter was approaching, the air was still somewhat humid and stifling, but she was in high spirits.

She made her rounds at the Jing Pavilion first, finding everything in order. As she entered through the back door, she saw the lobby manager, Ding Wei, looking haggard. Curious, she asked, “Ding Wei, what happened?”

“It’s quite a significant incident, yet not entirely unexpected,” he remarked, shaking his head. “Last night, a man barged into the lobby and grabbed a female guest. Security promptly intervened, but the guest was understandably upset. We spent the entire night consoling her.”

Sympathizing, Shen Xifan nodded, “Thankfully, the situation didn’t escalate to the guest room side, or I’d be at my wit’s end.”

While the Gu Nan Hua Court might not boast the city’s most luxurious accommodations, it was renowned for its distinctive rooms. Divided into Jing Pavilion and New Pavilion, the former offered Chinese-style rooms, suites, and villas, while the latter provided Western-style accommodations.

Shen Xifan’s sense of pressure was certainly justified, given the circumstances.

At that moment, her walkie-talkie crackled, and the secretary to the general manager’s voice came through, “The general manager wants to see you in his office.”

Shen Xifan felt a bit anxious as she headed towards the general manager’s office. Ding Wei, noticing her discomfort, teased, “Have a big lunch to vent your frustration!”

She shot back with mock annoyance, “Ding Wei, do you want me to hire some thugs to come and cause trouble here? Then you can have some late-night snacks!”

When she arrived at the office, Cheng Dongqian was already waiting for her, along with the managers from the public relations, security, and engineering departments. Cheng signaled for her to take a seat. “I’ve called you all here to discuss the VIP reservations. I want everyone to be fully aware of the situation.”

The secretary distributed the documents, and Shen Xifan skimmed through them. The hotel was hosting VIPs for the upcoming IT Summit.

No wonder there was such a fuss. Wealthy clients were always a big deal.

She pitied her already frazzled nerves; they were about to get a lot more strained.

The documents outlined the responsibilities: “The guest services department must coordinate with the front desk to manage room assignments. We need to keep up-to-date with guest histories, gather feedback, and pay special attention to VIP reservations. Regularly verify room statuses and assist in alleviating the check-in rush. Ensure full staffing during peak hours, monitor room availability in the system, and provide timely updates to the front desk for sales adjustments. Collaborate with the food and beverage department to manage room service and minibar replenishments, and help with the breakfast service rush by possibly diverting some meal services.”

She sighed as she flipped through the pages. There were numerous VIPs, and the tasks seemed daunting. She mentally cursed her luck.

Before she could complete her thoughts, Xu Xiangya, the manager of the food and beverage department, walked in carrying a stack of documents. “Here you go, study these thoroughly. Let’s collaborate effectively,” he said, extending the papers towards her.

Shen Xifan rolled her eyes.

With all this work, she wouldn’t be able to go home anytime soon. Stuck in her office, she spent her time drafting plans and organizing various materials. Her head throbbed, and she thought about the medicine waiting in her kitchen. She decided she’d pick it up during dinner time.

Just as she returned, she saw the Public Relations Manager, Lin Yishen, looking for her. He said that Mr. Duan, who was attending the IT Summit, had already arrived, a full week ahead of schedule.

Things never go as planned. She rushed back to the office in a flurry, searching for documents. Luckily, Lin Yishen was quite helpful. Coincidentally, Xu Xiangya was on duty in the catering department, prompting her to assign the catering responsibilities to him, allowing her to concentrate solely on managing the rooms.

After instructing the Front Office Manager and the Security Department, she reserved the waterside villa at the Scenic Pavilion. Still feeling uneasy, she went to inspect it, checking cleanliness and facilities. Even the supervisor who accompanied her seemed nervous, and afraid of making any mistakes.

A little after nine o’clock, Mr. Duan, accompanied by General Manager Cheng, entered the Ancient Southern Courtyard. Shen Xifan stood by, trying to maintain her composure.

Mr. Duan expressed his satisfaction with the dinner, praising it repeatedly. Engaging in personal conversation with General Manager Cheng, he mentioned not having enjoyed hometown snacks in years and expressed gratitude for the opportunity. It seemed Xu Xiangya had passed the test.

Upon being escorted to the villa area later, Mr. Duan expressed surprise, remarking, “The General Manager understands my taste so well!”

General Manager Cheng called Shen Xifan over. “It was all arranged by our room manager; I can’t take credit for it!”

Mr. Duan praised her, albeit with broken Mandarin. “Manager Shen is very meticulous. I am very satisfied, extremely satisfied!”

Shen Xifan carefully opened the packet of Chinese medicine, poured it into a cup, and heated it. The catering department brought dinner and supper. She almost choked several times, grabbed the wrong cup, and accidentally drank the medicine as water, making her cough and choke on her food.

Yet, the licorice taste remained sweet, mirroring her contentment. Although fatigued, she felt genuinely happy.

Considering the need to organize some documents that evening, she absentmindedly reached for a packet of instant coffee. Recalling her doctor’s advice to quit coffee for the sake of her health, she hesitated and ultimately decided to put it back down.

She started to feel silly, thinking about the doctor with dimples who prescribed Chinese medicine for her. He was exceptionally patient, and she realized that half of the medicine’s effectiveness came from his demeanor. She felt uplifted and relieved, summoning up all her energy to focus on the documents.

Several group bosses and executives stayed over the next few days, but fortunately, they weren’t very demanding. They were content with whatever arrangements Shen Xifan made, and she earned quite a bit of praise.

Out of habit, she went to get her Chinese medicine, only to find it was all gone. Checking her schedule, she realized there were no VIPs coming today. After giving some instructions, she hurried off to the hospital to pick up her medicine.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine building was as quiet as ever. She immediately spotted the handsome doctor heading towards the pharmacy and asked, “Are there any more pangolin scales and tortoise shell gel?”

Someone inside called out, “Just arrived!”

Suddenly, the doctor turned around, mildly surprised to see her. “Why are you only coming to get your medicine now?”

“I only finished taking it just now!” Shen Xifan was also puzzled.

“Surely you haven’t been taking one packet a day? I remember prescribing you two packets a day.”

“Oh—I forgot!”

The doctor seemed somewhat displeased. After all, they found disobedient and self-righteous patients quite a headache. He sized up Shen Xifan and asked, “Have you been very busy lately?”

Shen Xifan nodded. “Busy day and night, always on edge even when sleeping, afraid of any sudden emergencies.”

“How’s your sleep now?”

“It’s much better!” Shen Xifan exclaimed excitedly. “Though it’s still difficult to fall asleep, I no longer suffer from insomnia all night long.”

The doctor smiled. “That’s good to hear. Remember, the dosage is two packets a day. If you take too little, the effects won’t be as noticeable. And don’t forget to come get your medicine.”

Shen Xifan hesitated for a moment but couldn’t resist asking, “Dr. He, is Su Ye a type of Chinese herb?”

The doctor stopped in his tracks, turned around, and smiled. He had a youthful appearance, with a hint of playfulness in his gentle demeanor. “Su Ye, or more precisely Zi Su Ye, has a warm nature and a spicy taste. It disperses cold, regulates qi, and harmonizes the stomach. By the way, during winter, you can drink ginger, scallion, and Su Ye drink. Use 15 grams of scallion white, 10 grams each of fresh ginger, and Su Ye, boil them in water, and sweeten them with brown sugar. It can dispel wind, scatter cold, warm the lungs, and relieve cough. If you’re not used to drinking it, you can also cook Su Ye porridge.”

The nurse called for him from across the room. He smiled and said, “I have to go now. If you have any questions, you can ask me when you come to pick up your medicine.”

Shen Xifan scratched her head, silently thinking, “I wonder why you took on the name of a Chinese herb.”

Back at the hotel, Xu Xiangya rushed into the office to complain to her, “Xifan, there’s a woman causing trouble! She said our steak wasn’t cooked well, claiming there were blood vessels, even though she asked for it to be medium-rare!”

Shen Xifan glared at her. “Don’t call me Xifan!”

Xu Xiangya sighed. “I’m not complaining about that. I just saw a very picky person among the VIPs today, and I didn’t know what to do, so I came to ask you.”

Shen Xian smiled. “And you have someone you can’t handle—” She took the documents and suddenly realized, “Yan Heng, the CEO of Zhongyu. Hmm… I don’t have his information either…”

Xu Xiangya pretended to faint. “I’m just complaining a bit. The job is tough, getting paid is even tougher, and serving people is the toughest!”

Shen Xifan waved the documents. “Pay attention. Making a mistake could cost us our heads!”

Xu Xiangya laughed loudly. “You’re harsh!”

Five days later, “MT” President Ling Yufan checked in. General Manager Cheng had repeatedly instructed that this was the VIP among VIPs and must not be neglected. Ling Yufan was the third son of the Ling family, responsible for the electronic sector of Ling’s Family Group, with full support from the Ling family conglomerate. “MT” was undoubtedly the leader in the IT industry. Ling Yufan himself was talented, holding a Ph.D. in Electronics from Harvard and a Master’s in Business Administration.

Later, she would find out just how difficult this person was to deal with.

Not to mention his striking appearance with those mesmerizing peach blossom eyes and an aura of charm exuding from him. Without years of cultivation, Shen Xifan might not have been able to resist his powerful magnetism.

This young master was exceedingly particular, almost impossible to please. He seemed to be deliberately finding faults, from staying in the presidential suite at the Scenic Pavilion to switching to a villa, constantly complaining about the facilities and cleanliness. Sometimes she was so irritated she felt like smothering him with a blanket.

Moreover, he seemed unfriendly toward her. She could sense a certain aloofness and disdain.

On the last day, “Zhongyu” CEO Yan Heng checked in. Mr. Cheng had given prior instructions that Yan Heng, the son of his longtime friend and intending to establish a branch here, was to be accommodated. Additionally, Yan Heng planned to hold a product launch event at the Ancient South Court and was a significant client of the hotel, to be treated with utmost attention.

This guest was personally received by Mr. Cheng, which made her delighted.

As she descended from the executive building, preparing to inspect the regular maintenance of the Jingge villa area, suddenly a girl ran over from the opposite direction, shouting, “Manager, something’s wrong!”

She recognized Xiao Li from the executive suite, and her heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly asked, “What’s going on?”

“There’s a foreign guest who suddenly fainted in their room. Manager Ding on duty has already gone, and Mr. Cheng is preparing to receive the guest. He said for you to go over and take a look.”

Fortunately, the foreigner was only suffering from low blood sugar and had temporarily fainted. Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief. After dealing with the situation, Shen Xifan had no choice but to return to the villa area from the lobby.

However, as she stood in the lobby, a Mercedes-Benz pulled up, and two individuals emerged—Mr. Cheng and Yan Heng. Initially intrigued, she turned her gaze toward them, but suddenly froze in place at the front desk, unable to take a single step.

Who was Yan Heng? He was Dai Heng!

Three years had changed him significantly. The greenness had faded away, leaving him mature and sophisticated. His demeanor was extraordinary, a far cry from before.

Three years could indeed change many things.

Yan Heng was her first love. They had parted ways three years ago, each going their way. She had never expected to encounter him here. Wasn’t her life a bit ironic?

He also noticed Shen Xifan. Their eyes met briefly, and her mind went blank with a thunderous crash. Mr. Cheng seemed to sense something, glancing at Shen Xifan and then at Yan Heng. “This is our room manager, Manager Shen,” he said tactfully.

His tone was measured, not trying to conceal anything. “I just felt a bit familiar. Uncle Cheng, let’s go first.”

As he left, he cast another glance at Shen Xifan before entering the elevator. Once the doors closed, they passed each other again.

Shen Xifan sighed softly, experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. After a moment, she turned and made her way towards the villa area. Unbeknownst to her, Lin Yi stood not far away on the stairs, his lips quirking up in a wry smile.