Doctor Li had heard tales of the aristocratic young men in the capital, who, bored with ordinary pursuits, turned to dalliances with other men. Xiao Xi, with his delicate features, looked exceptionally fair even in his male attire. No wonder this nobleman was smitten.
Realizing what was going on, Doctor Li became even more protective. After all, he had long considered Xiao Xi as a prospective daughter-in-law and couldn’t stand the thought of her being preyed upon by someone with such perverse inclinations. He cleared his throat loudly and said, “Xiao Xi, you’re not needed here. Go to the back pharmacy.”
Yuan Xi felt a wave of relief and immediately stood up to leave. Xiao Du’s brows shot up, and a wave of anger surged through him. He shouted, “You dare!”
Yuan Xi froze, her guilt and anxiety rendering her motionless. Doctor Li’s displeasure only deepened. With a stern expression, he said, “Sir, Xiao Xi works at my clinic. She may not be a renowned doctor, but she is not to be ordered around by outsiders.”
Before Doctor Li could finish, a hefty silver ingot appeared on the table, gleaming brightly. His anger dissipated in an instant, his eyes locked on the silver, unsure whether to be angry or pleased. Xiao Du, without shifting his gaze from Yuan Xi, played with the ingot and said casually, “Ten taels of silver, and I want her to treat me.”
Doctor Li was torn. He could earn in a day what the ten taels of silver promised, but he was also concerned about Xiao Xi’s virtue. After a moment of internal struggle, he decided, “It’s just a consultation. What could go wrong under my watch?”
He carefully pocketed the silver and, with a serious expression, said, “Xiao Xi, you heard him. Come and see this gentleman.”
Yuan Xi felt a mix of frustration and helplessness as she realized that Doctor Li had essentially sold her out for the ten taels. She avoided looking at Xiao Du, fearing her resolve would crumble. She moved to the table and whispered, “What… what do you want?”
Xiao Du, growing impatient, growled, “Come back with me!”
Yuan Xi steeled herself and replied firmly, “Once gone, there’s no reason to return. I’m doing well now.”
Doctor Li, pretending to busy himself nearby, tried to eavesdrop on their conversation. However, Xiao Du’s fierce glare sent him stumbling backward, tripping over a stool in his retreat. With a hand on his chest, he thought, “Xiao Xi, be wary of these noblemen. They’re rarely good news.”
Seeing Doctor Li retreat, Xiao Du turned his intense gaze back to Yuan Xi and said, “You’re doing well? Do you know what my days have been like?”
Yuan Xi flinched, recalling his disheveled appearance. Her heart ached, but she held back her tears and whispered, “Ah Du, I’ve made up my mind. It’s better to end this quickly than prolong the pain. It’s best for both of us.”
Anger flared in Xiao Du’s eyes. “I told you, I don’t care about having children.”
Yuan Xi met his gaze and replied, “But I do. I don’t want you to be with me and regret it for the rest of your life. Besides, if you ever achieve your ambitions and have no heir, how will you explain that to the world?”
Xiao Du found this amusing. “I don’t need to explain anything to anyone.”
Yuan Xi bit her lip and turned away, her voice firm as she said, “In any case, I won’t go back with you.”
Xiao Du’s face darkened further. Before he could respond, Yuan Xi declared loudly, “Sir, your ailment stems from unresolved emotions. Just let go of your obsessions and look ahead; you’ll recover in time.” With that, she fled to the back room.
Xiao Du’s fists clenched, and he slammed them on the table, tempted to drag her back by force. But he knew Yuan Xi’s nature well. Despite her outward gentleness, she was resolute in her decisions. The more pressure he applied, the more she would resist. He shouted, “I’ll come back tomorrow. If one day isn’t enough, I’ll come for two. If two days aren’t enough, then three. I will bring you back!”
Yuan Xi leaned against the door, finally letting her tears flow freely. Outside, Doctor Li stood puzzled for a long while before shaking his head and returning to his patients.
In the carriage, Xiao Chun anxiously awaited Xiao Du’s return. When he saw Xiao Du coming back alone, he understood that the attempt had failed again. As the carriage slowly moved down the main street, Xiao Chun noticed Xiao Du’s dejection and became worried. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he said, “My lord, in my humble opinion, you can’t force this matter with the lady. You need to use strategy.”
Xiao Du looked at him suspiciously for a long time before understanding. Xiao Chun smiled broadly and added, “My lord, attacking a city is inferior to capturing the heart.”
The next day, Xiao Du returned to the clinic, again offering ten taels of silver for Yuan Xi’s services. This time, he genuinely sought medical attention. Yuan Xi saw him sitting at the table, smiling mischievously, and tried to maintain a detached demeanor. “What’s the ailment today?”
Xiao Du leaned closer and said, “My chest hurts.”
Yuan Xi rolled her eyes inwardly and placed her hand on his wrist for a quick pulse check. “Your pulse is normal. You’re probably imagining things. Just rest more. I have other patients to see.”
Xiao Du, however, grabbed her hand and pulled it towards his chest. “It hurts. Feel for yourself.”
A blush spread across Yuan Xi’s cheeks. Before she could scold him for being inappropriate, Doctor Li, who had been eavesdropping, walked over with a cheerful smile. “I specialize in this. Let me take a look.”
Xiao Du slowly looked up at Doctor Li, his gaze filled with unmistakable menace. “If you value your life, stay away!” Doctor Li quickly retreated to his desk, picking up his tea to calm his nerves, silently praying, “Xiao Xi, this is as much as I can help. You’re on your own now.”
Yuan Xi struggled to free her hand, but Xiao Du held it firmly, his thumb gently brushing her fingers, making her heart flutter. She lowered her voice, “What are you doing? This is a clinic.”
Xiao Du’s gaze softened, and he said, “Xi’er, the yellow flowers in our courtyard have bloomed. They’re beautiful. Don’t you want to come back and see them?”
Yuan Xi froze, memories flooding back: his figure planting flowers under the sun, the kisses mingled with the scent of earth… overwhelming her with no escape. She quickly turned her head away, her eyes misting. “They’ll have a new owner soon.”
Xiao Du’s expression darkened. “Are you really this heartless?” Yuan Xi bit her trembling lip, not daring to look at him. Xiao Du’s gaze hardened, and he said, “Listen carefully. In this lifetime, I will have only one wife. No matter how you hide from me, avoid me, or refuse to see me, I will never give up.”