Shen Xifan’s attention was drawn to a spider. She was already somewhat nearsighted, but unfortunately, she had forgotten to put on her glasses during her inspection rounds.

The supervisors were somewhat nervous. The scene was already quite eerie: Shen, dressed in a deep blue professional suit, assumed a thoughtful pose, staring fixedly at a certain corner, her gaze distant as if anticipating something. It wasn’t until Zhang suddenly exclaimed, “Ah! There’s a big spider!”

Shen Xifan nodded satisfactorily. “Could it be that our hotel’s ecological environment is too good? Even spiders are crawling in here?”

The head of the guest room department, with a sincere attitude, said, “Manager Shen, it’s my negligence.”

She nodded. “I’ll come back to check again at five o’clock in the afternoon. Remember, it’s for all areas. I won’t find it troublesome.”

Back in her office, she turned on her computer to check the department’s accounts. Just as she had read two lines, the computer suddenly made a “pop” sound and went dead. She carefully sniffed. Wasn’t the computer burning? She then glanced at the indicator light on the water dispenser. Oh, there was a power outage!

The engineering department immediately called. “Manager Shen, there’s a large-scale power outage in the city, so we’re using the hotel’s generator. However, due to the large range of power usage, the administrative building is temporarily without power. Please understand.”

Shen Xifan responded with an “Okay.” She then put on her coat and went out, calling her father. Shen’s father said there seemed to be a large-scale power outage in the east of the city, but their home in the west was still receiving power. She sighed in relief. “I’ll be home a little later tonight.”

The lobby was a bit chaotic. Perhaps the sudden power outage had caused the elevators to stop abruptly. Although it was only for a moment, some guests were startled. A little girl seemed panicked, repeatedly calling out “Mom.”

The lobby manager, Ding Wei, explained the situation. Fortunately, the guests understood, and the situation was quickly brought under control.

Shen Xifan squatted in front of the little girl and asked, “Little friend, where’s your mom?”

The little girl, with a childish voice, spoke haltingly, “I… just now… my mom was still here… when the power went out… it was chaotic… I was pushed here… and then my mom was gone…”

She had no choice but to take the little girl to the security office, pull up the lobby surveillance footage, and let her identify. The little girl was clever, pointing at a woman of average height and saying, “This is her!”

Shen Xifan signaled to rewind the footage. When the woman turned around, her face was directly facing her. She was suddenly stunned. Guning Yuan?

She pointed at the screen and asked, “Are you sure this is your mom?”

The little girl nodded. “Mom suddenly said she wanted to go out. I didn’t want to stay at home alone, so I secretly got into her car and followed her there. But when we got here, my mom disappeared in the blink of an eye.”

“What’s your name?”

“Zhou Siqi.”

Shen Xifan breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, it wasn’t someone surnamed “Yan” or “Dai.” However, this little girl seemed to be around six or seven years old. How could she be Guning Yuan’s daughter? There was not the slightest resemblance between them. Perhaps she wasn’t her biological child.

“Auntie will help you find your mom now. You stay here with Uncle Security and don’t wander around, okay?”

“Auntie!” The little girl pleaded timidly, “When my mom comes, can you ask her not to hit me? Siqi is so scared!”

Guning Yuan. How many years had it been since she thought of that name? She had been deliberately ignoring that memory, but three years later, it was forcibly dug up. It still hurt, like a freshly coagulated blood clot. A gentle touch would cause it to bleed again.

Yan Heng was affectionate, but she couldn’t blame him. If she were clever enough, she wouldn’t have willingly jumped into it. But even if she was intelligent, she would become powerless in front of love. He would only love one person, and pamper one person. In front of him, you were a princess. But his affection for each person had an expiration date. When he felt it was no longer fresh, you expired. Then, like canned pineapples, you were packed up and thrown into the trash.

And he was too good, like a drug invading the mind, corroding the heart, and then seeping into the skin, occupying inch by inch. Slowly, irresistibly, every drop of blood in the body shouted his goodness. He was an addiction, with no cure.

But Shen Xifan couldn’t help but ask in her heart, Guning Yuan, this time you came to find Yan Heng, do you want poison or an antidote?

She didn’t need to personally go find Guning Yuan. Moreover, she had been deliberately avoiding Villa Area F. But, she didn’t know why. Perhaps it was reluctance, unfinished business, perhaps there were more reasons. She wasn’t the little girl who cried in hiding when she saw Yan Heng with another girl anymore. But what did she want now? She didn’t know.

After a deeply memorable first love ended, three years later, when both parties met again, what kind of expression should be used, what kind of words should be said, she didn’t know. But many times, everything didn’t need an explanation, and there was no way to explain it.

Yan Heng was wearing very little. Indeed, standing opposite him was Guning Yuan, the former belle of the chemistry department. Now, her glory had faded, and her delicate makeup couldn’t hide the haggardness of her face. Perhaps her marriage was not happy, Shen Xifan speculated.

She didn’t disturb them, just stood far away, unable to hear their conversation, only seeing Guning Yuan grabbing Yan Heng’s arm, only to be fiercely thrown away by him. Then she staggered out, her eyes full of tears.

Shen Xifan took a deep breath and called out, “Wait, Miss Gu!”

Gu Ningyuan and Yan Heng both turned their heads, one with surprise and the other with annoyance. Shen Xifan casually said, “Miss Gu, your daughter is in the security room of the lobby. Please take her away. Also,” she paused, “the child didn’t mean any harm by following. Please don’t blame her!”

Gu Ningyuan forced a smile, noticing Shen Xifan’s name tag, and paused slightly, “I didn’t expect you to work at this hotel. Nice to meet you. I’m very busy today, let’s schedule a time to talk privately another day.”

Shen Xifan wanted to scream, “Even if you invite me on a trip to the Maldives, I won’t go. I’m scared of you!” But she kindly added, “Please don’t scold your daughter!”

Gu Ningyuan smiled and walked away, saying, “My hand hurts just thinking about hitting her…”

Left facing Yan Heng alone, they were close but in an extremely awkward atmosphere. She had to break the silence, “Mr. Yan, there was a large-scale power outage in the city earlier. I hope it didn’t inconvenience you.”

Yan Heng shook his head, sounding somewhat softer, “Xifan, do we have to be so distant?”

She was suddenly at a loss for words, regretting coming here to stir things up. As she turned to leave, Yan Heng’s voice came from behind, causing her breath to hitch, immobilizing her.

“Xiaofan…”

“Shen Xifan, your name sounds a lot like porridge, but that’s just congee, very fragrant, just like you. You have to slowly savor it to appreciate its flavor!”

“Shen Xifan, now that you’re my girlfriend, calling you by your name doesn’t feel intimate enough. I’ll just call you Xiaofan!”

“Xiaofan, Xiaofan, do you like this name? What? Sounds like a dog’s name? How could it be? If you were a dog, you’d be the cutest dog in the world and the laziest!”

“Xiaofan, let’s break up. You’ve changed. You’re not the same Xiaofan anymore. Goodbye, Shen Xifan!”

Yan Heng smiled somewhat bitterly, “Xiaofan, only you know my tastes. I don’t like spicy food but I love hot pot. I don’t eat fish, only fish soup. Every meal I’ve had for the past three years, was it all instructed by you to the chef? You haven’t forgotten anything about me in three years, have you?”

Her eyes welled up uncontrollably. Shen Xifan dared not turn back, just the sound of a familiar name made her so moved and nostalgic. If she continued, she didn’t know how to face the scarred past and the uncertain future.

The wounds of a lifetime couldn’t be healed with words or forgotten over time, but with happiness. She was just lost, wondering if happiness had been taken away by him or if it had never existed.

Suddenly, the intercom buzzed with the supervisor’s voice, “Manager Shen, do you want to inspect the hygiene at five o’clock?”

“I’ll be there right away. Okay, wait for me in front of Building 1.”

Shen Xifan dared not say goodbye, as if she had never said “goodbye” to him. Even if it was their last meeting, she didn’t say “goodbye.” This time, she just softly whispered, “Mr. Yan, I have something to attend to. Goodbye.”

She always said that “goodbye” had two meanings—one was “see you again,” and the other was “never see you again.” She didn’t like either meaning, because she didn’t want to part with him, nor did she want to miss the chance to meet him again.

But things always went against her wishes.

Walking around the artificial lake in Area C, she suddenly felt powerless. With the winter wind, she tried hard to clear her mind. She reminded herself that she couldn’t bring personal emotions to work, let alone have ambiguous relationships with clients. She had always been meticulous and sensitive but highly disciplined.

Taking a deep breath to adjust her state, straightening her uniform, she smiled at herself, repeatedly murmuring, “Guest room, door locks flexible, no fingerprints, room number clean and tidy, walls and ceiling free of spider webs, stains…”

As she recited, she turned to leave but saw a car parked in front of Villa No. 2. A stunningly attractive woman stepped out of the car. Upon closer inspection, she seemed to be a famous model.

Shen Xifan sighed inwardly. Ling Huoshui, you’re truly a demon, but unfortunately, too many people fall for your charms. Then she thought, if she took a picture of this scene and sold it to gossip magazines, she would make a fortune. Then she’d get fired, sued, and thrown in jail, with her parents taking turns visiting her—forget it, she’d better walk away quietly.

But she couldn’t help but glance sideways, seeing Ling Yufan leaning against the door, smiling at her. Without his glasses, he was incredibly charismatic. Shen Xifan immediately put on a bitter face, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

She calmed herself, clasping her hands together, silently reciting, “When faced with a dead end, turn back to shore to exchange for RMB.”

After checking all the floors, Shen Xifan nodded in satisfaction. “The hygiene is very good, I’m pleased. Thank you all for your hard work this afternoon!”

Then she prepared to go back to the office to tidy up. As she passed by the Chinese restaurant, she hesitated, then doubled back, exaggeratedly sniffing the air. She hurried to the backstage operation room to find Xu Xiangya. “Ivory, will there be fennel dumplings tonight?”

Xu Xiangya jumped. “Are you a dog with such a keen sense of smell? You can smell it from that far away? Hey, what are you up to? Fennel in winter is hard to come by. Even if we found some, it’s not for you to eat! Give up!”

She was annoyed. “Is it for Yan Heng? No, give them all to me. He prefers celery dumplings!”

Xu Xiangya’s eyes lit up. “Really? Are you serious?”

“Not kidding, not kidding!” She reached out to grab the exquisitely packaged dumplings in the blue and white porcelain bowl. The delicate patterns made them look exquisite, and fit for VIPs.

Chef Li chuckled. “No problem, Manager Shen. If you like them, take them to go. There’s still a lot left, we can make more. Oh, Manager Xu, are we making celery or fennel dumplings now?”

Shen Xifan answered for Xu Xiangya. “Celery ones for Mr. Yan, with a bit more sugar. He likes them sweeter. Use aged vinegar, he doesn’t like balsamic! As for the remaining fennel ones, make them together with some cabbage dumplings and distribute them to various departments as a token of appreciation. The winter solstice is coming soon, let’s celebrate, and everyone has worked hard for this meeting.”

The assistant nearby packed the dumplings and added a bowl of noodle soup, placing it beside Shen Xifan.

Xu Xiangya was extremely frustrated. “I’m such a failure as the head of the catering department. How about we swap roles?”

Shen Xifan quickly shook her head. “No way. I’m afraid I’ll lead to corruption. You know I can’t resist Chef Li’s excellent cooking. Besides, aren’t you afraid I’ll bankrupt the hotel?”

Everyone laughed, except for Yan Heng, who stood not far away, his expression somewhat lonely.

He still remembered that Shen Xifan was a food lover, not as picky as he was but extremely fond of good food.

The first time he saw her was in the second year of a law elective class. Winter mornings were the most torturous, with most people sleeping until just before class and rushing in with milk and bread, openly eating in class. Because it was an elective course, the teacher just smiled when faced with such situations. Some unreliable teachers would borrow money from classmates during breaks to buy breakfast. He had been borrowed from several times, and even repaid double the amount. In short, winter was a great excuse for laziness.

Shen Xifan had slipped in through the back door ten minutes after class started, carrying a lunch box. She sat casually in the second-to-last row by the window, in front of him. Then she opened the lunch box, immediately releasing a burst of steam and the aroma of rice and noodles. He was surprised—she was so bold to bring steamed dumplings from the cafeteria to class.

Not only were there dumplings, but she also added some vinegar. Immediately, nearby classmates turned to look at the source of the aroma, smiled, and then turned back, tacitly acknowledging her breakfast. But she was also self-aware, lifting the bench and squatting by the window to eat. The moment she took the first bite, he smelled it—it was fennel dumplings.

At that time, he was suffering greatly, his empty stomach starting to rebel against the aroma of the dumplings. His mind began to wander due to a lack of blood supply. He wanted to tell her, could she not eat here? The aroma was too tempting, it was seriously affecting the class.

Just then, as she sat up to drink water, he gently tapped her back with his pen and whispered, “Classmate, could you please eat the dumplings outside?” But he didn’t know what she heard, he just saw her pause slightly, then reach for the lunch box, shaking her head. She took out half a pack of digestives from her bag. “There’s half a dumpling left. If you’re hungry, have these first!”

He could only laugh at himself, reluctantly accepting the cookies. He didn’t dare to move for a while, intending to return them to her at the end of class. But she suddenly jumped up, shouting, “It’s mealtime! Hurry up and grab food, or there won’t be any left!”

He, holding half a pack of cookies, was at a loss. It wasn’t until later that he realized Shen Xifan had misunderstood his words as “Can you, classmate, give me the dumplings?”

Yan Heng thought she hadn’t changed. She still loved eating dumplings, adding plenty of vinegar, then drinking water until her lips turned white, and gulping it down.

He suddenly realized that the three years gone by felt like three seconds, and he had never altered his memories. The days of youthful recklessness were gone forever, but he could never return to that time to make up for his mistakes.

She, she must hate him, right?

Due to work reasons, Shen Xifan spent most of her time at the hotel. Her office was always filled with the scent of Chinese herbs. Lin Yi Shen would often tease her when passing by, “Saint Shen, are you concocting elixirs again?”

Xu Xiangya was curious, “Xifan, why do you take Chinese medicine every day? Menopause?”

Shen Xifan frowned, “If I were going through menopause, you’d be at my funeral soon. I’m taking medicine for an external wind-cold.”

Xu Xiangya pretended to be amazed, “Wow, external wind-cold! You’re so professional!”

“It’s not me who’s professional, it’s that handsome doctor.” She muttered to herself, picturing He Su Ye’s smile with dimples on the right side of his face.

But Xu Xiangya had sharp ears and immediately started gossiping, “A handsome doctor? Who? Is Xifan in love? Wow, the uniform fantasy, doctor, white coat, so professional!”

Shen Xifan shot her a look, “Your fangirling skills are also quite professional!” She then took out a bag of Chinese herbs and waved it in front of Xu Xiangya, “The price of admiring a handsome doctor is quite heavy. It’s fleeting happiness followed by prolonged suffering!”

Xu Xiangya rolled her eyes, “It doesn’t matter. I’ll pretend to be sick, get my prescription, and throw it away after seeing the doctor. After all, the patient’s focus isn’t on the medicine, but on the handsome doctor!”

The head of guest services, Zhang Jie, called out, “Manager Shen, Mr. Ling is back. Do you want to go now?”

She shook her head, “He’s probably busy with a bath and dinner right now. Wait until 7 o’clock to come find me. By then, he’ll have finished dinner and won’t have started working, so we won’t be disturbing him.”

Suddenly, Xu Xiangya leaned in, “Xifan, Ling Huoshui is quite handsome too. But he doesn’t look like a decent person. Not as upright as Yan Heng. I’ve seen him in entertainment magazines more frequently than in business publications!”

Shen Xifan was curious, “Has that guy caused any trouble for you guys?”

“Not at all!” Xu Xiangya leaned in to smell the Chinese medicine cup. “This smells terrible! But Ling Huoshui isn’t as picky as Yan Heng. He often flirts with the girls in our department, making me feel a mix of love and hate!”

Shen Xifan felt annoyed, so she drank the medicine in one gulp, leaving Xu Xiangya dumbfounded, exclaiming, “Talent! Pure talent! Shen the Talent!” -_-!

In the afternoon, while she was resting, she received a call from her dad, which surprised her. As soon as she picked up, her dad’s voice sounded pitiful, “Fanfan, is your mom going through some phase? She’s been so difficult and stubborn lately.”

“The menopausal syndrome?”

Her dad eagerly nodded, “Yes, yes, that’s it! I feel like I’ve become a poor peasant at home, bullied by her every day. If I say something, she complains. I say one thing, and she retaliates with ten. Can’t I even speak anymore? She’s the one who talks the most!”

Shen Xifan could only comfort her dad, “Dad, you know her temper. It’s always been bad, but now, with the hormonal imbalance during menopause, she’s even more irritable. Just give her the silent treatment, passive resistance. Eight years of resistance during the Anti-Japanese War and three years of resistance between the Nationalists and Communists tell us—one must persevere for victory!”

“Will that work?” Her dad hesitated.

She solemnly assured him, “If it doesn’t work, I’ll take the brunt of it. Our family is known for our loud voices. I’ll talk to her when I go home, but work is really busy right now, and I’ve been staying at the hotel all this time. You just have to bear with it for now.”

Her dad reminded her a few more times before hanging up. She sighed. She also wanted to stop her mom’s bad temper and dispel the idea of arranging blind dates for her everywhere.

Seven o’clock came, and she went to find Ling Yufan. This time, she put on an extra layer of clothing, thinking, “It’s not worth catching another cold for you. If I’m going to feel anything, it’ll be for the handsome doctor this time.”

She knocked on the door for quite sometime before someone answered. Ling Yufan was wearing glasses and a thick sweater, speaking with some impatience, “Manager Shen, what’s the matter? Are you here to ‘personally’ compensate me this time?”

His face was somewhat pale but with a slight unhealthy flush. And his wire-rimmed glasses diminished his charisma by half. He didn’t look like a ladies’ man at all.

Ignoring Ling Yufan’s provocation completely, she explained her purpose formulaically. Before she could finish speaking, Ling Yufan suddenly grabbed her hand. Startled, she struggled to break free, then slightly bowed, “Mr. Ling, please behave yourself. I’ll take my leave.”

Ling Yufan chuckled, “Just teasing you. You haven’t reached the level where I can’t help myself yet!”

She shot him a glare, “Mr. Ling, goodnight!” Then she walked away without looking back, leaving behind Ling Yufan’s uncontrollable laughter.

As she left the C area, Shen Xifan felt annoyed, continuously rubbing her hands. Suddenly, she was surprised to realize that when Ling Yufan grabbed her just now, her palms felt hot. And thinking back, it seemed his complexion wasn’t quite normal today either. He probably caught a cold too.

She secretly felt pleased. Those who play with others will be played with. Turns out, fate is fair after all. Ling Yufan, you just calmly follow in my footsteps, Shen Xifan. Of course, she comforted herself with these wicked thoughts, this is also heaven punishing you for your frivolous behavior towards women. Ling Yufan, you should be content.

After a good night’s sleep, when she was preparing to work energetically, disaster struck. Her mom, from who knows where brought a “white knight” and asked her to evaluate him.

During the morning meeting, Shen Xifan was completely distracted, only jotting down a few words and then a whole page with the word “伯乐” (Bo Le), which means horse trainer in Chinese. Back in her office, she lamented, “Why isn’t there a prince here to appreciate me? It’s always either a dark horse or a white horse. If I don’t play the role of Bo Le, who will?”

She decided to sabotage her mom’s plan again. This time, this person seemed too pretentious, with eyes like Bai Yansong and a face like Wu Mengda. Her mom whispered on the side, “His advantage is that he’s a certified public accountant, very good at accounting!”

Shen Xifan thought to herself, “Actually, he’s here to spy on his daughter’s finances for you, you nosy busybody!” She didn’t discriminate against him based on appearance, but this successful man had extraordinary self-confidence, repeatedly boasting about how he could see through false accounts. She occasionally cooperated by exclaiming, “Wow, you’re amazing! I admire you so much!”

The man swelled even more, and finally, he dug out a heartfelt confession from the depths of his heart, “Actually, I just want to find someone who will treat my mom well. I’m too busy, and I don’t have time to take care of her.”

This time, Shen Xifan made an even more admiring and amazed expression. “Wow! You’re so clever. How did you know that this girl needed money and wanted to apply as a nanny? How much do you pay per month?…”

Sure enough, the blind date was a mess again!

Being scolded back to the hotel by her mother made her feel relieved inside, but she still had to pretend to look sorrowful on the surface. Shen’s mother scolded her from the restaurant back to her hotel. When she got upstairs and took out her phone, her mother continued scolding her until the phone ran out of battery. Shen Xifan now deeply felt how difficult her father’s situation was. So, the next afternoon, with a fervent desire to rescue menopausal women, she came to the hospital.

But her motives were not pure. It was just that she didn’t always see He Suye when she got medicine. She could only catch glimpses of him when she registered and waited in line for treatment. His dimples would surface when he smiled, and she could hear his gentle voice. Feeling somewhat foolish, she acknowledged that not all the reasons were her fault. At least fifty percent of the blame fell on that handsome doctor.

Facing Shen Xifan, He Suye had become accustomed to it. From insomnia to fever, if this girl made trouble resulting in stomach pain, bloating, edema, or fatigue, he could accept it calmly. And there was no need to hide his dimples in front of her, but it was still better to maintain some professionalism as a doctor.

However, Shen Xifan hesitated for a long time and couldn’t come up with a reason. He Suye was puzzled. What kind of illness was so difficult to talk about?

Finally, she blushed and asked, “How can menopausal syndrome be treated?”

He Suye widened his eyes and flipped back the cover of the medical record. “25 years old? Menopause ahead of time?”

She quickly waved her hand, “Not me, my mother.”

He Suye said, “Oh,” and asked, “Why not let your mother come and see herself?”

“I wouldn’t dare!” Shen Xifan felt a headache when it came to this. She completely forgot that she was talking to He Suye, “My father is now oppressed and can’t say a word. I’m harassed by noise pollution every day. Who in my family dares to mention this to her? It’s completely a feudal society. You tell me, if a woman keeps babbling in your ear for half a day, constantly calls until the phone runs out of battery, harasses you every other day with something, and meddles in everything… Um… Doctor He, am I talking too much?”

He Suye smiled, his eyes full of laughter. “No, no, I just feel very sorry for you. You’re so pitiful that you have nowhere to vent, so you came to the hospital to vent.”

She hesitated, “What should I do? Can you prescribe medicine now?”

He Suye shook his head, “I’m not very confident about this, but I can give you a few dietary therapy recipes to try at home. Lotus seeds, longan flesh, and rock sugar in appropriate amounts, boiled into porridge with boiling water, then add rock sugar before consuming. Or, black fungus and rice boiled into porridge, add jujube dice and mix in rock sugar. These two recipes have the effects of nourishing blood and lowering blood pressure, nourishing yin and tonifying the stomach, and invigorating the spleen, and replenishing qi.”

He then took out a piece of white paper. “Let me write it down for you so you won’t forget again.”

After writing it down, He Suye handed it to her. She pondered for a moment before asking, “Dr. He, what should someone do if they catch a cold but don’t like injections or medicine?”

He thought for a moment. “They can drink cold relief tea. Do you want me to write down some recipes for you?”

She took advantage of the situation and nodded eagerly, looking like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He Suye found it amusing but restrained his laughter, and proceeded to prescribe for her.

Shen Xifan looked at He Suye, feeling somewhat absent-minded. She silently wondered why all the men she met through blind dates were such “special” individuals. Why hadn’t she encountered an outstanding man like He Suye, who seemed so amiable and gentle? Suddenly, she felt annoyed by these blind dates.

Then, she blurted out, “Dr. He, is there any medicine that can dispel my mother’s thoughts of arranging blind dates for me?”

He Suye was writing seriously when the pen slipped with a “whoosh,” leaving a faint mark.

Shen Xifan hastily explained, “I spoke out of turn, please don’t take it seriously!”

He Suye thought for a moment, his expression serious. “Miss Shen should go to a marriage agency. This hospital doesn’t provide such services. I’m only responsible for curing patients, not for treating healthy people.”

As she went out to pay, Shen Xifan felt secretly pleased. The service from the handsome doctor today was truly exceptional. If it weren’t for her unexpected behavior at the end, it would have been perfect.

She muttered to herself as she walked, “Five Divine Tea: 6 grams of tea leaves, 10 grams each of schizonepeta, perilla leaf, and ginger. Boil in water over low heat for 15 minutes, then add 30 grams of brown sugar and drink twice a day, as needed. It can dispel wind-cold, relieve pain, and is suitable for symptoms such as wind-cold colds, aversion to cold, body aches, and lack of sweating…”

She continued to laugh foolishly, “Five Divine Tea, with perilla leaves inside…” Lost in thought, she bumped into someone in front of her. When she looked up, she saw it was also a doctor, not tall, but with a very distinctive appearance, definitely unforgettable.

Feeling embarrassed, neither she nor the doctor knew what to say, so they just smiled at each other and went their separate ways.

Back at the hotel with the medicine, she instructed Xu Xiangya to take care of her mother, who was in a bad mood. Then, she endured until the end of her shift and carried a big bag of things home to take care of her menopausal mother.

Shen’s father was surprised to see his daughter back home. Shen Xifan explained, “Dad, I’m here to rescue you from the fire and water!”

She mentioned feeling anxious and experiencing night sweats the previous night, leading to a restless sleep. She nodded. “Dad, please go to your study first. I’ll prepare porridge for Mom. She woke up early and couldn’t fall back asleep until afternoon when I returned from school. Today, I’ll inquire with the doctor about some dietary therapy recipes. Perhaps they’ll be helpful.”

Lotus seeds nourish the heart and kidneys, invigorate the spleen and moisten the lungs, clear heat and calm the mind, and lower blood pressure. Longan is warm and sweet, nourishing the heart and spleen, and replenishing qi and blood. It is used for insomnia, forgetfulness, palpitations, dizziness caused by deficiency of the heart and spleen, and rock sugar supplements the middle burner and benefits qi, moistens the stomach, and moistens the lungs.

The kitchen was filled with the aroma of rice porridge, mixed with the faint medicinal scent of lotus seeds and longan. Finally, rock sugar was added. Suddenly, a sweet fragrance filled the air, and the slightly warm steam carried the sweet scent, spreading throughout the house.

At the dining table, Shen’s father passed his bowl over. “Fanfan, give me another bowl of porridge. It’s delicious.”

Shen Xifan looked at him incredulously. “Dad, this is for Mom to eat. It’s for treating menopausal syndrome!”

Shen’s father chuckled. “It’s okay. Your old man will be there soon too. It’s better to be prepared in advance.”

Shen’s mother glared at him, and Shen’s father quickly changed his tune. “Serve the rice, serve the rice. Porridge is not filling enough!”

She had to return to the hotel at night, but she promised herself she would stay at home for a while once this project was over. Shen’s father only let her leave after she made this promise.

Winter was undeniably frigid, with bone-chilling gusts of wind. Starting tomorrow, she intended to begin drinking Isatis Root and Lonicera Tea to ward off influenza.

A sweet and rich fragrance clung to her clothes, distinct from the coolness of licorice. Instead, it was reminiscent of the enduring sweetness of rock sugar—a comforting and lingering flavor that warmed the heart and lungs, mirroring her mood, which was sweet and carefree.

Suddenly, the image of He Suye’s deep dimple on his right cheek flashed through her mind, bringing a smile to her face. It resembled rock sugar, refreshing in summer and comforting in winter.

After dinner, Shen Xifan intended to sleep early, hoping to bury those damned memories under her slumber. However, a supervisor ran over, shouting, “Manager Shen, there’s trouble!”

She immediately jumped up, fully alert. “What’s going on?”

“A guest in Villa 7 of Sector C has complained about Room Service!”

Her temples started throbbing again. “Villa 7, Villa 7, Ling… what’s his name?”

The supervisor nodded.

“Let’s go take a look.”

The winter night was extremely cold, and Shen Xifan wore only ordinary attire. The thin fabric did little to fend off the chill, especially near the water in Sector C where the wind was strong and biting. She shivered, sneezing several times in a row.

Upon arriving at Villa 7, she saw Ling Yufan leaning against the door, with only one button of his shirt done up. He played with his glasses, smiling faintly. Beside him stood a service staff member, hair disheveled, shoulders trembling, tears streaking down their face, and makeup smudged.

Shen Xifan guessed what had happened but had to play dumb in front of this young master. She cautiously asked, “Hello, Mr. Ling, may I ask what you’re unsatisfied with regarding our Room Service?”

Ling Yufan squinted his peach blossom eyes, appraising Shen Xifan slowly. “Your hotel’s Room Service options are quite extensive. I didn’t expect it to include sleeping with guests.”

She felt a surge of anger but maintained a calm tone. “Mr. Ling, perhaps you can clarify. We will rectify any shortcomings.”

He snorted coldly and said, “Can’t you see what’s happened, Manager Shen?” as the wind blew his unbuttoned shirt, revealing his muscular physique.

Shen Xifan patiently explained, “I believe this must be a misunderstanding, Mr. Ling. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. Please forgive me for not managing my staff properly.”

“Misunderstanding? How can it be a misunderstanding? Heh, Manager Shen, you’re quite the joker. I merely ordered some late-night snacks, and your Room Attendant mistook me for a delicacy. How do you explain that?”

Shen Xifan didn’t believe for a second that the room service staff had thrown themselves at him. Despite her inner conflict, she spoke, “Mr. Ling, we will handle this matter seriously. Tomorrow morning, we will provide you with a satisfactory response. As a gesture of apology, I will personally send you a VIP card. You can also enjoy one round of golf for free and become a member. Please understand that accidents happen due to our negligence!”

Ling Yufan chuckled, a smile that seemed both mocking and disdainful in Shen Xifan’s eyes. Suddenly, he leaned in close to her, his breath ambiguous. “Would Manager Shen be willing to ‘personally’ compensate me?”

Shen Xifan remained unfazed, her expression unchanged. She bowed to him. “If Mr. Ling has no further concerns, I will take my leave. We will inform you of the resolution tomorrow. Goodnight!”

Ling Yufan paused for a moment, put on his glasses, and gave Shen Xifan an amused look. Sensing her unwavering gaze, he felt intrigued. He glanced at the service staff and supervisor, then stepped into the room. Only then did Shen Xifan heave a sigh of relief.

None of them spoke as they left Sector C and walked along the path. Shen Xifan asked, “What exactly happened?”

The young girl sobbed, “Manager, it wasn’t me, I just took the late-night snack in, and then he, he wanted me to… to…”

Shen Xifan raised an eyebrow. “It’s probably not that simple, is it? He made a move, and you fell for it. Then unexpectedly, you got bitten back, didn’t you?”

The young girl remained silent, biting her lip, wanting to argue. “Manager Shen, I…”

Shen Xifan’s expression turned stern. “Do you want to resign voluntarily, or shall we terminate your employment? You decide.”

“Manager Shen!” The girl pleaded tearfully, “Please don’t make me leave, please?”

Shen Xifan rubbed her temples wearily. Her voice sounded weak. “Go settle your salary at the Finance Department tomorrow. I won’t say more. You’ve disappointed me because sometimes, a mistake can be fatal, with no chance for redemption. I won’t mention this incident in your evaluation. It’s better if you resign voluntarily.”

After a pause, she sighed. “Sister Zhang, take her back first. I’ll go check on something else. Don’t let anything else happen.”

She walked along the forest path, her thoughts in disarray. She remembered being dismissed from the student union for a mistake. At that time, she had run to Dai Heng in tears, and Dai Heng had told her that some mistakes don’t have a chance to be corrected, so it’s best never to make them in the first place. She couldn’t understand then. She didn’t understand why, if it wasn’t murder, arson, or robbery, she couldn’t be given another chance. Now, she understood. Dai Heng was right. Fundamental mistakes cannot be forgiven.

Dai Heng, Yan Heng… something stuck in her heart, making her feel stifled. She diverted her thoughts by looking at the moonlight.

Originally, she had planned to go from Sector C to Sector F, then circle back to Sectors A and B. However, she remembered that the man lived in F3, so she stopped at the entrance of Sector F, instructing the supervisor to check and report back to her.

By chance, she glanced at F3 and saw the lights on, a scene she was very familiar with—Dai Heng didn’t like going to the study room or the library. Whenever he studied in the dormitory, he liked to turn on all the lights. He explained it was a habit he had developed over the years. When he was young and his mother wasn’t home, he felt afraid, so he turned on all the lights in the house to feel safe.

At that time, she had felt that Dai Heng was like a light. With him around, she felt safe.

The next day, Shen Xifan felt unwell, experiencing weakness throughout her body. During the morning meeting, Lin Yishen sat next to her and glanced at her from time to time. At the end of the meeting, he asked, “Xiaofan, why is your face so flushed?”

Hearing this, Xu Xiangya also came over to look, touching her forehead and exclaiming, “Oh dear, Xifan, you have a fever!”

Finally, they alarmed Cheng Zong. “Manager Shen, go to the hospital to get checked out. You don’t need to be on duty today.”

She sighed inwardly, feeling unlucky, but she couldn’t afford to neglect it. After returning home, she measured her body temperature. It wasn’t too high, just 37.6 degrees Celsius. Her throat didn’t hurt, and it couldn’t be tonsillitis. She had been a frequent patient since she was young, and the nurses and doctors at the hospital all knew her. Her health had improved a lot as she grew older, but she still caught a cold from time to time.

Obediently, she went to the hospital for a check-up, refraining from mentioning her fever, afraid of being isolated as a suspected SARS patient. She registered at the respiratory department outpatient clinic, luckily finding few people there, and was called in after a while.

She was a little nervous. “Doctor, could it be SARS?”

The chief physician assured her confidently, “Absolutely not. It’s just a chill. Your tonsils aren’t inflamed, and you’re not coughing. You just have a low fever. There’s no need for injections. Just take some cold medicine.”

Hesitantly, she asked, “But will taking medicine be too slow? I’ve been busy with work lately!”

The old doctor kindly suggested, “Traditional Chinese medicine treats colds faster. Why don’t you try seeing a TCM doctor?”

So she went to see a TCM doctor. However, the TCM building was particularly crowded today, with mostly young expectant mothers and elderly people. Shen Xifan could only submit her medical records at the front desk and sit aside, waiting for her turn to be called.

The opposite Chinese medicine shop emitted waves of bitter and astringent smell, mixed with some warmth, which made her, who was already feeling drowsy, even more lethargic. Unconsciously, her body felt heavier. In a daze, she remembered when she was in college and fell ill.

Back then, she was still Dai Heng’s darling. He spoiled her, accommodated her, and worried about her. Whenever she sneezed or coughed, he would fuss over her for a long time. But in the winter of her sophomore year, she caught a bad cold.

She remembered those days when Dai Heng skipped classes to accompany her to the hospital for IV drips. The cold medicine flowing into her veins made her shiver, and Dai Heng held her hand with his own, while she leaned drowsily on his shoulder, half asleep and half awake, silently praying for the medicine to drip slower. She had no appetite, so he cooked vegetable porridge in the dormitory and brought it to her, wrapped in a cotton jacket, feeding her spoonful by spoonful, while he had to settle for cold leftovers from the cafeteria. When he left, he would kiss her, their lips intertwined, not caring at all if the cold virus would infect him.

But later, he didn’t want her anymore. He was with another girl, and she couldn’t hold onto his heart anymore. The day after they broke up, she got caught in the rain all day and ended up in the hospital again. This time, there was no one to accompany her, so she had to pay for the IV drip herself and texted Dai Heng, “I’m sick, can you come to see me?” His reply was only, “Shen Xifan, we have nothing to do with each other now. Why are you still clinging to me?” Tears fell from her eyes onto the IV drip, and she silently repeated to herself, “Yes, I’m all alone now. I have to live well even if I’m alone. But why do I still miss the warmth of being with you when I was sick?”

Shen Xifan felt numb all over, only hearing someone calling her name by her ear. She abruptly opened her eyes, noticing that the corners of her eyes were slightly moist. She turned her head and was startled. “…Doctor He…”

He was somewhat surprised, then gently asked, “The nurse called your name several times, but there was no response. It’s already noon, and there’s no one else here. I just came out and found you here. Are you sick?”

She exaggeratedly sniffled, “I have a fever!”

He Su Ye smiled, “You’re crying because you have a fever? Come in, let me take a look at you.”

Shen Xifan stared at the doctor in a daze, stood up, and followed him. His broad shoulders made her feel very reliable.

“It’s just a simple fever,” He Su Ye reassured her. “It’s not atypical pneumonia. You can relax now. No more crying, okay?”

She felt guilty, “I’m sorry to trouble you, Dr. He.”

“It’s okay, it’s just an external fever. Two doses of Chinese medicine will do the trick.”

Shen Xifan muttered to herself, “External fever? Ephedra and Cinnamon Twig Decoction?”

He Su Ye burst out laughing, “You can’t take that. That medicine is too strong. With your weak body, you definitely can’t handle the sweating it induces.” He paused, “How do you know about this prescription?”

She felt a bit embarrassed. “Back when I was in school, I translated some materials on traditional Chinese medicine. It took me a lot of searching through books to find them, so it left quite an impression on me.”

He Su Ye took out a pen and began to write the prescription, reciting as he wrote, “Honeysuckle, forsythia, fermented black beans, dandelion, bupleurum, astragalus, saposhnikovia, poria, patchouli, Spinelli, ginger, red dates. That should do.”

She pointed to “patchouli” and said, “I particularly like this name!”

He Su Ye nodded. “Patchouli—aromatic, resolves turbidity, promotes appetite, dispels summer heat. It’s used for fever with chills, initial dampness and heat, and chest stuffiness.” Then he added, “Actually, patchouli is also an ornamental plant.”

She didn’t know how to respond, so she just nodded, taking the prescription and preparing to leave.

He Su Ye called out to her, “You’re still running a fever. How about this, you go pay first, and I’ll go prepare the medicine for you. You don’t have to come back this afternoon to pick it up. Can you wait half an hour?”

Shen Xifan was stunned. This doctor was so kind. She mechanically thanked him, “Thank you so much, Dr. He!”

Sure enough, after more than half an hour, He Su Ye came out with a package of medicine. She touched it and found it still warm. The doctor instructed her, “Three times a day, for two consecutive days. Don’t forget again!”

Shen Xifan frowned. “Dr. He, I’m going to be overwhelmed by Chinese medicine!”

He gave her a look like, “Why is this patient so obtuse?” “If you take this one, you can skip the other one. But if you feel it’s not enough, two prescriptions won’t conflict!”

Feeling embarrassed, Shen Xifan smiled awkwardly. She thought to herself that apart from sometimes being brusque, this doctor was pretty good.

Back at home, she immediately took out the medicine, which was still warm. Pouring it into a bowl, she smelled a slight spicy fragrance, unprepared for its bitterness compared to the last one. Despite the unpleasant taste, she forced herself to drink it all in one go, enduring the nausea. After rinsing her mouth several times with water, she finally recovered, sensing a lingering spiciness between her lips and teeth, likely from the patchouli and ginger, yet rich and mellow.

Recalling the saying, “Good medicine tastes bitter,” she acknowledged its effectiveness as sweat soon started beading on her forehead, relieving her fever. Crawling into bed and covering herself with thick blankets, she fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, she touched her forehead and found the temperature normal, feeling relieved by the efficacy of Chinese medicine. With a muttered acknowledgment, “Chinese medicine works,” she turned over and went back to sleep.

When she woke up the next morning, she felt refreshed. However, her pajamas were soaked in sweat, so she went to take a shower. Halfway through, her phone rang loudly. She ignored it, but it kept ringing.

After getting dressed and coming out, she saw that it was Xu Xiangya calling. She smiled and didn’t bother to answer. She took out some juice and eggs from the fridge, toasted some bread, and set them on the table. Enjoying the warm sunlight, she began to eat breakfast.

Her phone rang again. She reluctantly answered, and Xu Xiangya’s voice came through, full of complaints. “Xifan, what does Yan Heng want to eat? I’ve asked everyone, but no one has any ideas, so I had to come to you.”

She was taken aback, and the bread she was holding fell. Xu Xiangya was still complaining, “Should I just buy some dog food? The waiter said he frowned when he saw breakfast this morning and only took a few bites.”

Shen Xifan knew Yan Heng was extremely picky. She asked, “What did you prepare for breakfast?”

“Fried eggs, whole wheat bread, milk, ham, and jam.”

She sighed. “The eggs should be 80% cooked, leaving the yolk runny. Replace the whole wheat bread with milk toast. He only eats white cherry rose jam. The milk should be warm, preferably Mengniu or Yili. Replace the ham with mashed potatoes.”

Xu Xiangya sighed, “He’s so damn picky!” Then she was curious, “Xifan, how do you know all this? It’s not in the information.”

Feeling awkward, Shen Xifan evaded, “I just found out yesterday. I’ll remind you during work.”

Xu Xiangya sighed again. “You better come early. This old man is waiting for you to arrange his meals!” Then she hurried away with her notebook, muttering, “Hurry, I’m going!”

Shen Xifan chuckled. How could she be so skilled? After being with Yan Heng for three years, she naturally knew his taste. He was fond of eating but extremely picky. She had once made soup and washed her hands for him. How could she not know his likes and dislikes?

There was a bitter and spicy taste in her mouth, probably from the patchouli. She drank a lot of water but still felt spicy and bitter.

At noon, Yan Heng went to dine and found that the hotel’s meals were to his liking. He praised Xu Xiangya, who felt embarrassed and explained, “Mr. Yan, thanks to Manager Shen of the Guest Services Department. You should thank her!”

Yan Heng paused with his chopsticks in hand. Indeed, besides his mother, who else understood his tastes so well? He was extremely picky with food, yet Shen Xifan patiently cooked for him. Even if he didn’t like it, she never complained. She always said her cooking skills weren’t good enough. But why did he only realize how good she was long after she had left him?

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.

Recently, I’ve Started Having Insomnia

Insomnia often brings immense suffering. In the quiet of the night, facing the silent world of darkness, you become much more calm and rational than during the day. After such calm and rationality, you sadly discover that you often get very close to the truth and essence of things. For those accustomed to being ostriches, this instills fear and unease. At least, that’s how I perceive it.

Thinking about the past, the present, the future, interpersonal relationships, how to conduct oneself, past naivety, and current growth—since I can’t sleep anyway, I might as well make meaningful use of the time.

Many thoughts often lead nowhere. In other words, thinking about them is futile. Yet, I stubbornly keep thinking, with many ideas entangled together. Forcefully untangling them is impossible; pulling harder only exacerbates their entanglement, leading to trouble and pain. So, the only way is to let them entangle while I observe.

Shen Xifan lay wide awake, listening to the ticking of the clock. She gave up resisting insomnia, resigned to staring into the vast darkness, her thoughts wandering.

She sighed and turned over. It had been five days in a row. If this continued, she would go mad. The tension from the day refused to relax at night. Working in a hotel was already a high-intensity job, especially as a manager in the housekeeping department. She wondered if she might die from overwork.

Thinking about work brought her inexplicable anxiety. She couldn’t say if she liked or disliked the job, only that it was enough to make a living. Despite securing the job through personal connections, smoothly ascending to the managerial position within three years, and projecting an image of success to outsiders, the pressure persisted. Now, she was losing sleep over it.

Hugging her pillow, she groaned and knelt on the bed, deciding that she must get some sleeping pills from the hospital the next day.

She finally fell into a hazy sleep, but not long after, her mother’s call woke her up. It was just past seven. She felt like crying but had no tears. After finally drifting into sleep, she was abruptly awakened once more.

As usual, Shen’s mother nagged, “Fan Fan, Aunt Wang next door wants to introduce a young man to you. He’s a returnee. Though he’s not very good-looking, he has a house and a car…”

Shen Xifan, irritated due to lack of sleep, snapped, “To hell with the returnee! Who cares!”

Her mother exclaimed in surprise, “Fan Fan, are you still not awake?”

“I haven’t slept at all, Mom. I’ve been suffering from insomnia and feel like I’m dying. Ask Aunt Yang to get me some sleeping pills. If this continues, your daughter will turn into a skeleton!”

Her mother accused, “You can’t just take sleeping pills, Fan Fan. Why don’t you see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor? Herbal treatments can be effective too. “Your father was upset and improved after just two doses…”

Shen Xifan scratched her head, thinking that maybe seeing a TCM doctor wouldn’t be a bad idea. She had nothing but money left, and now even sleep was out of reach.

In the TCM clinic, she waited for a long time without seeing anyone. The TCM building stood deserted, with only a few people across the street at a large pharmacy. They held prescriptions and small scales, amidst neatly arranged small compartments. She remembered how, as a child, her grandmother would take her to a famous old TCM doctor whenever she had a cough. A cure required only three doses.

Suddenly, a nurse appeared. Shen Xifan quickly called out, “Nurse, where’s the doctor?”

The nurse glanced at her medical record and apologized, “Sorry, miss. Dr. He just went to the acupuncture room. I’ll call him for you. Please wait a moment.”

Just then, a tall man came out from the innermost room, supporting an elderly gentleman. The nurse pointed at Shen Xifan and called out, “Dr. He, you have a patient!”

Shen Xifan had expected TCM doctors to be elderly with white hair and beards. She had never seen such a young doctor, and he was very handsome—truly handsome. Even among the elite guests she received at the hotel, this man could score over ninety. However, his expression was cold.

Feeling regretful, Shen Xifan wished she had dressed better instead of showing up in casual clothes with dark circles under her eyes.

The doctor asked, “What’s troubling you?”

Shen Xifan grumbled, “Insomnia, for five days straight!”

To her surprise, the doctor smiled, revealing a deep dimple on his right cheek, “That’s not insomnia. But have you always had poor sleep?”

She thought for a moment and nodded, “I have trouble falling asleep, wake up easily, and can’t fall back asleep. Recently, I haven’t slept at all.”

He pointed to the armrest, “Let me take your pulse.”

His warm fingers touched her cold wrist, making her feel uneasy. Though she knew he was just doing his job, she felt a bit nervous, especially facing such a handsome face. She prayed he wouldn’t notice her slightly accelerated heartbeat.

After a moment, the doctor removed his hand, flipped open her medical record, and gave a diagnostic conclusion, “You have a deficient constitution and emotional stress; your liver and kidney yin is deficient, and your liver yang is hyperactive, leading to insomnia from excessive internal heat and overthinking. This damages your heart and spleen.”

Stunned, she murmured, “Is it that serious?” Am I beyond help?”

The doctor’s expression shifted slightly to surprise before he smiled and explained, “Your constitution is inherently weak, and some worries have exacerbated it, leading to internal heat.” Do you often feel irritable, restless, have trouble sleeping, mouth sores, and dry mouth?”

Shen Xifan muttered, “Wow, you hit the nail on the head!”

The doctor began writing a prescription, “I’ll give you a month’s worth of medicine. Treating insomnia usually takes time, so be patient. Maintain a regular lifestyle, avoid alcohol and coffee, and—” He glanced at her, “Girls shouldn’t be too competitive. Relax and try activities like yoga.”

“But is there any medicine that can make me sleep tonight? I’m desperate for sleep!”

The doctor seemed incredulous but patiently replied, “Run three laps around the hospital. “When you’re exhausted, falling asleep comes naturally.”

Left speechless, Shen Xifan watched him write the prescription. She noticed his name badge was blurry. She leaned in slightly, discerning that he was an attending physician, but couldn’t read his name. The doctor noticed and asked, “Is there something unusual about me?”

Feeling awkward, Shen Xifan quickly shook her head, “No, I was just looking at the medicine you’re prescribing.”

He smiled and pointed to the prescription, explaining, “Huang Lian and Huang Qin to clear the heart, Dang Gui, Sheng Di, Shao Yao, and Zao Ren to nourish yin and blood, Gan Cao to harmonize, Dou Chi and Zhu Ru to clear stagnation, and Bai Zi Ren, Wu Wei Zi, and He Huan Pi to calm the heart.”

Shen Xifan nodded as if she understood, even though she didn’t. The doctor kindly added, “Take the prescription and pay over there. Are you getting it pre-decocted?” He wrote “pre-decocted” on the prescription. “You can pick up the first three doses at 4 PM today.”

She agreed, took her medical record, and left the clinic. Upon stepping outside, she noticed the prescription signed with his name—”He Suye.” Curiosity piqued, Suye sounded like the name of a medicinal herb.

At noon, she went home and received a call from her mother. “Fan Fan, did you see the doctor? Oh, you’re taking Chinese medicine? Good, good. By the way, I need to tell you something. Tonight…”

Shen Xifan immediately interrupted, “I’m not going on any blind date, Mom. Give it up!”

“No, no, it’s not a blind date,” her mother quickly explained. “Just a family dinner. You’ve been so busy with work that you’ve forgotten about your parents. We’re like lonely old people at home!”

Feeling slightly guilty, Shen Xifan reluctantly agreed, “Alright, alright. I know. But I need to pick up my Chinese medicine this afternoon.”

Her mother, seizing the opportunity, said, “Great! Meet us at the Starbucks in the Dayang Plaza at six!”

In the afternoon, Shen Xifan slept soundly, as if touched by some magical aura from the TCM clinic. She slept until five o’clock and woke up with a start, realizing she was late. She hurriedly dressed and took a taxi to the hospital.

People were gradually leaving the outpatient department. She rushed to the pharmacy, finding its lights half off. Regretting her delay, she muttered, “Oh no, my medicine!”

Luckily, the window wasn’t fully closed. She looked around but hesitated to call out. Holding her receipt, she felt awkward. Just then, the doctor from the morning stepped out of the dispensing room. Seeing her, he smiled and said, “I was waiting for you. We close at 5:30.”

Shen Xifan felt like she should bow and apologize but was relieved to see the doctor’s face showed no annoyance. He handed her a package of medicine and instructed, “Twice a day. Come back in three days for the next batch.”

He spoke with a dimple that appeared and disappeared, making him look so young! She immediately understood that without his cool demeanor, who would trust such a youthful-looking doctor?

Naturally, Shen Xifan was late. She arrived carrying a big bag of Chinese medicine, with no makeup on. When her mother saw her, she gave her a light slap on the head, prompting Shen Xifan to protest, “I’m a patient, remember!”

At the restaurant, Shen Xifan was surprised and pleased that her mother had finally decided not to praise home-cooked meals and instead invited her to French cuisine. But soon, she saw an aunt with a beaming smile approach their table.

“Why is there someone else? Is it Dad?” she asked while washing her hands.

“No, your dad had something come up at school. I invited an old friend who lives nearby. Oh, and her son is coming too,” her mother replied with an innocent smile.

What could she do?

When she sat down, a young man had already taken a seat next to the aunt, sneezing and clearing his throat loudly. She frowned; she couldn’t stand people who drew attention to themselves, especially someone who looked more like the horse than the prince beside it.

“Have you been waiting long?” she asked politely.

He looked up, his expression changing slightly with a hint of surprise. She was secretly pleased. Even without makeup, Shen Xifan knew she was attractive.

“Yes, I have another event to attend soon. Aren’t you a bit young to be on a blind date?” he said thoughtfully, but she caught a slight hint of arrogance or disdain in his eyes.

Shen Xifan didn’t want to engage with him. So what if he was a wealthy bachelor? There were plenty of those at the hotel. She focused on her foie gras and cheesecake.

The “white horse” was somewhat surprised. Shen Xifan’s elegant demeanor immediately won him over, and he began to talk, ranging from mother-child relationships to the Iranian nuclear issue, finally ending with, “What do you like?”

“Work,” she replied nonchalantly. “As a hotel manager, I’m always thinking about the guests.”

He wasn’t fazed and even found a topic, “Yes, work is good. I love working too…”

Shen Xifan quickly pretended to check her watch, “Oh, I have to work tonight. You all continue eating.”

With that, she left in a huff.

Her mother was furious. She had taken a liking to this “white horse.” Just as she was about to call Shen Xifan back, the young man leaped up and chased after her.

“Miss Shen!” the “white horse” cried out, “Please, go out with me!”

Shen Xifan paled with fright and shook her hands, saying, “I’m sorry, but I haven’t made that decision yet!”

“Bai Horse” muttered to himself, “Miss Shen is beautiful, her work is excellent, and most importantly, she’s very ambitious. I admire this about her. A woman should be financially independent. I detest those who rely on others like helpless birds…”

Despite feeling a sense of certainty, she wanted to vomit blood, but managed to feign a pitiful look. “Thank you, but I’m ill!”

“White Horse” was surprised, “Miss Shen, what illness do you have? Is it serious?”

“I have gynecological issues!” She lifted the bag of Chinese medicine. “You know, working in our hotel industry, it’s unavoidable…”

Before she could finish her sentence, “White Horse” dashed away. Shen Xifan took a few steps, then burst into laughter as she entered the bathroom. With no one around, she couldn’t help but laugh uncontrollably, leaning against the wall.