Thinking of the dimpled doctor and his patience, she felt a renewed determination. Though the days ahead were busy, she was gaining recognition. Slowly, the hard work was paying off.
Shen Xi Fan habitually reached for her herbal medicine, only to find that she had run out. Checking her schedule, she realized there were no VIP arrivals today. After delegating a few tasks, she decided to head to the hospital to replenish her supply.
The TCM building was as quiet as ever. From a distance, she spotted the handsome doctor walking toward the pharmacy.
“Do you still have pangolin scales and turtle shell gelatin?” he asked the staff inside.
“It just arrived!” someone replied.
Suddenly, the doctor turned and noticed her. His surprise was evident. “Why are you only here to get your medicine now?”
“I just finished the last of it today,” Shen Xi Fan replied, equally puzzled.
“You didn’t take one packet twice a day as prescribed, did you? I remember writing that you should take two packets a day.”
“Ah— I forgot!”
The doctor frowned slightly, clearly displeased. Doctors often found it frustrating when patients ignored their instructions. He studied her for a moment and asked, “Have you been very busy lately?”
Shen Xi Fan nodded. “Busy day and night. Even when I sleep, I’m constantly on edge, worried about emergencies.”
“How’s your sleep now?”
“Much better!” She perked up at the topic. “I still take some time to fall asleep, but I don’t stay awake all night anymore.”
The doctor smiled faintly. “That’s good. Remember, the medicine should be taken twice a day. A smaller dosage won’t be effective. And don’t forget to come back for more medicine on time.” He turned to leave.
After a brief hesitation, Shen Xi Fan couldn’t resist asking, “Dr. He, is Su Ye a kind of medicinal herb?”
He stopped, turned back, and smiled—a warm, elegant smile with a hint of playfulness that made him look even younger.
“Su Ye, specifically Zi Su Ye, is perilla leaf. It’s warm in nature, pungent in taste, and used to relieve colds, promote qi flow, and harmonize the stomach. In winter, you can make a ginger, scallion, and perilla drink with 15 grams of scallion whites, 10 grams each of fresh ginger and perilla leaves, boiled with water and sweetened with brown sugar. It’s great for expelling cold, warming the lungs, and soothing coughs. If you don’t like drinking it, you can also make perilla porridge.”
A nurse called out to him from the pharmacy. He smiled again. “I’ll be going now. If you have any questions, feel free to ask next time you pick up your medicine.”
Shen Xi Fan scratched her head and silently wondered, I just wanted to know why you have a name that sounds like a medicinal herb.
Back at the hotel, Xu Xiang Ya stormed into Shen Xi Fan’s office to complain.
* * *
“Xi Fan, there’s a really troublesome guest! She’s complaining about the steak being undercooked and bloody, but she specifically asked for it medium rare!”
Shen Xi Fan glared at her. “Stop calling me Xi Fan like that!”
Xu Xiang Ya sighed dramatically. “I’m not here just to complain. I saw that one of the VIPs on the list seems to be exceptionally picky. I’m not sure how to handle them, so I came to ask you.”
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