Due to her work commitments, Shen Xi Fan spent most of her time at the hotel. Her office was perpetually filled with the scent of herbal medicine. Every time Lin Yi Shen walked by, he would call out, “Master Shen, concocting elixirs again?”
Xu Xiang Ya, ever curious, teased her, “Xi Fan, why are you drinking herbal medicine every day? Menopause already?”
Shen Xi Fan frowned. “If I’m menopausal, you must be close to your grave. I’m taking medicine for an external cold!”
Feigning shock, Xu Xiang Ya exclaimed, “Wow, external cold—you’re so professional!”
“It’s not me who’s professional; it’s the handsome doctor,” Shen Xi Fan muttered, her mind automatically conjuring the image of He Su Ye, his charming dimple appearing when he smiled.
Unfortunately, Xu Xiang Ya had sharp ears and immediately jumped on the gossip. “A handsome doctor? Who? Does this mean your spring is coming, Xi Fan? Oh, I see—it’s a uniform thing! A doctor, a white coat—so professional!”
Rolling her eyes, Shen Xi Fan retorted, “Your ability to swoon over men is equally professional.” She pulled out a bag of herbal medicine and waved it in front of Xu Xiang Ya. “Let me tell you, the price of seeing that handsome doctor is steep—momentary joy followed by prolonged suffering!”
Xu Xiang Ya smirked. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll fake being sick, admire him, then leave. Let him prescribe medicine—I’ll just throw it away. For me, the cure is the handsome doctor!”
Just then, the housekeeping supervisor Zhang Jie called out, “Manager Shen, Mr. Ling is back. Should we go now?”
Shen Xi Fan shook her head. “He’s probably busy with a bath or a meal right now. Let’s wait until seven. That way, he’ll have finished dinner but won’t have started working, and we won’t disturb him.”
Xu Xiang Ya leaned in mischievously. “You know, Xi Fan, that Ling troublemaker is pretty handsome too. But he’s obviously not the decent type like Yan Heng. I’ve seen him in entertainment magazines more often than industry publications!”
Curious, Shen Xi Fan asked, “Has he been giving your team any trouble?”
“No, not really!” Xu Xiang Ya sniffed Shen Xi Fan’s herbal tea cup and grimaced. “Ugh, it smells awful. Unlike Yan Heng, Ling troublemaker isn’t picky. But he’s always charming the girls on our team—it’s both endearing and infuriating!”
Annoyed, Shen Xi Fan took a big gulp of her medicine, much to Xu Xiang Ya’s astonishment. “Wow, you’re incredible! Truly talented!”
* * *
In the afternoon, Shen Xi Fan was resting when her father called, which surprised her. The moment she picked up, he began with a pitiful tone. “Fan Fan, is your mother going through some phase? Her temper is awful—stubborn and foul!”
“Menopause?”
“Yes, yes! That’s the word!” her father exclaimed. “At home, I feel like a downtrodden peasant, oppressed every day. If I say one word, she says ten back. She complains nonstop and won’t let me speak. But actually, she talks the most!”
Shen Xi Fan tried to console him. “Dad, you know how her temper has always been. Now, with hormonal imbalances, it’s even worse. Just go on a cold war with her—soft resistance is the way. History teaches us that persistence leads to victory!”
“Do you think that will work?” he asked hesitantly.
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