Chapter 28 :- Grand Opening!
When Xu Shuyue woke up, the sky was already bright.
Her head felt as if someone had beaten it with a hammer. She tried to open her mouth but found her throat unbearably dry. Dazed, she reached out her hand, only for it to be caught by a strong, firm grip.
The moment her fingertips brushed against warm, solid skin, her eyes flew open.
—What’s going on?!
She whipped her head around and found herself staring into Qi Siming’s deep, intense gaze.
At the sight of her waking up, his furrowed brows relaxed slightly, but the warmth of her delicate hand on his bare chest was impossible to ignore.
The owner of that hand was still oblivious, her fingers resting against him without a care.
His body tensed, and his voice dropped an octave, rough with restraint.
“You’re awake? Does your head hurt?”
Xu Shuyue stared at him, lips parted in stunned silence.
Why was she in the same bed as Qi Siming? And why were they sharing the same blanket?
Her memory was foggy, shrouded in a hazy mist—no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall what had happened last night.
Her gaze unconsciously drifted downward, landing on Qi Siming’s defined jawline, and she muttered under her breath, “I’m doomed. My reputation is gone for sure…”
Qi Siming misunderstood where her eyes had wandered. His ears burned slightly as he recalled the soft, fleeting kiss from the night before.
“It won’t be.” He spoke with absolute certainty, his tone sincere and reassuring. “We are husband and wife. Even if someone hears of what happened last night… they’d only assume it was the usual marital bliss. It won’t harm your reputation.”
Besides, aside from the heavens and themselves, no one else knew what had truly transpired. And such private matters—he would never share them with a third party.
His gaze flickered to her lips, still rosy from sleep. An uncontrollable heat surged through his chest, tightening his breath. But he made no move to distance himself from her.
“Last night’s… ‘marital bliss’…?”
Xu Shuyue’s mind was still stuck on his words.
Her body stiffened.
She had done something shameful to Qi Siming last night, hadn’t she?!
Her thoughts scattered, her expression blank. Slowly, she closed her eyes, arms going limp at her sides as she lay completely still—like a lifeless corpse.
Qi Siming was baffled.
He hesitantly reached out to touch her, but before his fingers could make contact, Xu Shuyue suddenly sat up, glaring at him with an air of desperate warning.
“Qi Siming! You better not tell anyone about what happened last night! Or else… hmph!”
She raised a tiny fist—one that wasn’t the least bit intimidating—and then bolted out of bed before he could respond.
In her rush, she accidentally brushed against a rather sensitive spot on his body.
Qi Siming’s breath hitched.
He shut his eyes, taking deep, controlled breaths. Her lingering scent still clung to him, and his clenched fists trembled slightly as he tried to compose himself.
Watching the doorway she had just fled through, he murmured under his breath, “I wonder if she believed it…”
Xu Shuyue had clearly overestimated her alcohol tolerance. And she certainly hadn’t expected herself to black out after drinking. But whether she wanted to or not, she simply couldn’t remember anything about that night.
By the time their shop in the capital was finally set up, she had long given up trying to recall what had happened. Instead, she poured all her focus into preparing for the grand opening.
The first batch of winter melons had already arrived in the capital, personally transported by Hou Ji and Eldest Brother Liang under Qi Siming’s orders.
Now, all that was left was the final preparations.
Xu Shuyue took this opportunity to refine her recipes, eager to expand the variety of sweet beverages they could offer. She busied herself in the kitchen, moving swiftly from task to task.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Hou Ji and Ban Su stared at the table full of various chilled drinks… their faces pale.
In the past few days, Qi Siming had been busy overseeing city defenses and was unable to stay by Xu Shuyue’s side. Instead, he had specifically assigned Hou Ji and Ban Su to guard her, ensuring she was never left alone.
At first, the two were quite enthusiastic about the task—especially after Xu Shuyue promised unlimited access to sweet drinks. The first day, they even went back to the barracks bragging to their comrades about how well they were being treated.
But by the third day…
No one, not even immortals, could drink that much sweet drinks for that many days in a row.
Hou Ji let out a miserable burp, his expression pained. “Brother Su, I can’t do this anymore. I actually miss training drills at the camp. Maybe we should talk to the General and ask him to switch us out.”
Ban Su, ever the responsible one, pinched his nose and forced down another bowl, scribbling down tasting notes on a sheet of paper. Then, slamming his hand on the table, he stood up. “Let’s go—”
Right at that moment, Xu Shuyue stepped out of the kitchen, carrying two freshly prepared bowls of sweet drinks.
“Go?” she repeated curiously.
Her sharp gaze swept back and forth between the two men.
Ban Su reacted quickly, forcing an awkward laugh. “Haha, sister-in-law, I meant we’re, uh… going to the latrine! We drank so much, gotta take a trip.”
He clapped Hou Ji heavily on the back and raised his voice. “Right, Hou Ji?”
Hou Ji coughed, gritting his teeth. “Y-yeah! Exactly! sister-in-law, just leave the drinks here, we’ll have them when we get back!”
Without waiting for a response, the two bolted, half-pushing and half-dragging each other out of the courtyard.
Xu Shuyue set the bowls down and glanced at the tasting notes they had left behind, thinking thoughtfully.
That night, as dusk settled and Qi Siming returned to the courtyard, Xu Shuyue lay in bed, peeking out from the covers.
As expected, she met Qi Siming’s gaze.
After so many nights of this, she had gotten used to it. This time, she didn’t even bother looking away.
“Qi Siming,” she called, her voice steady. “I have something to discuss with you.”
Qi Siming, lying on his side with his hands behind his head, raised a brow. He was a little disappointed—he had hoped to see her blushing—but he remained composed. “Go ahead.”
His voice carried a teasing lilt, low and pleasant, sending a tingling sensation through her ears. Xu Shuyue unconsciously rubbed them before saying, “Tomorrow, can you send two different people to the courtyard?”
“Why?” Qi Siming immediately assumed the worst. “Did those two cause trouble?”
Xu Shuyue was startled. “Why would you think that?”
“Ban Su is alright, but Hou Ji is too reckless. Back in Beijiang, he caused me quite a few headaches,” Qi Siming muttered with slight exasperation.
Seeing his rare display of disdain, Xu Shuyue chuckled and explained, “It’s nothing like that. I’m testing new fruit drink recipes, and they’ve been drinking them for days now. Their taste buds are completely dulled. I need fresh opinions.”
Qi Siming fell silent.
She waited a moment but got no response. Frowning, she peeked out from under the blankets—only to be suddenly pulled down!
She let out a gasp, but before she could make a sound, a warm, calloused hand gently covered her lips.
A strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her even closer.
Qi Siming’s voice was deep and slightly aggrieved.
“Why didn’t you invite me to taste them?”
If he hadn’t been busy, there was no way he would have let Ban Su and Hou Ji get such a good deal. And yet those two brats had the nerve to complain?
Xu Shuyue blinked, caught off guard.
“I thought… you were busy?”
They were so close their breaths intertwined. She turned her head, unaccustomed to such proximity, but Qi Siming firmly guided her chin back. Her lips brushed against his cheek, and in that instant, she felt the shift in the air.
Before she could even tease him about being jealous, she realized just how much heat was emanating from his body.
Panicked, she squirmed, trying to escape.
Her voice softened into a plea. “Qi Siming, you… you can’t…”
Qi Siming’s breath was warm against her neck, making her shiver.
“I know,” he murmured hoarsely. “But, yueyue, just… stop moving, alright?”
Xu Shuyue froze, face burning.
The small space between them grew stiflingly warm. Sweat formed on both their foreheads.
Qi Siming clenched his jaw. Restraining himself was not easy. He took a deep breath, muscles taut as steel. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he sat up and gently placed her back on the bed.
Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and walked straight out of the room.
Xu Shuyue remained curled under the blankets, her heart pounding wildly as she listened to the sound of cold water being poured outside.
—-
The next day, as she had requested, the people testing the drinks were indeed different.
But Qi Siming still hadn’t shown up.
Strangely, Xu Shuyue felt… a bit disappointed. Yet she quickly dismissed the thought and focused on finalizing the shop’s official name and menu.
Finally, with everything prepared—The doors opened. Their business was officially underway.
As Xu Shuyue had predicted, fresh fruit juices and sweet drinks were a novelty in the capital city. Once she added a few clever marketing tactics, the shop’s business soared.
Every afternoon before dusk, all the prepared ingredients would sell out. Word even spread among the noble ladies and young misses that General Qi himself enjoyed the drinks, making them a sought-after delicacy.
Within a month, Xu Shuyue had already recouped her initial investment.
After careful consideration, she had Second Brother Liang send a few of the silver notes Qi Siming had previously mailed home—just enough to put her in-laws at ease—while keeping the remaining profits for future plans.
She was at the counter, carefully balancing the accounts, when a sudden commotion broke out at the entrance.
A group of uniformed officers barged into the shop, their blades gleaming at their waists.
Xu Shuyue barely had time to react before the leader of the group barked, “Take her!”
Startled, the customers waiting in line for their drinks gasped in shock. Some turned to ask what was happening, but their companions quickly pulled them away, whispering warnings.
Xu Shuyue lifted her gaze, surveying the chaotic scene. Her expression darkened as she locked eyes with the head officer.
She calmly asked, “May I ask what crime I have committed that warrants my arrest?”
Her composed demeanor caught Li Chang off guard for a moment, but he quickly sneered.
“Do you truly have no idea?” he mocked.
He lifted his sheathed sword and tapped it against the wall, where the shop’s menu was posted. His voice turned sharp and accusatory.
“You, a mere food vendor, dared to deceive the people by selling poisoned drinks! An elderly woman has already died because of you! If her son hadn’t reported it, who knows how many more innocent citizens you would have been harmed?!”
He turned to his men and ordered, “Seize her!”
Two officers immediately lunged toward Xu Shuyue.
Seeing the aggression in their eyes, she almost laughed.
With a steady voice, she retorted, “Officer, do you take me for a fool? Why would I jeopardize my own thriving business? You think I enjoy making money so much that I voluntarily sought out disaster?!”
Li Chang ignored her completely, motioning to his men.
“Listen to this woman’s sophistry! If a criminal isn’t subjected to harsh interrogation, how would they ever confess to their heinous deeds?”
His gaze turned colder.
“You two—what are you waiting for? Drag her to the courthouse! Whether she is guilty or innocent, the magistrate will decide!”
How convenient. Even if she were proven innocent later, the damage would already be done.
An accusation of poisoning—in front of this many witnesses—would destroy her reputation completely.
Who would ever dare to buy from her again?
Xu Shuyue struggled fiercely. No! She could not let them drag her away without a fight!
Seeing her resistance, Li Chang’s patience ran thin. With a flick of his wrist, he raised his sword scabbard, aiming to strike her in the lower back—
Suddenly—
A blade whistled through the air, slicing past Li Chang’s ear. The force of it sent a sharp gust of wind rushing by, making him break into a cold sweat.
A voice roared across the shop, filled with fury.
“Let. Her. Go!”
