Chapter 58: Passion Fruit Drink — “It’s So Sour!”

 

Yihuan was initially a bit annoyed by Liu Hexiao’s playful remark, but after thinking it over, she replaced her irritation with a smile.

She poured the passion fruit drink she had just finished shaking into a large cup and handed it to Liu Hexiao. Her tone was gentle and sweet: “Alright then, this first cup of passion fruit drink is for the young master to enjoy.”

This obedient and tender demeanor immediately pleased Liu Hexiao. Smiling slightly, he accepted the drink.

The cup held a pale yellow, semi-translucent liquid that rippled softly. A faint, tangy aroma wafted up, fresh and invigorating.

Yihuan spoke with utmost seriousness: “This passion fruit drink is best enjoyed in big gulps—it’s refreshing and quenches thirst.” She demonstrated by pouring herself a cup and taking a sip right in front of him.

Encouraged by her example, Liu Hexiao nodded and lifted the cup. He tipped it back, drinking deeply—

The moment the drink hit his mouth, a tidal wave of sourness crashed over him! The tanginess of the passion fruit struck his teeth with full force, and the sharp acidity of the lime made his eyes screw shut.

Liu Hexiao winced, his face contorting as he blurted out, “You little vixen! How on earth did you manage to drink this sour concoction!?” His voice was muffled as he tried to gulp it down. It took him a while to recover.

Yihuan chuckled faintly. “I don’t mind sour things.”

Rendered speechless, Liu Hexiao stared at her, dumbfounded.

Yihuan glanced at him before turning away with a smile. Liu Hexiao, meanwhile, scurried around looking for water to soothe his tormented tongue.

For the next few days, Yihuan stayed at the dessert shop, waiting for Doctor Yu’s response.

“Miss, it’s been four days already. Didn’t Doctor Yu say he’d give us an answer after thinking it over? What if we wasted our efforts at Chengji Hall?” Ah-Miao asked anxiously, clearly worried.

While clearing the account books, Yihuan replied calmly, “I trust that Doctor Yu will keep his word. Whether he agrees to work with us or not, he’ll give us a definitive answer.”

Ah-Miao pressed on. “But are we just going to wait indefinitely?”

Yihuan remained silent.

At that moment, a deep, elderly voice interjected: “Can’t even wait a few days? Are young people nowadays so impatient?”

Startled, Yihuan and Ah-Miao looked up to see a plainly dressed old man standing at the door. His stern expression contrasted sharply with the warm and inviting ambiance of the dessert shop.

Yihuan was taken aback. “Doctor Yu!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up with a bright smile. “Please, come in!”

Doctor Yu’s face remained stony as he gave a curt nod and stepped inside.

Yihuan quickly led him to a seat and called out, “Ah-Miao, bring tea for Doctor Yu!”

But Doctor Yu waved his hand dismissively. “No need for tea. Since I’m here, why don’t I try one of your drinks instead?”

Yihuan immediately understood. “How about the ginger milk pudding? It’s the one Madam Wang enjoyed last time.”

Doctor Yu gave a nearly imperceptible nod of approval.

Catching Yihuan’s cue, Ah-Miao hurried to prepare the pudding.

A short while later, a bowl of warm ginger milk pudding was placed on the table before Doctor Yu.

Standing nearby, Yihuan said softly, “Please, Doctor Yu, have a taste.”

Doctor Yu, his expression unchanged, picked up the spoon and stirred the pudding. “Doesn’t look like anything special,” he commented flatly.

Despite his words, he scooped up a spoonful and brought it to his lips.

The warm, creamy milk carried a hint of spiciness from the ginger, slowly awakening his taste buds with each sip.

He didn’t say a word but took another spoonful, and then another. As he continued, the ginger flavor deepened, making him break out in a slight sweat.

Finally, he stopped, setting the spoon down.

Seeing his impassive face, Yihuan grew nervous. She hesitated, then asked softly, “Doctor Yu, what do you think of the ginger milk pudding?”

Doctor Yu wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, his face unreadable. After a brief pause, he said, “It’s… alright.”

Yihuan felt a slight pang of disappointment upon hearing Doctor Yu’s remark.

“It’s just ginger boiled with milk, causing people to sweat and stimulating blood circulation,” he said indifferently. Glancing at her, he added, “If eaten alone… it has absolutely no effect on aiding conception.”

Yihuan pressed her lips together, her expression barely maintaining a polite smile.

At that moment, the sound of steady footsteps echoed down the stairs. Doctor Yu instinctively looked up and saw the leisurely figure of Liu Hexiao descending from the second floor.

“Shizi?” Doctor Yu blurted in surprise.

Unbothered, Liu Hexiao offered a faint smile and greeted him, “Master Yu.”

Doctor Yu’s face subtly stiffened.

Liu Hexiao casually corrected himself, “Ah, pardon me—Doctor Yu.”

The tension in Doctor Yu’s expression softened slightly.

Liu Hexiao cast a brief glance at Yihuan and said, “Aren’t you still in the middle of balancing the accounts? Why don’t you get back to it?”

Caught off guard, Yihuan hesitated before pulling Ah-Miao along and moving a bit further away to give them space.

Liu Hexiao gracefully seated himself across from Doctor Yu and remarked, “It’s been a while, Doctor Yu.”

Doctor Yu allowed himself a rare smile. “I never thought… I’d see you here, Shizi.”

Liu Hexiao’s gaze rested calmly on the older man. “And I never thought Doctor Yu would truly be practicing medicine among the common folk. When my father heard the news, he even lamented your departure.”

Doctor Yu’s expression faltered slightly. “There’s nothing to lament… everyone follows their own path.”

Liu Hexiao regarded him silently, his expression unreadable.

Doctor Yu had once been one of the most esteemed doctors at the Imperial Medical Academy, renowned for treating difficult cases and especially skilled in fertility treatments.

It was Doctor Yu who had helped Liu Hexiao’s sister, Consort Ning, during her pregnancy, ultimately enabling her to give birth to a royal prince. For this, the Prince Qi household had always treated Doctor Yu with great respect.

However, Doctor Yu’s aloof and straightforward personality often clashed with the other court physicians. During a collaborative diagnosis for the Emperor, while others proposed conservative and vague treatment plans, Doctor Yu bluntly pointed out the root of the Emperor’s condition, sparking a heated disagreement.

His unyielding honesty displeased the Emperor, leading to a public reprimand. Unwilling to compromise his principles, Doctor Yu resigned in frustration.

At the time, Prince Qi himself lamented the loss of such a towering figure from the Imperial Medical Academy.

Liu Hexiao chuckled softly. “Perhaps it’s for the best that Doctor Yu left the palace. You’re able to help more people regain their health, which is a truly noble cause.”

A faint smile surfaced on Doctor Yu’s face as he asked, “Why are you here, Shizi?”

Liu Hexiao replied nonchalantly, “I had a falling out with my father. With nowhere else to go, I decided to settle here.”

Doctor Yu was taken aback. “A falling out? How could that happen…”

Liu Hexiao waved his hand dismissively. “It’s not worth discussing. Let’s leave it at that.” He gestured toward a nearby shelf. “Doctor Yu, do you know what those are?”

Doctor Yu shook his head.

Liu Hexiao explained, “Those are sweets… Sweets bring people joy when they eat them.”

Doctor Yu looked at him with mild confusion, unsure of where the conversation was headed.

Pointing to the bowl of ginger milk pudding Doctor Yu had just consumed, Liu Hexiao continued, “This dessert once helped Madam Wang conceive. It allowed her to stand tall in her husband’s family—an invaluable thing for a woman.”

Doctor Yu pondered his words, and his brows furrowed slightly. “Shizi, if you have something to say, speak plainly.”

Liu Hexiao smiled. “What I mean is this: while the Shengjing Dessert Shop is indeed a business, it’s also about creating things that bring people happiness and hope.” His gaze met Doctor Yu’s directly. “I understand that you disdain worldly trivialities, but most people in this world are, in fact, ordinary. If these common folk can enjoy both good health and uplifting spirits, isn’t that a wonderful thing?”

Doctor Yu mulled over the statement for a moment. Then, unexpectedly, he chuckled. “So, Shizi, you came here as a mediator, did you?”

Liu Hexiao merely smiled, saying nothing.

Doctor Yu beckoned to Yihuan, who quickly walked over.

“Doctor Yu, is there something you need?” she asked.

Doctor Yu cleared his throat and began, “After some thought, I’ve realized that your ginger milk pudding, on its own, is just an ordinary snack…” He paused before adding, “But if paired with the right medicinal ingredients, it could be much more effective.”

His medicines, often aimed at replenishing energy and improving health, were sometimes not fully absorbed by sedentary patients who rarely exercised. Drinking ginger milk pudding, which warms the body, could enhance the absorption and efficacy of the medicine. Initially, Doctor Yu had been reluctant to collaborate, wary of unnecessary entanglements. However, upon further reflection, he concluded that if such a partnership could truly help patients and improve their experience, it was worth pursuing.

Yihuan’s eyes lit up with delight. “Does that mean… Doctor Yu, you’re agreeing to collaborate with me?”

Doctor Yu tilted his chin slightly. “I’m not opposed to a partnership… but there are conditions. You must guarantee the quality and quantity of your ginger milk pudding. If my patients purchase it through Chengji Hall, you’ll need to deliver it fresh to the pharmacy the following day. Can you do that?”