Chapter 27: No Time for Wild Thoughts When Busy

To prevent the patient from staying up late, Dr. Feng sped up her actions as much as possible and finally finished at two in the morning.

Looking at Pei Shijin’s lips, which had paled another shade, Dr. Feng dutifully escorted her to the hotel and only went home after watching her go upstairs.

After waiting another day, Pei Shijin was finally summoned by Dr. Mo. “After the checks, everything came back fine—even the psychological evaluation was perfect.”

Dr. Mo propped her chin on her hands and stared into Pei Shijin’s eyes, enunciating each word. “Perfect to the point where it doesn’t seem like a real person.”

Pei Shijin smiled gently. “My scores in ideological and moral education, political classes, and the like have always been near perfect.”

“That’s for the best. Get out more when you have time; a good mood helps with recovery.” Dr. Mo didn’t press further—adults should know what they needed to do.

“I’ve adjusted the prescription. You two take a look.” Leaving the prescription with them, Dr. Mo went out to attend to other matters.

Dr. Feng and Pei Shijin had recently been self-studying about glands, but their time was limited, so they only had a general understanding.

What they needed to figure out was how to prepare medicinal meals based on the properties of these drugs to aid absorption while minimizing side effects.

In the afternoon, Pei Shijin returned to Haicheng with half a box of medicine. This time, she had an extra task: take photos of her gland every morning and evening, and test her releasable pheromone concentration every three days.

It was a long-term commitment, but Pei Shijin was patient. Dr. Mo thought her recovery wasn’t as expected, but Pei Shijin herself was quite satisfied.

When it itched unbearably and she wanted to scratch, afterward she felt the underlying vitality beneath it.

After resting a day upon her return, the clinic’s opening day arrived.

They didn’t plan any grand opening ceremony—just paid respects to the Medicine King statue and hung up the business sign.

But You Yi not only brought two large flower baskets but also a big red inflatable archway with golden letters reading “Ping’An Tang Grand Opening—Great Luck!”

It was tacky, but reassuring.

Song Zonghui had been too excited to sleep the night before and was a bit drowsy, but the sight of it jolted her awake.

She patted her head. “I’m dreaming. This must be a dream.”

Pei Shijin beside her grinned brightly. “This must be You Yi’s surprise for you.”

“Only fright, no joy!” Song Zonghui regretted it deeply now and tried to see if she could drag the monstrosity away.

Pei Shijin headed into the clinic, where Sun Xiangxiang was busy at the counter. Even You Yi had settled on the waiting room sofa, eating breakfast.

“Good morning.” Pei Shijin greeted them.

“Morning.” Sun Xiangxiang nodded. “Had breakfast?”

“Yes, I’m here to help.” Pei Shijin walked over and saw Sun Xiangxiang packing Sanfu Plasters into bags.

The bags were designed by themselves, but the printing company had issues, delivering them only last night.

They had considered skipping bags for the Sanfu Plasters this time, but Sun Xiangxiang had jumped right in upon arrival.

These were their homemade Sanfu Plasters, meant to be given away free on opening day.

“No need. I don’t expect many people today—a hundred portions should suffice. Go check if we’ve missed any setup.” Sun Xiangxiang’s hands moved quickly; she already had a pile done.

“Okay.” Pei Shijin stopped her reaching hand and headed further in.

She wasn’t very familiar with Song Zonghui’s senior apprentice sister yet; their cooperation was going well, but it would take time to get close.

Pei Shijin walked through the clinic twice. It wasn’t large: the front had the counter, waiting area, and medicine cabinets; inside were the treatment room and pharmacy side by side. The treatment room had three beds separated by curtains.

Next to the treatment room was the pharmacy, stocked with herbs plus two decoction stoves, a sterilizer, sealer, and the like.

Everyone was meticulous and had checked multiple times, so Pei Shijin was just walking for peace of mind.

Soon, the auspicious hour arrived. The four of them stepped outside, unveiled the red cloth from the sign, and the clinic was open.

Song Zonghui had prepared a megaphone to play “Ping’An Tang Opening—Free Sanfu Plasters,” but at eight o’clock, with many still sleeping, they held off on disturbing the peace.

Among the three, Pei Shijin was the intern, Song Zonghui had just gotten her medical license not long ago, and the thirty-four-year-old Sun Xiangxiang had the most experience—but none were famous.

Early in the morning, no patients showed up, which was expected.

Pei Shijin and Song Zonghui took flyers to hand out at the neighborhood gates.

You Yi was ordered by Song Zonghui to remove the archway, so she didn’t join the flyer distribution.

The neighborhood had south and north gates; Pei Shijin and Song Zonghui split up, one at each.

On a workday, those heading out at eight were mostly office workers rushing to work, so few took flyers.

With years of work experience, Pei Shijin adapted well. Idling at the clinic was boring anyway—better to hand out flyers.

One flyer out was one success.

The Alpha security guard at the gate took one proactively, asked if the clinic offered massage and bone-setting, as her shoulder inflammation was acting up.

How could a TCM clinic not include bone palpation and massage?

The guard immediately made an appointment with Pei Shijin for noon after her shift.

By nine, workers and students had left, foot traffic died down, and Pei Shijin returned with the remaining stack.

They’d hit the night market and squares nearby in the evening.

Back at the clinic, Pei Shijin saw You Yi hugging her phone, sending messages.

She glanced and looked away, unaware You Yi was harassing Lu Yixue.

Even less did she know You Yi had specially snapped a photo of her handing out flyers at the gate—only to be refused—and sent it to torment Lu Yixue.

Since seeing the divorce certificate, You Yi had behaved for a while.

But with the clinic settled, she was truly bored.

The not-at-all-bored Lu Yixue replied with a photo—of the divorce certificate she’d snapped herself.

You Yi zoomed in: beneath the divorce certificate was another document, and the surroundings showed… Her smile turned sly as a fox that got the cream. [It’s 9:12 AM now. You’re in the Research Institute office but replying instantly—means you carry your docs everywhere!]

Lu Yixue: ……

She did have the two certificates tossed in her bag—forgotten, that’s all.

Technically, You Yi wasn’t wrong, but Lu Yixue felt uncomfortable reading it.

As if she cared that much about the damn papers.

Lu Yixue tossed the certificates from her desk into a drawer, set You Yi to Do Not Disturb, and focused on work.

You Yi, not getting a reply, felt even better—Eldest Young Lady Lu was rattled.

Soon her phone rang. You Yi answered. “Hey, where are you?”

“We’re almost at Happiness Garden.”

“I’ll send the location.” You Yi hung up and sent it in the chat.

Along with it came a photo of Song Zonghui grinning toothily. [Sister You, this your clinic? We’re following her.]

Always goofing off. You Yi thought, but replied: [I’m just an outsider. Stick to my cover, or you’re in trouble if you slip.]

[Hahaha, don’t worry, sis—we’re your vocational school classmates!]

“Customers! Customers incoming—Senior Sister! Pei Shijin!” Song Zonghui led five people charging in like a mob; anyone would think they were here to cause trouble.

Sun Xiangxiang hurried out from the pharmacy and saw the grinning group.

“Senior Sister, they’ve got shoulder, neck, and back issues—your specialty in orthopedics!” Song Zonghui had chatted them up en route and even memorized their names.

“Alright, come on in.” Sun Xiangxiang glanced at Pei Shijin packing Sanfu Plasters, wondering if she’d brought them.

Otherwise, it was rare for a group to visit a brand-new small clinic.

Pei Shijin eyed You Yi—definitely her doing.

She quietly sized up the five: dressed sharply, but eyes gleamed with mischief, clearly not serious patients.

Not faking either—their shoulder inflammation, tenosynovitis, etc., weren’t surgical but hurt like hell. No good Western treatments; docs just said exercise daily.

Suddenly, an Alpha turned and locked eyes with Pei Shijin. “Hi there. You a doctor too?”

Pei Shijin returned a gentle smile. “I’m an intern.”

“Oh, does your clinic hire for looks? All prettier than the last. You a Beta?” She scanned Pei Shijin up and down with a flirty grin.

Pei Shijin’s smile faded slightly. “No looks requirement—just coincidence.”

“You skipped my question. You a Beta?” She grinned. “Not trying to offend—just reminds me of someone I knew, a Beta.”

“I’m an Alpha.” Pei Shijin said flatly, lowering her head to continue working.

“Ah, hard to believe. No pheromones at all—must be high-rank.” Ignoring the chill, she leaned an elbow on the counter, chin propped, brazenly eyeing Pei Shijin. “The more I look, the more alike you seem. Those eyes are like from the same production line.”

“Pei Shijin—name’s similar too, both have ‘shi’.” You Ling read from Pei Shijin’s badge.

Pei Shijin’s hands paused in packing. Then You Ling continued, “Zheng Xiaoshi. She was Zheng Xiaoshi—a pretty name. I love persimmons.”

Pei Shijin looked up at the Alpha. No impression of her at all?

In middle and high school, her bangs covered half her face—how would anyone remember, let alone find similar?

“I hate persimmons.” Pei Shijin smiled.

Stifled, the Alpha’s smile froze, then she laughed again, licking her lips as if savoring. “Too bad—persimmons are one of the world’s tastiest fruits.”

You Yi noticed the flirtation but didn’t stop it—instead, she sneak-shot photos to harass Lu Yixue later.

Her paparazzi skills were improving; she’d excel at it. Too bad You Yi just wanted to play, not work.

Breaking Lu Yixue was her new goal—she sensed Lu Yixue had feelings, or at least wished it so.

“You local to Haicheng? Oh right, I’m You Ling, Haicheng local.” You Ling looked innocent, but her eyes screamed trouble; her smile narrowed them deceptively.

You Ling? Pei Shijin remembered: one summer, Lu Yixue got her a part-time gig at the Lu Family’s Mountain Villa Hotel, handling outdoor BBQs.

One day, heavy rain soaked everyone. A guest insisted on brushing her drenched hair aside.

As a customer, Pei Shijin didn’t resist much—just fled after service.

Probably You Ling.

She caught a cold and fever after, school loomed, so she never returned. No idea if You Ling looked for her.

“Not local.” Pei Shijin smiled apologetically. “Sorry, I need to get back to work. Please wait in the seating area.”

With that, she grabbed the packed Sanfu Plasters and ducked into the pharmacy.

To avoid contact with You Ling lest she be recognized, Pei Shijin decided to get glasses.

You Ling nudged her cheek watching Pei Shijin’s retreating back, then plopped beside You Yi. “Sis, her info?”

“Like her?” You Yi crossed her legs, arm over You Ling’s shoulder.

“Those eyes—like the most brilliant black obsidian?” You Ling’s type was consistent: pretty eyes.

“Too bad, she’s taken.” You Yi patted her shoulder teasingly. “No chance.”

Inwardly screaming: Go on, make Lu Yixue’s backyard catch fire!

You Ling shoved her hand off forcefully. “Taken? Even more interesting.”

Pei Shijin was oblivious to their talk. If You Ling started visiting daily like You Yi, she’d have to figure out how to shoo them both.

But no need to worry—next day, You Yi didn’t show, saying family called her away for ten days or half a month.

Things were like this: that evening, You Yi sent all the photos she had taken throughout the day to Lu Yixue, attempting to flood her notifications with 99+ messages through sheer determination.

Lu Yixue had Do Not Disturb enabled, so she didn’t notice. You Yi even made a voice call to remind her.

A fun-loving troublemaker was always so dedicated.

Lu Yixue, who was in the middle of work, tapped to answer, but the call ended immediately on the other side.

Lu Yixue: ?

She opened her chat with You Yi and saw an endless scroll of photos.

In the end, Lu Yixue gave up on scrolling to the top and randomly tapped on one photo to enlarge it.

In the image, Pei Shijin wore a white coat, her hair tied back, with stray strands secured to her scalp by a black clip, giving her a very clean and neat appearance.

It was another outfit Lu Yixue had never seen on her.

She smiled gently at the patients—it was still that face, but it gave off a different feeling.

Perhaps more vibrant?

Lu Yixue swiped up and down, cycling through the photos You Yi had sent several times.

Finally, she concluded there was nothing special to see. She wasn’t a model, and it wasn’t haute couture.

Lu Yixue set her phone down, ready to get back to work, but soon her phone rang with the alarm.

It was already eleven o’clock—bedtime.

Lu Yixue frowned and checked the timestamp on You Yi’s messages: 9:40.

Had she spent over an hour looking at photos of Pei Shijin?

Lu Yixue pulled You Yi into her blacklist. Time-wasters had to go.

Lying in bed, Lu Yixue quickly fell asleep.

But that night was far from peaceful.

Lu Yixue dreamed that she was ill and went to see a doctor, who turned out to be Pei Shijin…

At five in the morning, Lu Yixue abruptly opened her eyes. Her breathing was rapid and heavy, her body convulsing, her legs instinctively curling together.

After a moment, Lu Yixue came back to her senses.

She got up and turned the air exchanger to maximum, allowing the pervasive orchid scent in the room to slowly dissipate.

Only then did Lu Yixue head to the bathroom to shower and change clothes.

After tidying herself up, the first thing Lu Yixue did was video call You Yi’s mother.

You Mother was already frustrated from struggling to expand her business out of town, and her useless daughter was causing trouble at home. She fully believed the complaint from someone else’s good child, Lu Yixue.

After ending the call with Lu Yixue, You Mother dispatched her subordinates to round up the two sisters and ship them to her side overnight, putting them to work and tempering their attitudes.

Lu Yixue exited the chat with You Mother, thinking that now she could finally have some peace for a while.

At the same time, Lu Yixue scheduled her work to be packed full.

If the Research Institute didn’t have enough, she’d go to Lu Lingjiang for more. In any case, she couldn’t let herself idle.

Staying busy meant no time for indecent thoughts.