Chapter 33

At this time, Ye Muyan’s parents were taking their afternoon nap. Not wanting to wake them, Ye Muyan instructed the servants to keep quiet.

The servants, understanding the situation, quietly brought out a few plates of snacks and four cups of tea before retreating to the side with smiles.

The Ye family’s home was decorated with a warm and cozy theme. A soft pink carpet, exuding a girlish charm, covered the floor. A few plump orange tabby cats lay lazily on it, occasionally stretching out their paws to scratch the carpet. Scattered across the carpet were several adorable panda-shaped pillows.

A massive 52-inch LCD television was embedded in the wall. Facing the TV was a light blue fabric sofa over three meters long. On the sofa lay a beautiful Ragdoll cat with deep blue eyes that sparkled like sapphires. Except for the black fur on its forehead and around its eyes, the rest of its coat was pure white.

The moment You Changhong saw the cat, his eyes lit up. “Brother Muyan, this Ragdoll is way too beautiful!”

Ye Muyan smiled slightly. “This Ragdoll, along with those orange tabbies, all belong to my parents. They love these cats more than they love me. This one’s name is Niannian—‘Nian’ as in ‘year.’ Since it’s incredibly clingy, my mother named it Niannian, hoping it would stay by our side year after year.”

That naming skill was on another level. Compared to himself, it was like heaven and earth.

Thinking about how she once named her own fierce pet “Little Green,” Shen Lihuan fell silent.

“Brother Muyan, can I hold it?”

You Changhong was eager, his hands already itching to reach out.

“Of course. Niannian isn’t shy at all. If you hold it, it’ll just lie obediently in your arms.”

“Great!”

You Changhong couldn’t hold back any longer and pounced on Niannian. The cat let out a sweet “meow,” lifted its small chin, and rubbed against his hand, allowing him to cuddle it.

“Wow! Niannian’s fur feels amazing—so soft and smooth!” You Changhong sat on the sofa, hugging Niannian while rubbing his face and chin against its fluffy back, looking completely entranced.

Watching You Changhong become utterly immersed in petting the cat, Shen Lihuan shook her head and turned to Ye Muyan. “Mr. Ye, let Changhong stay here and play with the cat. Let’s go see your younger brother first.”

“Alright, please follow me. My brother should still be napping at this time.”

As Ye Muyan spoke, he reminded You Changhong to call the servants if he needed anything. If necessary, they could take him upstairs to find them.

Without looking up, You Changhong waved them off. “You guys go ahead. I’ll just stay here and play with Niannian.”

Seeing him like this, Ye Muyan shook his head and smiled indulgently.

Ye Muyan’s younger brother was named Ye Muxi. The brothers’ names both contained “Mu” from their mother, Mu Zhiyun’s surname, while “Yan” and “Xi” were taken from the phrase “The peach and plum trees do not speak, yet they form a natural path beneath them.”

After Ye Muxi’s accident, Ye Muyan had moved into the room next to his brother’s, afraid that something might happen to him again without anyone noticing.

Ye Muyan took out a key and unlocked his brother’s bedroom door. Inside, a boy dressed in bear-themed pajamas lay on a large two-meter bed, sleeping soundly. Ye Muyan’s face softened with affection as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped away the drool from his brother’s mouth.

Ye Muxi had a naturally adorable face—the kind that elders and teachers would love. Even in sleep, his expression was full of childlike innocence.

That someone could be cruel enough to try to take his life… truly heartless.

Shen Lihuan thought to herself.

She had walked through a world of blood and chaos, but she had never taken a life needlessly—only those who deserved it.

Sometimes, people in so-called peaceful times could be even more ruthless than those in the apocalypse.

The weather was a bit warm. Worried that his brother might get too hot, Ye Muyan reached out to check his neck. If it was sweaty, he planned to wipe it dry. However, the moment his fingers touched his brother’s neck, Ye Muxi let out a soft giggle, his body trembling slightly.

Ye Muyan was momentarily stunned.

Ye Muxi suddenly peeked open one eye, then pounced on his dazed older brother with a playful roar. “Gotcha, Brother! You got scared!”

Ye Muyan quickly caught him, laughing helplessly. “Oh, Muxi, you were pretending to sleep just to scare me?”

Ye Muxi covered his mouth and giggled. His large amber eyes crinkled with joy, nearly disappearing in his laughter. Mentally, he was only three years old now, and even his laughter was soft and childish.

You Changqing felt an urge to pinch those round, chubby cheeks.

Shen Lihuan always observed people through their eyes first. It was often said that the eyes were the windows to the soul. A person’s face might not be conventionally beautiful, but their eyes had to be bright.

Ye Muxi’s eyes were large and round, with naturally downturned corners that made him look endlessly innocent. While most people’s irises were black, his were amber, with more iris than sclera, giving them a striking clarity. Shen Lihuan could even see her own reflection in his eyes.

Noticing the two strangers in the room, Ye Muxi curiously peeked out from his brother’s embrace. “Brother, who are these two sisters? Why hasn’t Xixi seen them before?”

He liked to stretch out the endings of his words when he spoke, making his voice soft and sweet. It was utterly adorable.

Shen Lihuan gave him a warm smile. Ye Muxi froze for a second, then shyly buried his face against Ye Muyan’s chest, returning a bashful smile.

“These two sisters came to visit Xixi because Xixi is just too cute.”

Ye Muyan pulled two tissues from the box on the nightstand and gently wiped his brother’s neck. Ye Muxi obediently lifted his chin for him, his tiny hands instinctively grasping the hem of his brother’s shirt.

“What are their names? If the sisters think Xixi is really cute, will they take Xixi away?”

Ye Muxi had always looked like a soft, sticky rice dumpling, utterly irresistible. Since he was also incredibly naive and easy to fool, Mu Zhiyun constantly warned him not to talk to strangers. “Xixi is too cute. If you’re not careful, someone might take you away.”

Even though Ye Muxi had lost his mental faculties, he always remembered those words. So whenever he saw strangers, he would start worrying that they might take him away.

You Changqing and Shen Lihuan exchanged a knowing glance. You Changqing curled her lips into a smile, and Shen Lihuan also chuckled.

“Haha, the one in white is Sister Shen, and the one in blue is Sister You. My silly little brother, as long as I’m here, the sisters won’t take Xixi away.”

Ye Muyan adored his little brother. He rubbed his stubbled chin against Muxi’s face, but Muxi, disgusted, pushed his brother’s face aside. “Brother’s chin is prickly. Xixi hurts.”

“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Come on, greet the two sisters properly.”

Ye Muyan let go of his brother and patted his back, encouraging him to greet Shen Lihuan and You Changqing.

Seeing his brother’s encouraging gaze, Ye Muxi shyly waved his little paw at them and softly said, “Hello, Sister Shen. Hello, Sister You.”

“Hello, Xixi.”

You Changqing stepped forward and ruffled his hair, while Shen Lihuan brought two chairs over to the bedside, sitting down with You Changqing.

“Xixi, can you put out your hand and let me take a look?”

Shen Lihuan had been chatting with Ye Muxi for a while before she finally asked.

Ye Muxi scratched his head, not quite understanding but obediently stretched out his hand. “Of course! Xixi is a good boy and listens to the sisters.”

Shen Lihuan took his hand and gently turned it over, palm facing up. Then, she placed three fingers on his wrist at the pulse point, focusing her energy to examine his pulse. A surge of abundant ability flowed from her fingertips into Ye Muxi’s body, allowing her to clearly sense his condition.

Ye Muxi felt a warm current coursing through his body, so comfortable that he wanted to sigh in relief. Realizing that this pleasant sensation was given to him by Sister Shen, he fixed his gaze on her, his fondness for her growing.

Ye Muyan instinctively held his breath, his eyes fixed on Shen Lihuan, trying to read any change in her expression.

After a long while, Shen Lihuan finally let go, and her expression eased slightly.

“Miss Shen, how is my brother’s condition?” Ye Muyan asked anxiously.

“Mr. Ye, don’t worry. Your brother has survived a great calamity and will have blessings in return. I already have an idea.”

Shen Lihuan tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, lowering her head slightly as she contemplated the most appropriate herbs and dosages for the prescription.

“That’s great! That’s great!”

Ye Muyan was overjoyed. Unable to contain his excitement, he paced around the room several times. Ye Muxi, curious about his brother’s reaction, whispered to You Changqing, “Sister You, what’s wrong with my brother? Has he gone crazy?”

He even lowered his voice, afraid that his brother would hear and feel bad.

You Changqing couldn’t hold back her laughter and pinched his soft little cheeks. “Don’t worry, your brother isn’t crazy. He’s just too happy.”

Ye Muxi was skeptical.

When Ye Muyan finally calmed down, he noticed his little brother staring at him with wide, curious eyes. He instinctively coughed—oh no, his image!

His refined, mature, and steady image… ruined.

He coughed again. Ye Muxi became even more curious. “Brother, why are you coughing?”

“My throat’s a bit dry,” Ye Muyan laughed awkwardly, quickly changing the topic. “From now on, Xixi can grow up properly. Are you happy?”

“Grow up? As big as Brother?”

Ye Muxi scratched his chin with a puzzled look.

“Yes!”

“If Brother is happy, then Xixi is happy too.”

Ye Muxi touched the broad smile on his brother’s face and grinned along with him.

“There’s also a cute little brother downstairs. Xixi, do you want to go play with him?”

Remembering that Chang Hong was still downstairs, Ye Muyan suggested it to his brother. He hoped that the little one he cared about would get along well with his younger brother, so he began praising You Changhong to Ye Muxi.

Boys naturally preferred playing with other boys. On top of that, Ye Muxi was simple-minded. Hearing his brother praise You Changhong so much, he got excited and immediately shouted about wanting to play with the little brother—without any regard for volume control.

Watching his brother bouncing with excitement, Ye Muyan smiled at Shen Lihuan and You Changqing. “Miss Shen, Miss You, let’s head downstairs.”

“Alright. My bag is downstairs anyway, so I’ll write out the prescription for you there.”

Shen Lihuan nodded and left the room with You Changqing.

The four of them headed downstairs together. You Changhong was sprawled on the sofa, cuddling several plump cats in his arms. A particularly bold orange tabby stood on his back, kneading him with its paws. Both the boy and the cat looked utterly content.

“Look, Xixi, that’s Chang Hong. Go say hi to him.”

Seeing his little brother drawn to You Changhong, Ye Muyan encouraged him to go over and greet him.

Hearing the voices, You Changhong lifted his face. “Sis, you’re back.” His gaze swept over, landing on an unfamiliar but adorably glutinous-rice-ball-like face. A light bulb went off in his head. “Is this Brother Muyan’s little brother?”

Remembering that Brother Muyan’s little brother had the mental age of a three-year-old, You Changhong felt a mix of sympathy and affection. Without hesitation, he reached back and grabbed the orange tabby off his back, setting it on the sofa before bouncing up to Ye Muxi. With the air of an older brother, he smiled and said, “Hello! I’m You Changhong. You can call me Brother Changhong.”

Oh ho ho! He finally got to be called “brother” by someone. Just thinking about it made him happy.

This big brother was good-looking, just like Xixi.

Being someone who also appreciated good looks, Ye Muxi gave him a sweet smile. “Hello, Brother Changhong. I’m Xixi.”

Seeing his little brother smile so cheekily, You Changqing playfully nudged him with her elbow.

After all, Ye Muxi’s actual age was older than hers. You Changhong was just taking advantage of the fact that Muxi’s mind hadn’t fully recovered yet to score some seniority points.

“Changqing, come sit down and have some tea. You’ve been walking so much today—your legs must be sore. Let me give you a massage.”

Shen Lihuan sat down on the sofa and patted the spot beside her.

You Changqing blinked her long eyelashes. She hadn’t noticed before, but now that Lihuan mentioned it, she did feel a bit of soreness in her calves, making it hard to lift them.

You Changhong let out a jealous “Oh~,” then joked, “Sister Lihuan is so considerate! She even comes with a built-in massage function.”

You Changqing chuckled smugly and took a seat beside Shen Lihuan.

Ye Muyan turned to You Changhong with a gentle smile. “Are your legs sore too, Changhong? I’m actually quite good at massages—would you like Brother Muyan to give you one?”

“Brother Muyan, you’re such a good person!”

You Changhong was so touched he almost cried.

Ye Muyan’s expression stiffened slightly. Wait, had he just been given a “good person” card?

“Xixi knows how to give massages too! Xixi wants to massage Brother Changhong’s legs!”

Ye Muxi eagerly raised his hand to join in the fun.

“Hahaha, Xixi, you’re too cute.” You Changhong pulled him into a side hug.

Though Ye Muxi’s mind had regressed to that of a three-year-old, his height had not. At nineteen years old and 1.8 meters tall, he towered over fifteen-year-old You Changhong, who stood at 1.7 meters. You Changhong calling someone a whole head taller than him “cute” was quite amusing—though to Ye Muyan, it was actually You Changhong who looked more adorable.

The lively laughter in the living room was enough to rouse the Ye brothers’ parents from bed. After freshening up, they came downstairs, only to find three unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar faces…

Wasn’t this the eldest daughter of the Shen family and the young master and lady of the You family? Why were they here?

“Muyan, why didn’t you wake your mother and me when we had such esteemed guests?”

Ye Qichen pursed his lips, worried that their guests might feel slighted, so he scolded his son first.

“Miss Shen, please don’t take offense. My eldest son has always been rather careless in handling things.”

Mu Zhiyun followed closely behind her husband.

Ye Muyan smiled helplessly. Meanwhile, Ye Muxi beamed and excitedly ran toward his parents. “Dad, Mom! Xixi got to play with three older siblings today! Xixi is so happy!”

Mu Zhiyun lovingly embraced her son. “Is that so? Well, our Xixi is amazing!”

Ye Muxi grinned foolishly.

Ye Qichen approached the guests and greeted them politely, “Miss Shen, Miss You, Young Master You.”

You Changhong raised a hand in casual acknowledgment. “Uncle Ye, no need to be so formal. We’re friends with Brother Muyan. Calling us ‘Young Master’ and ‘Miss’ is far too grand.”

Mu Zhiyun walked over hand in hand with Ye Muxi, and You Changhong called her “Aunt Ye” as well. Mu Zhiyun, slightly taken aback, smiled warmly.

Shen Lihuan finished the last press of You Changqing’s massage before lowering her legs from her lap. You Changqing felt a sweet warmth in her heart. Even if this person hadn’t yet realized her own feelings, she was certain she held a special place in her heart. Otherwise, why would she treat her with such genuine care? After all, most people rarely even saw Shen Lihuan smile.

“Mom, Dad, we ran into Miss Shen and the others by chance this time. But the important thing is that Xixi’s condition can be treated.”

Ye Muyan smiled and explained to his parents why their guests were here.

“This… Miss Shen, it’s not that we don’t believe you. It’s just that my youngest son’s condition is due to neurological damage in his brain. Countless renowned doctors have failed to cure him…”

“Yes, it’s been over three years. We went from being full of hope at first to complete disappointment now.”

Unlike Ye Muyan’s excitement, Ye Qichen and his wife were much more subdued.

Mu Zhiyun hugged her 1.8-meter-tall son and wiped away tears. Her poor child—how could he have suffered such a terrible fate?

Shen Lihuan, however, simply smiled at their doubts. “It’s normal for Uncle and Aunt Ye to be skeptical. After all, I’m still very young, and it makes sense that I wouldn’t seem reliable.”

“How about this—I’ll take Aunt Ye’s pulse. If Aunt Ye believes I diagnosed her correctly, I will write out Xixi’s prescription. You can take it to another doctor for verification. If the doctor says my prescription is fine, then you can consider using it for Xixi. But if Aunt Ye feels I got the diagnosis wrong, we can pretend today never happened. You won’t have to place your hopes in me at all.”

Her calm and composed attitude reignited a spark of hope in Ye Qichen and Mu Zhiyun.

Mu Zhiyun suddenly recalled the highly popular “Hongyan Powder” and “Yingji Powder.” Weren’t these skincare products developed by the Shen family?

She had heard that these products were incredibly effective. The wife of the director of the medical research institute, Madam Li, had been raving about them, constantly recommending them to others. Madam Tan and Madam Yuan, after using the products, had also become obsessed and eagerly spread the word. Even Yuan’s wife, the famous author, had endorsed them on Tianwang, recommending them to her fans…

Thanks to these influential figures, Shen’s skincare products had gone viral even before they officially hit the market.

Not long ago, Mu Zhiyun had met Madam Li. She still vividly remembered what Madam Li had looked like before—dark complexion, acne, wrinkles—she had all of them. But now, Madam Li’s skin was fair, radiant, and smooth, without a single blemish or wrinkle in sight. And this was her bare face! To have such flawless skin even without makeup was truly astonishing.

Did Shen Lihuan actually have medical knowledge? Outsiders couldn’t say for sure. But if she had developed those skincare products, then her medical skills couldn’t be too far off, right?

After all, they themselves hadn’t studied medicine and had no way of making such judgments.

“I hope you won’t mind me asking, Miss Shen, but is the widely popular ‘Hongyan Powder’ and ‘Yingji Powder’ your creation?”

“If there aren’t any other products by those names out there…” Shen Lihuan tilted her head slightly. “Then yes, I suppose they are.”

Mu Zhiyun let out a breath of relief and rolled up her sleeve. “In that case, I’ll trouble Miss Shen to take my pulse. If you can cure Xixi’s illness, that would be the best outcome. I would gladly give up ten years of my life for that.”

“Mom, don’t say that. I believe in Miss Shen.” Ye Muyan didn’t know why, but he had an inexplicable trust in Shen Lihuan. Maybe it was because of her composed and confident demeanor, or perhaps his subconscious was telling him that she was not someone to be taken lightly.

After taking Mu Zhiyun’s pulse, Shen Lihuan withdrew her hand. Mu Zhiyun looked at her nervously. “Miss Shen, how is my pulse?”

“Has Auntie Ye been experiencing insomnia lately, finding it hard to fall asleep? Even when you do sleep, you either wake up suddenly or have nightmares?”

“Yes, yes! Miss Shen, you’re absolutely right! Lately, this insomnia has been tormenting me so much that I feel like a different person. I used to rarely take naps, but recently, I have to nap just to get through the day.”

Mu Zhiyun nodded repeatedly, her heart filling with expectations for Shen Lihuan’s medical skills.

“You all saw it—Lihuan’s medical skills are indeed remarkable. If not for the chance encounter with Mr. Ye, and if Lihuan weren’t kind-hearted, she wouldn’t have suddenly offered to help Muqi.”

You Changqing, seeing their continued disbelief in Lihuan, grew annoyed. “From my perspective, whether or not someone can help you is one thing, but her willingness to help is real. You don’t have to believe her, but you should at least appreciate her kindness.”

Shen Lihuan gently held her hand, and You Changqing pouted but said nothing more.

Ye Qichen and Mu Zhiyun both looked embarrassed and ashamed. “We were being unreasonable. Miss Shen, knowing Muqi’s condition and still being willing to treat him, we are deeply grateful for your kindness.”

“We really have been overly cautious. When we first heard that Muqi could be cured, our first reaction wasn’t joy but suspicion. Maybe deep down, we’ve already accepted that Muqi will have to live like this forever. While others haven’t given up on him, we, as his parents, were the first to do so. How terrible of us!”

Mu Zhiyun burst into tears, hitting her chest repeatedly. Ye Qichen’s eyes welled up with tears as well. Ye Muyan, eyes red, walked over and embraced his mother, while Ye Muxi, also teary-eyed, gently wiped his parents’ tears. “Mommy, don’t cry. Daddy, don’t cry.”

After releasing their pent-up grief and sorrow, Mu Zhiyun suddenly knelt before Shen Lihuan. “If Miss Shen can truly cure my son, I will willingly serve her for the rest of my life!”

“Auntie Ye, how could I possibly accept this?”

The moment Mu Zhiyun knelt, Shen Lihuan quickly stood up to stop her. “As a physician, it is my duty to save lives. Since I know Muqi’s condition, there is no reason for me to stand by and do nothing. If Auntie Ye kneels to me for this, it would only shorten my lifespan.”

Ye Muxi, in a panic, quickly helped his mother up. Mu Zhiyun, with tears streaming down her face, cupped his cheek. “My dear child, you will soon be saved!”

Ye Qichen and Ye Muyan both walked up to Shen Lihuan and gave her a deep bow. This time, Shen Lihuan didn’t avoid it—she could accept a proper show of gratitude, but kneeling was too much.

“As long as Miss Shen cures my poor son, the Ye family will follow the Shen family’s lead from now on!”

Ye Qichen solemnly pledged. The Ye family had some standing in the imperial capital, and his words carried weight—he was a man who always followed through on his promises, which was how he had built his business empire.

“Uncle Ye, I appreciate the sentiment, but I can’t take advantage of the situation.”

Despite such a tempting offer, Shen Lihuan remained completely unfazed.

The Shen family was already one of the top three families, controlling the economic lifeline of Green Country. If they expanded any further, the government would become wary.

Though the government operated behind the scenes and seemed passive, they would never allow a single family to monopolize the nation’s economy—it would threaten national stability. In the original book, the downfall of the three great families wasn’t just due to the protagonist Qin Aocheng’s plot armor; she suspected the government had also played a role.

Thus, the Shen family didn’t need expansion—it needed stability.

“Uncle Ye, let’s drop this. I won’t agree to it.”

Ignoring Ye Qichen’s protests, Shen Lihuan took out paper and a pen from her bag and quickly wrote out a prescription. Handing it to Ye Muyan, she said, “Mr. Ye, keep this prescription safe. My phone number is on the back, and as for my home address—I’m sure you already know it.”

Ye Muyan carefully held the prescription as if it were an imperial decree. “Miss Shen, I can never repay the kindness you’ve shown to my family. If you ever need anything, just say the word. Even if it costs me my life, I will see it done!”

“Mr. Ye, that’s too much. There’s something I need to emphasize—Chinese medicine is about treating the right symptoms. This prescription is effective only for Muqi’s condition; it may not work for others, and using it incorrectly could cause harm. Please do not share it.”

If not for her young age making it difficult for others to trust her, she wouldn’t have even written a prescription. It wasn’t that she was afraid someone would steal it for profit—she was worried that misusing the prescription could harm patients.

“Miss Shen, your integrity is admirable!”

Ye Qichen held Ye Muyan’s hand and bowed deeply to Shen Lihuan. “Muqi, you must always remember Miss Shen’s kindness. She is your second parent.”

Ye Muxi beamed at Shen Lihuan. “Sister Shen, Muqi will always remember your kindness!”

“Good boy.” Shen Lihuan ruffled his hair. “It’s getting late. The three of us should head home. We won’t impose any longer. See you next time.”

“I’ll drive you back and pick up the medicine on the way.”

Ye Muyan grabbed his car keys. Ye Qichen and Mu Zhiyun hurriedly saw them to the door. “Safe travels.”

“Muqi, see you next time at my place!”

You Changhong reluctantly bid farewell, and Ye Muxi, with red eyes, watched his three older siblings leave.

After dropping off Shen Lihuan and the others at their respective homes, Ye Muyan rushed to the Imperial Capital People’s Hospital, where Dr. Huang Mingjing from the neurology department had been treating Muqi.

Huang Mingjing grew increasingly excited as he examined the prescription in his hands. His eyes gleamed as he looked at Ye Muyan. “Mr. Ye, could you tell me which divine doctor came up with this prescription?”

“Dr. Huang, will this prescription work?” Ye Muyan asked anxiously.

“Of course it will! In fact, this prescription is truly astonishing. How did they even come up with this…?”

Huang Mingjing was well known for his obsession with medicine—whenever he encountered a new prescription, he could spend an entire day studying it. Right now, he was lost in thought, trying to understand why this particular combination worked. Some of the ingredients were supposed to be mutually antagonistic, and some could even be toxic when taken together. Yet, within the context of this formula, they became key components that could save a life.

“Dr. Huang? Dr. Huang?”

Upon confirming that the prescription was effective, Ye Muyan became incredibly anxious. He just wanted to get the medicine immediately, prepare the decoction, and have his younger brother take it so he could recover as soon as possible.

His left eyelid had been twitching nonstop all morning. His mother had told him it was a sign of good luck, but he hadn’t believed her. Now, it seemed she was right—his luck had truly come through. If he hadn’t randomly decided to eat hot pot, if he hadn’t overheard that family’s argument, if he hadn’t hesitated before smashing that beer bottle… So many “ifs” had led him to meet Changhong and the others. If that wasn’t luck, then what was?

His mother always said that people should do good deeds whenever possible. Even if it didn’t bring them blessings, the heavens would surely leave a path open for those with kind hearts.

From now on, he would definitely do more charitable acts—not for blessings, but for peace of mind.

—

When Shen Lihuan returned home, she didn’t see any sign of Overlord or General. She had no idea where they had run off to this time.

Thinking about how well-behaved Nian Nian was, she shook her head. She really shouldn’t have named them “General” and “Overlord”—”Obedient” and “Quiet” would have been far more fitting.

After preparing the medicinal ingredients for Mu Xi, Shen Lihuan washed her hands thoroughly and began refining the Vitality Pills for her parents.

As the name suggests, the Vitality Pill could restore vitality to the body.

In a way, it was another form of an immortality pill.

Developing this medicine had taken her six years and countless trials before she finally succeeded.

The key ingredient in the formula was a spiritual liquid formed from her supernatural ability—an essence that gathered the purest energy of heaven and earth. It was even more effective than the spiritual springs described in novels.

However, obtaining this spiritual liquid wasn’t easy. Every time she condensed a drop, she needed to absorb the life force of an entire forest to replenish her own energy.

During the apocalypse, many plants mutated, and countless people died at the hands of their vines. So back then, she had no qualms about absorbing their life force.

But in this peaceful world, she couldn’t bring herself to drain an entire forest. It wasn’t until one morning, during a jog, that she discovered a solution. While chatting with the trees, she learned that when she infused them with her wood-type ability, helping them grow stronger, they could return some of their life energy to her in exchange.

This method not only prevented deforestation but also yielded an even purer and more concentrated life force.

Each time she gathered the liquid, it only amounted to about 100ml—a small bottle’s worth. But just a single drop mixed into the medicine made a world of difference.

Once the batch of Vitality Pills was complete, Shen Lihuan opened the lid of the furnace, and an intoxicatingly fragrant aroma filled the air. The scent spread through the house, even reaching the lower floors.

The servants of the Shen family, upon smelling the fragrance, suddenly felt as if they were floating on clouds—relaxed and refreshed.

As the scent dissipated, they slowly regained their senses.

“My god, did you guys smell that just now?”

“Could it be that Miss Lihuan was refining pills again? The last time she made medicine, there was also a faint fragrance.”

“I wonder what kind of pill this is? With such an amazing scent, it definitely isn’t an ordinary one!”

—

“What are you all talking about? Did Lihuan refine a new pill?”

Gu Qinglan had just returned from work when she overheard the servants’ discussion. Curious, she asked them about it.

After hearing their descriptions of the fragrance, she became intrigued. Changing out of her high heels and into flats, she headed straight for her daughter’s laboratory.

Knock, knock!

Gu Qinglan knocked on the door. Meanwhile, Shen Lihuan was carefully using tweezers to place the pills into a specially designed jade bottle. Without looking up, she asked, “Who is it?”

“Lihuan, it’s Mom. Can I come in?”

“Mom, you can just open the door and come in,” Shen Lihuan called out. Hearing this, Gu Qinglan turned the doorknob and walked inside.

“Lihuan, did you just finish refining a new batch of pills?”

Pulling up a chair, Gu Qinglan sat down, her eyes fixed on the pills in her daughter’s hands. The moment she stepped into the room, she had caught a lingering, ethereal fragrance that made her feel refreshed, as if her entire body had been cleansed.

“Yes, these are specially made for you and Dad. They’re called Vitality Pills. After taking them, you and Dad will be able to stay healthy and live past a hundred years, with your body functions remaining at their peak condition.”

Shen Lihuan placed the last pill into the jade bottle, sealed it, and then handed it to her mother with a smile.

“Take one pill every two days, and I guarantee you’ll feel like you’re twenty years old again.”

Gu Qinglan held the jade bottle in her hands, her heart brimming with warmth. If daughters were their mothers’ most precious gifts, then her daughter was undoubtedly the most thoughtful and caring one in the world.

“Oh, right, Lihuan—about your cosmetics company. I’ve already taken care of everything for you. The company is set up in Liuxin District, in a newly built office tower. I’ve purchased the 15th to 17th floors. As for the factory, it’s located in the outskirts, with all the equipment and facilities set up according to your specifications. We’ve also hired most of the necessary staff. When do you plan to start production on your skincare line?”

Shen Lihuan thought for a moment. “I’ll visit the company tomorrow to take a look, and then I’ll head to the factory to teach the employees how to produce our skincare products.”

“Alright, whatever you decide. Do you want me to go with you tomorrow?”

Gu Qinglan knew that a young company president might not be taken seriously by subordinates, and she worried that her daughter might face disrespect.

“Mom, you’re underestimating me. I’m not someone who just swallows grievances. If my employees don’t listen, I’ll just fire them. A president will always be a president, but employees aren’t necessarily permanent.”

A sharp glint flashed through Shen Lihuan’s eyes.