Chapter 157

Chapter 157

The next morning, after a good night’s sleep, Yu He was revitalized.

He yawned as he opened the door, only to find Shen Ming Le standing at the doorstep.

Yu He: “???”

Shen Ming Le, without saying a word, took a half step back, knelt before Yu He.

Yu He: “!!!!”

He hurriedly crouched down to help Shen Ming Le up, “What are you doing?”

Shen Ming Le pursed his lips, leaving a white mark when he finally let go, “I was rude and disrespectful to Master yesterday. I’m here to apologize.”

Before the words were fully out of his mouth, Shen Ming Le bowed his head in a kowtow.

What's he trying to do? Kowtow to me?

Yu He reflexively stretched out his arm, stopping it on Shen Ming Le's forehead, utterly shocked: “Wait... Does our Shen lineage really have such strict protocols?”

Shen Ming Le lowered his head, avoiding Yu He’s hand, displaying an extreme determination that seemed almost spiritual, insisting on completing this act of apology: "Honoring one’s teacher and valuing the Tao is the foundation of being human; it has nothing to do with rules."

Yu He thought to himself that he and Shen Ming Le were only a few years apart in age. If he let Shen Ming Le go through with this kowtow, he would definitely be so embarrassed he’d lose sleep over it in the middle of the night!

“Who told you off?” Yu He half-knelt on the ground, turning his head to shout inside the house: “Fu Yun Zheng! Did you scold Shen Ming Le?”

Shen Ming Le’s face tightened, and his expression grew solemn: “Master, no one scolded me. If I did something wrong, it’s wrong. It doesn’t become right just because no one else says anything.”

Yu He: “......”

Damn, Shen Ming Le actually made a lot of sense.

Yu He didn’t even know how to respond.

The two of them, one kneeling and one squatting, were at a standoff.

Fu Yun Zheng came over, saw this scene, and couldn’t help but feel both a headache and amusement: “Both of you, get up.”

Shen Ming Le didn’t move, and neither did Yu He.

Fu Yun Zheng’s face remained expressionless, but his tone was slightly stern: “Get up.”

Ultimately, Shen Ming Le didn’t dare to defy Fu Yun Zheng. He kept his head low and remained silent. Yu He helped him up from the ground.

With his left hand behind his back, Yu He made a “6” gesture to Fu Yun Zheng.

Fu Yun Zheng almost couldn’t keep a straight face.

In front of Yu He, it was hard for Fu Yun Zheng to maintain his usual imposing demeanor.

Just seeing Yu He’s face made Fu Yun Zheng unconsciously smile, even if he tried to keep a serious expression, Yu He could easily make him laugh.

It was strange; he definitely wasn’t someone who easily burst into laughter.

It was all Yu He’s fault for being so amusing.

At this moment, with Fu Yun Zheng playing the bad cop, Shen Ming Le naturally allied himself with Yu He, instantly bringing the master and disciple closer together.

Yu He nudged Shen Ming Le down the stairs, talking as they went: "Come on, come on, let's go eat first."

Shen Ming Le, walking ahead, didn't see Fu Yun Zheng right behind him and asked Yu He, “Why is President Fu angry?”

Yu He casually made up an excuse: “It’s nothing; he just tends to get angry easily.”

Fu Yun Zheng: “......”

Yu He continued to spout nonsense to Shen Ming Le, shifting the blame onto Fu Yun Zheng: “In the future, don’t just go around kowtowing and apologizing. Boss Fu studied abroad; he might not really appreciate these feudal superstitions.”

Shen Ming Le: “......”

Grandfather, your disciple just called our Shen family’s traditions feudal superstitions.

Fu Yun Zheng didn't know what to say, and eventually decided to remain silent, letting Yu He spin his tales.

After all, this wasn’t the first time Yu He had made up stories about him.

He couldn’t be bothered to explain anymore.

After eating, Yu He took out his acupuncture needles to let some of his blood, and after he had inserted the needles, Shen Ming Le used the tiger’s mouth grip to squeeze out the congested blood from his fingertips.

This time, Shen Ming Le faintly recognized the brilliance in Yu He’s acupuncture technique.

Four words: Exceedingly precise.

It was as if in Yu He’s eyes, the flesh and skin of a human were transparent, allowing him to instantly see the depth of each acupoint. His hands were incredibly steady, resembling a programmed machine, hitting exactly where he aimed without a single mistake.

This method of acupuncture was unique and formed a style of its own.

Shen Ming Le finally understood that the ‘feeling’ Yu He talked about was the talent that everyone sought but could hardly ever attain.

Is this what Grandfather meant by ‘genius’?

It wasn’t just unattainable; it was downright terrifying.

Shen Ming Le felt utterly discouraged, looking at the needles Yu He casually inserted into his hand: “Master, I really can’t learn this technique of yours.”

Where on earth would one even go to learn this kind of thing?

Where should one seek their innate talent?

Yu He noticed Shen Ming Le's disappointment and adopted an encouraging teaching method, "You are really impressive; it’s no wonder you were able to publish a paper in a professional journal while still in university."

Children are quite easy to console. A single compliment from Yu He, and Shen Ming Le instantly became as docile as a cat that’s been stroked, visibly brightening up.

Though Shen Ming Le was clearly delighted inside, he humbly replied, “My dad says that in medicine, it's not about how many years you’ve studied; it’s about having a natural talent. And everyone says you are very gifted.”

Yu He responded, “What talent do I have? I am just lucky.”

Shen Ming Le, changing the finger he was using to squeeze out blood, remarked, “Having a keen sense of smell is a talent, something others might not acquire even if they wish for it.”

Yu He, unconcerned, casually retorted, “A dog’s nose is also very sensitive.”

Shen Ming Le: "......"

Shen Ming Le thought that his master was really easy to get along with, not at all like his father, who was always so stern, as if being serious and meticulous was the only way to be a good doctor.

Shen Ming Le didn't like this approach.

Home is home, and the master’s school is the master’s school. Shen Ming Le really hated it when his father would test him with medical cases at the drop of a hat, turning any conversation eventually towards the patients.

Yu He was the complete opposite; even if Shen Ming Le talked about professional matters, Yu He could easily steer the conversation elsewhere.

This was a kind of easygoing nature that Shen Ming Le had never encountered before.

As Yu He stared at the black blood on his fingertip, he thought to himself that he indeed needed to be more careful with his diet and decided to take some herbal medicine to clear the heat and detoxify.

Shen Ming Le’s technique of drawing blood was very professional. Yu He didn’t feel any pain, but a substantial amount of blood was drawn. It was only when no more blood could be squeezed out that Shen Ming Le withdrew his hand and used alcohol-soaked sterile cotton to disinfect the area for Yu He.

After letting blood from all ten fingertips, Shen Ming Le personally went to the kitchen to bring Yu He the prepared herbal medicine.

Yu He sniffed the dark, thick medicinal broth without asking any questions, furrowed his brows, tilted his head back, and drank all the medicine from the bowl.

This kind of carefree attitude and trust easily won people’s favor.

Especially for someone like Shen Ming Le, who appeared to be proud but actually had a rebellious nature and deeply craved recognition.

Actions always speak louder than words.

Shen Ming Le was overjoyed inside and cheerfully asked, “Master, aren’t you going to ask what it is before drinking it directly?”

Yu He put down the bowl, savored the bitter taste on the tip of his tongue, and identified the ingredients of the herbal medicine: “Dan Pi, Sheng Di, Bai Shao, Fu Ling, Huang Bai, and Di Gu Pi; this is a Qing Jing San, used to clear heat and cool the blood. You've also added an extra dose of Shui Niu Jiao (water buffalo horn).”

Shen Ming Le presented a well-reasoned explanation as he discussed the prescription with Yu He: “You have excessive internal heat and yin deficiency, leading to a burning sensation in the five palms. Shui Niu Jiao can clear the heart, detoxify, and effectively reduce blood heat. I added half a tael; this is common for those who enjoy spicy food.”

Upon hearing the words 'enjoys spicy food', Fu Yun Zheng's typically unflappable eyebrows seemed to lift slightly. However, upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a mere illusion.

Yu He: “......”

This is bad.

In any situation, if one can discern Fu Yun Zheng's emotions, it means the matter is not serious and there's no need for him to conceal his feelings. However, when Fu Yun Zheng adopts this calm and unruffled demeanor, it signifies real trouble.

At this moment, Fu Yun Zheng's thoughts were inscrutable; his emotions of happiness or anger were well-hidden, all buried in his heart, most certainly pondering over Yu He's diet.

It seemed that Yu He's favorite spicy food would likely have to be temporarily crossed off the menu, with no set date for its return.

Shen Ming Le could not be allowed to stay here any longer. This young man was like a sieve, unintentionally spilling all of Yu He's not-so-healthy but joyful lifestyle habits.

Could this be tolerated? Just yesterday, beef, lamb, and seafood were all crossed off Yu He’s menu. Now, without spicy food, wouldn't the joys in Yu He’s life decrease even more?

With a twinkle in his eye, Yu He found a reason to send Shen Ming Le away.

Unfortunately, it was too late. As soon as Shen Ming Le left, Fu Yun Zheng coldly announced, “You should avoid spicy food for now, including fried foods and pies cooked in lard.”

Yu He, feeling guilty but unwilling to accept his fate, pretended not to hear and nestled back into bed, “Boss Fu, I’m really hurting all over.”

Fu Yun Zheng, back from his morning run and opening the small window for ventilation, said, “Wait for me to take a shower, and I’ll come back to give you a massage.”

Hearing that Fu Yun Zheng was going to take a shower, Yu He wanted one too.

Fu Yun Zheng responded, “Sure, I’ll run a hot bath for you. Soak in it and sweat it out.”

The bathroom was filled with steam, and the double bathtub was full of hot water. Yu He tested the water temperature with his foot.

“It’s so hot.” Yu He sat on the edge of the tub, adding cold water, “Boss Fu, aren’t you going to join me?”

Fu Yun Zheng, showering in the adjacent stall, replied, “You go ahead. I’m not sure if you’ll have a fever again this afternoon. I’ll go get some work done and make time to keep an eye on you.”

Yu He secretly took his own pulse and realized that his blood heat wouldn’t subside in a day or two. Illness fades away slowly. He once ignored his health due to his youth, creating hidden problems that were likely to surface all at once now.

So it's not just about today; fever relapses might become the norm within the next seven days. Yesterday was his first day with a fever, and he still had the energy to take a bath. In a couple of days, he might not have the strength to do even that.

By the time Yu He finished his bath, the bed sheets and duvet cover had already been replaced with clean ones.

Fu Yunzhang was making a call in the living room, seemingly arranging work matters.

The feeling of direct skin contact with the satin was exquisite. Yu He curled up under the blanket, hugging Fu Yunzhang’s pillow in his arms.

He didn’t feel cold; on the contrary, a symptom of his blood heat was a burning sensation in the palms of his hands and soles of his feet. The heat from Yu He’s hands and feet made the cool touch of the satin exceptionally comfortable.

Now that he thought about it, his eczema outbreaks during the rainy season might also be related to his blood heat. However, he definitely couldn’t let Fu Yunzhang know about this; otherwise, the list of forbidden foods for Yu He might become even longer and more restrictive.

Not long after, Fu Yunzhang returned to the room. He was dressed in a cotton pajama set with long sleeves and pants, the top button of his shirt neatly fastened, creating a stark contrast to Yu He, who had only put on underwear before diving under the covers.

Fu Yunzhang had been on the phone for a long time before returning to the bedroom, indicating that there was some tricky business matter to handle.

Yu He said, "Mr. Fu, if there’s something urgent at the company, go ahead and deal with it. I'll be fine on my own. Besides, we still have Shen Mingyue."

Fu Yunzhang was organizing project documents, "It's nothing major. There's a piece of land in the eastern part of the city that's about to be launched, and I need to go inspect the site. It'll be the same if I go after you’ve fully recovered."

Yu He, while playing with a cat, said, “That piece of land is quite important, right? I’ve heard my brother mention it. If you need to go inspect it, just go. Don’t delay the big picture because of me.”

Fu Yunzhang looked somewhat surprised, “Since when did you start caring about business matters? I thought you didn’t like these things.”

Yu He, playing with the kitten’s ears casually, said, “Oh, it’s not like I’m in a rush to spend the money. Just casually investing in a few projects to make some money.”

Fu Yunzhang sat down beside Yu He's bed, his sword-like eyebrows slightly furrowed as if he was worried, “What? Are you short on money?”

Yu He, scrolling through short videos on his tablet, replied, “Not at all.”

However, Fu Yunzhang still felt something was off. He took the tablet from Yu He’s hand and asked seriously, “Xiao He, did someone scam you out of your money?”

Yu He exclaimed, lying back down and covering his head with the blanket, “No! Just stop asking, can’t you see I don’t want to talk about it?”

Fu Yunzhang persisted, “How much did you get scammed? Are you in debt to loan sharks?”

Yu He: "......"

“Really, I didn’t! I’ll get angry if you keep asking!” Yu He stuck his head out from under the blanket, threatening angrily, “Can’t a person have some privacy? Are you trying to annoy me?”

Upon hearing this, Fu Yunzhang's hand, which was about to lift the blanket, paused slightly. He indeed stopped asking and went back to organizing files at the desk.

Yu He snapped at Fu Yunzhang, immediately regretting his harsh words.

After lying in bed for a while, he found that short videos were no longer funny, and games were no longer enjoyable. Sneaking a glance at Fu Yunzhang, he saw that Fu Yunzhang wasn't looking at him, but was diligently copying something onto a notebook, completely engrossed in his work.

Yu He got out of bed and picked up a medical book from the shelf, casually asking Fu Yunzhang, “What are you doing?”

Fu Yunzhang, without stopping his writing, responded while continuing his work, “Calculating some data.”

Fu Yunzhang’s tone was no different than usual, and Yu He couldn’t tell if he was angry or not.

After wandering around the desk for a bit, Yu He grabbed a bottle of chilled cola from the liquor cabinet, opening it with a 'click' of the metal tab. Fu Yunzhang glanced over, but said nothing.

This is bad.

Fu Yunzhang didn't even react to him drinking iced cola while having a fever. Was he angry?

He won’t ignore me from now on, will he?

But I’m earning money from investments to save up for our marriage, how could I say that!

Although Yu He doesn't like doing business at all, he really likes Fu Yunzhang.

Love me, love my dog; doing business didn’t seem so bad anymore.