Chapter 12: 12. Chapter 12: What happens when fish soup is paired with red dates?

Chapter 12: What Happens When Fish Soup is Paired with Red Dates?

Meng Youyou’s little brain whirred incessantly, thinking of how to stop the characters' romantic development.

An abrupt "Ouch!" instantly drew the attention of Huo Qingshan and Chu Yao, both of whom looked toward the door simultaneously.

Meng Youyou let out another "Ouch!" She leaned one hand against the doorframe while resting the other lightly on her forehead, walking toward the two of them with unsteady steps.

Her face, slightly flushed from her recent rapid running, remained crimson. She wiped at non-existent cold sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand, her expression one of distress and pain, her eyes filled with a carefully feigned weakness and helplessness.

"I... my hypoglycemia is acting up. My head is so dizzy. I feel like I'm about to faint; I can't hold on much longer. Is there anything here I can use to replenish my energy?"

Her voice trembled slightly, as if she were struggling to maintain her balance.

As she spoke, Meng Youyou unabashedly scanned her surroundings.

When her gaze landed on the bucket of fish soup, an obvious flash of delight sparkled in her eyes. She asked with feigned surprise, "What is this? Is it fish soup? I love fish soup most of all."

Without waiting for a reaction from the two, she reached out as if she had found a lifesaver and began drinking the soup hungrily.

Seeing this, Dou Dou couldn't help but complain: [Host, don't you think... your performance is a bit too low-IQ? What normal person starts by snatching someone else's soup?]

Meng Youyou snapped back irritably, "Do you think I want to do this? This soup is about to be given away in a second. The situation is urgent; I can't worry about that much right now. Do you have a more brilliant method?"

[Uh...], Dou Dou wisely chose to shut up.

The other two watched Meng Youyou feasting from the thermal bucket: "..."

Chu Yao looked as if she wanted to say something, attempting several times to interrupt Meng Youyou, but she didn't know where to start. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she glanced at the man beside her.

Huo Qingshan maintained his usual composed and calm demeanor throughout, showing no significant reaction.

Meeting Chu Yao's pleading gaze, Huo Qingshan instantly understood her meaning. He spoke indifferently, "It's fine. A little stomach discomfort is lighter than fainting directly. In critical moments, one must make choices based on priority."

Having said that, he picked up the jacket from the back of his chair and bid Chu Yao farewell: "The medicine has been changed. Continue with your work; I'll be going."

Before leaving, he cast a meaningful glance at Meng Youyou, who was still vigorously drinking the soup, a hint of an amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Before she knew it, the fish soup was nearly gone. And honestly... this soup... was actually quite delicious.

Meng Youyou pulled the thermal bucket away from her mouth and, unable to help herself, let out a satisfied burp into the air~~~

Uh... wait, what?

In that moment, even the air seemed to fall silent.

Meng Youyou, who had been feigning calm and focus while drinking the soup, could no longer hold it together... What should she do?

This was incredibly awkward!

*

In the afternoon, inside the office, Meng Youyou sat at her desk and suddenly felt a faint discomfort in her abdomen.

*Could it be my period coming?*

*No, that's not how the pain felt the last time I had my period. Why does it feel different?*

*Could it be that this body's constitution differs from my future self's?*

After making several trips to the restroom to check, Meng Youyou returned empty-handed. It didn't seem like her period had arrived, but why did her stomach feel so uncomfortable?

With a bitter little frown, Meng Youyou flipped through the lesson plans in front of her listlessly, looking utterly despondent.

Huo Qingshan sat quietly at the desk opposite her, observing her every move from several meters away.

After a moment of thought, Huo Qingshan set down his unfinished "Border Patrol Route Adjustment Suggestion Report" and chose to ask, "What's wrong? Stomach discomfort?" However, his tone remained icy. Though the sentence was clearly one of concern, coming from his mouth, it lacked any warmth.

Being physically uncomfortable was frustrating enough, and Meng Youyou couldn't even be bothered to look up at him. She replied dismissively, "Commander Huo, don't bother asking. It's nothing more than those 'indecent' things in your eyes. I'm afraid if I talk to you about this any longer, you'll say I lack self-respect or self-love. If that happens, I really won't be able to clear my name even if I jump into the Yellow River."

As she spoke, she remained slumped lazily on the desk, motionless.

Half a minute later, Meng Youyou heard the man walk to the door, open it, close it, and finally leave the office.

*He was actually driven away by my words? Surely not?*

A few minutes later, a smooth white ceramic cup appeared on her desk, entering Meng Youyou's field of vision.

Following the man's firm, strong hand gripping the handle, Meng Youyou looked up bit by bit—to his broad, thick chest... his prominent Adam's apple... and finally settled on Huo Qingshan's well-defined face.

She met a pair of exceptionally dark and deep eyes.

Meng Youyou felt his eyes were incredibly deep, as if they hid endless secrets, instinctively drawing her in to explore.

But when she tried to take a step closer to peer further, she bumped into a massive, heavy iron door.

That door was seamless and airtight, forcefully keeping her at a distance, leaving her helpless.

Huo Qingshan spoke at the right moment, breaking the sudden, eerie eye contact: "The office doesn't provide hot water yet. I just went to the canteen to get a cup. It will make you feel better after drinking it."

Meng Youyou: *I am truly grateful! So "drink more hot water"... can be traced back this far?*

*However, it's rare for him to show such consideration. He finally did something human.*

After offering a polite thanks, Meng Youyou took the cup. Lifting the lid, she saw several reddish-brown hawthorn slices and yellowish-brown tangerine peel floating in the hot water.

Instantly, a timely wave of steam with a faint sweet and sour scent drifted into her nostrils, refreshing and pleasant.

Though she hadn't tasted it yet, Meng Youyou felt her mood brighten significantly.

She held the cup and took a small sip. Realizing the water was still a bit hot, she began to blow on it.

While blowing to cool it down, she couldn't help but dig up old grievances and asked, "Usually, isn't it brown sugar water for times like this? Why did you put hawthorn and tangerine peel in it? I heard your family runs a medical clinic; is there some specific reason for this?"

Meng Youyou deliberately emphasized the words "your family runs a medical clinic."

Hearing this, Huo Qingshan lowered his eyes toward the woman who was currently holding the cup and pretending to be nonchalant, instantly grasping the hidden meaning in her words.

*Oh?*

*So she knows?*

*That explains her behavior yesterday afternoon.*

But even if she knew, so what? Huo Qingshan didn't care. He showed no sign of embarrassment or awkwardness at having his lie exposed on the spot.

Pretending not to understand the implication, he replied formulaically, "The black fish soup you drank this morning contained red dates. When these two ingredients are stewed together, people with a cold spleen and stomach or heavy dampness may experience bloating and indigestion after consumption.

Hawthorn has the effect of aiding digestion and strengthening the stomach, and tangerine peel can regulate Qi and strengthen the spleen. Drinking a moderate amount of hawthorn and tangerine peel water can relieve the bloating discomfort you are feeling now."

*What???*

*What did he just say?*

*Did I hear that right? What did this jerk just say?*

Meng Youyou jumped up in indignation: "Since you knew there was a problem with the soup, why didn't you stop me then?" Her tone was quite agitated.

Huo Qingshan, however, remained calm, responding with a question: "Weren't you suffering from such severe hypoglycemia that you were about to faint the next second? Furthermore, this soup only causes minor adverse reactions in those with a cold and damp spleen. In a critical moment, after weighing the pros and cons, I believed I did not have sufficient reason to stop you from drinking it, did I not?"

Meng Youyou was speechless: "..."

What do they mean by "shooting oneself in the foot"?

This was it!

What do they mean by "a mute eating bitter herbs, unable to speak of the suffering"?

This was exactly it!!!

(End of Chapter)