Volume One, Chapter Seven: You Took Me to the Hotel, and You Did This to Me?

"I've come in. What are you going to do about it?"

Paris Hotel, Sky Couple Suite. The spacious, open-plan living area was as well-equipped as a new home.

Gu Qinghan wore slim, light-blue jeans that perfectly accentuated her long, shapely legs and the youthful curves of her hips. Clad in a simple short-sleeved top with her long, dark hair draped over her shoulders, she sat on the sofa, feigning composure.

Yan Fengjia took the medicinal herbs collected by Yan Qiluo. "Wait outside. Do not enter without my command."

Yan Qiluo glanced at the trembling, nervous Gu Qinghan, curled her lips into a smile, and closed the door behind her.

"Would you like some water?" Yan Fengjia picked up a glass of water, placed it on the table, and sat down beside Gu Qinghan.

The composure Gu Qinghan had been feigning vanished instantly under his deep, penetrating gaze. She lowered her head, her cute little ears turning bright red.

"I know Su Chen was talking nonsense. What I'm angry about is that you left without a word and reappeared without a word. I... I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Gu Qinghan pressed her feet together, her slender, pale hands gripping her knees tightly. Her voice grew quieter as she spoke, for she could feel the heavy, heated sound of Yan Fengjia’s breathing.

Yan Fengjia smiled. "Is there a possibility that what he said is true?"

"Huh?" Gu Qinghan looked up in astonishment, her small mouth slightly agape. "You... you're a pervert."

Though she called him a pervert, the CEO of the Gu Group did not pull away. She stared fixedly at Yan Fengjia's lips, her throat bobbing.

"Why haven't you married in these past five years?" Yan Fengjia asked suddenly.

"None of your business," Gu Qinghan turned away.

Yan Fengjia grabbed her hand and said seriously, "Were you waiting for me?"

"In your dreams. I was waiting for you?" Gu Qinghan tried to pull away, only to find his strength was absurdly great. "You're hurting me. Let go."

Yan Fengjia released her and stood up to remove his jacket.

"What are you doing?" Gu Qinghan’s heart hammered against her ribs, and she covered her eyes in fright.

Yan Fengjia glanced back, smiling without explanation.

Gu Qinghan kept her head buried. "Don't bully me. We can't do this. My dad has a very bad impression of you. Even if we were to cross the line, you should at least take a shower and be hygienic..."

"Hmm?"

Gu Qinghan, lost in her own rambling, suddenly heard a clatter. She looked up and saw Yan Fengjia dumping the medicinal herbs he had brought into a pressure cooker.

"What are you muttering about?" Yan Fengjia asked with an amused chuckle.

Gu Qinghan’s face turned even redder. So, she had been overthinking it.

"What are you doing?" she asked, walking over.

"My father was poisoned by a Gu toxin. Although I've removed the source, the poison left him severely weakened. I'm refining some medicinal pills."

"Ah, pills?" Gu Qinghan had never heard of such things. Wasn't that just something from television dramas?

"So, why did you go to prison in the first place, and where did you learn this Traditional Chinese Medicine?" Gu Qinghan bit her lip, asking tentatively.

Yan Fengjia fell silent. The influence of the Jiang family in the Heavenly Palace was terrifying; he didn't want to drag Gu Qinghan into this.

After a long while, he looked up. "What happened to me isn't important. What matters is, do you trust me?"

Gu Qinghan didn't hesitate. "Of course I trust you. Otherwise... why would I have come with you?"

As she spoke, she grabbed his hand, leaning closer and closer.

Yan Fengjia froze, staring at her luscious, pink lips as they drew near. Instinctively, he wanted to lean in, but his reason suppressed the impulse.

He had just stepped out of prison, and the old matriarch of the Jiang family was still unaware of it. Beyond investigating the cause of his three brothers' deaths and who was trying to poison his father, he did not want to involve this innocent girl. Once he had acknowledged his ancestors and returned to his status as the young master of the Jiang family in the Heavenly Palace, he was destined to part ways with Gu Qinghan.

"What's wrong with you?" Seeing him staring blankly with no intention of kissing her, Gu Qinghan’s face burned with embarrassment. She had taken the initiative—what was he doing?

Just as Yan Fengjia was about to answer, the pressure cooker began to hiss, cutting off the awkwardness.

Soon, after it cooled, six pills were ready. Yan Fengjia handed two to Gu Qinghan.

"I noticed Uncle Gu's breathing was erratic and his face was sallow earlier; it must be because of too much yin energy trapped in his body recently. These pills will be effective for him. Take them."

"As for the remaining one, you can take it yourself. It will not only nourish your skin but also strengthen your foundation."

"Is this for real? It's all black and mushy. Can this even be eaten?" Gu Qinghan was skeptical of traditional medicine.

Yan Fengjia smiled. Since he had left prison, any single one of his pills could spark a bidding war. These Nourishing Essence Pills were worth at least eight million each, and he had heard that one had even sold at an international auction for over thirty million. This was the reputation of the "Master" of the Hundred Herb Hall.

"Alright, I'm done here. I need to get back quickly. Remember, that Su Chen is not a good person. Keep your eyes open."

"Ah, you brought me here just to leave like this?" Gu Qinghan hadn't even processed it yet.

"What else?" Yan Fengjia gave a bitter smile. "My home is in chaos right now. Do you really want to be dragged into this?"

Gu Qinghan bit her lip. "I know your family owes hundreds of millions. I've been working for my family all these years and have my own private stash." She took a bank card from her wallet. "You know the PIN; it's the same as before. There's over ten million in there. I'll find a way for the rest."

Yan Fengjia was stunned. "You're going to support me?"

"Your business is my business. Just... don't leave me behind again."

At that moment, the door to the room was suddenly pounded upon.

"Yan Fengjia, you animal! What have you done to my daughter? Open the door!" Gu Cangfeng's furious voice echoed through the room.

"Oh no, it's my dad," Gu Qinghan’s face changed, and she grabbed Yan Fengjia, wanting to hide him.

Yan Fengjia chuckled. "The place is only so big. Where could I possibly hide? Besides, I didn't lay a finger on you."

He opened the door, and Gu Cangfeng and Su Chen rushed in with a group of men.

"Girl, are you alright?" Gu Cangfeng pulled Gu Qinghan behind him.

"Yan Fengjia, you're bold! Qinghan is my fiancée. What have you done to her?" Su Chen charged forward, but upon seeing Yan Fengjia’s icy gaze, he shrank back in fear. "Uncle Gu, call the police and have this guy arrested. He's clearly a repeat offender!"

"Dad, it's not what you think. Yan Fengjia brought me here to refine medicine. Look," Gu Qinghan quickly produced the two pills. "Yan Fengjia said these will be good for you."

"Nonsense!" Gu Cangfeng slapped the pills away and pointed at Gu Qinghan, shouting, "I care about my reputation even if you don't! He’s an ex-convict—what kind of soul-stealing potion did he feed you? What does Su Chen lack that you would demean yourself like this?"

"Dad, I didn't!" Gu Qinghan’s eyes reddened with grievance. "I really didn't do anything with him. He was just refining medicine here."

"Refining medicine? You still believe in this stuff?" Gu Cangfeng rushed up to Yan Fengjia, his face pale with anger. "Yan Fengjia, I treated you like my own son. Why are you doing this to me?"

Suddenly, Gu Cangfeng swayed, clutched his forehead, and collapsed with a thud. Yan Fengjia was quick to catch him.

"Get away! Don't touch my father-in-law!" Su Chen saw his chance and shouted to his subordinates, "Call an ambulance! If anything happens to my father-in-law, none of you will survive!"

"Dad, Dad, what's wrong? Don't scare me!" Gu Qinghan burst into tears.

"Uncle Gu is suffering from overwork, and his emotional distress caused the yin energy in his body to flare up," Yan Fengjia said, taking one of the remaining four pills. "Give him this, and he will recover quickly."

"Is that even fit for human consumption? You're clearly trying to kill him so you can take advantage of Qinghan once he's out of the way!" Su Chen yelled.

"Get lost." Yan Fengjia flicked his hand, sending Su Chen flying.

"Qinghan, look! He isn't the Yan Fengjia you once knew. Are you really going to marry him?" Su Chen’s eyes were bloodshot.

Gu Qinghan looked at Yan Fengjia. If not for her stubbornness, her father wouldn't have collapsed.

"Yan Fengjia... just go," Gu Qinghan turned away, heartbroken.

"This pill really can save Uncle Gu, you..."

"I said, go! Maybe my dad is right. The past is the past. I’ve grown up, and I shouldn't be so willful anymore. Please, just leave."

Yan Fengjia sighed and walked out.

"What happened here? Does anyone need help?" An elderly man with a white beard, accompanied by a woman in high heels with wavy hair and an extraordinary temperament, walked out from the neighboring room after hearing the commotion.

"It's the Divine Doctor Li!" Su Chen recognized the master from the Huaxia Treasure Herb Hall and said excitedly, "Qinghan, our father is saved! We don't have to wait for the ambulance!"

"Divine Doctor Li, my father suddenly collapsed after getting agitated. Please, save him!" Gu Qinghan recognized the luminary, respected by all in high society, and clung to him like a lifeline.

"No matter, let me take a look," Dr. Li said. He checked the pulse, and his face changed drastically. "The accumulation of overwork has made the yin energy in his body extremely heavy. Girl, how could you let it get to this point?"

"Can he be saved?" the woman with the wavy hair asked with a smile.

"Miss Shen, forgive me for being blunt, but unless this yin energy can be drawn out, there is no hope. And frankly, aside from the new head of the Hundred Herb Hall, I fear no one in the entire organization can manage this—unless there is that legendary, ten-million-dollar Nourishing Essence Pill."

"I have money, Dr. Li! I'll buy it!" Gu Qinghan knelt on the ground, weeping.

"Child, that pill is a Grade 5 treasure; it's not something I could possess. There are fewer than six in all of Huaxia, and they are all in the hands of the most powerful people. I'm afraid you must prepare for the worst. There is nothing I can do."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qinghan nearly fainted, while Su Chen wore a cold sneer on the side. If Gu Cangfeng died and he took Gu Qinghan, wouldn't the entire Gu family be his? He prayed silently for Gu Cangfeng to die quickly.

Just as Dr. Li turned to leave, he caught a distinct, fragrant scent of medicine.

"Wait!" Dr. Li whirled around. "Child, why is there the scent of a Nourishing Essence Pill in this room?"

"What Nourishing Essence Pill?" Gu Qinghan wiped her tears, suddenly remembering. She quickly retrieved the two pills Yan Fengjia had given her. "Dr. Li, could it be this?"

"This..." Dr. Li’s eyes widened. He took one and sniffed it, his head spinning. "Child, where did you get such a rare Grade 5 Nourishing Essence Pill? And you have two? This is unheard of!"

Gu Qinghan was bewildered. "My ex-boyfriend just refined them. Can this really save my dad?"

"Refined here? Using what?"

"That pressure cooker," Gu Qinghan pointed toward the kitchen.

The experienced Dr. Li felt his worldview collapse. "Refining a Grade 5 pill in a pressure cooker? Are you joking with me?"