บท 3: The umbrella lady(1)

"I hope sister will be happy where ever she is.."

Bai Youyou bowed and moved to the side, giving them way for them to pass.

"I wish you a happy married life with the one you love.."

Xu Chenyao wished sincerely knowing with Bai Youyou character any man would grow tired of her after a while.

Bai Chuanjie hissed and left the house, Xu Chenyao rolling her suitcase behind him.

"Why didn't she believe him.." Jiang Chenbai muttered to himself, he would have to wait until she had cooled down and talk to her again.

"Woo..well that was blood "boiling".."

Bai Chuanjie chuckled trying to lighten the mood as they drove off.

"So the apartment's up town, so it's pretty accessible so you can get a job whenever you like.."

Bai Chuanjie said after a while, he had chosen that place for various reasons, this was the third one.

Xu Chenyao smiled darkly, he gave Bai Youyou in the company while she had find a job where ever she liked.

"Understood.." Xu Chenyao muttered as she scrolled through her phone, checking her calendar, she remembered she had a patient to see tomorrow and wanted to know what time it was.

"Around 7am huh? That's pretty early.." she sighed inwardly as she pinched her brows, but he paid good money so she couldn't back down now.

Xu Chenyao lips raised up when she saw the apartment building, her father had definitely chosen well.

And it was just 5pm, she still had a lot of time to do what she wanted.

"Let's go in..."

"No..dropping me off is okay.."

Bai Chuanjie sighed and smiled, she was ten times better than Bai Youyou, he didn't want to admit it but it was the truth.

"Take care of yourself and if you need anything, remember to call me.."

Xu Chenyao nodded and walked into the building, speaking with the manager, she collected copy of her lease and uploaded her biometrics and passcode.

"Take the elevator, your apartment is on the 5th floor, room number 26.."

Xu Chenyao nodded and walked inside, she pressed the button for the 5th floor and drew out her phone to pass time.

She had learnt chinese medicine under her grandfather and learnt western medicine in the university. But she wasn't interested in working in the hospital and decided to open her own little clinic.

Though she had hadn't gotten a building yet, she was just going around treating her patients for now.

And she remembered she also had to see a patient this evening.

It was her last visit, so she had to prepare the medicine and herbal food.

"I'd have to get more seeds and move the rest of my plants to the apartment.."

Ding!

The elevator opened and she walked out, rolling the suitcase behind her.

Still focusing on her phone, she bumped into someone.

"Sorry..."

She quickly apologized, raising her head to see who she had bumped into.

A dark haired man with freckles splattered across his face, he wore a gol rimmed spectacle, with a checkered vest and pants.

She didn't need anyone to tell her that this man was a scholar.

"Sorry..." he muttered as he took in Xu Chenyao's appearance.

Her night black hair was placed into a bun, she still had her hairstyle from the wedding, but her eyes were cold and uninviting though he could not resist admiring her features after seeing her eyes.

"D-do you live here? I'm Du Beicheng, I live in room 25.."

Xu Chenyao stared at his outstretched hands, being a scholar was a + 1 but he was also handsome giving him a whooping 10 points in her list of handsome men.

"I'm Xu Chenyao and i guess we're neighbors..."

Du Beicheng raised a brow, Xu Chenyao? He had heard that name before.

Snapping his fingers, he stared at her again "Are you the Xu Chenyao, pardon my next words.." he paused "The one who got stood up at the altar?"

Xu Chenyao sighed she wasn't surprised that it was all over the news, the reporters there that day wound happily fan the flames.

"Yes, I'm the one who got stood up at the altar.."

Du Beicheng scratched his head, hearing her sarcastic reply.

"Don't take my words to heart, you look way too pretty to be an ordinary lady.."

Du Beicheng looked at his watch, he was already running late.

"I have to run, I hope we can catch up later sometime.."

With that he waved his hand and rushed into the elevator.

Xu Chenyao shrugged as she walked to the door, she tapped in the passcode, a 6 digit number.

After a low beep, the door opened. She rolled the suitcase inside and closed the door.

"Looks nice and very spacious, right need to get that medicine ready.."

She rolled her sleeves and walked to the kitchen.

"Yes, the ingredients still in my suitcase."

She measured out precise amounts of powdered Ganoderma mushroom, dried Angelica root, and fresh Ginger, blending together and setting it aside.

"Need to steam this, hopefully I'd be done before 6pm.."

As she worked, Xu Chenyao's knowledge of Chinese medicine guided her every move. She was making a congee, infused with the essence of Ginseng, Lotus seed, and Dates. This recipe was designed to harmonize the body's energies, calming the mind and soothing the digestive system.

"Done..."

She covered the congee with plastic wrap and set it aside.

Next she placed the steam broth over the counter to set for 10 minutes.

"Will drop by the herbal store and get more roots, almost ran out of powered ginseng, I'll also need more pots and pans, with a lot of jars.."

She made a little note, which had turn to a long list by the time she was done.

"Ai yah gonna lose a lot of money once I'm done buying all these things .."