"We'll wait until you've finished your medicine before we leave."
Honestly, the real reason is—they just want to watch the show.
Serena Feng always acts unyielding, fearless of heaven or earth, yet she’s terrified of drinking medicine. Every time a maid tries to feed her, it’s like a life-and-death battle.
"No need, I can drink it myself." Serena felt a faint warmth in her heart.
She knew very well that Vincent Su and Caleb Wang only cared because they still needed her, but for them to go this far was already more than most would do.
"We're just worried about you drinking it yourself. After waiting all these days, what's one more moment?" Vincent Su smiled gently, but his tone was firm and domineering, making it clear to Serena that he wasn’t leaving—so she shouldn’t waste her energy.
Not only that, he even casually picked up the teacup and pot on the table and poured himself a drink, acting as if he were completely at home.
"Pfft..."
As soon as he took a sip, Vincent Su nearly spat it out. "Why is this just plain water, not tea?"
People in Eastlyn love tea. Even in ordinary households, there’s always tea on the table. For the Su clan, it is an absolute necessity.
Plain water is something only the lowest commoners or those who truly can’t afford tea would ever drink. (In Eastlyn, drinking plain water is a clear marker of poverty and low social status.)
Of course, among the wealthy, tea artistry is especially popular. Every noblewoman in Eastlyn is skilled at brewing tea, and the elite art of 'dividing tea' (creating intricate foam designs in tea, a traditional noblewoman's skill) is a must-learn for girls.
As a noblewoman, if you can't do 'dividing tea,' you're not worthy of the title. (In high society, 'dividing tea' is a status marker among noblewomen.) Tea artistry is just as important as embroidery.
Serena Feng knew this well. Not only did she not know tea artistry, even if she did, she had no time or interest to play with it.
Tea artistry is only for women with family and husbands to support them—women who don’t have to earn a living. Besides, what’s wrong with plain water?
Serena Feng moved her lips but said nothing. She wasn’t about to change Eastlyn’s customs.
"Serena, you can't do 'dividing tea'?" Caleb Wang suddenly realized the real issue.
"No, I can't." She could only soak tea leaves in water. 'Dividing tea' was way too technical—she couldn’t learn it.
So-called 'dividing tea' is the art of using different techniques while whisking tea to create patterns of birds, flowers, fish, or calligraphy on the surface. It’s even called 'painting in water' (referring to the artistic foam patterns made during tea preparation). Something so elegant—how could she possibly master it?
To her, tea leaves were just for staying awake—a substitute for coffee.
"What are you going to do at the Peach Blossom Festival?" Caleb Wang looked at Serena Feng with obvious concern.
It looked like Serena Feng would be in the spotlight again at the Peach Blossom Festival, but this kind of attention was anything but good.
"They have tea artistry competitions at the Peach Blossom Festival?" Serena Feng looked at Caleb Wang, confused.
Caleb Wang and Vincent Su nodded at the same time. "You didn't know?"
"No..." She had assumed the Peach Blossom Festival was just like a modern banquet—food, drinks, and casual chatting.
She thought the worst those women could do was form cliques to isolate her or throw a few sharp words her way, just for the thrill. She hadn’t expected there’d be actual talent performances.
"You didn’t know, and you still dared to accept Princess Serenity’s invitation?" Vincent Su and Caleb Wang both stood up, staring at Serena Feng in disbelief.
"Serena, you’re way too bold. Do you realize the Peach Blossom Festival can be deadly?"
Every few years, at least one or two noble girls die at the Peach Blossom Festival.
"People die? What’s the real purpose of the Peach Blossom Festival?" Serena Feng grew serious at last.
Anything that threatened her life, she took seriously.
Vincent Su and Caleb Wang shook their heads repeatedly. Just as they were about to explain the festival, Dr. Sun arrived carrying a tray of medicine.
"Miss Feng, your medicine is ready. Please drink it while it’s hot."
"Drink the medicine first—everything else can wait. The Peach Blossom Festival is still far off, there’s no need to worry right now." Vincent Su gestured to the steaming bowl, signaling Serena to focus on her health first.
They’d discuss the festival once Serena was well again; overthinking while sick would only slow her recovery.
Serena saw that Vincent and Caleb’s expressions had softened. Given her current state, it wasn’t the time to push, so she stopped asking, reaching for the bowl on the tray—only to discover...
Her hand was so weak she couldn’t even lift a bowl of medicine. Pain flickered across Serena’s face. The maid waiting nearby was quick to react, stepping forward to support her hand. "Miss, let me help you take your medicine."
"Thank you." Serena nodded softly, finally able to pick up the bowl with the maid’s help.
The thick scent of Chinese herbs hit her nose; just smelling it, she knew this bowl would taste awful. Serena’s whole face scrunched up.
Chinese medicine...
So bitter!
Hahaha...
Serena’s tightly scrunched features delighted Vincent, Caleb, and Evan Zhou. The three burst out laughing, sweeping away the earlier gloom.
"You’re all so shameless." Only now did Serena realize they hadn’t stayed out of concern—they were here to watch her suffer through drinking medicine.
Apparently, while she’d been unconscious, she’d fought these bitter decoctions so often that everyone now knew she dreaded them.
She’d been happy for nothing, thinking they cared. Turns out, they were just here for the show.
Serena shot the three men an annoyed glare, shut her eyes, and brought the bowl to her lips.
When she was unconscious, her instincts would refuse the medicine, but awake, she’d never back down. No matter how bitter, she could force it down with sheer willpower.
Seeing Serena look like she was marching to her doom, Vincent Su couldn’t help but tease, "Serena, is this really necessary? It’s just a bowl of medicine, not your death sentence."
He knew many women dreaded medicine, but Serena’s reaction was truly rare.
Serena had finally steeled herself to gulp it down in one go, only to be interrupted by Vincent’s words.
She opened her eyes and shot Vincent a dirty look.
Easy for you to say when you’re not the one drinking it. If you think it’s so simple, why don’t you try it yourself?
Serena took a deep breath, pushing down her fear of the medicine. She said coolly, "You’re overthinking it. It’s just a bowl of medicine. I could drink it with my eyes closed."
Never lose face, even if you lose the fight.
Under Vincent and Caleb’s teasing gazes, Serena resolutely shut her eyes and tipped the bowl back.
Gulp, gulp...
Bitter!
So bitter!
It’s unbearably bitter!
Serena’s eyebrows twisted into caterpillars; she looked as if she were being forced to drink poison.
But this time, Vincent and Caleb didn’t dare laugh—they were afraid she’d spit the medicine out if they did.
Gulp, gulp.
No matter how bitter, she had to endure. She couldn’t let anyone look down on her.
Serena kept giving herself mental pep talks until finally, the bowl was empty.
"Water, water—give me water, quick!"
Serena reached out desperately.
Her heart and lungs felt bitter; her mouth was filled with the taste of medicine. If she didn’t drink water to wash it down, she’d definitely throw up.
Her stomach churned. The medicine she’d just drunk was still lingering in her throat—one open mouth and it would come right back up.
This medicine was just too awful!
"Miss, hang in there—the water’s coming." The maid was clearly experienced, supporting Serena while signaling another maid to pour water.
There was no helping it—Serena had vomited so much medicine these past few days that the maids were thrilled she’d finally kept it down. At last, they wouldn’t have to be tormented by Miss Feng’s medicine battles.
"Wait, let me have someone bring you tea," Vincent Su offered quickly.
Tea tasted better than plain water and could mask the bitterness of the medicine.
"No, tea will weaken the medicine’s effects. Just give me water—hurry!" Serena was nearly frantic, craning her neck to stare at the ceiling.
She figured if she so much as looked down, she’d throw up everything she’d just drunk.
She’d bet anything Vincent and Caleb were only here to watch her throw up, so...
Over her dead body would she let that happen.
She held it in—no matter what, she wouldn’t let these three see her as a joke.
Serena pressed her lips tightly together, face serious, refusing to speak another word.
Vincent and Caleb didn’t dare laugh, either, worried she’d get angry if they did...