Old Mr. Lin’s shop was a narrow slice of space wedged between a bustling bakery and a quiet bookstore. It smelled of dried earth and ancient secrets. Behind the counter, hundreds of wooden drawers held the cures for modern life: sleeplessness, heavy hearts, and weary eyes.

That evening, Elias boiled water and dropped five blossoms into a clear glass mug. At first, they bobbed on the surface, lonely and grey. But as the heat took hold, the magic began. The water turned a soft, glowing amber. The tight buds unfurled, stretching their petals like tiny underwater stars returning to life.

Mr. Lin didn’t reach for medicine. Instead, he pulled out a glass jar filled with what looked like shriveled, golden buttons. "Chrysanthemum," the old man whispered. "The flower that remembers the sun."

As he took the first sip, the steam hit his face—a scent of honey and wild meadows. The bitterness was slight, followed by a cool, lingering sweetness that seemed to wash the static from the back of his eyes.