Chapter 87:

Unbeknownst to them, Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing had already been in Yuzhou for a month.

Following the doctor’s orders, Wang Qijing had been actively recuperating during this time.

Today marked the first day of Qin Chaoyu’s acupuncture treatment for her.

Opening her medical kit and taking out the sterilized silver needles, Qin Chaoyu noticed the unease on Wang Qijing’s face and reassured her, “Don’t worry, acupuncture doesn’t hurt. You’ll just take a nap, and when you wake up, it’ll be over.”

“R-really?” Wang Qijing forced a smile, her hands trembling slightly. “Then… I’ll leave it to you.”

Qin Chaoyu smiled, swiftly inserting a needle into Wang Qijing’s sleep acupoint.

Before long, Wang Qijing felt her mind growing hazier, and soon she drifted into a deep slumber.

The acupuncture treatment itself wasn’t meant to induce sleep, but given Wang Qijing’s evident fear, Qin Chaoyu worried that complications might arise during the procedure, so she opted to let her sleep through it.

The session lasted about an hour. Once finished, Qin Chaoyu removed the needle from Wang Qijing’s sleep acupoint.

Wang Qijing’s infertility wasn’t particularly severe. As long as her body, weakened by improper medication, was properly regulated, recovery would be straightforward.

Since Professor Wei had shared that news with her, Qin Chaoyu had been exceptionally busy. With limited time to dedicate to Wang Qijing’s treatment, she decided to resolve it swiftly—within a week at most.

Speaking of that news, it wasn’t some closely guarded secret. Many well-connected individuals were already aware.

About a decade ago, the International Medical Organization had initiated a competition called the “Medical Exchange Tournament.” Open to participants under thirty, regardless of nationality or medical discipline, its stated purpose was “for the future of medicine and the progress of humanity.”

Though not a high-stakes event, national pride was still at play, ensuring no country took it lightly.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was a cornerstone of Chinese culture, and representatives had always included TCM practitioners. Renowned globally for its unique and seemingly miraculous methods, TCM had long fascinated foreigners before the tournament’s inception. However, that admiration faded after the competition began.

Whether in diagnosis or treatment, TCM failed to stand out. This gave critics of China ample ammunition for mockery, leaving TCM in an awkward position.

The issue wasn’t that TCM was ineffective—many techniques had been lost to history. Moreover, TCM’s emphasis on accumulated wisdom and heritage made it difficult to compete with Western medicine’s rapid advancements.

This year, the tournament was set to take place in Irisia. Professor Wei had invited Qin Chaoyu to participate, hoping to restore some dignity.

As soon as the needle was removed, Wang Qijing awoke, blinking groggily as she struggled to regain her bearings.

Qin Chaoyu put away the needle and said, “This session is done. I’ll perform another in two days, and within about a week, you should be fully treated. Oh, and if you notice traces of blood during excretion in the coming days, don’t be alarmed—it’s normal. Your body is expelling stagnant blood. Also, you might find yourself feeling unusually dirty when bathing. That’s also normal; the toxins in your body are being flushed out through the acupuncture.”

Wang Qijing silently noted Qin Chaoyu’s instructions, pushing herself up from the bed. Seeing Qin Chaoyu packing up to leave, she suddenly realized the doctor had likely come straight from the hospital without eating and hastily offered, “Dr. Qin, would you like to join us for a meal?”

Qin Chaoyu shook her head. “No need. I have a disciple waiting for me—we’ll eat together.”

Slinging her medical kit over her shoulder, she turned to Wang Qijing and finally voiced what had been on her mind: “I don’t know what’s troubling you, but emotional stagnation hinders recovery. If you want a full cure without complications, you must resolve it soon. Otherwise, even if we treat your infertility now, another ailment may arise later.”

Han Lanyi, guessing the session had ended, pushed open the door just in time to hear this. Pausing mid-step, she pretended not to notice her friend’s sudden change in expression and said to Qin Chaoyu, “Dr. Qin, are you leaving already? Won’t you stay for a meal with us?”

Qin Chaoyu replied, “I’ve already declined Ms. Wang’s offer. There’s no need for such formality. Since you’re Shuying’s relatives, you’re practically family. Just call me Chaoyu.”

Han Lanyi smiled. She hadn’t expected her niece’s highly praised friend to be the very Dr. Qin they’d sought—their first meeting had been quite a surprise.

Recognizing Qin Chaoyu’s sincerity, she didn’t press further. “Of course, no need for formalities. Take care, Chaoyu.”

Qin Chaoyu nodded and left.

With her departure, only Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing remained in the room.

Han Lanyi sighed, sitting beside Wang Qijing and taking her hand. “Qijing, given our twenty years of friendship, I’ll speak frankly today. If it helps, great. If not, just ignore me.”

Wang Qijing stayed silent, but Han Lanyi continued, undeterred. “Do you remember how we first met?”

Recalling the past brought a smile to Han Lanyi’s face. “You were such a naive little thing back then. I remember thinking, ‘Whose innocent girl is this? She’ll get swindled!’ So I decided to befriend and protect you. Time flies—now we’re both married women, and our bond has lasted over two decades.”

“Your marriage to Wu Zewei was born of mutual affection, but ask yourself: has it truly brought you happiness? Especially in recent years—you’ve become obsessed with having a child, even considering surrogacy. You’ve changed so much I barely recognize you. Where’s my bright, carefree sister?”

Frustration crept into Han Lanyi’s voice as she recalled Wang Qijing’s reckless behavior. Seeing Wang Qijing flinch, she took a deep breath and softened her tone. “Every time you proposed some outlandish idea, I wanted to crack your head open and see what was inside. Part of me wanted to wash my hands of you, but I couldn’t. I just don’t understand—is having a child really worth all this?”

“And your husband! He used to be decent, but lately, he’s spineless—all bark outside, yet cowers before his mother. If he can’t even protect his wife, what good is he?” Anger got the better of her, and she let slip a curse.

“Even if we cure your infertility now, unless you change your timid nature, that old hag from the Wu family will keep you under her thumb. Tell me—do you really want to live like that?”

Wang Qijing kept her head down, her hair obscuring her face. Han Lanyi couldn’t see her expression but knew she’d heard every word. She waited patiently for a response.

After a long silence, Wang Qijing slowly shook her head. “No… I don’t want that life anymore. I’ll change. Lanyi, please don’t abandon me…”

Tears welled in Han Lanyi’s eyes as she pulled Wang Qijing into a tight embrace. The iron lady of the business world wept like a child. “Silly, I’d never abandon you.”

After their emotional release, Wang Qijing seemed reborn the next day—her spirit revitalized, her eyes no longer lifeless but brimming with vitality.

When Han Shuying saw her, she was stunned. Knowing yesterday had been the first acupuncture session and wanting to check on her aunts, she’d dropped by—only to find Wang Qijing transformed. “Aunt Wang, you look like a new person! Did something good happen?”

Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing exchanged smiles. Smoothing her hair, Wang Qijing replied softly, her once-faded beauty now radiant, “I just realized how foolish I’ve been.”

Having guessed Wang Qijing’s infertility was the root of her troubles, Han Shuying was delighted by her epiphany. “That’s wonderful! Since you’re free, why not visit our shop? You’ve been in Yuzhou so long but haven’t seen it yet!”

Wang Qijing agreed eagerly. “Yes, I’ve heard your cosmetics are exceptional. Your aunt and I haven’t tried them—you’ll have to recommend some!”

“Absolutely!”

At 10 a.m., the shop was bustling. All five sales assistants were swamped when Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing arrived.

“Wow, Shuying, business is booming!” Han Lanyi had visited many high-end cosmetic stores, but few were as packed as Yu Meiren’s. Given cosmetics’ usage cycles, such crowds suggested a rapidly growing customer base.

Wang Qijing also admired the store’s lively atmosphere.

Han Shuying beamed with pride. “Of course! Who do you think runs this place?”

Han Lanyi chuckled, tapping her niece’s forehead. “No humility at all.”

Han Shuying grinned.

Recognizing their boss, one sales assistant quickly excused herself from a customer and hurried over.

With a polite bow and a professional smile, she greeted, “President Han, welcome! Is there anything you need?”

Han Shuying waved a hand. “No, just showing my aunts around. Could you introduce our products to them?”

The assistant’s eyes lit up at the opportunity. “Of course! Ladies, if you’d follow me, I’d be happy to recommend products based on your needs.”

Han Shuying nodded to her aunts before stepping outside.