Chapter 95:

The five-day holiday passed in the blink of an eye. This time, the organizers didn’t let them leave on their own but arranged several buses to take them directly back to the hotel.

Along the way, the participants chatted and laughed, clearly having enjoyed their holiday immensely.

Upon returning to the hotel, the organizers immediately informed them to rest well, as the second exam would take place the next day.

Being top talents from various universities, their adaptability was strong. Hearing this, they quickly banished thoughts of the beautiful scenery of Lotus Town from their minds and focused on the organizers’ instructions with seriousness and discipline.

Early the next morning, the same bus took them to the resort villa where the first written exam had been held.

Unlike the first exam, which had been casual with no teachers or staff present, this one was highly formal.

The exam took place in the center of the villa’s garden, a spacious area with nothing but temporarily placed desks and chairs.

The same host, Zong Nanhan, announced energetically, “Most of you probably already know what this exam is about. That’s right—it’s diagnosing illnesses. As medical professionals, how can we not understand patients’ conditions? We’ve recruited volunteers from major hospitals, with cases ranging from simple to complex. The difficulty of the patients you encounter will depend on your luck, but to ensure fairness, everyone will face cases of comparable difficulty.”

After a brief introduction, Zong Nanhan outlined the rules: “There are 105 of you left, so you’ll be divided into groups of five, with five patients per group. See those desks and chairs ahead? That’s where you’ll write your answers. Each of you gets half an hour. The patients will be behind this partition, and you’ll diagnose them one group at a time. No talking, signaling, or any form of cheating is allowed during the exam. Also, don’t exceed the time limit—going over means immediate elimination!”

“Now, let’s distribute exam numbers!”

At Zong Nanhan’s command, staff members stepped forward. The numbers weren’t assigned in order; each person received one randomly.

Qin Chaoyu got 101, Kong Han 52, and Yin Ledan 23. The three of them ended up in different groups.

Once they had their numbers, everyone instinctively grouped up with their exam partners.

“What a coincidence—we’re in the same group.”

As soon as Qin Chaoyu took her place, a somewhat familiar male voice spoke up. She turned to see Xing Weiyue.

What a small world—they’d been grouped together.

Noticing Qin Chaoyu’s gaze, Xing Weiyue flashed a friendly smile. His already striking appearance became even more captivating with his charming grin. Every movement exuded gentlemanly grace, as if kindness radiated from his very bones. Such a non-threatening demeanor would naturally win anyone’s favor at first glance.

However, having already met Lu Yaoqing—a true gem—Xing Weiyue’s gentleness had no effect on Qin Chaoyu. Moreover, as a martial artist with sharp senses, her intuition told her that Xing Weiyue was no gentleman—his kindness was merely a facade.

Add to that their first encounter, where he’d deliberately tried to trap her with his words, and Qin Chaoyu couldn’t muster any goodwill toward him. She replied dismissively, “Oh, what a coincidence.”

Then she looked straight ahead, ignoring him.

Xing Weiyue rubbed his nose, surprised by how resentful this junior seemed. But since she wasn’t interested in engaging, he couldn’t force it. He shrugged helplessly, his smile full of indulgence, as if he were dealing with a petulant younger sister.

As the most well-known figure among the participants, Xing Weiyue naturally drew attention. Many observant onlookers witnessed the exchange.

To outsiders, Xing Weiyue had approached Qin Chaoyu with warmth and friendliness, yet she remained cold and indifferent throughout, coming off as rather rude.

Some frowned in disapproval, their impression of Qin Chaoyu dropping significantly.

Each group took half an hour, and with 21 groups in total, the exam stretched on for a long time. By lunchtime, it was clear the morning wouldn’t be enough. Zong Nanhan called for a break, resuming the exam after an hour and a half.

Lunch was boxed meals prepared by the Shengle Hotel, still warm from the kitchen. Worried about being accused of exchanging information during the meal, those who had already taken the exam kept to themselves.

This left Qin Chaoyu to eat alone.

The examinees, now relaxed, gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves. The staff turned a blind eye as long as they kept it discreet.

Yin Ledan and Kong Han had both taken the exam in the morning. They sat together, surrounded by fellow students from comprehensive universities.

Yin Ledan kept glancing at Qin Chaoyu, who was eating quietly by herself. Seeing her alone made Yin Ledan uneasy. She turned to Kong Han, who was stuffing his face, and irritation flared. She shoved him. “Could you be any more heartless? Chaoyu hasn’t taken the exam yet. Where’s your camaraderie?”

Kong Han, mid-bite, nearly choked. He swallowed hastily before gasping, “Miss, I woke up late and skipped breakfast. I’m starving! It’s mealtime—what do you want me to do? Besides, with Chaoyu’s skills, you should worry about yourself, not her.”

Yin Ledan hadn’t meant to nearly choke him. Sheepishly, she apologized, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” Then, curiosity got the better of her. “How much do you know about Chaoyu’s medical skills? Is she really that good? How good?”

“Fine, you win.” Kong Han sighed, realizing he wouldn’t get to eat in peace without answering. He set down his chopsticks. “Honestly, I don’t know much. But I do know she got here because all the TCM professors at our university approved her. Since she’s so young, they even held a special test for her. How skilled do you think someone must be to impress all those professors?”

Yin Ledan pondered this. “So, at the very least, her skills are on par with ours. But how do you know about the professors’ test?”

“Oh, because my grandfather was one of them. He didn’t give me details, so I don’t know exactly how good she is.”

“I see. Alright, go ahead and eat.” Satisfied, Yin Ledan let him return to his meal.

Finally free to eat, Kong Han happily picked up his chopsticks again.

Watching him wolf down his food, Yin Ledan couldn’t help but roll her eyes at his obliviousness.

But with her worries eased, she could finally focus on her own meal.

Since everyone was seated close by, Yin Ledan and Kong Han’s conversation didn’t go unheard.

Most knew Qin Chaoyu’s age. While they wouldn’t underestimate her outright, some couldn’t help but feel skeptical.

Unaware of Yin Ledan and Kong Han’s concerns, Qin Chaoyu had absolute confidence in her medical skills.

After lunch, the exam resumed.

Qin Chaoyu’s group was last. By the time it was their turn, dusk was falling—a less-than-ideal situation.

Dim lighting made it harder to observe patients’ complexions. Even with artificial light, the lack of proper illumination was a problem.

Two members of Qin Chaoyu’s group looked uneasy but remained composed.

It made sense—these were all skilled individuals. While observation (“inspection”) was important, the other three diagnostic methods—listening/smelling, inquiry, and palpation—could compensate.

As soon as the exam began, all five rushed behind the partition.

With Xing Weiyue’s star power and being the last group, they drew considerable attention.

Finished examinees huddled in small groups, chatting while stealing glances toward the exam area.

One poked his friend. “Hey, how long do you think Xing Weiyue will take?”

His friend pondered. “Hard to say. Even if he’s brilliant, it depends on his group. If they’re slow, he’ll waste time waiting.”

The first nodded. “True. See that youngest candidate in his group? I bet she’ll be the slowest.”

“Not necessarily. Her age speaks volumes. Think about it—she beat out older competitors to get here. That means her skills are nothing to scoff at.” His friend chided, “Yu Xie, you always judge by appearances. One day, it’ll bite you.”

Yu Xie shrugged. “Lu Zhou, you overthink things. I get your point, but mine isn’t wrong either.”

Seeing his stubbornness, Lu Zhou dropped the subject. Sometimes, people only learned through experience.

Not long after, someone emerged from behind the partition—walking leisurely, petite, with a youthful face. It was the youngest examinee?!

Half an hour might sound ample, but with five patients and potential delays from group members, time was tight. Add to that organizing thoughts and writing diagnoses, and it was a challenge for everyone. Most would be rushing.

Qin Chaoyu’s unhurried pace stood out starkly.

Yu Xie rubbed his eyes in disbelief. It was really her?!

That was way too fast—just a few minutes in. Had she even seen all the patients?

Whispers spread among the onlookers, debating whether she was genuinely confident or just putting on a show.

Yin Ledan clenched her fists anxiously. Seeing Qin Chaoyu finish so quickly, she wanted to drag her back in and make her re-examine the patients properly.

Qin Chaoyu ignored the stir she’d caused. She walked straight to a desk and began writing her diagnoses.

Minutes later, Xing Weiyue emerged. He cast a complicated glance at Qin Chaoyu, who was focused on her paper, then chose a seat to begin his own answers.

One by one, the others followed, each pausing to give Qin Chaoyu a similarly odd look before starting their work.

This peculiar behavior didn’t escape the crowd’s notice. What had Qin Chaoyu done to provoke such reactions?

Once time was up, staff collected the papers.

The five returned to their respective school groups, but before they could speak, Zong Nanhan called for silence.

“Today’s exam is over. Results will be sent to your phones—keep an eye out. If you have questions, don’t panic. We’ll gather the day after results are posted, and experts will address any concerns. For now, return to the hotel and rest.”