Mother Lian burst into tears immediately. After being sentenced to death so many times, they had finally found hope.
Father Lian was also deeply moved, his hands trembling slightly, but he knew he had to stay calm. As the pillar of the family, it was crucial to remain composed during such critical moments. He patted his wife’s shoulder, understanding her emotions—after enduring such a long time in darkness, the arrival of light naturally brought overwhelming joy and sorrow. “Dr. Qin, how… how should we proceed with the treatment?” he asked.
Upon hearing there was hope for a cure, a faint glimmer of life finally appeared in Lian Huijie’s eyes. Yet, a trace of doubt lingered in his heart—not because he distrusted Qin Chaoyu, but because so many doctors had already pronounced his condition incurable. He couldn’t bring himself to easily believe such words now. To glimpse hope only to have it snatched away would drive him mad. As his father spoke, he fixed his gaze intently on Qin Chaoyu, eagerly awaiting her response.
It wasn’t that the Lian family was overly trusting or prone to believing everything they heard. Rather, Qin Chaoyu had been brought here by Bai Jixi. While they didn’t know Bai Jixi intimately, they trusted his character implicitly. Anyone he vouched for was worthy of their confidence.
Based on her examination results, Qin Chaoyu quickly formulated several suitable treatment plans in her mind. She spoke carefully, “I have a few treatment options suitable for your son, but without exception, they will all require a long time. His leg condition is extremely severe, and the treatment process will be lengthy and arduous—not just for the patient, but also for your family, who will need to invest significant time and effort to support his recovery.”
“That’s not a problem!” Father Lian replied firmly and swiftly. As long as his son could be cured, no amount of hardship mattered. “My wife and I will fully support your treatment.”
“Absolutely,” Mother Lian added, having gradually calmed down. No matter how difficult the process, it would be worth it if their son could recover.
Parents like the Lians—cooperative and understanding—were every doctor’s dream. Their support would make the treatment process far more effective. Qin Chaoyu felt a weight lift from her shoulders as she explained her approach in detail. “The treatment will take time—an initial estimate suggests at least six months before we see preliminary results, such as restored sensation in his legs. The plan consists of four main methods. First, traditional Chinese medicine: I’ll provide a prescription to be brewed and taken three times daily, half an hour after meals. Its purpose is to strengthen the spleen, replenish qi, nourish blood, soothe the liver, and unblock meridians. This will be paired with acupuncture targeting both yin and yang meridians to restore balance. Initially, I’ll administer acupuncture daily, adjusting the frequency based on his progress. Second, daily leg massages will help stimulate nerve function, prevent further muscle atrophy, and reduce treatment difficulty. The massage technique isn’t overly complicated—what matters is effectiveness. If you’re unsure, hiring a professional masseuse is an option; they’re easy to find. Massages should be done at least once daily, ideally before sleep. Third, herbal fumigation and washing—an external TCM therapy—will help unblock meridians, promote blood circulation, and relieve spasms to aid recovery. I’ll provide the prescription and instructions for this as well; it’s straightforward. However, this is only the first phase. The later recovery stage will depend largely on the patient’s efforts. Your family’s encouragement and supervision will be crucial to ensure he follows the rehabilitation regimen strictly, avoiding overexertion that could cause further harm. A professional rehabilitation therapist may also be helpful.”
After a moment of thought, Qin Chaoyu concluded, “That’s all for now.”
Throughout her explanation, the Lian parents listened with solemn attention, as if committing every word to memory.
Watching Qin Chaoyu speak with such confidence and detail, Lian Huijie gradually found himself inclined to trust her. The thoroughness of her plan suggested she had a real chance of success.
The thought that his legs might actually recover nearly brought the grown man to tears. But his pride and upbringing forbade such displays of vulnerability. He closed his eyes, allowing the welling tears to silently trace his cheeks and vanish into his pillow. Since childhood, he had held himself to the highest standards, never permitting weakness in the face of adversity. Only his paralysis—a blow that severed his future—had ever shaken his resolve. Yet he dared not show it, knowing his parents had already endured enough sorrow and pressure on his behalf. He couldn’t bear to add to their burden. But the weight of it all had exhausted him, leaving him unable to even force a smile. So he had hidden away, avoiding them as much as possible. Now, just this once, he allowed himself this moment of release—a long-overdue outpouring of emotion.
Qin Chaoyu and the Lian parents were deeply engrossed in discussing treatment specifics: the exact timing of acupuncture sessions, the ideal harvest years for certain herbs, and other details.
This treatment wasn’t just significant for the Lian family—it held immense importance for Qin Chaoyu as well. This was her first major medical challenge since stepping into the world beyond her studies. No matter how many difficult cases she might encounter in the future, none would carry the same weight as this one. She was determined to give it her all, leaving no room for regret.
As a result, none of them noticed Lian Huijie’s silent tears—except Bai Jixi, who had no interest in their medical discussion. He glimpsed the scene but quickly averted his gaze. Proud men like them would never wish to be seen in moments of vulnerability. He respected Lian Huijie’s dignity.
Since nothing was prepared for immediate treatment, Qin Chaoyu arranged to begin formally the next day, with acupuncture sessions scheduled for 7 PM to avoid conflicting with her classes.
By the time they returned to Yuzhou University, it was already 8 PM. The campus at night was even more festive than during the day, with couples strolling everywhere. Qin Chaoyu no longer found this noteworthy. On the drive back, Bai Jixi’s car had passed through the city center, where the celebrations were even livelier—Christmas hats, trees, and carols filled the streets. It had dawned on her then that this holiday wasn’t just a campus trend but a widespread custom in China, even embraced by businesses as a marketing opportunity.
Parking the car, Bai Jixi hesitated. The scenes downtown had reminded him that today was Christmas Eve. Though he didn’t celebrate the holiday himself or see any particular significance in it, he assumed young people generally enjoyed it. Had he not called Qin Chaoyu out today, she might have made plans with friends. His interruption might have ruined her evening. Uncertain whether he should acknowledge this, he finally spoke just as she was about to exit the car: “It’s still early. You could still go out if you want.”
Qin Chaoyu blinked, unsure what he meant, but nodded blankly before stepping out.
Seeing her nod, Bai Jixi exhaled lightly, satisfied that he’d made some gesture of consideration, and drove off.
Standing on the roadside, Qin Chaoyu watched the car disappear, still puzzled by his words. He’d never said anything like that before—what did it mean? After a long moment of fruitless pondering, she shrugged it off. Maybe it was just a casual remark, nothing more.
Little did she know, it had been Bai Jixi’s awkward attempt at an apology. For someone who had always lived entirely on his own terms—accustomed to others deferring to him, never the one to apologize even when he upset people—the mere realization that he might have disrupted her Christmas Eve plans was an uncharacteristic display of consideration.
Back in the dormitory, Qin Chaoyu was surprised to find all three roommates present—even Qian Fangyuan, who had been spending most of her time out with friends lately.
The moment the door opened, Qian Fangyuan rushed over, enveloping Qin Chaoyu in a tight hug and nuzzling her cheek. “Oh, Chaoyu, I’ve missed you so much!”
The force of the embrace nearly knocked Qin Chaoyu off balance. Steadying herself, she teased, “Hmm, I’ve missed you too during this time apart.”
Qian Fangyuan caught the playful tone and sheepishly released her, sticking out her tongue before adopting a wounded expression. “Chaoyu, you’ve changed! You’re not the sweet, gentle, beautiful fairy you used to be. Tell me—has the Young Miss been corrupting you while I was away?”
“Young Miss” was Qian Fangyuan’s nickname for Bo Pengpeng, initially coined as a joke but now a habit.
Behind her, Bo Pengpeng rolled her eyes. “Don’t blame your nonsense on me. If even Chaoyu can’t stand you anymore, that’s your own fault.”
Ninety percent of the dorm’s liveliness came from Bo Pengpeng and Qian Fangyuan’s constant bickering. For some reason, they could hardly exchange three sentences without clashing. At first, Qin Chaoyu and Miao Zhaodi had tried mediating, worried their arguments might escalate. But they soon realized the two would return to being inseparable moments later. Eventually, they stopped intervening, accepting this as just their unique dynamic. Not every friendship had to be harmonious—some thrived on banter.
Qian Fangyuan huffed. “You’re just jealous, Young Miss! Jealous that I get asked out while you don’t!”
Bo Pengpeng looked genuinely shocked, as if appalled by the audacity of the claim. Tossing her hair, she declared haughtily, “Those men aren’t even worth my glance. My standards are far higher!”
Once Qian Fangyuan and Bo Pengpeng launched into their routine, they forgot everything else—including Qin Chaoyu. Unfazed, Qin Chaoyu knew their debates could last thirty to fifty minutes. She closed the door and headed straight for her bed.
By the time the two finished, Qin Chaoyu was already lounging on her bed, playing with Tuantuan. Qian Fangyuan shot her a dramatically wounded look, as if to say, “Chaoyu, how could you ignore me?”
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