Long Xingyu changed the subject with a sigh:
"That acupuncture technique may save lives, but it's far too dangerous—one mistake, and someone could die. So if a suitable successor can't be found, it's better to destroy it."
Shu Lanzhou finally understood.
"Thank you for telling me all this. I think I'll be able to keep this blessing going for a long, long time."
"This technique might be risky, but with proper training and a sincere heart, it can be used to heal and save. Don't worry—Uncle will be fine!"
Long Xingyu watched Shu Lanzhou walk away, caught between laughter and exasperation.
This girl—did she really think she'd gone on and on like that just to question her medical skills? That she was worried she couldn't save Mu Rongxie?
Had it never occurred to her that this might have something to do with Mu Side's feelings for her?
Complicated emotions twisted inside her as she stepped into the old lady's room.
"You told her everything?" Madam Gu looked up calmly.
Long Xingyu nodded. "I did. But I still feel like it wasn't my place—it should've been her sister-in-law, or Mu Yaaning, or Mu Yaan who told her."
"Your sister-in-law and Mu Yaan are both overseas. As for Mu Yaaning, you expect her to downplay herself?" Madam Gu gave her a chiding look. "You're the wife of my youngest son—that's something I've never doubted. We've been waiting for you to come back all these years."
"That rascal was stubborn and disobedient. When he told Elder Mu that he wasn't getting married and would guard Mu family medicine with Mu Yaaning, we already had our suspicions."
"Back then, you were both young. A few years of separation didn't seem like much. And with the Mu family caught in such a storm, it wasn't the worst thing for you to lay low abroad."
"But then… nothing improved. Mu Rongxie grew the business bigger and bigger, yet showed no intention of getting married. That's when Elder Mu got anxious. He left that final message for Mu Side, hoping it would push that brat to find you. Turns out we were all wrong."
"We thought he was weighed down by the Mu family's troubles. Who could've guessed—it wasn't the pressure that stopped him from starting a family. It was his broken body."
"You poor girl, you've suffered so much over the years."
Long Xingyu shook her head. "This was my own choice. I don't feel wronged. If anything, I was the one being willful. If I hadn't walked away back then, I wouldn't have made you all worry for so long."
"I just hope Shu Lanzhou and Mu Side can be happy together—no more accidents." Madam Gu patted her hand. "Did she say anything after you told her all that?"
"Nothing unusual," Long Xingyu replied with a shake of her head.
"She didn't doubt Mu Side's feelings for her at all. Teacher… maybe we've overthought it. Maybe they really are in love, and Mu Side isn't just fulfilling a mission."
Madam Gu nodded gently.
"I can sense his feelings for her. But the Mu family carries a heavy sense of duty. I'm afraid he's hiding his heart too well, and if one day…"
"That's why we had to speak to her ahead of time. If the day ever comes, at least we'll be prepared. We can't let Mu Yaan's tragedy repeat itself with those two."
Long Xingyu had never fully understood one thing.
"Han Weicheng was supposed to be an educated man. How could he doubt Mu Yaan's love for him just because of the Mu family's fall? I've always suspected… did someone say something to him?"
Madam Gu shook her head slowly.
"Whether it was love or the Mu family's downfall that made him break it off, the fact is—he didn't pass the Mu family's test. He doesn't deserve to be one of us."
"Shu Lanzhou's a hardworking girl. Over the years, her character has proven itself. But if her resolve isn't strong enough… if her feelings for Mu Side fall apart…"
Madam Gu couldn't bring herself to finish the thought.
This era had too many temptations. Loyalty and unshakable love had become rare. The Mu family's acupuncture could not be shared with outsiders. If their relationship failed, all the effort spent raising a successor would be wasted.
A lifetime of dedication—gone.
"I don't think it'll come to that," Long Xingyu said. "Lanzhou's a simple, sincere girl. I don't think she sees any ulterior motive in Mu Side's love. Besides, Mu Side knows his boundaries. He wouldn't play games with something like this."
Now in her fifties, Long Xingyu had long come to see things clearly.
She knew how heavily Mu Rongxie bore the Mu family's legacy—enough to sacrifice his own happiness.
But she never doubted his love for her.
There is no family without the greater whole. She had joined this family, not to tear it apart. She loved it deeply, and was willing to dedicate herself to its prosperity.
How could Mu Rongxie not love and cherish her in return?
She could only hope Shu Lanzhou would come to understand that too.
Shu Lanzhou hadn't thought too deeply about Long Xingyu's words. What she really wanted to know was—after everything, did Han Weicheng ever regret leaving Mu Yaan?
Back in her uncle's room, Mu Side was already removing the needles.
She stepped forward to help gather them, and then looked at Mu Rongxie.
"Uncle, how do you feel now?"
"Tired. Just want to sleep. Now go, all of you—next time, no talking before acupuncture." Mu Rongxie scowled as he shooed them out.
Shu Lanzhou stifled a giggle.
Well, as long as there's a 'next time,' we're good.
Outside the room, she turned to Mu Side.
"So? How was it?"
Mu Side handed her a piece of white cloth stained with black blood.
"This is what I wiped off the needle tip. Seems you were right—it's toxic buildup."
"Judging by the color… it'll take at least three months before we see real results." Shu Lanzhou frowned. "You've explained everything to Uncle? Next session in three days?"
"Yeah." Mu Side took her hand and led her back to their room. "We'll come back twice a week from now on. Grandma will keep an eye on things—he'll be fine."
"Good." Shu Lanzhou yawned and, the moment she stepped into the room, fell asleep.
Mu Side cleaned and disinfected the needles before joining her in bed.
The rain had fallen for two days. On the third, the skies cleared.
That afternoon, Shu Lanzhou wrapped up her morning clinic hours and stepped out of the hospital. She planned to try the new noodle shop nearby—a bowl of zhajiangmian was calling her name.
But just as she walked out the front gate, someone blocked her path—Han Weicheng.
He held a bag of fruit and gifts, clearly visiting someone in the hospital. Upon seeing her, he smiled and stepped forward.
"I thought I'd have to go all the way to your clinic to find you. Never expected to run into you here. Guess fate really ties us together as teacher and student, huh?"
Oh really?
More like bad karma.
Looks like I'll need two extra scoops of noodles today—just to calm my nerves.
"This is a hospital entrance. I walk out of here almost every day. Running into me here isn't fate—it's basic probability." Shu Lanzhou glanced at him coolly.
"I've got somewhere to be. Excuse me."
The noodle shop was newly opened. If she arrived late, she'd have to wait in line—and she wasn't in the mood for that.
"Wait, wait! I came specifically to see you." Han Weicheng quickly held out the bag of gifts.
"I heard your teacher set up a special clinic for you at the hospital. You're seeing patients on your own now—it must be exhausting."
"I didn't know what you liked before. I asked Fang Ruoshi for help picking these out. I hope you don't mind."
Shu Lanzhou took a startled step back, clearly unwilling to accept his offering.
"If you've got something to say, just say it. There's no need for all this. We're not that close. After our teacher-student relationship fell apart, we became strangers. And I don't take gifts from strangers."