Chapter 54: Jiang Muyun Fell Ill Again

"Principal, are you trying to ask about Mayor Ye’s illness? Actually, what he suffers from is merely a sickness of the heart," Zhang Shen replied with a smile, shaking his head. "No, what I really want to know is why you used a lighter to heat the silver needles," Chen Rong said. To Chen Rong, compared to Ye Gang’s condition, it was this detail that intrigued him more.

Zhang Shen was equally surprised by the question. "Because it’s fast," he answered.

"Fast?" Chen Rong looked puzzled. Was it simply for the sake of speed?

"What else? You were right there, Principal; you know Mayor Ye’s condition required every second to be seized," Zhang Shen explained. Hearing this, Chen Rong ceased questioning. He gazed at the young man before him, who had solved problems that stumped countless experts, and a single thought filled his mind: the waves of the Yangtze always push forward, each stronger than the last.

The car sped toward the school, but just as they arrived, Zhang Shen’s phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, an uneasy expression crossed his face.

"What’s wrong?" Chen Rong asked. "Girlfriend checking up on you?"

Zhang Shen didn’t respond, anxiety written on his features as he answered the call. "Hello?" He deliberately lowered his voice, as if he already knew what this call would bring.

"Miracle doctor, where are you? Come back quickly, please save Miss!" Mu Qiao’s voice was frantic.

"What’s wrong with Yun’er?"

"Miss..." At this moment, Mu Qiao’s voice became choked with sobs.

Realizing he would get no answers, Zhang Shen instructed the driver, just a kilometer from the school, "Sir, take us to the Shunyi Fang Nursing Home, quickly!"

The driver, hearing the new destination, didn’t hesitate. His task was simply to escort his passengers; where they went wasn’t his concern. He promptly turned the car around and headed toward the nursing home.

"Mu Qiao, quickly find an empty glass," Zhang Shen said.

"An empty glass?" Mu Qiao was confused, but there was no time for questions. Miss’s condition was the most urgent problem.

Soon, they arrived at Shunyi Fang Nursing Home. Zhang Shen leapt from the car, with Chen Rong following behind, slowed by age. While Zhang Shen dashed inside, Chen Rong was just beginning to rise.

"Principal Chen, should I wait for you?" the driver asked.

Having already enjoyed the privilege of riding in the special vehicle, Chen Rong felt it would be inconsiderate to keep the driver waiting. "No need, you can head back. We have some matters to attend to."

"Alright," replied the driver, and he drove off toward Ye Gang’s home.

...

Meanwhile, Zhang Shen entered Jiang Muyun’s room and found her lying on the floor, her face pale as death. The scene was all too familiar to him.

"Miracle doctor, you’re finally back! Miss..." Mu Qiao, hearing movement, turned to see Zhang Shen had returned.

Zhang Shen merely responded with a brief "Hmm." At that moment, his sole focus was reviving Yun’er.

He repeated his previous procedure: taking out his silver needles, he inserted three into Jiang Muyun’s face and gently twisted their ends. Minutes later, several black worms crawled out from her cheeks.

Mu Qiao, understandably frightened, screamed in terror at the sight.

"Quiet! Where’s the thing I asked you to prepare?" Zhang Shen snapped, his nerves frayed.

For a moment, Mu Qiao hardly recognized the man before her; he was never usually like this.

"I’ll ask again—where’s the thing I asked for?" Zhang Shen spat out each word, barely able to contain his impatience.

"Here!" Mu Qiao hurriedly handed him the empty glass she had prepared. Zhang Shen took it and, just as before, placed the black worms inside.

Then he lifted Jiang Muyun onto the bed. He and Mu Qiao stood vigil at her side, hoping she would quickly awaken.

"Ah... ah..." Five minutes later, Jiang Muyun let out a weak cough. Mu Qiao, seeing her awake, exclaimed, "Miracle doctor, look, Miss has woken up!"

Zhang Shen knew she would eventually regain consciousness—it was only a matter of time. This time, however, Jiang Muyun had taken half a minute longer than before. An uneasy premonition flickered in his heart; perhaps he was overthinking, but the worry lingered.

Moments later, Jiang Muyun slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Zhang Shen and Mu Qiao beside her, she asked, "Weren’t you supposed to be at school? Why are you here? Did you miss me too much?"

As expected, the moment they met, Jiang Muyun and Zhang Shen resumed their usual banter.

"Who says I didn’t? I missed you terribly," Zhang Shen replied, then turned to Mu Qiao, "Miss Mu, how are you looking after her? You left her lying on the floor!"

Now, all Zhang Shen’s frustration was vented on Mu Qiao—his hired personal assistant, who seemed only capable of shouting and panicking. Luckily, he happened to be nearby; had he been delayed, the consequences could have been fatal.

Mu Qiao, seeing that Zhang Shen had saved Miss, offered no retort. She simply nodded repeatedly.

Jiang Muyun, lying in bed, saw this and said to Zhang Shen, "Don’t be so harsh with Sister Mu. If you keep this up, I won’t talk to you anymore."

In truth, Zhang Shen was only trying to frighten Mu Qiao a little—now that she knew the seriousness of Jiang Muyun’s condition, she would surely be more attentive in the future.

"So, tell me: what happened this time? Any symptoms before she fainted?"

"Miss and I were about to go downstairs to water the flowers, but before she even reached the door, she suddenly collapsed and started convulsing. I knew something was wrong and called you immediately."

"Well, in this case, you did quite well," Zhang Shen conceded.

He thought to himself, "From Mu Qiao’s description, Yun’er’s symptoms this time are identical to last time. The toxins in her body seem to be activating more frequently. If that’s true, what am I supposed to do?"

As Zhang Shen pondered the problem, an elderly man entered the room.

"Excuse me, who are you looking for?" Mu Qiao asked, wary of the stranger she had never seen in the nursing home before.

"I’ve come to find him," the old man replied.