"Hey… don't go! How can you be a doctor and just walk away? My son's injuries—" Wu Xiuli stomped after the departing doctor.
Zhang Zecai's face was grave as he called her back. "Mom, stop it. We're leaving."
"Leaving the hospital? I've done my homework—this is the National Hospital. If we're going to stick it to the Mus, we have to stay right here. Your wounds are our best proof." Wu Xiuli's eyes glittered as she schemed.
"Listen, son: that woman accused the Mus of feeling guilty over your grandpa's death. The more we make a scene, the more terrified they become."
"Someday they'll pay us—and maybe even free your father. Trust me, you have to listen to me. Our top priority right now is saving Dad."
Zhang Zecai clenched his brow. "What Dad did broke the law. Do you really think the Mus can just set him free because we make noise?"
"And haven't you seen how they act? They're not afraid of our racket. With their online buzz, no amount of slander will faze them."
"What slander?" Wu Xiuli slapped him across the cheek. "Have you forgotten what your father said? Your grandfather died by a Mu family needle—stabbed to death."
"If your grandfather hadn't passed, the Zhang family wouldn't be in ruins. You'd have been a young master, not stuck living like this."
Wu Xiuli seethed. "They told us not to worry about the internet—they'll handle that. We just have to claim Dr. Shu Lanzhou hurt you and landed you in the hospital."
"I can't wait to see how they handle that." Zhang Zecai flopped back onto his bed.
He knew with certainty that Shu Lanzhou had saved him. He wouldn't repay kindness with betrayal—but he wasn't about to let the Mus off the hook so quickly.
If Dr. Shu came begging for forgiveness, he might reconsider. Rumor had it that the Mus family was all show and no conscience, cruel and ruthless—unworthy of the title "doctor."
He still couldn't fathom how this kind-hearted doctor had ever gotten mixed up with the Mus.
Somebody whispered that Shu had been duped by the Mus—they were using her as a pawn, so she would elevate their acupuncture method's reputation.
And since Mu-style acupuncture was so dangerous—capable of killing at any moment—when disaster struck, they'd pin it all on Dr. Shu.
If she learned the truth, would she still devote herself to serving the Mus?
Zhang Zecai was curious. How would this gentle doctor react when her heart was broken? Would he…?
"Son, lie still. Mommy has a few things to do. And remember—no discharge." Wu Xiuli's voice jolted him from his thoughts. She grabbed her phone and rushed from the room.
Less than half an hour later, she returned beaming. "It's done! Just wait—soon the Mus family will be disgraced. They'll come kneeling to us."
"And when they do, we'll demand every cent—plus your father's freedom. Once Dad is out, we'll take the money and leave the country forever."
Wu Xiuli glowed at the vision of Mu family members groveling before her.
After all, they had been told the Mus were guilty and feared the scandal more than anything.
At the Mu family residence.
Shu Lanzhou emerged from Mu Rongxie's study, having given him his final acupuncture session.
"Uncle, this is the last treatment. I won't keep using you for practice. If anything feels off, tell me—I'm still worried I might've done you harm."
"I'm fine." Mu Rongxie sat up. "Grandma said I'm a lonely old man anyway—if I get hurt, so what? It's no big deal. Your improvement matters more."
Shu Lanzhou blinked. Should she laugh or cry?
Just then, Mu Side came hurrying in. "Auntie Xingyu has arrived. She's just finished seeing Grandma and is on her way here now."
"Why didn't you say so?" Mu Rongxie leapt to his feet and dashed for the washroom.
"Quick—clear everything out of my room! Don't let her see a thing!"
Shu Lanzhou couldn't help but chuckle. Who ever called him a "lonely old man"? What was "Auntie Xingyu" to him, anyway?
They stepped into the hallway and found Long Xingyu leaning against the wall, smiling at them.
"How is he?" Her expression was calm—no trace of worry.
Shu Lanzhou thought for a moment. "He's doing reasonably well. But you'll have to examine him yourself."
"You little rascal." Long Xingyu lightly smacked her shoulder. "You teasing me? We'll see about that."
She strode to the door of Mu Rongxie's room and raised her hand to knock—only for the door to swing open from within.
In an instant, Shu Lanzhou and Mu Side saw Long Xingyu push him gently, then the door closed. She was gone without a trace.
"Oh, my heart's racing!" Shu Lanzhou squeezed Mu Side's hand. "The moment of truth is here! I wonder if my—"
"Don't doubt yourself," Mu Side urged as he led her back inside. "But… we may never learn the result."
"That's not certain!" Shu Lanzhou smiled, pulling him back toward the room.
Mu Side still didn't understand the meaning behind her smile—until much later, when he saw the tiny infant in his uncle's arms, and everything clicked into place.
That night, apart from Mu Yaning, everyone in the Mu household was in high spirits.
Mu Yaning awoke groggily, having slept poorly. Her head felt heavy.
"He Xin?" she called, rubbing her temples.
He Xin emerged from the next room. "What's wrong? Not feeling well? You looked troubled when you came home last night. You wouldn't tell me—did something happen to the Mu family?"
"We've been together nearly thirty years, right?" Mu Yaning rubbed her head. "Do you think I've handled things wrong for the Mu family?"
"That day when Father nearly abandoned Mu medicine and our acupuncture method—I dragged you to beg him, even insisting I wouldn't have children if he wouldn't listen."
"And twenty years later, I've kept Mu medicine from moving forward. I've tied up your research, delayed your career…"
"And in the end, we only had one child, Si Xin. But you always loved kids, said you wanted more. He Xin…"
He Xin gently placed a hand over her mouth. "That's not true. You never held me back or harmed me. Everything I've done was by choice."
"Besides, we've made significant progress in our research. It's already being used in clinical surgeries and recognized by our peers. That's our greatest contribution to medicine."
"Remember, medical research isn't a one-off achievement. It doesn't rely on raw talent or passion alone. Your steadiness and diligence are your greatest strengths."
"They're the qualities most needed in research—qualities none of your siblings possess as well as you do. If your choice had been wrong, Father never would have approved."
"Believe me—if the Mu family has found someone like Shu Lanzhou to carry on our legacy, it's thanks to your efforts. You belong in the lab, as a university professor."
"Now that we've found a worthy successor for Mu medicine, shouldn't we let go? He Xin and Shu Lanzhou both have vision. We're older now."
"This era is changing—shouldn't we embrace that as well?"
Mu Yaning felt her long-held anxieties and heartache dissolve in his words.
Of course—Father agreed to let her inherit Mu medicine to find a lasting heir. Now that one had been found, why cling on?
She wasn't gifted in Mu acupuncture—there was no reason to force it.
She had fulfilled her duty as a Mu family daughter. Now it was time to choose her own life.
Her obsession could at last be set free!
Just then, Si Xin burst into the room, phone in hand. "Something's happened—Mom, the Mus family is in trouble! Someone online—"