Chapter 334: Ruthless Wrist Slash!

Lin Yuan held his breath, not yet reacted, when he felt Qin Bore's fingertip lightly land on his cheek, the warm soft touch carrying a faint coolness, like a feather lightly brushing over.

He could even clearly smell the perfume from her jade hand, a very faint gardenia scent mixed with her natural fragrance, drifting into his nostrils and making his heart beat a little faster.

Qin Bore's fingertip lightly rubbed his cheek, then she withdrew her hand and said with a smile:

"Good night, bye, be safe on the road."

Lin Yuan stood where he was, opened his mouth, and for a long time couldn't speak, his ear tips reddened to the point of almost dripping blood.

Just that?

He had just been excited and thought Qin Bore was going to kiss him.

As it turned out… it was just her palm touching his cheek?

Lin Yuan: "……"

He scratched his head, softly said "You should rest early too," then turned and walked toward the door…

When he reached the foyer, Lin Yuan couldn't help but look back, just in time to see Qin Bore smiling and waving.

Lin Yuan quickly turned his head back, his steps becoming a bit lighter.

After Lin Yuan left, Qin Bore gently closed the door and leaned against it for a few seconds.

She turned and walked to the balcony, both hands resting on the cold railing, gazing at the lights' reflection on the Qiantang River.

The night wind lifted her hair, and in her beautiful eyes that had just held a smile, tears slowly gathered.

A tear slid down her cheek and splashed onto the railing, spreading a small wet patch.

She raised her hand to wipe her tears, but her fingertips still couldn't help trembling slightly, her heart surging with complex emotions—

Just now, when she touched Lin Yuan's cheek, she almost couldn't help bringing up the past, but the words rose to her lips and she swallowed them back.

Over these years, he has grown up; he can make delicious pasta, use Chinese medicine to save cats, and even jump into Xi Hu to catch fish for her with just a word.

But he, is still him.

Qin Bore walked back to the living room, bent over to pick up the phone on the coffee table; the screen was dim, like her empty chest at the moment.

When she lit the screen, two unread messages popped up, labeled "Grandfather" and "Mother".

Her gaze swept across the screen, but she didn't see the "Father" she most wanted to appear; her fingertip paused.

Opening her grandfather's message, a line of somewhat stiff text appeared: "Ruoruo, happy birthday, I had the butler transfer some money, buy what you want and arrange it yourself." Immediately followed was a notification of a one-billion transfer, the numbers flashing coldly on the screen.

Her mother's message was even shorter, only five characters: "Happy birthday, daughter."

Below likewise followed a record of a twenty-billion-billion bank transfer, with no extra concern, only using money to brush her off.

Qin Bore's fingertip hovered over the "Accept" button for a long time, but in the end she didn't press it.

She just stared at that long string of numbers, feeling no joy at all, instead sensing the numbers like a block of ice.

Qin Bore placed the phone face-down on the coffee table, not letting herself look at those cold transfers again.

Her gaze then drifted to the fish "Xiao Lin" swimming freely in the bathtub…

Recalling how Lin Yuan had just been purple‑frozen yet laughed saying "I caught it," her nose suddenly felt sore.

A one‑billion transfer couldn't outweigh the single fish Lin Yuan caught braving the cold water.

It couldn't outweigh the bowl of pasta he made for her, hiding tofu‑shaped rabbits.

Even less could it outweigh his clumsy yet sincere caring.

She curled up on the sofa, burying her face in her knees; the living room held only the gentle sound of the bathtub water, but her heart felt blocked, her breathing heavy—

What she wanted was never money, just a word of concern from her father, just someone keeping her likes in mind.

After a long while, Qin Bore finally lifted her head.

She picked up the phone again, marked her grandfather's and mother's messages as unread, didn't reply, and didn't accept the transfers.

She just silently looked at the phone's black screen until the sky outside slowly lightened.

……

The next day, it was Sunday.

The last day of the double weekend.

Lin Yuan today had to continue going to Zhijiang University for class.

He rode his bicycle to school.

After preparing lessons in the office for half an hour, waiting until nine a. m., Lin Yuan then rose and walked toward the classroom, ready to teach.

He carried a cloth bag holding silver needles and lesson plans toward the classroom; just as he reached the door he heard a buzz of discussion inside, livelier than yesterday, making his heart skip.

Pushing the door open, Lin Yuan's gaze unconsciously swept the classroom, and at once he spotted You Nianchu sitting in the third row by the window—

Today she wore a light‑white dress, her hair tied in a ponytail, still as breathtakingly beautiful as ever, leaving one breathless.

In the classroom, students were whispering about yesterday's gossip…

"Look, the campus belle You is here again… she came to Lin Laoshi's class yesterday, and today she's here too—is she falling for Chinese medicine?"

"She's definitely here for Lin Laoshi! See how seriously she took notes yesterday, and today she's still in her usual seat—maybe she's interested in Lin Laoshi!"

"The forum's been shut down, the more it's blocked the more curious we get—what's Lin Laoshi's background? Able to make the School of Economics' campus belle attend Chinese medicine class two days straight!"

The students' murmurs weren't loud, yet every word drifted into Lin Yuan's ears—

Luo Renhai clearly said he'd suppressed the public opinion, so why did You Nianchu coming a second time to class stir up the discussion even more?

You Nianchu, seated in her spot, also heard the surrounding chatter, but she paid no mind, her beautiful eyes gazing deep at Lin Yuan, lips lightly pursed.

Just as Lin Yuan reached the classroom doorway, a loud question came from the back: "Lin Laoshi! Campus belle You has attended your class two days straight—what exactly is your relationship?"

As soon as those words were spoken, the previously murmuring classroom fell silent instantly; dozens of eyes snapped onto Lin Yuan and You Nianchu, even the few students in the front row couldn't help turning to look.

Lin Yuan's steps halted, his brows slightly furrowed—

Dean Luo wasn't he said he'd suppressed the public opinion?

He hadn't yet had a chance to speak when You Nianchu, seated by the window, lifted her head first.

You Nianchu tugged the corner of her mouth into a mischievous smile, her voice bright: "That's what you think our relationship is, huh."

Wow—

The classroom instantly erupted, some gasped, some pulled out phones to secretly take photos, a few boys in the back whistled, and the clamor grew even louder than before.

Lin Yuan stood beside the podium, utterly dazed!

This brat, what nonsense is she spouting!

Just as Lin Yuan was about to explain, You Nianchu added another sentence, teasing: "Not a chance."

After she said that, the classroom's uproar quieted a bit, but everyone continued to chatter.

Lin Yuan let out a breath, silently complaining to himself:

This girl, she's really a troublemaker—can't she just speak properly?

He cleared his throat, picked up the chalk on the podium, and wrote the words "Basic TCM Diagnosis" on the blackboard.

Lin Yuan said in a steady voice: "Alright, class time is here—let's set aside unrelated topics; today we'll discuss the correspondence between tongue coating and constitution."

As he spoke, he lifted his gaze and swept across the classroom, his eyes lingering on You Nianchu for two seconds, seeing her sticking her tongue out at him.

Lin Yuan shook his head helplessly, then continued: "As for me and You Nianchu, we're just ordinary alumni; she's interested in TCM, so it's normal for her to attend the lecture—there's no need for excessive speculation."

A male student in the back row, unwilling to let it go, pressed: "But Professor Lin, yesterday on the forum they were saying you…"

Before he could finish, Lin Yuan cut him off: "Most of the rumors on the forum are false information; Dean Luo has already dealt with the relevant posts. Everyone should focus on studying—it's far more meaningful than gossiping about this."

You Nianchu also raised her hand cooperatively, smiling: "I just find TCM interesting and want to learn more; maybe someday I can help my family with minor ailments, so don't overthink it, everyone."

With their explanations, the murmuring in the classroom finally died down, and the students slowly took out their textbooks and notebooks, refocusing their attention on the podium.

Lin Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and began lecturing, only occasionally catching sight of You Nianchu resting her chin on her hand.

Lin Yuan even felt a bit doubtful: "Is this girl really here to listen to the lecture in earnest? Does she genuinely have an interest in TCM?"

Just as Lin Yuan was about to start lecturing, heavy footsteps suddenly came from the back door of the classroom…

The head of the Western Medicine Department, Zhou Minghai, entered with four Western‑medicine teachers in white coats, holding a notebook and wearing a perfunctory smile.

Zhou Minghai didn't wait for Lin Yuan to speak; he walked straight to the middle of the classroom and spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear:

"Professor Lin, do you mind if a few of us Western‑medicine teachers sit in? Yesterday we kept hearing students praise how interesting the TCM class is, so we came to join the fun and learn a bit about TCM."

His use of "study" carried an obvious tone of condescension; the Western‑medicine teachers behind him nodded along, but their eyes, as they swept over the herbs on the podium, revealed a dismissive attitude.

Lin Yuan picked up the chalk and said calmly: "Welcome, teachers, to sit in. Feel free to ask any questions at any time—let's exchange ideas together."

Thus, Department Head Zhou Minghai and the several Western‑medicine teachers took seats in the back and began to audit the class.

Lin Yuan began the lecture, explaining the TCM knowledge point of "hemostasis pattern differentiation."

He also took out a human body model to demonstrate hemostasis acupoints such as Hegu and Xuehai…

The students below listened attentively; occasionally someone raised a hand to ask a question, and the atmosphere remained fairly smooth.

But just ten minutes into the lecture, Zhou Minghai suddenly raised his hand and, without waiting for Lin Yuan's signal, stood up directly.

Zhou Minghai held up a printed case sheet:

"Professor Lin, I have a question—TCM claims it can stop bleeding, so how would you use TCM to treat this case of 'post‑operative wound oozing blood that Western hemostatic drugs fail to control'?"

He passed the case sheet to the students in the front row to circulate, his tone provocative: "Modern medicine talks about clinical data, while TCM relies on experience—if such an acute condition were treated with acupuncture and herbal decoctions, wouldn't that delay treatment?"

The classroom fell silent in an instant.

The students whispered while holding the case sheet, some glancing at Lin Yuan with eyes full of curiosity…

Others were swayed by Zhou Minghai's words, showing doubtful expressions.

You Nianchu, sitting in the front row, furtively furrowed her brows, looked up at Lin Yuan, worried that Zhou Minghai's words might leave him at a loss—

After all, Zhou Minghai has deep seniority in Western medicine, and the trap in his words is all too obvious.

Lin Yuan, however, didn't panic; he walked up to Zhou Minghai, took the case sheet, and his gaze stopped at the line reading "Patient has long‑term diarrhea and a pallid complexion."

Lin Yuan looked up and asked: "Director Zhou, did they check for 'spleen deficiency' symptoms before the operation? In TCM, the spleen governs blood, and spleen deficiency causes blood to not follow its proper channels."

Zhou Minghai blinked, clearly not expecting that question, then gave a light cough: "Post‑operative hemostasis is assessed by coagulation function—what does the spleen have to do with it? Professor Lin, are you just avoiding the question?"

Lin Yuan didn't rebut; from his teaching‑aid bag he took a small packet of dried Xianhe grass and a Silver Needle, placing them on the podium:

"For this patient's condition, drinking a decoction of Xianhe grass and needling the Zusanli point to tonify spleen deficiency will stop the bleeding within a minute—not relying on experience, but on pattern differentiation."

Zhou Minghai laughed, shaking his head: "Without data to back it up, it's just empty talk—and stopping bleeding in one minute? What's the difference between that and bragging? If TCM is really that miraculous, why don't you demonstrate it right here, Professor Lin?"

This was clearly a provocation.

Zhou Minghai knew Lin Yuan's identity as an Academic God, yet he simply didn't believe in TCM by nature.

Zhou Minghai knew that so‑called TCM was nothing but a deceitful trick; he was an absolute supporter of Western medicine and also a top‑rank Western‑medicine professor.

Therefore he knew that stopping bleeding within a minute was absolutely impossible.

You should know that even with the most advanced Western drugs, the fastest a human wound can be staunched is five minutes.

One minute to stop bleeding?

That's pure fantasy!

The students in the classroom instantly fell silent, sitting upright with eyes wide round, staring at the podium as if watching a grand performance.

Zhou Minghai glanced back at the Western‑medicine students behind him, giving them a look; soon someone brought over a transparent box containing a tiny white mouse trembling with fear.

Zhou Minghai set the box on the podium, his tone laced with mockery: "Professor Lin said he can stop bleeding in one minute—perfect; let's use this white mouse to demonstrate and let everyone see TCM's 'effect.'"

Lin Yuan glanced at the mouse in the box, shook his head slightly, and said calmly but firmly: "No need for the mouse—animal acupoints differ from human ones; to prove it, we should use the most direct method."

Hardly had his words finished when Lin Yuan suddenly pulled a utility knife from the podium drawer, lifted his left hand without giving anyone a chance to react, and lightly sliced his right wrist artery with the blade!

"Don't!" You Nianchu almost sprang up from her seat in an instant, anxiously trying to stop him.

But it was already too late.

Lin Yuan's wrist artery was severed; bright red blood spurted out instantly, dripping down his forearm onto the white paper on the podium, blooming into shocking blotches of blood!

Everyone present was stunned into shock!

Cut your own wrist artery with a knife?! This newly arrived Chinese medicine teacher is also too damn ruthless!