Chapter 343: Do you like me?

Inside the black sandalwood box, neat rows of silver needles were displayed!

Exactly, they are silver needles, a set of medical silver needles!

The silvery needle shafts glowed with a warm, moist light in the dusk, not glaring like ordinary silver needles, but exuding an understated texture.

He instinctively lifted his gaze to the inside of the lid, where two lines of hot-stamped gold characters lay quietly in the wood grain, the script an elegant slim-gold style, each stroke revealing solemnity—"To heal the world like cassia, let the fire of salvation never die."

These eight characters felt like a fine needle lightly pricking Lin Yuan's heart.

He stared, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the engraving, feeling the subtle ridge where wood grain and gold characters merged, even his breath slowed half a beat.

Qin Bore stood beside him, watching his reaction, a faint smile playing at the corner of her mouth.

The evening wind swept osmanthus petals into her hair, and Qin Bore softly explained, "This is a custom-made set of medical silver needles, not something you can buy off the ordinary market."

Lin Yuan lowered his head to look again at the silver needles, reaching out to pinch one.

His fingertips could clearly feel the smoothness of the needle shaft, with not a hint of burr; it was a bit heavier than the silver needles he usually used, yet had just the right flexibility—when lightly bent, it snapped back straight as soon as he released it.

"It's forged from medical-grade titanium alloy," Qin Bore's voice came with the scent of osmanthus, "harder than ordinary silver needles, not easy to break, with better flexibility, allowing more precise depth control when needling, and its flow conductivity is far superior to traditional silver needles."

Lin Yuan's fingertips paused; he certainly knew the properties of titanium alloy, but had never imagined it being used for silver needles—because the material is far too expensive.

Titanium alloy is already commonly used for precision parts in medical devices; using it to make silver needles is simply mixing modern technology into traditional Chinese medicine.

This is far too luxurious!

"Modern technology can improve the properties of silver needles," Qin Bore said, squatting to pick up an osmanthus petal that had fallen at the edge of the box, "so that the value of Chinese medicine can be fully realized, not wasting your skill."

Lin Yuan's fingers gripping the silver needle tensed slightly as he suddenly recalled something he had heard before—

The price of titanium alloy exceeds that of gold—several tens of thousands per gram—ordinary people rarely even see it, let alone use it to make silver needles.

He unconsciously counted the silver needles in the box: exactly 108, each uniform in thickness, with tiny numbers engraved on the needle tails, from "one" to "one hundred eight", every detail flawless.

Calculating at several tens of thousands per gram of titanium alloy, these 108 silver needles together would cost at least several million; Lin Yuan's throat bobbed, the box in his hand suddenly felt heavy, weighing on his heart and making him anxious.

"Miss Qin, this… this silver needle's material," Lin Yuan finally blurted, his voice tinged with undisguised shock, "where on earth did you get this? Titanium alloy is something ordinary people simply cannot obtain."

Titanium alloy is a state-controlled rare metal; ordinary people simply aren't qualified to buy it.

Qin Bore stood, brushed the petals from her skirt, her tone still calm as if stating something utterly ordinary: "I have a relative working at a military engineering academy who happens to have access to this titanium alloy material."

She paused, meeting Lin Yuan's astonished gaze, a flicker of smile in her eyes: "Knowing you practice Chinese medicine and need a handy tool, I asked him to help, found the finest craftsman to make this set. It was crafted according to your Chinese medicine set, and I consulted senior Chinese medicine experts. One hundred eight silver needles—take a look, does it suit you?"

Lin Yuan stood where he was, gripping the box of titanium-alloy silver needles; the silvery shafts reflected his brows and eyes in the dusk, his heart feeling like a warm soup wrapped in osmanthus fragrance—both hot and soft.

He had never imagined someone would go to such lengths, expending such thought and seeking such rare material, for his skill.

The evening wind rose again, osmanthus petals scattering softly over the hill; some landed on the black sandalwood box, some on his shoulder. Lin Yuan gave a solemn nod: "Yes, yes… suitable, very suitable."

Qin Bore watched his dazed expression, reached out to gently brush the petal from his shoulder, and asked, "Do you like it? This is a birthday gift I prepared especially for you."

Lin Yuan's grip on the black sandalwood box tightened sharply, shaking his head repeatedly: "It's too precious; I can't accept it."

Qin Bore's tone carried a gentle firmness that allowed no refusal: "Just take it; why all these worries?"

"But… it's far too valuable… I…" Lin Yuan began, only to be cut off by Qin Bore.

"I'm not short on this money; why are you panicking? These titanium alloy metals are plentiful for my relative's family—they're in the military-engineering rare-earth business—so it's no trouble; don't burden yourself mentally, just accept it. This is my sincere intention." Qin Bore said, blinking.

Lin Yuan looked at her steadfast gaze; the words of refusal he had readied died in his throat, and he finally relaxed his grip, clutching the box tightly to his chest as if holding a rare treasure.

"Thank you, Miss Qin." Lin Yuan said solemnly.

Just then a shower of osmanthus petals fell, tiny golden-yellow blossoms drifting to Qin Bore's hair tips, sticking to the collar of her wine-red dress like scattered gold flakes.

Lin Yuan almost instinctively raised his hand, fingertips lightly brushing her hair to pluck that petal away.

Qin Bore was startled by the motion, then lifted her head to look at him.

Her eyes reflected the falling osmanthus rain and distant warm lantern light, her voice soft as honey: "When this tree blooms, let's use its osmanthus to steep medicinal wine from a Chinese medicine prescription, okay?"

Lin Yuan lowered his gaze to the sapling just planted at his feet, its tender green shoots still dotted with soil; his grip on the iron shovel steadied unconsciously, and he gave a firm nod: "Okay."

He knew clearly that beneath this osmanthus tree lay not just a birthday memorial, but also his and Qin Bore's pledge to "guard Chinese medicine together"—more solid than any promise.

Qin Bore carried out a cardboard box from the car, opened it to find it filled with various red wines, fruit wines, several jars of local yellow wine, and a huge cream cake.

"Come on, let's light the candles and make a wish, then I'll cut the cake." Qin Bore said with a smile.

Qin Bore lit the cake's candles.

Lin Yuan faced the birthday candles and made a wish…

In his heart he silently wished: If possible, I hope to always stay by Miss Qin's side, guarding her for a lifetime…

After making the wish, he blew out the candles.

Qin Bore curiously asked, "What wish did you make?"

Lin Yuan replied embarrassedly, "Well, a birthday wish isn't effective if you speak it out…"

Qin Bore snorted, "You're quite strict with your lips, then—well, may your wish come true~"

The two sat at the stone table under the osmanthus tree, drinking together; when Qin Bore sipped red wine she would gently swirl the glass, the wine staining her lip like a dab of light rouge, while Lin Yuan ate cake and drank yellow wine.

Without realizing it, they had drunk too much.

Gazing at the sky filled with fragrant osmanthus, Qin Bore lifted her cup, fingertips tracing the rim, and whispered softly, "Wanting to buy osmanthus and share wine, it is nothing like the wandering of youth."

She paused, turned her head to look at Lin Yuan, her eyes holding the sober clarity and feeling after drink: "So if you want to do something, you must do it while you're young, and do it early."

Those words seemed to tug at Lin Yuan's heart.

Yes. Some words, some matters—if not spoken now, perhaps there will be no chance later…

With alcohol rising to his head, Lin Yuan's gaze grew somewhat unfocused, landing on Qin Bore's beautiful face; seeing her ears faintly flushed from the drink, he suddenly gathered courage.

Lin Yuan's throat moved, his voice slurred: "Miss Qin I…"

Qin Bore was just lightly sniffing a piece of osmanthus; hearing his words, she immediately lifted her gaze, eyes bright with curiosity and drunken languor: "What?"

Lin Yuan, however, stammered at this moment, not knowing how to begin.

Qin Bore blinked her beautiful eyes, set down the osmanthus, leaned slightly forward, locked eyes with Lin Yuan, and suddenly laughed.

Qin Bore's tone carried teasing:

Don't tell me you like me?