At this point, the tears that had been building up finally fell. But Li Yining still stood tall, choking back sobs as she said, "Tell me yourself, in the past six months since you came back, have you ever really cared about me? Besides that woman, that prostitute! Uncle and Aunt, me, the family's reputation, what else can you possibly have in your heart!"
Mu Xing finally couldn't hold back anymore: "Don't talk about her like that!"
Taking a few deep breaths, she forced herself to remain calm and said, "I know what I'm doing. As for these past few months, I admit we haven't been as close as before. But Yining, we're adults now, that's perfectly normal! I have my own things to do, and you have yours too. You see, Mengwei and Youcheng don't see us as often these days, but does that mean our relationship has changed..."
"How can these be the same!" Li Yining suddenly roared, "How can you and I be the same as them!"
Mu Xing frowned, not immediately understanding Li Yining's meaning. She said, "What's different? My feelings for you are naturally the same as for all of them! Aren't we best friends?"
"Friend, friend!" Li Yining laughed cryptically, looking at Mu Xing, "You can even love a prostitute, but I can only ever be your friend, forever just a friend!"
Unable to bear hearing Li Yining's sarcasm about Bai Yan's identity any longer, Mu Xing exclaimed, "This has nothing to do with her identity! You should know I've never cared about these things! I..."
She suddenly stopped.
What...do you mean?
Chapter Seventy-Nine
The words had barely left her mouth when Mu Xing shut up. She dared not think about it any further, to delve deeper into the matter. She even hoped that this moment was just a dream, and that when she woke up, she could happily call Li Yining and complain about having a nightmare.
But they all knew this was not a dream.
Li Yining didn't speak again. Her eyes were glistening with tears as she looked at Mu Xing, as if she were looking at the past.
Sunlight streams through stained glass, and dust motes flutter like moths in the broken beams of light, yet they can never find that spark of fire. Countless forces, yearning to burst forth, will ultimately perish.
After a long while, long enough that the sounds outside the door had all fallen silent, Li Yining finally moved.
Her spine, which had been standing straight all along, finally began to ache. She lowered her eyes, took out a white embroidered handkerchief from her pocket, and carefully wiped away her tears.
Mu Xing was still looking at her.
"I have nothing more to say," Li Yining said in a hoarse voice. "You can leave now."
Mu Xing hesitated for a moment, then frowned before letting go.
Li Yining was unwilling to explain, so she could only pretend to be oblivious. Whether as a friend or... whatever other role she held, she had no right to comfort Li Yining.
She took out a folded silk handkerchief from her bosom, gently placed it in front of Li Yining, and whispered, "Be careful on your way back."
Li Yining didn't move, and Mu Xing didn't say anything either, turning around and leaving.
As Mu Xing emerged from the library, she saw Bai Yan sitting at her editor's desk. She rubbed her face, forced a smile, and walked over: "How are you feeling?"
Bai Yan was writing when she heard this, and she immediately raised her hand to show Mu Xing: "Look, this is a quill pen! I've only ever seen it in foreign books."
This was a decorative pen with a nib embedded in a feather, nothing particularly unusual. Seeing how much Bai Yan liked it, Mu Xing said, "I have a very good set of this pen, kept in Mu Garden. If you like it, I'll bring it to you next time."
Bai Yan laughed: "Okay, but I can't accept something for nothing. I'll trade you this." She picked up the note paper on the table and handed it to Mu Xing.
Mu Xing took the paper and saw a small hen drawn on it. It proudly raised its head, wagging its tail, looking very smug. On the hen's round belly, there was also a very delicate "Mu" character written.
Seeing the lifelike painting and Bai Yan's smug smile, Mu Xing felt her previously gloomy mood instantly lighten. She laughed and said, "I'm a haughty hen, so what are you?"
Bai Yan tilted her head and thought for a moment, then shook the quill pen in her hand: "Hmm... I am a feather taken from your ribs, and then made into a beautiful quill pen."
Carefully folding the paper and putting it into his shirt pocket, Mu Xing smiled and said, "Then you are now a quill pen that is far more beautiful and useful than a chicken feather."
In the following weeks, both Mu Xing and Bai Yan were more energetic than before—the pharmacy and bookstore were both located in the commercial district of the British concession, only two streets apart.
No matter what Mu Xing was busy with, he always made sure to find Bai Yan for lunch at noon; and although Bai Yan had just started her editing work, she had quite a bit of free time because the bookstore was still in the process of being rebuilt.
Of course, she also began preparing new manuscripts, and when Mu Xing couldn't stay at home overnight, the sound of a quill pen gliding across the manuscript paper was enough to comfort her loneliness.
However, free time is limited, and at lunchtime both of them were busy filling their empty stomachs, so their mouths weren't quite full. But just sitting together and eating a silent and hurried lunch was enough to wipe away their fatigue.
Mu Xing didn't tell Bai Yan about Li Yining. At first, she was a little worried that Li Yining would deliberately make things difficult for Bai Yan, but according to Bai Yan, there didn't seem to be any such intention.
“However, I’ve noticed that Miss Li seems rather restless these past few days. Would you like to ask her about it?” Bai Yan asked during a late-night conversation in bed.
Mu Xing felt somewhat guilty: "Hmm... I'll ask her in a couple of days. Didn't you say you were going to attend Fei Hua's little celebration? How did it go?"
"That's good. Principal Zhang still cares for her; he's spent a huge sum of money on her, probably the most in recent years," Bai Yan said. "However, she told me that Principal Zhang seems to be planning to develop his career in Beiping (Beijing), and I don't know when he'll leave. If she leaves, I..."
Mu Xing hugged her: "It's okay, we'll meet again someday. Maybe we'll even go to Beiping someday."
Bai Yan nodded: "That's good too. I've heard that Peking duck is very good. If we go there, we'll definitely slaughter the entire North Canal."
Mu Xing laughed loudly.
Chapter Eighty
Over the next few weeks, Mu Xing was busy with the development of the new drug. Funding was in place, and a hospital had been secured as a distributor. All that was left was for the pills to be mass-produced. Meanwhile, the reform of the pharmacy system was completed, and now it was just a matter of operating it for a period of time to see how it went.
If everything continues smoothly, Bai Yan will be able to raise 80% of the money to redeem herself in less than two months. Bai Yan wants to contribute part of the remaining 20%, and Mu Xing is naturally willing to do so.
Just when her future seemed to be heading in the direction of her wishes, her second brother, Mu Yun, received his acceptance letter at Mu Garden.
This admission letter from Peking Union Medical College is naturally of great significance to Mu Yun personally, and for his family, it also symbolizes a further step forward for the Mu family in the medical field.
Although receiving the notification was expected, the Mu family still solemnly prepared a banquet to celebrate.
At the banquet, both elders were deeply moved. Dr. Mu patted Mu Yun on the shoulder and gave him a long lecture on medical ethics and conduct, to which Mu Yun nodded repeatedly.
Looking at Mu Xing, Dr. Mu continued, "Actually, if A-Xuan hadn't been engaged, I would have been very willing to let her continue her studies. There are many doctors these days, but very few female doctors. In recent years, quite a few women have applied to Peking Union Medical College Hospital, but very few have actually persevered. Dr. Lin Qiaozhi is a very good example. I've always hoped..."
Mu Yun hurriedly said, "Ah Xuan is not engaged now, and she can still take the exam next year."
Dr. Mu shook his head: "Ah Xuan, your mind is no longer on studying medicine."
He sighed: "Back then, you and Ah Xuan studied medicine for your aunt; from now on, you will study medicine for all people."
Mu Xing, who was listening nearby, originally wanted to say something witty, but upon hearing this, all his words immediately got stuck in his throat.
She suddenly remembered her silence when she spoke about her studies at her aunt's grave in August.
When she returned to China to pay her respects, she told her aunt that she would study hard and work hard at the clinic and would not let her aunt down.
At the time, she thought that when she went back next time, she would be able to proudly show off the first surgical case she had personally performed.
But she didn't.
She... originally wanted to study medicine.
After the banquet ended, everyone moved to the flower hall to continue sitting idly, but Mu Xing had to go back to her study to organize the account books, so she left early. However, she sat in the study for half an hour, but she just couldn't concentrate on reading the account books laid out in front of her.
The ledgers were filled with handwriting, but to her, they were "diagnostic formulas for digestive system symptoms" and "emergency plans for air embolism"; each revenue report became an anatomical diagram: the intracranial cavity, myocardium, lungs...
Frustrated by the reports, she pushed them aside, intending to go back to her bedroom to rest. Unexpectedly, as she sat down on the bed, her sash twitched, knocking over the milk on the bedside table. The glass slammed heavily onto the table, and the milk quickly soaked into the stack of books next to the bedside table.
"ah!"
Mu Xing hurriedly picked the book up from the milk puddle. Fu Guang, who was waiting outside the door, heard the noise and quickly brought in a maid to tidy up.
Mu Xing placed the book on the table and used a towel to absorb the water. Seeing that several pages were soaked through, he felt annoyed and scolded, "Who's being lazy? Why didn't you put the book back in the study!"
The maid took the glass and milk away, and Fu Guang came over to carefully wipe the book. She then glanced at Mu Xing's expression and said, "It was my fault for not paying attention. You said you were going to keep this book in your bedroom, but you haven't read it for the past few months. Why don't you wipe it clean and put it away now?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Xing was stunned for a moment, and she reached out and took a dried book.
This is The Lancet.
Turning to a page, she unsurprisingly found a piece of paper she had tucked into the book, covered with dense notes.
She had stolen this copy of *The Lancet* from her father's study. Given the unstable political situation, even her father couldn't easily obtain an original copy. Therefore, she dared not even write notes in the book itself, but instead jot them down on scrap paper for easy review.
But how long has it been since she last opened this book?
For the past six months, besides reading Shu Wan's novels, she's spent most of her time reading various reports, plans, and prescriptions. Her mind is constantly occupied with reports and plans, not Shu Wan; how could she possibly remember any of this knowledge?
I'm afraid she wouldn't be able to perform even the simplest experiments on mice right now.
Mu Xing lowered his head and looked at his hands. The marks from holding the scalpel had gradually softened, and the marks from pressing with the pen had become faint.
These are clearly hands that have been pampered.
She chuckled self-deprecatingly and said softly, "It's not your fault; it was my own problem."
Was she too greedy, too hasty...?
Chapter 81
After several days of feasting and celebration, Mu Yun planned to go to Beiping to arrange his schooling, and Mu Xing also wanted to go with him to visit Peking Union Medical College.
The two of them had some free time that day and met up at the small house. After having some fun, Mu Xing told Bai Yan about it.
"When Peking Union Medical College held its opening ceremony that year, my father was invited as a guest. Thanks to him, I was also fortunate enough to go and see it. Unfortunately, I was too young at the time and only felt that it was noisy and chaotic. I didn't understand anything. Looking back now, it's really a pity."
"Although I went there a few more times later, I just thought of it as a university, and I didn't feel that much... longing for it." She paused, but in the end, she didn't say out loud about the confusion and bewilderment she had been feeling these past few days.
Bai Yan looked at Mu Xing, seemingly lost in thought.
Ever since Mu Ershao received his acceptance letter, Mu Xing always seemed hesitant whenever he mentioned it to her. Although she noticed it, she didn't ask since Mu Xing didn't say anything.
After thinking for a moment, Bai Yan simply said, "Go if you want, it's not a big deal. It's just a pity that there's been too much going on at the library lately, otherwise I would really like to go and take a look."
Mu Xing squeezed her hand: "If there's a chance in the future, it would be nice if we went alone together."
However, the very next day, while Mu Xing was still checking the accounts at the pharmacy, he received a call from Bai Yan.
"Ah Xuan, come to Minkang quickly! Little Ah Zhen suddenly has a stomachache and is bleeding a lot! Jin Bao and I are at the hospital right now..." Bai Yan's voice trembled even through the phone.
Upon hearing "blood in stool," Mu Xing immediately sensed something was wrong. Without further ado, she rushed to Minkang Medical Clinic.
Mu Xing hadn't set foot in the clinic for nearly two months. Suddenly, she smelled the strong, mixed smells in the clinic, which even made her dizzy.
Bai Yan was waiting in the lobby. As soon as she saw Mu Xing enter, she rushed over and said anxiously, "Little A-Zhen is in the examination room. Dr. Ding is examining her..."
Mu Xing hurriedly asked, "Where does it hurt? In your upper abdomen or lower abdomen? Is your stool in clumps?"
Bai Yan managed to recall, "It was...it hurt in the lower right side. There were only a few scattered feces in the bloody fluid, and her stomach was very hard..."
Fortunately, the knowledge that had been sealed away had not yet been forgotten. Mu Xing quickly constructed the relevant symptoms in his mind, went back to his office to change into his surgical gown, grabbed the medical records he had made earlier, and rushed to the examination room.
The examination rooms and surrounding areas were packed with people, filled with cries and wails. Some family members, upon seeing someone in a white coat, pushed and shoved forward without regard for others: "Doctor, have you seen my child yet?" "Doctor, please see my husband first!" "Doctor..."