With Cao Yun Tian apprehended, a heavy stone was finally lifted from Lin Xiao Tian's heart.
Compared to the Jiang family and their ilk, Cao Yun Tian was a minor figure. However, as the saying goes, even petty officials are difficult to deal with. Cao Yun Tian had been keeping a close watch on Qin Yu Xiang, and for Lin Xiao Tian, he remained a persistent threat.
Now, Lin Xiao Tian's only remaining enemy was Jiang Li.
What Lin Xiao Tian needed to do next was to help Fang Wen Hua secure his position in the Lin family succession.
The Lin family would not let Fang Wen Hua take over the entire clan, but they would allow his child to inherit it. This presented many advantages for Lin Xiao Tian.
Of course, during this process, weakening the Jiang family's influence as much as possible was still necessary.
However, this was a task that could be left to Fang Wen Hua. Lin Xiao Tian trusted that Fang Wen Hua would handle everything appropriately.
When work ended that day, Lin Xiao Tian encountered Guo Lin Qing again.
After yesterday's events, both of them felt a degree of awkwardness upon meeting.
Seeing Lin Xiao Tian, Guo Lin Qing's entire face flushed red, all the way to her earlobes.
"Want to grab a meal? Let's go together?" Lin Xiao Tian suggested.
"No, thank you. I've already made plans with Qing Ling. I'm afraid she'll misunderstand," Guo Lin Qing shook her head, declining Lin Xiao Tian's offer.
With no other recourse, Lin Xiao Tian had to let it go. "By the way, the poison in you won't disappear anytime soon. Come see me for acupuncture every two days. I'll also prepare some detoxifying pills to help remove the poison from your body as much as possible," Lin Xiao Tian said earnestly.
Guo Lin Qing recalled what Lin Xiao Tian had written in his note, but her focus wasn't on the poison. Her interpretation was that Lin Xiao Tian had only acted that way to save her, not out of his own volition. If that were the case, how could she possibly pester him?
"Thank you, but... no need," Guo Lin Qing refused again.
After speaking, and before Lin Xiao Tian could explain anything, she turned and left directly.
For the next day, Guo Lin Qing continued to maintain her distance from Lin Xiao Tian.
It wasn't until the evening of the following day that Guo Lin Qing clearly felt something was wrong with her body.
Guo Lin Qing didn't sleep at all that night.
However, it was late, and she didn't want to disturb Lin Xiao Tian.
When she tried to get up in the morning, she found she couldn't move.
She felt difficulty breathing, and her consciousness became increasingly hazy.
Only then did she realize the gravity of the situation. But when she tried to call Lin Xiao Tian, she discovered she didn't even have the strength to pick up the phone.
What should she do?
Guo Lin Qing felt as if she were dying.
Time ticked by, and before she knew it, it was already working hours.
Her phone vibrated. Perhaps it was a colleague from the National Medical Hall calling to remind her about work.
She crawled with all her might towards her phone. When she saw the caller ID, Guo Lin Qing's heart warmed.
Lin Xiao Tian?
She hadn't expected him to still be worried about her.
Guo Lin Qing reached out, preparing to answer the call, but in the next second, she weakly let her hand fall.
The toxicity of the Hehuan San always struck stealthily. In fact, Guo Lin Qing had started experiencing symptoms the previous evening, but she hadn't realized it herself.
The phone vibrated for a while before falling silent.
Immediately after, another call came in. The caller ID displayed Xia Qing Ling.
But Guo Lin Qing could do nothing about the phone lying so close to her.
After an unknown period, she vaguely heard movement at the door.
Then, the door opened.
Guo Lin Qing couldn't see what was happening at the entrance and became extremely anxious.
She remembered Cao Yun Tian, whom she had encountered a few days prior. Cao Yun Tian had barged into her home then. Could someone have broken in again?
What if it was another scoundrel like Cao Yun Tian? What would she do then?
Thinking this, Guo Lin Qing couldn't help but regret her decision.
If only she had listened to Lin Xiao Tian and sought his treatment regularly, this wouldn't have happened.
Just as she was lamenting her misfortune, she suddenly felt herself being lifted up.
It seemed the person who had barged in was about to act against her.
A tear traced a path down her cheek, and Guo Lin Qing despaired.
But in the next moment, a very familiar scent reached her.
For some reason, as this scent wafted into Guo Lin Qing's nostrils, her dying body suddenly felt a flicker of life.
"Are you alright?"
A familiar voice called out.
Immediately after, Guo Lin Qing saw the person's face.
Lin Xiao Tian?
Her heart trembled.
But she couldn't speak, so she could only blink her eyes.
Lin Xiao Tian helped her up from the floor and onto the sofa, then began to administer acupuncture.
Guo Lin Qing was wearing a onesie, which made it inconvenient to administer the needles. Lin Xiao Tian had to help her take it off.
But as he did, Guo Lin Qing was completely exposed.
She had a habit of sleeping nude, which was one of her well-kept secrets.
Guo Lin Qing's cheeks burned, and her entire body felt feverish.
For some reason, the moment she saw Lin Xiao Tian, she felt a stirring within her. Although she liked Lin Xiao Tian, never before had she felt such a strong urge to throw herself at him as she did today.
What was happening to her?
As Lin Xiao Tian administered the acupuncture, Guo Lin Qing's eyes sparkled like dewdrops in spring, and she appeared incredibly captivating.
Lin Xiao Tian couldn't help but swallow.
He remembered the intoxicating night he had shared with Guo Lin Qing not too long ago.
Admittedly, Guo Lin Qing was truly enchanting.
As Lin Xiao Tian continued with the acupuncture, Guo Lin Qing's strength gradually returned.
"You should still come to me every two days from now on! It will help you recover faster," Lin Xiao Tian said, then produced a pill.
"This is a detoxifying pill I refined. It can slow down the poison's progression, but the Hehuan San poison can only be resolved through the golden needle meridian technique. You'll have to cooperate with me in the future."
"It's I who should be troubling you," Guo Lin Qing said with a look of guilt.
Lin Xiao Tian smiled and said nothing more.
After Guo Lin Qing's acupuncture session concluded, Lin Xiao Tian examined her again to ensure she was fine before preparing to leave.
"Won't you stay for a while longer?" Guo Lin Qing asked.
"Rest well. I still have things to attend to at the clinic. If anything comes up, call me anytime," Lin Xiao Tian said, making a gesture of making a phone call.
Guo Lin Qing nodded obediently.
As Lin Xiao Tian reached the doorway and was about to leave, he encountered someone approaching him.
Upon seeing who it was, Lin Xiao Tian froze.
"Xia Qing Ling?"
"I never expected to see you here," Xia Qing Ling said, staring at Lin Xiao Tian.
Her gaze shifted to Guo Lin Qing, and seeing her naked, she inexplicably felt a surge of anger.
"No wonder you weren't answering my calls. You were busy with such things! I'm sorry for interrupting," Xia Qing Ling said, then huffily ran downstairs.
"Qing Ling, let me explain..." Guo Lin Qing tried to chase after her, but her body lacked the strength. She could only look to Lin Xiao Tian for help.