A Shocking Dream

Qin Rongchen frowned, his lips moving slightly as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent. Qin Ruoyu looked at Lin Wunian's departing back with a worried look on his face, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Lin Wunian pushed open the door, and the sun shone on her, but she felt no warmth at all, only exhaustion and grievance. She took a deep breath and left the clinic without looking back. The door slammed shut behind her, as if putting a heavy end to this farce.

"Miss Lin!" Qin Ruoyu shouted, hastily chasing after her. His eyes were fixed on Lin Wunian's slightly frail yet stubborn figure, his mind racing. He knew he couldn't let Lin Wunian leave like this; this matter was far more complicated than it seemed.

Qin Ruoyu quickly caught up with Lin Wunian and whispered, "Miss Lin, I know you've been wronged, but you can't just ignore those patients. Furthermore...if we give up on treating them out of a momentary anger, this plague and corpse poison will continue to wreak havoc like a flood and a beast. We have no other options. If you really don't care, then everything will be over."

Lin Wunian abruptly stopped, like an angry statue. Her slightly trembling shoulders betrayed the turmoil within her. She didn't look back, as if afraid that if she did, she'd be drawn back into the suffocating argument. "I've pledged my life, but you still don't believe me. Well, I can't do anything about it. You figure it out on your own!" Her voice, like a worn bellows, was a raspy note, the mark of exhaustion from countless days and nights of toil, and the deep pain of being relentlessly questioned by everyone.

For the past few months, she had been like a lone sailor, desperately navigating a vast sea of ​​ancient texts and medicinal herbs. Her small laboratory was her lone boat. Through the long, dark nights, she spent the dim light of her labyrinth, poring over those obscure tomes, like searching for an exit from an ancient maze. The densely packed text pricked her eyes like thorns, but she never gave up. She weighed each herb as if she were handling rare treasures, her hands steady and gentle, as if the slightest mistake would shatter her hopes like a bubble. Each time she controlled the heat, it was a test of her patience, the dancing flames like playful elves, a single careless move could destroy all her meticulous preparations. Each experimental combination was like a leap into the darkness, into an unknown abyss. The dawn of success seemed just out of reach, but she persevered.

And now, as she emerged before the crowd like a triumphant warrior, bearing the three antidotes condensed with countless efforts and hopes, she expected not cheers and praise, but trust. Instead, she was met with suspicion, endless arguments, and hesitation. She felt as if her sincere heart had been hurled onto the muddy ground, mercilessly trampled under countless feet. Her once radiant faith had become worthless. The pain of being betrayed pierced her soul like a sharp blade, bringing her to the brink of collapse, even more so than her physical exhaustion.

Qin Ruoyu watched her back quietly, his lips parting slightly, wanting to say something to hold onto this fading hope, but his throat felt as if something was choking him. The words lingered on his lips, unable to utter them. He knew that Lin Wunian was like a wounded hedgehog, raising her spikes only to protect her soft and fragile faith, the only thing she held on to in this dark and chaotic world. The wind gently blew past, picking up Lin Wunian's hair, which danced messily in the wind, but it could not dispel the thick fog in her heart.

"Miss Lin, I know you're using your life as a guarantee, and everyone's just worried about you." Qin Ruoyu said as he quickly walked in front of Lin Wunian, blocking her path. He panted slightly, his eyes full of sincerity. "I've seen the hard work you've put into developing the antidote. You've almost exhausted yourself these past few months, and everyone knows your dedication."

Lin Wunian snorted coldly and turned away, not wanting to hear his explanation. Qin Ruoyu saw this and became anxious. He continued, "But this incident is too big. The plague and the corpse poison have already caused us to lose so much. Everyone is blinded by fear. You suddenly brought out these three antidotes, each of which is unprecedented. It's understandable that everyone finds it difficult to accept them for a while."

A trace of pain flashed in Lin Wunian's eyes. "Human nature? Then what does my contribution mean? My guarantee is so worthless in their eyes?" Qin Ruoyu sighed. "They don't mean to underestimate your efforts, they just don't dare to take risks. Think about it, if you use it rashly and something goes wrong, the consequences will be unimaginable. We have all struggled in this darkness for too long, and every decision could be the last straw."

Lin Wunian's shoulders trembled slightly, and she bit her lip. "What about me? Am I not groping in the dark? I have verified this antidote repeatedly, but they don't even have the courage to try. I know, and I believe you. But we have to give everyone time to let them understand. We can work together to find a more reliable way to verify this antidote, instead of leaving so impulsively. You are our last hope, Miss Lin."

Lin Wunian raised her head and looked into Qin Ruoyu's eyes. The determination and trust in her eyes made her heart tremble slightly. She knew that things were not that simple, but how could she put her grievances to rest? The wind whistled between them, as if telling of her inner struggle.

Lin Wunian's eyes were still gleaming with lingering anger and grievance. She and Qin Ruoyu stared at each other, and the air around them seemed to freeze. At this moment, Qin Rongchen's steady voice rang out behind them: "Miss Lin, go ahead and do it. I'll take care of anything that comes my way."

Lin Wunian turned back in surprise, seeing Qin Rongchen with a serious expression, his gaze fixed on him. His figure was as straight and upright as a pine tree, standing there like a mountain to lean on, giving him an inexplicable sense of security. Qin Rongchen knew that this was a huge risk, but he also knew that if he didn't seize this opportunity, there might be no hope.

"My uncle and I are worried about you," Qin Ruoyu quickly agreed, his eyes filled with trust and support for Lin Wunian. He knew that at this critical moment, they had to stand by Lin Wunian, giving her the strength to verify the antidote's effectiveness without hesitation.