Chapter 347: Chapter 347: Detoxification
Mu Ziquan didn’t want to resort to speaking ill of Su Shuochi behind his back, but he couldn’t bear to watch her be deceived.
The thought made him inexplicably uneasy. Just as he was about to stress his point again, a clear, pleasant voice rang out.
"Shu Ci is both my husband and my patient. I know he can walk just fine.
But he hasn’t walked in a long time, so he’s still not quite used to it. The wheelchair just makes him feel more secure."
"If you say so, Ma’am, it must mean your love for him is as strong as ever. I was being cynical to think he was deceiving you."
Gu Jiaojiao didn’t pick up on the self-mockery in Mu Ziquan’s words, much less notice his hidden feelings.
For one, she’d always been dense when it came to romance. For another, she never would have dreamed that a man she’d only met twice would develop feelings for her.
She said with a carefree air, "You’re worried he’s tricking me? He’s not that kind of person. Our relationship is genuinely wonderful.
I’ve seen the way he looks at me when he loves me. The day he stops, I’ll know in an instant. So you can rest assured."
Upon hearing her words, a bitter smile touched Mu Ziquan’s lips, and a profound sadness surfaced in his eyes.
’Was that Su Shuochi really so wonderful? Perhaps... I just met her too late.’
A sharp pain gnawed at his heart, so intense he could hardly breathe.
Meanwhile, the three old men, who had taken a look around the laboratory, came out to get Gu Jiaojiao, wondering why she was taking so long to come inside.
They arrived just in time to hear Gu Jiaojiao’s declaration. As Su Shuochi’s direct superior, Old Sir Han knew a thing or two about him.
He clicked his tongue. "I can see you and Shuo Ci have a wonderful relationship. He used to be so withdrawn, did you know that, Jiaojiao?"
"How could I not? When we first got married, he was paralyzed and had a terrible temper. He was always in a foul mood and even tried to strangle me once!"
"Is that really true, Miss Gu?" Xiao Rui asked in disbelief. "You’re so wonderful! How could he possibly bring himself to do that?"
"I’m not making it up! You just haven’t seen him when he’s all grim and menacing. Tsk, tsk..."
Despite her words, anyone could see she was over the moon.
"Miss Gu, we’ve seen his scary side! That time we were having dinner..."
"Haha... let’s not talk about Shuo Ci. Time to get to work in the lab." Elder Xiao quickly cut his grandson off.
’She can say whatever she wants about Su Shuochi, but she’s bound to get upset if others join in. This grandson of mine is so tactless.’
Mu Ziquan remained silent in his wheelchair, enveloped in a cloud of sorrow.
Seeing his grandson’s devastated expression, Mr. Mu’s heart sank. He couldn’t understand the reason for such a look.
He’d always believed Mu Ziquan was the type to remain forever clear-headed and rational. He was a man whose emotions weren’t swayed by others, who could face anything with calm self-possession.
His grandfather’s look of disbelief seemed to push Mu Ziquan over the edge, and his eyes began to turn visibly red.
A vein bulged on his neck. No, to be more precise, it wasn’t a vein.
Because the "vein" was visibly squirming, and it looked like his blood vessels were twisting along with it.
Everyone standing by saw it clearly and gasped.
Although the old sirs were typically swift and decisive, that was only because they were masters in their respective fields of expertise.
They understood nearly everything within their domains, which was why they could make bold decisions and take calculated risks with such certainty and confidence.
But Mu Ziquan’s current condition was far outside their expertise. They were complete novices when it came to medicine.
So they dared not act rashly, turning instead to Gu Jiaojiao in desperation. "Jiaojiao, is Ziquan having an episode?"
"Jiaojiao, that thing on Ziquan’s neck—it’s still squirming!"
"Jiaojiao, this looks really dangerous, doesn’t it?"
Han Jingyi, Xiao Rui, and the two bodyguards were so frightened their legs turned to jelly. They hastily clapped hands over their mouths, terrified a scream might escape and startle Mu Ziquan.
Gu Jiaojiao saw his eyes growing redder and assumed he was panicking, terrified he was about to die.
She soothed him gently, "Mu Ziquan, don’t be scared. This is the Poisonous Gu acting up. Like I said, I can cure this poison. You’re not going to die."
"I believe you, Jiaojiao. Please, can you cure me now? I want it gone right away..."
Everyone assumed he was so terrified of dying he’d lost his senses, even forgoing any form of polite address.
In reality, Mu Ziquan hadn’t lost his mind at all. In fact, he was more clear-headed than ever. He just wanted to have the poison removed and get the surgery over with.
Gu Jiaojiao gently reassured him, "Mu Ziquan, first I’m going to use silver needles to seal your acupoints.
The vibrations from just speaking will make the Poisonous Insect more active, which puts your life at risk."
"So, whatever you need to say can wait until I’ve drawn out the Poisonous Insect. For now, you must not get agitated."
"Jiaojiao," Mr. Mu asked with great concern, "didn’t you say Ziquan needed to rest for a few more days before you could remove the poison?"
"The Poisonous Insect is visible now. I’ll temporarily seal some of his meridians to contain it and keep it from running rampant."
"What do you need us to do?" Mr. Han, ever the calm one, asked.
"Han Jingyi and Xiao Rui, go get a few basins from the kitchen. I’m going to the lab for the medicine pills."
With that, Gu Jiaojiao hurried to the lab. She returned with a small porcelain vial, tipped a pill out, and fed it to Mu Ziquan.
She then quickly applied several needles. Soon, Mu Ziquan coughed up a mouthful of black blood, followed by two more.
The black blood splattered into the basin. Amidst the sound, there was a faint, heavier thud, as if something solid had fallen in as well.
It was a different sound from the splashing blood—duller, heavier.
But with everyone’s attention fixed on Mu Ziquan, no one noticed.
To keep the two young men’s hands from shaking, Mr. Mu and Mr. Han held the basins themselves to catch the blood.
The two bodyguards stood on either side of Mu Ziquan, holding his arms to keep him from slumping over.
After coughing up the third mouthful of black blood, the pained expression on Mu Ziquan’s face finally subsided.
His eyes drifted shut, and he slumped back in his wheelchair, unconscious.
Gu Jiaojiao swiftly removed the needles from his back. "You can lay him down flat now."
She then quickly rounded the wheelchair, stopping in front of the basin Mr. Han and Elder Xiao were holding.
Gazing into the basin, now stained with black blood, she saw an insect curled in a corner. "It really is a Poisonous Insect," Gu Jiaojiao murmured.
Just then, Mr. Han and Elder Xiao carefully set down the porcelain basin. Mr. Mu and the others crowded around and saw the insect as well.
Their eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "That thing... came out of Ziquan’s mouth?"
