When Spring Burns - Chapter 20

Before long, the door to the treatment room opened. Sheng Tingmian saw the elderly doctor step out, seemingly to fetch something. Exchanging a glance with the assistant, she walked inside.

“Sister?” Sheng Tingmian approached and noticed He Jianxue had regained her usual calm composure. She was eager to know what had happened.

He Jianxue said, “I’ll tell you tonight when we get back.”

Sheng Tingmian grew even more curious, but given the circumstances, she knew she had to listen to her sister. Just then, the elderly Chinese medicine practitioner returned with a package. Sheng Tingmian stepped aside to make way for him.

Standing to the side, she watched as the old doctor opened an acupuncture box and inserted numerous fine needles into He Jianxue’s legs.

By the time he finished, an entire tray of acupuncture needles had been used.

With every needle that went in, Sheng Tingmian winced in sympathy, imagining the pain her sister must be feeling. The depth and sheer number of needles made her scalp tingle.

“Leave the needles in for half an hour. Do not move around during this time,” the elderly doctor instructed.

He Jianxue nodded in acknowledgment. “Sir, I hope you will keep this consultation confidential. Please do not disclose any of my information to anyone, including your family.”

The assistant handed over paper and a pen. He Jianxue took them and wrote a number on a check. “This is a token of my gratitude. Please accept it.”

The old doctor hesitated briefly, perhaps in need of the money, and eventually took it. “You’re too kind.”

After the doctor left, Sheng Tingmian noticed beads of sweat forming on He Jianxue’s forehead. She quickly fetched a towel and gently wiped it away. “Sister, does it hurt a lot?”

He Jianxue gave a faint smile. “Isn’t pain a sign that there’s still hope?”

After just one session, this first round of acupuncture, her previously numb legs had regained a sense of pain. It was precisely this that made her believe the old doctor’s words were true.

Her leg condition was not due to her own physical health.

Sheng Tingmian finally understood. “You’re right! Pain means there’s still a chance, you can still stand again.”

Suddenly, she no longer felt distressed. Instead, she was overjoyed for her sister. This was truly good news.

About half an hour later, the elderly doctor returned to remove the needles. He instructed that He Jianxue would need to come for acupuncture every day for the next half month.

Sheng Tingmian thanked the doctor and accompanied He Jianxue as they set off for home.

By the time they returned to the He residence, it was already evening. Sheng Tingmian was directed to freshen up.

In the study, He Jianxue’s expression was grim. “Investigate Duan Yunzhi, Duan Peiwen, and Duan Ziheng, as well as all the medical teams I’ve previously consulted, both traditional and Western. Find out if any of them had private dealings with those three.”

If one or two people had deceived her about her paralyzed legs, she might have doubted the truth. But if everyone had taken part in weaving an elaborate web of lies, she would have had no choice but to resign herself to the belief that her legs had suddenly been struck by a severe, inexplicable illness.

That was why she had remained despondent for so long. Whether it was medical teams recommended by others or those she sought out herself from abroad, every diagnosis pointed to the same conclusion.

She refused to believe that highly advanced foreign medical teams could misdiagnose such a fundamental issue. Whether it was pathological nerve damage or artificially injected substances, if they could get even that wrong, it could only mean one thing.

Those people had been bribed or influenced long before she ever consulted them.

That was how she had been kept in the dark, until today’s chance encounter with the elderly Chinese medicine practitioner.

“This matter must not be leaked,” He Jianxue cautioned.

After the assistant left, they immediately began investigating the matter. Fortunately, Miss He had not yet completely handed over the Qingguan Lake properties; otherwise, even if the truth were known, the situation would have been beyond saving, with the tide already turned.

Luckily, everything was still in time.

…

Sheng Tingmian emerged from the bathroom after washing up and saw He Jianxue sitting by the tea table in the bedroom.

“Sister, I’ve finished my bath.”

He Jianxue turned around and saw her wearing a spaghetti-strap nightgown, her long hair cascading loosely, no different from any young college girl, pure and innocent. “Mianmian, come here.”

Sensing that He Jianxue might want to discuss something serious, likely related to her legs, Sheng Tingmian stepped forward. “Sister, go ahead.”

He Jianxue said, “Mianmian, there’s something I need to ask of you.”

Seeing her solemn expression, Sheng Tingmian knew it was important. “Sister, tell me.”

“About what happened today, Mianmian, could you keep it a secret for me? Don’t tell anyone, not even your aunt.”

Sheng Tingmian thought for a moment and, without even asking for the reason, nodded eagerly. “Okay, I promise, Sister. I won’t tell anyone. If my aunt asks, I’ll just say the nerves are still damaged and there’s no cure.”

He Jianxue pressed her red lips together. “Smart. That’s exactly what to say.”

Sheng Tingmian pieced together a rough idea in her mind: her sister’s legs had been deliberately harmed, and she needed to undergo treatment in secret to evade the perpetrator’s plans.

“It’s my honor to be able to help you, Sister.”

“I’m the one who should thank you. If you hadn’t introduced me to that traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, I wouldn’t have known there was still a chance for my legs to recover.”

“Sister, you will get better!” Sheng Tingmian cheered her on.

…

In the days that followed, He Jianxue secretly went out daily for acupuncture treatments, while Sheng Tingmian performed at the theater during the day and returned in the evenings to massage her legs.

Watching the circulation in He Jianxue’s legs improve day by day, Sheng Tingmian felt genuinely happy for her.

About a week later, Director Changyuan had finalized performance arrangements with three renowned theaters in Haishi, Ningbei, and Cangnan, each in different provinces.

The entire Liqing Opera Troupe was about to embark on a tour to other provinces.

Sheng Tingmian returned to pack her clothes and took the opportunity to inform He Jianxue about the trip. Like a responsible adult, she reminded her, “Sister, make sure you go for your acupuncture treatments on time while I’m away. I’ll be gone for half a month, but I’ll continue massaging your legs when I return.”

He Jianxue wheeled her chair over to Sheng Tingmian’s small suitcase, watching as she packed her clothes one by one. Hearing her reminder, she smiled. “Ningbei is still quite cold. Pack some warm clothes.”

“I almost forgot.” Sheng Tingmian rushed to the wardrobe, took down two thick coats her sister had recently bought for her, and quickly stuffed them into the suitcase.

He Jianxue asked, “Is your flight in the afternoon?”

Sheng Tingmian nodded. “Yes, we’ll gather at the theater first, then take the bus to the airport together.”

He Jianxue frowned slightly. “Will the bus ride be uncomfortable? How about I arrange for someone to take you directly to the airport, and you can meet up with the others there?”

Not wanting to stand out too much, Sheng Tingmian declined. “No need, Sister. My aunt is taking the bus too. She’s the troupe leader, and I’m her niece. I should follow along and not make things too special.”

Seeing her insistence, He Jianxue didn’t press further. “Alright then, I’ll have someone drive you to the theater and pick up your aunt on the way. You can go to the airport with the others.”

“Thank you, Sister.”

Sheng Tingmian zipped up her suitcase, lifted the handle, and walked over to He Jianxue. She bent down to embrace her, burying her chin in the crook of He Jianxue’s neck, and said softly, “Sister, you will definitely get better and overcome the villains. By the time I return, your leg will surely be fully healed.”

He Jianxue raised her arms to hold the slender figure in her embrace tightly. “I accept your blessings, Mianmian. I wish you a smooth performance. If anything comes up, call me.”

Sheng Tingmian stepped back from her embrace, gave her a deep look, and nodded firmly. “Sister, I’ll be going now.”

Under He Jianxue’s gaze, Sheng Tingmian got into the car and slowly drove away from the He residence.

After Sheng Tingmian left, the assistant finally spoke up. “Miss He, after investigating during this period, I have found evidence that Mr. Duan and Ms. Duan Peiwen administered the injection to you. Should we pursue legal action against them immediately?”

He Jianxue was not surprised by this outcome. If this had happened in the past, she might have been shocked as to why her biological father would harm his own daughter. But after gradually being stripped of her authority in the group, being forced to arrange He Xiu’s marriage for business cooperation, and witnessing her aunt Duan Peiwen and her cousin take control of the Nanzhang District industries, she had long seen their true colors.

What they truly wanted was the He Group, and they were unwilling to let it remain under the He family name. This was the core conflict of interest between her and them.

“Not yet. At next month’s group shareholders’ meeting, I will personally deliver this grand ‘gift’ to them.”