Chapter 152: Chapter 152 Si Mingjing: That’s right, he is the Demon King 1
She struggled to maintain a composed expression, trying to convey she wasn’t embarrassed in the slightest, and said softly, "I’m here to perform acupuncture on you."
"Such a dissembler," Mo Yinhe remarked, the amusement in his eyes unmistakable. He accepted her unspoken olive branch. "Mingjing, I’m delighted that you’re so concerned about my health."
"You don’t act like it, or you wouldn’t have ignored my messages. Do you think it’s easy being a doctor?"
"Stop complaining. I was angry at the time."
However, her act of pursuing him all this way had warmed his lonely heart, and he decided to be magnanimous and not hold it against her.
Mo Yinhe unbuttoned his military uniform, sat down in the chair, and casually propped his long legs on the coffee table.
"Come over. If you’re angry, just stick a few more needles in me."
"I’ll call in two military medics, and you can teach them acupuncture. I genuinely have some business coming up where I can’t bring you along. Once you’ve trained them, I’ll arrange for someone to take you back to land. How does that sound?"
Si Mingjing ignored his nonchalant posture.
Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. "That would be best."
That way, she wouldn’t have to feel tethered to him, constantly wondering why he hadn’t replied to her messages, as if she couldn’t live without him.
Si Mingjing went to her room to fetch her medical kit.
The two military medics Mo Yinhe had summoned were not well-versed in traditional Chinese medicine, though they had graduated from a university that integrated both Western and Chinese medical practices.
Si Mingjing explained as she performed the acupuncture.
The two medics stood by her side, watching intently.
She taught with patience and detail, her cherry-red lips opening and closing. Mo Yinhe watched, longing to kiss her.
But he restrained himself.
The two medics didn’t dare to slack off; they studied earnestly, asking all manner of questions, to which Si Mingjing replied one by one.
Her proficiency in medicine made her exceptionally captivating.
Mo Yinhe watched, somewhat infatuated and unwilling to tear his gaze away.
Si Mingjing knew his burning gaze was fixed on her face the whole time, yet she feigned nonchalance, continuing the acupuncture and her explanation for the medics.
Si Mingjing had assessed the two military medics. Despite graduating from a university that integrated Chinese and Western medicine, they were entirely clueless about acupuncture. It looks like teaching them will take three to five days, she thought.
At that moment, a young officer in military dress knocked on the door, interrupting Mo Yinhe’s leisurely mood.
The young officer’s surname was Feng, and he was a Lieutenant General.
Lieutenant General Feng approached Mo Yinhe, clicked his military boots together, and saluted. His deep respect and deference were evident.
Mo Yinhe’s gaze shifted from Si Mingjing’s cherry-red lips to Lieutenant General Feng.
"What is it?"
"Your Excellency, we’ve just received intelligence that the foreign ministers of Mu Continent and Gendaya have been in frequent contact. They seem to be plotting something significant and aim to challenge you at the upcoming summit, using it as leverage to demand the Little Prince."
Mo Yinhe sat in the chair, Silver Needles still protruding from his chest.
Yet this did nothing to diminish his authority.
He scoffed, "Plotting what, exactly?"
Lieutenant General Feng replied, "We haven’t found out the specifics yet, but Mu Continent has been relentless in its ill intentions. They not only deny your marriage to the Crown Princess Consort but have also been repeatedly issuing diplomatic demands for the Little Prince to be handed over to Mu Continent. It’s utterly preposterous!"
This was an old, tired story, and Mo Yinhe paid it no mind.
Ever since Xiaobai was born, Mu Continent had sent numerous people to try and take his son away.
But Mo Yinhe had never let them succeed.
The four-nation summit, which took place every five years, was meant to resolve certain intractable international disputes in the Undersea World.
During the summit five years ago, Mu Continent and Gendaya had joined forces to make trouble, accusing him of abducting an underage girl, refusing to acknowledge his marriage to her, and demanding he hand her over!
Five years had passed, and now they were coming for his son again!
"I think this four-nation summit should be renamed a neighborhood committee meeting," Mo Yinhe quipped.
Lieutenant General Feng suppressed a laugh. "Aptly put, Your Excellency."
Thus, an inside joke was born.
In the years that followed, whenever Mo Yinhe attended the four-nation summit, people would tease, "His Excellency has been invited to the neighborhood committee for tea again."
Mo Yinhe, unfazed by the recurring issue, gestured. "Keep investigating. Let me know what you find."
"Yes, Your Excellency." Before leaving, Lieutenant General Feng saluted again.
Si Mingjing overheard the conversation by chance.
Out of curiosity, she asked while administering acupuncture, "Isn’t Xiaobai your son? Why would someone try to take him?"
"Probably because that little rascal is too cute," Mo Yinhe gave a noncommittal answer.
"..."
That answer was a little too perfunctory, wasn’t it?
Si Mingjing realized he didn’t want to tell her more, so she felt it would be awkward to press further.
She continued with the acupuncture treatment.
After finishing the acupuncture, she handed her Silver Needle pack to the two military medics, giving them numerous instructions.
"You can practice with these first to familiarize yourselves with the human meridians. If you have any questions, come find me.
"The treatment plan I’ve devised for Mr. Mo was carefully considered and allows no margin for error.
"His chronic illness has plagued him for years and has already damaged his internal organs. He needs meticulous, restorative care.
"Don’t assume that just because he hasn’t had an episode recently, his health has mostly recovered. That’s the effect of my daily acupuncture; in reality, his constitution is still weak."
Si Mingjing’s lengthy explanation was actually directed at Mo Yinhe.
She was afraid that Mo Yinhe might think he had recovered, simply because his old illness hadn’t recurred recently. But that was not the case.
She hoped her words would make him take his health seriously.
Mo Yinhe, however, was unappreciative and teased her with a smile, "Such a nagger, but you do seem a bit like the lady of the house."
He liked her this way.
He told the two military medics, "Go and practice diligently. Learn it within three days."
This meant Si Mingjing would only be in the Undersea World for three days.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"You may leave."
With respectful bows, the two military medics withdrew.
Mo Yinhe stood up, fastened the buttons of his military uniform, and pulled a small red velvet box from his trouser pocket, tossing it to Si Mingjing.
Si Mingjing caught it. "What’s this?"
"A New Year’s gift for you."
Fearing she might refuse, Mo Yinhe quickly added, "Don’t say no just yet; it was designed by Si Yao."
Mo Yinhe didn’t think of Si Yao as a mother figure to Si Mingjing. That was why he used her full name.
"Si Yao was once a jewelry designer, quite famous in the industry. This necklace was designed by her for a client, and I bought it from that client. It’s said to be the piece that made her famous. Open it and see if you like it..."
He had gone to great lengths to find her a New Year’s gift. He’d previously given her a pink tourmaline bracelet, and she had said that a mother’s belongings hold deep sentimental value for her children, a cherished connection.
Knowing she cherished such things, he had sought this out for her.
Sure enough, Si Mingjing was moved by his words.
She took the red velvet box and opened it.
Inside lay a dazzling diamond pendant. It seemed to radiate a cherished love, blossoming splendidly from its core.
Smooth metal lines twisted naturally into a playful heart shape. Within this, a heart-shaped setting cradled a vibrant "diamond heart" that appeared to bloom. The design of two intertwined hearts evoked the feeling of love blossoming from within, like a resplendent flower.
Was this truly her mother’s signature work?
Si Mingjing fell in love with it at a glance.
She clutched the velvet box tightly, hardly believing. "Is this really designed by my mother?"