Dr. Tao took the test samples with the help of Qin Ningyi. As soon as the box was packed, Huo Rou slowly regained consciousness.
Seeing the monitoring equipment on her body, Huo Rou's dark eyes flickered. Her internal organs still ached faintly, and she instantly guessed what had happened.
Listening to the low hum of the instruments, Huo Rou, with Qin Ningyi's assistance, slowly sat up and reached out to remove the equipment.
"No," Qin Ningyi held her hand down, his eyes fixed on her.
Huo Rou tugged at her dry lips, "I'm fine. These test instruments are clamped on, and it's uncomfortable."
"You know it's uncomfortable now?"
Qin Ningyi instantly became angry.
In her dreams, she had tossed and turned in pain, unable to even cry out. Now, she claimed that the monitoring instruments, which caused no burden, were making her uncomfortable.
Facing Qin Ningyi's question, seeing the extreme worry in his eyes as he spoke.
He rarely lost his composure and would not get angry with her.
Huo Rou lifted her already soft and weak hand, the instruments on her fingers gently stroking his furrowed brow. She didn't want him to worry.
She murmured softly, "Qin Ningyi, I'm really uncomfortable."
It sounded like a plea, or perhaps the truth.
As she spoke these words, her heart ached.
She was so used to enduring, so accustomed to concealing.
She had already prepared her explanations, after all, ordinary doctors couldn't detect this kind of poison...
Now, she couldn't say those words. She looked at him with watery eyes, silent.
This gaze was like needles, piercing straight into Qin Ningyi's heart.
He pursed his lips, pulled Huo Rou into his arms, and gently stroked the back of her head. "Let's just say it's you being pampered."
"Can they be removed now?" Qin Ningyi looked up at Dr. Tao.
If she didn't want to talk about it, then so be it.
He accepted it.
Dr. Tao nodded. Since she was awake and not in immediate mortal danger, staying on the hospital bed was pointless.
After the instruments were removed, Huo Rou smiled sweetly.
"I can agree to this, but there's one thing you must tell me."
Qin Ningyi took out the bottle of medicine that Shen Wuyou had given her, supposedly for replenishing qi and blood.
Huo Rou's eyes tightened as she looked at the medicine bottle.
"Is this medicine really for replenishing qi and blood?"
His gaze was full of seriousness, and he clutched the medicine bottle tightly.
Was Shen Wuyou acting alone in this, or...
He dared not think further.
Huo Rou was stunned and did not answer.
How could she possibly explain?
How could she tell him that she selfishly wanted to spend her last moments with him?
How could she tell him that her time was running out...
How could she say that the home he wanted to give her, she could no longer accept?
She didn't know how to articulate it clearly. All of this had happened too long ago.
The light in Qin Ningyi's eyes gradually dimmed in her silence. He asked again, "Then, can you stop taking this medicine?"
The doctor had said that as long as she stopped, her condition of sleeping would improve.
If that was the case, it meant Shen Wuyou didn't intend to kill her.
With his medical skills...
Being able to cure one poison was one thing, and this was the primary solution he had thought of after discussing with Dr. Tao.
Huo Rou thought of the few remaining pills in the bottle and nodded.
"Okay. I won't take it."
In fact, taking it would have no effect anymore.
She had been taking the medicine on time during this period, but she still had an attack tonight.
This poison could no longer be suppressed.
If she continued to take it, she would either be in vain or enter a permanent coma prematurely.
The project team was close to success at this stage, not far from the final result.
She could still contribute, and she couldn't falter.
Living a valuable life was better than lying there unconscious and muddled.
Huo Rou nestled into Qin Ningyi's embrace, breathing in his scent, drawing warmth from him, and also drawing strength to move forward.
Sincere devotion to the country—how could she retreat when so many people had taught her this...
The next morning, Huo Rou, uncharacteristically, woke up very early.
As soon as she sat up, she saw Qin Ningyi entering, drying his hair.
"Awake?"
Surprise flickered in Qin Ningyi's eyes, followed by relief.
Stopping the medicine had indeed worked.
Huo Rou had been worried that he would question her further, but by the time she entered the project team's office, Qin Ningyi hadn't said anything else.
He still smiled and waved goodbye to her. An An also affectionately kissed her cheek, telling her with a smile that he would pick her up at noon as well.
After Huo Rou left, filled with confusion, An An's mouth drooped.
His eyes were full of worry as he watched Huo Rou's retreating figure.
"An An, you're going to school. You can take your nap at school at noon." Qin Ningyi ruffled his hair. The little guy had been exceptionally clingy since early this morning.
An An pursed his lips, shaking his head silently.
If Mom didn't want him to know something, then it was best he didn't.
"Dad, can we eat at home at noon?"
He rubbed his face and put on a smile.
"Okay. I'll cook for you." Qin Ningyi agreed. He had also planned to do so.
When they came to pick up Huo Rou at noon, they saw a group of people surrounding her.
Even Zou Xiaoxiao wasn't sulking and walking off to the side.
A group of people saw Huo Rou into the car. The professor was even more excited, telling Qin Ningyi to take good care of their Teacher Huo Rou.
"Mom, what's wrong?"
An An, seeing everyone so happy, and Huo Rou's rare rosy complexion, was a little curious.
"We've achieved a phased victory. Everyone stayed up all night yesterday and didn't tell me." Her eyes sparkled like the rising sun as she said this.
The entire project team had worked overtime throughout the night, conducting experiments and tests.
When she entered early that morning, she saw a group of "pandas" pouncing on her, each with questions for her.
After answering each one, she learned that Zou Xiaoxiao, seeing Huo Rou's poor condition lately, had rallied everyone to speed up their progress so that Teacher Huo could have a break.
The professor had immediately approved.
Everyone had volunteered to work overtime with great enthusiasm.
The new material had been successfully reinforced, so why wouldn't they be happy?
As Huo Rou shared the good news with Qin Ningyi and An An, Wei Shikang was also sharing the good news with Shen Xiumei.
"Meimei, don't be angry. Although I didn't come home last night, our project has achieved a phased victory! I'll be able to give you a future soon!"
Shen Xiumei had merely been using this as an excuse to show her concern and affection for him, but then she heard this news!
"Didn't you say the material just arrived?" She was incredulous.
"Yes, and then Xiaoxiao, who's our mechanical expert, said she had some ideas. We worked overtime together to tackle this stage earlier, so Teacher Huo could have a break."
Wei Shikang was eating the homemade meal Shen Xiumei had brought, chewing with gusto, completely uninhibited.
"There's a small celebratory dinner tonight. Want to go with me?" Wei Shikang turned to speak to her, chewing too quickly, and accidentally spat a grain of rice onto Shen Xiumei's face.