The next morning.
Chen Lin stepped out of the courtyard and found the free clinic at the village entrance even busier than it had been yesterday.
Academician Zhong had actually rushed back from Capital City overnight. Wearing reading glasses, he was now tirelessly examining the patients waiting in line. The morning dew had dampened his graying hair, yet there was not a trace of fatigue on his face.
Respect welled up in Chen Lin's heart.
He turned back to the kitchen and personally brewed a pot of strong tea, discreetly added three drops of Spirit Spring Water, and brought it over to Academician Zhong.
"Elder Zhong, thank you for all your hard work. Have some tea to soothe your throat."
Academician Zhong accepted the cup without standing on ceremony and drained it.
A gentle, refreshing stream slid down his throat. The exhaustion from a sleepless night vanished in an instant, leaving him brimming with energy.
He nodded gratefully at Chen Lin. Just as he was about to say something, another wave of patients crowded around him.
Chen Lin smiled and was about to leave.
But out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar, slender figure at the edge of the crowd.
It was Zhang Ruoxi.
She was standing on tiptoe, desperately peering toward the free clinic, her delicate, innocent face filled with anxiety and helplessness.
A little surprised, Chen Lin walked over and gently tapped her shoulder.
"Ruoxi?"
The girl trembled and spun around.
When she saw Chen Lin, the worry on her face instantly gave way to overwhelming delight and a lovely blush.
"Ch-Chen Lin!"
Only after Chen Lin gently asked her what was wrong did Zhang Ruoxi haltingly explain, her eyes rimmed with red.
A year ago, her mother, Yang Yuting, had accidentally lost her