After eating, Fu Xiyan, Tang Yichen, and Su Luo went to the courtyard for a sparring session, leaving only Gu Zhiqi, Su Yunling, and Jin Cengran in the living room.
"Do you need any medical instruments?" Su Yunling asked, looking at Gu Zhiqi.
Gu Zhiqi shook her head, "No need, just taking the pulse will do."
Su Yunling nodded slightly, and Jin Cengran wheeled the chair over to the sofa, "Let’s do it here."
"Wrist," Gu Zhiqi instructed, tapping on the sofa armrest to indicate where Jin Cengran should place his wrist.
Jin Cengran held little hope, but after all, it was an invitation from an old friend.
Besides, for some reason, he didn’t want to see the young lady sad or angry, so he extended his hand and placed his wrist on the sofa armrest.
Gu Zhiqi fished in her pocket, pulled out a tissue, and without any regard for others, spread it over Jin Cengran’s wrist before she calmly laid her fingers on it.
Gu Zhiqi: "Professional habit."
It just... looked very unprofessional.
Gu Zhiqi’s eyes were slightly downcast as she took Jin Cengran’s pulse.
Both Jin Cengran and Su Yunling’s gazes fell on Gu Zhiqi, hoping to discern something from her expression, but they could see nothing.
Although Jin Cengran felt that Gu Zhiqi was somewhat unreliable, he couldn’t help but cherish a sliver of hope.
Once he recognized his own thoughts, Jin Cengran silently chuckled, ridiculing himself.
What was he still hoping for?
If it could have been cured, it would have been fixed long ago.
Jin Cengran’s eyes were downcast, a faint trace of desolation and self-mockery flitting across their depths.
A few minutes later, the pulse taking was over.
"Is it treatable?" As soon as the pulse checking ended, Su Yunling immediately asked.
Gu Zhiqi crumpled up the tissue and casually tossed it into a nearby trash can. Her eyes still downcast, she lazily stated, "It’s a bit troublesome."
Jin Cengran heard this and took it to mean that Gu Zhiqi was indirectly saying it was incurable.
As though he had expected it, he just smiled faintly, with a swift flash of disappointment crossing the depths of his eyes.
After all, he hadn’t held much hope.
Yet, hearing this expected result, he still couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
Unaware of Jin Cengran’s self-delusions, Su Yunling looked at Gu Zhiqi and asked, "How troublesome is it?"
After spending so much time together, Su Yunling had some understanding of Gu Zhiqi.
The trouble she referred to was usually something that she personally found troublesome.
It must be said, Su Yunling did understand Gu Zhiqi quite well. Hearing Su Yunling’s question, Gu Zhiqi replied, "Indeed, the root of the injury is affected. It’s lighter than Yun Yan’s injury, but it has been dragged on too long, missing the best time for treatment."
Upon hearing the first part of Gu Zhiqi’s statement, Jin Cengran suddenly felt a spark of hope, but the second half made him feel as if the newly kindled hope was ruthlessly extinguished.
Missed the best time for treatment?
So, does that mean there’s no hope?
"Therefore, the medicinal herbs needed will be more expensive, and naturally, the recovery time will be longer, plus..." Gu Zhiqi continued, glancing at Jin Cengran.
Seeing his distracted demeanor, she turned her gaze back to Su Yunling.
Su Yunling’s eyes questioned Gu Zhiqi.
As expected, the conversation was about to turn to the price.
Indeed, Gu Zhiqi looked at Su Yunling with a lazy, cunning smile and began, "The price, too, will be rather steep."
Upon hearing this, the corners of Su Yunling’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, and she nodded, "That is only fair."