Chapter 290 Trust Under the Silver Needles
Li Yong didn't sleep all night.
He lay in bed, staring at the water stains on the ceiling, his mind a jumble of thoughts.
Outside the window, I could hear the sounds of my early-rising neighbors opening their doors, footsteps, and bicycle bells. These noises, which usually sound annoying, sounded reassuring today.
Zhang Lan was sleeping beside her, breathing very lightly.
Li Yong turned his head to look at her. Her profile was bright white in the morning light, and her eyelashes cast a small shadow on her eyelids.
He reached out, wanting to touch her face, but then pulled his hand back halfway through.
Daylight broke.
Li Yong sat up very quietly, without waking Zhang Lan.
He walked to the window and lit a cigarette.
The smoke drifted up and swirled in the morning light.
Mr. Bai's words from last night are still ringing in my ears.
"Let Zhang Lan give you acupuncture."
He took a drag of his cigarette, and the smoke made his throat hurt.
Let them do it.
Since things are already like this, how much worse can they get?
He stubbed out his cigarette and turned to look at Zhang Lan on the bed.
She was still asleep, sleeping very soundly.
Li Yong walked over and bent down to look at her.
"Lanzi".
Zhang Lan opened her eyes, her gaze still a little dazed.
"What's wrong"
"I've made up my mind." Li Yong squatted down beside the bed. "Give me the acupuncture."
Zhang Lan sat up abruptly.
"real"
"Um."
Zhang Lan grabbed his hand.
"Li Yong..."
"Stop talking." Li Yong stood up. "I'm going to find Gao Jianjun to get the map."
He put on his clothes and went out.
Zhang Lan sat on the bed, her hand still in the position of grabbing him.
After a while, she wiped her face, got out of bed, and washed up.
When Li Yong rode his bicycle to the military compound, Gao Jianjun was running on the playground.
Upon seeing him, Gao Jianjun stopped.
"Li Yong is here so early."
"Brother Gao," Li Yong jumped out of the car, "Could you give me the map?"
Gao Jianjun was stunned for a moment.
"You've made your decision."
"Um."
Gao Jianjun patted him on the shoulder.
"Okay, you wait here, I'll go get it."
Ten minutes later, Gao Jianjun came out with a brown paper bag.
"Mr. Bai asked me to give this to you."
Li Yong took the bag; it was heavy.
“Besides the diagrams, there was also a box of silver needles inside,” Gao Jianjun said. “Mr. Bai said that these are for medical use, have been sterilized, and can be used directly after taking them home.”
Li Yong gripped the bag tightly, his fingers turning white.
"Um... what if I accidentally prick the wrong spot..."
“No.” Gao Jianjun interrupted him. “Mr. Bai said that the diagrams are drawn very clearly, and Zhang Lan will definitely be able to understand them.”
Li Yong nodded.
Thanks.
He got on his bike and hurried back.
The wind was strong all the way, making his eyes sting.
When Zhang Lan got home, she had already prepared breakfast.
"Eat quickly, it will get cold soon."
Li Yong put down the bag and sat down at the table.
He picked up the bowl, ate a couple of mouthfuls of rice, and looked up at Zhang Lan.
"Lanzi, take a look at the diagrams in a bit."
Zhang Lan nodded.
After finishing her meal, Zhang Lan opened the brown paper bag.
Inside was a stack of blueprints and a black box.
She spread the drawings on the table.
The first picture shows a person's back, with three acupoints circled in red and labeled with the names: Shenshu, Mingmen, and Zhishi.
Each acupoint has a detailed description, including its location, depth, and needling technique.
The characters are written very neatly, with every stroke meticulously executed.
Zhang Lan stared at the picture for a long time.
"This... I can understand this."
She flipped to the second picture.
The diagram above shows the needling techniques, including how to insert the needle, how to twist it, and how to retain it—all clearly illustrated.
Even the angles are marked.
Zhang Lan picked up the black box and opened it.
Inside lay a row of thin silver needles, gleaming coldly in the light.
She reached out to take it, but her hand trembled so badly that she pulled it back.
"Lanzi".
Li Yong walked over and stood behind her.
"Don't be afraid."
Zhang Lan turned to look at him.
"But……"
“I’m not afraid,” Li Yong said. “You shouldn’t be afraid either.”
Zhang Lan took a deep breath.
"Then... let's begin now."
"Um."
Li Yong took off his shirt and lay face down on the bed.
His back was exposed, and there was a long scar on his waist, from when he was hit by shrapnel years ago.
The scar has healed, but it is still dark in color.
Zhang Lan walked over with the blueprints and knelt down beside the bed.
She looked at the acupoints on the diagram, then at Li Yong's back.
My hands are still shaking.
"Li Yong..."
"Don't talk." Li Yong buried his face in the pillow. "Go ahead and stab me."
Zhang Lan gritted her teeth and picked up a silver needle.
She found the first acupoint, Shenshu.
The location marked on the diagram is very clear: next to the spine, below the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra, 1.5 inches to the side.
She used her fingers to locate Li Yong's waist.
"I...I'm going to get it done."
"Um."
Zhang Lan closed her eyes, hardened her heart, and pierced the needle.
Li Yong's body stiffened.
Zhang Lan was so frightened that she loosened her grip, but the needle was still stuck in her flesh.
"Li Yong! Are you...are you alright?"
Li Yong lay there, motionless.
After a long pause, he said in a muffled voice, "It's nothing."
His voice sounded strange.
Zhang Lan panicked.
"Did you prick the wrong person? Let me pull it out."
"Don't move!"
Li Yong roared.
Zhang Lan's hand froze in mid-air.
Li Yong took a deep breath.
"continue."
"But……"
"I said, continue."
Zhang Lan looked at the blueprints, which said to rotate them.
She held the end of the silver needle and gently rotated it.
Li Yong's body trembled again.
This time he remained silent.
Following the instructions on the blueprint, Zhang Lan turned around three times and then stopped.
Li Yong lay there, breathing heavily.
"Li Yong..."
"I'm fine," Li Yong said in a hoarse voice. "Keep stabbing."
Zhang Lan picked up the second needle.
This time she didn't close her eyes, but stared at the acupoints and inserted the needle.
Mingmen acupoint.
When the needle went in, Li Yong's body tensed up again.
Zhang Lan watched as the muscles on his back bulged out one by one, and his palms were covered in sweat.
She twirled the silver needle, her movements more practiced than the first time.
The third one.
Zhishi point.
As soon as the needle went in, Li Yong felt completely relaxed.
He lay there, like a puddle of mud.
Zhang Lan looked at the three needles stuck in his back, and her hands trembled even more violently.
"Li Yong..."
"Don't be afraid," Li Yong said softly. "I'm fine."
There was something indescribable in his voice.
It doesn't hurt.
It's comfortable.
Zhang Lan was stunned.
"you……"
"It's really nothing." Li Yong buried his face even deeper. "Just leave it like this. The diagram says to leave it for half an hour."
Zhang Lan sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the three needles.
The needle tip trembled slightly, as if it were breathing.
Time passed second by second.
Half an hour later, Zhang Lan removed the needle.
The three needles were pulled out, and there was no blood on the needle tips.
Li Yong sat up in bed.
He shifted his waist, his eyes slightly unfocused.
"Li Yong"
Li Yong didn't say anything, but moved his waist again.
Then he stood up, bent over, straightened up, and bent over again.
"Li Yong, what are you doing?"
Li Yong turned around to look at her.
His eyes were red.
"Lanzi..."
"What's wrong"
"My back... doesn't hurt anymore."
Zhang Lan was stunned.
"real"
Li Yong nodded.
"And..." he paused, "I feel energetic again."
He raised his hand and clenched his fist.
Zhang Lan looked at him, and tears fell from her eyes.
"Li Yong..."
Li Yong walked over and hugged her.
"Lanzi, thank you."
Zhang Lan leaned against him, her shoulders shaking as she cried.
For the next three days, Zhang Lan gave Li Yong acupuncture every day.
Her technique became more and more skilled, and her movements became more and more stable.
Li Yong's back injury is getting better day by day.
On the third night, after Zhang Lan removed the needles from his body, Li Yong suddenly sat up.
He stared at Zhang Lan, his eyes burning with desire.
Zhang Lan blushed under his gaze.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Li Yong didn't say anything, but grabbed her hand.
"Li Yong"
Li Yong pulled her into his arms with a strong pull.
Zhang Lan bumped into his arms, and before she could react, he pinned her to the bed.
"Li Yong!"
Li Yong leaned down, his nose brushing against hers.
"Lanzi..."
His voice was hoarse.
Zhang Lan looked into his eyes, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to explode.
"you……"
Li Yong lowered his head and kissed her.
The kiss was intense, carrying five years of suppressed desire and longing.
Zhang Lan was breathless from the kiss and gripped his shoulders.
Li Yong's hand slid down her waist, touching her curves through her clothes.
“Li Yong…” Zhang Lan’s voice trembled, “you…”
"I've missed you," Li Yong whispered in her ear. "I've missed you for five years."
Zhang Lan's tears fell.
"I miss you as well……"
Li Yong kissed away her tears and began to unbutton her clothes.
As the buttons were undone one by one, Zhang Lan's breathing became more and more rapid.
Li Yong's hand slipped inside her clothes and touched her skin.
"Lanzi..."
"Um……"
The room was dimly lit, and the two people's shadows were cast on the wall, overlapping each other.
Zhang Lan's shirt was thrown on the ground, and Li Yong's hand slid down her back.
His hands were so hot that Zhang Lan trembled all over.
"Li Yong..."
Li Yong didn't speak, but kissed her lips all the way down.
Zhang Lan gripped the bed sheet tightly, her fingers turning white.
Li Yong reached his hand to her waist and gently pulled, loosening her pants.
“Li Yong…” Zhang Lan’s voice trembled, “you…”
"Don't be afraid." Li Yong looked up, his eyes gentle. "I'll be careful."
He lowered his head to kiss her, his hand continuing downwards.
Zhang Lan closed her eyes, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
Li Yong kissed away her tears, his voice very soft.
"Lanzi, I love you."
"I love you too……"
The two embraced tightly, rediscovering the intimacy they had lost five years ago in the dim light.
The next morning, Li Yong got up very early.
He sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Zhang Lan who was still asleep.
She was sleeping soundly, her face still flushed from the previous night.
Li Yong leaned down and gently kissed her forehead.
Then he got dressed and went out.
He rode his bike to the military compound. It was just dawn, and people were already running on the playground.
Gao Jianjun was stunned when he saw him.
"Li Yong is here so early."
Li Yong jumped out of the car and walked up to him.
He stood up straight, raised his hand, and gave a standard military salute.
Gao Jianjun was completely bewildered by this.
"What are you doing...?"
"Brother Gao," Li Yong said in a clear voice, "please pass on this message to Mr. Bai."
He lowered his hand, his eyes resolute.
"Li Yong's life is now his."
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