Time slipped away like sand through fingers. Zhu Yanyi felt a heavy weight in her heart. Yan Aohan would have to return to the Underworld when spring arrived next year. Even if she came back quickly, she would be busy handling matters there for two or three years. By the time she returned, she might already be at the Sage Academy. The thought made her feel empty and tired.
"What's wrong?" Yan Aohan noticed her listless expression immediately. she asked with genuine concern.
Zhu Yanyi pouted, her lower lip sticking out. "If I get busy, I won't have much time with you."
She didn't need to say more. Yan Aohan understood her worry instantly. she smiled warmly, reaching out to rub her head gently. "Silly girl. When you are busy, I will accompany you. Besides, I need to handle things here too. So, we will be busy together. But remember, your nights must belong to me."
His tone was possessive, yet filled with deep affection.
Zhu Yanyi had no strong objections. Seeing her serious expression, she knew what she meant. She glared at her playfully, then nodded happily. "Okay. My nights belong to you."
After that conversation, Zhu Yanyi threw herself into her work. As materials arrived one by one, she was so busy her feet barely touched the ground. Yet, every evening, she returned home quietly. She ate dinner with Yan Aohan, and they took a leisurely walk together afterward.
One day, Elder Yao spoke to her. "Ani, I plan to arrange surgeries for the children with cleft lips in the next few days. What are your plans?"
Zhu Yanyi replied, "The materials have arrived, but refining them is not easy. I want to restore the vocal cords of those who cannot speak first. Congenital muteness is often just due to missing or damaged vocal cords. I have almost finished refining the vocal cords. I plan to treat the mute children first, then move to the next step."
"That is good," Elder Yao nodded, supporting her decision.
Zhu Yanyi actually wanted to treat the children with uneven legs first, but she was still missing one key material for that. So, she had to treat others first.
She did not operate on all the children in one day. She scheduled two or three surgeries daily. Since these were not emergency cases, there was no need to rush.
However, the entrance of the Capital Hospital was crowded with reporters. Zhu Yanyi’s actions were seen as a remarkable feat in modern times. Unlike parents who abandoned their defective children, Zhu Yanyi gave these orphans unexpected love and hope.
Every day, she told them stories. Afterward, the children played in their wards while she handled her tasks. Once finished, she visited them again before leaving for the day. Sometimes, she even brought them breakfast the next morning.
For these orphans, this was the happiest period of their lives. They would remember these days with joy when they grew up.
During this time, not only Zhu Yanyi and Elder Yao were busy. Gu Jingtian, Hua Tian, Wu Ling, Elder Huang, and Gu Jun, who had returned, all came to the Capital Hospital to help care for the children.
Wu Ling even discovered a potential shamanic healer: Xiao Kai.
It was a chance encounter. When Xiao Kai came to visit the hospitalized children, she met Wu Ling. After chatting with her for a while, Wu Ling realized she had a natural talent for shamanic healing. She encouraged Xiao Kai to apply to Zhu Yanyi’s Traditional Chinese Medicine School. Once admitted, she would take her as her disciple. In the meantime, she taught her some basics.
"Xiao Kai is a wonderful child," Wu Ling said with a smile. "His eyes are a rare 'Yin-Yang Eye' in our shamanic tradition. Unlike the Yin-Yang Eye in physiognomy, a shamanic candidate with this trait will have astonishing healing abilities if trained well. Their healing effects are often better than ours."
She turned to Zhu Yanyi. "I want to adopt Xiao Kai. Can you help, Little Divine Doctor?"
"Of course," Zhu Yanyi nodded immediately. With the right procedures, adoption was easy nowadays.
Zhu Yanyi called Elder Yun. Elder Yun sent people to handle the paperwork quickly. Wu Ling changed Xiao Kai’s name to Wu Kai. Since she had no surname before, she took Wu Ling’s surname.
Zhu Yanyi advised Wu Ling, "Teach Xiao Kai well. Let her take the entrance exam. Do not waste her talent."
"Of course," Wu Ling said cheerfully. She wanted to promote shamanic healing. One Xiao Kai was not enough, so she was determined to do her best.
Next, Zhu Yanyi performed vocal cord restoration surgeries on several children with throat issues. There were seven mute orphans from the Rainbow Orphanage, accounting for one-seventh of the total. It was a significant number. Zhu Yanyi spent three days performing the surgeries.
Elder Yao, Gu Jingtian, Elder Huang, Wu Ling, Gu Jun, and Hua Tian watched from the side. They were shocked by Zhu Yanyi’s medical skills, especially her delicate technique in restoring vocal cords. They felt they could never achieve such precision. However, they learned a great deal from observing her.
Wu Ling, Elder Huang, Gu Jun, and Hua Tian were seeing this type of surgery performed by Zhu Yanyi for the first time. Even Elder Yao was seeing her grown disciple perform such complex procedures for the first time. All five were deeply moved.
"I always thought my medical skills were good," Gu Jun sighed. "But now I realize I was looking at the sky from the bottom of a well. I eagerly await the day Yan Yi goes to the Sage Academy. Let everyone see her skills. Let them understand that medical arts are vast and varied. Stagnation is unacceptable."
Elder Yao sighed too. "Don't say that. I never expected my disciple to grow to this level. I used to think, 'How good can medical skills get?' But now I know. Her skills are truly excellent. So excellent that I, her master, cannot even catch up."
Wu Ling looked on in admiration. "I thought my talent was good. But now I know there are people with much greater talent than me."
"Little Divine Doctor is amazing," Hua Tian said with joy. Zhu Yanyi held the Flower Medical Order, making her their master. To Hua Tian, the more powerful the Little Divine Doctor, the higher the status of the Flower Doctors.
Elder Huang looked at Elder Yao and said, "I envy you, Old Yao. You have such a fine successor. The student surpasses the master."