Chapter 539: Chapter 539: The Leader Should Be My Beloved Chapter 539: Chapter 539: The Leader Should Be My Beloved Huo Xingzhou’s gaze remained fixed on the scene inside, his eyes revealing a trace of rippling emotions.

“Didn’t you hear Lu Bannong’s reference to her?”

Reference?

Old Chen really hadn’t paid attention.

Now that Huo Xingzhou mentioned it, he racked his brain to think.

He uncertainly asked, “Ms. Chen? Ms. Cheng?”

“Perhaps Ms. Cheng?” Huo Xingzhou was very sharp; he had already sensed that the expressions of those old seniors in the VIP seats were extraordinary. This woman might have had some history.

At the very least, her identity was not simple.

Lu Bannong openly referred to her as Ms. Cheng, without any concealment.

Whereas the TV station had some reservations, not a single shot was in high definition.

Was it to protect the patient’s privacy, or was it a ploy to catch someone’s attention?

It seems only Lu Bannong himself would know!

“Go and find out exactly what her background is, and where she popped up from. Also… the people sent out to check on Cheng Han’s whereabouts, don’t call them back yet. Have them thoroughly search the Imperial Capital to see if he is still there!”

“Yes, Young Master. I will explain carefully; they dare not neglect.”

Old Chen sensed Huo Xingzhou’s emphasis and dared not delay.

Sun Weimeng pouted discontentedly on the side; he was becoming more and more confused by the conversation between Old Chen and Huo Xingzhou.

So, he turned his head towards Zhong Yi, who was across a small passageway, and tugged at the man’s suit hem.

As Zhong Yi turned his head, Sun Weimeng whispered, “Are you here to watch Lu Yingxue compete? Who do you actually like better, your cousin or your cousin’s sister?”

Zhong Yi gave him a cold look.

“You can fancy either. But the champion of today’s needle trial contest cannot go to your sweetheart.”

Sun Weimeng was really too idle, even starting to chat with Zhong Yi.

Zhong Yi’s lips curled slightly; his delicate brows carried a touch of coldness and provocation: “The champion of the needle trial contest should belong to my sweetheart.”

After speaking, he even glanced at Huo Xingzhou.

Sun Weimeng was not pleased, “Hey, whose side are you really on?”

He had previously thought Zhong Yi and Huo Xingzhou were collaborating on a business level. Plus, those wealthy families had their unclear affairs; how could Zhong Yi seem like he’s turned hostile today.

This man seemed neither entirely good nor bad; it was unclear whose side he was on.

This confused Sun Weimeng.

“I stand where President Huo should be very clear about.”

Zhong Yi’s gaze passed over Sun Weimeng, looking towards Huo Xingzhou.

It was cool and indifferent, mixed with a touch of inexplicable amusement.

Huo Xingzhou ignored him.

Meanwhile, Sun Weimeng muttered on the side, “Whose side is he on? Is he with us or not? Don’t be deceived by him; I think Young Master Zhong is full of tricks.”

Thinking with his toes, the Imperial Capital’s Zhong family could not possibly be on their side.

“Shut up, watch the competition.”

Huo Xingzhou, fed up, warned.

Sun Weimeng’s mouth really could talk, his sonic attacks unbearable for anyone.

“Okay.”

Sun Weimeng closed his mouth in grievance.

He still sneaked a glance at Zhong Yi, who never spoke a true word.

…

Inside the arena.

The sand in Qiao Xi’s hourglass had run out.

She stepped out of the glass sterile room and slowly wrote three characters on the pulse case in front of her. Her injured right hand wrote clumsily, but her strokes were firm.

This was her answer!

She put down the pen; the pulse case was covered.

She stood aside, waiting, her back straight watching the next person enter the sterile room, still pondering what method she should use to treat this middle-aged woman’s illness.

She hadn’t encountered such a disease in the village, and later, at Hai City Hospital, she mostly came across coma patients who were in vegetative states.

This was clearly different.

Qiao Xi fell into thought, her brows tightly furrowed.

A medical book indeed had records of such a rare disease but she had never mastered that set of needling techniques.

Should she try?

She glanced up at the sterile room, soon it would be Mingzhu’s turn. She entered with confidence, as if she had everything under control.

After simply taking the pulse and inspecting, she came out.

It seemed she was very sure!

Eventually, Mingzhu walked up to her and wrote her diagnosis on the pulse case as well.

After completing everything, Mingzhu provocatively said: “Hey, Qiao Xi! I saw you inside for so long, couldn’t you even diagnose such a simple illness?”

“Qiao Xi, you better not lose too badly. Otherwise, I won’t feel any sense of achievement, and it would be a pity if you got eliminated in the third round…”

Mingzhu said pretentiously.

She dressed flamboyantly, overshadowing the rest in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, not looking like she came to compete at all.

Qiao Xi glanced at her but did not respond.

Yet Mingzhu just couldn’t stop, as if she couldn’t control the joy inside her, fantasizing about the glory after becoming the champion.

Her mouth went on without restraint, completely impatient.

“Qiao Xi, I’m telling you…”

“Quiet!”

Mr. Huang from the judges’ panel spoke sternly, “Certain contestants should not disturb others, no whispering allowed.”

He stared at Mingzhu, nearly saying her name directly.

Mingzhu bit her lip, slightly disgruntled, and shut her mouth.

At this moment.

Under everyone’s focused attention.

Lu Yingxue entered the sterile room.

She examined meticulously, first taking the pulse and then checking ears, eyes, and nose. She gently turned the woman’s body, performing a series of movements just like Qiao Xi.

At last, she came out of the sterile room and wrote the woman’s illness on the pulse case.

She nodded slightly, signaling the end.

Until now, all contestants had diagnosed.

Lu Bannong picked up the microphone and said: “The atmosphere is getting even more tense, today we will see the emergence of a new leader of the young generation at this once-in-a-decade grand traditional Chinese medicine festival. This year’s champion will directly become the vice-chairman of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, which is also our way of showing care for the younger generation.”

He mentioned the duties of the vice-chairman of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association again.

It was to pave the way for Lu Yingxue!

While many vice-chairmans exist, for a young successor to leap to such a position signifies a boundless future!

And to hold a significant position in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association means having the capacity to change the current state of the Chinese medicine community, and the authority to propose new initiatives.

As Lu Bannong’s words fell, the breaths of many young Chinese medicine practitioners grew heavier.

This was a great temptation.

However, Mr. Huang from the judges’ panel just smirked, his expression somewhat mocking.

How many here were truly committed to the altruistic goal of saving lives, and how many were chasing fame and fortune?

This was why he initially disliked the state of Chinese medicine and chose to retire.

Lu Bannong continued with the microphone: “The first round of diagnosis is over, please esteemed seniors move in sequence to see the answers of the younger generation.”

Mr. Huang glanced at him and stood up, walking first to Qiao Xi.

He picked up Qiao Xi’s pulse case and saw the three characters.

Narcolepsy!