GAMBLING 1

It had been almost two weeks since Wu Qi, Hu Nayin, and their four new friends stayed at Mrs. Deng's house. In the meantime, their plan to go to Guangdong must be postponed. While the townspeople seemed to be apathetic towards A Nuo's announcement, they still did not dare to take any risk. For matters of going out, shopping, and so on, it was the four young people from Bai Lian Jiao who helped Mrs. Deng swiftly and deftly. On the other hand, Wu Qi helped with household matters, such as drawing water from the well, carrying heavy things, and other tiring jobs that the men commonly did.

"After you stay here, all of you really give me big help," Mrs. Deng said happily as Wu Qi finished carrying two buckets of water for her.

Wiping the sweat, Wu Qi said hastily, "It is us who must thank for your kindness in accommodating us. Your son is also willing to heal Wang Fei."

"Ah, that kid. Don't thank him. For him, healing people is like a game. If he succeeds, that means he wins the game and he is proud of it. By allowing him to treat Wang Fei, it is you who are kind to him."

It was clear that Deng Linping was so obsessed with medicine. He really wanted to heal Hu Nayin, no matter how difficult it was, he was determined to heal her. He even unloaded the warehouse to search for ancient books that were stored deep inside it. When he came out, his entire body was covered in dust, and he did not stop coughing.

"Linping! Geez, why are you so messy?!" Shocked, Mrs. Deng was immediately patting Deng Linping's clothes. The dust scattered and made her also coughed. "Cough cough! Gosh, so much dust on your body! Clean your body first, or I won't allow you to enter the house!"

"Let me help you!" And Wu Qi took the very heavy pile of books, carried them into the house. Deng Linping himself cleaned his body carelessly and in a hurry, but his eyes still remained focused on his activities. Watching Deng Linping, Wu Qi shook his head. Such a nonsensical thing. He always met with those who were obsessed with medicine. Zhu Su, Hu Nayin, Team of Wellbeing members, Liu Ku, Shao Rong, and now, Deng Linping. They looked like a bunch of weirdos, but they were very smart and had successfully handled very difficult things many times. Hopefully, Deng Linping can do the same. I really hope for that miracle.

Hu Nayin was sitting on a chair near the window. Deng Linping sat at her opposite, his hands were ready with notes and ink brush.

"Wang Fei, can you tell me about Zhou Wang?"

Deng Linping had examined Hu Nayin for almost two weeks. He had tried any form of therapy. Shocking her with loud sounds; letting her listen to songs, poems, or stories; giving her a strong scent; pressing her acupoints which had the function of letting Qi flow smoothly, and so on. But none of those worked. Then finally, he got this idea. Interviewing as a therapeutic technic.

No physicians who have ever used this method before, it is not recorded in the ancient books and nobody knows whether this method works or not. But, no record doesn't mean it is ineffective. I have to try it first!

Hu Nayin's facial expression changed. Still, her mouth had not yet opened.

"Sir Wu Qi told me, you like medicine very much, right? And so does Zhou Wang? I heard that Zhou Wang has made three amazing medical books, and is writing the fourth book, is that right?"

Hu Nayin moved her lips. Deng Linping felt his adrenaline flowed faster.

"Right..."

Hu Nayin mumbled. So soft, but he could still hear it. Deng Linping almost jumped for joy. He had made a big leap.

"What do the books he has written call? Can you tell me?"

"Bao Sheng Yu Lu... Xiu Zhen Fang... Pu Ji Fang..."

"Wooow... Incredible! Rumors said that Zhou Wang is very talented, right? He is ingenious?"

"Yes... everybody said so..."

"And I heard that he is interested in your ability and then appoints you as one of the writers of those books?"

Hu Nayin blushed. A glee of joy appeared on her face. Deng Linping snapped his fingers excitedly. Good, the expression is starting to exist! But wait... I can't be anxious... slow down...

Patiently and carefully, Deng Linping continued to question Hu Nayin. But everything Deng Linping asked was all about Zhu Su. Rarely, or almost never he asked Hu Nayin's personal matters. On the contrary, it was everything about Zhu Su that he asked about. Yet, Deng Linping indeed deliberately did so. Deng Linping had discovered that Hu Nayin was so obsessed with Zhu Su. More than love, this woman had become obsessed with the Fan Wang. Hu Nayin's attachment to Zhu Su was so deep that it became something unsanitary and very dangerous. That was why when Zhu Su "hated her and wanted to kill her", the fact hit Hu Nayin so badly that her soul became abnormal. This mental illness was what Deng Linping tried to overcome at this time.

"In your opinion, does Zhou Wang love you?"

Finally, after an hour of questioning, Deng Linping reached that very sensitive point, but he should ask it. He certainly had to be very careful as he had reached this sensitive part. He was just courageous to ask that question since he thought that Hu Nayin's face became quite normal and she could behave quite well right now. Heart pounding and sweat pouring down his face, Deng Linping waited anxiously for Hu Nayin's reply.

Hu Nayin herself, suddenly fell silent. Her eyeballs were spinning, began to be unfocused.

Ouch, shit! I ask the wrong question! What if this question instead gets me off to the start?!

"Why do you ask like that?"

Deng Linping gawked.

"Why do you ask me such a question? I don't even know the answer, how can I tell you? And more, why do you ask such a question? Is it useful for you? You aren't Zhou Wang's relatives, it won't be of use to you."

Deng Linping leaned forward vigorously, now his face was so close to Hu Nayin's. "Do you know... why do I ask you that question?..."

"I know. You think I'm sick and thus should be cured."

Deng Linping was so eager to get on the table and dance there since he was truly excited with his accomplishment, Hu Nayin was arguably back to normal!

"I'm not sick, so I don't need treatment," said Hu Nayin again.

"No, Wang Fei. You must accept the reality, you are sick. Your soul is lightly traumatized.

"After all, I can eat, drink, sleep, change clothes, and do other normal things. I am fully aware of what is happening right now. I know you, I also know the four people who come here with Wu Qi and me. I know everything. I'm just lazy to talk. That's all."

"So, what's your answer? Does Zhou Wang love you?"

Hu Nayin was stunned again. "That..."

"If you don't suffer from mental illness, you'll be able to answer it easily since that question is unimportant for you."

Hu Nayin lowered her head. Her body shook. Then, drops of tears fell down her lap.

"I... I think, he doesn't love me anymore..." She sobbed. "Wu Qi said, he hates me so much... so eager to kill me... that's why he takes me here..."

"The person who said that is Sir Wu Qi, right? And not Zhou Wang himself?"

Hu Nayin was like being struck by lightning. That was really a new question for her. A question she never thought before.

Deng Linping was right. Since Zhu Su found out her face-to-face meeting with Yun, she had never heard even a single sentence from him. In fact, she could say that he had never met with her. Those who tortured her were the princesses and their loyal court ladies. After that, she fled from Kaifeng Palace, and never met with Zhu Su again.

Deng Linping's question, opened a new page in her brain - which allowed her to take another path that she never thought it existed. "So... so... what should I do?... Should I... confirm it?..."

"Do you like gambling, Wang Fei?"

Hu Nayin pursed her lips. "I'm not fond of gambling..."

"But if this gamble is related to your relationship with Zhou Wang, will you be willing to do it?"

"Eh?..."

"Do you dare, to return to Kaifeng Palace and meet Zhou Wang, just to answer my question?" Deng Linping's eyes widened enthusiastically. "If you win, Hu Wang Fei, the prize is very tempting! You can regain your Wang Fei's title, you don't need to go through a cat-and-mouse life like this... but the most important, of course, you can live happily ever after with your loved ones! Well then?! Do you dare to accept my challenge?!"

Something started to whirl inside Hu Nayin's chest. It was a warm vortex. A vortex filled with hope. With the energy of life.

Her energy of life had awakened.

Hu Nayin stood up. Her eyes were full of determination. "Alright, Brother Deng." She said firmly. "I accept your challenge."