Chapter 107: Why Didn’t You Let Me Meet You at the Most Beautiful Moment?

Archimedes once said, "Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world." Qin Luo thought to himself, give me a lever long enough, and I’d flip Lin Wanxi’s BMW over.

He wasn’t sure if that woman hadn’t heard him or if she was deliberately ignoring him, but after calling out for a long time, she finally slowed the car and pulled over to the roadside.

By then, Qin Luo had been running behind the tail of Lin Wanxi’s BMW for quite a stretch, panting heavily as he caught up.

He yanked open the car door and slid inside. "I’ve been shouting for ages. How come you didn’t hear me?"

"Is there something wrong?" Lin Wanxi asked, her face still the same icy mask that never seemed to thaw. If she weren’t so beautiful, anyone seeing that expression would have turned and walked away.

He thought to himself, that night I struggled so fiercely, and you didn’t hear a thing then either, did you?

"Nothing. Where are you headed now?" Qin Luo smiled as he asked.

"Home," Lin Wanxi replied.

"What a coincidence. I’m heading to your place too. Let’s go together."

Lin Wanxi glanced at him once, then started the engine and drove toward the Lin family villa.

"By the way, Prince Hao was looking for me earlier," Qin Luo said.

Lin Wanxi’s eyes flickered. She knew Prince Hao liked her. When a man lavishes attention on a woman without reason, there’s always an agenda. Otherwise, men—those lazy creatures—would never bother.

But she had grown used to such affections, so she lumped Prince Hao in with all the other suitors she’d turned down, barely giving him a second thought.

She just hoped Prince Hao hadn’t said anything too extreme.

Qin Luo turned to look at Lin Wanxi’s focused, delicate face as she drove. At twenty-seven, still a virgin, she rarely used cosmetics, yet her skin was astonishingly smooth and fine.

"He wanted to challenge my Chinese medicine with Western medicine, see who’s the top teacher at school. I turned him down," Qin Luo said, resting his head against the seat cushion. "What’s the point of chasing those hollow titles?"

"It’s none of my concern," Lin Wanxi said.

"I’m just worried you’re friends."

"We’re not close."

"Oh. That’s good," Qin Luo nodded. "By the way, has Guan Xu contacted you recently?"

Qin Luo had wanted to tell Lin Wanxi that he had met Guan Xu at the Socialites’ Club and that they had clashed again. But he feared it would put Lin Wanxi in an awkward position, so he kept that to himself.

"I’m not close with him either," Lin Wanxi’s expression darkened.

Seeing her get a bit angry, Qin Luo fell silent, no longer pressing.

His question was just a test to gauge Lin Wanxi’s feelings toward Guan Xu.

Though reluctant to bring up the topic, some problems cannot be solved by avoidance.

Only by understanding her attitude toward Guan Xu could he devise a better way to treat Lin Wanxi’s emotional closure disorder.

What Qin Luo didn’t know was that the cause of her emotional blockage wasn’t Guan Xu—but himself.

In Chinese medicine, he was a consummate scholar, able to handle any case with ease. But when it came to women—no woman had ever been caught by him.

He didn’t understand pursuit, nor rejection. All he amassed were debts of romantic entanglements.

When Qin Luo and Lin Wanxi returned to the Lin family villa, Lin Qingyuan was sitting in the living room reading the newspaper.

Seeing them enter one after the other, his furrowed brow relaxed instantly, and he smiled warmly. "You’re back? Have you eaten? If not, I’ll heat up some dishes for you."

"We’ve eaten," Qin Luo replied with a smile, knowing Lin Wanxi wouldn’t respond. When she was in a bad mood, even her grandfather’s questions were met with silence. Communication was a task better left to him.

"Alright. Qin Luo, come sit on the sofa. I want to show you an article," Lin Qingyuan said, patting the sofa beside him.

Qin Luo, filled with curiosity, sat down, wondering what news his grandfather wanted to share.

Lin Qingyuan handed him the "China Traditional Medicine Gazette," pointing to an article he had folded neatly.

"Take a look at this," he said.

Qin Luo followed his finger and silently read the article.

The headline read: "Returned Overseas Chinese Invest Heavily to Establish China’s Famous Medical Hall, Aiming to Industrialize Chinese Medicine—"

The article went on to detail the purpose of founding the Medical Hall and included profiles of some renowned doctors, many of whom Qin Luo had heard speak at a recent Chinese medicine symposium.

"Is there a problem?" Qin Luo asked, holding the paper.

It was good news that overseas Chinese were willing to invest in Chinese medicine. After all, one person’s strength was limited. If all Chinese worldwide shared this ambition, how could Chinese medicine decline?

Moreover, Qin Luo welcomed others who cared for Chinese medicine and wanted to become his peers.

"I just feel there’s something off about this news. Gathering famous Chinese doctors in one place is a good way to generate buzz. But industrializing Chinese medicine? Many have failed. Why would anyone invest and enter this never-ending cycle?" Lin Qingyuan asked, puzzled.

Normally, he wouldn’t pay attention to such matters, but since Qin Luo had mentioned working with the government to establish a global Chinese medicine association, he was particularly alert to any news on the subject.

Essentially, their goals were aligned.

However, the Medical Hall plan focused on profit-making, while Qin Luo’s association was grander and more altruistic, aimed at promoting Chinese medicine and supporting practitioners.

Of course, Qin Luo’s plan included profit elements. Without sustainable funding, even a well-built association would soon collapse. If this global Chinese medicine association succeeded, the value and influence it brought would be astonishing.

"Ha, maybe there are still fools in this world like me who dare to dream," Qin Luo chuckled to himself.

Although the paper briefly mentioned the investor’s identity, Qin Luo was unfamiliar with the name "Dan Xing Shu." Had they used "Guan Xu," he would have been highly suspicious.

Qin Luo remained extremely wary of Guan Xu, vigilant about anything involving him.

If Guan Xu claimed to found the Medical Hall to save Chinese medicine, Qin Luo wouldn’t believe it for a second. It’s like a dog suddenly saying it will stop eating meat and only eat vegetables—would you believe it?

"Sigh. Hopefully, I’m overthinking. Our Chinese medicine can’t afford any more turmoil. We must take steady steps, one at a time," Lin Qingyuan sighed.

Qin Luo was about to reply when his phone suddenly rang.

He pulled it from his pocket and saw the caller ID: Li Qingcheng. He was about to hang up immediately.

"I’ll take this call," Qin Luo apologized. He wanted to move to the doorway to answer quietly, but doing so felt like covering his ears while ignoring the truth.

No sooner had he answered than Li Qingcheng’s coquettish voice came through: "Little brother, I miss you so much. Don’t you miss me too?"

What you fear is what comes to you.

Lin Qingyuan, sitting nearby, suddenly widened his eyes in disbelief as he looked at Qin Luo.

Qin Luo smiled awkwardly, covering the phone as he walked to the door. "Sister, can we talk normally?"

"Not normal enough for you? What about that night when you were peeping on me? Was that normal?"

"—" Women sure never forget.

"You heartless man, I’m already yours, and you just want to use me up and leave," Li Qingcheng teased, clearly enjoying Qin Luo’s predicament.

"Li, Aunt Li, Granny Li, just say what you want straight. I’ll agree to anything," Qin Luo nearly pleaded.

He was still a virgin—when did she become his?

He’d only stolen a few glances—does that destroy a woman’s purity from several meters away?

"Actually, it’s nothing much," Li Qingcheng’s voice suddenly grew serious. "Just—come see me immediately. I have something very important to discuss with you, and there’s a very beautiful lady I want you to meet."

"Where shall we meet?" Qin Luo asked.

"Just come to my house. The one where you’ve slept, peed, and drooled. You know where it is, right?"

"I know," Qin Luo replied miserably.

"Alright. See you in half an hour. Muah."

"—"

After hanging up on this troublesome woman, Qin Luo reentered the room and told Lin Qingyuan, "Grandpa Lin, I have something to take care of outside."

Lin Qingyuan glanced at Lin Wanxi, who was sitting on the sofa flipping through a magazine, then smiled. "Go ahead. Come back for dinner."

"Okay," Qin Luo agreed.

Once Qin Luo’s figure disappeared from view, Lin Qingyuan sat beside Lin Wanxi and sighed. "Wanxi, I’m planning a trip south in a couple of days to meet Qin Luo’s family. Do you have any objections?"

"No," Lin Wanxi said flatly.

Hearing her answer, Lin Qingyuan’s face lit up with joy, and he waved his hands excitedly. "Actually, I want Old Qin to stay in Yanjing for a few days. Matters like these—the woman’s family shouldn’t speak first. But if he can’t acclimate to the north, then so be it. This is what I’m thinking: I’ll go to the Qin family and talk about your situation. Then the two families can discuss and pick an auspicious date to arrange the wedding first."

"Wanxi, you’re no longer young. What’s that term again? Ah, leftover woman. At your age, it’s time to talk marriage. Qin Luo is a good young man—I’ve watched him grow up—not exactly, but I can see his character. He’s honorable and skilled in medicine. You won’t suffer any grievances with him."

Lin Wanxi stared blankly at her grandfather’s moving lips but heard nothing.

Qin Luo? Could it ever be possible?

I was born too late, and you too early.

Qin Luo, why didn’t you let me meet you at the most beautiful moment?