Come in 218
Posted on July 09, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
Listen to this chapter:

Zinnia and Charlie both looked grim.

โ€œZinnia, do you have any way to help?โ€ Sofia stood anxiously by, her gaze falling on Henry, who lay motionless on the sofa. Tears welled up in her eyes. The shrapnel from the back of Henryโ€™s neck had already been removed, and the wound was properly dressed.

โ€œGrandma, trust me. I have a way. I can save Grandpa,โ€ Zinnia said firmly, dropping to one knee on the carpet. With steady hands, she began inserting needles one by one into Henry, forming a circle around his chest.

โ€œAlright, I trust you,โ€ Sofia choked out, digging her nails into her palms as she struggled to contain her overwhelming grief.

โ€œZinnia, how bad is Grandpaโ€™s condition?โ€ Jackson asked, his trust in her deepening, especially knowing she had trained under Nathan.

โ€œJacksonโ€ฆโ€ Zinnia couldnโ€™t hide the truth; Henryโ€™s condition was visibly deteriorating.

โ€œMr. Lynn, the medical team is here,โ€ the waiter announced as he opened the private room door. Outside stood the medical team and the restaurant manager, both visibly tense. With Henry, the Lynn family patriarch, collapsing in their establishment, they were terrified. The very future of the restaurant could be at stake.

โ€œPlease wait outside for now,โ€ Jackson said, his eyes fixed on Zinniaโ€™s hands as she inserted the needles.

โ€œUnderstood, sir. Weโ€™ll wait right outside. Just call if you need anything,โ€ the manager replied deferentially.

Zinnia remained composed. โ€œJackson, I need a quiet room,โ€ she said. โ€œGiven Grandpaโ€™s current condition, it would be best not to move him.โ€

โ€œGrandma, letโ€™s step outside and give Zinnia space to treat Grandpa,โ€ Jackson said gently but firmly, taking Sofiaโ€™s hand.

โ€œCanโ€™t I stay here with him?โ€ Sofia pleaded, her voice trembling with worry.

โ€œGrandma, if you stay here, Zinnia will worry about you. She wonโ€™t be able to focus completely on treating Grandpa,โ€ Jackson soothed Sofia gently.

โ€œZinnia, Iโ€™m entrusting your grandpa to your care,โ€ Sofia said, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Zinnia.

โ€œDonโ€™t worry, Grandma.โ€ Zinnia nodded firmly.

โ€œIsaac, help Grandma out first,โ€ Jackson instructed, gesturing for Isaac to assist Sofia.

โ€œAlright,โ€ Isaac agreed, his voice thick with emotion.

After Sofia left, only Jackson, Yannis, Charlie, Zinnia, and the unconscious Henry were left in the private room. Jackson asked with a stern face, โ€œZinnia, what are the chances?โ€

โ€œJackson, to be honest, itโ€™s fiftyโ€“fifty,โ€ Zinnia said quietly, her fingers still resting on Henryโ€™s wrist as she took his pulse.

โ€œFifty percentโ€ฆโ€ Jacksonโ€™s heart sank. He turned to Charlie. โ€œCharlie, if we take Grandpa to the hospital now, what would his success rate be?โ€

Charlieโ€™s voice was hoarse as he explained, โ€œIf we send Grandpa to the hospital now, the time lost during transport will reduce his survival rate to just thirty percent. And given his age and heart condition, he likely wouldnโ€™t survive surgery. Conservative treatment would be safer for him.โ€

In short, acupuncture was the better option for Henry. Given his heart condition and advanced age, surgery would be too risky. Taking him to the hospital would actually be more dangerous than letting Zinnia treat him. They observed that Henryโ€™s complexion gradually began to stabilize after Zinniaโ€™s acupuncture.

Chapter 218

โ€œZinnia, Iโ€™m entrusting Grandpa to you,โ€ Jackson said gravely.

โ€œHeโ€™s my grandpa, too,โ€ Zinnia said seriously.

By this point, Jackson was fully aware of the gravity of the situation and made to leave.

Yannis, who had been silent until now, walked over to Zinnia, leaned down, and gently placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. In a soft voice, he said โ€œKeep going, but donโ€™t push yourself too hard. If it ever feels like too much, we can always find another way.โ€

For some reason, Yannis couldnโ€™t shake off a sense of unease. Charlieโ€™s worried expression made it clear just how critical Henryโ€™s condition was. โ€˜What exactly is she planning to do to save him?โ€™ he wondered.

โ€œAlright.โ€ Zinnia pressed her dry lips together. โ€œYou all should step outside now. His condition is critical. I need to begin the acupuncture immediately.โ€

โ€œCharlie will stay to assist you,โ€ Yannis said. With Charlieโ€™s medical training, Yannis thought Charlie might be able to help Zinnia.

Zinnia didnโ€™t object. She simply nodded and said, โ€œAlright.โ€

With that, Yannis and Jackson left the room.

โ€œZinnia, Grandpaโ€ฆโ€ Charlieโ€™s face was ashen. As a wellโ€“trained physician, he understood the gravity of Henryโ€™s condition better than anyone except Zinnia. But without medical equipment, his hands were tied. He was powerless to help. Earlier, with Sofia present, heโ€™d withheld the grim truth, fearing the shock would be too much for her.

โ€œCharlie, I can save him,โ€ Zinnia said with calm determination, her eyes showing an uncharacteristic stubbornness. She was absolutely certain she could bring him back. โ€œIโ€™ve already stabilized his meridians with acupuncture. This will effectively prevent any cardiac stress during the procedure.โ€

โ€œZinnia, what are you planning to do?โ€ Charlie knew Zinnia wasnโ€™t one to make empty promises. Since she said she had a way, she must have a solution. As he looked at her, hope flickered in his eyes.

โ€œThe Flowing Technique,โ€ Zinnia said as she flipped open Henryโ€™s eyelids. Henryโ€™s eyes were already unfocused. There was no time to lose.

โ€œTheโ€“the Flowing Technique?โ€ Charlieโ€™s eyes widened in disbelief. Heโ€™d heard of this legendary acupuncture method, a unique creation of Richard, the former head of the Moore family. But it was notoriously difficult to master; even Raymond hadnโ€™t been able to learn it. After the Moore family perished in that tragic fire, everyone thought the technique was lost forever. He never imagined Zinnia would possess it.

โ€œCould you please sterilize my used needles over a flame later?โ€ Zinnia asked as she spread out her silver needle case.

The silver needle case unfurled, spanning a graceful arc nearly a meter long. Inside were 720 needles, each differing in length and thickness. Among them, several caught the light with an eerie violet glint, their edges razorโ€“sharp and chilling.

Suppressing his astonishment, Charlie nodded. โ€œAlright.โ€

The Flowing Technique targeted nine critical acupoints. These acupoints could relieve headaches, dizziness, and insomnia, boost vitality, regulate internal organs, aid digestion, strengthen the bodyโ€™s foundation, promote blood circulation, and protect the heart. Every needle placement in acupoints was absolutely critical. There was no room for error.

Charlie stayed close by her side and asked, โ€œZinnia, how can I help you?โ€

โ€œI need you to cut my palm with the silver needle. I canโ€™t do it myself,โ€ Zinnia said, extending her soft, delicate hand and picking up a cup from the table. โ€œPlease help me squeeze out at least a cupโ€™s worth.โ€

โ€œWait, you want to draw blood?โ€ Charlie was completely caught off guard.

โ€œMy blood actually has therapeutic properties because I have taken medicinal baths and been on medications since childhood for years. This procedure takes six hours. Grandpa, Iโ€™m worried I might not be able to endure it.โ€


Please let us know if you find any errors, so we can fix them.