CHAPTER 230: 209: WILL HE BE BITTEN TO DEATH IN HALF A YEAR?

After all the silver needles had been used up, the girl opened the porcelain bottle beside her and aimed its mouth at Chen Yan’s right knee.

In the blink of an eye, a black insect, about the size of a fingernail, appeared in their view, its antennae twitching.

It crawled excitedly around the silver needles, guided by the powder, and silently burrowed into several small holes left by the needles.

Without leaving any traces, it disappeared beneath the surface of the skin.

"Little Zhi, this thing of yours is truly amazing," Ruan Yuan clicked her tongue lightly, feeling goosebumps rise on her arms.

She hated bugs the most, and the thought of a living, wriggling insect crawling inside the body made her feel a little uncomfortable.

Yu Zhi curled her lips, a trace of pride flashing in her light brown almond-shaped eyes: "It’s very powerful."

"Zhizhi, has it succeeded?" A man’s deep voice reached her ears.

She turned her head and saw him holding a tissue, gently wiping the light sweat from her forehead.

Yu Zhi shook her head: "There’s still the other side."

The poisonous insect couldn’t travel from Chen Yan’s right knee to his left knee, so another one would be needed.

"Take your time; there’s plenty of time," Shi Wei withdrew the tissue, kissed the girl’s cheek, and stood by her side waiting.

Yu Zhi softly acknowledged, opened the lid of another porcelain bottle, and released a poisonous insect identical to the previous one onto Chen Yan’s left knee.

Once the poisonous insect burrowed into the skin, she carefully retrieved most of the silver needles stained with dark red blood.

Only two needles were left, embedded into his left and right bones.

"So, he can stand now?" Shi Yin looked at the miraculous scene with surprise.

When he’d heard the woman talking about helping with the surgery earlier, he’d thought it was the kind involving scalpels and incisions.

Having never encountered poisonous insects before, it was hard for him to believe that two small bugs could help a disabled man stand.

"Yes, but only temporarily," Yu Zhi explained patiently while tidying up the porcelain bottles, "Once the poisonous insects consume the silver needles in his bones, they will lose their effectiveness."

"How long can it last?"

"Up to six months."

Shi Yin nodded knowingly, looking at the girl handling the bottles and jars, inadvertently feeling a sense of admiration.

That old saying, ’Don’t judge a book by its cover,’ couldn’t be more fitting for her.

"Little Zhi, will he be eaten alive in six months?" Ruan Yuan raised her eyebrows and looked at her with curiosity.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that things weren’t that simple.

Yu Zhi smiled enigmatically: "It depends on fate."

Her clear and melodic voice was intentionally lowered, but in the silent surgery room, it sounded particularly distinct.

**

The orange-tinted sunset streamed through the glass windows of Galaxy Restaurant.

A gentle breeze passed through from all sides, causing the crystal chandelier to sway faintly, emitting crisp and light sounds within the room.

The light mixed with the glow of the sunset cast shimmering ripples like water waves onto the marble floor.

On the round mahogany table in the private dining room, an assortment of dishes was spread out, their rising steam forming traces of grayish-white mist.

The warmth lingered in the air, and in the season approaching winter, it felt especially cozy.

With her back to the light, the girl picked up a piece of juicy, flavorful rib and placed it into her mouth, chewing gently.

She half-closed her eyes in comfort, her long lashes softly brushing against the corners of her eyes.

Her slightly puffed cheeks resembled cotton candy—sweet and soft, enticing one with the urge to poke them with a fingertip.

"Zhizhi, eat some corn," Shi Wei, after serving a dish to the girl, nonchalantly poked her smooth cheek.

When she turned those clear almond-shaped eyes toward him, he guiltily rubbed his fingertips, pretending that nothing had happened.

Yu Zhi blinked twice, then redirected her attention to the golden corn in the porcelain bowl.

For some reason, every piece of corn the man served her was the largest, making it a bit inconvenient for her to eat with chopsticks.

She swallowed the meat in her mouth, and habitually grasped the ends of the corn with both hands, slowly and leisurely nibbling on it.

As soon as the girl began eating corn, Shi Wei’s gaze couldn’t leave her face.

It was just ordinary food, but whenever she held it and ate, it seemed exceptionally appetizing.

So appetizing that merely watching her made his stomach feel warm.

"Can you two stop showing off your affection?" Ruan Yuan looked at the two with indescribable resignation.

Just watching someone eat, and Shi Wei’s gaze could already be so affectionate—it was truly baffling.

Yu Zhi’s movements paused: "We’re not."

She looked up, a hint of confusion passing through her light brown eyes, her lips carrying a few scattered grains, making her inexplicably adorable.

Ruan Yuan’s heart melted at her expression, smiling like an indulgent aunt: "Alright, alright, you’re not. Continue eating."

Yu Zhi: "..."

The smile was strangely eerie—what’s going on?

Yu Zhi gave her a peculiar glance, then lowered her head again to nibble on the corn, which now bore neat rows of teeth marks.

Watching the girl eat with gusto, Ruan Yuan’s peripheral vision inadvertently caught sight of the golden-yellow corn.

She lowered her gaze, and several pieces of corn identical to the girl’s suddenly appeared in her porcelain bowl.

"If you like it, eat more."

A warm voice sounded near her ear, and when Ruan Yuan turned her head, she met Shi Yin’s gaze, brimming with gentleness.

She froze for a moment, and under the gaze that was hard to refuse, she picked up a piece of corn and began eating slowly.

As she detected a burning stare directed her way, she inwardly grumbled that these two men were indeed brothers; even their habit of enjoying watching people eat was the same.

Once she was finally done being observed, Ruan Yuan quickly dragged the girl to the sofa behind the screen.

Claiming that they needed to chat about life, she seized the opportunity to vent about the two men and gossip a bit.

From Yu Xinman to Jian Xitong, and even to that surname Shi woman who had suddenly visited the company a few days ago.

Recalling Shi Yin’s demeanor at the time, the smile on Ruan Yuan’s face faded significantly: "Little Zhi, do you know what happened between them?"

Yu Zhi shook her head: "I don’t know, I haven’t asked."

She had long noticed the odd tension between them, but never found the right opportunity to learn more.

Of course, more so, she didn’t know how to broach the subject.

Ruan Yuan sighed under her breath, looking at Shi Yin, who always became cautious and reserved whenever Shi Wei was present, feeling a bit uncomfortable herself.

Even though Shi Yin had buried his care and dependence deep within, the emotions still leaked from his eyes.

That urge to reach out but hesitance to do so—not only pitiful but also incredibly heartbreaking.

"Should I investigate?" Yu Zhi lowered her voice, fearing the two men might overhear.