NOVPUBIn an instant.
The air at the scene seemed to be tightly squeezed by an invisible giant hand, turning it as eerily silent as the silence of birds.
Neither Chen Nan nor Niu Xiangxiu could help but hold their breaths.
The tense atmosphere felt like tangible ropes, tightly constricting their throats.
Their gazes were intense, fixedly staring at Niu Kai Xuan, as if trying to see through him to ascertain the final outcome.
On Niu Kai Xuan’s face, a heavy, gloomy expression spread; he slowly shook his head.
Although he uttered not a single word, this silence fell like hammer blows after hammer blows heavily onto everyone’s hearts, becoming the deafening silent answer.
From his eyes full of disappointment, Niu Xiangxiu and her mother felt their hearts drop into an icy pit, a wave of intense disappointment and despair drowning them instantly.
They had wholeheartedly believed that, with Chen Nan’s miraculous Gu Technique, their father could be given a new lease on life, freeing him from the confines of the wheelchair.
But who could have expected such a cruel outcome?
Chen Nan also felt a tinge of disappointment surge within him, yet he forced himself to remain calm, burying that emotion deep in his heart.
Because he knew well that the disappointment felt by Niu Kai Xuan and the others was far stronger than his own.
Without any hesitation, he quickly said, "Teacher, don’t be discouraged. Although this method didn’t work this time, the Gu Technique is mysterious and magical, there certainly are other feasible solutions hidden within it."
"Give me a little time, I promise I can free you from the wheelchair."
Niu Xiangxiu could not help but ask, "Chen Nan, can you really cure my dad?"
"If it’s really not possible, there’s no need to force it."
"After all, the disappointment following hope is not something that everyone can bear." She had just genuinely experienced the heart-wrenching pain of greater expectation leading to greater disappointment, thus she advised so.
Chen Nan scratched his head awkwardly, yet his expression remained firm: "Sister Xiangxiu, I have not spoken in vain. Compared to some, the teacher’s condition is not extremely severe, and with the magic of Gu Technique, it can indeed be cured."
At this point, he paused slightly, then added, "The reason this attempt was not successful might be because it was my first time using the Gu Technique to save someone, and my experience is still shallow, with some oversight in many details."
What he said was true; this indeed was his first attempt at rescuing someone with Gu Technique, and some minor errors and omissions were inevitable.
"What?" Niu Kai Xuan, upon hearing this, suddenly widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief as he stared straight at Chen Nan and exclaimed, "You mean to say this was your first time using Gu Technique to save someone? Weren’t you treating me as a test subject?"
Chen Nan’s face instantly turned ashen as if struck by a bolt from the blue. He hurriedly and repeatedly apologized, "I’m sorry, teacher, I never intended to treat you as a test subject, I was just…"
Before he could finish, his voice abruptly stopped, as if an invisible hand had tightly squeezed his throat, a strong sense of suffocation instantly enveloping him.
Not just him, but also Niu Xiangxiu and Wang Ru were the same.
Their eyes widened, their pupils trembling violently like flickering candle flames in the wind, filled with disbelief and panic.
In this chilling moment, everyone’s skin involuntarily developed a layer of goosebumps, and their scalps felt as if fiercely pricked by countless fine needles, sending waves of numbness.
And all this, because Niu Kai Xuan was slowly standing up, his feet firmly stepping on the ground.
"Chen Nan, don’t be nervous. The teacher was only trying to make a joke just now to lighten this heavy, tense atmosphere," Niu Kai Xuan struggled to suppress his overwhelming excitement, his gaze towards Chen Nan unmasked with deep joy and sincere admiration.
After all, it was Chen Nan’s first use of Gu Technique to save someone, and he had achieved such astonishing results!
How could this not be shocking?
"Dad, your joke isn’t funny at all!"
Niu Xiangxiu burst into tears of joy, her tears falling like pearls from a broken string.
She had never imagined that the disappointment from shattered hopes could turn into such an ecstatic surprise.
The ups and downs of the situation gave everyone the thrill of a rollercoaster ride.
Fortunately, their hearts were strong enough; otherwise, such dramatic fluctuations could have led to heart attacks, with unimaginable consequences!
Wang Ru snorted lightly, speaking in a displeased tone: "Even if you’ve regained feeling in your legs, your brain must be seriously ill, incurably ill. Should you really be joking about this?"
Chen Nan also showed a bitter smile on his face: "Teacher, Teacher’s wife, and Sister Xiangxiu are right, this joke wasn’t funny at all!"
Niu Kai Xuan realized that his joke had gone too far and sincerely said, "I was wrong, I was wrong. To make amends, I’ll cook today’s meal and let you taste my culinary skills."
Wang Ru wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes: "Forget it, I’ll cook. It’s better than letting you ruin the ingredients."
Niu Xiangxiu pouted her lips: "Mom, are you worried that dad will ruin the ingredients? Or are you worried that dad, who has just recovered, will be overexerted? I’m not willing to point it out."
Wang Ru’s face turned red: "You talk too much. Anyway, you guys chat, I’ll go cook. Later, I also owe Chen Nan a couple of toasts!" She hummed a tune as she entered the kitchen.
Niu Xiangxiu followed closely to help her mother.
"It’s incredible, truly unbelievable. The magic of Gu Technique has turned my understanding of the world upside down," Niu Kai Xuan said excitedly, looking at his legs, amazed that six centipedes allowed him to stand again.
Chen Nan smiled and said, "Gu Technique really is magical, but the truly vast and magical thing is the Tao, after all, Gu Technique is just a remote branch of Taoism."
Although Niu Kai Xuan was curious about the so-called "Tao," he was a man aware of his limitations and did not inquire further about the wonders of the Tao, avoiding venturing into a world beyond his understanding. He laughed and said, "We’ll have to drink a lot later, definitely a few more toasts!"
"Alright."
Chen Nan readily agreed.
One hour later.
The dining table was filled with a lavish spread of dishes meticulously cooked by Wang Ru, appealing to both the eye and palate.
The four of them sat joyously around the table.
Raising their glasses together, they celebrated Chen Nan’s excellent academic achievements.
They also celebrated Niu Kai Xuan’s ability to stand again without a wheelchair.
After three rounds of drinks,
A faint aroma of wine mixed with laughter and chatter filled the room.
At this moment, everyone’s faces were gently flushed with a hint of tipsiness, like faces brushed by the evening sun, glowing with a light ruddiness.
Especially Niu Xiangxiu.
Her cheeks were like the dazzling clouds on the horizon, that intoxicating red hue akin to the most brilliant color, making her face resemble a ripe, juicy peach, exuding an enticing fragrance and sweet allure.
She slightly turned, delicately supporting her exquisitely tender cheek that resembled Mutton Fat Jade with one hand, her beautiful eyes unwaveringly fixed on Chen Nan.
The affection in those eyes, like a bubbling stream in spring, brimmed with intense spring sentiments and endless tenderness. 𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝙤𝙢
At this moment,
She completely disregarded that her parents were nearby, her fervent emotions surged uncontrollably like a dam burst!
