"Xinran, please don't misunderstand me. I'm not questioning your character, nor do I doubt your capabilities. Since childhood, you've displayed the qualities of a teacher. Even topics that stumped teachers, you could eloquently explain to everyone. I believe in you," Lin Yu observed the beautiful and cheerful girl shedding tears, feeling a pang of sympathy. He quickly pulled her close, gently comforting her in a low voice.
"Oh, so now that you two lovebirds are in your own little world, are you going to ignore us, teasing and chatting? Can you pause for a moment and explain this to us? Isn't this public display a bit too syrupy?" The parent, holding the math test paper, spoke sarcastically and with an eerie tone.
"You…" Zhang Xinran blushed, ready to retort angrily, but Lin Yu raised his arm, restraining her. "Xinran, if you trust me, I'll take care of this situation. Do you believe me?"
Zhang Xinran hesitated, looking up at him, about to say something, but seeing his crystal-clear eyes and the confident yet serene smile, she inexplicably nodded as if guided by an unknown force.
Lin Yu smiled and turned to the middle-aged woman. "Madam, has your daughter been unwell lately?"
His abrupt question caught the parent off guard. She immediately became furious, pointing at Lin Yu. "You rascal, what nonsense are you spouting? Are you cursing my daughter? My daughter has always been in good health. Where is the sickness? Where is it? You must explain yourself today, or you won't leave."
Frustrated by the sudden situation, both Zhang Xinran and the parent were bewildered. How did this supposed resolution end up worsening everything? She regretted, realizing that Lin Yu, this unreliable greenhorn, had been trusted. It was like being possessed by some misguided spirit.
As she pondered calming the situation and apologizing, Lin Yu extended his arm, blocking her.
"Madam, that's not how it's put. Humans are susceptible to illness despite a balanced diet. I am a doctor and can see the ailment in your daughter," Lin Yu said with a smile.
Without waiting for the parent's response, he knelt down, gazing at the pale-faced girl. "Young lady, if you trust me, tell me the truth. A month ago, did something frighten you? Is it that fright which has affected your performance now?"
The girl tightly grasped her mother's hand, hesitating, and after a while, finally nodded but recoiled instinctively.
Both the mother and Zhang Xinran were stunned, gazing at Lin Yu, as if he could discern something magical. But the girl had never shared this with them.
"Nini, don't be afraid, just speak. What exactly happened?" The middle-aged woman, seeing her daughter's nod, couldn't help but worry. She had been puzzled too. Her daughter, who had excelled academically since starting high school, had suddenly struggled in math. Even after hiring a tutor, there was no improvement, only further decline, leaving her perplexed.
Today, upon picking up her child and being disappointed by her math test again, she vented her frustration on Zhang Xinran.
Now, Lin Yu's sudden question made her start to wonder as well.
Ignoring her, Lin Yu continued to smile. "Little sister, I'm here to help. Tell me, what happened that caused your math scores to plummet?"
His gaze was warm and natural, akin to the morning sunlight on a summer day, shining into the coldest recesses of her heart. It made her inexplicably trust Lin Yu and feel an overwhelming warmth, as if he were the closest person in her world. Biting her lip, tears welled in her eyes, and she couldn't help but sob.
"When school started, during an outdoor activity class, the teacher asked me to tutor a struggling student in math. However, that student seemed to have offended some boys from another class. Suddenly, they burst in and beat him mercilessly, blood splattered all over, even on my face. Since then, every time I study math, I'm reminded of that incident and get scared. I forget everything I've learned, and during exams, I shiver and my mind goes blank. I can't remember anything, can't solve any problems…" At this point, the girl burst into tears.
"Why didn't you say anything earlier? I noticed your strange behavior recently. You're terrified of blood; the other day, when I cut my finger while cooking, you trembled in the corner…" The parent, now awakened, was both angry and concerned as she hugged her daughter.
"Madam, your daughter is naturally reserved and doesn't talk much. It's normal she didn't mention this. Additionally, your communication seems to have some issues. However, that's not the primary concern. Currently, due to her extreme fright, it has affected her psychologically. Moreover, this fear has blocked her meridians, causing the decline in her math performance," Lin Yu explained with a smile.
He had noticed something peculiar about the girl at first glance, especially when channeling his elemental force. There was a faint shadow in her brain's Baihui point, which affected the circulation of Qi and limited her nerve functions, leading to her current situation.
"What do we do now? She's my only daughter. If something happens to her, I…" The parent, seeing that Lin Yu had discerned her daughter's condition, believed in his words. She hugged her daughter, tears streaming down, extremely anxious.
"It's alright. If you trust me, let me check and treat her," Lin Yu smiled.
"Okay, okay. Should we go to my house or somewhere else?" The parent, trembling with excitement, hastily asked.
"No need, right here. Your daughter's condition is easily treatable. We just need to perform acupuncture to release the pent-up fear," Lin Yu smiled, already unpacking a cloth bundle. "Xinran, could you assist me, please?"
Zhang Xinran, bewildered, obediently extended her hand to hold the bundle.
Opening it in her hands, Lin Yu swiftly took out a row of needles. In a flash, he swiftly pushed the girl, who was still shrinking back, and with a lightning-fast motion, a series of needles were meticulously placed on the girl's head, before anyone could process his actions.