Editor: Henyee Translations
Luna Axton was startled by Grandpa Fairchild’s words. Have Blaze take her? She didn’t dare, and she didn’t want to.
Blaze always had an intimidating presence, an oppressive aura of authority that didn’t rely on anger. Sitting next to him, she felt suffocated, and she couldn’t help but be cautious with every word and action.
Especially when his eyes were on her. She didn’t dare look at his face at all.
"Grandpa Fairchild, my evening lab class is two hours long. It’s a bit late." Luna Axton turned slightly to face Julian Fairchild. "You said it yourself, Mr. Fairchild is busy with work. It’s fine if Caleb just takes ."
Julian Fairchild was taken aback. He had just said Blaze was busy, and now the young woman was using his own words against him.
"Alright, Grandpa will listen to you."
Chewing on a piece of at, Blaze watched the two of them with a ghost of a smile. She’s certainly low-maintenance.
The sun slanted west, its orange glow spreading across the horizon and bathing the earth in light. The rays felt like beams of hope shining into her life.
Luna Axton admired the beautiful sunset through the car window. It felt as if those days of heading to the library to study as the sun went down had returned.
"Young Madam, cars aren’t allowed on campus. This gate is the closest to the laboratory building."
"Okay, thank you." She always had "thank you" on the tip of her tongue—polite, yet distant.
Luna Axton and Caleb walked across campus, one after the other. She was in a hoodie and jeans; he was in a black suit and low-heeled leather shoes, his eyes vigilant.
Students around them would occasionally cast curious glances their way.
Luna didn’t like being the center of attention. She tightened her grip on the strap of her canvas bag, lowered her head, and quickened her pace toward the lab building.
Inside the classroom, so students had already arrived. They were gathered in small groups—all students from the elective course, none of whom she knew.
Even in her own major, besides her three forr roommates and the class president, whom she knew well, the other students were complete strangers.
So stood before the bronze acupuncture model, discussing acupoints and the circulation sequence of the twelve ridians. Other students were reciting the mnemonics for the acupoints of various ridians.
And others were staring at their phones, occasionally exchanging a few words with the person next to them.
Luna found a seat in the corner and sat down. She looked at the table of contents in her acupuncture textbook, recalling key concepts and only flipping through the book to review parts she couldn’t rember.
Valoria dical College was the nation’s top institution for dical studies. Eighty percent of the experts in the healthcare industry were its alumni.
Even the textbooks used by dical colleges across the country were almost all chief-edited by professors from this very school.
To cultivate well-rounded doctors proficient in both Chinese and Western dicine, the college offered many of its courses as open electives.
Luna was majoring in clinical dicine, but she was also interested in Traditional Chinese dicine, so she had signed up for all the core TCM courses.
Gradually, the classroom began to fill up, and the empty seats around Luna were taken.
The noisy classroom suddenly fell silent. Luna lifted her gaze to see soone standing on the stage.
The man wore black-frad glasses and had a gentle smile on his lips. Tall and slender, he stood at the lectern with a posture as straight as a pine tree.
"Hello, everyone. I am Ethan Frost, and I will be guiding you through today’s lab session."
His voice was warm and gentle, and his words were modest and polite, as pleasant to the ear as a spring breeze.
"Whoa~" Gasps of amazent accompanied a wave of welcoming applause.
It was no wonder the students were so enthusiastic. Luna had only learned of the legendary Frost Family after she started studying TCM.
Ethan Frost ca from a long line of TCM doctors. By age five, he could identify herbs by scent and discern prescriptions by slling decoctions. Both his grandfather and father were internationally renowned senior TCM masters.
His grandfather, Theodore Frost, was especially famous. He was the most prominent of the first generation of senior TCM masters in the country and had been received by leaders from multiple nations.
The Frost Family had a century-old dical hall called Concordia dical Hall.
To be able to practice at Concordia dical Hall was the ultimate goal for every TCM practitioner—a true mark of recognition.
Ethan Frost raised a hand, and the classroom quieted down. "Before we begin, I have an announcent for everyone.
"This year, Concordia dical Hall plans to recruit three students from the college’s Traditional Chinese dicine, Western dicine, and Integrated Chinese-Western dicine programs who are interested in TCM. They will co to the hall to study under our TCM masters. The ntoring doctors will include Theodore Frost, Mason Frost..."
Before Ethan Frost could finish, the classroom erupted as students grew excited.
"Professor Theodore Frost! Oh my god, you’d have to be so lucky to even et him."
"Professor Mason Frost isn’t even taking a break during the holidays? He’s still ntoring students? Our dean is truly incredible."
"A chance to et the titans of the field! I have to work hard. I have to get in."
"You wish. Three programs, three spots. The requirents must be incredibly high, right?"
Ethan Frost didn’t get angry at being interrupted. Instead, he listened to everyone’s chatter with a smile.
When the discussions died down a bit, he continued, "You must rank in the top three of your major in this sester’s final exams, have no record of skipping classes or failing courses, and the best candidates from the interview will be selected."
As soon as Ethan Frost finished, a collective groan swept through the students.
"Professor, the acceptance rate is way too low."
"And there’s an interview? You’d have to cram everything you’ve ever learned in your major into your brain."
Ethan Frost encouraged them, "Winter break is still more than two months away. You can do it."
"Let’s begin today’s lab session. So of you have already been examining our bronze acupuncture model. It was created by Noah Wallace..."
Ethan Frost began his lecture, and the students stopped their chatter, focusing their attention on the class.
She has to get this apprenticeship. Luna’s ears were listening, but her mind was set on one thing.
Mason Frost wasn’t just the dean of Valoria dical College; he was also an expert in liver disease. But for many years now, he hadn’t held consultations anywhere outside of Concordia dical Hall.
If she can just et him and find a chance to tell him about Mom’s condition... With a combined treatnt of Chinese and Western dicine, her condition will definitely improve.
By the ti class ended, the sky was completely dark.
As Luna walked out of the classroom, she saw Caleb, who had been standing outside waiting for her the whole ti.
"You don’t have to do that. There are chairs over there you can use to rest."
"Young Madam, these are the Young Master’s orders." The Young Master’s orders were to stay by her side and protect her at all tis.
Luna said no more. She had no right to refuse Blaze Fairchild’s arrangents, much less interfere with his decisions.
Sitting in the car, Luna checked the ti. It was past eight in the evening. Joy should be off work by now. She sent her a ssage on Whatsapp.
Luna: Joy, I canceled the scheduled surgery. I got married to the baby’s biological father this morning.
After the ssage was sent, she gripped her phone tightly, her heartbeat suddenly feeling stronger as it pounded against her chest.
Knowing Joy’s personality, she’s going to chew her out for this.
Luna waited until her phone screen went dark, but there was still no reply from Joy Coleman.
She sighed.
That’s just how it is for the working class. The overti is brutal! Especially for interns!
If she hadn’t married Blaze Fairchild because of her accidental pregnancy, she would be getting exploited right now, too.
The thought stirred complicated feelings in Luna’s heart. She didn’t want to be a canary in a gilded cage.
Back at Lakeside Manor, the house in the woods was illuminated by warm lights.
The house was quiet. There was no one around. She planned to take a nice shower first, then start studying.
Since she’d decided to go for the apprenticeship, she needed to study hard not only in her clinical major but in her TCM one as well. Especially the Four Great Classics of TCM. She has to know them inside and out.
She has to make a good impression on the professors during the interview!
After her shower, Luna started unpacking her luggage. It was only when she opened the closet that she saw the suits inside.
She had been puzzled when she saw two sets of toiletries in the bathroom.
Now, seeing the neatly arranged n’s clothes in the closet, it slowly dawned on her that Blaze Fairchild was going to be living here too.
Wearing her pajamas, she tiptoed, hugging the wall as she approached another room with a light on.
Standing at the doorway, Luna heard a faint noise from inside, sothing like the turning of a page.
Blaze is in there!
The realization sent a jolt of tension through Luna’s heart.
"What are you doing skulking around?" a deep, magnetic voice asked, laced with a hint of severity.
Blaze stared at the shadow on the floor. Couldn’t hold back on the very first day? The person behind Luna is far too impatient.
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