He gently pinched her earlobe, leaving Sophia momentarily stunned but feeling a warm sweetness bloom in her heart.
Something seemed to be drawing closer—a feeling of happiness, perhaps.
—
The next day, Sophia was reading her book with a smile.
“Have you thought of a treatment plan?” someone asked.
Sophia paused, then nodded. “I think I have.”
In her previous life, her grandfather had used a method to treat paralyzed patients involving bees. The venom from bee stings was used to counteract the toxins causing the paralysis—a method of “fighting poison with poison.” This approach worked for many patients with mobility issues, but it was challenging to control the toxicity of bee venom.
Moreover, the unpredictability of bee stings made the treatment difficult to manage. Her grandfather rarely used it, and while Sophia had a general idea of how it worked, she hadn’t fully mastered it. Many details had been lost when the method was passed down from ancient times, leading to some flaws in her grandfather’s technique.
Being a perfectionist, Sophia felt she couldn’t proceed unless she was confident the method was flawless.
“I remember the Scott family having a book on bee therapy,” Livinus said.
“Really?”
“Yes,” he replied. “Given the family’s background in traditional medicine, the old master would collect rare medical books. I saw one about bee therapy when I was young. I’ll look for it.”
The next day, Livinus went to the Scott family’s library. The old master was there reading and noticed him searching.
“What are you looking for?” the old man asked.
“I remember a book about bee therapy,” Livinus replied.
“There is one.” The old master found it and handed it to him. “What do you need it for?”
Without answering directly, Livinus flipped through the book and, after confirming its usefulness, said, “A friend needs it.”
The old master didn’t press further but sighed. “Have you heard about your eldest brother’s situation?”
Livinus didn’t deny it. With his abilities, he was well aware of Richard’s actions. Admitting ignorance would seem insincere, but actively bringing it up might appear overly concerned with his brothers.
Remaing silent, he let the old man continue. “Your eldest brother is simply outrageous! Over fifty years old and got a girl in her twenties pregnant, turning our family into a laughingstock! The matter even made its way online, and today the stock prices took another hit.”
“I’ll have someone release news to suppress it,” Livinus replied calmly.
“Forget it. I’ve already given up hope for him. Whether or not you suppress it doesn’t matter. What worries me is that if your eldest brother’s branch continues like this, it won’t last long.”
As the head of the family, the old master naturally had to consider the distribution of wealth and the company’s future. If resources were given to someone destined to squander them, how could he entrust the family’s legacy to such a person? This only solidified the old master’s resolve.
—
Sophia was thrilled to receive the book. She hadn’t expected the Scott family to own such a rare text. The book described techniques derived from the Warring States period, compiled by later generations. As she read, she found many similarities to her grandfather’s bee therapy methods.
Contrary to popular belief, bee therapy shouldn’t be combined with acupuncture; doing so could harm the body. Instead, it should be a standalone method. After studying the book, Sophia felt confident and discussed her decision with Lincoln Bright the next day.
“Bee therapy? Using bees to sting my young master? Dr. Sophia, how could that possibly work?” Assistant exclaimed, alarmed.
Lincoln Bright’s expression remained calm, showing no particular reaction.
Of course, you may worry that bee venom could cause side effects. I won’t deny that possibility, but before starting treatment, I’ll conduct a simple test. I’ll let one bee sting you, and if there’s no unusual reaction, such as an allergy, swelling, or fever, we’ll proceed with the therapy.”
Derrick frowned deeply, glancing anxiously at Lincoln Bright, whose expression remained indifferent. Derrick was growing increasingly worried.
Lincoln Bright had a mild temperament and rarely refused anyone’s request. In truth, he had adopted a “let things be” attitude about his life, no longer caring what happened to him. Derrick feared Lincoln Bright might agree.
But to Derrick, bee therapy seemed utterly unreliable, akin to old folk remedies that defied modern science. How could someone as prominent as Lincoln Bright subject himself to such a method?
Lincoln Bright asked calmly, “How do you control the venom from the bees?”
Sophia, pleased to converse with someone so insightful, replied, “To be honest, even if you didn’t let me try this, I’d still develop bee therapy to treat various conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and even tumors. I’ve bred a batch of Italian bees, which are larger and more venomous. I’ve been feeding them detoxifying herbal medicine to reduce their venom’s toxicity. This feeding method decreases the venom’s potency, reduces pain, and allows me to control the venom to a nearly painless level.”
