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Natalie waved her hands. “No, no, it’s not your fault. If Josie really dislikes me because of this, I’ll exin everything to her another day. There’s nothing between me and you”

“No need to exin!” Aiden’s expression darkened. “Whoever I hang out with is none of her business.

“If she loses control over something like this, it just makes me dislike her even more. It might be better for her to leave the

team sooner.”

Natalie felt secretly delighted. ‘Aiden is mine. Josie could forget aboutpeting. Humph!

After a good night’s sleep, Josie opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling above her bed, still feeling a bit surreal.

She really dide back!

No longer was she locked in prison, suffering from depression and insomnia, or constantly banging her head against walls.

No longer was she that naive Josie who fantasized about someoneing to rescue her from prison or hoped for forgiveness from the seniors and approval from the professor.

“Up already?” A hand waved in front of her eyes as ire’s bright face peered down from the top bunk. “Where’s your phone? Let’s add each other-I’ll send you today’s consultation notes.”

Josie pushed herself up, tidied her things with a few quick moves, and grabbed her phone.

Twenty-one missed calls-besides Kyle, everyone else had called-and messages filled up WhatsApp notifications, including group chats among them seven and direct messages from Vincent et al.

In the past, she would’ve been excitedly replying one by one right away. Now, she just casually scanned through them before adding ire.

“Did you finish Professor Wilcourt’s tasks yesterday? She might spot-check when we meet today; if not done, there could be punishment-be mentally prepared.”

ire yawned, stretching her arms overhead. “Oh yeah, you don’t have your own silver needles yet, right?

I get Scan to tag along someday and have a custom set made. Always stick to our own needles. That’s the rule.”

“Okay Josie replied “Thanks, ire”

ire chuckled and ruffied Josie’s hair. “You’re so cute. I want to pinch you

“Cut the formal crap with me? She waved a hand. “This field’s always been tight-knit Honestly, I’ve been starving for some new blood You showing up? Made my whole damn day Seriously”

Josie’s lips curved softly d to be here, too, really”

Hurry up and get ready, we’ll see the professor soon’ After ire went to the bathroom, Josie looked through the group chat messages

Everyone already knew about her quiting the tear but didn’t believe it. They thought she was just throwing a tantrum and waiting for everyone tofort her

Josie snorted and typed in the group The thing about quitting is real, no joke I

19:26 Mon, 25 Aug

After sending the message, she quit the group and put her phone on silent.

Delh’s consultation was at ten o’clock; they arrived at the clinic at nine.

True to ire’s word, Delh tested them before their consultation.

“Sean first. Move that dummy over there and go through yesterday’s needle techniques.” Delh pointed at the dummy.

Hearing this, Josie breathed a slight sigh of relief.

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11

When Delh taught Scan needle techniques yesterday, she didn’t hide anything from Josie or ire. With photographic memory, Josie could remember most of it after listening once.

The dummies had acupoints marked on them; going through one set of needles wasn’t hard.

But as Sean began his precision-cut needle work, Josie realized just how naive she’d been-Professor Wilcourt, whose reputation rivaled David’s? Hell no she’d show mercy to her handful of students.

By the time Sean finished hisst needle insertion, Josie realized she hadn’t remembered any of his techniques correctly.

In just fifteen seconds, hepleted twenty-one acupoint insertions in front-back-left-right order-it required not only good memory but also relentless practice day and night to achieve such precision.

As soon as Sean finished, Delh turned to look at Josie. “Anything you want to say?”

B

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