Chapter 194

Claire rubbed her face. “My mother is an easygoing person, and it’s going to be the latter. But because of this, Joseph couldn’t go home for the New Year.”

Her expression suddenly stiffened. “But after all these years, has she ever managed to win against David? It’s one thing for her to insist on being strong herself, but she drags everyone else into suffering as well. I truly do not understand her.

“The declining popularity of acupuncture was an inevitable trend. It could not be changed solely by her individual efforts. As the saying goes, it’s survival of the fittest.

“Why does she have to do this? The Reedshaw family does not rely solely on acupuncture to establish itself in the world.”

Claire opened the car door and got in, quietly muttering words whose intended recipient remained uncertain.

“Mr. Reedshaw?” Josie opened the car door and saw that Sean was inside. She held back the words she was about to say.

Sean turned around from the front row, looked at her with a teasing expression, and asked, “Why do you look surprised? And why didn’t you call me by my name?”

Josie’s wish to call him by his name was a personal desire. She never had any family growing up. Although the villagers had helped her, their assistance was ultimately a matter of reciprocal benefit. They did not truly like her.

Deep down, Josie yearned to have a figure so close to her, perhaps a real family. Sean treated her kindly and often pampered her as if she were a child. She enjoyed being cared for in this way, as if she had a family member who cherished her. Therefore, she regarded him as an older brother. But in front of Claire, she instinctively did not dare to call him that out loud.

Josie sat in the back seat, her face flushed, momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

“Go ahead and call him by his name.” Claire smiled and added, “From now on, the three of us will be siblings. Sounds good to you, Josie?” As Claire spoke, she also looked up and cast a glance at Sean.

Sean narrowed his eyes slightly, paused his gaze on his cousin’s face, and only then turned to look at Josie.

“Is that all right?” Josie tugged at the hem of her clothes, oblivious to the silent exchange between the cousins, still immersed in the joy that this question had brought her.

“In truth, I have long regarded you all as my siblings, yet I feel unworthy of being your younger sister. The kindness you have shown me is something I have never experienced before.

“However, I am filled with doubts, fearing that I may not be worthy of your kindness.”

“Stop being so silly!” Claire let out a soft sigh and rubbed her head. “We treat you well because you are good. There’s no need to worry about whether you deserve it or not. Don’t overthink it.”

“Yes.” Sean nodded. “Do what you believe is right with all your heart. Good and bad are interconnected. There is no such thing as being worthy or unworthy. Do you understand?”

Josie raised her face to look at him. A gentle smile appeared on Sean’s face, like the caress of a spring breeze, bringing a touch of warmth to the cold winter day. ‘They are truly kind!’

Josie curved her lips into a gentle, obedient smile and said, “Yes, I understand. Thank you, Sean!”

“Alright!” Sean turned around with a chuckle. “Sit properly, I’m about to drive.”

Josie was sent to Aloville Traditional Medicine Hospital and soon entered the laboratory in the afternoon. She was, in fact, aware of Claire’s concerns. Acupuncture had always been a niche discipline and, regardless of circumstances, could not compare to the cytology David taught.

But she believed the momentum of development in traditional medicine would remain strong, and its elements would be increasingly valued over time.

Drawing on her past experiences, she intended to leverage the development of acupuncture to curb David’s momentum. However, she was still unsure if she would succeed.

At the same time, Kyle also arrived at the Central Research Institution. He was here to sign the employment contract and complete the onboarding procedures.

According to the research institute’s original plan, he could have started the onboarding process after the New Year. However, worried that waiting too long might bring unexpected changes, he decided it would be best to finalize the contract first. But to his surprise, as soon as he entered, he saw David coming out.