Chapter 21: A Young Rising Star in the Field of Traditional Chinese Medicine

It was truly baffling, bound to spark numerous speculations and prejudices.

Hearing her name called, Qiao Tiyue looked up.

Noticing the old man’s intense, burning gaze and the low whispers of the people around her, Qiao Tiyue maintained a calm and unruffled composure. Holding the manuscript, which bore a few marks of revision, she walked up to the podium.

Though she appeared somewhat reserved, facing a gathering of such formidable industry giants inevitably stirred a sense of nervousness deep within.

Taking a deep breath to rein in her anxiety, she began to speak softly and slowly, "These are just some humble insights of mine, and there are still many shortcomings. I look forward to your guidance and corrections."

Her voice was gentle and approachable, amplified just enough to feel like a gentle spring breeze brushing past.

It instantly chased away all of Ye Chunxi's drowsiness, causing him to look toward the stage.

The young woman stood tall and graceful, a delicate hairpin securing the back of her hair while a long, sleek strand fell softly over one shoulder.

A well-fitted, tasteful qipao embraced her willow-thin waist, its muted cyan hue accentuating the porcelain fairness of her skin.

Unlike traditional qipaos that barely reached the knee with looser hems, the skirt fell gracefully, adorned with faint, hazy patterns of bamboo shadows.

Exuding a classical, fresh, and refined aesthetic.

She naturally embodied the effortless elegance of a young lady from a prestigious family.

She commanded the gaze of everyone present, yet not merely due to striking beauty.

Their looks ranged from curiosity to subtle mockery, suggesting they did not hold high expectations for this young woman.

Ye Chunxi’s dark eyes narrowed slightly. Though she was too far away to make out facial features clearly, her voice possessed a soothing quality that brought a sense of instant peace.

Qiao Tiyue elaborated on her concepts, integrating the core principles of traditional Chinese medicine—syndrome differentiation and holistic treatment—which immediately sparked animated discussions among the attendees.

"That concludes my presentation. Please offer your critiques and corrections. Thank you all."

Mu Yiheng closely observed the reactions of the senior experts seated at the highest tier.

The deep-seated division between traditional Chinese and Western medicine usually prevented them from offering objective praise, yet one of them commended her, saying, "A very innovative train of thought. Perhaps it is worth a trial."

Mu Yiheng’s eyes widened in shock, and similar expressions of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

Qiao Tiyue let out a quiet sigh of relief and offered a gentle bow.

After a few seconds of silence, polite applause finally echoed through the conference room.

Secretary Lin leaned close to Mu Yiheng’s ear and whispered, "Mr. Mu, she is the youngest participant at this symposium."

"Traditional Chinese medicine?" Mu Yiheng raised an eyebrow. "Do you know her name?"

"The Medical Alliance seems to have falsified her personal records. According to the documents we managed to obtain, her name is... Murong Cuihua."

Mu Yiheng’s mouth twitched violently.

It was utterly impossible to reconcile the delicate, beautiful woman on stage with such a rustic, mismatched name.

He took a sip of water, a complex emotion swirling deep within his dark, inscrutable eyes before being quickly suppressed.

He turned his head to glance at Jin Yuchuan.

Jin Yuchuan showed no interest in the topic and kept his head down, focused entirely on his work.

"A promising young talent in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, and you aren't even remotely interested?" Mu Yiheng asked, somewhat surprised.

He was well aware of Jin Yuchuan’s obsession with Bailan.

This symposium was of the highest caliber; without years of medical practice or significant contributions to the field, entry was impossible, let alone taking the podium to speak.

Furthermore, the Mu family had funded Alzheimer’s research projects for years, yet this was the first time traditional Chinese medicine practitioners had ever been seen at the conference.

The senior leaders also seemed remarkably fond of her.

That affectionate address of "Yue, my girl" had sounded genuinely warm.

"She would never appear in a public setting," Jin Yuchuan said, his finger swiping across his tablet screen. "Besides, her research focuses primarily on self-cultivation, nourishing vital energy, and toxin elimination."

Mu Yiheng scoffed, "You seem to know her quite well."

An outsider's understanding of Bailan was limited solely to Master Qiao’s descriptions and the rare articles published under her name by Master Qiao.

Word had it that she was completely devoted to the art of healing and harbored no ambition for fame or fortune.

"It's entirely possible that she wrote the manuscript and simply sent someone else to attend the symposium in her place," Mu Yiheng speculated.