My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: I’ll Go With You

Jared Hawthorne set down his cup and said casually, "I only critique tea, not people."

He would never compare Vesper to another woman. She was who she was and didn’t need to be compared to anyone.

He adored her, even if she had no special talents.

Noah Nash chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Miss Grayson, when you have a moment, you should demonstrate your skills. I’d be honored to taste your tea."

A slight smile touched Vesper Grayson’s lips, but her mind was elsewhere. "Some other day. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

"Still thinking about Kensington?" Jared Hawthorne turned his head, leaning close to her ear to ask in a low voice.

She gave a soft "mhm."

Jared Hawthorne knew she was kind-hearted. She would meticulously care for any injured little animal she came across, let alone a human life.

But Kensington was terminally ill, and the chances of a cure were slim. Even if Vesper truly wanted to save her, she was willing but powerless to do so.

The birthday banquet was a lively affair, but Mrs. Kensington only managed to stay in the main hall for half an hour before her energy flagged and she had to return to her room to rest.

Sebastian Kensington stayed and chatted with them for a while.

For the most part, it was the three men reminiscing about old times. She and Sheryl Garland couldn’t get a word in, so they sat quietly to the side, sipping their tea and replying to messages on their phones.

It wasn’t until they were in the car that Jared Hawthorne handed her two pills, one black and one red.

"Take these."

Vesper Grayson was taken aback. "When did you ask for these?"

"I was worried you’d dwell on this and lose sleep all night, so I had Noah get them from him. The red one is what he left for Kensington to take before bed, and the black one is for morning and midday." Jared Hawthorne started the car, his voice deep. "Do what you feel is right."

She took the pills, her lips pursing slightly. "Aren’t you worried my meddling will cause trouble for you?"

Jared Hawthorne glanced sideways, his ink-black eyes landing on her face. "Even if you tore a hole in the sky, I could patch it up for you. But Vesper, even if you prove this medicine is harmful, given Kensington’s current state... she’s like a lamp with no oil left. It won’t change anything."

’He had never met Clay Vance, but if memory served, Henry Grayson had been his student years ago. However, due to a lack of talent, he’d never mastered the Nine Dragon Acupuncture Technique.’

’Now, Clay Vance had long since passed away, and the Nine Dragon Acupuncture Technique was considered lost to the world.’

Vesper Grayson hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Actually... I know the Nine Dragon Acupuncture Technique."

Years ago, she had gone with her grandfather to Ashmore to visit Clay Vance. His health was failing then, like a sun setting on the western hills. He spent his days curled up in an old bamboo rocking chair, drifting in and out of consciousness.

Her grandfather was worried about his condition, so he had her sit and talk with her grandmaster whenever he was lucid.

Her grandmaster had dedicated his entire life to the art of healing. He never married, pouring all his energy into treating the sick and saving lives, and ultimately ended up alone.

One time, she went to visit her grandmaster, but he was still asleep. She picked up a medical text from the desk to read. When her grandmaster woke up, he asked if she was interested in traditional medicine. She couldn’t recall what she’d said, only that he had taken the book, quizzed her with a few questions, and was astonished by her extraordinary memory.

He immediately asked if she was willing to learn acupuncture from him. Back then, she had naively asked him, "If I learn, can I treat the sick and save people? Will I be as amazing as you, Grandmaster?"

Her grandmaster stroked his white-streaked beard and laughed heartily. "Yes. Once you learn, Prue will be just as amazing as her grandmaster."

He then gave her an ancient text on the Nine Dragon Acupuncture Technique and told her that if she could memorize its contents within half a month, he would personally teach her how to perform the needling.

It took her only ten days to know it by heart, so well she could recite it backward and forward. She could also pinpoint every single acupoint on the human body with precision.

Her grandmaster praised her, saying she was prime material for studying medicine—far better than her grandfather, Henry Grayson.

However, she had only ever performed the technique on her grandmaster himself. After he passed away, she never practiced it again.

Jared Hawthorne’s dark eyes suddenly grew deeper. "Have you told anyone else about this?"

She shook her head gently. "I haven’t told a soul."

She hadn’t even told her grandfather. Her grandmaster had made her promise not to tell anyone, lest she be used by those with ulterior motives as a tool for their own gain.

A faint smile touched Jared Hawthorne’s lips. ’Does this mean Prue trusts me?’

"Then why didn’t you say anything back at the Kensington family’s home?"

"I’ve never performed it on anyone else. I’m afraid I won’t be able to save Mrs. Kensington... And even if I could, I can’t do anything right now. I don’t have the Nine Dragon Needle with me."

Besides, ordinary medical-grade silver needles won’t work. Only the Nine Dragon Needle, when used with the Nine Dragon Acupuncture Technique, can produce its miraculous effect.

The Nine Dragon Needle is forged from a blend of meteoric iron and pure gold. Each of the nine needles differs in length, thickness, and sharpness. They have dragon engravings on their hilts and can open the meridians and regulate the balance between life and death. They are a set of sacred needles passed down through generations.

Her grandmaster said it was the only set of its kind in the entire world.

She had hidden the set of needles in her grandmaster’s tomb.

"If you don’t want to take the risk, then we can pretend this conversation never happened. We’ll wait for the lab results, give them to Sebastian Kensington, and let the Kensington family decide for themselves." Jared Hawthorne took her hand, his deep voice soothing.

Vesper Grayson nodded softly.

「Back at Citadel One.」

"You barely ate anything tonight. Should I have Joan make you some porridge?"

"Will you have some with me?"

"Of course. Go on up and take a bath first. Relax a little."

"Okay." A thought occurred to her and she asked, "Elias, do you know a doctor who can run an urgent analysis?"

She knew how to analyze the pills herself, but she didn’t have the necessary instruments and tools.

"I do. Give me the pills. I’ll have Leon Quillan come and get them."

Lying in the warm water, she felt the muscles throughout her body begin to relax.

Steam filled the bathroom. She slowly closed her eyes.

’She recalled the little moments she had spent with her grandmaster—an old man in his twilight years, with a head of silver hair and a white-streaked beard. He had such kind, benevolent features, and his eyes were as gentle as an otherworldly immortal, untainted by the mortal realm!’

’Then her thoughts shifted to that Swindler Churchill from tonight. A man of his years, yet his face was full of cunning and deceit. The fact that he was parading around and cheating people under the title of her grandmaster’s successor was a desecration of her grandmaster’s honored name.’

’She absolutely could not stand by and do nothing. She couldn’t let him get away with it!’

「Downstairs, in the dining room.」

Vesper Grayson sipped her nourishing porridge and looked at the man across from her. She made a decision. "I want to go back to Ashmore."

At her words, the man paused. He lifted his gaze to meet hers, seemingly unsurprised by her sudden decision.

"When?"

"As soon as we finish eating."

’Mrs. Kensington couldn’t wait much longer.’

’If she didn’t receive the treatment in time, not even the gods could save her.’

"Alright. I’ll go with you."

Vesper Grayson was stunned. She hadn’t expected Jared Hawthorne to be so supportive, let alone offer to accompany her to Ashmore.

"Why are you staring at me like that? Are you captivated by my handsome face?" Jared Hawthorne rubbed his jaw, his lips curling into a roguish, charming smile.

Vesper Grayson let out a small laugh. "Aren’t you going to ask why I’m going to Ashmore?"

"You have your reasons for going." Jared Hawthorne’s gaze was profound, like the silent depths of an ancient pool, concealing a thousand emotions.

He made a call. "Book two plane tickets to Ashmore for me."

It was already ten o’clock, and the earliest flight was at eleven-thirty.

After they finished their porridge, they quickly packed a few things and left for the airport.

They took a red-eye flight to Ashmore. Two hours later, the plane landed safely.

A driver was waiting outside the airport. As soon as he saw them, he immediately opened the car door.

"President Hawthorne, Mr. Zimmerman sent me to pick you up."

"Mm."

Jared Hawthorne gave a faint nod and led Vesper Grayson into the car.

Once in the car, he turned his gaze to the woman beside him. "Where to?"

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