Chapter 655: So Close

Chapter 655: Chapter 655: So Close

Lin Xiaoyu became a regular at the clinic.

The first day,

The second day,

The third day...

The changes were astounding.

According to her dentist, the wound from the tooth extraction should have taken at least a week to basically heal, and the gum swelling would also need time to subside.

But after using the "Tooth Regeneration Formula"...

After just two days, Lin Xiaoyu was thrilled to discover that the frightening-looking bloody socket had already closed up.

Not only was the swelling gone, but her gums were a healthy pink color. They felt firm and strong to the touch, with none of their previous softness.

The most amazing part was that while her gums used to bleed frequently when she brushed her teeth, now there wasn’t even a trace of blood.

"Doctor Li, this is incredible!"

During her medicine change on the third day, Lin Xiaoyu said excitedly, "I feel like the wound is healing incredibly fast. My whole gum line feels warm, and sometimes it gets a little itchy, kind of like... like when I was a kid and my teeth were coming in."

It wasn’t a surface-level itch, but one that seemed to seep out from between the bones—an itch brimming with life.

Li Xu examined her and a look of delight appeared in his eyes.

The accelerated healing of her gums meant that qi and blood were now flowing freely to the affected area.

That "itchy" sensation was the very precursor to active bone cells and tissue regeneration.

’Looks like I’m on the right track.’

Li Xu’s confidence soared. "Keep taking the medicine. I have a feeling a miracle is about to happen."

Lin Xiaoyu nodded vigorously, her eyes full of anticipation.

...

In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed.

Lin Xiaoyu came to the clinic to "clock in" and drink her medicine every day, rain or shine.

The effects were immediate.

The wound from the extraction, which was originally expected to take at least half a month to fully heal, had now healed seamlessly in just seven days.

Her gums were pink, smooth, and firm to the touch.

Moreover, thanks to the conditioning from the Chinese medicine, her previous bad breath was gone, replaced by a fresh scent.

But the most crucial part—the tooth—was still nowhere to be seen.

It had been itchy for the first two days.

But then the itching stopped.

Every morning, Lin Xiaoyu would look in the mirror, pulling her mouth open to carefully inspect the spot.

Forget a new tooth; not even a tiny white speck had emerged.

However, her attitude remained quite positive.

"Doctor Li, I’m not in a hurry."

Lin Xiaoyu comforted Li Xu as she drank the bitter medicinal soup. "It takes kids over half a year to get their new teeth. I’m already in my twenties, so it’s bound to be slower. As long as it grows in, I don’t mind if it takes a little longer."

But she also had a slight worry.

"Doctor Li, this medicine... how long do I have to drink it? If I really have to take it for half a year or a year, can my stomach handle it? All medicine is a little bit toxic. I don’t want to end up with a damaged liver and kidneys before the tooth even grows in."

Li Xu was also at a loss.

According to the system’s intelligence, seven days was supposed to be one course of treatment. There should have at least been signs of the tooth germ activating and bone regeneration.

Although a new tooth wasn’t visible to the naked eye, had there been any changes to the internal structure?

Was there any activity inside the alveolar bone?

That was something you couldn’t figure out just by taking a pulse.

No matter how miraculous pulse diagnosis was, it couldn’t see through bone like an X-ray.

"Editor Lin, go to a dental clinic and get an X-ray."

Li Xu said thoughtfully, "Let’s see what’s going on inside the bone. If there are signs of the tooth germ developing, it means we’re on the right track and you can continue the medicine. If not... we’ll have to stop the treatment and find the cause."

"Okay, I’ll do as you say."

Lin Xiaoyu headed straight for the dental clinic she had visited before.

It was the same dentist as last time.

When he heard that Lin Xiaoyu was there for a follow-up on her "tooth-growing" situation, the dentist nearly burst out laughing.

"Young lady, did someone pull a fast one on you?"

The dentist shook his head as he put on his gloves. "Regrowing teeth with Chinese medicine? It’s the 21st century, and you actually believe that nonsense? That’s the kind of tall tale snake-oil salesmen use to trick old folks."

"Teeth are non-regenerative organs. Once one is pulled, the tooth germ in the alveolar bone is long gone. What’s it going to grow from? Unless you’re a shark and can replace your teeth indefinitely."

"I suggest you stop wasting your time. Stop drinking that... whatever Chinese medicine it is. Be careful you don’t ruin your health."

If it had been any other doctor or a random stranger, Lin Xiaoyu might have wavered, or even felt like she’d been scammed.

But she trusted Li Xu one hundred percent.

First of all, Li Xu had created too many miracles. From tick-borne diseases to Parkinson’s, when had he ever not shattered the conventions of Western medicine?

Secondly, Li Xu was now a billionaire tycoon, a major shareholder in Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory. Would he really go to all that trouble just to scam her out of the small fee for her prescription?

"Doctor, please just take the X-ray for me. I know what I’m doing."

Lin Xiaoyu insisted, "Even if no tooth has grown, it’ll be good to at least check on how the wound has healed."

The dentist sighed helplessly, his eyes filled with a pity that screamed, ’This girl’s been thoroughly brainwashed. She’s a lost cause.’

"Fine, fine, fine. An X-ray is no trouble. It’ll be good for you to finally give up hope."

He led Lin Xiaoyu into the radiology room.

CLICK.

The film was developed quickly.

The dentist held up the X-ray, pointed to the empty space, and sneered, "See? Just like I said. The bone has healed quite well, and the bone density is good. But... where’s the tooth? Huh? There’s not even the shadow of a tooth. It’s completely empty."

"This is a quack. A complete and utter scam."

Looking at the black-and-white film, Lin Xiaoyu’s heart sank.

There really was nothing there.

The alveolar bone was perfectly smooth, like a patch of soil without a single seed, so quiet it was despairing.

She didn’t argue with the dentist’s taunts. She silently took the X-ray and left.

Back at Li’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, Lin Xiaoyu handed the X-ray to Li Xu, the disappointment on her face impossible to hide. "Doctor Li, look... It seems like there’s really no change."

Li Xu took the film and studied it carefully for a long time.

There was indeed nothing.

According to the intelligence, if the medicine had been effective, there should have been high-density calcification spots visible inside the alveolar bone—the signal of tooth germ regeneration.

But now, there was nothing.

’A failure?’

Li Xu’s brow furrowed deeply.

Seeing Li Xu’s silence, Lin Xiaoyu tried to comfort him. "Doctor Li, it’s okay. Maybe... maybe it’s just been too short a time? It’s only been seven days. I believe in you. Why don’t I try drinking it for a while longer?"

Li Xu shook his head. "No. If it’s not having an effect, continuing to drink it is just a waste, and it’s a burden on your body. Go home and rest for a few days. Stop the medicine. I’ll do some more research. There must be a problem with one of the steps."

After seeing Lin Xiaoyu off, Li Xu was lost in thought.

’The system’s intelligence can’t be wrong.’

’The formula is definitely effective.’

’So where did the problem lie?’

’The diagnosis?’

’Tooth growth does require nourishing the kidneys, replenishing the marrow, and ensuring ample qi and blood. The direction is correct.’

’Was it the medicine, then?’

’The efficacy of the medicinal ingredients is crucial. If it’s insufficient, it will be difficult to achieve results.’

Li Xu recalled what he had said to Lin Guorui before.

Although he was using high-quality goods procured by Gao Yuan, they were merely "premium grade" by market standards.

For a task as monumentally difficult as "defying nature to regrow a tooth," was it possible that the spiritual energy and medicinal potency of these herbs were just a little lacking?

’It’s like trying to launch a rocket with ordinary fuel. It’s just not going to lift off!’

After thinking for a long time, this was the only conclusion he could reach.