Coffee, thick and dark, was splashed across Ekes’ head, trickling down his cheeks along with his golden hair.
He knelt on the ground, his eyes vacant.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What am I supposed to do?
“Pfft!” Zheng Yue couldn’t help but snicker, then quickly turned her head away, her gaze drifting elsewhere.
As if it were contagious, the female secretary also chuckled.
Zheng Yue didn’t overdo it. She cast an appreciative yet slightly resentful look at Lin Fan before standing up and asking, “Ekes, how are you?”
Her tone was light, carrying no hint of genuine concern.
Lin Fan shook his head, a flicker of disdain in his eyes.
He walked over and grabbed Ekes’ arm with one hand. “No need for such formalities. Get up quickly.”
“No, no.” Ekes still wanted to save a shred of his masculine dignity, struggling to get up on his own.
Lin Fan paid no mind. He directly lifted the more than 180 pounds of Ekes like a small chick and placed him on a chair.
“Here, wipe yourself off,” the female secretary offered a few tissues.
“Oh, thank you.” Ekes was dazed. Seeing the tissues before him, he instinctively flinched back before taking them.
Lin Fan chuckled inwardly. Wouldn’t it have been better to be this humble from the start!
Not far away, a family of three was looking in their direction.
“Is it him?”
“It’s Doctor Lin, I’d recognize him anywhere.”
The middle-aged man nodded excitedly and looked at his daughter, who was eating cake, “Shanshan, guess who Daddy saw?”
“Daddy, who is it?” the little girl asked, her mouth full of cream from the cake, smearing it everywhere and turning herself into a painted cat.
“It’s your savior.” The middle-aged man dotingly ruffled his daughter’s hair.
The little girl’s eyes lit up. “Is it that very capable uncle?”
“Yes, it’s Uncle Lin, the one who saved you with a silver needle.” The middle-aged woman sitting beside the little girl’s face was filled with gratitude.
“Let’s go thank Doctor Lin.”
“Yes, it would be rude not to say hello.”
The couple, holding their daughter’s hands, got up to leave.
On the other side, Zheng Yue pointed at Ekes’ ear. “There’s some there too, wipe it off quickly.”
“Thank you.” Ekes’ expression was dejected as he numbly used the tissues to wipe his face. “Boss, does your boyfriend know martial arts?”
Zheng Yue smiled. “I told you not to underestimate him, but you insisted on getting into trouble. You can’t blame anyone else for this.”
Ekes felt indignant yet helpless, a whole barrel of grievances he didn’t know how to pour out.
“Doctor Lin!” a voice called out excitedly.
Lin Fan looked up, surprised at the approaching family of three. It wasn’t until his gaze fell upon the little girl in cartoon-themed clothes that he remembered, “It’s you guys.”
“Quickly say hello to Uncle Lin,” the middle-aged man urged his daughter, pushing her forward.
“Hello, Uncle Lin,” the little girl said politely.
“What a good child,” Lin Fan praised, then asked, “How is her illness?”
“Much better!” the middle-aged man exclaimed. “Since taking the medicine you prescribed, my daughter’s seizures have become less frequent and less severe. It’s been a month now, and she’s as normal as anyone else.”
Unable to contain his gratitude, he bowed deeply.
“Doctor Lin, we owe it all to you.”
“You are the great benefactor of our entire family.”
The couple bowed their heads deeply. The little girl, after a moment of confusion, followed her parents’ example and bowed to Lin Fan.
“It was my duty, please don’t be so formal.”
Lin Fan smiled and helped them up. “It’s good that her symptoms have improved, but you can’t let your guard down. You need to continue the medication for at least another three to six months, and remember the dietary restrictions I mentioned. If the condition relapses, all your efforts will be in vain.”
“Doctor Lin, we remember everything you said.”
“We will follow your instructions precisely.”
The couple nodded repeatedly, without any hint of defiance.
Lin Fan stroked his chin. “How about this: change the medication from once a day to once every two days. After three months, change it to once every three days. Continue this for half a year, and her illness should be completely cured.”
“Okay, we will!” the middle-aged man bowed again. “Doctor Lin, if we hadn’t met you, we truly wouldn’t know what to do.”
“Your medical skills are truly divine!”
The couple’s words of praise flowed endlessly.
Lin Fan felt a little embarrassed. “You should head back now. I still have things to discuss with my friends.”
“Doctor Lin, since you have guests, we won’t disturb you further. However, you must let me pay for this meal today,” the middle-aged man said with a smile.
Lin Fan waved his hand. “Never mind, I’m not the one paying anyway.”
“You must, you really must.” With that, the middle-aged man walked towards the cashier.
The mother and daughter, offering their heartfelt thanks, reluctantly departed.
Zheng Yue’s beautiful eyes sparkled as she watched her beloved being thanked by patients, a strong sense of pride swelling in her heart.
“Boss, what are they talking about?” Ekes asked curiously, seeing Lin Fan and the others gesturing, vaguely sensing it was related to medicine.
“My boyfriend cured that little girl’s epilepsy. They came specifically to thank him and even insisted on paying the bill,” Zheng Yue said proudly.
“Epilepsy? Are you sure it was epilepsy?” Ekes sounded disbelieving.
“Of course, I didn’t mishear,” Zheng Yue said, rolling her eyes at Ekes, unsure of his intentions.
Ekes shook his head and said seriously, “I admit your boyfriend has great strength, but as a scholar of both medicine and chemistry, I must tell you a fact.”
He pointed at the retreating figure of the little girl. “She should only be seven or eight years old. At this age, epilepsy can only be caused by encephalopathy, scientifically known as progressive brain dysfunction.”
“This disease cannot be cured. It is a congenital brain disorder, and medication can only suppress it. Long-term medication will inevitably shorten the patient’s lifespan.”
As he spoke, he shook his head repeatedly, as if lamenting the fate of the lovely little girl.
Lin Fan, just turning to sit down, saw Ekes shaking his head like a rattle and felt a pang of confusion.
“What’s wrong with him now?”
“Ekes said that the little girl’s illness cannot be cured, that she needs lifelong medication, and that her lifespan will be very short.”
Zheng Yue also felt a bit downcast. With a sliver of hope, she asked, “Xiao Fan, is that true?”
“Don’t listen to this foreigner talking nonsense. I know my patients better than anyone I’ve treated.”
Lin Fan glanced mockingly at Ekes and said earnestly, “In at most six months, her illness will be completely gone. How could she possibly need to take medicine for her whole life? That would make even a healthy person sick.”
“Oh, I’m relieved you say that,” Zheng Yue said, patting her chest and sighing with relief, having no doubt in Lin Fan whatsoever.