CHAPTER 169: 169 "WILD" GIRLS

"Brother, shall we go to the hospital for tests now?" After digesting Liu Banxia’s information, Qiu Huaili asked.

"Don’t rush. If we go to the hospital now, the only option is the emergency department. I’ll find out which hospital has better expertise in this area. I’m not familiar with this," Liu Banxia responded.

"Alright, buddy, words can’t express my gratitude," Qiu Huaili said earnestly.

This was the third time Liu Banxia had helped his family solve a problem. Each time, the issue at hand had been incredibly important to them.

If the doctor attending to his son had been less meticulous, they might have just opted for lithotripsy and considered the matter closed. With his uric acid levels so high, a full-blown gout attack would have plagued him for life.

As for himself, his health issue had been discovered due to Liu Banxia’s attentiveness. Perhaps it wouldn’t have any impact in the future, but who could predict the future?

Now, it was his precious baby. Her condition was still uncertain, but he knew it could be dangerous. If Liu Banxia hadn’t noticed it, the diagnosis might have been dangerously delayed.

Liu Banxia wasted no time and immediately called Shi Lei.

"Things are pretty relaxed tonight, not much going on. Don’t worry," Shi Lei said as soon as he answered the call.

"Boss, I have a situation. A friend’s baby, about a year old, has a congenital aural fistula with the external opening at the edge of the ear canal. There’s slight inflammation now. Can our hospital’s ENT department take the case?" Liu Banxia asked.

"That depends on the details. How about tomorrow afternoon? Director Hu from our hospital’s plastic surgery department will be back then. We can ask Director Hu and the ENT department for a joint consultation," Shi Lei said after a moment’s thought.

"Okay, let’s do that. I’ll inform my friend. Thanks a lot, Boss. I’ll get you an extra chicken leg tomorrow," Liu Banxia said with a laugh.

Without indulging him, Shi Lei hung up the call.

"Brother Qiu, I’ve looked into it. Tomorrow afternoon, we can go to our hospital for a consultation with the ENT department and Director Hu from plastic surgery. If you have other resources in this field, you can use them too. However, I’d recommend having the initial examination done here in Binhai City," Liu Banxia said, looking at Qiu Huaili.

"Okay, it’s settled then. You’re free tomorrow afternoon, right?" Qiu Huaili asked.

"I have to go to Jinshui District tomorrow morning. There’s an appendectomy scheduled there. It won’t take long, though. I’ll be back by the afternoon no matter what. We can keep in touch by phone and meet at the Second Hospital," Liu Banxia replied.

"How about this, I’ll arrange a car to take you all there tomorrow," Qiu Huaili said.

Liu Banxia opened his mouth, then smiled and nodded. "Then thank you, Brother Qiu. Don’t worry. From what I can see, this little girl is all pink and healthy; she doesn’t look like she has any serious problems."

After he finished speaking, Liu Banxia sat back down on the couch and started playing with the child.

It had to be said, he really had a way with children. The little one wasn’t afraid of him at all and happily played a hand-grabbing game with him.

"Sis, it’s not a big deal. Don’t get too worked up. Don’t assume children don’t understand anything. It’s precisely because they understand less that they are so sensitive to their environment," Liu Banxia added reassuringly.

"It’s getting late," Liu Banxia said. "I’ll use that Toyota minivan tomorrow then. I don’t even know its name. The girls want to tag along for a look around too."

Qiu Huaili laughed and patted his shoulder. "Just call me directly if you need a car in the future. Giving you one would make things awkward for you, but there’s no problem at all with lending you one."

"Brother Qiu, ask Ming Yuan what my working hours are like. I’m practically living at the hospital these days. I have to leave now. See you at the Second Hospital tomorrow," Liu Banxia said.

After leaving the Qiu family’s home, Liu Banxia gave a big stretch. Health is truly so important, he mused, far more so than money. This family is wealthy enough, aren’t they? They probably have more money than they could ever spend. Yet, their hearts were in their throats because of the baby’s condition.

Truthfully, there wasn’t much more I could do to help; I’ve never performed this kind of surgery. But since Qiu Huaili was so worried, I decided to accept his ’kind offer’ and let him drive us.

Luckily, the roads here were simple. Even if Liu Banxia were to wander around, he wouldn’t get lost.

"What are you guys doing? Eating fried chicken so late at night? And Qing Kewa, have you sobered up?" Liu Banxia asked as he reached the second floor, firing off three questions in quick succession.

He couldn’t make sense of the scene before him. The girls were sprawled on the sofa and the floor—some in bathrobes, others in oversized T-shirts—while Tang Dou lay obediently to the side.

Qing Kewa grinned and popped a piece of popcorn chicken into her mouth.

The other girls also watched him with grins, which made Liu Banxia feel a bit creeped out.

"Are you all crazy? Why are you looking at me and grinning like that?" Liu Banxia asked, exasperated.

"He really is. He must have a screw loose," Qiaoqiao remarked.

"Right? He gets like that from time to time," Liang Xiaolin nodded in agreement.

"Being a bit clueless is kinda nice, isn’t it?" Jiaojiao sighed.

"Dr. Liu is very capable," Qing Kewa said, defending him somewhat.

"Sigh... I don’t even know what to say anymore," Wang Xiaoyan said, shaking her head.

"What’s gotten into you all? Have you been drinking again?" Liu Banxia asked in frustration.

"You’re asking us? Are you made of wood or something? Look at Qing Kewa’s long legs, then take a look at Dr. Liang’s slender waist. And look at our Qiaoqiao! Don’t you have any thoughts at all?" Wang Xiaoyan stood up, continuing, "Or are we just too ugly to even enter your esteemed line of sight? Even if I’m not as tall as Qing Kewa or Dr. Liang, and not as curvy as Qiaoqiao, my figure is pretty good too, right? Can’t you spare me an extra glance?"

Liu Banxia looked at them, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "You all definitely have too much time on your hands. Tomorrow, President Qiu will arrange a car to take us to Jinshui District. His second baby has an aural fistula and needs a check-up at the Second Hospital tomorrow."

"A congenital preauricular fistula?" Liang Xiaolin stood up too.

"If it were preauricular, it might be easier to treat. The external opening is on the edge of the external auditory canal. It’s usually covered by earwax, making it very hidden, and it’s already inflamed," Liu Banxia explained.

"Let’s hope it’s just a simple fistula and not too deep. She’s such an adorable baby; I played with her for a bit. You’ll all get to see her tomorrow. We’ll probably have to come back here first afterwards."

"Ahem, Doctor Liang, you’re so close to him, aren’t you afraid of an accidental flash?" Wang Xiaoyan said seriously.

"Ah!" Liang Xiaolin yelped and hastily sat back down.

"Hehe, a little exposure would be nice; we could all get an eyeful. Serves her right for misunderstanding things between me and this oaf," Qiaoqiao said gleefully.

"You all are nuts. I’m going to take a shower. Is there a bathroom on the second floor?" Liu Banxia said, exasperated.

"Go ahead, everything’s ready for you," Qiaoqiao waved her hand.

"You all shouldn’t stay up too late either. Go to bed early; it’s good for your health," Liu Banxia advised.

"Hehe, we’re just making sure you don’t try any night raids. We have to see you asleep first," Wang Xiaoyan tossed back.

Liu Banxia was at a loss for words, his expression a silent, mournful protest.

"Then just wait for him to ’raid’ you! Show some restraint! Don’t you understand what that means?" Qiaoqiao said.

"This is getting too complicated. Maybe Dr. Liu can actually help me get over my heartbreak. If you all don’t mind, I’m going to make my move," Jiaojiao declared.

"Seriously though, do you think he might be... you know... incapable? Otherwise, why isn’t he reacting to us at all?" Qiaoqiao asked.

"Dr. Liu is very strong. He lifted me so easily when he carried me," Qing Kewa said.

"TSK TSK. Pretending to be drunk, were you? Just so he’d carry you, right?" Wang Xiaoyan said with a mischievous grin.

"No, that’s not it! I was just too embarrassed, so I felt I couldn’t ’wake up.’ But then you all started eating fried chicken, and I got a bit hungry," Qing Kewa quickly explained.

"Can you guys give me a break?" Liu Banxia finally pleaded.

He truly hadn’t expected these usually demure girls to become so boisterous after a few drinks; they were almost matching Qiaoqiao in her ’explosive’ state.

"Hehe, we’ll talk about what we want, and you can listen to what you want," Liang Xiaolin chimed in.

"I’m actually curious, how did you all get so close all of a sudden? Just from one meal?" Liu Banxia asked.

"Actually, there were some minor incidents," Wang Xiaoyan chuckled.

"Well, one morning, a certain someone and another certain someone were... *rocking* the car, when they were discovered by a third certain someone. This third someone thought the first two were up to no good, but later it turned out to be a misunderstanding. Get it?"

Liu Banxia rolled his eyes. "All this ’certain someone’ this and ’certain someone’ that, how am I supposed to understand anything?"

Wang Xiaoyan didn’t continue teasing him and explained Liang Xiaolin’s misunderstanding.

Actually, this misunderstanding was only cleared up when Liu Banxia was at the Qiu family home, examining Tang Dou’s leg injury. When Qiaoqiao learned the truth, she was incredibly frustrated; she’d been ’taken advantage of’ in her dazed state without even realizing it.

Liu Banxia was also troubled after hearing this. He now remembered Liang Xiaolin looking at him strangely that day. So that was the issue!

"Seriously, Dr. Liu, even though you look skinny, you seem to have some muscle. When the time comes, will you stand up for Jiaojiao?" Wang Xiaoyan asked.

"Isn’t he just a scumbag? Is it really necessary?" Liu Banxia asked.

"Why wouldn’t it be? You have no idea how good Jiaojiao was to him! He was basically just after her body. Guys like that need to be punished!" Liang Xiaolin interjected.

"Actually, it doesn’t really matter. Getting better is my priority right now," Jiaojiao said.

"Fine, I’ll play along. But what good will that do?" Liu Banxia asked reluctantly.

"Come on, let’s inspect the goods first," Wang Xiaoyan said, reaching out to feel his arm.

After feeling his arm, she gave Liu Banxia a surprised look, then rolled up his T-shirt sleeve and poked his stomach.

"What are you doing?" Liu Banxia was stunned.

"Well, what do you know! Dr. Liu is actually quite built. Lift up your T-shirt so we can see," Wang Xiaoyan said, crossing her arms.

"Perverts!" Liu Banxia blurted out, then fled in a panic.

He was genuinely terrified. It reminded him of a saying from the internet: Guys need to be careful when they’re out too; girls these days are just "too wild"!