CHAPTER 75: 075 BONE-SETTING FOR QIAOQIAO

Liang Xiaolin was the main worker in the treatment room today. Aside from the patient who had been bitten by a dog, Liang Xiaolin handled all the others. There were three patients who needed stitches, all requiring general surgical suturing. Liu Banxia observed her closely throughout the process.

He noticed that Liang Xiaolin always hesitated slightly before inserting the needle. Although the hesitation wasn’t very long, it created a stutter in her suturing process.

He considered himself quite adept at suturing and knew that such hesitation and stuttering would definitely disrupt the rhythm. His own suturing now had a smooth, flowing quality. This kind of mindset not only sped up the process but also improved the quality of the stitches.

"Dr. Liu, a patient with a back injury specifically asked for you. Can you see them?" Xu Dan walked in and asked.

"Alright, I’ll take a look first. If I can’t handle it, I’ll call orthopedics," Liu Banxia said with a smile.

When the patient entered, Liu Banxia chuckled. It was none other than Qiaoqiao. Supported by Wang Xiaoyan, she walked in, having somehow injured her back.

However, Liu Banxia’s gaze didn’t linger on Qiaoqiao, which was somewhat unprofessional. It was because Wang Xiaoyan was dressed rather provocatively: a sporty crop top, skin-tight shaping pants, and a headband that covered an injured spot on her head.

"Hey, hey, I’m the patient here! Can you treat me first before you gawk at Yanzi?" Qiaoqiao protested.

"You’re overthinking it," Liu Banxia joked, trying to ease the slight awkwardness. "I was just wondering why you two keep showing up here. Are you after something?"

Liang Xiaolin could only curl her lip. This man is truly hopeless, she thought. Always having his eyes on what’s in the pot even when he has food in his bowl. Not even sparing his patient’s best friend. Such a scoundrel.

"It’s because she insisted on taking care of Tang Dou at home," Wang Xiaoyan said helplessly. "She wanted to move Tang Dou to the couch to rest, but she strained her back doing it. Then she called me."

"Have you forgotten what I told you before?" Liu Banxia said with mock seriousness. "Never let her take care of anyone. That’s not caregiving, that’s self-harm. She comes with a built-in destruction attribute; she’s too powerful."

Wang Xiaoyan chuckled. It was true; the last time Qiaoqiao had ’helped’ her, Wang Xiaoyan had ended up with a cut finger.

"You’re dressed a bit too coolly. Here, wear my white coat," Liu Banxia said, taking off his coat.

Wang Xiaoyan didn’t hesitate and put it on immediately. However, due to their height difference, the coat hung loosely on her, making it look like she was wearing an oversized stage robe.

"Lie on your stomach, let me feel around and see what’s going on," Liu Banxia then said to Qiaoqiao.

"Don’t press too hard, it hurts even to straighten my back! Should we get an X-ray?" Qiaoqiao asked.

"Let me examine you first," Liu Banxia said offhandedly. "Usually, in cases like this, it’s a minor joint displacement. You’ve always been so active and nimble; it doesn’t seem like a slipped disc."

Normally, getting an X-ray would be the safer option. However, since they were acquaintances, waiting for an X-ray would mean more suffering for her, and this kind of situation couldn’t be expedited anyway. He was also afraid of missing something, so he decided to palpate more carefully and over a larger area.

Now that she was lying down, Qiaoqiao was beginning to regret her decision. She had come straight to Liu Banxia because she’d seen him pop Tang Dou’s bone back into place with a quick ’CRACK!’. She hadn’t expected the examination to involve so much random prodding, especially from a male doctor.

"Relax a little," Liu Banxia said helplessly. "Don’t tense your stomach and don’t try to dodge; I can’t even feel your bones properly."

"Well, hurry up then!" Qiaoqiao muttered.

"Is it here?" Liu Banxia asked. "The joints above and below seem fine. It’s your fourth lumbar vertebra—a minor joint displacement. If you trust me, I can try to reset it for you. Otherwise, I’ll call an orthopedist."

"If you can fix it, then you do it. Will it hurt?" Qiaoqiao asked hesitantly.

"It won’t hurt. A minor joint displacement isn’t a full dislocation. This is quite easy to fix," Liu Banxia replied casually.

"Turn over, lie on your side facing away from me, and draw up your knees. Relax... Relax... You have to relax! If you’re this tense, not even an immortal could fix it."

"Well, you’re touching me! How can I not be nervous?" Qiaoqiao retorted, unconvinced.

Liu Banxia rolled his eyes. "I’m a doctor. If everyone thought like you, we men wouldn’t be able to work in obstetrics and gynecology."

"Dr. Liu, just ignore her," Wang Xiaoyan finally chimed in.

"I’ll give her a massage first. I guess she’s afraid of the pain," Liu Banxia said with resignation.

He wasn’t a professional massage therapist, but he had been studying bonesetting techniques these past few days. With the help of the dream-space and his enhanced attributes, even though his learning time was short, his techniques were not bad at all.

Qiaoqiao found it very comfortable. Sometimes there was a slight, pleasant ache, but it was still more comfortable than the massages from the therapists at her usual spa, Lang Tao Sha. Meanwhile, her mouth wasn’t idle; she kept humming and moaning softly.

Wearing her mask, Liang Xiaolin couldn’t help but curl her lip. What on earth is she doing? Is she faking it? Did she just come to the hospital to find this guy?

Even Wang Xiaoyan was starting to blush. This is so embarrassing! What’s with all the moaning and groaning? Did she come here to enjoy herself?

Liu Banxia, oblivious to their thoughts, felt Qiaoqiao’s body relax. Then, following the bonesetting technique Director Xu had used previously, he quickly twisted and pulled.

CRACK!

A faint, soft sound reached the ears of the three people, and Liu Banxia smiled.

Ding! Consultation complete. Received: 100 Experience Points, 200 Bonesetting Skill Proficiency, 50 Diagnostics Skill Proficiency.

Consultation Rating: Flawless. Received: Additional 200 Experience Points, 400 Bonesetting Skill Proficiency, 100 Diagnostics Skill Proficiency, 2 Glory Points.

"Lie still, let me check one more time," Liu Banxia continued.

This time, Qiaoqiao was very obedient. Although it had hurt a little just now, she now felt her waist was very relaxed.

"Alright, you’re fine now," Liu Banxia said. "Be careful with your back for a few days. Try not to bend over or lift heavy objects. Otherwise, you might run into problems again."

"Hehe, I’m really fine!" Qiaoqiao, still lying on the bed, wriggled a bit.

"Hey, milady, could you please take it easy?" Liu Banxia said helplessly. "Don’t twist it out of place again right after I fixed it. You’re making me worry. With two invalids at home, are you going to have Tang Dou take care of you?"

"Oh, don’t worry about that! Yanzi’s there," Qiaoqiao said, sitting up with a grin.

"Dr. Liu, your massage is so comfortable! How about you hold a class and give our therapists some pointers? I always feel like their massages aren’t deep enough."

"My good lady, you should hurry home and rest," Liu Banxia said, unsure what to make of her. "Never mind injuring yourself, it wouldn’t be good even if you accidentally harmed some innocent plants and flowers." Is this girl always this thoughtless?

Am I really that destructive? Qiaoqiao wondered, feeling a bit put out.

Wang Xiaoyan, however, couldn’t hold back her laughter and quickly ran out to pay for Qiaoqiao’s bill.