Chapter 442: Chapter 442: New Effect
Inside the examination room.
The attending physician examined the injury on Han Yifang’s face and said regretfully, "Unfortunately, you missed the ideal window for treatment. The venom has been on your skin for a while, causing a rather severe chemical burn.
For now, we can only apply some low-potency steroidal cream to reduce the inflammation and keep it from getting worse.
However, after it heals, you might be left with some hyperpigmentation, and it could even cause permanent damage to your skin, leaving a scar."
The doctor prescribed some desonide cream and calamine lotion, instructing Han Yifang to apply them on schedule after she went home.
Leaving the hospital, Han Yifang was despondent, on the verge of tears but unable to cry.
She looked at Lin Xiaoyu, speechless. "I can’t believe this. One happy spring outing and I end up ’disfigured.’ How am I supposed to face anyone now?"
Lin Xiaoyu patted her on the shoulder comfortingly. "Don’t say that. It’ll be okay. Let’s head back for now and make sure you use the medicine properly."
But Han Yifang wasn’t convinced at all.
The doctor did say it might leave a permanent scar.
Han Yifang spent the entire weekend sulking.
When she came to work on Monday, Lin Xiaoyu checked Han Yifang’s face. After two days of applying the cream, the sores and swelling had gone down a lot, but the damage was still quite noticeable.
Han Yifang was normally quite pretty, but now she felt as if she’d gone from a swan to an ugly duckling.
She had no choice but to wear a mask whenever she went out.
Lin Xiaoyu comforted her, "Yifang, I know you’ve had some bad luck, but this has also given us a fantastic topic for an article." Han Yifang looked at her, confused. "A topic? What topic?"
"The cover story for the next issue of *Urban Life* magazine: ’A Springtime Guide to Hidden-winged Insect Prevention.’"
Lin Xiaoyu’s professional instincts were sharp. "We can do a detailed feature on the dangers of the Hidden-winged Insect, the correct way to handle them, and common first-aid mistakes. We can even include your personal experience to warn our readers to be more vigilant and avoid similar incidents. It would help people and also enhance our magazine’s sense of social responsibility."
Hearing this, Han Yifang was taken aback for a moment, but then she agreed it was a good idea.
She was injured, yes, but if her experience could help more people understand the dangers of the Hidden-winged Insect and avoid making the same mistake, then it would be a blessing in disguise.
"Okay, let’s do it."
Sweeping away her previous gloom, Han Yifang’s eyes lit up with professional passion. "I’ll write about my personal experience, and you can handle the scientific explanations and interview experts. Together, we’ll make this a great feature."
...
At Li’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, the weather had warmed up, so there were fewer patients with colds. However, a steady stream of other patients, drawn by the clinic’s reputation, continued to arrive.
Li Xu was so busy his feet barely touched the ground.
That day, he didn’t get a moment’s rest until around three or four in the afternoon.
Song Sisi also sat down to take a break.
She was engrossed in the latest issue of *Urban Life* magazine.
Ever since she and Lin Xiaoyu had become good friends, she had subscribed to the print version of *Urban Life* to support her friend’s work, which also broadened her own reading horizons.
She enjoyed a rare moment of peace, looking at the beautiful pictures and lively text in the magazine.
When she turned to the feature on the Hidden-winged Insect, she suddenly tensed up.
[Hidden-winged Insect Dermatitis: Beware the ’Acid Bug’ on Spring Outings!]
The eye-catching headline and shocking photos were distressing to look at.
She carefully read the article’s description of the Hidden-winged Insect, the dangers it posed, and the correct way to handle an encounter.
’So these little bugs are that venomous,’ Song Sisi thought, growing wary.
She immediately thought of the lush flowers and plants in the clinic’s backyard, and the little bugs that occasionally flew inside.
Although the inside of the clinic was strictly disinfected and cleaned every day, the backyard environment was, after all, much more open and natural.
She hastily put down the magazine, got up, and checked the inside of the clinic.
Sure enough, thanks to the daily disinfection, the clinic rooms were spotless, with no sign of any Hidden-winged Insects.
But when she pushed open the back door and stepped into the small courtyard surrounded by greenery, her heart leaped into her throat.
There were some medicinal herbs planted in the backyard. Some were flourishing, while others were a bit overgrown.
The damp soil and dense foliage provided an ideal habitat for all sorts of small insects.
Song Sisi searched carefully among the flowers and plants.
Soon, she spotted an inconspicuous little bug on a leaf.
The insect was slender, about half a centimeter long. Its body was striped black and yellow, with a black head, a yellow thorax and abdomen, and a pair of black, pincer-like appendages at its tail.
It was crawling slowly across the leaf, looking utterly unremarkable.
But Song Sisi recognized it immediately—it was the very Hidden-winged Insect described in the magazine.
And it wasn’t the only one. She found a few more of the same insects scattered on the surrounding plants.
’Oh my god, the backyard is full of Hidden-winged Insects.’
Song Sisi’s heart tightened. She quickly backed out of the yard, shut the door, and hurried to the consultation room to tell Li Xu.
"Li Xu, this is bad!" Song Sisi said anxiously. "I found Hidden-winged Insects in our backyard!"
The moment Li Xu heard this, he took it seriously.
He put down what he was working on. "Hidden-winged Insects? Those things are highly venomous. We have to deal with this immediately!"
Fortunately, there were no patients at the moment.
So, they decided to close up shop early.
First things first, they had to completely get rid of the Hidden-winged Insects in the backyard.
After closing up, Li Xu put on protective clothing, gloves, and a mask. Armed with insecticide and various tools, he threw himself into a "war on bugs." He meticulously sprayed the insecticide and cleared away the weeds, making sure to leave no hiding places for the Hidden-winged Insects.
If not handled properly, these insects could cause serious skin damage to both the patients and themselves.
By the time he finished, the sky had grown completely dark.
Li Xu dragged his exhausted body to take a hot shower, which finally helped him relax a little.
The next morning, Li Xu habitually summoned the system in his mind to check the day’s intelligence report.
[Today’s Intelligence: Aloe Vera Frost is remarkably effective on scars and hyperpigmentation caused by Hidden-winged Insects...]
"Huh?"
Li Xu was stunned. He read the intelligence report twice to make sure he wasn’t mistaken.
’The Aloe Vera Frost has such an effect?’
It completely exceeded his expectations.
Last time, the intelligence report on Aloe Vera Frost had listed its main effects as whitening, acne removal, nourishing, and repairing the skin.
He never would have thought it would also be remarkably effective against the scars and hyperpigmentation left by Hidden-winged Insects.
After he washed up, Song Sisi brought breakfast.
Li Xu didn’t rush to eat. First, he called Ding Kaifang.
"President Ding, I have some good news to tell you," Li Xu said.
Ding Kaifang laughed. "Oh? I was just about to tell you some good news as well. Sales for our Aloe Vera Frost have hit a new high."
"Congratulations, congratulations. But that’s not what I was calling about..." Li Xu paused. "It’s about a new effect of the Aloe Vera Frost. I’ve discovered that our Aloe Vera Frost is remarkably effective on the scars and hyperpigmentation caused by Hidden-winged Insects."
