Chapter 335: Chapter 302: She Really Came?
"Miss Ji, please lie down." Sun Youwei earnestly requested the young woman who called herself "Ji Xiaolan" to lie down on the examination bed.
"Senior sister, please check her out..."
Upon hearing this, Sun Youwei blinked in surprise. Lin Miao’s request was something she had never encountered before, especially for a young woman who had never married.
Lin Miao nodded subtly, unsure yet unable to conduct the examination himself, leaving the task to his senior sister.
If it wasn’t necessary, it wouldn’t matter ethically. But if it was, this Ji Xiaolan was indeed suspicious.
Sun Youwei nodded in agreement to Lin Miao’s insistence, recognizing the need for an examination given the female-related ailment.
Sun Youwei pulled the screen closed, and after entering, Lin Miao also closed the door to the examination room and went out.
For such an examination, even with the screen, it was inappropriate for a young man to remain inside, especially with an unmarried girl.
"Miss Ji, I will conduct a full-body examination shortly. Please inform me of any taboos so I can be aware of them."
"Full-body?"
"Yes, full-body. Since your issue involves growth and development, a comprehensive understanding is necessary. For instance, your breast development, among other things, because diseases are not isolated to one part of the body. The human body is a whole system that requires overall diagnosis." Sun Youwei explained, "If you agree, we can start now."
"Uh, okay."
Sun Youwei began by examining the lips and teeth, then the neck and underarm, and thereafter the breasts. Finally, she used a simple stethoscope to listen to the heart and lungs, moving downwards.
When it came to checking the lower body, Miss Ji showed a slight resistance, her legs slightly tensing, but she eventually relaxed and opened them.
"Don’t worry, even if we find something after the check, we will keep it confidential for the patient. This is a physician’s professional ethics, Miss Ji, you don’t need to worry." Sun Youwei reassured, starting to put on a latex glove.
"Wait, what’s that?"
"Latex gloves, essential for examinations. They protect both myself and the patient by preventing direct contact, benefiting both sides. After use, they’re typically shredded and disposed of, not to be reused. You can rest assured." Sun Youwei explained.
Miss Ji nodded. It seemed this wasn’t her first such exam, but it was the first conducted so formally and meticulously.
Seeing the situation, Sun Youwei was a bit taken aback. Despite her experience assisting Lin Miao with various cases, this was a first encounter with such a patient. Further, she recalled reading about such a rare condition in a medical text.
It was the condition of genital agenesis.
This young lady before her, afflicted with the extremely rare "stone woman" syndrome, was known to be incurable. To Sun Youwei’s medical knowledge, no treatment had ever been successful.
In that moment, Sun Youwei felt profound sympathy for the woman lying before her, allowing the examination.
A woman may choose to marry or not, but if unable to marry at all, it’s truly a painful situation.
Unable to marry, unable to become a mother—the destruction of a woman’s significant value in life.
Of course, a woman’s worth is not only in marriage and childbearing; she can also have a career, contributing value to society.
But fundamentally, being a wife and mother impart a societal regard denied to those who aren’t, considered lesser by others.
"You noticed?" Ji Xiaolan seemed to sense the pause in Sun Youwei’s movements, she asked calmly.
"Miss Ji, when did you discover this?"
"Eight years ago. I noticed other girls my age experiencing menstrual cycles while I did not. I knew then that something was amiss. Later, I consulted physicians, every one of whom told me it couldn’t be treated. So each month, I bear the pain." Ji Xiaolan explained as she dressed.
"If you know it’s untreatable, then why...?"
"Even for a slim chance of hope, I want to try." Ji Xiaolan stated.
"Miss Ji, as you know, I’m only assisting with the examination. The actual treatment would be by my fiancé, who’s a man. Even if he could help, he might be unable to treat you."
"I don’t care about purity or reputation; those concerns are mundane. If treatment necessitates contact, then many women would be ’sullied.’ So long as Mr. Lin can cure me, I don’t care about such things."
"Miss Ji, you really are unique. Your accent indicates you’re not from Dongshan city?"
"No, I’m from the South."
"The South? My fiancé’s reputation has reached the South?" Sun Youwei exclaimed in surprise. She thought Lin Miao was only reputed locally or at most known in the capital’s Imperial Pharmacy, yet not in such distant regions.
"Mr. Lin has cured rabies, a notoriously incurable disease. In time, his fame will be known nationwide."
"I’ll go get him. Are you okay with talking to him directly?"
"Yes."
...
"Junior Brother, this Miss Ji, she..."
"Wait, let me guess. Is it claustrophobia?" Lin Miao raised his hand, stopping his senior sister, Sun Youwei, from continuing.
Ji Xiaolan’s eyes flashed with a strange light, which quickly disappeared. Even Sun Youwei was surprised. She knew Lin Miao’s skill in diagnosis was exceptional, but for him to diagnose such a rare condition without even seeing it was quite miraculous.
This was truly amazing.
"Yes, it seems I’ve come to the right place," Ji Xiaolan said with a long exhale.
"Junior Brother, this is a congenital illness. This young lady has seen many physicians, but none could cure her."
"I know. This illness is indeed troublesome because it involves ethics and morals. Generally, even if a female physician knows the treatment, she wouldn’t dare to attempt it easily due to the high risk. If not done properly, not only would the illness remain uncured, but it could also result in other complications, leading to a lifetime of suffering." Lin Miao said.
"Does Mr. Lin have a way?"
"I do, but are you sure you want to proceed with the treatment?" Lin Miao slowly met Ji Xiaolan’s gaze. Clearly, he had already figured out the person’s identity, the leader of the four attendants, Ji Fei’Er.
How did she find him? Was it intentional or just a coincidence? Logically, Si Miaoxue wouldn’t reveal his identity, but if Yue Mei’Er did it intentionally, who knows. Moreover, if one followed the faint ties between him and Huaye Tower, suspicion might arise.
For many, suspicion was enough.
It was not surprising that Ji Fei’Er could find him.
"Yes, if Mr. Lin can treat me, I’m willing to pay any price," said Ji Xiaolan, no, Ji Fei’Er.
For Ji Fei’Er, money was just a set of numbers. The meaning of recovering her health was of paramount importance to her.
"You’ll need to stay here, for at least half a year. Also, I need to tell you in advance, this illness requires surgery, and I’m the only one who can perform it. Can you accept me performing this surgery on you?" Lin Miao asked solemnly.
"Can Mr. Lin promise to keep it confidential?"
"Yes, even if Miss Ji doesn’t mention it, I would. It’s a physician’s professional ethics to maintain patient confidentiality." Lin Miao nodded.
"I don’t trust verbal promises, but I believe in written agreements. If Mr. Lin is willing to sign a confidentiality agreement with me, I would trust him more," Ji Fei’Er said.
"A confidentiality agreement?" In the old world, signing a "confidentiality agreement" was not uncommon. However, in this world, a patient requesting a confidentiality agreement before treatment did seem like a dream.
"Alright." Lin Miao nodded.
"I’m not from Dongshan. If Mr. Lin doesn’t mind, could you arrange accommodation for me? Don’t worry, I will cover all expenses."
"This..." Lin Miao hadn’t expected Ji Fei’Er to take advantage of the situation like this, not only staying but also asking him to arrange accommodation.
"Very well, I’ll arrange it." If it weren’t Ji Fei’Er, Lin Miao would never agree to such a seemingly overstepping request, "Does Miss Ji have any requirements for the residence?"
"I don’t have any special requirements for where I stay, just a clean place with a bed to sleep. Of course, the more spacious, the better."
"Got it." Lin Miao nodded. There’s a yard behind the consultation room, with Guan Biyun and Lien Yurou gone, and Cui Wanquan not living there. It’s suitable for settling Ji Fei’Er.
Being under his eye also made him more at ease.
"There’s a yard behind here that’s vacant. Since the surgery will be conducted here, if you don’t mind the simplicity, you can live here. As for the rent, just pay according to the standard of an ordinary inn in Dongshan City. For meals, you’ll have to either cook yourself or eat outside. The street here has everything from breakfast to dinner, as long as you have money, you don’t need to cook at home," Lin Miao said.
"Okay."
"Yu’Er, take this Miss Ji to the back yard to choose a room. If anything is lacking, get it from the house. She’s paid the rent." Lin Miao called Ling Yu’Er in, giving her an instruction.
"Yes, Young Master." Ling Yu’Er glanced at Ji Fei’Er, then politely said, "Miss Ji, please follow Yu’Er."
...
"Junior Brother, how come you..." As Ji Fei’Er and Ling Yu’Er left, Sun Youwei couldn’t wait to open her mouth to ask questions.
But Lin Miao raised his hand and stopped her.
He knew that Ji Fei’Er’s martial arts skills were very advanced. Though she appeared to lack any martial arts ability, she concealed it well. Speaking in the consultation room might still be overheard, so discussing it at home was safer.
Seeing that Lin Miao had a plan, Sun Youwei suppressed her curiosity and continued to consult the next patient.
