“Bro!” Ersan cried out as he greeted Li Yun with a hug and then Rouxi.  “You two made us worried for a moment.” Ersan had seen the news feed about Li Yun’s flight being delayed for an emergency landing in Changkou.  “Let’s hurry, Xuxu is waiting outside.”

Ersan escorted them out of the terminal and into the pickup lane.

“Heroic doctor performed miraculous surgery in mid-air, quite impressive,” Xuxu jested, cooly leaning on her black Benz SUV. “Too bad the video clip on the flight was too far away.”

The event that happened on the plane made it to national news. It wasn’t every day that a flight was grounded for medical emergency. When the plane landed, there were reporters camped near the airport ready to take pictures. They took pictures as the EMT transferred the woman into the ambulance followed by two men.

For the first couple of hours after the landing, images of Dr. Ping were used to describe the heroic Doctor. Li Yun had asked Dr. Ping to escort Ms. Ma and her husband to the hospital while he and Rouxi took a cab. It took the reporters another two hours later to realize that they got the wrong person. From passenger’s testimonies, pictures and video clips, it was easy to conclude who was the lead. Some passengers even made money from selling pictures and videos to the news outlets. Li Yun’s pictures were everywhere by the end of the day.

“Your pictures got a lot of likes,” Xuxu commented as she drove them back to the apartment. 

“Should I be glad that the first thing people do is take out their phones to take videos?” Asked Li Yun. 

Not to mention there were even live-streamers using the in-flight Wi-Fi. 

“I too bad I didn’t seat in first class!” Rouxi admittedly would stream if her view wasn’t blocked by the curtain and flight attendance. “Can’t be helped if there are no digital privacy laws.”

After a long conversation about the lack of privacy, the SUV pulled up into the apartment’s garage. The last time Li Yun had stayed in Xuxu’s apartment, he didn’t think it belonged to RoXu Enterprise. There were more than 100 units, and most were occupied. Ersan and his girlfriend also stayed in a unit on the 7th floor. Rouxi and Xuxu both had units next to each other on the 11th floor.

After Li Yun and Rouxi dropped off their luggage, they headed over to Xuxu’s apartment. A handsome man in his late thirties opened the door.

“Hi Meimei,” the man greeted and considered giving her a hug, but being a tactful man, he reached out to shake her hand and then gave Li Yun a handshake. “This is Li Yun?”

“Hi, nice to meet you. You’re Guan Dao?” asked Li Yun.

Guan Dao was Xuxu’s live-in boyfriend for the past five months. After the brief introduction, they headed inside for dinner.

“Brother Dao is pretty cool, how did you manage to cook all of this with your work schedule?” asked Rouxi, eating the dumpling with shredded pork.

The dishes of Imperial City cuisine were laid out perfectly on the round table as though they were eating out at a fine dining restaurant. The six friends, old and new, sat together to enjoy a meal that Xuxu’s boyfriend cooked. 

“It’s not that hectic, I’m sure your boyfriend has a crazier schedule than me,” Guan Dao replied.

Li Yun heard Xuxu’s boyfriend was a plastic surgeon, but it wasn’t the type most people assumed when they thought of plastic surgeons. Guan Dao specialized in burn restoration and reconstructive surgery. He often worked in the ER to provide consultation and cosmetic repairs.

“This is considered a vacation,” Li Yun replied, examining the evenly cut pieces of roasted pork.

“Still, managing to save people on vacation is quite impressive,” said Guan Dao.

“I’m sure you provide a more meaningful service.”

Guan Dao laughed at Li Yun’s remark. “Many of my colleagues think I’m overpaid. They don’t see it as meaningful work.”

Plastic surgeons received larger red envelopes after their surgeries than the rest of their peers. In contrast, ER doctors who worked regularly to save people’s lives weren’t paid close to the amount that they deserved. Doctors were expected to save a person's life, and therefore not paid as much. Patients could quibble with their doctor about a 40k yuan pacemaker, but they wouldn’t bat an eye about spending 80k on a facelift.

Li Yun laughed. “I bet the ones complaining are orthopedic surgeons.”

It was likely that Guan Dao had to work with a lot of orthopedic surgeons, who were known for being territorial. It wasn’t because they were orthopedic surgeons, but because of the salary and necessity of their profession that had inflated their egos. As one of the most powerful departments in China, orthopedic had taken over spinal surgery, which was usually operated by neurosurgeons in other countries.

As for plastic surgeons, their high salary and constant stream of red envelopes were the envy of other doctors and surgeons. In almost every country, they were highly sought after and almost on par with orthopedic surgeons. However, it did not mean that plastic surgeons were overpaid. People often forget the importance of physical appearances on mental health and self esteem. How many people suffered from depression because they felt ugly? No matter how many times people stress the importance of inner beauty, the reality was, physical appearance was the first thing people see. Understanding a person’s inner beauty took too much time.

“You’re a trauma surgeon? Do you also perform orthopedic surgery?” Guan Dao asked. He had heard rumors that Li Yun was skilled in radiology, general, and vascular surgery, but he wasn’t sure if he had done any orthopedic surgery.

Li Yun shook his head, “the orthopedic department handles broken bones and fractures.” He had little reason to pick fights and steal patients from the most powerful department in the hospital. “You’re a professor at Magic City University Hospital?”

“Associate professor, not a full-fledged professor. I heard you’re giving a lecture at the Magic City Cancer Center in coordination with the TCM University?”

“It’s in a few days, but I’m heading to MCUH to see Doctor Shao Shan tomorrow.”

“Why are doctors so boring?” Xuxu interrupted them for talking too much about work.

"Ah, yes, that reminds me, I have a present for Meimei," said Ersan. Ersan gave Rouxi a wrapped present. "Beibei and I had a deadline, so we couldn't attend your birthday. Happy belated!"

Rouxi took the gift and thanked the couple.

“Oh Beibei, when is your cousin coming?” Xuxu asked.

“Nali? She will arrive on Friday,” Beibei responded.

“Invite her over, I haven’t seen her in awhile.”

“Can you not cause trouble?” asked Li Yun.

“What! Nali is my friend too, you know. And I’m sure Meilin will want to meet her.”

“I wish, but Yun and I are going somewhere,” said Rouxi.

“Oh, how could I forget?” Xuxu asked with a knowing grin. “Isn’t that the day I texted you? Did you two meet up afterward?”

“Wait, seriously? It has been a year already?” Ersan couldn’t believe how fast time had flown by. When he had learned about them dating, it was after his graduation, which  was already half a year ago.

They continued talking throughout the night. 

****

The following day, Xuxu dropped Li Yun off at the hospital. Li Yun waved goodbye as she drove off with everyone else to go shopping.

“I heard you made quite a splash in Changkou,” said Professor Shao Shan, who greeted Li Yun at the entrance of Magic City University Hospital.

“Good to see you too,” Li Yun shook his hands.

“You’re quite a busy man.” Professor Shao Shan had seen the news of Li Yun’s in flight surgery.

“I am just making my rounds to advertise my medicine,” said Li Yun. “You said there’s someone with potential idiopathic neuropathy?”

“Come, I’ll prep you in my office first before we see her.”

“Why did you think I could assist you?” asked Li Yun. 

“I thought since you could create medicine to relieve pain, at least you should have some idea on neuropathic disease.”

“That’s a bit far fetched.”

“Not as far-fetched as using acupuncture needles to stop pain.” Professor Shao Shan had a point. “And you wouldn’t agree to see the patient if it was completely think out of your element.”

Li Yun considered the nervous system to be his weakness, but only because he knew far more about the CV system. He could discern the location of the nerves based on the vasa nervorum, blood vessels that send blood to the peripheral nerves. If an area contained damaged vasa nervorum, it was likely that the nerve was damaged as well. The ability gave him a slight edge over neurologists.

His main problem was the nerves themselves. He lacked information about the nerve fibers and neurons. Unlike the CV system, the nerve fibers were technically not connected to each other.

Inside Professor Shao Shan’s office, Li Yun reviewed the medical reports from Chen Weili’s files. Chronic pain was usually caused by the nervous system sending false signals to the brain. Neuropathy diseases were difficult to diagnose and most diagnostic were based on clinical experience.

“You gave her Huifu?” asked Li Yun looking at the latest report.

“Yes, for a few days, and she has been able to sleep because of it,” said Professor Shao Shan. “Mr. Chen had been easier to deal with since she wasn’t in as much pain as before.”

“What dosage?”

“30 mg. I want to see if we can reduce it and see if her pain still persists. We may end up diagnosing her with fibromyalgia.”

Fibromyalgia was a catchall diagnosis for a condition of severe chronic pain caused by mental or physical triggers.

“Isn’t that the same diagnostic as Imperial City Hospital?” asked Li Yun.

“Well, that’s what the director is afraid of,” said Professor Shao Shan. After exhausting all tests to rule out all other possibilities, it was a common diagnostic given to patients. “Before we go, you are aware that this case cannot be publicly disclosed.”

Li Yun nodded. 

After looking through the files, Professor Shao Shan took Li Yun to the private suite and greeted the people in the room.

“Mr. Chen, Ms. Chen, this is Dr. Li, he would like to check on your condition,” Professor Shao Shan introduced.

Chen Toubo did not say much, as he had been worried about his wife's health. Chen Weili appeared in good health aside from the paleness of her skin, likely from lack of sleep.

Li Yun wondered if they were Chen Gan's parents. Something about them was off, but many married couples had problems, especially the wealthy ones. He approached Chen Weili and felt her pulse.