Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Follow-up Exam

Hearing this, City Lord Qian Luo’s aged face shifted slightly.

Beside him, Qian Ying frowned and said: “I didn’t expect those two cities to avoid the elite route and choose a full open policy. The pros and cons are clear. The good part is strength in numbers: more people, more resources produced, and a steady stream of new experts. But the downside is serious too: once everyone goes in, it is very hard to control.”

“As expected of the Fourth Young Master,” Xiao Ning praised.

“Thank you, Uncle Xiao,” Qian Ying said modestly. “That was just my personal view.”

Xiao Ning turned to the City Lord and asked respectfully: “City Lord, what should we do next?”

Qian Luo was silent for a few seconds, then asked in a rough voice: “Qian Ying, if it were you, what would you do?”

Qian Ying answered: “Father, since they are opening to everyone, we can do the same. Full opening is hard to manage, but the benefits are clear. We can charge a 20 percent transaction tax, and we can use our funds to buy up all outputs. As for money, we can allocate as much as you decide.”

“Brilliant. Truly brilliant,” Xiao Ning said, clearly pleased. “The Fourth Young Master is full of talent.”

Qian Luo nodded slightly, looking tired: “Since Uncle Xiao approves, we will do that. I’m a bit weary. You may both go.”

“Yes,” they answered.

Xiao Ning and Qian Ying bowed and left, closing the door behind them.

In the dim room, only City Lord Qian Luo sat quietly at the desk.

Mountain City, First Central Hospital: Genetics Department.

“Huff.” Slightly out of breath, Long Ming reached the waiting hall and saw a long line outside Clinic Room 1. It was full of patients.

The other clinics had only a few people waiting.

He felt helpless. He had booked with Doctor Cheng, and her reputation kept growing, so more people came every day. With so many ahead of him, he had no idea when his turn would come. He still needed tests too. If things went slowly, he might have to wait until the next day.

His pass time was limited. If he couldn’t finish within the time window, it would be trouble.

Even so, he could only go to the kiosk to take a number.

The result shocked him: more than 120 people were ahead. His heart sank.

He went to the end of the line and waited patiently.

Just then, a young woman in a white physician’s coat came out of the door of Clinic Room 1. She had delicate features, curved brows, bright eyes, and long black hair in a bun held with a white hairpin, with a few loose strands at her cheeks. She walked along the long line as if searching for someone.

Soon she reached the end and saw Long Ming. She asked, a bit unsure: “Hello, are you Mr. Long Ming?”

“Yes. What is it?” he said, noticing her badge: Lu An Na, Intern Physician.

“Mr. Long Ming, please come with me,” Lu An Na said.

“Okay,” Long Ming answered, surprised but quick to follow.

She led him past the long line to the door of Clinic Room 1.

Just as she was about to take him in, the man at the very front raised his brows and blocked them with an arm. He wore a dark gray shirt, had light brown curly hair, and a vintage mechanical watch on his wrist. His expression was arrogant.

He flipped his hair and snapped: “Hey, what are you doing? Cutting my line? Don’t tell me he has an appointment. I have one too, and I’m a top VIP. I’ve been nice not cutting everyone else. And now someone cuts in front of me? Too much.”

Lu An Na bowed slightly and said apologetically: “Sorry, Mr. I’m a new intern physician and don’t know all the details. I’m just following Mentor Cheng’s instruction to bring this gentleman in. Please understand.”

Hearing that, the man, Han Wen, looked Long Ming up and down in disbelief, thinking: [Who is this kid, to make Doctor Cheng let him cut the line?] He knew Doctor Cheng was the top expert in genetics in Mountain City. He still needed to see her later; offending her would be foolish. His tone flipped at once as he said: “I see. Go on in, then.”

“Thank you,” Lu An Na said with a small breath of relief, and she led Long Ming inside.

People in line whispered to each other: “Who is that young man?” “No idea.” “Amazing. This is the first time I’ve seen someone cut the line at Doctor Cheng’s door.” “But I’m puzzled. His clothes look cheap, like a Lower Citizen.” “I noticed that too. I don’t get it.”

Inside Clinic Room 1, an elderly woman in her eighties sat at the desk, wearing a white coat. Her hair was gray, reading glasses perched on her nose, and her face looked kind as she reviewed medical files.

“Doctor Cheng,” Long Ming said politely in greeting.

Doctor Cheng looked up, pushed her glasses, and smiled kindly: “Mr. Long Ming, you came for a follow-up?”

He answered: “Yes. I finished the medicine you gave me last time. I need more.”

She said: “All right. Let’s recheck your body first, then I’ll prescribe based on the results.”

“Okay,” he said with a nod.

“Mr. Long Ming, this way,” Lu An Na said, guiding him into the exam room.

After a while, Long Ming returned to the consultation room and waited.

Soon, Lu An Na brought in the report and handed it to Doctor Cheng.

Watching her read carefully, and seeing her face grow tense, Long Ming felt his heart tighten, thinking: [Don’t tell me it has gotten worse again.]

But then Doctor Cheng smiled and said: “Not bad. It’s well controlled. Just keep taking the medicine to maintain it.”

Long Ming let out a long breath. He had spent most of the money from selling his house on major treatments. If it got worse again, he really could not afford it.

Not letting joy carry him away, he asked with some doubt: “Doctor Cheng, if my condition is controlled, why do I keep coughing? Even a small breeze gives me a fever.”

She explained: “It’s because your condition is controlled, not cured. Genetic defects are very hard to fix completely. Your immune system is still weak, so you can get sick easily. But it’s all right. Keep taking the medicine to manage it.”

He asked calmly: “Doctor, if I keep it controlled, how long can I live?”

Doctor Cheng gave a warm smile and said: “Mr. Long Ming, as long as you stick with treatment and keep a positive mindset, I believe you can live like a normal person.”

“Thank you. Please give me a three-month supply,” he said with a slight bow.

“All right,” she said, writing the prescriptions.

“Goodbye, Doctor Cheng,” Long Ming said, then left the consultation room.

As he went out, the smile on Doctor Cheng’s face slowly faded. She handed Long Ming’s test report to Lu An Na and told her to file it.