"Si Kai, patient number 25 just had his cups put on. Remember to remove them in half an hour!"
"Si Kai, patient number 27 needs dietary therapy. Sorry for the trouble, but please run to the hotel and pick up some beef brisket over rice. Bring a few extra portions while you're at it."
"Si Kai..."
Si Kai kept acknowledging Long Qianming's instructions, busily but methodically handling the various problems and requests the patients had.
Meanwhile, Long Qianming could not spare a moment. He had to examine every patient who came for treatment and arrange the various procedures for each of them.
Fortunately, the stone appraisal convention lasted only three days. Once those three days passed and the crowds receded, business at the clinic would no longer be this brisk.
And Si Kai happened to have these few days off. Since there was free labor available, why not use it?
Soon, the sun sank behind the western hills, and the patients left the clinic one after another after completing their treatments.
Just as Long Qianming was about to close up, Bibi Dong walked into the clinic. She had barely begun to speak when Long Qianming, who was cleaning, interrupted her.
"Miss, the clinic is already closed. If you need treatment, please come back tomorrow at noon."
"No, I'm not here for treatment. I'm here to see you."
Bibi Dong had finally managed to wait until all the patients had left. She would not leave without getting the result she wanted.
"Me? What do you need me for?"
Already somewhat tired, Long Qianming turned around. The instant he saw Bibi Dong, he froze on the spot and said without thinking,
"You're so beautiful. You're the most beautiful woman I've seen since I started practicing medicine. May I ask what brings you here, miss?"
But Long Qianming quickly came to his senses and added,
"If you need treatment, please come back tomorrow. I won't make an exception just because you're beautiful."
By now, Long Qianming had a rough guess about the woman before him, though he was not quite certain.
"Ha..."
The unexpected compliment made Bibi Dong laugh, but only for an instant before her expression turned serious again.
"Little miracle doctor, I've heard that your medical skills are extraordinary. Even healing-type Soul Masters might not match your attainments in medicine. Gengxin City is too small a place for you. I can recommend you for a place in Spirit City."
"Spirit City? Then you are...?"
When Bibi Dong mentioned Spirit City, Long Qianming's eyes grew utterly clear, and the suspicion in his heart gradually took shape.
"My name is Bibi Dong. I come from a high-ranking Soul Master family in Spirit City."
Since she had decided to recruit this little miracle doctor, she naturally had to reveal her identity. Only then would she be convincing. But for safety's sake, she still had to keep the fact that her teacher was the Supreme Pontiff a secret.
"Bibi Dong! A fine name."
Though Long Qianming had already guessed Bibi Dong's identity, he still felt somewhat surprised when it was confirmed, along with a trace of fear.
No, I have to get rid of this ticking time bomb, Bibi Dong, right away, or else...
Thinking of how Qian Xunji stood behind Bibi Dong, the fact that she could appear before him meant that at least one Titled Douluo was hidden in the shadows, ensuring her safety at all times.
He had best stay away from her. After all, being watched all day felt awful. If his secrets were exposed because of this, the loss would outweigh the gain.
As for joining Spirit Hall now, that was entirely outside Long Qianming's consideration.
At that moment, faced with Long Qianming's refusal, Bibi Dong stamped her feet in anger. Clenching her small, fair yet strong hands, she said,
"You little miracle doctor! I offered you advice out of kindness, yet you're chasing me away. How can you be like this?"
"I think you're nothing but a quack with an empty reputation who treats people differently."
With that, Bibi Dong swept her delicate hand through the air. Just as she turned indignantly to leave,
Clang-
A gold hairpin slipped out of the pocket in Long Qianming's inner garment and fell with a sharp clink.
"That's... that's my gold hairpin!"
"This is your gold hairpin?"
At her words, Long Qianming broke out in a cold sweat. No way! That ordinary-looking girl back then really was Bibi Dong!
What am I supposed to do now? Driving her away would be unkind, but if I let her stay here too long, some secrets will be exposed sooner or later.
Seeing Long Qianming's surprise, Bibi Dong also showed a hint of secret delight. Her indignation vanished completely at that moment, and she pressed him,
"Could you be that aloof young man from back then?"
A long while passed after she spoke, but Long Qianming still gave no answer. Though Bibi Dong wanted to question him further, judging by his current behavior, she could essentially conclude that
the Long Qianming before her was the young man who had received her kindness all those years ago.
Bibi Dong walked slowly toward Long Qianming. Just as she was about to draw close, he quickly dodged away.
"What are you dodging for? I'm not going to do anything to you."
Watching Long Qianming keep avoiding her gave Bibi Dong an extremely subtle sense of satisfaction, and it made her all the more certain of his identity.
"Bibi Dong, I'll return this gold hairpin to you, along with all twenty thousand Gold Soul Coins I've saved over the years, to repay your kindness in giving me the hairpin back then."
Long Qianming held the gold hairpin and a gold card out before Bibi Dong as he spoke, somewhat at a loss.
Seeing this, Bibi Dong leaned even closer, her cheeks slightly puffed as she looked at Long Qianming reproachfully.
"Long Qianming, I have plenty of money. I want you-"
"Impossible. Your gold hairpin was only worth eight Gold Soul Coins back then. Repaying your kindness with over two thousand times that amount is already my limit. Don't take a mile when I've given you an inch."
Long Qianming retreated to the clinic entrance, maintaining a safe distance from Bibi Dong at all times.
Though Bibi Dong did not lack money, this wealth was already enough to repay the kindness of that hairpin.
Yet Bibi Dong's smile only deepened. She walked toward Long Qianming, and as she bent slightly and leaned close to him, a delicate fragrance wafted into his face.
Long Qianming paid no heed to any of that. He turned, moved behind Bibi Dong, and gave her a forceful shove.
"Get out! This settles the debt between us. From now on, neither of us owes the other anything."
By the time Bibi Dong reacted, the clinic doors had already shut completely.
"Fine. Very good. What a miracle doctor. What a Long Qianming! How can you treat a woman like this?"
"I haven't even told you what I specifically want, yet you're already so eager to cut ties with me. I, Bibi Dong, will never let you have your way."
When had Bibi Dong ever suffered such humiliation? She bit her lip angrily and looked at the courtyard wall, which was less than two meters high. With her strength as a level 39 Soul Elder, she leaped lightly, vaulted over the wall, and landed in the courtyard.
Just then, Long Qianming, feeling thoroughly refreshed after driving Bibi Dong away, walked out of the front hall, only to find that familiar figure before him again.
Long Qianming let out a long sigh and said somewhat angrily,
"Bibi Dong, you can't bully people like this. You're trespassing, and I've already repaid what I owed you. If you're ill, come back early tomorrow."
"You're saying I'm ill?"
At that moment, the usually gentle Bibi Dong sat on a stone stool, tapping rhythmically on the stone table, her beautiful eyes drawn into a tight frown. Suddenly, a good idea came to her, and she said,
"How about this, Miracle Doctor Long? It looks like you have more work than you can handle at this clinic. Why don't I help you with some of the little tasks? You can't refuse me again!"