Watching the backs of Zhong Yongxi and the fatty as they left with ashen faces after paying the bill, Ding Yuhuan's eyes crinkled with laughter.

"Shen Qiang, you look quite domineering when you're unreasonable," she said.

Shen Qiang replied indifferently upon hearing this, "I'm reasonable with those who are reasonable, but as for Zhong Yongxi, it's one thing for him to constantly provoke me. Following me around everywhere, whispering in my ear is one thing, but speaking ill of my friends is another."

Ding Yuhuan smiled joyfully and pondered aloud, "Are we friends?"

Shen Qiang looked at her, and after a moment of silence, said, "I suppose so, an acquaintance."

Ding Yuhuan sighed helplessly, a bit displeased, "You are really strange. For others, when it comes to the word 'friends,' they usually say we are good friends, with a solid relationship. 'Call me anytime you need, and I'll be there no matter what.'

Shen Qiang nonchalantly took another bite of his food, then said calmly, "I'm not an actor. What's the point in saying those polite words that are so fake even I don't believe them? Do you really think that people who always talk about sticking a knife in their ribs for you would actually do it for you?"

Ding Yuhuan laughed, then said, "Of course not, but hearing it always sounds more cordial."

Shen Qiang chuckled and said offhandedly, "Then you should call a paid chat hotline. I guarantee they'll say whatever you want to hear."

Ding Yuhuan pouted.

And stopped talking.

At this point, it seemed they had almost finished their meal when the slim woman doctor stood up and said, "Shen Qiang, that Zhong Yongxi is no good man. Although I don't know what happened between you two, I hope you can win."

With that, she didn't wait for Shen Qiang's response and turned to leave, followed by the taciturn man who glanced at Shen Qiang before departing.

Ding Yuhuan appeared somewhat surprised by this development, but Shen Qiang wasn't surprised at all.

After all, Zhong Yongxi and that fatty were cultivators, and it seemed they had known each other before, so it wasn't surprising to see them together.

As for the two of them, acting high and mighty, getting along well with the other two, who were both colleagues and competitors, would indeed have been a miracle.

"I guess Zhong Yongxi must have bullied them. Otherwise, they're on the same team, why would they hope that you would win?" Ding Yuhuan's words elicited a chuckle from Shen Qiang.

Ding Yuhuan smiled, then said thoughtfully, "It seems it's not bad to be on the same team as you. Although you seem a bit odd and not very enthusiastic, at least you're not completely intolerable."

"Is that a compliment? If so, I accept it."

Upon hearing Shen Qiang's response, Ding Yuhuan laughed and then, looking at him, ventured, "Do you really know acupuncture? And are you really better than Zhong Yongxi?"

Shen Qiang replied calmly, "Being too curious isn't good for you. You should eat more, that would justify what I'm about to pay."

Ding Yuhuan laughed, ate a few bites, and then hesitantly said, "Shen Qiang, my grandma has severe rheumatism. She has been using acupuncture and cupping therapy, seeing many old Chinese doctors. Many have recommended that my grandma go to Zhong Family Clinic for acupuncture."

"But their clinic charges so much, a simple acupuncture session starts at 3888, and you have to book in advance. Each time it helps for a few days, then the problem comes back. If your acupuncture skills are better than Zhong Yongxi's, could you help treat my grandma?"

"Because my family's financial situation is average, we really can't afford the fees of Zhong Family Clinic. So now we've found a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in a nearby pharmacy to give her daily acupuncture, but the effect is almost negligible."

Shen Qiang was slightly surprised to hear this, but seeing the hopeful look in Ding Yuhuan's eyes, he fell silent for a moment before nodding, "Okay."

"Then we'll go after work!"

At five-thirty in the afternoon, Shen Qiang, who usually left work on time, didn't go straight home as usual.

Instead, he and Ding Yuhuan hailed a taxi together and went to her house.

Shen Qiang readily agreed to Ding Yuhuan's request partly because she was now his colleague and it was a small effort to help if he could.

On the other hand, the more important reason was that Shen Qiang, who had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, was now initially able to use two types of acupuncture techniques.

One was the Spiritual Control Needle Technique, meant for cultivators, and the other was the Human Control Needle Technique, intended for ordinary people.

The effectiveness of the Spiritual Control Needle Technique had already been verified.

But Shen Qiang had not yet used the Human Control Needle Technique.

Although the specifics of its therapeutic effects and applications were clearly recorded in the Medical Saint Inheritance, the actual treatment outcomes were still uncertain.

In such a case, there was nothing more straightforward and effective than trying it out in practice, and this was undoubtedly the real reason why Shen Qiang agreed immediately.

The journey to Ding Yuhuan's home was a good forty minutes' drive from the Medical University Affiliated due to traffic congestion.

It was an older neighborhood without high-rise buildings; the residences were no more than six stories high.

Shen Qiang followed Ding Yuhuan up to the third floor. The seventy to eighty square meter three-bedroom apartment wasn't spacious but it was very neat and tidy.

Just as Shen Qiang and Ding Yuhuan entered Grandma Ding's room,

There were two men in their fifties or sixties, in the room with Grandma Ding.

An impeccably clean old lady,

with needles in her legs.

One of the middle-aged men was just saying, "Sister Li, although I make my living with acupuncture, I still advise you not to skimp on money and instead go to the Zhong Family Clinic, as my skills indeed fall short of theirs. I've been treating you for nearly a month now, with only marginal effects. I'm embarrassed to even take your money."

Grandma Ding, who greeted Shen Qiang with a smile, said, "Little Song, you don't need to be too polite. There are some effects, otherwise, I wouldn't have been foolish enough to have you come over every day."

The man sighed softly and said, "That's why I asked Director Chang from the district Traditional Chinese Medicine hospital to come over today, to discuss your condition with you."

Upon hearing this, the other man said, "Old Song and I are classmates, and his skills are certainly commendable. But your leg really cannot continue to be treated this way. Either you go to a better hospital for Western medicine to receive systematic treatment,

or you visit the Zhong Family Clinic for their acupuncture. Although it's more expensive, there's a chance for you to fully recover. If you continue with this treatment, in three months at most, you might even lose your basic mobility."

At these words, the old lady laughed: "At my age, I don't work anymore. If it can be cured, then cure it; if not, then let it be. I still need to save for our Yuhuan's dowry. I can't afford the expensive Zhong Family Clinic."

Just then, seeing the old lady looking at her kindly, Ding Yuhuan grasped Shen Qiang's hand and said, "Grandma, this is my colleague, Shen Qiang. He's also skilled in acupuncture and has come especially to treat you."

At this, Grandma Ding's eyes brightened as she looked Shen Qiang up and down and said, "Well, well, the young man is handsome, our Yuhuan has good taste."

This was clearly a remark one would make about a prospective son-in-law, which made Shen Qiang a bit embarrassed, and he was in no position to clarify.

At that moment, the director from the Traditional Chinese Medicine hospital frowned and said, "Old lady, you're too old to prioritize money over your health. As her younger relatives, you should not be so reckless. Old Song has studied acupuncture all his life and couldn't cure her, so calling on some green young fellow to treat her is utterly reckless."

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