"I'm here. I was waiting for you earlier, but it seems he just stepped out. He should be back soon. If you're in a hurry, I can call Director Ye." The nurse said, picking up her phone to notify Ye Xiang, but was stopped by Lu Xuan.

"No need, we'll just wait here for a while."

The nurse put down her phone and suddenly said, "Dr. Lu, I've heard from Director Ye and other colleagues that you're incredibly skilled, and there are few nationwide who surpass you in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Could you take a look at me?"

With nothing else to do, Lu Xuan naturally didn't refuse: "Sure, stretch out your hand, and I'll take your pulse."

"Okay."

The nurse smiled brightly, hurriedly lifting her white sleeve to reveal her tender skin.

Lu Xuan placed his fingers on the nurse's cunkou, guan, and chi positions, and after a while, he suddenly asked the nurse: "Has your period not come this month?"

The nurse blinked in surprise: "How did you know?"

"Dr. Lu, I was wondering why I've been feeling unwell these days. Is it because my period is delayed?"

"Are you married?"

"Not yet, but we've registered and are planning the wedding for National Day. I hope you'll join us for the wedding banquet," the nurse said with a smile.

Ji Xiuwen, standing to the side, couldn't help but glance at Lu Xuan upon hearing this. Your line of questioning about her period and marital status feels like an interrogation.

Hearing the nurse was about to get married and had a delayed period, Lu Xuan made a judgment, withdrew his hand, and congratulated her: "Congratulations, congratulations!"

The nurse, not thinking much of it, assumed Lu Xuan was congratulating her on her upcoming wedding, and she cheerfully said, "You must come when I get married, Dr. Lu."

"But Dr. Lu, what medicine should I take for my delayed period?"

"I've heard that Chinese medicine is much better at treating gynecological issues than Western medicine. Can you write me a prescription? I'll go to our integrative medicine department and get the herbs."

Lu Xuan looked at her and realized the nurse had misunderstood, and he had to explain: "It's not a delayed period; you're pregnant."

"I'm pregnant?" The nurse's smile froze on her face.

"That's impossible. He's always used protection," she mumbled softly. Lu Xuan didn't know how to respond, so he just explained, "A delayed period and a slippery pulse usually indicate pregnancy, if my judgment is correct."

"Really pregnant?" Ji Xiuwen, curious, leaned in closer, finally understanding why Lu Xuan had asked those questions. It was to verify his diagnosis.

Taking the pulse can reveal some things, but it's not 100% accurate. However, if her period is delayed and she's married, it's likely she's pregnant.

Lu Xuan stepped aside: "You give it a try."

Ji Xiuwen, eager for the chance to take a pulse, wouldn't miss this opportunity.

Though the nurse was still in shock, she extended her arm again.

Ji Xiuwen felt for a while, shaking his head: "I can't feel anything."

Seeing this, Lu Xuan explained: "A slippery pulse means the pulse flows smoothly, feeling round and like pearls rolling on a jade plate.

When taking the pulse, if it's slippery, the cunkou, guan, and chi positions feel like bubbles or small iron beads moving past the ring, middle, and index fingers quickly, one after the other.

A slippery pulse is vigorous because after conception, the blood flow in a pregnant woman's body increases by over 20%, making her pulse stronger than usual. That's the most noticeable difference, so a pregnant woman's pulse is typically slippery."

"Feel carefully if it feels like beads sliding. It's fast, but if you focus, you should sense it."

Ji Xiuwen tried again, and after a while, exclaimed with excitement: "It is indeed, amazing. This is the first time I've felt such a pulse."

Seeing Ji Xiuwen successfully sense the slippery pulse, Lu Xuan continued: "Besides possibly indicating pregnancy, a slippery pulse can also occur in normal conditions or certain diseases, so it doesn't guarantee pregnancy. For example, young people with robust energy might also have a slippery pulse.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, diagnosing pregnancy can't rely solely on pulse-taking but should involve 'inspection, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking' alongside the person's condition, like absence of menstruation, duration of absence, and other physical states.

Generally, if pregnant, the ring, middle, and index fingers can distinctly feel a lively pulse across the 'cunkou' to 'chi.' If not pregnant, the 'chi' pulse is usually not detectable.

To put it simply, if pregnant, the ring, middle, and index fingers can clearly feel a lively pulse. If one finger doesn't sense it, then it's not a pregnancy pulse."

"So, I really am pregnant?" Seeing how seriously Lu Xuan spoke, the nurse started to believe it.

"If you're not sure, you can get a blood test."

Upon hearing this, the nurse accepted it, muttering through gritted teeth: "I'm going to kill him. I told him we need protection, and it's not time for a child yet. He must have done something."

The nurse's complaints left Lu Xuan both amused and at a loss for words, so he pretended not to hear.

The key was, she was too fierce.

Watching the seemingly gentle nurse suddenly show such fierce resolve, ready to storm back home for a fight, left Lu Xuan dumbfounded.

"So, Dr. Lu, what now?"

"Take good care of yourself, don't work night shifts anymore."

The nurse sighed: "I suppose so, I'll apply for day shifts with Director Ye."

"By the way, Dr. Lu, if Chinese medicine is so impressive, can taking the pulse tell if it's a boy or girl?" She asked, looking at Lu Xuan with curiosity.

Ji Xiuwen also watched curiously.

Lu Xuan pondered: "Ancient medical texts do record this, saying that the fetal breath pulse… left rapid for boys, right rapid for girls. For differentiating by pulse, men and women have similar pulses, but differ at the chi position: yang weak, yin strong, left relates to the official, right relates to the fortress, left smooth for boys, right smooth for girls." This means, where the left pulse is more pronounced, it's a boy, and where the right pulse is more pronounced, it's a girl.

But, this is quite controversial, and its accuracy is uncertain."

The nurse's eyes lit up: "Then can you check for me?"

Lu Xuan shook his head: "Let's not do anything illegal."

The nurse awkwardly smiled and withdrew her arm.

"Dr. Lu, Director Ye is back."

The nurse said, waving at Ye Xiang, who was walking out of the elevator not far away: "Director Ye, Dr. Lu is here."

Hearing this, Ye Xiang hurriedly walked over from the elevator, looking apologetic: "Sorry, Dr. Lu, I just went to the ER and kept you waiting."

"It's fine, I just got here." Lu Xuan replied with a smile.

While they spoke, the nurse said to Ye Xiang, "Director Ye, Dr. Lu said that I shouldn't be scheduled for night shifts anymore."

Ye Xiang looked at Lu Xuan in confusion.

Lu Xuan had to explain: "She's pregnant. It's not suitable to schedule her for night shifts anymore, Director Ye."

Ye Xiang was momentarily stunned, then congratulated the nurse: "Congratulations, Zhou! If you're pregnant, you should have said earlier. Go home now, and I'll have Li cover the night shift. From tomorrow, you'll have day shifts. I'll adjust your schedule."

Nurse Zhou shrugged: "Director Ye, I just found out too."

Ye Xiang looked puzzled.

Nurse Zhou explained: "I heard that Dr. Lu's medical skills are extraordinary, so I asked him to check my pulse. Dr. Lu said I'm pregnant, and I just realized it."

Dr. Lu suggested I get a blood test to confirm."

Ye Xiang smiled: "Since Dr. Lu said so, there shouldn't be any issue. Whether you test or not doesn't matter. But if you're curious, a test won't take much time."

The hospital isn't busy at night, so there's no long wait for blood tests.

"Zhou, we won't chat more. I'll take Dr. Lu to see the patients. There are quite a few needing acupuncture tonight."

Ye Xiang bid the nurse goodbye and led Lu Xuan towards the ICU, explaining: "By the way, last night, another stroke patient was admitted. We spent the whole night saving him, and although he regained consciousness, his lower body is paralyzed. If you have time, Dr. Lu, you could take a look. I'll talk to the patient."

"Alright."

Lu Xuan naturally wouldn't refuse. Since he was there, he didn't mind doing another treatment.

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