Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
Honey, it hurts, can you be gentler?
墨書 Inktalez
Jiang Li woke up to find her right cheek swollen like a steamed bun. This troublesome cavity had been a source of pain for years, flaring up and subsiding repeatedly. However, she had never experienced such a dramatic swelling before.
Coincidentally, it was the weekend. When mother Jiang saw her daughter's puffy face, she immediately took her to the hospital without a second thought. Jiang Li had always dreaded visiting the dentist, convinced that the small electric drill in their hands was no different from the chainsaw in "Saw." mother Jiang understood her daughter's fears well and only left after watching her step through the dental clinic door with her registration slip in hand.
The number of patients waiting for specialist consultations was beyond imagination. After the nurse collected Jiang Li's slip, she asked her to wait. Sitting there, Jiang Li felt anxious and debated whether to make a run for it when the attending doctor appeared. Although he wore a mask, she recognized Gu Nanfeng immediately; her heart seemed to leap into her throat. She thought to herself that a dental clinic was certainly not a place where one could linger comfortably.
Jiang Li hastily gathered her things, planning to sneak out, but was unexpectedly called by him. Gu Nanfeng's voice, calling her name, sounded just as it had five years ago—warm and soothing as if it were dipped in water. She froze in place, and before she could gather her thoughts, he had approached her. Removing his white mask revealed a handsome face that had appeared countless times in her dreams. Yet seeing him in person again made her heart race uncontrollably.
"What's wrong with your teeth?" Gu Nanfeng asked with concern. Jiang Li suddenly remembered her swollen cheek and quickly covered it with her hand, feeling frustrated that she couldn't make a better impression in front of him.
While she was lost in thought, his warm palm gently touched her forehead. "It's swollen like this, but at least you don't have a fever." He turned to instruct the nurse on what to do next while Jiang Li's mind became a jumbled mess. All she could think about was how he had just touched her forehead—yes, he had just washed his hands; his palm felt cool and carried a faint scent of hand soap.
When the nurse called her name to go inside, she belatedly realized that Gu Nanfeng had given her a "backdoor" access in front of all the other patients. The examination room was quiet as he put his mask back on and gestured for Jiang Li to lie down, even adjusting the chair for her comfort.
As the overhead light flickered on, terrifying images flooded Jiang Li's mind; she pressed her hands tightly under her body, too scared to move. Gu Nanfeng noticed her tension and smiled gently. "Relax; today I can only check your condition first. Your gums are inflamed, so we can't treat it just yet." "Uh-huh," she replied, her speech muffled by the swelling.
Jiang Li opened her mouth wide as he donned gloves to examine the tooth that was half decayed. She distinctly felt his cool fingertips touch her gums before he pressed gently. "Does this hurt?" he asked. Blushing, she nodded. Gu Nanfeng removed his gloves and signaled for her to sit up.
The situation felt incredibly awkward and embarrassing; she never imagined their reunion would be so chaotic. Yet Gu Nanfeng seemed unfazed by it all, calmly sitting at the computer to write out a prescription for anti-inflammatory medication.
At that moment, Jiang Li resolved that once she finished the medication, she would never return. Visiting other dentists would only subject her to physical discomfort, but here with him, she would have to endure psychological torment as well. Besides, he never liked her; if he were to poke around in her mouth again, it might truly make him sick.
While Gu Nanfeng explained how to take the medication, Jiang Li found herself drifting off again. Suddenly, he grabbed her phone: "Add me on WeChat."
"Huh?" Jiang Li was momentarily taken aback.
"I need to keep track of my patients' conditions."
Comment 0 Comment Count