When Jiang Fei placed his fingers on Qiao Yiyi’s wrist to check her pulse, a diagnosis immediately appeared in his mind.
Patient’s Condition: Overuse of vocal cords due to excessive high-pitched singing, resulting in vocal cord nodules and polyps. The condition has progressed to persistent hoarseness, primarily affecting the anterior and middle sections of the vocal cords. Severe. The condition has worsened from a low voice to complete hoarseness, and continued use of the voice may lead to permanent loss of speech. Additionally, there is mild acid reflux.
Comprehensive Diagnosis: Vocal cord damage.
Recommended Treatment: Traditional Chinese medicine combined with acupuncture (using warm silver needles on specific acupoints such as Naohu, Fengfu, and Yamen…).
After seeing the diagnosis in his mind, Jiang Fei felt confident about the situation.
After a while, Jiang Fei removed his fingers from Qiao Yiyi’s wrist. He couldn’t help but notice how smooth and delicate her skin was—fair and flawless.
“You mentioned earlier that you need her vocal cords healed within a certain timeframe, right?” Jiang Fei asked, turning to the middle-aged female manager, Aunt Mei.
“Ten days at most! That’s the maximum time the company has managed to secure for Yiyi. Once the time is up, she must resume her previously scheduled commercial performances,” Aunt Mei replied, her eyes filled with urgency. Despite her domineering demeanor, she seemed genuinely concerned for Qiao Yiyi.
It was unclear whether her concern stemmed from Qiao Yiyi being her cash cow or if there was another reason.
Jiang Fei couldn’t help but comment, “If the schedule is so tight, why wasn’t she treated when her voice first started to deteriorate? At that stage, healing within ten days wouldn’t have been difficult. Why wait until it’s severe and she’s on the verge of losing her voice entirely before seeking treatment?”
Jiang Fei had some understanding of the entertainment industry from his earlier days browsing the internet. He had heard that some talent agencies treated their stars as nothing more than commodities, overworking them to the point of exhaustion. Tears and sweat were a common sight.
Behind every star, there was a hidden story of hardship…
Of course, behind some stars, there were also hidden, unsavory transactions.
Particularly in South Korea, talent agencies were notorious for their harsh treatment of artists. For example, the infamous S.M. Entertainment was known for its near-abusive practices, often leading to singers collapsing on stage due to exhaustion.
It seemed that Qiao Yiyi, who had returned from South Korea, was signed under this very S.M. Entertainment.
Jiang Fei had initially thought the online rumors were exaggerated. How could these glamorous, beautiful stars possibly be more overworked than the average person?
It must be a ploy to gain sympathy and attract fans. But now, it seemed the rumors were true.
Qiao Yiyi’s voice was clearly the result of extreme overwork. Despite her vocal cords being damaged, she hadn’t been given any rest, leading to the current severe condition.
Hearing Jiang Fei’s words, Aunt Mei’s face flushed with embarrassment. As Qiao Yiyi’s manager, she was essentially her caretaker. Yet, she had failed to prevent Qiao Yiyi’s condition from worsening to this extent. She bore undeniable responsibility.
Qiao Yiyi, however, quickly defended her manager. “This isn’t entirely Aunt Mei’s or the company’s fault. When my throat first started feeling uncomfortable, I thought it was just a minor issue. I took some throat lozenges and assumed a night’s rest would fix it. I didn’t take it seriously, which is why it got so bad.”
“Dr. Jiang, is there any hope of Yiyi’s vocal cords recovering within ten days?” Aunt Mei asked anxiously.
She found Jiang Fei’s method of diagnosis a bit unusual. To assess vocal cord damage, most doctors relied on high-tech imaging or required the patient to produce specific sounds. Yet, this young doctor had simply taken Qiao Yiyi’s pulse and seemed to have a clear understanding of the situation.
However, neither Aunt Mei nor Qiao Yiyi were medical professionals, so they didn’t dare question Jiang Fei’s methods. After all, Jiang Fei had a solid reputation and had even been featured in the Sichuan Metropolitan Daily. He couldn’t be a quack.
If he was a miracle doctor, his methods were bound to be different from ordinary doctors.
“It’s possible, but it will be a bit complicated…” Jiang Fei said thoughtfully.
Hearing that recovery was possible, Aunt Mei’s eyes lit up, and she eagerly asked, “As long as Yiyi’s voice can be healed within ten days, no complication is too big! Of course, Dr. Jiang, if you have any conditions, feel free to state them. We will definitely pay you generously for your services!”
Unfortunately, I don’t want payment, Jiang Fei thought regretfully.
Clearing his throat, Jiang Fei didn’t immediately state his conditions. Instead, he explained, “Acupuncture is indeed effective for treating vocal cord damage. Combined with the herbal medicine I prescribe, if all goes well, Yiyi’s vocal cords could fully recover in less than ten days—perhaps even within a week. However, the acupuncture treatment is quite intensive. It needs to be administered at least six times a day to ensure rapid recovery. Otherwise, it won’t be effective.”
“Six times a day? That’s not a problem!” Both Qiao Yiyi and Aunt Mei were relieved. As long as Qiao Yiyi’s vocal cords could be healed, frequent acupuncture sessions were a small price to pay.
However, they soon realized a potential issue.
Acupuncture wasn’t like taking medication—it required the doctor’s direct involvement. If the treatment required six sessions a day, Qiao Yiyi would essentially have to stay with Jiang Fei throughout the treatment period.
With six sessions a day, excluding nighttime, that meant an acupuncture session every two hours during the day!
Under such circumstances, how could Qiao Yiyi possibly leave Jiang Fei’s side?
After explaining, Jiang Fei fell silent, observing the two women’s reactions. He could tell they were already considering the implications, so he waited for them to process the information.
After about half a minute of silence, Aunt Mei forced a smile and asked, “In that case, could we invite Dr. Jiang to stay with us at the Jin City Hotel? We’ll cover all your expenses during this period, and we’ll double or even triple your consultation fee!”
This time, Aunt Mei’s tone and attitude were completely different from her previous phone call. She was polite and respectful, no longer arrogant.
After all, Jiang Fei was the only doctor they had found who claimed he could heal Qiao Yiyi’s vocal cords within ten days. Offending him would be disastrous.
Unfortunately, Jiang Fei shook his head firmly. “I have a lot on my plate recently. Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival, and I’ll have guests at home. I can’t possibly follow you to the hotel and become your personal doctor.”
He rejected the proposal without hesitation.
After listening to Lin Molly’s suggestion, Jiang Fei thought having Qiao Yiyi endorse Jiang’s Clinic was a good idea. However, it wasn’t a necessity.
At present, Jiang’s Clinic was small, and his current reputation was enough to ensure profitability. Even if his fame grew, it would only benefit the clinic’s future development.
As for the future, Jiang Fei wasn’t too concerned. Once his medical skills improved further, he would have no trouble increasing the clinic’s reputation.
Therefore, Jiang Fei had no intention of becoming their lackey just because he wanted Qiao Yiyi as an endorser. That would be beneath him!
Moreover… Jiang Fei felt he had the upper hand. Even if he refused, these two had no choice but to beg him for treatment.
From his diagnosis, Jiang Fei knew that in Jin City, aside from himself, no one else could guarantee Qiao Yiyi’s vocal cords would heal within ten days. Even renowned doctors like Qin Zhengming or Ge Fangping would need at least two weeks.
As for more famous doctors, even someone like Old Master Ye Zhennan would be difficult to invite. Qiao Yiyi, despite being a big star, couldn’t compare to Old Master Ye’s status.
Thus, Jiang Fei was confident and in control.
Sure enough, upon hearing Jiang Fei’s words, Qiao Yiyi remained calm, but Aunt Mei’s expression shifted slightly. However, she didn’t dare get angry or confront Jiang Fei. Instead, she tentatively asked, “Dr. Jiang, are you suggesting that Yiyi stay with you during this period?”
“If she wants me to heal her vocal cords, that’s the only way,” Jiang Fei nodded.
He would be staying in Daocun for the next few days. If he were in Jin City, they could drive back and forth daily, but Daocun was too far.
The round trip from Daocun to Jin City would take more than two hours, making frequent travel impossible.
Aunt Mei’s expression grew increasingly uneasy, but she remained silent. Qiao Yiyi, however, nodded decisively and said with a hoarse voice, “Aunt Mei, let’s do as Dr. Jiang suggests. I’ll stay here until my voice recovers. The scenery here is so beautiful—I’ve never seen such a lovely place. I’ll treat it as a relaxing vacation.”
She then turned to Jiang Fei and politely added, “I apologize for the inconvenience, Dr. Jiang.”
“No trouble at all,” Jiang Fei replied, shaking his head.
In their brief interaction, this beautiful star had surprised him. Not only was she stunning, but she was also remarkably polite—a rare combination.
Aunt Mei tugged at Qiao Yiyi’s arm and whispered, “This won’t do! If you stay here and the paparazzi find out, your image will be ruined!”
For idol stars in the entertainment industry, exposing a romantic relationship was a major taboo, especially for someone like Qiao Yiyi, who was known for her pure, innocent image. If she were photographed living with a strange man…
The consequences were unimaginable.
Qiao Yiyi, however, was unfazed. She smiled and said, “Aunt Mei, look how remote this place is. Do you really think paparazzi would come here?”
“But…” Aunt Mei glared, glancing at Jiang Fei.
Her expression implied that even without paparazzi, it was still dangerous for Qiao Yiyi to live with a strange man!
Qiao Yiyi cut her off, firmly grasping her hands. “Aunt Mei, this time, please listen to me.”