Watching as the girl with appendicitis was carried away on a stretcher.
The people still queuing at the entrance of the school clinic began exchanging glances.
They started whispering among themselves.
"Are we delaying those who really need to see the doctor by standing in line here?"
"But we really need to see the doctor too. I've been suffering from insomnia for half a month and was hoping our school doctor, who's so magical, could give me a shot and knock me out cold!"
"Hey man, let's exchange WeChat contacts. If you really can fall asleep instantly, let me know later. I'll bring my roommate to try it too."
"Yeah, yeah, maybe even try to stop snoring. My roommate is nearly driving me insane!"
"Are we really not affecting those who need medical attention?"
"No, no! We're all quite civilized. For emergencies, we don't even need them to say a word. We just send them directly to the clinic to cut in line. We can still distinguish between what's urgent and what's not!"
"That's true, so let's just keep waiting..."
"..."
—
In the blink of an eye.
More than an hour had passed.
Su Bingbing had already put on the extra white coat of Chen Mu, acting as his assistant.
Helping to manage the queue, call numbers, and fetch items that Chen Mu needed.
They had been working non-stop for over an hour.
Su Bingbing stood at the window of the school clinic, looking at the ever-growing line below, unable to suppress a deep sigh.
By now.
She finally understood why Chen Mu was so resistant to working overtime.
This wasn't ordinary overtime!
This line, even if it goes on until tomorrow morning, they won't be able to finish seeing everyone, right?!
—
"Reporter Su, this one's almost done. Please call in the next student from the entrance."
Su Bingbing was still lost in thought gazing out the window.
"On it."
Hearing Chen Mu's call, she immediately went to the clinic entrance to continue performing her duties as the school doctor's assistant.
When Su Bingbing returned.
She brought back a young, round-faced man.
Having seen female patients for the past hour, Chen Mu was momentarily taken aback at the sight of the young man.
But with the self-discipline of a doctor, Chen Mu quickly composed himself.
He gently pointed to the chair in front of him, "What's your name? Have a seat and tell me what's wrong."
The young man sat down, "Doctor, my name is Guo Hai. You see, despite it being the height of summer at our school, my hands and feet are cold every day. Could it be some strange illness?"
Chen Mu recalled the temperature at school today.
In thirty-something degrees weather, your hands and feet are cold?
He directly reached out and touched Guo Hai's hand, and indeed it was.
Quite chilly!
"Place your hand here, let me check your pulse!"
A minute passed.
Chen Mu kept his hand there, but his eyebrows furrowed more tightly.
Seeing Chen Mu's silent demeanor, Guo Hai was on the verge of tears, "No, doctor, just tell me if there's something wrong with me!"
"Aren't I terminally ill if you say nothing?"
"Even if I'm really terminal, at least say something. You're scaring me so much!"
Hearing Guo Hai's voice, a few curious heads peeked in from outside the clinic door.
Chen Mu waved his hand, "Wait a moment, maybe I'm not skilled enough, let me check your pulse again."
This time.
Chen Mu's expression was more serious than before.
He was betting on his medical honor!
A minute later.
Chen Mu's frown deepened, unwilling to give up, and checked the pulse again.
After several attempts.
Not only did Chen Mu's frown grow deeper, but Guo Hai also looked like a frost-struck eggplant.
The reputation of School Doctor Chen, now widely spread in various school groups, was almost legendary.
If even such a miracle doctor couldn't diagnose what was wrong with him.
Could he possibly have some rare disease with no treatment in the world yet?
Goodbye, Dad!
Goodbye, Mom!
I!
Might not have much time left!
Guo Hai's sadness was about to overflow the whole clinic.
Seeing Chen Mu with such an expression, Su Bingbing decided to help Guo Hai.
"Dr. Chen, could this boy have some terminal illness?"
Chen Mu lifted his eyes.
"What terminal illness? It's just a very common condition, not serious at all."
Before Su Bingbing could speak.
Upon hearing this, Guo Hai, who was almost driven to tears, was instantly taken aback!
"Doctor! If there's nothing wrong, why did you diagnose me so many times!"
Chen Mu frowned and looked at Guo Hai, sighing, "I just can't figure out why a young man like you would have the pulse of menstrual irregularities?"
"Why don't you go back first, and I'll ask my instructor about it tonight?"
Guo Hai was dumbfounded too, "Doctor! Is there any chance I'm actually a woman?!"
Faced with Chen Mu's blank stare.
Guo Hai, fuming, slammed his student ID, national ID, and every certificate that could prove his gender onto Chen Mu's table.
"I'm really sorry, truly sorry..." Chen Mu quickly stood up to apologize.
Even though Guo Hai was infuriated, seeing Chen Mu apologize so sincerely, he couldn't say much more.
"Doctor, can my menstrual irregularity be treated?"
Chen Mu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, "It can, it can. I'll write a prescription for you now, and you can get the medicine yourself from a pharmacy."
—
"Hahaha! I'm dying of laughter, Dr. Chen doubted his medical skills but never considered she was a girl!"
"Dr. Chen: Should I trust my eyes or everything I've learned?"
"To be fair, Dr. Chen's medical skills are indeed impressive. He'd rather believe a young man has menstrual irregularities than think he misidentified the gender."
"Wow! Now I'm tempted. Does Dr. Chen see patients from outside the campus?"
"If I set off for Hai City University for a check-up now, will I make it in time?"
"You really don't want Dr. Chen to ever get off work! Hahaha!!!"
"..."
—
Another half-hour passed.
Su Bingbing stood by the window for a while.
Suddenly she wasn't feeling so good, hurrying back.
Leaning close to Chen Mu, who was still writing prescriptions for students, she whispered, "Dr. Chen, more and more people are queuing up, and some outrageous students even brought chairs and tents to camp in line!"
She'd only seen such outrageous queuing before at concerts and music festivals.
Never did she think one day.
She would witness such an outrageous scene in front of a university clinic.
"You can take this prescription to a pharmacy, visit a few Traditional Chinese Medicine stores, some might provide decoction services."
The girl who took the prescription bowed to Chen Mu, "Thank you, Dr. Chen."
Watching the girl happily run out, Su Bingbing couldn't quite shake her uneasiness, "Dr. Chen, are we seriously pulling an all-nighter at the school clinic tonight?"
Chen Mu, having worked for two hours non-stop, looked even more invigorated.
After nodding, he shook his head, "Overtime for sure, but not necessarily here."
Su Bingbing: "What do you mean?"
Just as she finished speaking.
The clinic's landline suddenly rang, and Chen Mu answered, "Hello, school clinic."
"Alright, please state the exact location, I'll be there immediately!"
After hanging up the phone, Chen Mu grabbed the medical kit from the clinic entrance and rushed out, "Students at the door, help me keep an eye on the clinic, I have an emergency to attend to!"