Patrick slumped back onto the sofa, rubbing his aching forehead. “It’s really weird. My brother fell into the hands of Leo, this waste. Even I couldn’t beat him. A freeloading son-in-law, how could he be so formidable?”
“Mr. Gregory, I’ve already told you about Leo’s background. He’s like a blank sheet of paper. The reason he married into the Henley family is solely because of Sophia’s illness and the rush to get married.”
“In these four years of his marriage, he couldn’t speak, like a mute for three years. In the Henley family, he was treated worse than a stray dog, subjected to beatings. I’ve even hit him several times.”
“What? Mute?” Patrick was momentarily stunned.
“Yeah, let me think…” Bruno pondered for a moment, then continued, “Leo, this waste, suddenly started speaking again for some reason. It seems to have happened around the seventy-year birthday celebration of my Grandma. I feel like this useless guy changed. Like he’s got some wires crossed, transforming from a gentle lamb into a rabid dog.”
Leo’s sudden change, looking back today, made Bruno feel somewhat surprised.
After hearing Bruno’s account, Patrick fell into contemplation again.
After a while, Patrick looked up and said to Bruno, “Regardless, Leo, that waste, has become our common enemy. We must find a way to get rid of him!”
Meanwhile, back in Langstel, Leo dropped Sophia off at the company and headed to the nameless traditional Chinese medicine clinic for his practice.
When Leo entered the clinic’s hall, he encountered someone unexpected. Specifically, a female doctor, Julia Mond.
Dr. Mond coming here wasn’t for a medical consultation. Leo greeted her and offered her a cup of tea.
After some small talk, Leo learned the purpose of Dr. Mond’s visit to the clinic.
“Dr. Mond, is it appropriate for me to join you at this conference?” Leo hesitated, as today he planned to refine the Snowspirit Pill in the clinic’s backyard.
Dr. Mond earnestly replied, “Dr. Leo, your medical skills are the best among all the doctors I know. This symposium is crucial for our First People’s Hospital. Could you please accompany me? Consider it as me inviting you for a house call, and I’ll pay you the consultation fee. What do you say?”
Leo thought for a moment. Since the attractive female doctor had come to him with a request, outright refusal seemed a bit off. Besides, he wasn’t too busy today, so he agreed.
Seated in Dr. Mond’s car, Leo and she headed to her hospital.
The symposium was scheduled for two in the afternoon, and it was still just past twelve. Before entering the hospital, the two grabbed a quick lunch outside.
On the way to the hospital, Leo learned that the main purpose of the symposium was to treat a foreign patient.
This foreigner had an accident two years ago. Initially, he couldn’t move his hands, then his feet, and eventually, he became completely paralyzed, only able to move his mouth.
No hospital abroad could cure his paralysis, so his children brought him here in search of treatment. Through various twists and turns, they arrived in Langstel.
Interestingly, both the foreign patient and his children didn’t believe in traditional Chinese medicine. When doctors suggested trying Chinese medicine, they vehemently refused.
The patient’s son even declared that Chinese medicine was witchcraft. Drinking some strange herbal soup to cure diseases was ridiculous and had no scientific basis.
Learning this information, Leo had an idea. If possible, he wanted to use traditional Chinese medicine to cure the foreigner. It would be a way to elevate the dwindling reputation of traditional Chinese medicine and contribute in his modest way.
As it was a medical symposium, to appear more formal, Dr. Mond found a white coat for Leo, and they entered the conference room together.
Around two o’clock, most of the attendees for the symposium began to arrive.
Leo noticed that the most eye-catching figures sitting in the front row were two a man and a woman.
Dr. Mond, seated beside Leo, introduced them, “Those two are the patient’s children, the man is Will, a renowned journalist, and the woman is Lisa, a staff member at the embassy.”
Leo nodded.
At exactly two o’clock, the symposium officially began.
After a brief welcome from the male doctor presiding over the conference, he announced, “Now, let’s have the Vice President of the hospital introduce the patient’s condition.”
After the male doctor’s words, a senior doctor in his sixties stepped onto the stage. He used a remote control to turn on the projector, displaying the patient’s personal information and medical history.
The Vice President leaned to the side, simultaneously introducing the patient’s condition and playing a slide show. The slides included various examination images, such as MRI, CT scans, and electrocardiograms.
“After further detailed examinations in our hospital, Paul’s condition can be diagnosed as secondary muscular atrophy sclerosis. The patient’s muscular atrophy sclerosis progressed gradually, starting with both hands, then both feet, spreading throughout the body. The patient is now paralyzed, only able to move his mouth. Without effective treatment, he may become completely paralyzed, similar to a vegetative state.”
Leo couldn’t help but point to a photo on the slide and asked Dr. Mond softly, “Is that Paul in the photo?”
“Yes.”
“From the photo, there doesn’t seem to be any noticeable muscle atrophy on his body.”
Dr. Mond nodded, “Yes, Paul’s muscular atrophy is indeed relatively mild.”
“Could it be caused by lack of exercise?” Leo speculated.
Dr. Mond couldn’t help but smile bitterly, “Paul is now paralyzed in bed, even if he wanted to move, he couldn’t.”
“Hey, you two, if you want to talk, go outside. Don’t disturb us listening to the presentation!” A young male doctor behind Leo and Dr. Mond complained in a low voice.
The bespectacled man sitting next to the young male doctor also said with a displeased expression, “Always sneaking around and whispering below. If you have the guts, go up there and speak.”
In reality, the frustration of these two men wasn’t just about Leo and Dr. Mond talking; it was mostly due to the intimate actions between Leo and Dr. Mond.
You see, Dr. Mond was recognized as the hospital’s most beautiful girl by the male staff at the First People’s Hospital. Countless male doctors, openly or secretly, pursued Dr. Mond, but she was solely dedicated to her work and paid no attention to her suitors.
Now, witnessing a stranger talking intimately with Dr. Mond, these two men naturally felt a surge of anger.
The Vice President continued speaking on the podium, oblivious to the commotion, “After our check-ups, we have ruled out the possibility of hereditary factors in this disease. Our preliminary judgment is that it’s neurodegeneration caused by medication.”