Chapter 39 Stomach Ailments

When Huo Yanli returned to the private room, he found the atmosphere much more lively than before.

Ji Yun was already quite tipsy and was loudly discussing some investment project with Zhou Mubai. Shen Yu sat quietly to the side, occasionally interjecting. The socialites had already left—they probably made an excuse to leave shortly after Song Zhiyi left, as the awkwardness from earlier hadn't completely dissipated.

"Yanli, come quick!" Ji Yun's eyes lit up when he saw him. "I was just talking about you!"

Huo Yanli sat down on the sofa and took the wine Ji Yun handed him: "What did you say about me?"

"You must be incredibly lucky to have married such a wonderful wife," Ji Yun said, his tongue slurring, but his eyes were serious. "I didn't dare say it when my sister-in-law was here—she's amazing. Seriously, I've lived for almost thirty years and this is the first time I've ever seen a woman like her."

Zhou Mubai nodded in agreement: "He has a high level of professionalism and is not ostentatious."

Shen Yu added, "The key point is that she doesn't seem to care at all what we think of her."

These words struck a chord with Huo Yanli. Yes, she didn't care. From beginning to end, she remained as calm as a deep pool, unmoved by the gazes, evaluations, or probing of the outside world.

"Come on, let's drink!" Ji Yun raised his glass. "A toast to my sister-in-law!"

Huo Yanli clinked glasses with him and drank it all in one gulp.

The liquor was strong, burning down his throat and making his already somewhat agitated mood even more restless.

He recalled Su Nian's sarcastic remark in French, Song Zhiyi's calm response, and the composed and confident aura she exuded when she made the phone call.

I also remembered her parting words: "Drink less alcohol."

"Another one!" Ji Yun poured him another cup.

Huo Yanli didn't refuse. He drank one cup after another.

He rarely drank like this. As the head of the Huo family, he needed to remain sober and restrained at all times. But tonight, he suddenly wanted to indulge himself.

Was it because of Song Zhiyi? He didn't know.

All he knew was that he had an inexplicable emotion inside him that needed to be released.

Zhou Mubai noticed something was wrong with him and whispered, "Yanli, that's enough."

Huo Yanli waved his hand and downed another cup.

His stomach started churning. His irregular eating habits over the years, coupled with intense work pressure, had long since given him a stomach ailment. He usually managed it with medication, but today he drank too quickly, and the alcohol was strong, triggering his old problem.

At first, it was just a dull ache, which he didn't pay much attention to. But the pain quickly intensified, as if a hand was squeezing his stomach tightly.

His face turned pale, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his hand holding the wine glass trembled slightly.

"Yanli?" Ji Yun noticed his unusual behavior. "What's wrong?"

Huo Yanli wanted to speak, but the excruciating pain in his stomach prevented him from opening his mouth. He bent over, pressing his fingers tightly against his stomach, his breathing becoming rapid.

"Your stomach problem flared up again?" Zhou Mubai immediately realized. "Where's your medicine? Did you bring it?"

Huo Yanli shook his head. He hadn't brought his medicine today.

"Call a doctor!" Ji Yun panicked and took out her phone to make a call.

Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open.

Song Zhiyi left but returned.

She stood at the door, holding the old briefcase in her hand, and looked at Huo Yanli curled up on the sofa, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"I left my phone here," she explained, her gaze never leaving Huo Yanli.

Ji Yun exclaimed as if she had seen a savior: "Sister-in-law! Yanli's stomach problems have flared up, and he's in a lot of pain!"

Song Zhiyi walked over quickly and squatted down in front of Huo Yanli. Her movements were natural and without the slightest hesitation.

"Where does it hurt?" she asked calmly.

Huo Yanli gritted his teeth and pointed to his stomach.

Song Zhiyi put down her briefcase and took out a small leather needle case—not an ordinary wallet, but a professional needle case used in traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture. Inside, neatly arranged, were silver needles of varying lengths, along with alcohol wipes.

"You..." Ji Yun was stunned. "What are you going to do?"

Song Zhiyi didn't answer, but said to Huo Yanli, "Lie down, or sit up straight, and relax."

Her tone carried an undeniable composure. Huo Yanli endured the pain and forced himself to sit up straight.

Song Zhiyi quickly disinfected her hands with an alcohol swab, then took out a medium-length silver needle. She lifted the hem of Huo Yanli's shirt, revealing her abdomen.

Ji Yun and Zhou Mubai stared wide-eyed. Shen Yu also sat up straight.

Song Zhiyi pressed her fingers on Huo Yanli's abdomen, seemingly searching for acupoints. Her fingers were cool, but her movements were precise and swift.

“Zhongwan acupoint,” she said softly, as if talking to herself, or as if explaining, “is the Mu point of the stomach, and it is used to treat stomach pain and abdominal distension.”

Before the words were even finished, the silver needle had already pierced through.

Her technique was extremely steady; she inserted the needle quickly and accurately, with almost no pause. Huo Yanli only felt a slight stinging pain, followed by a strange soreness.

Song Zhiyi twirled the needle handle, her movements gentle yet rhythmic. Then she took out two more needles and inserted them into the "Neiguan" acupoints on Huo Yanli's hands.

“Neiguan (PC6) relieves chest tightness, regulates Qi, harmonizes the stomach, and relieves pain,” she continued, her tone as calm as if she were lecturing in a classroom.

Three silver needles gleamed faintly under the light.

The private room was eerily quiet. Ji Yun, Zhou Mubai, and Shen Yu were completely stunned.

They had seen all sorts of situations and all sorts of impressive people, but this was the first time they had ever seen a woman—who was also their friend's nominal wife—so calm and composed in this situation, using traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture to relieve pain.

And judging from her practiced movements, it was clearly not the first time she had done it.