Chapter 8 Coincidence
Lin Xili got up and left the clinic, but did not leave the health center directly.
Her mind was in turmoil; the iodine-131 treatment felt like a heavy stone weighing on her heart.
She went to the huge longan tree again and sat down on the shady stone bench.
She took out her phone, opened Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) somewhat anxiously, and searched for "what happens after iodine-131 treatment".
The page refreshed, and countless experiences shared by netizens popped up, all sorts of things, with all sorts of opinions.
Many people described in detail the need for hospitalization and isolation, staying in special protective wards, with family members not allowed to visit, and even used tissues requiring special handling...
Various procedures that sound daunting.
However, Huo Nanchen clearly said that hospitalization was not necessary.
What exactly went wrong?
Is it due to improper procedures at the township health center, or is the situation shared by netizens exaggerated?
Hyperthyroidism seemed to make her more irritable. She kept scrolling through the screen, browsing one message after another, and the more she looked, the more uncertain she felt.
She then searched for "method therapy for hyperthyroidism," and the results were varied. Some said that after taking the medication for two years, the levels returned to normal, while others said that after taking the medication for five years, the levels returned to normal, only to relapse two months after stopping the medication...
Remembering what Huo Nanchen had said about the side effects of Euthyrox being more severe than those of treating small children, she searched for its side effects again.
The person sharing their experience is that after taking methimazole, they sometimes experience body aches, hair loss, and bloating...
Lin Xili, who was not afraid of corpses, trembled at this moment.
No girl can accept hair loss.
By 4 p.m., the old building had become completely quiet, and no more patients were coming in or out.
Huo Nanchen packed his things, locked the clinic door, and left work.
As he walked down the stairs, he immediately saw Lin Xili sitting under the longan tree, head down, engrossed in scrolling through her phone screen.
The golden glow of the setting sun cast a soft rim around her slender profile, but her slightly furrowed brows and the aloof aura she exuded seemed out of place in the tranquil evening.
He paused for a moment, then instinctively walked towards her.
"Aren't you going back yet?"
His voice rang out in the quiet courtyard, breaking her immersion in the online world of her search.
Lin Xili looked up when she heard this and saw Huo Nanchen standing in front of her. He had taken off his white coat and was wearing a simple white shirt and gray trousers. He looked less serious as a doctor but more aloof and handsome.
She hurriedly locked her phone screen and stood up: "I...I'll go back now."
Huo Nanchen wouldn't normally inquire about a patient's whereabouts like this, since thyroid disease is a chronic condition and there's no immediate danger to life.
Perhaps it was because she was an outsider, traveling alone from the distant city of Hong Kong to this small town for medical treatment, all by herself, that she offered a simple word of concern.
Lin Xili hurriedly picked up the canvas bag next to her and walked towards the gate of the health center.
When she arrived at the gate of the hospital, she took out her phone again to try to call a ride-hailing service.
The screen displayed "No vehicles available nearby".
Is it because the distance is too short that drivers are unwilling to accept the fare?
She looked up and around, but couldn't even see the kind of motorcycle taxi she had taken to get there.
Only then did she truly understand why all the patients here were accompanied and driven by family members.
In this small town where public transportation is inconvenient, it's practically impossible to get around without your own vehicle.
The thought of the word "family" made her heart ache, and she inexplicably opened WeChat.
The family group chat remained silent in the list, with no new messages.
The parents' chat window, the older brother and younger sister's chat window...
No one asked her where she was or how she was feeling.
They are probably busy preparing for Lin Xuenuo and Xu Yanchi's new marriage, and have long forgotten about her, this failure.
Her eyes welled up with tears uncontrollably. She quickly looked up, blinked hard, and forced the soreness back.
"Beep—"
A soft car horn sounded from the side.
Lin Xili turned her head and saw a low-key dark gray SUV parked beside her. The driver's side window was down, and it was Huo Nanchen.
"Where do you live? I'll take you back. There are no ride-hailing services or taxis in this small town."
Lin Xili instinctively wanted to refuse.
She was used to keeping her distance from people, especially doctors and patients, because she didn't want to owe anyone favors.
Looking at the empty streets and thinking about the six-kilometer journey... she couldn't possibly walk back, could she?
It seems I really need to learn how to drive an electric car as soon as possible, otherwise living here will be too inconvenient.
She whispered "thank you," then opened the back door and got in.
She deliberately chose the back seat, not wanting to sit in the front passenger seat.
If Dr. Huo has a girlfriend or wife, the passenger seat is usually reserved for one's partner, and she doesn't want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings.
The car was very clean, with a faint smell of disinfectant mixed with the ambergris scent on his body, just like him, giving people a feeling of nobility, cleanliness and aloofness.
Lin Xili then thought that he might accept red envelopes from patients, so he removed the word "clean".
"Blue Snowflake B&B," she said, giving the address.
"Hmm." Huo Nanchen responded, but did not start the car immediately. Instead, he got out and went to the trunk.
Soon, he returned to the driver's seat with two bottles of mineral water in his hand.
He turned to the side and handed Lin Xili a bottle of mineral water, "Hyperthyroidism makes you thirsty, drink more water!"
"ah……"
Lin Xili looked at the water he handed her; she was indeed thirsty, as she had already finished the bottled water she had bought.
She took it. "Thank you, Dr. Huo!"
"Okay!" Huo Nanchen responded and started the car.
Looking at the bottled water in her hand, Lin Xili felt a surge of warmth in her heart.
She couldn't help but mock herself inwardly. Just moments ago she was looking down on others' lack of medical ethics, and now she was feeling extremely grateful. How desperate she must be for love!
They remained silent the entire way.
A subtle silence filled the carriage, with only the faint sound of the air conditioning and the wind outside the window.
Lin Xili turned her head to look at the pastoral scenery rushing past the window, her mind once again grappling with the choice of iodine-131.
Huo Nanchen focused on driving and did not try to start a conversation.
Fifteen minutes later, the car stopped outside the fenced yard.
"Thank you, Dr. Huo," Lin Xili said again, then got out of the car.
Huo Nanchen nodded slightly to her, then turned the car around and drove off in another direction.
Lin Xili looked in the direction the car had left and saw a sign that read "Town Parking Lot".
Perhaps she could consider buying a cheap car here for transportation?
Considering my savings, that's clearly not an option.
She pushed open the fence gate and walked into the yard.
The old lady was sitting in a rocking chair in the yard. When she saw her return, she immediately stood up with a big smile.
"Miss Xili, you're back? How did the checkup go? Perfect timing, I've finished cooking dinner, and two other guests will be arriving soon. Why don't you join us for some? It'll be more fun with more people!"
here we go again.
Lin Xili felt a chill run down her spine.
She was really bad at dealing with this kind of enthusiasm, and she couldn't accept eating at the same table with unfamiliar guests, as it made her feel very uncomfortable.
Just as she was thinking about how to politely refuse, the courtyard gate was pushed open again.
Huo Nanchen, who had just left, returned. He walked in carrying a folder that looked like a medical record bag.
"grandmother."
He called out to the old lady in a gentle voice.
Lin Xili was stunned and looked at him in astonishment.
Huo Nanchen nodded to her.
He looked at the food already laid out on the table: bright red shrimp, golden-brown fried fish, clam and loofah soup, and stir-fried clams.
Turning to Lin Xili, he said, "These have a high iodine content, you can't eat them!"
Lin Xili was taken aback, and felt a pang of unease.
Perhaps it was meant to remind her to avoid iodine, but she still felt it was impolite.
He was her doctor, and there was nothing wrong with him reminding her out of professional ethics.
Grandma Huo immediately understood. "That's alright, I'll go get something else."
Lin Xili quickly declined, "Grandma, no need to trouble yourself, I'll go out to eat something later."
Grandma Huo waved her hand and hurriedly said, "No!"
She said to Huo Nanchen, "Nanchen, take Xili to the kitchen and see what she can eat."
Huo Nanchen nodded and looked at Lin Xili: "Come with me."
Lin Xili stood still, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the strap of the canvas bag.
But she didn't want to accept this care that went beyond the doctor-patient relationship.
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