"Sir, didn't sleep well last night, did you? Recently been dealing with insomnia, vivid dreams, and getting up frequently during the night?" Shu Lanzhou looked at him with a friendly smile.
Maybe it was because she hit the mark, or maybe it was her gentle tone, but the man who was about to walk out stopped in his tracks.
"How do you know that? Don't tell me... you live in the apartment below mine? Listen, I swear I wasn't being loud on purpose. I just don't know what's been going on lately, I—"
"No need to explain," Shu Lanzhou cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Have a seat over there and let me finish. Tell me if I'm wrong after that, alright?"
As she spoke, she reached for a white coat and slipped it on.
The man looked at her and suddenly realized, "Ah, you're the doctor who was just giving that talk on stage! Sorry, but I'm not doing any checkups, thanks."
"What, did I say something wrong?" Shu Lanzhou chuckled. "Don't you want a good night's sleep? Don't you want to sleep straight through till morning?"
The man hesitated.
"It's free anyway. Won't take more than a few minutes of your time," an elderly man from the property management office chimed in. "Just sit down and listen. Who knows, maybe she's right. No harm done."
Mr. Wu gave a small nod. "Alright, I'll listen. Let's see what she can come up with."
"Mind if I check your pulse?" Shu Lanzhou asked as she took a seat.
Mr. Wu looked her over and smiled faintly. "Go ahead."
This doctor looked young and a bit theatrical. He was curious to see what she could really tell.
"Open your mouth and stick out your tongue," Shu Lanzhou instructed, glancing up briefly.
Mr. Wu was surprisingly cooperative and followed her instructions. She glanced at his tongue, then bent over a notepad and scribbled something down.
"So, young lady, what did you find?" Mr. Wu asked with a half-smile, clearly not expecting anything serious. His tone was laced with mockery.
Shu Lanzhou didn't take offense. "If I'm not mistaken, you're under thirty. You've been eating a lot of spicy food lately, drinking coffee often, and regularly staying up late, right?"
"Getting pimples is one thing, but isn't it a little early for you to be developing dark spots?"
"W-Who has dark spots? Don't talk nonsense!" Mr. Wu's hand flew to his face in alarm.
Shu Lanzhou smiled. "From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, this is a result of long-term irregular eating habits and lack of proper rest."
"Let me guess—you're a programmer? When you finally get a day off, all you want is to sleep in, catch up on rest, but instead you're waking up frequently, having restless dreams, or jolting awake in the middle of the night?"
"Not trying to scare you, but if you keep this up, you'll start experiencing palpitations, aching lower back and knees… In severe cases, it could even lead to sudden cardiac arrest."
Mr. Wu's face went pale. He slammed the table and stood up.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Who's going to die suddenly? You quack! You're just trying to scare me into buying your products! Do you have no ethics at all? Are you even human?"
Hearing the commotion, Mu Side started walking over, but before he could reach them, Shu Lanzhou simply smiled and said:
"I'm not selling anything. Even the checkup was free. As a doctor, I'm obligated to tell you the truth. Are you angry because I got it all right?"
"Or are you saying I was completely wrong—that you don't have insomnia, you sleep like a baby, and you're not up several times a night?"
"You… you…" Mr. Wu was left speechless. He couldn't deny any of it.
The elderly property manager came over again, trying to smooth things over.
"Little Wu, don't be stubborn. If something's wrong, admit it. No doctor's going to hurt you—especially when they're doing this for free."
"If you don't trust her, go get a second opinion at another hospital. But don't delay treatment. If something serious happens, it might be too late."
Others chimed in as well. "Exactly. It doesn't hurt to be cautious. Besides, when I had my checkup just now, the doctor got everything right. They're not trying to scam anyone."
Mu Side gave Mr. Wu a look, then turned to the crowd. "Alright, folks, let's give the doctors some space. If you'd like to get checked, please queue up and register over there."
As people began to disperse, Mr. Wu awkwardly sat back down.
"Doctor, I'm sorry, I overreacted just now," he muttered, rubbing his face. "I really haven't been sleeping well. Staying up late is basically my lifestyle now. You were right… I'm a programmer."
"So what can I do about this? Is there any way to help me sleep? I'm seriously at my wit's end!"
Shu Lanzhou pulled out a notebook and began writing down a treatment plan.
"Given the nature of your work, I know late nights are unavoidable. What I can help with is improving your sleep quality."
"I've written a one-week meal plan and recommended eating times. No matter how busy work gets, your meals need to be regular and nutritious. Cut out the coffee for now."
"I've also listed two herbal teas that help calm the mind. And regarding your schedule, try not to stay up late if you can avoid it. Don't drink too much water before bed either."
"You can find all these things at regular shops. Stick to this plan for a while. If there's no improvement, I suggest you go to the hospital for a further check-up."
Mr. Wu blinked in confusion. "You're really… not selling me anything? Isn't that kind of a loss for you?"
"Sir, I'm here to promote Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture. I want more people to understand and trust our medical heritage—not to make a sale." Shu Lanzhou looked helpless. "If you're so worried about us losing money, then next time you're not feeling well, why not consult a TCM doctor first?"
Mr. Wu scratched his nose and stood up without giving a reply. He clearly still wasn't fully convinced.
Shu Lanzhou didn't press him. But just as he walked a few steps away, he turned back:
"Doctor, is there any way to get rid of these spots on my face? I'm still young, not even married yet. I don't look great to begin with—if I've got dark spots too, how am I ever supposed to find a wife?"
"Well, it's possible," Shu Lanzhou said, "but if I give you product recommendations now, you'll accuse me of trying to sell you something. I don't dare."
"Better you go look around the market yourself. See if there's a reliable brand. But I'll warn you—fast results usually mean lots of chemical additives. To minimize skin damage, it's best to go with something made from natural ingredients."
"Natural products work more slowly. The fast ones still need about three months of consistent use. The slow ones? You're looking at six months minimum—possibly more."
"Hey now," Mr. Wu said with a grin. "I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have doubted your skills. I believe you now. I mean, just look at your skin—it's glowing and smooth! Just tell me what you use, alright?"
Before Shu Lanzhou could respond, Mu Side stepped in and casually placed a hand on Mr. Wu's shoulder, steering him around.
"If you're looking for a product to lighten spots, our company happens to make one. If you trust us, go ahead and buy a couple bottles and give it a try. But don't take up the doctor's time—others are still waiting."
As Mu Side led him away with a calm expression, Shu Lanzhou couldn't help but smile brightly.
Whether it was the unexpected drama or the detailed consultation, the younger people who were about to leave now hesitated—and many stepped forward to give it a try.
Shu Lanzhou checked two more people. As expected, each had small health issues caused by unhealthy lifestyles. She was gently advising them to adjust their diet when a loud commotion suddenly broke out nearby.
The noise was loud enough to draw attention—and the product display table that Mu Side's team had set up was abruptly overturned.