Blood HCG

"So what now? Should we head back first?" Shen Yi asked Fu Nanzhi.

Fu Nanzhi handed him the medical report and said,

"Let’s wait a bit. Some test results come out right away, so we might as well go ask about them."

Shen Yi took the report from her and skimmed through it briefly.

He wasn’t a medical professional, so most of the data listed was beyond his understanding. Still, whether in reality or simulations, he’d undergone enough physical exams to recognize the general categories.

"Alright, let’s go then."

Shen Yi agreed readily. Cold numbers on paper were one thing, but getting answers from a real person was always better.

"Come on, we can also go see the old lady."

"The old lady?"

Fu Nanzhi turned back to explain,

"Yeah, someone you know—Consort Mei. She’s an old friend of my father’s."

"Oh… her."

Shen Yi nodded in recognition. Consort Mei, full name Mei Wanyi, had been Fu Yuanyu’s personal physician over twenty years ago. Over time, their relationship had transcended mere doctor and patient, becoming something much deeper.

As for why he thought of her as an old lady—in his past life, when he first met her, he was already in his thirties, and she had long since retired. His memory painted her as a kind, perpetually smiling elderly woman.

The two took the elevator down and wound their way to an office door. Fu Nanzhi knocked.

"Come in."

At the response, Fu Nanzhi pushed the door open and greeted cheerfully,

"Consort Mei, busy as always?"

Behind the desk sat a petite woman, her dark hair streaked with silver and neatly coiled. She appeared to be around sixty, peering through reading glasses at something in her hands.

When Fu Nanzhi entered, she set the glasses down and smiled warmly.

"Oh, Nanzhi! Come in, sit down."

Fu Nanzhi took a seat beside her, leaving space for Shen Yi to step forward.

"And this is?"

Consort Mei’s gaze flickered toward Fu Nanzhi, her smile unwavering despite the questioning tone.

Fu Nanzhi pressed her lips together before introducing,

"My boyfriend, Shen Yi."

Then, turning to him, she added pointedly,

"This is Consort Mei."

Shen Yi played along, feigning first-time acquaintance as he echoed the greeting.

"Already have a boyfriend? Wonderful, just wonderful."

"Shen Yi, was it? Don’t just stand there, have a seat."

Once Shen Yi sat, Consort Mei took Fu Nanzhi’s hand, her face alight with joy.

"What a change. Your parents must be over the moon."

"Yeah."

Fu Nanzhi dipped her head slightly in acknowledgment.

Consort Mei patted Fu Nanzhi’s hand, sighing nostalgically.

"Back then, the state you were in… it broke my heart to see. The hardest battles are always the ones we fight with ourselves… it’s exhausting."

"But you’ve come out the other side. That’s what matters…"

Back then, Fu Nanzhi’s struggles had been severe enough that Consort Mei had been consulted. But much of it stemmed from psychological and innate temperamental issues, leaving even her powerless to help.

Having watched Fu Nanzhi grow up, Consort Mei regarded her almost as her own child. Seeing her in such a state had been agonizing.

Fu Nanzhi, unsure how to respond, simply smiled and squeezed the old woman’s hand in silent comfort.

Fortunately, Consort Mei didn’t linger in the melancholy. Releasing Fu Nanzhi’s hand, she waved it off.

"Ah, this is just what happens when you get old. Don’t mind my rambling, Nanzhi."

"Not at all. How could I?"

If anything, Fu Nanzhi cherished her too much to ever find her words bothersome.

"Enough of that. Let me see the report."

Consort Mei clapped her hands together, shifting gears with practiced ease.

Shen Yi, seated nearby, quickly handed over the documents.

Consort Mei put her glasses back on and began flipping through the pages, murmuring as she went.

"My, Nanzhi, you’re in excellent health. These numbers couldn’t be more normal."

"Most young people these days are practically falling apart. Have you been keeping up with exercise?"

Fu Nanzhi blinked, scratching her head awkwardly.

"Uh… I…"

Shen Yi jumped in smoothly.

"She has. I often take her out for runs, walks, that sort of thing."

"Good. Keep it up."

Consort Mei nodded approvingly, tapping the paper.

"Your baseline metrics are nearly athlete-level. A solid routine makes for a strong body."

Fu Nanzhi forced a laugh, then shot Shen Yi a sidelong glance.

Her idea of "exercise" had always been skipping meals to lose weight. The most physical exertion she got these days was… well, bedroom activities. Hearing Shen Yi claim they worked out regularly was mortifying.

Shen Yi, oblivious to her inner turmoil, had only been trying to protect the secret of the serum, worried Fu Nanzhi might accidentally blurt something incriminating.

Consort Mei moved on without pause.

"Your eyesight’s perfect? I could’ve sworn you wore glasses, Nanzhi."

"Huh? I’m not actually nearsighted, Consort Mei."

Fu Nanzhi waved a hand dismissively.

"Those were just for looks—plain lenses."

Consort Mei scoffed at modern aesthetics.

"Those giant frames covered half your face. What’s attractive about that?"

While excessive screen time had given Fu Nanzhi slight myopia, it wasn’t enough to warrant prescription glasses. She’d mainly worn them to obscure her features.

Perhaps the serum’s modifications truly ran deep. Consort Mei flipped through the rest of the report without pause.

Where most people had minor health quirks, Fu Nanzhi had none—a fact that left the old woman baffled.

A few tests still pending results would take days, but given her physical condition, any minor ailments seemed unlikely to be an issue.

Finally, Consort Mei reached the last page, lingering on the gynecological ultrasound far longer than any previous section.

The prolonged silence made Fu Nanzhi fidget. Doctors turning serious was unnerving, and recent bodily anomalies had her paranoid.

After what felt like ages, Consort Mei removed her glasses.

"Nothing major."

Fu Nanzhi exhaled in relief—until the next words came.

"Nanzhi, go get a blood hCG test."

"What’s that for?"

Fu Nanzhi frowned.

"Nothing to worry about. Might just be my eyes playing tricks."

"It’s quick—results in an hour or two."

Consort Mei’s tone was light, nudging Fu Nanzhi’s elbow playfully.

The reassurance only heightened her anxiety. Hesitating, Fu Nanzhi glanced back at Shen Yi, uncertainty written across her face.

Consort Mei burst out laughing.

"Look how scared she is…"

"Oh, it's not an illness. Just go when you're told to."

"Since Consort Mei said so, you might as well get checked. It’ll give you peace of mind."

"Come on, I’ll go with you."

Shen Yi stood up and took Fu Nanzhi’s hand as he spoke.

Only then did Fu Nanzhi relax, pouting in protest.

"Consort Mei, you’re so mean... teasing me again."

Her complaint was met with Consort Mei’s light laughter.

After leaving the office, the two headed upstairs, where everything had already been arranged in advance for Fu Nanzhi’s arrival.

The examination sounded oddly familiar to Shen Yi, though he couldn’t quite place it at the moment. Still, in the age of information, anything unclear could be looked up online.

Though there was a saying—water boils at a hundred degrees, but if a person searches too much...

Not wanting to unsettle Fu Nanzhi, Shen Yi resisted pulling out his phone to check. The results would come soon enough anyway.