Doubt

"That's right, young lady. We should probably call an ambulance. This boy appears to be lost. I called out for some time just now, but no one came over," an old man said.

He was concerned that Aria might be blamed if anything happened to the boy.

Aria quickly unbuttoned the boy's coat and brought him to some shade. "Don't worry. I'm a licensed doctor."

Then, she opened her bag and took out a medical kit. It was equipped with needles and scalpels of all sizes, all arranged neatly in rows.

Aria felt the boy's pulse again.

"Stop it! How can you simply touch the patient?" Jimmy yelled. He couldn't allow Aria to do as she pleased.

She ignored him and continued to monitor the boy's pulse and heart rate.

Jimmy sneered. "I'm Jimmy Cornell, currently studying at Janovin Medical University. My mentor is Dr. Salome Gunther. I'm not just a random bystander. You say you're a licensed doctor? How old are you?"

Aria continued to ignore him. Her focus was on the boy. She took out a needle and began to sterilize it.

"I'm talking to you! Even that old man knows we should wait for an ambulance. Why can't you get it through your head?"

This was the first time Jimmy had been completely ignored by someone.

Aria had one knee to the ground. Her demeanor was cool and emotionless. "Do nothing and wait for the ambulance? Wait as the optimal treatment period passes by? Is that what your mentor taught you?"

"Who said we should do nothing while we wait for the ambulance? You're the one delaying treatment with those needles. Please don't show off your pseudo-science methods, and let me perform CPR on the patient."

Aria shot him a cold glare after she heard what he said. Who would've thought that such a pretty young lady could have such a vicious gaze?

"He has a heat stroke. Do you think CPR would help? What a worthless doctor," Aria said as she applied pressure to the boy's fingers. Her tone was glacial.

Jimmy lost his cool immediately. "Who are you calling worthless? Do you even know who my mentor is?"

He had just received an award overseas for his medical skills. He was incredulous at the woman's audacity to doubt his abilities.

"I'm not interested in your mentor. Move."

Jimmy's eyes turned bloodshot. "I'll let it slide this time since you're just a lowly traditional medicine practitioner. His lips are turning blue. It's a heart issue."

"Hypoxia and ischemia might impact the respiratory system and cause the lips to turn blue."

Aria looked at Jimmy with a cold stare, then added, "But a heat stroke can cause that symptom, too. The difference is that his pulse is steady. Moreover, his lips are parched.

"It's clear that he had been exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged period. You don't even look at these symptoms, yet you claim to be a medical student?"

"That's true. You have to look at the symptoms first. I was taught that too," someone in the crowd agreed with Aria.

Then, people in the crowd started chattering.

"It seems like the Janovin Medical University isn't anything special at all."

"That young lady is way more reliable. I noticed she was quite professional when taking the boy's pulse."

Jimmy couldn't take the humiliation anymore. "Alright. So, he has a heat stroke. Will your acupuncture cure him of it? If so, why are we even learning modern medicine?"

"You can't represent everyone else who practices modern medicine." Aria glared at him icily. "I'll say it one more time. Move."

There were two types of people she hated the most—those who looked down on traditional medicine and lousy doctors getting in the way of her treatment.

"Sure, I'll move. I'd like to see how skilled you are." Jimmy crossed his arms. "If you can heal him with these needles, I'll get on my knees and apologize to you."

"I'm looking forward to that."

Aria located the acupuncture points and raised her hand.

Acupuncture Works

Aria stuck the first needle into the boy without any hesitation.

The boy immediately frowned. It was like he was regaining his consciousness. It looked like he was struggling as his brows furrowed even deeper.

Someone in the crowd yelled, "He's waking up!"

Jimmy was stunned. His face grew pale. "This can't be…"

How did she pull that off? Just one needle? Could a person really regain consciousness from that?

Aria raised her hand again. Her gaze was focused, and she looked very composed.

She stuck the second needle into the boy's fingertips to draw some blood.

Right after she did that, the boy opened his eyes. His pupils were dark and round, while his eyelashes were extraordinarily long.

He glanced at Aria quietly, but his face was still quite pale.

Everyone in the crowd was stunned.

Francine spoke up, "Young lady, you healed with a few pokes of the needle?"

Aria applied some light pressure on the needle. She saw that the bloodletting was done, so she removed the needle and pressed a cotton ball on the wound to stop the bleeding.

"Madam, it's not that simple. Applying acupuncture to the fingertips can help with dissipating the heat. He was inflicted with heat stroke, which was caused by the high temperature. I just helped him cool down with acupuncture."

"Spare me the theatrics. That kid hasn't spoken a word since he regained consciousness. You probably left him with some side effects with your treatment!" Jimmy snorted.

Francine was a little annoyed. "The boy has already regained consciousness. Why are you talking about side effects? Are you just trying to get out of apologizing to the young lady?"

"That's none of your business!" Jimmy looked at Francine and suddenly sneered. "I understand now. You're all in on this. You pulled me here, and she's trying to scam me.

"This is an organized scam, isn't it? I knew traditional medicine practitioners were all scum."

Aria's expression grew cold when she heard that. She was about to raise her hand.

Then, the boy spoke up in a weak but icy tone, "Traditional medicine has always been an essential part of Farshya's culture. You're a lousy doctor, sir. You should put more effort into studying."

"You…" Jimmy was at a loss for words. The boy spoke up right after he said he wasn't healed. The boy even spoke out against him. It was clear that the boy wasn't on his side.

Francine burst out into laughter. "Hey, kid. He's talking about you. You should put more effort into studying."

"I won't waste my breath with you bottom feeders anymore. You're just a group of peasants," Jimmy said in disdain.

Aria flicked a needle in his direction. It brushed past his face and got stuck in a tree nearby.

Such a violent display caused Jimmy to freeze up. Even his legs felt like they were about to give out.

Aria smiled as she said casually, "Don't you think you've forgotten about something?"

She was just a young woman, but she had a very vicious and commanding presence, which caused Jimmy to feel fear.

He tried to keep his cool. "What did I forget?"

"An apology," Aria said as she tapped on her phone. She looked devilishly charming.

Jimmy didn't want to do that. So, he said arrogantly, "Everyone makes mistakes. I don't have any more time to waste with a traditional medicine practitioner like you."

Francine couldn't stand his attitude anymore. "Is this how a student of Dr. Salome Gunther would act? You lost a bet to that young woman, and yet you refuse to apologize? Such ethics…"

"What's wrong with my ethics? Who here can prove I lost a bet to her? None of you will ever have enough money to pay for Dr. Gunther's treatment.

"Me being here and providing free medical services is an honor for all of you. How dare you peasants keep babbling about such nonsense? Don't you dare cause trouble here! Do you even know where you are right now?"

Francine's hands trembled in anger. "You… You!"

Jimmy snorted. He looked at all of them with utter disdain. They were in a modern society. He didn't believe that Aria would dare to do anything to him.

Teaching Him a Lesson

Jimmy had always thought that the common folk were beneath him. He didn't notice that Aria's gaze changed as she looked up. Viciousness and contempt filled her eyes.

She casually toyed with a piece of candy in her palm. Then, she flicked toward Jimmy.

He felt his knee give out as he fell to the ground.

"Ah!" The pain caused him to frown.

He tried to get up but realized that he couldn't move his body at all. He couldn't talk, and his hands wouldn't budge.

It felt like his movements had been sealed with the attack.

Aria walked up to him and said calmly, "As a medical student, you failed miserably at determining the patient's symptoms, and you even declared a verdict without a second thought.

"Being a doctor doesn't mean you're better than anyone else. It's a job for you to help people in need. You're unskilled and unethical. Now that you're on your knees, I'll accept your apology. Consider this a lesson I'm teaching you in your mentor's stead."

"You!" Jimmy's eyes were filled with hatred.

Aria leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Since you're such a shameless person, it'll probably be okay if you remain on your knees here for a couple of hours."

"What did you do to me? I want to call the cops! I have been assaulted!" Jimmy yelled.

Aria smiled. "And who can prove anything? Mr. Cornell, you got on your knees yourself. I didn't even touch you."

"I know right? He deserves that!"

The people in the crowd felt great satisfaction seeing Jimmy in that state.

"The young lady didn't do anything. Stop lying!"

That was the truth. He was the one who refused to help the boy. He was also the one who was running his mouth after Aria provided treatment for the boy.

He was also the one who had been cursing at everyone in the crowd and was shameless enough to refuse to apologize. He was a true disgrace to the medical profession.

Did he really think he could just say all those things without repercussions? He even tried to blame Aria for his condition.

The women in the crowd started to yell, "Everyone, come and take a look! There's an unskilled medical student here. He's on his knees to apologize right now!"

"You! All of you!" Jimmy's face was flushed, and his breath was labored.

That was why people didn't mess with the ordinary citizens who were brave, kind, and despised delinquency. Jimmy was a fool for being so domineering in front of them.

The more people looked at him, the lower Jimmy's head hung. He wished the ground would open up and swallow him up. He was afraid that someone would recognize him.

The malice in his eyes grew as he looked at Aria.

They were both in the medical industry. So, they were bound to meet again someday. He swore he would get back at her the next time they met.

Aria didn't spare him another glance. Besides, if they crossed paths again, she didn't mind breaking his legs.

Quite a lot of the older people in the crowd asked for Aria's contact information. They had seen how she performed acupuncture on the boy.

It was clear that she was an extremely skilled doctor. They were determined to secure her contact information.

Aria didn't turn any of them down, so she added them to her contacts.

Francine asked enthusiastically, "Young lady, you were so skilled with the needles. Is there a traditional medicine practitioner in your family?"

Aria thought about Georgina Harris, the woman who used to be her grandmother while she was living with the Kents. Georgina was the only one who showed her any kindness.

She came up with a solid reason. "Yes. My grandmother practices traditional medicine. She runs a care center."

"No wonder. I'll introduce some clients to her soon!"

"Sure." Aria thanked Francine politely.

Aria didn't have the airs of a renowned doctor at all. She was a legend hiding in plain sight.

The boy hadn't spoken at all since he talked to Jimmy. He just sat there quietly as he observed everything. His eyes were very bright, and he looked really adorable.

After she finished talking to everyone else, Aria looked at him. "Are you still lightheaded?"

He shook his head. Then, he looked up at Aria. "Miss, I'm Miles. Thanks for saving me. If it weren't for you, I would've been dead."

Miles York's voice was very sweet. His eyes were round, and his face was very smooth and cute. He did a cute little bow when he thanked Aria.

"Your name is Miles? Where is your family?" Aria asked with a raised eyebrow.

"They're all inside!" Miles said as he pointed behind him at the Caesar Hotel. Not just anyone could get in there at the moment.