The Self-Cultivation of a Reborn Massage Therapist

Chapter 369 Service
When Ms. Foster heard Zhao Xiaochui recite that long string of diagnostic terms in English, her tense expression finally relaxed.

Given her position, the fact that she didn't compile all the medical records with a single doctor before must have been for her own reasons—to avoid her time and influence being wasted on health issues, which could lead to unnecessary speculation, shake the confidence of her partners, or even affect the stock price and business strategy of the companies she controls.

The old lady leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees.

"very good."

She uttered a single word, which was a tacit acceptance of the diagnosis and also an admission that the young masseur had been 'pretentious' all along.

"So, what is your solution? I need it to be efficient, consistent, and absolutely not disrupt my schedule. Tell me how many times you need it, and the exact duration of each session."

Upon hearing this undisguised and unrealistic demand, Zhao Xiaochui's last bit of patience vanished.

"Sister Xiaoli, come in right away."

Pan Xiaoli pushed the door open almost immediately, clearly having been waiting at the door all along. She wore a professional smile, but her expression showed that she had "just expected" something.

Zhao Xiaochui raised his hand and pointed to the door:

“Ms. Foster, I don’t have the ‘efficient, long-lasting, and non-disruptive’ solution you’re looking for.”

"What I offer is a systematic approach to conditioning your body, which requires time and cooperation. Since our philosophies are completely different, I don't think it's necessary to waste your valuable time any longer."

"Please, go ahead." He gestured for the guest to leave.

Pan Xiaoli immediately stepped forward, slightly turned her body, and pointed respectfully but firmly towards the door: "Ms. Foster, this way please."

The air seemed to freeze. Zhao Xiaochui and Pan Xiaoli, the two young people, were unaware that they were unwittingly engaging in a psychological battle with the old lady, and that it had reached its climax.

The old lady did not make any move in the face of the two young people's almost rude attitude.

Get angry? Walk away in a huff? And then what?

Should she go back to enduring the nerve pain that keeps her awake at night? Continue relying on medications that only relieve symptoms but don't cure the problem? Or should she seek out another mediocre doctor who might be intimidated by her aura and wealth, and thus become subservient to her?

Do not!
When her friends recommended this masseur to her, the look of relief and joy on her face was genuine.

They were all like her, skeptical of everything. Convincing them was no easy task.

She needs Zhao Xiaochui! But Zhao Xiaochui needs nothing from her!
This is the most unfair aspect of this game, and also the reason why the strong-willed old lady was so picky about this massage parlor.

"interesting."

She finally spoke, her voice soft, as she leaned back on the sofa, "For many years, no one has dared to say 'please' to me..."

"old lady……"

Before Foster could finish speaking, Zhao Xiaochui interrupted her. This almost rude address instantly disrupted her carefully constructed composure, and she flew into a rage.

Zhao Xiaochui ignored the old woman's angry eyes; his limited life experience prevented him from understanding the meaning behind her gaze.

He pointed to the clock on the wall.

"You have seven minutes left. You have two choices. First, I can spare your time and continue to play along with your 'show-off'..."

The word "pretentious" came out of his mouth, causing Pan Xiaoli, who was standing next to him, to gasp in shock.

Ignoring everything else, Zhao Xiaochui continued, "...I'll also give you a set of vague theories that you'll love to hear, and then use a set of painless techniques to finish these seven minutes, collect the money, and send the customer away. You get psychological comfort, I make money, and we complete a perfect transaction. But your body won't undergo any real change."

He paused, then moved closer to the old lady.

"Second, for the rest of your time, shut your mouth and lie down on that bed. Forget who you are, forget your job and schedule, and surrender your body to me like an ordinary person. After seven minutes, you can decide for yourself whether I am worth you setting aside that ridiculous posture to abide by the rules here." "Choose, Ms. Foster."

The room became quiet.

Foster's hands clenched white on the sofa armrests, and just as she was about to give up, a familiar nerve pain shot up from the back of her neck.

Bellini's words echoed in her ears: "Eva, believe me, in his presence, all your identities are useless; you only need to be a patient."

She thought it was just an exaggeration.

It turns out to be true.

Ms. Foster slowly tightened her clenched fist. She looked at Zhao Xiaochui's young but fearless face. There was no flattery or ambition in his eyes. He was just a young man who was quite persistent in his work.

She has spent her whole life conquering, and today...

To Pan Xiaoli's astonishment, Evangeline Foster, the queen of the fashion world, slowly and silently stood up, took off her high heels, and walked towards the massage bed without saying a word.

There are four and a half minutes left.

……

Zhao Xiaochui quickly washed his hands at the sink and dried them with disposable paper towels.

At this moment, the old lady had just settled down on the massage bed and buried her head in the breathing hole.

Acute exacerbation of chronic cervicogenic myofascial pain syndrome, accompanied by severe cervicogenic headache, is a standard Western medical diagnostic term.

By saying it, he crossed the line.

Even if he were to use his superhuman abilities to unlock the brain's potential and make rapid progress in Western medicine, without that license, he would only be considered a non-hereditary massage therapist and would never be able to make diagnoses as a doctor.

"I've broken a taboo," he silently warned himself. "Remember your place."

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the old lady's condition was caused by long-term strain, which led to liver qi stagnation, malnourishment of the tendons and veins, and subsequent exposure to wind, cold and dampness, resulting in qi and blood stagnation and blocked meridians in the neck and shoulders. As the saying goes, "where there is no flow, there is pain."

The ailment is mainly located in the Taiyang and Shaoyang meridians. Compared to the six major meridians involved in Bellini's treatment, the old lady's condition is relatively simple for traditional Chinese medicine massage.

However, before getting started, Zhao Xiaochui needed to complete one last step: palpation after observation and auscultation.

The internal strength of traditional Chinese medicine is mainly reflected in the massage therapist's touch. For the old lady, Zhao Xiaochui was able to sense the abnormalities in the subcutaneous muscles and fascia through slight differences in resistance.

When his warm right hand touched the old woman's relatively smooth neck, Zhao Xiaochui quickly felt several tendons and cord-like structures.

"Sure enough~"

Zhao Xiaochui thought to himself.

He glanced at the trembling old woman beneath him, thought for a moment, and said softly:

"I checked three areas: the levator scapulae, the upper trapezius, and the semispinalis capitis. How do you feel?"

The old woman was silent for a few seconds before squeezing out two words in a muffled voice, with a hint of gritted teeth:

"Extreme pain!"

(End of this chapter)