When Felicia entered the clinic, a physician guided her to a consultation room. He gestured meaningfully toward the interior. Confused, Felicia looked inside and saw a thin, hunched figure with their back turned. She couldn't see their face or any injuries.
The physician explained, "This patient is peculiar. He complains only of headaches, but his pulse is normal. We've tried acupuncture and medication, but nothing works. He's been here three or five times! I'm worried he'll tarnish Union Clinic's reputation."
Lowering his voice, he added, "I suspect he's here to cause trouble; he's specifically requested you by name. I couldn't handle it, so I called you."
"I understand. You can go back to your work," Felicia said calmly. Union Clinic's fame had attracted its share of troublemakers, but such petty tricks didn't faze her. The physician nodded and left.
Felicia entered the room. The man by the window turned at her approach, revealing an unfamiliar face. She noticed his breath catch for a moment as their eyes met.
"You're experiencing headaches, right? Let's check your pulse." Felicia tapped the desk, indicating the wrist pillow. She needed to assess whether he was genuinely ill or causing trouble.
He hesitated before placing his hand on the pillow. Felicia checked his pulse; nothing was unusual except an unusually rapid heartbeat.
With a faint smile, she asked, "Are you nervous?"
He averted his gaze, shaking his head silently.
Felicia withdrew her hand. "The body doesn't lie, neither does the pulse. You don't have headaches, and you specifically asked for me. Are you here to cause trouble?"
He shook his head again, his meaning unclear. His gaze, however, remained fixed on her, intense and inscrutable.
Felicia frowned, scrutinizing his face. Unsure of his identity, she warned, "Whether you're here to cause trouble or not, I'll make your pain real if you keep coming back."
She left the room and instructed Kerry to escort the man out. Surprisingly, he remained calm, leaving Kerry puzzled and wondering if there had been a misunderstanding.
There was no misunderstanding. Felicia couldn't discern his motives, but she detected a subtle predatory glint in his eyes. She reminded Kerry, "Don't let him in again. We don't need this kind of nuisance."
Kerry vigorously agreed. Felicia dismissed the incident, her busy day quickly eclipsing the encounter.
Outside Union Clinic, the man got into a waiting car. He chuckled softly, reflecting on Felicia's failure to recognize him. He wondered if his disguise was too effective, or if he had simply never made a lasting impression on her.