Chapter 361: Chapter 360: Vote by a Show of Hands

Myocardial enzyme test, exercise stress test, standard electrocardiogram, ultrasound, multi-slice CT, angiography, Holter monitor, 4D color Doppler ultrasound, cardiac MRI, coronary CTA, myocardial rest imaging...

Yan Feifan spent nearly ten minutes reviewing the thick stack of imaging files, along with copies of various test results and lab reports.

He discovered that the patient, a man named Pang Zheng, had undergone practically every heart-related examination imaginable.

And not just once, either.

Furthermore, the man had also gone through a full-body checkup, cancer screenings, a brain MRI, and numerous other tests. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

After reviewing all the images and documents, Yan Feifan closed his eyes, his mind sinking into deep concentration as he began to analyze the various images, data, test conclusions, and their correlations...

"Brother, did you see that?"

Yu Suye gently nudged Yu Chuanbai beside her with her shoulder and whispered, "The way Feifan looks right now... it seems like he’s spacing out, but he’s actually thinking."

"It’s a state of incredibly deep, high-intensity focus, a complete immersion that tunes out all external distractions."

"Watch this..."

As she spoke, Yu Suye reached out and waved her hand a few times in front of Yan Feifan’s eyes.

"See? His eyes aren’t moving, are they?"

"He didn’t even blink, right?"

"Wow, you’re right!" Yu Chuanbai was amazed.

Tian Yu found this fascinating and, eager to try for herself, said, "Hehe, let me give it a shot!"

She walked up to Yan Feifan and waved her hand as well. Seeing that he was as still as a statue, she confirmed that he truly wasn’t reacting.

Tian Yu bent down, used her fingers to pull the corners of her eyes and mouth wide, stuck out her tongue, and made a goofy face right in front of him.

"Tee hee, still no reaction. This is so much fun."

This scene inexplicably intrigued Song Yi, who stood up and said cheerfully, "Move over, Xiaoyu. Let me try."

She also walked up to Yan Feifan, bent down close, pulled the corners of her eyes up with her hands, and stuck her tongue out a little.

"Bleah, bleah..."

Song Yi had just softly "bleahed" twice when she saw Yan Feifan’s body suddenly jerk back as if he’d been startled.

"Ah...!"

Letting out a startled cry, Yan Feifan snapped back to full awareness of his surroundings and recognized Song Yi making a face in front of him.

"Song Yi, what are you doing?"

Faced with Yan Feifan’s question, Song Yi felt her face flush. She quickly dropped her hands, stood up, and mumbled, "Nothing."

She quickly changed the subject. "Feifan, have you figured something out?"

"I suppose so."

Yan Feifan replied, then looked at Kang Zhongtao, who was sitting on the sofa to his side. "Mr. Kang, based on these imaging files and test results, there’s nothing wrong with your friend or relative’s heart."

"He just has some minor chronic issues with his blood sugar and blood lipids."

"But none of that is enough to cause heart palpitations and chest tightness."

Kang Zhongtao nodded quickly, then sighed. "Mr. Yan, more than one doctor has reached the same conclusion as you."

"The problem is, my friend has experienced severe heart palpitations and chest tightness on more than one occasion."

"He now carries Quick-Acting Heart-Saving Pills with him at all times, as well as that so-called miracle drug made from an old recipe he managed to track down, the An Gong Niu Huang Pill."

"Mr. Yan, what do you make of his situation?"

Yan Feifan tapped the stack of files on the coffee table and said thoughtfully, "Judging from these test results, your friend is in remarkably good health."

"If the palpitations and chest tightness aren’t caused by internal factors, then they’re most likely caused by external ones."

"External factors?" Kang Zhongtao asked, confused.

Yan Feifan explained, "Things like allergens, toxic substances, and so on. They can all trigger an adverse cardiac reaction."

"Why don’t you give him a call and ask for more details."

"Ask about the specific details of when his palpitations and chest tightness flare up—the time, the place, and so on. See if there’s any pattern."

"I’ll call him right now."

As he spoke, Kang Zhongtao took out his phone and dialed a number.

The phone rang several times before it was answered.

"Mr. Pang, it’s me, Kang Zhongtao..."

"Sorry to bother you."

"I’m with Mr. Yan at the Affiliated Hospital right now."

"Yes, *that* Mr. Yan..."

"Mr. Yan has a theory..."

"His theory is that your palpitations and chest tightness might be caused by an external environmental factor, like an allergen or a toxic substance."

"Mr. Yan asked me to find out where these episodes usually occur."

"And at what times?"

Kang Zhongtao listened, softly repeating the answers he heard. "In the morning... at noon... in the evening, too."

"In the office, the conference room, the cafeteria, on the road..."

Yan Feifan cut in, "Does it happen at night or when he’s at home?"

Kang Zhongtao quickly relayed the question, "Sir, have you ever experienced these palpitations and chest tightness at night or while you’re at home?"

"’I don’t think... so?’"

Kang Zhongtao perked up and pressed for confirmation. "Sir, please think carefully. Are you absolutely sure?"

After a moment, Kang Zhongtao looked at Yan Feifan and said with a hint of excitement, "Mr. Yan, he says he’s sure it hasn’t happened!"

Yan Feifan found it rather tiresome to communicate through a middleman.

But Kang Zhongtao didn’t put the call on speaker, nor did he hand the phone over to Yan Feifan. It seemed to be a deliberate choice on his part.

Yan Feifan didn’t feel it was his place to push the issue.

Yan Feifan spoke again. "Ask him when exactly these symptoms started."

"And before they began, were there any changes in his work environment?"

"For example, did he change offices, was there any renovation, did he get a new car or new furniture, any new houseplants, new flowers or trees planted outside, and so on."

Kang Zhongtao relayed Yan Feifan’s words into the phone, point by point.

"The symptoms started not long after he went back to work after the New Year!"

"His work environment? No changes at all?"

"Sir, are you sure?"

"He’s sure that absolutely nothing has changed..."

Suddenly, the volume of Kang Zhongtao’s voice on the phone rose. "What? You got a new purple clay teapot?"

He repeated to Yan Feifan, "Mr. Yan, he got a new purple clay teapot."

"And he uses it often in his office."

Yan Feifan nodded, then said, "Mr. Kang, it’s highly likely your friend’s palpitations are caused by an environmental factor."

"Here’s what I suggest: have someone test your friend’s work environment for toxic substances and allergens."

"If that doesn’t turn up anything, you can come see me again."

"How does that sound?"

Seeing that he now had an answer for his visit, and sensing the note of dismissal in Yan Feifan’s tone, Kang Zhongtao quickly stood up, thanked him, and took his leave...

The moment the elevator doors closed, Tian Yu, who had come along with Yan Feifan to see them out, spun around and dashed back to the room.

Yan Feifan couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle.

When he returned to the living room, he saw his sister, Tian Yu, and Song Yi gathered around the large durian, discussing how to open it.

On the coffee table were two bottles of French red wine from an unknown region, which Mr. Kang had brought in a paper bag.

Durian and red wine. Mr. Kang’s gifts were certainly well-chosen to suit the recipient’s tastes—except they were all his sister’s favorites, not his.

"Xiaoyu, didn’t Mr. Kang ask you about what I like?"

"He probably did, but I don’t really remember!"

"It’s just..."

Tian Yu pouted. "Mr. Yan, you don’t really seem to have any strong preferences, do you?"

’Come to think of it... he really didn’t.’

Yan Feifan thought for a moment, then snorted. "Xiaoyu, that’s just because you don’t know me well enough."

Seeing his sister emerge from the kitchen with a knife, ready to attack the durian, Yan Feifan said with a look of disgust, "We’re in the middle of something. Why would you eat that stinky durian now?"

Yan Ziruo rolled her eyes at him and announced, "Let’s put it to a vote. Majority rules."

"All in favor of eating durian, raise your hands..."

Yan Ziruo was the first to shoot her hand high in the air.

Song Yi raised her hand, too.

Caught between the sharp gazes of Yan Ziruo and Yan Feifan, Tian Yu wavered for a moment before slowly raising her hand as well.

Just when Yan Feifan thought the vote would be a three-to-three tie, Yu Chuanbai raised his hand as well...