Chapter 126
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Wrist Check-Up
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"Jaekyung hyung, how's your wrist feeling?"
Kang Jaekyung spread his right hand wide at the question from the maknae, who handled keyboards in the band.
"...It doesn't tingle anymore."
"Good. That's a relief."
There was nothing special about the treatment.
He'd just poked a few needles into his wrist and forearm. It hadn't even hurt as much as he'd expected.
They'd said his carpal tunnel was narrowed. Could a few needle pricks really widen it?
No painkillers injected or anything—how could it stop hurting and tingling like this?
"Should've gotten it fixed sooner."
The pain hadn't been that bad, but the tingling had started over a year ago.
Any strain, and his thumb, index, and middle fingers would go numb, sometimes his ring finger too.
Only after drumming? No. Driving or gaming for over thirty minutes, and it'd start right up.
It bugged him quietly, but since it wasn't outright pain, he'd let it slide.
Until the pain finally kicked in.
He started dropping things he held.
Phone? Fine, whatever. But during practice, getting chewed out and dropping a drumstick...
[GO TO THE CLINIC RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
"Why scribble on the sketchbook all of a sudden when you talk fine?"
[Wanna yell but don't wanna waste my voice, so I used exclamation points.]
Kim Taeyoon's decree had come down.
Grumbling about the hassle, worrying if the needles would hurt, he went to the Korean medicine clinic anyway.
Now the tingling was gone, and it felt so damn good.
The vibration from his hands hitting without pain felt great, and the worry about crippling arthritis in old age vanished too.
"How's it better so fast? This is wild."
Kang Jaekyung muttered as he pulled out his smartphone.
He wanted to search "acupuncture principles."
The maknae chatting with him peeked over to see what he was searching.
The guitarist and bassist were griping about the dakgalbi taking forever, chatting among themselves.
And Kim Taeyoon was...
"Hey, didn't you swear off using your right hand?"
He snatched Kang Jaekyung's smartphone.
"No, just for a sec! I'm putting it on the table!"
"Ma~n, your smartphone addiction~."
"Heh, why declare that in front of Taeyoon?"
The seventh time already—he'd mindlessly opened his phone and lost it.
He'd tried using his left hand with iron will at first, but habits die hard.
So Kim Taeyoon stepped in to help.
His method? Confiscate the phone for thirty minutes every time the right hand came out.
"Protect Kang Jaekyung's wrist at all costs!"
"Melon Soda Horizon is together forever!"
The two teased endlessly, loving the show of him losing his phone to Kim Taeyoon.
"Hey, I'm all better now!"
"Five portions of half-and-half dakgalbi, ready~."
Just as Kang Jaekyung started protesting, the food arrived.
Song Wonjong hauled over a massive pot to the table.
"Boss, how's the wrist?"
"Oh, yes! Feels completely healed. Planning to swing by the clinic tomorrow for a check-up."
"Oh, great idea!"
Kang Jaekyung answered Song Wonjong brightly, then glared at Kim Taeyoon.
"Once I'm officially cleared, the confiscation game ends."
"...I'll go with you."
"Am I a seven-year-old? You think I'd lie about that?"
"Worried you might fib? Just wanna say thanks."
Kim Taeyoon snatched the tongs from the maknae and whispered super low.
"No one use their wrists. I'll serve you guys."
"Whoa~ Leader's the best~!"
"Jaekyung's hurting, so I'll feed him special. Open up—dakgalbi incoming."
"Hey, you psycho—ow!"
Song Wonjong, Kang Jaekyung, and Kim Taeyoon filed into the exam room side by side.
After their initial visits, the two had come separately without syncing schedules, but today they requested a joint consult.
"Any questions? Both of you are progressing amazingly well."
Did something new start hurting?
"No! Just feels mostly healed, so we wanted a check with that test from last time."
"Ah."
Some patients taper off once pain fades, ending treatment on their own. Others insist on tests.
I examined Song Wonjong's wrist as requested.
"Inflammation's all cleared on ultrasound. Let me press here."
Quick ultrasound scan, then I palpated the anatomical snuffbox that'd made him scream last time.
"Oh, doesn't hurt."
"Compared to your left?"
"Feels the same—no pain!"
"Wrist movements all good too?"
"Yes!"
I nodded.
"You're good to end treatment. Makes sense—no wrist strain in daily life speeds recovery. Keep it easy going forward, just be careful chopping. Work's work, so if it flares, come right back. But ideally, monthly check-ups for maintenance."
"Got it. Thanks again, Director—you've helped me out so much."
As I spoke to Song Wonjong, Kim Taeyoon smirked proudly at the "no wrist strain in daily life" bit. Kang Jaekyung looked utterly miserable.
What? ...Not like I poisoned them or anything.
"Check my wrist too."
Kang Jaekyung thrust out his right hand desperately.
"Tingling's much better, right? Nerve compression cleared fast, but triangular ligament inflammation's still at about a third."
"Pardon?"
"Last time, not just tingling—everything hurt to press. This pinky side of the wrist is the triangular fibrocartilage complex—TFCC. Name doesn't matter... just some lingering tendon inflammation."
I palpated spots lit up on ultrasound.
Not agonizing, no screams, but his pupils quivered.
Too tough coming every other day?
"A year's damage. Pain gone doesn't mean fully healed overnight. One more week of frequent visits, then taper."
"Yes... Gotta be more careful."
Kang Jaekyung nodded gloomily; Kim Taeyoon beamed.
"I'll make sure he is. Thanks for the precise diagnosis and treatment."
"No biggie. Taeyoon, throat all good?"
No separate check-in, so I asked.
"Yes! Did six hours busking last week—no issues!"
"Glad to hear."
Heart-stopping story.
Six hours busking... Well, that's why he babies his throat normally. Passion for work—hard to argue.
Not like six hours of sparring.
"I'm great—came to say thanks. With you as our doc, nothing to fear. He's our band's treasure, so take good care till his wrist's perfect."
At Kim Taeyoon's words, Kang Jaekyung clenched and released his wrist.
"Of course. Jaekyung, treatment room? Wonjong, one more while you're here."
"Yes!"
Song Wonjong grinned toward the treatment room.
Kang Jaekyung... Not actually crying, but looked tearless sobbing?
Slower progress than hoped—big letdown.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Needles centered on Yanggu, not fully healed, plus Yangchi, Shenmen, Shusanli.
Extra qi infusion—should be good in a week.
"Great work everyone~! Head home!"
Patient numbers steady, but Hwang Sanghun and staff adapted, speeding up.
Early days, surges made on-time closes tough. Now, wrapping 20-30 minutes early often.
"Good job today~."
But Hwang Sanghun looked rough.
Trembling hands, weak voice.
I fed him well, made him exercise, but workload's too much.
"Oppa, we'll hire a second deputy soon—really cut shifts now."
Why am I begging for this?
Started thrilled at six days for me, three off. Now conscience stings.
"Won't cut base pay, okay?"
"Not about money... Fine, let's. You're heading downstairs anyway? Four days each, more study time—sounds good."
No, what?
REST!
Why ramp up study here?
"Yeah, discuss with new director. Cutting shifts is a yes?"
Hwang Sanghun finally nodded.
Lonely without family, anxious?
Get the money hunger, but health first.
"Director~ Seen this?"
Unlike gloomy Hwang Sanghun, Gong Nari bubbled. Post-night shift, grinning like weekend with friends.
Jin Minjeong never flagged; Seol Yuhee flew since treating her stuttering pulse.
Seo Inae... Already gone.
Warriors' picks stand out.
"What?"
I eyed Gong Nari's phone screen.
"Oh? Ijin?"
"Caught sports channel yesterday for my sis—there's Ijin in an interview! Super rookie in women's basketball! Amazing, right?"
"Wow, yeah. She's doing interviews now."
Knew she joined pro team, but TV broadcasts and interviews? Wild.
"Gotta ask for an autograph next time~!"
Hm, should I get one too?
After work.
Home ritual: Log into main game, Jungwon Online.
Set auto-fishing, then handle chores.
Study or prep days first, but otherwise phone time.
Sub-games or NewTube; today, searched "Kim Ijin" on NewTube.
"Whoa, what? She's huge? Fans too?"
Tons of results.
Sports NewTubers compiling her games; fan uploads from matches.
Ecosystem disruptor, never tires full-time, dunks too? Buzz everywhere.
Olympics joke—Asian Games might be real soon?
[When next? Sign at clinic~~]
Impromptu text to her personal line.
Reply instant.
[Of course lol. This week work?]
[No overdoing~ No pains?]
[Nope. Feels like I got energy left after an hour straight.]
[Do what I taught—if sudden fever or hyperventilation, call NOW!]
[Not at all. Just clears my head.]
Mastered qigong breathing...
Check her inner power next visit.
[Hey, can I bring captain this week?]
[Sure?]
She's sent how many patients—now shy?
[Wants chuna.]
Ah...
Ijin needed none, skipped it.
Thinks I hate chuna?
[Examine first—if needed. What's wrong?]