Chapter 22: A Check-Up

She spoke as she took a brand-new wrist brace from the medical kit.

“When you’re not training, it’s best to wear this simple brace for protection and as a reminder to avoid any unconscious strenuous activity.”

She helped Feng Miwan put on the brace and adjusted the tightness.

Feng Miwan asked eagerly,

“So… when can I start real training?”

Xiong Yibai pondered for a moment. “It depends on your recovery over the next week.”

“If there’s no discomfort and no recurrence of pain, you can start incorporating some very light grip exercises next week.”

“But the premise is that you must progress gradually. Absolutely no rushing.”

She looked at Feng Miwan.

“If you secretly overtrain or push through the pain, causing secondary injury, then you can forget about Yongcheng Station. Got it?”

“Got it, got it! I’ll be completely obedient! Whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do exactly that! No secret training!”

Feng Miwan nodded her head vigorously.

Xiong Yibai watched her solemn promise and said nothing more, simply lowering her head to pack away the medical supplies.

But Feng Miwan could swear she saw a flash of a smile at the corner of her mouth.

Was it because her recovery was going well? Or something else?

Feng Miwan touched her wrist, and that thing she’d suppressed for over ten days began to stir restlessly again.

After packing up, Xiong Yibai began demonstrating.

“Alright, first movement: active wrist flexion and extension.”

“Slowly curl your palm upward until you feel a slight stretch in your forearm. Hold for two seconds, then slowly press downward.”

“Remember, keep the range small and the speed slow. Never use force.”

Feng Miwan mimicked seriously, supporting her right forearm with her left hand and controlling the wrist’s up-and-down movement.

“Is this right?”

“Make the downward press a bit smaller; you’ve gone a little too far.”

Xiong Yibai observed her movements and pointed out the issue.

“Try again, slower.”

Feng Miwan nodded, held her breath, and attempted it even more carefully.

But perhaps because it had been inactive for so long, or her muscle control hadn’t fully recovered,

when she pressed downward, her wrist still sank more than intended,

the angle clearly exceeding the range Xiong Yibai had demonstrated.

Xiong Yibai commanded, “Stop.”

Feng Miwan froze, a bit annoyed.

“Ah… wrong again? I didn’t think I used much force…”

“After an injury, your proprioception can be off. What feels small to you might already be over the limit.”

Xiong Yibai explained as she stood and walked over, squatting in front of her.

The next second, her fingers gently gripped Feng Miwan’s right forearm for support, while the fingertips of her other hand rested on the back of Feng Miwan’s hand.

“Don’t exert force. Relax and follow my guidance to feel the correct range.”

Xiong Yibai’s voice was very close, very soft.

Feng Miwan stiffened, her attention shifting entirely from her wrist to the touching skin.

She felt Xiong Yibai’s fingers slowly guiding the back of her hand upward into an angle.

“This is the limit for flexion. Feel that? Stop here.”

Xiong Yibai’s voice was almost right by her ear.

Then, her fingers guided the hand slowly downward.

“When going down, control it even more—like this… just a slight downward tilt. Stop when you feel the mild tension in the ligaments.”

“Yes, right there. That’s the safe range.”

Feng Miwan couldn’t focus on any ligament tension at all; all her senses were overwhelmed by the touch of Xiong Yibai’s fingertips and the breath so close by.

Her cheeks heated uncontrollably, her heart pounding wildly. She could only nod haphazardly.

“Mm… mm… I feel it…”

Xiong Yibai pretended not to notice her reaction,

and guided her hand through the motion twice more to ensure she grasped the correct range and speed.

“Good. Now try it yourself. Remember that feeling.”

Xiong Yibai released her hand and sat back on the adjacent sofa.

Feng Miwan let out a secret sigh of relief. She tried to recall the guided sensation and attempted it again.

This time, her movements were much more precise.

Xiong Yibai nodded.

“Mm, much better.”

“Do it with this range and speed. Next movement: wrist radial and ulnar deviation…”

Feng Miwan sneaked a glance at Xiong Yibai, who had resumed teaching. She forcibly suppressed that little thought, but it quietly took root deeper inside.

Xiong Yibai explained the following rehab movements clearly and thoroughly.

Feng Miwan learned diligently, striving to memorize every detail and precaution.

Xiong Yibai closed the medical kit.

“That’s about it—all basic mobility training.”

“Got it all? Do each morning and evening, 8-10 reps per movement. Better too few than too many.”

“Got it! Don’t worry, Yibai. I’ll strictly follow what you said!”

Feng Miwan promised, flexing her wrist, which now felt much looser.

Xiong Yibai glanced at her, seeming about to say more, but ultimately just nodded.

“Mm. Practice on your own then. Ask me if you’re unsure.”

With that, she picked up the medical kit, returned it to its place, then—as usual—grabbed a book and settled into the single sofa by the window to read.

Feng Miwan composed herself and began repeating the movements she’d just learned.

In the days that followed, Feng Miwan strictly followed the doctor’s orders, doing the rehab training twice a day without fail, morning and evening.

Xiong Yibai would occasionally glance over during her sessions but rarely offered guidance unless her form was obviously off.

A week passed quickly.

That morning, after breakfast, Feng Miwan didn’t return to her room. Instead, she said to Xiong Yibai somewhat nervously,

“Yibai, um… like you said, I’ve been practicing for a week now.”

“It feels… like it’s got a bit more strength than before, and it doesn’t hurt much when I move it.”

As she spoke, she proactively extended her right wrist toward Xiong Yibai and gently performed a few flexion-extension movements. The range was noticeably larger and smoother than a week ago.

Xiong Yibai set down her chopsticks and observed the movements and joint condition.

“Mm, stability looks good, and the swelling is completely gone.”

“How does it feel when you do these? Besides mild soreness, anything else? Like sharp pain or sudden weakness at a certain angle?”

Feng Miwan shook her head quickly.

“No, no!”

“It just feels a bit tight inside the joint, but it loosens up after moving. No sharp pain.”

Xiong Yibai indicated,

“Relax your hand. Let me check.”

Feng Miwan extended her hand.