Chloe’s beauty technique was exceptional, with firm and lifting techniques that left nothing to be desired. After just a short time, Sophia felt her skin noticeably hydrated. Chloe had booked a full treatment that included a body massage. A beautician began to work on Sophia’s back, her fingers skillfully moving from Sophia’s shoulders down to her lower spine—gentle yet powerful. But Sophia’s brow only furrowed tighter as the session went on.
“Ahh…”
Chloe looked over, puzzled. “What’s wrong? Not comfortable?”
Sophia answered tactfully, “The technique’s actually fine, it’s just that the pressure points seem a bit off.”
The beautician and Chloe both froze. The beautician looked nervous, afraid she’d done something wrong, but Chloe knew she was the best in the salon. She hadn’t even used her own appointments just so Sophia could try her. Yet Sophia didn’t seem impressed at all.
“So, how should it be done?” Chloe asked.
Sophia pointed at the beautician. “Lie down. Take off your top.”
The beautician, in her early twenties, lay down a bit hesitantly. She’d been in the beauty industry for years, but it was the first time she was the one receiving the service.
Sophia smiled, applied some essential oil, and rubbed her hands together to warm them up. She placed them on the beautician’s back, pressing down gently. The beautician was momentarily stunned, feeling an intense comfort as Sophia’s hands moved downward. There was a warmth flowing with her touch, and each press aligned with a precise acupoint, producing results beyond her own capabilities.
As Sophia continued to massage, she was completely focused, her familiarity with acupoints clear as she treated the beautician’s back like a chart, pressing with precise skill.
Ten minutes later, after finishing a sequence, Sophia pulled her hands back with a smile. “All done. How’s that feel?”
The beautician blinked, then turned to Chloe in amazement. “This is amazing! Boss, after Dr. Smith’s massage, my whole body feels so much more relaxed, like there’s a flow of energy running through me.”
Chloe looked on in surprise. “Really? Dr. Smith, would you mind giving me a try too?”
“Of course. Even if you hadn’t asked, I was going to help you anyway.”
“What?” Chloe asked, a little taken aback.
Sophia smiled and brought over some acupuncture equipment, motioning for Chloe to lie down. Watching Sophia light the moxa for moxibustion, Chloe asked, “Dr. Smith, you’re skilled in moxibustion too?”
“Yes. Give it a try; see how it compares to what’s done in your salon.”
Chloe smiled but was inwardly skeptical. Her beauty salon was top-tier, frequented by high society clients, and she trained her beauticians in advanced massage and acupuncture techniques every month. Thai massage was practically basic there. Sophia was really going to outdo them? It seemed unlikely.
She assumed the beautician had just been humoring her.
But Sophia lit the moxa, then took out a needle and, without hesitation, pricked one of the acupoints on Chloe’s back. Chloe hadn’t even realized it.
“Dr. Smith, have you already started?”
The beautician laughed lightly from the side. “Boss, Dr. Smith already put several needles in your back; she’s been working for a while.”
Chloe was shocked—she hadn’t felt a thing, yet Sophia had already filled her back with needles. How was she that fast?
Suddenly, Sophia made another move on her back, and Chloe felt a warmth draining away from her, leaving her feeling refreshed and revitalized. It was no exaggeration to say that even her vision was noticeably clearer.
She exclaimed in awe, “Dr. Smith, how did a few random moves end up so effective?”
Sophia wasn’t surprised by the reaction. In her past life, her clinic had clients lined up every day for acupuncture treatments, all of them leaving rejuvenated and restored.
Sophia smiled. “The secret lies in combining needling and moxibustion. Most salons only do moxibustion, but without needles, the effects are limited. Using both techniques together to target acupoints is what delivers true acupuncture benefits.”
“Is that so?” Chloe’s beauticians knew moxibustion, but as Sophia mentioned, none dared use needles freely; they always prioritized safety. “Dr. Smith, this is the first time I’ve realized how amazing acupuncture can be! So, what else can acupuncture do?”
“It has a wide range of uses, like weight loss, beauty treatments, relief for sinusitis, neck pain…”
Chloe nodded along, feeling a lightness in her back that she hadn’t in a while. She felt as if she’d drunk several glasses of water, healthy and refreshed.
“You had a significant bleeding earlier, so you still haven’t fully recovered yet. That’s actually why I agreed to come to the salon—I wanted to help you with acupuncture and treat your condition. After this session, you should feel much better.”
“Really?” Chloe asked, thrilled, and immediately began to chat with Sophia about all sorts of things.
—
The treatment complete, Sophia was about to leave when a petite woman with large eyes, fair skin, and long, curly hair in bangs walked out.
She smiled at Sophia and said, “Hello.”
It was Miss Maggie! Sophia nodded politely.
Seeing her reserved response, Miss Maggie smiled and introduced herself. “Um, I’m Scott Livinus’s girlfriend. I guess you’ve never met me.”
“Oh, really?”
Sophia would have loved for Scott Livinus to acknowledge a mistake, but for Miss Maggie to jump in and claim his identity was hardly a source of pride. Like Chloe, she could tell that Miss Maggie wasn’t simple. Smiling politely but distantly, she replied, “Miss Maggie and Mr. Scott make quite a pair.”
“Really?” Miss Maggie blushed shyly. “Hardly. By the way, could I ask if you know his plans for tonight?”
Sophia raised an eyebrow. “Miss Maggie, you’re his girlfriend and don’t know his schedule. How would I?”
Miss Maggie smiled awkwardly. “He’s not very talkative and keeps things to himself. I hate to pry, but since he’s your uncle, I thought you might know.”
Sophia gave a light laugh, picked up her sun umbrella and thermos, and said, “Miss Maggie, making a phone call isn’t a difficult task, is it?”
