Chen Yu had seen Tracy McGrady up close once before, back at the American Airlines Arena.
But at the time, he didn't know about McGrady's congenital scoliosis, so he hadn't used the Eye of All-Seeing on him.
For someone with that condition to not only move normally but also compete in a high-intensity professional sport...
Chen Yu's eyes lit up.
'What a perfect research subject.'
'If I can figure out how to correct it, I might be able to develop a specialized technique out of it.'
In the third quarter, the Magic not only failed to close the gap but were the first to collapse, getting outscored 26-17 by the Wasp.
David "Elf Mouse" Wesley was the hero, exploding for 13 points in a single quarter.
In the end, the Wasp easily walked away with a 96-90 victory in Orlando.
Hill's brow was furrowed. He could see a number of problems.
With him sidelined by injury, Tracy McGrady was clearly still adjusting to his role as the team's core player. Neither his offensive aggression nor his efficiency was where it needed to be.
Most importantly, the rest of the team was a pile of role players, and none of them could take the pressure off Tracy McGrady.
"Chen, if my cartilage is really damaged, will I really have to wait until the middle of the season to get back on the court?" Hill suddenly asked.
According to what Chen Yu had said earlier, with a two-month recovery period followed by a return to training to get back into game shape, he wouldn't be back until around the All-Star break at the earliest—in other words, the middle of the season.
Hill was very worried about the Magic's record.
Could Tracy McGrady lead the Magic back to the playoffs all by himself?
Hill also felt he had let down the fans in Orlando.
This past Summer, as soon as free agency opened, he had accepted Gabriel's invitation to visit Orlando.
There, countless Magic fans took to the streets, holding signs to welcome his arrival.
That day, he rode in a car through the streets of Orlando like a returning king reviewing his subjects.
The Orlando fans had moved Hill with their overwhelming enthusiasm.
That was why Hill had signed with the Magic almost immediately after free agency began.
At the time, Bebi had even advised him to wait for Duncan.
Now, to be sidelined for over two months right after joining... how could he face the fans who had supported him?
Hill had always been grateful to the fans who supported him.
When he left the Pistons, he even paid 60,000 US dollars out of his own pocket to take out a newspaper ad thanking his fans in Detroit.
Chen Yu countered, "Are you so certain I haven't made a mistake in my diagnosis?"
Hill nodded with a wry smile. "Chen, while I hope that's not the case, your conviction tells me you're not wrong."
He had seen the problem with his ankle at a glance, and now he was insisting on cartilage damage, all while possessing such a miraculous treatment method.
In Hill's eyes, it was as if Chen Yu possessed some kind of special magic.
Chen Yu said, "Thank you," and then added, "It's not a sure thing yet. I can only say that if the diagnosis is confirmed and you let me handle your treatment, I will do my absolute best to get you back on the court, fully healthy, as quickly as possible."
"By the way, let me tell you a story."
Chen Yu could sense that Hill was starting to get anxious.
When athletes get injured, they tend to overthink things, and a host of psychological issues are bound to arise.
If those feelings aren't properly managed, it can affect their physical recovery as well.
This wasn't some mystical belief; it was actual science.
It was just like how playing music for pigs helps them put on weight. In fact, in Chen Yu's system, there was a specific program called Sports Psychology.
The story Chen Yu was about to tell was, naturally, the one about the two woodcutters, which illustrates the importance of preparation.
Finally, with a serious expression, Chen Yu said, "A beard well lathered is half shaved!"
It was the English equivalent of the proverb about not letting sharpening the axe delay the chopping of wood.
"You're only 28. You have a long career ahead of you. Giving yourself enough time to recover completely is the responsible thing to do—for you, for the team, and for the fans. Besides, it's only a little over two months. You have to trust that the team can wait for you."
'It's not like it's a season-ending injury.'
Hill fell into deep thought. After a long moment, he smiled and nodded. "Chen, you're a wise man. I'm lucky to have met you."
Chen Yu waved his hand dismissively. 'Wisdom has nothing to do with it. I just need Hill's swelling to go down so the exam tomorrow can confirm the cartilage damage.'
Chen Yu didn't leave the hospital that night.
He came to check on Hill's condition every few hours.
'The hospital's tests have a delay,' he thought, 'and they're nowhere near as convenient or comprehensive as my Eye of All-Seeing.'
This level of attention moved Hill deeply. Even his wife hadn't been this attentive.
'I'm staking my reputation on you,' Chen Yu thought. 'No amount of care is too much.'
「The next day.」
Wash arrived early to do her rounds in the hospital room.
At almost the same moment, Gabriel and Billings also arrived.
"How are you feeling?"
Wash asked as she lifted the blanket.
"Better than ever," Hill grinned.
Last night was the most peaceful night's sleep he'd had in days.
"This is incredible!"
Wash exclaimed, astonished to find that the swelling in Hill's left foot had almost completely vanished.
Standing by the head of the bed, Billings's expression faltered.
Hill had slept soundly, but Billings had been up all night with insomnia, wondering what would happen to him if Hill was, in fact, diagnosed with cartilage damage.
'That would mean I misdiagnosed him.'
'What would Gabriel think of me? Would he think my medical skills weren't up to par?'
'The moment you lose their trust is the moment you're out the door.'
'And he couldn't bear to lose this job.'
The fact that Hill's swelling had vanished overnight could only mean one thing: Chen Yu's treatment was incredibly effective.
And that meant Chen Yu's diagnosis was, in all likelihood, correct.
Just then, a weary-looking Chen Yu walked in.
After a quick glance at Hill's left foot, Chen Yu knew he was right. "Let's do another MRI."
"Are you sure?" Wash was taken aback. "We're still a few hours short of the 24-hour mark."
Chen Yu nodded.
'There's no need to wait,' he thought.
"Alright, I'll arrange it." Wash didn't argue, turning to schedule the scan.
Half an hour later, Hill was wheeled into the MRI room.
Wash, Chen Yu, and Billings all entered the adjacent control room.
A moment later, Svenson pushed the door open and joined them, cheerfully telling Chen Yu that after yesterday's Acupuncture session, his back had felt great all day.
Just as he finished speaking, the MRI images slowly began to appear on the screen.
Wash leaned in immediately.
Yesterday, she hadn't been able to see anything at all.
But today, she squinted, her gaze gradually locking onto a single point.
She tapped the screen. "Right here. There's a problem."
Yesterday, the swelling and fluid buildup had obscured the tissue interfaces.
But today, the cartilage surface was clearly visible. On the lateral side of the ankle, where the talus and fibula articulate, the talar cartilage indeed showed signs of very subtle damage.
Billings staggered, hastily leaning against the wall for support, his face turning deathly pale.
Svenson squinted at the screen for a moment before turning to Chen Yu in disbelief. "Chen, how on earth did you spot such a minute injury before?"
He had reviewed yesterday's scans himself and hadn't seen any sign of cartilage damage.
In that location, with all the fluid buildup, it was nearly impossible to spot.
But Chen Yu had managed to find and diagnose it before the swelling even subsided. His skill at reading these scans was, simply put, incredible.
Chen Yu just smiled. 'Can I really tell them I saw it with my own eyes?'
"Experience and intuition, I guess."
Chen Yu said casually, catching a glimpse of Billings out of the corner of his eye.
'Now, no one should be questioning me anymore.'